Patent ID: 8113483

Claim:
A control system for use with a lavatory system having at least one wash station and at least one electrically operated fixture for use by a user, the control system comprising: an infrared detection system including a control circuit operable during a first period during which a sensing region is monitored for the presence of the user followed by a second period during which power consumption by the control circuit is reduced, the second period being at least 100 times greater than first period so that total power consumption by the control circuit can be reduced; a fixture actuation system coupled to the detection system and configured to control the flow of a fluid through the fixture based upon a signal received from the control circuit during the first period; a power supply for operating the infrared detection system and the fixture actuation system, the power supply including a photovoltaic cell; a power management system coupled to the photovoltaic cell to control the power provided to the control system, the power management system comprising: a detector configured to monitor a power output of the photovoltaic cell; and a switch configured to electrically disconnect the photovoltaic cell from the control system when the power output drops below a predetermined value.