Toilet with flush jet fill tube flow meter
View Patent ↗The present invention is directed to a toilet that includes a liquid level sensor on the surface of a flush jet fill tube. The liquid level sensor is a noncontact electrical impedance sensor that is an electrical capacitor. The capacitor may be used alone or with other volume sensors to detect volume of materials added to a toilet bowl. Some embodiments include a processor which records data and provides reports that may be clinically useful to assess the user's health status. The temporal nature of the liquid level sensor measurements is particularly useful because urination or defecation may be measured over time. Not only are total volumes detected but rates at which waste is deposited into the toilet during the entire excretion event are detected. These measurements are particularly useful in assessing certain health conditions.
1. A toilet comprising:
a flush jet fill tube;
a toilet bowl, wherein the toilet bowl comprises a flush jet entrance port and a waste exit port;
a wastewater exit pipe, wherein the wastewater exit pipe comprises a trap system; and
a liquid level sensor comprising a noncontact electrical impedance sensor, wherein the noncontact electrical impedance sensor comprises a capacitively coupled electrode or electrodes and an alternating current power source providing alternating current electrical power to the electrode or electrodes;
wherein the liquid level sensor measures the level of liquid in the flush jet fill tube over time, and
wherein the electrode or electrodes comprise of two substantially parallel metal strips, wherein the strips are separated by a gap, wherein the strips wrap at least partially around an outside surface of the flush jet fill tube or are arranged parallel with a direction of water flow on the surface of the flush jet fill tube.
2. The toilet of claim 1 , further comprising an electrical shield, the electrical shield covering the electrode or electrodes.
3. The toilet of claim 2 , further comprising:
an insulating material, the insulating material is positioned against the electrical shield and disposed between the electrical shield and the electrode or electrodes.
4. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein the toilet further comprises an exterior surface, and wherein the flush jet fill tube comprises:
a. a first side, wherein the first side is closest to the exterior surface; and
b. a second side, wherein the second side is furthest from the exterior surface; and
c. wherein the electrode or electrodes are disposed on the second side to avoid contact with a user's body.
5. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein the toilet further comprises a controller, wherein the controller:
a. sets a water level in the toilet bowl after a flush;
b. actuates the flush jet fill tube to refill the toilet bowl to the water level; and
c. receives signals from the noncontact electrical impedance sensor.
6. The toilet of claim 1 , further comprising:
a gas sensor, wherein the gas sensor measures volatile organic compounds; and
a processor.
7. The toilet of claim 6 , wherein the processor determines either that:
a user has deposited fecal matter into the toilet bowl when the gas sensor detects volatile organic compounds and the liquid level sensor detects an increase in volume within the toilet bowl or,
a user has emitted flatulence without depositing fecal matter into the toilet bowl when the gas sensor detects volatile organic compounds and the liquid level sensor detects no increase in volume within the toilet bowl.
8. The toilet of claim 6 , wherein the processor determines that a user has diarrhea when the gas sensor detects volatile organic compounds and the liquid level sensor detects a flow rate that is consistent with liquid being deposited into the toilet as opposed to solid fecal matter.
9. The toilet of claim 1 , further comprising a processor, wherein the processor detects that the toilet has been flushed and reports a potential clog when a flush is accompanied by an abnormal change in the level of liquid in the flush jet fill tube over time.