Fitting with automatic object recognition and method for controlling a fitting by means of automatic object recognition

1. A fitting ( 1 ) for a sanitary installation ( 2 ), comprising:

a control unit ( 3 );

a sanitary element ( 4 ) controllable with the control unit ( 3 ); and

at least one imaging sensor ( 5 ), wherein the control unit ( 3 ) selectively triggers an action of the sanitary element ( 4 ) in response to an object recognition performed by an image processing unit ( 8 ) for recognizing at least one object ( 7 ) in a scene represented by at least one output signal from the at least one imaging sensor ( 5 ).

2. The fitting ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one imaging sensor ( 5 ) is a 2D or 3D camera, a thermal imaging camera, an ultrasonic sensor, a radar sensor, or a laser distance measuring sensor, or a combination of said sensor types.

3. The fitting ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising an illumination unit ( 6 ) for illuminating objects ( 7 ), wherein the illumination unit ( 6 ) comprises one or more LEDs or laser diodes or a UV or IR light source.

4. The fitting ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the image processing unit ( 8 ) is positioned remotely, and the fitting ( 1 ) further comprises a communication unit ( 9 ) for sending the at least one output signal from the at least one imaging sensor ( 5 ) to the image processing unit ( 8 ) for object recognition and for receiving a result of the object recognition.

5. The fitting ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the image processing unit ( 8 ) performs the object recognition using a neural network trained before the fitting ( 1 ) is put into operation.

6. The fitting ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the image processing unit ( 8 ) performs an object classification as part of the object recognition to assign an object ( 7 ) to a specific class from a plurality of predefined classes.

7. The fitting ( 1 ) according to claim 6 , wherein the predefined classes include kitchen utensils, or cleaning utensils.

8. The fitting ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the image processing unit ( 8 ) determines at least one property of an object ( 7 ).

9. The fitting ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the image processing unit ( 8 ) determines a position, in particular relative to a reference position of an object ( 7 ) and/or a movement of the object ( 7 ).

10. The fitting ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit ( 3 ) triggers a specific action of the sanitary element ( 4 ) based on an object classification and/or a property of an object ( 7 ) and/or a position of the object ( 7 ) and/or a movement of the object ( 7 ).

11. The fitting ( 1 ) according to claim 10 , wherein one or more of the following actions are triggerable:

selecting a preset of the sanitary element ( 4 ) and executing a behavior of the sanitary element ( 4 ) defined according to the preset;

dispensing a specified amount of a fluid ( 11 );

dispensing a specified amount of the fluid ( 11 ) per unit of time;

dispensing the fluid ( 11 ) with a preset maximum, minimum or preferred temperature of the fluid ( 11 ) to be dispensed;

dispensing the specific fluid ( 11 ) from a plurality of different fluids, in particular depending on a position of the object ( 7 );

switching on and/or off the delivery of the fluid ( 11 ).

12. A fitting arrangement ( 12 ), comprising a sanitary installation ( 2 ) and a fitting ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the imaging sensor ( 5 ) is arranged such that an inlet region ( 13 ) for dispensing a fluid ( 11 ) and/or an outlet region ( 14 ) for leading away the dispensed fluid ( 11 ) of the fitting ( 1 ) is/are detectable by the imaging sensor ( 8 ).

13. The fitting arrangement ( 12 ) according to claim 12 , wherein the sanitary installation ( 2 ) is a sink or washtub, bidet, shower, bathtub, soap dispenser, lotion dispenser, sanitizer dispenser, hand dryer, hair dryer, toilet, shower toilet, urinal, or wash station.

14. A method for triggering an action of a sanitary element ( 4 ) of a fitting ( 1 ), comprising the steps of:

detecting a scene at the sanitary element ( 4 ) with at least one imaging sensor ( 5 ) at an inlet region ( 13 ) and/or an outlet region ( 14 ) of the fitting ( 1 ), wherein the scene is detected using one or more images as output of the at least one imaging sensor ( 8 ), wherein, when more than one images are used, the images these are recorded staggered in time or from different viewing angles;

performing object recognition for recognizing at least one object ( 7 ); and

triggering an action of the sanitary element ( 4 ) depending on the object recognition.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the scene is illuminated by an illumination unit ( 6 ), the illumination device comprising one or more LEDs or laser diodes or a UV or IR light source.

16. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the scene detected with the at least one imaging sensor ( 5 ) is sent as an output of the at least one imaging sensor ( 5 ) to a remote image processing unit ( 8 ) for object recognition, and a result of the object recognition is received from the remote image processing unit ( 8 ).

17. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the object recognition is performed by a neural network trained before the fitting ( 1 ) is put into operation.

18. The method according to claim 14 , wherein as part of the object recognition, an object classification is performed to assign the object ( 7 ) to a particular class from a plurality of predefined classes.

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein different classes of kitchen utensils or cleaning utensils are recognized by the object classification.

20. The method according to claim 14 , wherein at least one property of an object ( 7 ) is determined.

21. The method according to claim 14 , wherein a position relative to a reference position of the object (Z) and/or a movement of the object ( 7 ) is determined.

22. The method according to claim 19 , wherein a specific action of the sanitary element ( 4 ) is triggered based on an object classification and/or a property of the object ( 7 ) and/or a position of the object ( 7 ) and/or a movement of the object ( 7 ).

23. The method according to claim 22 , wherein the action comprises at least one of the following:

selecting a preset of the sanitary element ( 4 ) and executing a behavior of the sanitary element ( 4 ) defined according to the preset;

dispensing a specified amount of a fluid ( 11 );

dispensing a specified amount of the fluid ( 11 ) per unit of time;

dispensing the fluid ( 11 ) with a preset maximum, minimum or preferred temperature of the fluid ( 11 ) to be dispensed;

dispensing a specific fluid ( 11 ) from a plurality of different fluids depending on a position of the object ( 7 );

switching on and/or off the delivery of the fluid ( 11 ).