IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,258,742
Granted Patent B2
US 12,258,742 · App. 18/244,030 · Granted Mar 25, 2025

Liquid dispenser sensing distance self-learning method, an electronic device, and a storage medium

Inventors: Wenjie Ren (Shanghai, CN); Fei Shen (Shanghai, CN)
Assignee: Shanghai Kohler Electronics, Ltd.
E03C1/057A47K5/1217G08B5/36G08B21/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,258,742
App. No.
18/244,030
Granted
Mar 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A liquid dispenser sensing distance self-learning method includes in response to a self-learning request, entering a self-learning mode. The method also includes, in the self-learning mode, determining a shortest distance between a reference object and a sensing component; determining and storing a sensing distance based on the shortest distance; and identifying, by a first indication device, a state of the self-learning mode. The method also includes, in response to a sensing request, entering a sensing mode; obtaining a detected distance between the reference object and the sensing component; comparing the detected distance with the sensing distance; and identifying, by a second indication device, a comparison result of the detected distance and the sensing distance.

Claims (77)

1. A liquid dispenser sensing distance self-learning method, comprising:

in response to a self-learning request, entering a self-learning mode;

in the self-learning mode, determining a shortest distance between a reference object and a sensing component;

in the self-learning mode, determining and storing a sensing distance based on the shortest distance, wherein a liquid dispenser dispenses liquid when the liquid dispenser is in a working state and when a distance between the reference object and the sensing component is detected to be less than or equal to the sensing distance;

in the self-learning mode, identifying, by a first indication device, a state of the self-learning mode;

in response to a sensing request, entering a sensing mode;

in the sensing mode, detecting the distance between the reference object and the sensing component;

in the sensing mode, comparing the detected distance with the sensing distance; and

in the sensing mode, identifying, by a second indication device, a comparison result of the detected distance and the sensing distance.

2. The liquid dispenser sensing distance self-learning method according to claim 1 , wherein the first indication device comprises a first light indication device, and

wherein identifying, by the first indication device, the state of the self-learning mode comprises:

determining a current state of the self-learning mode and obtaining a first light effect, among a plurality of first light effects, corresponding to the current state; and

controlling the first light indication device to display the first light effect.

3. The liquid dispenser sensing distance self-learning method according to claim 2 , wherein the self-learning mode comprising an entering learning state, a learning state, a learning end success state, and a learning end failure state.

4. The liquid dispenser sensing distance self-learning method according to claim 2 , further comprising:

in the self-learning mode, generating a table linking each of the plurality of first light effects and a corresponding state of the self-learning mode.

5. The liquid dispenser sensing distance self-learning method according to claim 1 , wherein the second indication device comprises a second light indication device, and

wherein identifying, by the second indication device, the comparison result of the detected distance and the sensing distance comprises:

determining a second light effect, among a plurality of second light effects, corresponding to the comparison result based on the comparison result; and

controlling the second light indication device to display the second light effect.

6. The liquid dispenser sensing distance self-learning method according to claim 5 , wherein determining the second light effect corresponding to the comparison result based on the comparison result comprises:

in response to a determination that the detected distance is greater than a sum of the sensing distance and a predetermined distance threshold, controlling the second light effect to be an extinguished light effect;

in response to a determination that the detected distance is less than or equal to the sum of the sensing distance and the predetermined distance threshold and greater than the sensing distance, controlling the second light effect to be a flickering light effect; and

in response to a determination that the detected distance is less than or equal to the sensing distance, controlling the second light effect to be a constant on light effect.

7. The liquid dispenser sensing distance self-learning method according to claim 6 , wherein in response to the determination that the detected distance is less than or equal to the sum of the sensing distance and the predetermined distance threshold and greater than the sensing distance, controlling the second light effect to be the flickering light effect comprises:

controlling a flickering speed of the flickering light effect corresponding to a first detected distance to be greater than or equal to a flickering speed of the flickering light effect corresponding to a second detected distance, the first detected distance being smaller than the second detected distance.

8. The liquid dispenser sensing distance self-learning method according to claim 5 , further comprising:

in the sensing mode, generating a table linking each of the plurality of second light effects and a corresponding comparison result of the detected distance and the sensing distance.

9. The liquid dispenser sensing distance self-learning method according to claim 1 , further comprising entering the self-learning mode in response to a self-learning instruction sent from a cloud.

10. The liquid dispenser sensing distance self-learning method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the sensing distance based on the shortest distance comprises:

using a value of the shortest distance minus a predetermined retraction distance as the sensing distance.

11. The liquid dispenser sensing distance self-learning method according to claim 1 , wherein detecting the distance between the reference object and the sensing component comprising:

obtaining a distance between the reference object and the sensing component in a direction perpendicular to the sensing component when the reference object is disposed within a detection range of the sensing component.

12. The liquid dispenser sensing distance self-learning method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

linking, by a server, an identifier of the liquid dispenser to a liquid dispenser network identifier;

sending, by the server, self-learning instructions to the liquid dispenser by selecting the identifier of the liquid dispenser through the linked liquid dispenser network identifier; and

reporting the sensing distance and the state of the self-learning mode to the server.

13. An liquid dispenser sensing distance self-learning system, comprising:

at least one processor configured to enter a self-learning mode in response to a self-learning request and enter a sensing mode in response to a sensing request;

a sensor indicator light communicably connected to the at least one processor configured to display a first light effect, among a plurality of first light effects, in the self-learning mode and configured to display a first light effect, among a plurality of first light effects, in the self-learning mode; and

a countertop indicator light communicably connected to the at least one processor configured to display a first light effect, among a plurality of first light effects, in the self-learning mode and configured to display a second light effect, among a plurality of second light effects, in the sensing mode.

14. The liquid dispenser sensing distance self-learning system according to claim 13 , further comprising:

an input device configured to be pressed by a user to generate the self-learning request or the sensing request.

15. The liquid dispenser sensing distance self-learning system according to claim 14 ,

wherein the self-learning request is generated in response to a long-press on the input device,

wherein the sensing request is generated in response to a short-press on the input device, and

wherein the long-press is a press equal to or longer than a predetermined time period, and the short-press is a press shorter than the predetermined time period.

16. The liquid dispenser sensing distance self-learning system according to claim 13 , wherein the sensor indicator light comprises a first light and a second light, and the countertop indicator light comprises a third light and a fourth light.

17. The liquid dispenser sensing distance self-learning system according to claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to, in the self-learning mode:

turn on the first light and the third light for a first predetermined time period to indicate an entering learning state;

control the first light and the third light to flicker to indicate an ongoing learning state;

turn off the first light and turn on the fourth light to indicate a learning end success state; and

turn on the first light and the third light for a second predetermined time period to indicate a learning end failure state.

18. The liquid dispenser sensing distance self-learning system according to claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to, in the sensing mode:

control the first light and the fourth light to flicker once to indicate that the sensing mode is entered;

turn on the first light and the fourth light for a first predetermined time period in response to a determination that a reference object is disposed within an effective sensing area;

control the first light and the fourth light to flicker at a first frequency in response to a determination that the reference object is disposed within the effective sensing area plus a predetermined first distance threshold;

control the first light and the fourth light to flicker at a second frequency in response to a determination that the reference object is disposed within the effective sensing area plus a predetermined second distance threshold;

turning off the first light and the fourth light in response to a determination that the reference object is disposed outside the effective sensing area plus a predetermined second distance threshold; and

turn on the first light and the third light for a second predetermined time period to indicate that the sensing mode ends.

19. A non-transitory storage medium, storing computer instructions for performing a liquid dispenser sensing distance self-learning method, the method comprising:

in response to a self-learning request, entering a self-learning mode;

in the self-learning mode, determining a shortest distance between a reference object and a sensing component;

in the self-learning mode, determining and storing a sensing distance based on the shortest distance, wherein a liquid dispenser dispenses liquid when the liquid dispenser is in a working state and when a distance between the reference object and the sensing component is detected to be less than or equal to the sensing distance;

in the self-learning mode, identifying, by a first indication device, a state of the self-learning mode;

in response to a sensing request, entering a sensing mode;

in the sensing mode, detecting the distance between the reference object and the sensing component;

in the sensing mode, comparing the detected distance with the sensing distance; and

in the sensing mode, identifying, by a second indication device, a comparison result of the detected distance and the sensing distance.

20. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 19 , wherein the first indication device comprises a first light indication device,

wherein identifying, by the first indication device, the state of the self-learning mode comprises:

determining a current state of the self-learning mode and obtaining a first light effect, among a plurality of first light effects, corresponding to the current state; and

controlling the first light indication device to display the first light effect,

wherein the second indication device comprises a second light indication device, and

wherein identifying, by the second indication device, the comparison result of the detected distance and the sensing distance comprises:

determining a second light effect, among a plurality of second light effects, corresponding to the comparison result based on the comparison result; and

controlling the second light indication device to display the second light effect.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 28, 2023
From: REN, WENJIE; SHEN, FEI
To: SHANGHAI KOHLER ELECTRONICS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 065062/0785 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202211107528.X · Sep 13, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240084567A1 · Mar 14, 2024
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