Abstract: A bathroom flusher includes a flusher body, a valve assembly, an electronic control system, and a flusher cover. The flusher body includes an inlet and an outlet, and is designed to accommodate the valve assembly that controls water flow between the inlet and the outlet. The valve assembly includes a valve member movable with respect to a valve seat providing a sealing action based on applied pressure on the valve assembly. The bathroom flusher also includes an external cover designed for enclosing an electronic control module comprising a battery, a sensor, and an actuator for controlling operation of the flush valve, wherein the external cover includes at least two cover parts separately removable, and wherein the external cover is attachable with respect to the valve body in a manner also allowing removable attachment of the control module.

Abstract: A bathroom flusher includes a flusher body, a valve assembly, an electronic control system, and a flusher cover. The flusher body includes an inlet and an outlet, and is designed to accommodate the valve assembly that controls water flow between the inlet and the outlet. The valve assembly includes a valve member movable with respect to a valve seat providing a sealing action based on applied pressure on the valve assembly. The bathroom flusher also includes an external cover designed for enclosing an electronic control module comprising a battery, a sensor, and an actuator for controlling operation of the flush valve, wherein the external cover includes at least two cover parts separately removable, and wherein the external cover is attachable with respect to the valve body in a manner also allowing removable attachment of the control module.

Abstract: A bathroom flusher includes a flusher body, a valve assembly, an electronic control system, and a flusher cover. The flusher body includes an inlet and an outlet, and is designed to accommodate the valve assembly that controls water flow between the inlet and the outlet. The valve assembly includes a valve member movable with respect to a valve seat providing a sealing action based on applied pressure on the valve assembly. The bathroom flusher also includes an external cover designed for enclosing an electronic control module comprising a battery, a sensor, and an actuator for controlling operation of the flush valve, wherein the external cover includes at least two cover parts separately removable, and wherein the external cover is attachable with respect to the valve body in a manner also allowing removable attachment of the control module.

Abstract: An actuator including actuator base, bobbin, and pole piece forming a pocket for a ferromagnetid armature located therein. The actuator including a radial magnet and a solenoid coil constructed and arranged to cause a linear displacement of the armature upon application of a coil drive current from a control circuit. The actuator may include a flexible membrane that partially encloses the armature to form an armature chamber filled with an incompressible fluid. In a valve design, a fluid flow is stopped by driving the membrane against a valve seat. Pressure from the controlled fluid in the conduit is transmitted through the membrane to the fluid within the armature chamber so that the armature does not need to counteract force applied to the membrane by the conduit fluid's pressure. A fluid flow is opened by driving the membrane away from the valve seat.

Abstract: A bathroom flusher (10) includes a body having an inlet (12) in communication with a supply line and an outlet (16) in communication with a flush conduit, a valve assembly in the body positioned to close water flow between the inlet and the outlet upon sealing action of a moving member (60, 60A, 60B, 60C, 130, 210, 215, 526, or 628) at a valve seat (70, 70A, 140, 209, 251A, 526 or 625) thereby controlling flow from the inlet to the outlet, and an actuator (62) for actuating operation of the moving member. The bathroom flusher includes one of several novel sensors and is controlled by one of several novel controllers, as described. The controllers may execute a novel control algorithm.

Abstract: An electronic faucet (10) mounted on a countertop (12) includes a housing, at least one fluid inlet line (24a, 24b) extending into the housing, a fluid outlet (46) from the housing, a solenoid (142, 143) for operating a valve controlling the fluid flow between at least one inlet line and the outlet, and a control circuit (206) for controlling the opening and closing of the valve.

Abstract: An optical system includes one or several passive optical detectors sensitive to ambient (room) light for controlling, for example, the operation of automatic faucets or automatic bathroom flushers. The passive optical sensors provide signals to flow controllers, including control electronics and flow valves and require only very small amounts of electrical power for sensing users of bathroom facilities, and thus enable battery operation for many years. To control the operation of automatic faucets or automatic bathroom flushers based on ambient light, the controller executes novel algorithms.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for converting or retrofitting manually-operated flush valves. A conversion system for converting an installed manually-operated flush valve includes a power module, a control module, and a driver module mechanically coupled to a manual handle to externally activate the converted flush valve.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel optical sensors and novel methods for sensing optical radiation. The novel optical sensors and the novel optical sensing methods are used, for example, for controlling the operation of automatic faucets and flushers. The novel sensors and flow controllers (including control electronics and valves) require only small amounts of electrical power for sensing users of bathroom facilities, and thus enable battery operation for many years. A passive optical sensor includes a light detector sensitive to ambient (room) light for controlling the operation of automatic faucets or automatic bathroom flushers.

Abstract: A multizone irrigation system includes a central control unit having a central control system interfaced with a central valve and a central communication unit. The central valve regulates water flow for irrigation from a water source and can lower water pressure in the pipes at its output. The central communication unit is constructed to transmit or receive pressure based communication signals providing irrigation information. Each zone includes a sprinkler control unit having a sprinkler connected to a water pipe for irrigation. Each sprinkler control unit includes a local controller interfaced with a local valve for controlling water flow to the sprinkler. The sprinkler control unit also includes a local communication unit (e.g., a pressure sensor) constructed to receive communication signals from the central communication unit and provide received irrigation information to the local controller.

Abstract: An actuator base, bobbin, and pole piece form a pocket for an armature that a flexible membrane encloses to form an armature chamber filled with an incompressible fluid. The membrane protects the armature from exposure to corrosive fluids flowing in a conduit. Conduit flow can be stopped by driving the membrane against a valve seat. Pressure from the controlled fluid in the conduit is transmitted through the membrane to the fluid within the armature chamber so that the armature does not need to counteract force applied to the membrane by the conduit fluid's pressure.

Abstract: A tank-type flusher includes an intake valve, i.e., a fill valve, a diaphragm-operated flush valve, and a pressure control mechanism. The intake valve is connected to an external water source and is constructed to close water flow to a water storage tank at about a predefined water level in the water tank. The diaphragm-operated flush valve is constructed to control a flush valve member between a seated state and an unseated state allowing water discharge from the water tank into a toilet bowl. There is a diaphragm, separating a flush-valve chamber and a pilot chamber, arranged to seal the flush-valve chamber and thereby maintain pressure forcing the flush valve member to the seated state preventing the water discharge from the water storage tank to the toilet bowl.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel optical sensors and novel methods for sensing optical radiation that can be used to control the operation of automatic faucets and flushers. The novel sensors and flow controllers require only small amounts of electrical power for sensing users of bathroom facilities, enabling battery operation for many years. An electronic system for controlling fluid flow may include an electromagnetic actuator, a controller and an optical sensor. Preferred embodiments include a control circuit constructed to sample periodically the detector based on the amount of light detected; a control circuit constructed to adjust a sample period based on the detected amount of light after determining whether a facility is in use; a detector optically coupled to the input port using an optical fiber; the input port may be located in an aerator of the electronic faucet; the system includes batteries for powering the electronic faucet.

Abstract: An actuator base (16), bobbin (14), and pole piece (24) form a pocket for an armature (30) that a flexible membrane (40) encloses to form an armature chamber filled with an incompressible fluid. The membrane (40) protects the armature (30) from exposure to corrosive fluids flowing in a conduit (44). Conduit flow can be stopped by driving the membrane (40) against a valve seat (54). Pressure from the fluid in the conduit (44) is transmitted though the membrane to the fluid within the armature chamber so that the armature does not need to counteract force applied to the membrane (40) by the conduit fluid's pressure.

Abstract: A water irrigation system includes a water input port, a controller, and a valve device. The water input port is constructed to be coupled to a water conduit receiving water from a remotely located water source. The controller is located near the water input port and is connected to at least one sensor. The valve device includes an actuator located near and connected to the water input port; wherein the valve device is constructed to receive control signals from the controller for providing water to a water delivery unit. The controller is usually battery operated. The actuator may be a latching actuator, a non-latching actuator, or an isolated latching actuator. The sensor may be a precipitation sensor, a humidity sensor, a soil moisture sensor, a light sensor, a temperature sensor or any other sensor used for providing information to the controller.

Abstract: A tank-type flusher is located in the water storage tank for flushing a toilet. The tank-type flusher includes an intake valve and a flush valve. The intake valve is connected to an external water source and constructed to close water flow to the water storage tank at about a predefined water level in the water tank. The flush valve is constructed to control a flush valve member between a seated state and an unseated state allowing water discharge from the water tank into a toilet bowl. The tank-type flusher may be controlled by a sensor module located at a reference location external to the water storage tank.

Abstract: An automatic bathroom flusher includes a body having an inlet in communication with a supply line and an outlet in communication with a flush conduit, a valve assembly in the body positioned to close water flow between the inlet and the outlet upon sealing action of a moving member at a valve seat thereby controlling flow from the inlet to the outlet, an actuator for actuating operation of the moving member, and a controller.

Abstract: A meter (10) for measuring cervical dilation during labor includes rings (20 and 22) that fit at the bases of the user's fingers (24 and 26). Pivot arms (14 and 16) mount the rings (20 and 22) at one end and a scale and indicator (30) at the other end. Scale indicia indicate the separation of the rings. Ring separation can be translated into the separation of the finger tips and thus into cervical dilation.

Abstract: A meter (10) for measuring cervical dilation during labor includes rings (20 and 22) that fit at the bases of the user's fingers (24 and 26). Pivot arms (14 and 16) mount the rings (20 and 22) at one end and a scale and indicator (30) at the other end. Scale indicia indicate the separation of the rings. Ring separation can be translated into the separation of the finger tips and thus into cervical dilation.