Containers with multiple sensors

What is this patent about?

’080 is related to the field of automated receptacle assemblies, specifically trashcans equipped with power-operated lids. In the context of modern home and commercial environments, these devices utilize sensors to provide hands-free operation, improving hygiene and convenience. However, traditional sensor-activated lids often suffer from accidental triggering caused by passersby or stationary environmental objects, leading to unnecessary battery drain and mechanical wear.

The underlying idea behind ’080 is the use of a multi-axis sensing strategy to distinguish between intentional user interaction and environmental noise. By employing a dual-zone approach—typically a vertical sensing region above the lid and a horizontal sensing region in front of the unit—the system can verify user intent. The invention leverages the spatial relationship between these zones to adjust sensitivity dynamically, ensuring the lid opens only when a user is actively engaged with the receptacle rather than simply walking past it.

The claims of ’080 focus on a sensor assembly comprising a controller and at least two transmitters with generally perpendicular transmission axes. The independent claims cover a logic sequence where the detection of an object in a first region (such as the vertical zone) triggers the controller to evaluate signals from a second transmitter (the horizontal zone). This architecture supports various operational states, including a high-sensitivity hyper-mode that expands the sensing range once an initial presence is detected, and a system for detecting contaminants on the sensor lens.

In practice, the invention functions by maintaining a low-power ready state that monitors the area immediately above the lid. Once a hand or object enters this primary zone, the controller activates additional horizontal transmitters to monitor the space in front of the trashcan. This allows the lid to remain open as long as the user is standing nearby, even if their hands move out of the initial trigger zone. Furthermore, the system incorporates environmental calibration to ignore stationary objects like cabinets or walls, and a potentiometer-based position sensor that tracks the lid’s physical location directly through the drive shaft, providing more reliable feedback than traditional optical flags.

This approach differentiates itself from prior art by moving beyond simple proximity detection to a more sophisticated, context-aware control logic. By integrating voice recognition via a microphone and speech-processing controller, the assembly offers a secondary, non-visual method for lid actuation. Additionally, the use of a variable-resistance position sensor coupled to the motor shaft allows the system to detect obstructions or manual overrides by monitoring voltage fluctuations, protecting the motor from damage and ensuring the device adapts to the physical realities of a busy kitchen or office environment.