Automatic Toilet Flusher

[Techbuilder]

Hi everyone maybe you can help me out

My room mates never flush the toilet and no matter how much I yell at them
they still do not flush the toilet.

I want to build an automatic toilet flusher so all they have todo is pass there hand by it or just have a timer when it detected someone.

Here's what I have an idea of what I need

1 servo

1 Pic micro controller 16F627A

1 Ir receiver

1 Ir led

and I already know the resistors and caps I need.

Should I go with a different approach for programing or do you think that this sounds like a pretty solid toilet flusher?

[Acetronics2]

Hi,

2nd Idea :

" My room mates never flush the toilet and no matter how much I yell at them
they still do not flush the toilet."

Is it really their duty to do that ...


Now, talking electronics ...

the "industrial" toilets flushers work like that ... and some I know ( mainly highway and hospital toilets ) use the 16F628 chip !!!

the only difference is commercial ones use an electro-valve.


Interesting point ...

Think to what happens if mains failure lasts a bit ...

Alain

[Pic_User]

Hi everyone maybe you can help me out

My room mates never flush the toilet and no matter how much I yell at them
they still do not flush the toilet.

I want to build an automatic toilet flusher so all they have todo is pass there hand by it or just have a timer when it detected someone.

Here's what I have an idea of what I need

1 servo

1 Pic micro controller 16F627A

1 Ir receiver

1 Ir led

and I already know the resistors and caps I need.

Should I go with a different approach for programing or do you think that this sounds like a pretty solid toilet flusher?

Hi Techbuilder,

No sense “re-inventing the wheel”.
To get an idea of various ways, already in use.

Paste this:
automatic flush infrared

Into here:
http://www.google.com/patents

It is perfectly legal and acceptable to adopt patent ideas for your own use, but not for resale or distribution.
(Edit: For the record. The above statement is incorrect. It is NOT “legal and acceptable to adopt patent ideas for your own use”. The law allows some very special exceptions but I was in error stating this so broadly. Thanks to tenaja for correcting my mistake. –Adam-)

You can get an idea of what is needed to “do the job”. The whole mechanical side may be a problem.

-Adam-

[sayzer]

Here is another idea.

Install all your IR equipment there.

But, connect the circuit to the door lock.

If the toilet is NOT flushed, the door remains locked.


This way, your roomies will learn to listen to you and also will learn to flush it.

When they eventually flash, play an MP3 saying "AHAA !"


--------------------

[Luciano]

Hi,

On Monday, Lego celebrated the 50th anniversary of the day
it filed its first patent for the iconic plastic brick....

Lego Mindstorms NXT automatic toilet flusher:
http://www.battlebricks.com/roboflush/index.html

Link to the video:


Best regards,

Luciano

[Techbuilder]

lol that would be funny to lock them in


Although the patents didn't have the simplicity I was looking for

I know the mechanical way I want to set it up I just don't know what would be easier to program.

Any ideas?

I was thinking about purchasing the Sharp GP2D12
but instead I already have an IR receiver and IR Led.

What do you think the best approach is?

[Acetronics2]

I was thinking about purchasing the Sharp GP2D12
but instead I already have an IR receiver and IR Led.

What do you think the best approach is?

Best or simpliest ???

for "private" use the sharp module will HIGHLY simplify the thing ( and the programming ! ) ...

looking to the cost ... an IR Led, plus a phototrans. will make it.

Alain

[Techbuilder]

Well I do want the simplest
but I don't have very much money either.

I have a book that kind of describes what I want to do but it is in assembly or c,
I can't tell but it's not in basic.

What would you describe the level of difficulty of the programming going with the cheap option?

[tenaja]

It is perfectly legal and acceptable to adopt patent ideas for your own use, but not for resale or distribution....

Actually, this is not a true statement. Sure, it is highly unlikely you will get caught or sued, but if you do get caught, you may find yourself in court (or settling).

[Jerson]

Hi everyone maybe you can help me out
Here's what I have an idea of what I need

1 servo

1 Pic micro controller 16F627A

1 Ir receiver

1 Ir led

and I already know the resistors and caps I need.

Should I go with a different approach for programing or do you think that this sounds like a pretty solid toilet flusher?

Well, you seem to be on the right track except that you need a solenoid valve to make this viable. Instead of the servo, you fit a solenoid valve in series with the flush outlet; of course you have to remove the manual flush valve. This will work on a direct inlet pipe only. No cisterns here.

The other 'political' approach is to do what my little kids do. "If you don't flush, next time, I will not flush"

JF

[Techbuilder]

I wouldn't need a solenoid if I have the servo

Here's how the servo is

(it's a rough sketch)

[Pic_User]

Hi Techbuilder,
A regular hobby servo actuating the flush handle, may not have enough torque. I guess the force needed depends upon the toilet model.
-Adam-

[Techbuilder]

Handle only requires 1 to 2 pounds to press down
And a hobby servo can do that easily.

That's why I decided to go with that

[Jerson]

If you think a servo will work, why not try it out? I have a hunch though ....

JF

[b1arrk5]

Take a look at the Parallax website, they have some tutorials that you can download. One of them gives an example of using the Basic Stamp freqout command to drive an infrared emitter, and then collecting the signal if it is reflected back by an object in close proximity. The neat thing about their approach is that they demonstrate that by changing the modulated frequency you can determine a relative distance to the object. So, no one in the room, no reflection, someone approaches the toilet, wait, they leave, then gosub flush. I would suggest that you also monitor the temperature of the water feed line into the toilet. If unused, the water temperature will be close to room temperature. If you sense a drop in temperature while the infrared sensor senses someone close, or shortly thereafter, then that person flushed, (your fresh water should be colder,) and you don't waste any water flushing a second time.

I'm sure that the infra-red information is in the 'Toddler' robot section of the Parallax site, and I think it appears in a few other places. You'll have to experiment to find the maximum range. Radio-Shack now carries some Parallax sensors, they have a passive infra-red motion sensor, I believe that it's only seven or eight dollars. Might be worth a look.

Good luck!

Jerry.

[Techbuilder]

That's kind of want to do

What I want is just an IR sensor that reads when a hand has been passed by it and turns the servo all the way to the left (or right) and flushes the toilet.

I made a drawing

[Pic_User]

Some ideas about this here:
Infrared Proximity Sensor
http://www.g9toengineering.com/AllSa...dproximity.htm

-Adam-

[Techbuilder]

Some ideas about this here:
Infrared Proximity Sensor
http://www.g9toengineering.com/AllSa...dproximity.htm

-Adam-

This is exactly what I am talking about

but how hard would it be to interface with a PIC?

[BobK]

Hi Techbuilder,

I really like your determination to build something. BUT, if they won't flush the toilet, what makes you think they'll wave their hand in front of a motion sensor that'll cause the toilet to flush? Here's an idea---get an under the carpet pressure pad and hook it up to an 12Fpic. Get a pretty pink toilet mat to pu over the pad. The system will sit in a WHILE/WEND loop until the USER is off the pad then it activates your solenoid to flush the toilet. Oh my gosh. I can feel the idea juices starting to flow. Is it exciting. Keep going and let us know your progress. I love this idea stuff.

HTH,

BobK

[Techbuilder]

Hey Pic_User or anyone

Is it difficult to interface the that link that you gave me to a pic?

All I want it to do is when it comes in contact, to rotate the servo all the way to the right or all the way to the left.

[Pic_User]

Hey Pic_User or anyone

Is it difficult to interface the that link that you gave me to a pic?

All I want it to do is when it comes in contact, to rotate the servo all the way to the right or all the way to the left.

Hi Techbuilder,

search Google:
IS471FE
Find this (second hit):
http://document.sharpsma.com/files/L...ce-opic_AN.pdf
On this Sharp application note:
Light Detecting Device-opic
Search for:
IS471FE
Page 5 tells us:
the parameters of the IS471FE
Page 24 shows us the internal / external hook-ups of the IS471FE
<IMG SRC="http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2326&stc=1&d=120200443 9">
Mostly it looks like it will operate with 5V DC input.
It has “open collector” output.
It has a built in 10k “pull-up” resistor.

so it LOOKs like you could use a circuit like this:
<IMG SRC="http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2325&stc=1&d=120200428 1">
Thanks to:
Garrett Hamilton–Smith, Raihan Khondker, and Will Norris,
School of Information Technology and Engineering, University of Ottawa
http://www.g9toengineering.com/AllSa...dproximity.htm

-Adam-

[Techbuilder]

Hi Techbuilder,

search Google:
IS471FE
Find this (second hit):
http://document.sharpsma.com/files/L...ce-opic_AN.pdf
On this Sharp application note:
Light Detecting Device-opic
Search for:
IS471FE
Page 5 tells us:
the parameters of the IS471FE
Page 24 shows us the internal / external hook-ups of the IS471FE
<IMG SRC="http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2326&stc=1&d=120200443 9">
Mostly it looks like it will operate with 5V DC input.
It has “open collector” output.
It has a built in 10k “pull-up” resistor.

so it LOOKs like you could use a circuit like this:
<IMG SRC="http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2325&stc=1&d=120200428 1">
Thanks to:
Garrett Hamilton–Smith, Raihan Khondker, and Will Norris,
School of Information Technology and Engineering, University of Ottawa
http://www.g9toengineering.com/AllSa...dproximity.htm

-Adam-

Thanks, would it be hard to compile a code to detect using this method?

[Pic_User]

Hi Techbuilder,

You could consider the module like a push button. Your program would need to watch for a low or 0 (zero) to know someone / some thing had come close to the sensor module.

-Adam-

[Techbuilder]

Ohh ok

I get it

So if I want to change the range to about 6 inches would that be done by changing the resistance to the IR leds?

[gebillpap]

Maybe this can work better in case it is only code problem
Loop:
If IRLED1 =1 then
for a=1 to 100 'allow several pulses for the servo to reach the requested position
Pulsout 0,140 'could be 100=1ms to 200=2ms
pause 10
next a
else
pulsout 0,150 '150=1,5ms middle position
pause 10
endif
Goto Loop



Also check your servo if it is damaged since you power it with 9V instead of the usual 5V most RC servos work.

Bill

[Techbuilder]

Thanks

I appreciate it

Although the servo was modified along time ago for continuous rotation,
Although it still works

5volts is actually low for a servo, that's the lowest amount of voltage you can imply.
In the book I own PIC basic projects
it has a servo page and it states that servos can run from 5vdc to 9vdc and 5volts was not recommended.

I tested it out and it works fine

I believe for it to be the sensor

[mackrackit]

Post the code you are currently trying.

Write the code to make a pin high or low output. No pulses for testing and use an LED instead of the servo.

What is the voltage at the sensor out put when connected to the PIC?

[Techbuilder]

Doesn't RBO and RB1 and so fourth supply 5+ to the pin?

[skimask]

Doesn't RBO and RB1 and so fourth supply 5+ to the pin?

Yep, at roughly 25mA per pin, at MOST! Try to draw any more than that, and you'll end with a pin that won't supply squat.

[mackrackit]

Doesn't RBO and RB1 and so fourth supply 5+ to the pin?

In your case RB0 is an input so it is looking for 0 volts to 1.2 volts for a LOW and 3.6 volts to 5 for HIGH. It is best to use a pull up or pull down resistor so the pin will be 0 or 5 and not floating around. Another part or two but I like using external pulls and not rely on the internals.

So, when the sensor is sending its high signal to the PIC and connected to the PIC, what is the voltage.

Try making the pin high or low with out the sensor.