Technical field

The present invention relates to an information display- device comprising display means to display content for conveying said content to a user. In particular, the present invention relates to an information display device arranged in the context of a hygienic service facility, such as a restroom, a toilet, a sink, a shower, a bathroom, and the like. The present invention also relates to corresponding installations of hygienic service facilities . The present invention further relates to an involved display mirroring device and to method corresponding to the above .

Background

Information display devices are broadly known in the conventional arts for conveying any type of content to people that pass by an information display device or also consult an information display device in order to retrieve specific desired information . For example , information display devices already find broad application in the context of public and non-public environments , such as airports, train stations , restrooms , office buildings , sport venues, stadia, and the like. Said information display devices comprise display means to display content for conveying said content to observers (users, visitors, and the like) in any suitable form. Specifically, it is known to display content in the form of travel information (train/flight departure/arrival information, news , headlines , general information and alerts , advertisements , etc . ) . This kind of content may be in any suitable form, including, for example , graphical , image , text , video, audio, content , multimedia, and any combination thereof .

As a more specific example , it is also known to install information display devices in the context of hygienic service facilities , such as a restroom, toilet , urinal , and the like . In such installations , the information display device is configured to display content relating to specific information and/or advertisement content . For example , if the hygienic service facility is installed in the context of an airport , the information display devices may convey content to users of the hygienic service facility regarding flight departure and or/arrival information.

At the same time , the information display device may be configured to convey advertisement content to the users , this alternatively or in combination with any other suitable information. There are , for example, installations , whe e an information display device is arranged atop a urinal sink, so that a user of the urinal can watch information and/or advertisement content during use of the hygienic service facility . Similar installations exist in the context of toilets, and other hygienic service facilities .

However, the conventional arts so far do not take into account a specific geometry, arrangement, and use behavior of hygienic service facilities as regards the employment of information display device . Especially, a mutual dependence on elements and components of the hygienic service facility as such and installed information display devices not sufficiently appreciated.

For example, in the case of a toilet, a user normally enters a toilet booth through a door, moves toward the toilet and then turns around for sitting down on the toilet bowl. The conventional arts consider the installation of a related information display device so that the user can watch the content during use of the service facility or that the user can watch content only during entering the booth and/or operating the flushing action. Both alternatives suffer from drawbacks in that either the information display device needs to be installed more or less remotely from the remainder of the installation (e. g. flushing control mechanisms and the like, where also a mains line may exist) or that the time a user spends with a hygienic service facility is not used efficiently for conveying content. Especially the latter may be of concern in the cases that advertisement content is to be conveyed to users of the hygienic service facility.

There is therefore a need for an improved information display device, especially in the context of being installed with a hygienic service facility that is preferably able to both increase the efficiency of content conveyance and/or facilitate the installation as such. There is also a need for a related an improved installation of a hygienic service facility.

Summary

The mentioned problems are solved by the subject-matter of the independent claims. Further preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an information display device comprising display means to display content for conveying said content to a user and display control means configured to receive a notification indicating a person entering a vicinity of the information display device , and to mirror the content displayed, on said display means in response to receiving said notification.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an a signal processing unit adapted to receive an input signal suitable to convey image information to display means , said unit being further configured to receive a control signal from an external circuitry, and to generate and output an output signal conveying image information bei g mirrored in respect to said image information to be displayed on said display means .

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an installation of a hygienic service facility comprising a hygienic service facility; a sensor for sensing a person entering a vicinity of the hygienic service facility; and a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention and that is arranged in the vicinity of said hygienic service facility .

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of conveying content to a user of a hygienic service facility comprising the steps of displaying content on display means of an information display device ; receiving a notification indicating a person entering a vicinity of the hygienic service facility, and mirroring the content displayed on said display means in response to receiving said notification . Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the present invention, which are presented for better understanding the inventive concepts and which are not to be seen as limiting the invention, will now be described with reference to the figures in which:

Figures 1A and IB show schematic views from different perspectives of an information display device according to an embodiment of the present invention being installed in the context of an exemplary hygienic service facility;

Figures 2A and 2B show schematic views of an information display device conveying content and mirrored content according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a schematic view of display control means and control means according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 4A and 4B show schematic views signal processing units according to further embodiments of the present invention; and

Figure 5 shows a flowchart of a general method embodiment of the present invention .

Detailed Description

Figures 1A and IB show schematic views from different perspectives of an information display device according to an embodiment of the present invention being installed in the context of an exemplary hygienic service facility. Specifically, Figures 1A and IB show different perspectives of an installation 1 of a service facility in the form of a toiled booth. As usual, installation 1 comprises a toilet bowl 11, control means 12, a toilet paper dispenser 15, and a booth door 2, As usual, the booth door 2 can be arranged on the opposite side of the toilet bowl 11, but, of course can also be installed on other parts of the toilet booth as it is common in the various installations in the field.

Control means 12 may comprise further elements that are arranged to control and/or operate actions in conjunction with the toilet bowl 11. Specifically, control means 12 may implement any one of a flushing action, deodorization action, disinfection action, and the like. For this purpose, control means 12 may comprise magnetic valves, sensors, communication means, control units, and the like. For example, control means 12 may comprise a proximity sensor in the form of an infrared sensor (PIR sensor) , that senses the vicinity of a user of toilet bowl 11. If this sensor senses that a user moves away from toilet bowl 11, it may activate a flushing action by means of operating one or more valves. Similarly, this sensor may well also detect the opposite situation, namely that a person moves into the vicinity of the facility. Likewise, control means 12 may comprise elements implementing functions such as counting and/or reporting a use of the facility, heating the toiled bowl seat, disinfecting the toilet bowl seat, operating a bidet shower, sensing a user to sit down on toilet bowl 11, and the like.

In the shown environment of hygienic service facility 1, there is further installed an information display device comprising display means 14 and display control means 13. Display means 14 may be in any suitable form, including an LCD display, an OLED display, an LED display, and a display of related or alternative technologies. Display means 14 may further comprise means for protecting a display panel from the environment, specifically with regard to any one of humidity, liquids, detergents, water, dust, dirt, vandalism., damage, and the like. Information display device further comprises display control means 13 that are arranged to produce a signal 93 for the display means 14 so that the latter can display an intended content. For example, display control means 13 generates electric signals 93 that instruct display means 14 so as to display a specific graphical content for a specific time. In this way, any type of text, graphical, image, video content can be rendered on display means 14 and, with this, conveyed to a user that observes information display device.

According to the present embodiment, display control means 13 are configured to receive a notification indicating a person entering a vicinity of the information display device. Specifically, display control means 13 may be configured to receive such a notification from any suitable element of installation 1. For example, the notification may be obtained from control means 12 based on any suitable sensor or instruction data being available inside means 12, For example, a proximity sensor or a sit down sensor may detect that a user is in the vicinity of the hygienic service facility in that he/she is close to the toilet bowl 11 or sits down. Especially detecting a sit down action may be effected by a dedicated sensor 17-1 arranged inside or in the vicinity of the toilet seat. This sensor can comprise a near range infrared detector and/or an electrical switch or other means that react to weight being exerted onto the toilet seat .

Additionally or alternatively, a proximity sensor 17-2 may detect a person inside booth 1 and, therefore, may determine the person being in the vicinity of the hygienic service facility. Additionally or alternatively, sensors 17-3, 17-4, and 17-5 may be installed for detecting the closing of door 2 and/or the locking thereof . By means of the present disclosure it should be clear that any suitable means may be provided that are able to generate a notification that indicates that a person enters the vicinity of the information display device which is , in turn, installed in the vicinity of a corresponding hygienic service facility .

According to the present embodimen , the information display device is further configured to mirror the content displayed on said display means 14 in response to receiving the notification . In other words , the information display device may be configured to display any type of aforementioned content in some kind of state that it can be directly observed by a user f om display means 14. The content , however, is mirrored once it is determined that a person enters the vicinity of the information display device . For example, this notification may be launched when any one of the sensors detect that a person is sufficiently close to the device and, with this the toilet bowl 11. Further, also the sit down action may launch the notification. In general , the vicinity of the hygienic service facility may coincide with the vicinity of the information display device ate least with respect to said notification and the situation when the displayed content is to be mirrored.

Following the launch and reception of the notification, the display control means 13 and or alternative components mirror the content displayed on display means 14. From this moment on, the content is displayed in a mirrored fashion so that it can be observed via a mirror 16 or another reflective surface that is arranged, for example , on the inside of booth door 2 , which is , in the present example , arranged on the opposite side of display means 14. In this way, the content being displayed on display means 14 may be advantageously observed via mirror 16 also when the user turns away from display means 14 , e.g. is sitting down on toilet bowl 11. According to this embodiment , a horizontal mirroring (flipping) of the displayed content is considered.

Advantageously , much more time is available for conveying any type of desirable content from the time that the user spends with hygienic service facility 1. For example , the user may be provided with content being displayed on display means 14 when he or she is entering the booth and approaches the hygienic service facility . Usually, the user looks into the direction where he/she is heading so that display means 14 may directly be in the user ^' s field of view . By means of mirroring the content displayed on display means 14 and providing mirror 16 at an appropriate location and position, the user may continue observing the content displayed on display means 14 , even if he/she turns away from display means 14 during the common intended use of toilet bowl 11.

According to a further embodiment , the content is not only mirrored but also adapted in response to receiving the notification . In this way, a degree of attention of the user may be accounted for, in that , for example , a still picture is displayed on display means 14 prior to receiving a notification . The user approaching the hygienic service facility may be distracted so that his/her attention to any contents of display means 14 may be diminished. As static type of content (e.g. still picture) may, nevertheless , provide some content penetration to the user also in this state . Once the user sits down on toilet bowl 11 , the attention state may vary so that not only a mirrored content is displayed on display means 14 , but the content may at the same time or later switched/adapted to moving pictures (video) , possibly also including audio . The time where the user is in a more relaxed state can be therefore exploited more efficiently so that the overall information and content conveyance efficiency can be drastically improved by the embodiments of the present invention.

According to a further embodiment, a first proximity of a user is determined for turning on the display of content on said display means 14. For exam le , said first proximity can be determined when a person enters the toilet booth, closes the doo , or is , generally, close enough to the facility . This may advantageously save energy, since the display means and possibly other components can be turns off or to a power saving state when not observed by anyone . Said notification can then be generated when the person enters , here , a second vicinity that is to some respect closer to the facility as compared to the first vicinity . For example , a second IR sensor may detect a person so close , via a predetermined threshold distance , that it can be assumed that the user is about to sit down or has sat down on, for example , a toilet seat .

Figures 2A and 2B show schematic views of an information display device conveying content and mirrored content according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig . 2A, this embodiment firstly assumes that the display means 14 associated to some hygienic service facility displays a first content 91-1. The display and any other actions may be controlled by display control means 13 being provided in or for the service facility and/or display means 1 . Meanwhile, the reception of a notification triggers mirroring of content on display means 14. In response to the notification, the contents displayed on display means 14 is mirrored so as to display contents 13-2 as shown in Fig . 2B . While the first display of the first content 91-1 may be of general nature , i.e. being of interest to as many users as possible or being adapted to lower degree of attention of users , the second contents 91-2 may be adapted to a higher degree of attention, possibly even tailored to a specific user group or even to a specific user.

Figure 3 shows a schematic view of display control means and control means according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, control means 12 comprise a processing unit 121 that is arranged to effect control over the provided functions of the corresponding hygienic service facility. For example, control means 12 may comprise a proximity sensor 122 in the form of e.g. an infrared sensor (PIR) . By means of sensor 122 , the control unit 121 can determine whether a user approaches a hygienic service facility, stands or sits in the vicinity thereof , or is moving away .

This information can serve as a basis for controlling one or more valves 123. For example , one valve 123 may be arranged for initiating a flushing action by flushing a bowl with water . Alternatively or additionally, a magnetic valve can be used to add cleaning and/or the deodorization substances in conjunction with said flushing action or a dedicated cleaning/deodorization action. The valves may be electrically, electromagnetically, or magnetically controlled . Optionally, the valves are arranged together with a pump for initiating a flushing action. Furthermore, other sensors 124 may be provided for obtaining additional information. For example , sensor 124 may be a liquid level sensor that obtains data regarding a filling state of a liquid reservoir. Said reservoir may be for storing cleaning and or deodorization substances .

In general , the information and data obtained and involved in conjunction with the various sensors and elements 122 , 123 , 124 , etc . , can be used for generating said notification that can be , in turn, forwarded to and obtained by display control means 13. Said information and data can be raw data or processed data, but , in any way, is preferably suitable for obtaining some kind of information on the proximity of a user relative to the hygienic service facility and/or the information display device . For example , a situation in which a proximity of a user is detected may indicate that actual use of the facility has commenced or is about to commence . One or more predetermined time constants may apply for determining the launch of the notification and possibly also an additional adaptation of the displayed content . For example, a predetermined time af er proximity detection can be waited until the content is adapted/switched to the mirrored content which can take into account preparatory actions by the user before he/she is more relaxed in order to enj oy and/or perceive content . This may be exploited by embodiments of the present, invention by means of adapting the content displayed on display means 14.

Alternatively or additionally, content may be displayed that conveys some kind of instruction to a user . For example , the alternative content may convey information to a user such as "Thank you..." , "Please wash your hands..." , and the like . Furthermore , such information may be conveyed i conj unction with an additional alternative that is content displayed in response to receiving a further notification . For example , sensor data may be available that indicates initiating a flushing action which is probably in connection with ending actual use of a hygienic service facility.

For example , a static and simple content may remind the user to carry out a subsequent action (washing hands , using soap, drying hands , applying disinfection (e.g. alcoholic gel , alcogel) agents , and the like) . In these situations , the content may be displayed again to be observable directly from display means 14 , i.e. in a "non-mirrored" fashion . Conveying such content toward the end of actual use may minimize the time that passes until the user reaches to a further related facility and thus maximizes chances that the user still remembers the message and is thus more likely to wash his/her hands, and the like. In general, a sequence of several contents may be displayed in accordance with a use cycle whose characteristic times are determined by corresponding notifications and/or preset time constants.

Display control means 13 comprise a processing unit 131 for implementing display of content on display means 14. An interface 132 may be provided for implementing data exchange to control means 12 and/or other components and elements so as to receive a notification or related data and signals. Display control means 13 further comprise a display controller 134 and a memory unit 135. Display controller 134 is arranged to receive data and or instructions from control unit 131 as regards the display of content . Display controller 134 is further arranged to generate and output signals 93 that are suitable for instructing any involved display components to display the corresponding content . For example, display controller 134 generates electronic signals that make an LCD panel (or one of a related or equivalent technology) display a specific image for a specific time . In this way, display of graphical , text , or moving (video) content can be implemented .

According to further embodiments of the present invention, display control means 134 may be further configured to also generate signals that are suitable for generating an audio output . Further, display controller 134 may comprise means for flip (mirror) any contents to be displayed . According to a related embodiment , controller 134 may be con igured to invert column identifiers when scanning an image memory and when generating signal 93. In this way, a simple solution may effect mirroring without the need for increased image processing as seen from a processor side . The memory unit 135 may be provided for storing content data that is suitable for rendering any desired content on display means 14. For example, memory means 135 store video and/or audio data that can be conveyed by means of display controller 134 to display means 14. Alternatively, control unit 131 accesses memory means 135 for correspondingly instructing display controller 134 so as to convey the content to display means 14. Here it is assumed that controller 134 can also convey audio output, but it is likewise possible that a dedicated controller (not shown) and related means are provided for outputting audio .

Additionally, it may be provided that display control means 13 comprise a communication unit 133 that is arranged to exchange data with some kind of network. In one embodiment , control unit 131 instructs communication unit 133 to report use data regarding the use and/or state of the hygienic service facility 1 toward such a network . Additionally or alternatively, control unit 131 uses communication unit 133 to obtain one or more sets of data for displaying content on display means 14. Communication means 133 may be implemented in any suitable fashion so as to convey data 91 via a wireless or wire bound link toward a network . For example , communication means 133 is a wireless LAN (WLAN) unit or a unit that exchanges data toward a cellular communication network (GPRS, 3GPP, LTE , and the like) .

Figures 4A and 4B show schematic views of signal processing units according to further embodiments of the present invention . These units may be configured as stand-alone units with independent power supply and the like , so that they can be advantageously switched into an existing installation . According to this embodiment , signal processing unit is a device 18 that is arranged to receive an image signal 93 from a dis lay controller . For example a display controller produces signal 93 so as to be forwarded to a panel device for being displayed. For example, signal 93 may be in any form of a VGA signal, an HDMI signal, a composite video signal , and RGB signal , a USB signal , a Firewire signal , and a signal of related or equivalent technologies .

According to the present embodiment , device 18 is arranged to receive a notification 92 that indicates a person entering a vicinity of an information display device . In response to receiving said notification, device 18 is arranged to mirror the content to be displayed on the display means in that it generates a further image signal 93' that represents a mirrored version of the content conveyed by input signal 93. If no mirroring is to be effected, signal 93' may be a looped through and therefore substantially unaltered signal 93 , so that no mirroring takes place . For the purpose of mirroring {flipping the image ) however, device 18 may comprise any suitable means , including a mirroring circuitry, a digital signal processor (DSP) , a microprocessor, and the like .

The present embodiment may provide the advantage that the obj ects of the present invention are obtained by means of a minimal investment in that an existing installation can be expanded by device 18 , but still employing as much of the existing equipment as possible . Said existing equipment may include already control means for controlling and operating actions in connection with the hygienic service facility, existing sensors being arranged to detect a vicinity of a user to the hygienic service facility, and, with this , also to a related information display device . Likewise , the existing installation may already comprise an information display device for conveying content to a user of the hygienic service facility. By means of switching a device 18 into the signal path between the display control means and the display means , advantages of the embodiments of the present invention may be achieved with minimum effort . Figure 4B shows a schematic view of a further signal processing units according to another related embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, unit 18 ' may be provided with dedicated connectors 181 and 182 that simply allow to disconnect, in an existing solution, display means from display control means and to reconnect said display means to unit 18' and, likewise, unit 18' to display control means . A further connector 183 may be provided to ease connection of and/or interfacing to any involved sensor means providing the notification indicating a user entering or being inside a proximity to a hygienic service facility and an information display device .

Figure 5 shows a flowchart of a general method embodiment of the present invention. According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of conveying content to a user of a hygienic service facility comprising a step 501 of displaying content on display means of an information display device ; a step 502 of receiving a notification indicating a person entering a vicinity of the hygienic service facility, and a step 503 of mirroring the content displayed on said display means in response to receiving said notification. According to further embodiments , the method is modified to include one or more further steps so as to implement an information display device, a signal processing unit , or an installation according to a corresponding embodiment of the present invention .

Although detailed embodiments have been described, these only serve to provide a better understanding of the invention defined by the independent claims, and are not to be seen as limiting .