초록 ▼

An automatic faucet (100) includes a faucet (102) through which flow is controlled by an electronically operated valve (108). A sensing apparatus (104) senses the motion of objects below the faucet (102) and causes the valve (108) to open when sensed objects exhibit motion that meets certain predete

An automatic faucet (100) includes a faucet (102) through which flow is controlled by an electronically operated valve (108). A sensing apparatus (104) senses the motion of objects below the faucet (102) and causes the valve (108) to open when sensed objects exhibit motion that meets certain predetermined criteria. Operation of the valve (108) in response to motion that is not intended to cause water flow is reduced by a technique that involves computing an “average”distance, which represents the position assumed by a sensed stationary object. Specifically, objects sensed near the average distance must exhibit motion more consistently than other objects because the former objects are more likely to be splashing water, which should not result in the valve\s being opened. Also, some motion greater than 1.5 inches between sensing cycles is ignored because there is a significant likelihood that such apparent motion is caused by the intermittent “disappearance”of a standing-water surface acting as a sonic mirror. To reduce the undesirable insensitivity that might otherwise result from this 1.5-inch threshold, the threshold is increased to 3 inches when the apparent motion does not include a position separated from the sensor by more than the average distance.

대표청구항 ▼

A flow-control system, adapted for connection to an electrically operated valve that operates between open and closed states in response to electrical control signals applied thereto, for applying control signals to the electrically operated valve, the flow control system comprising: A. a position s

A flow-control system, adapted for connection to an electrically operated valve that operates between open and closed states in response to electrical control signals applied thereto, for applying control signals to the electrically operated valve, the flow control system comprising: A. a position sensor for repeatedly sensing the distances to objects and for generating distance signals representing the sensed distances; and B. control means responsive to the distance signals for computing an average-distance value from the sensed distances and for applying control signals to the valve to open and close it in accordance with predetermined criteria applied to the sensed distances, which criteria are different when the sensed distance is greater than the average-distance value from what they are when the sensed distance is less than the average-distance.