IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0480780
(2006-07-03)
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등록번호 |
US-7690623
(2010-05-20)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Parsons, Natan E.
- Guler, Fatih
- Herbert, Kay
- Mo, Xiaoxiong
- Greene, Gregory P.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Arichell Technologies Inc.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
16 인용 특허 :
173 |
초록
▼
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,
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.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A faucet including a sensor-based flow-control system, comprising: a conduit having at least one water inlet and an outlet for providing water; a main valve interposed in said conduit and controlled by an electromechanical actuator receiving control signals for switching betw
What is claimed is: 1. A faucet including a sensor-based flow-control system, comprising: a conduit having at least one water inlet and an outlet for providing water; a main valve interposed in said conduit and controlled by an electromechanical actuator receiving control signals for switching between an open state of said valve permitting water flow through the conduit, and a closed state of said valve preventing water flow through the conduit; said main valve including a pilot valve; and a proximity sensor associated with the faucet and constructed to generate sensor output signals to an electronic control circuit constructed and arranged to provide said control signals to said electromechanical actuator. 2. The faucet of claim 1 wherein the control circuit begins a timing interval only if no previous timing interval is incomplete. 3. The faucet defined in claim 1 wherein said proximity sensor is a capacitive-type sensor. 4. The faucet defined in claim 3 wherein the faucet includes a faucet head and said sensor includes: an electrically conductive pad incorporated into a wall of the faucet head and surrounded by electrically insolating material, and an electrical lead connecting the pad to said control circuit. 5. The faucet defined in claim 1 wherein the faucet includes a faucet head including a battery for energizing the control circuit and the actuator. 6. The faucet defined in claim 1 wherein the faucet includes means for connecting the control circuit to a power source. 7. The faucet defined in claim 1 wherein the faucet includes a faucet head including a shell removably mounted to the housing and having an open top, and a cap removably secured to the shell to provide access to the control circuit in the faucet head, the proximity sensor being incorporated into the cap and including a spring contact connecting the proximity sensor to said control circuit. 8. The faucet defined in claim 1 wherein said actuator is of a latching type. 9. The faucet defined in claim 8 wherein the latching actuator is of the isolated type. 10. A faucet including a sensor-based flow-control system, comprising: a housing mounted on a countertop; a conduit having at least one water inlet and an outlet for providing water and being located inside said housing; a main valve located inside said housing and interposed in said conduit and controlled by an electromechanical actuator receiving control signals for switching between an open state of said valve permitting flow of water through the conduit, and a closed state of said valve preventing water flow through the conduit; a proximity sensor constructed to generate sensor output signals to an electronic control circuit constructed and arranged to provide said control signals to said electromechanical actuator; a user interface associated with said electronic control circuit and constructed to communicate with a user, said user interface further including an acoustic interface constructed to communicate with said user; and a battery located inside said housing. 11. The faucet of claim 10, wherein said proximity sensor is a capacitive sensor. 12. The faucet of claim 11, wherein said proximity sensor includes a conductive element incorporated into a wall of said faucet. 13. The faucet of claim 11, wherein said control circuit is constructed to adjust automatically sensitivity levels of said proximity sensor. 14. The faucet of claim 10 including a spout encompassing a portion of said conduit including said outlet constructed and arranged to deliver water, and further including an infrared transceiver located on a distal part of said spout between said outlet and a user. 15. The faucet of claim 14 wherein said infrared transceiver includes a light emitting diode and an infrared sensor. 16. The faucet of claim 15 wherein said light emitting diode directs an infrared light beam downward from said spout, and said infrared sensor detects light reflected from a hand of said user. 17. A faucet including a sensor-based flow-control system, comprising: a housing mounted on a countertop; a conduit having at least one water inlet and an outlet for providing water and being located inside said housing; a main valve located inside said housing and interposed in said conduit and controlled by an electromechanical actuator receiving control signals for switching between an open state of said valve permitting flow of water through the conduit, and a closed state of said valve preventing water flow through the conduit; a proximity sensor constructed to generate sensor output signals to an electronic control circuit constructed and arranged to provide said control signals to said electromechanical actuator; a user interface associated with said electronic control circuit and constructed to communicate with a user, said user interface being constructed to communicate with a user by providing signals to a user in form of a predetermined number of water bursts emitted from said outlet by opening and closing said valve; and a battery located inside said housing. 18. The faucet of claim 17 wherein said user interface further includes an optical interface constructed to communicate with a user. 19. The faucet of claim 10 further including a second proximity sensor. 20. The faucet of claim 17, wherein said proximity sensor is a capacitive sensor. 21. The faucet of claim 20, wherein said proximity sensor includes a conductive element incorporated into a wall of said faucet. 22. A faucet including a sensor-based flow-control system, comprising: a housing mounted on a countertop; a conduit having at least one water inlet and an outlet for providing water and being located inside said housing; a main valve located inside said housing and interposed in said conduit and controlled by an electromechanical actuator receiving control signals for switching between an open state of said valve permitting flow of water through the conduit, and a closed state of said valve preventing water flow through the conduit; a proximity sensor constructed to generate sensor output signals to an electronic control circuit constructed and arranged to provide said control signals to said electromechanical actuator; a user interface associated with said electronic control circuit and constructed to communicate with a user, said user interface being is constructed to communicate a low battery state; and a battery located inside said housing. 23. The faucet of claim 22, wherein said proximity sensor is a capacitive sensor. 24. The faucet of claim 23, wherein said proximity sensor includes a conductive element incorporated into a wall of said faucet. 25. A faucet including a sensor-based flow-control system, comprising: a housing mounted on a countertop; a conduit having at least one water inlet and an outlet for providing water and being located inside said housing; a main valve located inside said housing and interposed in said conduit and controlled by an electromechanical actuator receiving control signals for switching between an open state of said valve permitting flow of water through the conduit, and a closed state of said valve preventing water flow through the conduit; a proximity sensor constructed to generate sensor output signals to an electronic control circuit constructed and arranged to provide said control signals to said electromechanical actuator; a user interface associated with said electronic control circuit and constructed to communicate with a user, said user interface being constructed to communicate an electrical problem in the faucet; and a battery located inside said housing. 26. The faucet of claim 25, wherein said proximity sensor is a capacitive sensor. 27. The faucet of claim 26, wherein said proximity sensor includes a conductive element incorporated into a wall of said faucet. 28. A faucet including a sensor-based flow-control system, comprising: a housing mounted on a countertop; a conduit having at least one water inlet and an outlet for providing water and being located inside said housing; a main valve located inside said housing and interposed in said conduit and controlled by an electromechanical actuator receiving control signals for switching between an open state of said valve permitting flow of water through the conduit, and a closed state of said valve preventing water flow through the conduit; a proximity sensor constructed to generate sensor output signals to an electronic control circuit constructed and arranged to provide said control signals to said electromechanical actuator; a user interface associated with said electronic control circuit and constructed to communicate with a user, wherein said user interface being constructed to communicate a mechanical problem in the faucet; and a battery located inside said housing. 29. The faucet of claim 28, wherein said proximity sensor is a capacitive sensor. 30. The faucet of claim 29, wherein said proximity sensor includes a conductive element incorporated into a wall of said faucet. 31. A faucet including a sensor-based flow-control system, comprising: a housing mounted on a countertop; a conduit having at least one water inlet and an outlet for providing water and being located inside said housing; a main valve located inside said housing and interposed in said conduit and controlled by an electromechanical actuator receiving control signals for switching between an open state of said valve permitting flow of water through the conduit, and a closed state of said valve preventing water flow through the conduit; a pilot valve associated with said electromechanical actuator constructed to control said water flow; a proximity sensor constructed to generate sensor output signals to an electronic control circuit constructed and arranged to provide said control signals to said electromechanical actuator; said proximity sensor being constructed to detect change of capacitance cause by proximity of a user to said housing; and a battery located inside said housing. 32. The faucet of claim 31, wherein said proximity sensor includes a conductive element incorporated into a wall of the faucet. 33. The faucet of claim 31, wherein said control circuit is constructed to adjust automatically sensitivity levels of said proximity sensor. 34. The faucet of claim 31 including a user interface associated with said electronic control circuit and constructed to communicate with a user. 35. The faucet of claim 34, wherein said user interface is constructed to communicate with a user by providing signals to a user in form of a predetermined number of water bursts emitted from said outlet by opening and closing said valve. 36. The faucet of claim 34 wherein said user interface further includes an acoustic interface constructed to communicate with a user. 37. The faucet of claim 34 wherein said user interface further includes an optical interface constructed to communicate with a user. 38. The faucet of claim 31 further including a second proximity sensor.
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