IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0714443
(2010-02-27)
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등록번호 |
US-8418993
(2013-04-16)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear, LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
21 인용 특허 :
16 |
초록
▼
A system and method of Touch Free Automatic faucet controlled by electronic sensors provides a Primary-Water-Flow-Mode, a Continue-Water-Flow-Mode, a Temperature-Control-Mode, a Faucet-Pause-Mode, an Adjust-Water-Flow-Mode and a Flow-Temperature-Default-Setting-Mode for users to control faucet water
A system and method of Touch Free Automatic faucet controlled by electronic sensors provides a Primary-Water-Flow-Mode, a Continue-Water-Flow-Mode, a Temperature-Control-Mode, a Faucet-Pause-Mode, an Adjust-Water-Flow-Mode and a Flow-Temperature-Default-Setting-Mode for users to control faucet water flow and water temperature without touching any parts of faucet body. The system comprises at least three electronic sensors (infrared sensors), a logical processor circuit board, an electricity power supply package, a water flow control valve assembly, a temperature control valve assembly, at least one faucet body housing and at least one inlet fluid line. From the outputs of the sensors, the logical processor responds to the flow control valve assembly and to the temperature control valve assembly to control water flow and temperature to the faucet spout. This Touch Free Automatic faucet hence provides an easy-convenient operation, water conservation and personal hygiene protection for commercial and residential applications.
대표청구항
▼
1. A faucet apparatus for providing touch-free control of water flow, the faucet apparatus comprising: a spout configured to direct water flow into a sink;a logic processor;a first sensor zone comprising a first sensor, said first sensor facing the area in which the spout is configured direct water
1. A faucet apparatus for providing touch-free control of water flow, the faucet apparatus comprising: a spout configured to direct water flow into a sink;a logic processor;a first sensor zone comprising a first sensor, said first sensor facing the area in which the spout is configured direct water to flow, such that the first sensor is configured to detect an object in the first sensor zone and respond to the detection by providing input to the logic processor;a second sensor zone comprising a second sensor, said second sensor facing away from the area in which the spout is configured to cause water to flow, such that the second sensor is configured to detect an object in the second sensor zone and responds to the detection by providing input to the logic processor; anda third sensor zone comprising a third sensor, said third sensor facing away from the area in which the spout is configured to cause water to flow, such that the third sensor is configured to detect an object in the third sensor zone and respond to the detection by providing input to the logic processor; andwherein the logic processor is programmed to: determine whether an electronic representation of a flow state is in either a primary-water-flow-mode or a continuous-water-flow-mode;determine whether an electronic representation of a paused state is in either a paused-mode or a non-paused-mode;receive input from the first sensor indicating the presence of an object within the first sensor zone and, in response thereto, cause the spout to direct water flow while the input from the first sensor indicates that an object is present in the first sensor zone, if it is determined that the electronic representation of the paused state is in the non-paused-mode;cause the spout to stop directing water flow when the input from the first sensor indicates that no object is present within the first sensor zone, if it is determined that the electronic representation of the flow state is in the primary-water-flow-mode;receive input from the second sensor indicating the presence of an object within the second sensor zone and, in response thereto, if the electronic representation of the flow state is in the primary-water-flow-mode, change the electronic representation of the flow state from the primary-water-flow-mode to the continuous-water-flow-mode, and cause the spout to direct water flow regardless of whether an object is present in the first sensor zone;receive input from the second sensor indicating the presence of an object within the second sensor zone and, in response thereto, if the electronic representation of the flow state is in the continuous-water-flow-mode, change the electronic representation of the flow state from the continuous-water-flow-mode to the primary-water-flow-mode, and cause the spout to stop directing water flow unless an object is detected in the first sensor zone;receive input from the third sensor indicating the presence of an object within the third sensor zone and, in response thereto, if the electronic representation of the paused state is in the non-paused-mode, change the electronic representation of the paused state from the non-paused-mode to the paused-mode, thereby preventing the spout from directing water to flow regardless whether an object is present in the first sensor zone; andreceive input from the third sensor indicating the presence of an object within the third sensor zone and, in response thereto, if the electronic representation of the paused state is in the paused-mode, change the electronic representation of the paused state from the paused-mode to the non-paused-mode. 2. The faucet apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor faces away from the second sensor at about a 90 degree angle, and the first sensor faces away from the third sensor at about a 90 degree angle. 3. The faucet apparatus of claim 1, wherein the logic processor is further configured receive input from the second sensor indicating the presence of an object within the second sensor zone and, in response thereto, to either cause a change in the temperature of water directed from the spout, or to cause a change in the flow of water directed from the spout. 4. The faucet apparatus of claim 1, wherein the logic processor is further configured receive input from the third sensor indicating the presence of an object within the third sensor zone and, in response thereto, to either cause a change in the temperature of water directed from the spout, or to cause a change in the flow of water directed from the spout. 5. The faucet apparatus of claim 1, wherein the logic processor is further configured to, in response to the receipt of input from the first sensor, cause the spout to direct water at a preset temperature. 6. The faucet apparatus of claim 1, wherein the logic processor is further configured to, in response to the receipt of input from the first sensor, cause the spout to direct water at preset flow rate. 7. The faucet apparatus of claim 1, wherein the logic processor is further configured to receive input from the first sensor indicating the presence of an object within the first sensor zone for a time period and, in response thereto, cause the spout to direct water while the input from the first sensor indicates that an object is detected within the first sensor zone. 8. The faucet apparatus of claim 1, wherein the logic processor is further configured to cause the spout to stop directing water when the input from the first sensor indicates that no object has been detected within the first sensor zone for a time period. 9. The faucet apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second sensor and third sensor are each attached to a faucet sensor compartment that is separate from the spout. 10. The faucet apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises a first infrared receiver, the second sensor comprises a second infrared receiver, and the third sensor comprises a third infrared receiver. 11. The faucet apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first sensor comprises a first infrared transmitter, the second sensor comprises a second infrared transmitter, and the third sensor comprises a third infrared transmitter. 12. The faucet apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the second sensor zone is defined by a first secondary sensor and a second secondary sensor;the first secondary sensor configured to detect an object in a first detection area of the second sensor zone and the second secondary sensor configured to detect an object in a second detection area of the second sensor zone such that an object positioned in the first or second detection area can trigger the first or second secondary sensor, respectively, without triggering the other sensor. 13. The faucet apparatus of claim 12, wherein: the first secondary sensor is configured to detect an object in the first detection area of the second sensor zone and respond to the detection by providing input to the processor, and the second secondary sensor is configured to detect an object in the second detection area of the second sensor zone and respond to the detection by providing input to the processor; andthe processor is further programmed to: receive input from the first secondary sensor indicating the presence of an object within first detection area of the second sensor zone and, if the second secondary sensor does substantially contemporaneous provide input indicating the presence of an object within the second detection area of the second sensor zone, to cause a change in the temperature or flow of water directed from the spout;receive input from the second secondary sensor indicating the presence of an object within the second detection area of the second sensor zone and, if the first secondary sensor does not substantially contemporaneously provide input indicating the presence of an object within the first detection area of the second sensor zone, to cause a change in the temperature or flow of water directed from the spout;receive input from the first secondary sensor indicating the presence of an object within the first detection area of the second sensor zone and, substantially contemporaneously, receive input from the second secondary sensor indicating the presence of an object within the second detection area of the second sensor zone, and in response thereto, if the electronic representation of the flow state is in the primary-water-flow-mode, change the electronic representation of the flow state from the primary-water-flow-mode to the continuous-water-flow-mode, and cause the spout to direct water flow regardless of whether an object is present in the first sensor zone; andreceive input from the first secondary sensor indicating the presence of an object within the first detection area of the second sensor zone and, substantially contemporaneously, receive input from the second secondary sensor indicating the presence of an object within the second detection area of the second sensor zone, and in response thereto, if the electronic representation of the flow state is in the continuous-water-flow-mode, change the electronic representation of the flow state from the continuous-water-flow-mode to the primary-water-flow-mode, and cause the spout to stop directing water flow unless an object is detected in the first sensor zone. 14. The faucet apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first detection area of the second sensor zone does not overlap with the second detection area of the second sensor zone. 15. The faucet apparatus of claim 12, wherein either the first secondary sensor is the third sensor, or the second secondary sensor is the third sensor. 16. The faucet apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the third sensor zone is defined by a first tertiary sensor and a second tertiary sensor;the first tertiary sensor configured to detect an object in a first detection area of the third sensor zone and the second tertiary sensor configured to detect an object in a second detection area of the third sensor zone such that an object positioned in the first or second detection area can trigger the first or second tertiary sensor, respectively, without triggering the other sensor. 17. The faucet apparatus of claim 16, wherein: the first tertiary sensor is configured to detect an object in the first detection area of the third sensor zone and respond to the detection by providing input to the processor, and the second tertiary sensor is configured to detect an object in the second detection area of the third sensor zone and respond to the detection by providing input to the processor; andthe processor is further programmed to: receive input from the first secondary sensor indicating the presence of an object within first detection area of the third sensor zone and, if the second tertiary sensor does substantially contemporaneous provide input indicating the presence of an object within the second detection area of the third sensor zone, to cause a change in the temperature or flow of water directed from the spout;receive input from the second tertiary sensor indicating the presence of an object within the second detection area of the third sensor zone and, if the first tertiary sensor does not substantially contemporaneously provide input indicating the presence of an object within the first detection area of the third sensor zone, to cause a change in the temperature or flow of water directed from the spout; andreceive input from the first tertiary sensor indicating the presence of an object within the first detection area of the third sensor zone and, substantially contemporaneously, receive input from the second tertiary sensor indicating the presence of an object within the second detection area of the third sensor zone, and in response thereto, if the electronic representation of the paused state is in the non-paused-mode, change the electronic representation of the paused state from the non-paused-mode to the paused-mode, thereby preventing the spout from directing water to flow regardless whether an object is present in the first sensor zone; andreceive input from the first tertiary sensor indicating the presence of an object within the first detection area of the third sensor zone and, substantially contemporaneously, receive input from the second tertiary sensor indicating the presence of an object within the second detection area of the third sensor zone, and in response thereto, if the electronic representation of the paused state is in the paused-mode, change the electronic representation of the paused state from the paused-mode to the non-paused-mode. 18. The faucet apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first detection area of the third sensor zone does not overlap with the second detection area of the third sensor zone. 19. The faucet apparatus of claim 16, wherein either the first tertiary sensor is the second sensor, or the second tertiary sensor is the second sensor. 20. A method for providing touch-free control of a faucet, the method comprising: detecting the presence of an object within or immediately around a sink using a first sensor facing the sink and causing a faucet to direct water in response, if the faucet is not in a paused state;detecting the absence of any object within or immediately around a sink using the first sensor and causing the faucet to cease directing water in response;detecting the presence of an object in a second region away from the sink using a second sensor facing away from the sink and causing the faucet to direct water in response, regardless of the presence or absence of objects within or immediately around the sink;detecting the presence of an object in the second region away from the sink using the second sensor and causing the faucet to stop directing water in response; anddetecting the presence of an object in a third region away from the sink using a third sensor facing away from the sink and causing the faucet to enter a paused state in response;said method performed at least in part by an electronic logical processor. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein causing the faucet to direct water comprises causing the faucet to direct water at a preset temperature. 22. The method of claim 20, wherein causing the faucet to direct water comprises causing the faucet to direct water at a preset rate of flow. 23. The method of claim 20, wherein the first sensor faces away from the second sensor at about a 90 degree angle, and the first sensor faces away from the third sensor at about a 90 degree angle. 24. The faucet apparatus of claim 20, wherein detecting the presence of an object within or immediately around the sink comprises detecting the presence of an object within or immediately around the sink for a predetermined time period. 25. The faucet apparatus of claim 20, wherein detecting the absence of any object within or immediately around the sink comprises detecting the absence of any object within or immediately around the sink for a predetermined time period.
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