초록 ▼

An automatic flow control apparatus includes a solar cell module that provides a received light signal, an energy storage module, a charging circuit, a regulating module, a control module, a rainfall detection module for generating a detected rainfall signal, and a pair of conductors. The control mo

An automatic flow control apparatus includes a solar cell module that provides a received light signal, an energy storage module, a charging circuit, a regulating module, a control module, a rainfall detection module for generating a detected rainfall signal, and a pair of conductors. The control module converts the received light signal and the detected rainfall signal into measured light data and measured rainfall data, and stores a measured data set that includes the measured light data and the measured rainfall data. The controller determines based on at least the measured data set whether to output a control signal to the regulating module for controlling regulation of fluid flow.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An automatic flow control apparatus comprising: a solar cell module that converts received light energy into electricity, and that provides a received light signal corresponding to the received light energy;an energy storage module for storing and supplying electricity;a charging circuit that is

1. An automatic flow control apparatus comprising: a solar cell module that converts received light energy into electricity, and that provides a received light signal corresponding to the received light energy;an energy storage module for storing and supplying electricity;a charging circuit that is coupled to said solar cell module and said energy storage module and that charges said energy storage module using the electricity from said solar cell module;a regulating module including a driving circuit and a regulator valve, said driving circuit being responsive to a control signal to generate a drive signal, and said regulator valve being coupled to said driving circuit and responsive to the drive signal for regulating fluid flow;a control module including a controller,an input interface configured to receive the received light signal from said solar cell module,an analog-to-digital converter coupled to said controller and said input interface and controlled by said controller to convert the received light signal from said input interface into measured light data,a memory coupled to said controller and configured for storing a measured data set that includes the measured light data obtained during a first predetermined time period, andan output interface coupled to said driving circuit;a rainfall detection module coupled to said input interface and configured to generate a detected rainfall signal receivable by said input interface;a housing that includes a top surface formed with a recess for storing precipitation; anda pair of conductors extending vertically in said recess and being configured to have a resistance therebetween that varies according to a fluid level in said recess, wherein the detected rainfall signal corresponds to the resistance,wherein said controller is configured to operate in a normal mode to determine based on at least the measured data set in said memory whether to output the control signal through said output interface to said regulating module for controlling regulation of the fluid flow b said regulator valve,wherein said analog-to-digital converter is further controlled by said controller to convert the rainfall detection signal into measured rainfall data, andwherein the measured data set stored in said memory further includes the measured rainfall data obtained during a second predetermined time period. 2. The automatic flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said conductors are configured to be at a short-circuit state when said conductors are interconnected by a bridging conductor, andsaid controller is further configured such that said controller operates in an adjustment mode, in which said controller generates the control signal according to a valve setting, when the short-circuit state is detected by said controller. 3. The automatic flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing contains at least one of said energy storage module, said charging circuit, and said control module. 4. The automatic flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a temperature detector that is coupled to said controller and that is for providing measured temperature data, the measured data set stored in said memory further including the measured temperature data obtained during a third predetermined time period. 5. The automatic flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 4, the fluid flow to be provided to a water sprinkler system, wherein: said controller is configured to determine whether a value of the measured temperature data obtained during the third predetermined time period exceeds a preset threshold, said controller controlling said driving circuit such that said driving circuit drives said regulator valve to permit fluid flow through said regulator valve when a determination result is affirmative, and stops fluid flow through said regulator valve when the determination result is otherwise. 6. The automatic flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a user setting module coupled to said input interface and operable to provide a valve setting, said controller being configured to operate in the normal mode to determine based on the measured data set and the valve setting whether to output the control signal through said output interface to said regulating module. 7. The automatic flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said energy storage module includes at least one super capacitor. 8. The automatic flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the fluid flow to be provided to a bathroom appliance, wherein: said controller is configured to determine whether a value of the measured light data obtained during the-first predetermined time period indicates interruption of a receipt of light energy by said solar cell module, said controller controlling said driving circuit such that said driving circuit drives said regulator valve to permit fluid flow through said regulator valve when a determination result is affirmative, and stops fluid flow through said regulator valve when the determination result is otherwise. 9. The automatic flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said solar cell module includes a solar cell that converts the received light energy into electricity, and a voltage-divider circuit that is connected across said solar cell and that provides the received light signal.