초록 ▼

An ergonomic water conserving faucet assembly that pivots around a cognitive central point providing touchless water temperature, flow rate, volume control and spray pattern adjustment through multiple, hygienic means. The assembly comprises a pivotable, ergonomic, ball-shaped spout that may be used

An ergonomic water conserving faucet assembly that pivots around a cognitive central point providing touchless water temperature, flow rate, volume control and spray pattern adjustment through multiple, hygienic means. The assembly comprises a pivotable, ergonomic, ball-shaped spout that may be used statically or hand held; a retractable water delivery hose connecting the spout to a water source; a water mixing valve at the water source delivering water of preselected temperature; solenoid valves controlling flow; proximity and object detection sensors mapping the sink area and detecting input signals; speech sensors with microphone for voice control; an LED display of water temperature; internal speakers delivering audible prompts; and an electronic controller recognizing speech and supervising operations.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A touchless water temperature and flow control faucet adapted for use with external sources of hot and cold water, the faucet comprising: a faucet stem pivotally attached to a mounting base such that said stem has freedom of pivotal motion through an arc of stem movement with respect to the mount

1. A touchless water temperature and flow control faucet adapted for use with external sources of hot and cold water, the faucet comprising: a faucet stem pivotally attached to a mounting base such that said stem has freedom of pivotal motion through an arc of stem movement with respect to the mounting base;a water supply conduit extending through the stem and adapted for connection, in use, to external sources of hot and cold water;a spout head comprising at least a partial sphere that is graspable by the palm of a hand wrapped over the head with fingers to the rear, having a bottom face with at least two selectable water outlets and carrying said water supply conduit joined at a water supply conduit connector at the rear face of the spout head and arranged for delivering water through a selected one of said water outlets, wherein said spout head is alternatively engagable with the stem wherein the stem supports the spout head for pivotal motion through said arc of stem movement and is removable from the stem for hand held use;outlet selection means for variably selecting one of the water outlets to deliver water from said water supply conduit;mixing means for variably mixing hot and cold water in the water supply conduit to adjust temperature;flow rate adjusting means for varying water flow rate in said water supply conduit;flow on-off selecting means for variably switching water flow “on” or “off” in the water supply conduit;an electronic controller adapted to receive signals respectively indicative of a flow pattern selection, a water temperature, a flow rate, and an on-off flow selection, and in response, to control said outlet selection means, mixing means, flow adjusting means, and flow on-off selecting means;a touchless and manual control user interface adapted, in use, to receive touchless or manual control instructions from a user and to send a corresponding signal to said electronic controller, wherein the touchless or manual control instructions vary parameters of delivered water selected from flow pattern, temperature, flow rate, on-off selection, and combinations thereof;wherein, said user control interface is adapted to receive touchless instructions by voice activation based upon voice recognition of commands by a user;wherein, said spout head carries said touchless and manual control user interface and a connection to said electronic controller, wherein a first manual control is located on the rear face of the spout head, laterally juxtaposed to said water supply connection at approximately a typical placement of a user's forefinger at the rear face of the spout head with the palm of the user's hand wrapped over the spout head to directly pull the spout head from the stem; andsaid water supply conduit connector extends from the rear face of said spout head and defines a tapered neck juxtaposed to the spout head. 2. The faucet of claim 1, wherein: the touchless control interface comprises at least one touchless on-off sensor having a sensing field with predetermined range, with a minimum limit of the range spaced from the spout head by a predetermined distance to allow hand contact with the spout head without triggering sensor operation, with pre-established top and bottom height limits as a function of angular position and detecting when an object is present in the sensing field, determining the distance of the object from the sensor, and sending a signal to said controller indicative of an on-off flow selection instruction dependent upon the distance of the object from the sensor. 3. The faucet of claim 1, wherein: said touchless control user interface comprises a proximity sensor located on said spout head and adapted to provide instructions for water temperature adjustment;said proximity sensor is equipped with a sensing field with predetermined range, with a minimum limit of the range spaced from the sensor by a predetermined distance to allow hand contact with the spout head without triggering sensor operation; andfurther comprising means for detecting when the spout head is removed from said stem and in response thereto disabling said touchless control user interface with respect to instructions for water temperature adjustment. 4. The faucet of claim 1, wherein: said water supply conduit provides at least first and second selectable path segments;said first path segment comprises means for regulating water pressure, a precision orifice at a location downstream of said means for regulating water pressure, and means for monitoring water pressure at an output of said means for regulating water pressure, wherein said means for regulating water pressure outputs water at a fixed pressure to said precision orifice, thereby providing water at a controlled flow rate, and said precision orifice provides resistance to flow and outputs water at a controlled flow rate, thereby adapting the first path segment to provide fixed volume delivery of water;said second path segment comprises a flow control valve adapting the second path segment to provide flow controlled water delivery, wherein said second path segment is relatively larger in size than said precision orifice;said flow on-off selecting means variably switches water flow “on” or “off” selectively in the first or second path of the water supply conduit;said electronic controller is further adapted to receive a user initiated signal indicative of a user preselected, measured volume of water to be delivered, and in response to select said first path segment, to turn on said flow on-off selecting means for flow through the first path segment, to receive water pressure readings from said means for monitoring water pressure, to derive the time necessary to deliver said measured volume of water through the first path segment; and to turn off said flow on-off selecting means with respect to the first path segment when the measured volume of water has been delivered. 5. The faucet of claim 1, further comprising: a second manual control located on the rear face said spout head, juxtaposed to said tapered neck on an opposite lateral side thereof from said first manual control. 6. A touchless flow control faucet adapted for use with an external source of water, the faucet comprising: a faucet stem pivotally attached to a mounting base such that said stem has freedom of pivotal motion through an arc of stem movement with respect to the mounting base;a water supply conduit extending through the stem and adapted for connection, in use, to an external source of water, wherein said conduit includes at least a first selectable path segment that provides a fixed volume delivery of water, and a second selectable path segment that provides flow controlled delivery of water;said first path segment comprises means for regulating water pressure, a precision orifice at a location downstream of said means for regulating water pressure, and means for monitoring water pressure at an output of said means for regulating water pressure, wherein said means for regulating water pressure outputs water at a fixed pressure to said precision orifice, thereby providing water at a controlled flow rate, and said precision orifice provides resistance to flow and outputs water at a controlled flow rate, thereby adapting the first path segment to provide fixed volume delivery of water;said second path segment comprises a flow control valve adapting the second path segment to provide flow controlled water delivery, wherein said second path segment is relatively larger in size than said precision orifice;a spout connected to said water supply conduit to receive water and having at least two selectable water outlets, each providing a different flow pattern, wherein the spout is arranged for delivering water through a selected one of said water outlets, wherein said spout is alternatively engagable with the stem, wherein when engaged with the stem, the stem supports the spout for pivotal motion through said arc of stem movement, and wherein the spout is removable from the stem for hand held use;outlet selection means for variably selecting one of the water outlets to deliver water;flow on-off selecting means for variably switching water flow “on” or “off” in said water supply conduit; andan electronic controller receiving a user initiated signal indicative of a user preselected, measured volume of water to be delivered, chosen from a plurality of available measured volumes of water, and in response selecting said first path segment and controlling said outlet selection means, turning on said flow on-off selecting means to allow water flow through the first path segment, receiving water pressure readings from said means for monitoring water pressure in the first path segment, deriving the time necessary to deliver the measured volume of water; and turning off said flow on-off selecting means to end water flow through the first path segment when the measured volume of water has been delivered. 7. The faucet of claim 6, further comprising: a local instant hot water tank proximate to said mixing means and supplemental to said external source of water, connected to the mixing means and locally supplying hot water to said water supply conduit. 8. The faucet of claim 6, further comprising: said water supply conduit is adapted for connection, in use, to plural external sources of water, including an external source of hot water and an external source of cold water, wherein said conduit further provides a second selectable path segment delivering water to said spout;mixing means for variably mixing hot and cold water in the water supply conduit to adjust temperature of delivered water;flow rate adjusting means for varying water flow rate in at least said second path of the water supply conduit; andwherein said flow on-off selecting means switches water flow “on” or “off” selectively in the first or second path of the water supply conduit;wherein said electronic controller further receives user initiated signals respectively indicative of a desired outlet selection, a desired water temperature selection, a desired flow rate selection, and a desired on-off flow selection for water delivery through the second path segment, and in response, further controls said outlet selection means, said mixing means, said flow rate adjusting means, and the flow on-off selecting means for water delivery through at least the second path segment; anda touchless control user interface adapted, in use, to receive touchless control instructions from a user and to send a corresponding signal to said electronic controller, wherein the touchless control instructions vary parameters of delivered water selected from outlet, temperature, flow rate, on-off selection, and combinations thereof. 9. The faucet of claim 8, wherein: said spout carries said touchless control user interface;the touchless control user interface comprises at least one touchless on-off sensor having a sensing field with predetermined range, with a minimum limit of the range spaced from the spout by a predetermined distance to allow hand contact with the spout without triggering sensor operation, with pre-established top and bottom height limits as a function of angular position and detecting when an object is present in the sensing field, determining the distance of the object from the sensor, and sending a signal to said controller indicative of an on-off flow selection instruction dependent upon the distance of the object from the sensor. 10. The faucet of claim 8, wherein: said touchless control user interface comprises a proximity sensor located on said spout and providing instructions for water temperature adjustment;said proximity sensor is equipped with a sensing field with predetermined range, with a minimum limit of the range spaced from the sensor by a predetermined distance to allow hand contact with the spout without triggering sensor operation; andfurther comprising means for detecting when the spout is removed from said stem and in response thereto disabling said touchless control user interface with respect to instructions for water temperature adjustment. 11. The faucet of claim 8, wherein: said spout carries said touchless control user interface and a connection to said electronic controller;exclusive of connections to the electronic controller and water supply conduit, the spout is configured as a hand-graspable ball. 12. The faucet of claim 8, wherein: said spout carries said touchless control user interface;the touchless control interface comprises at least one touchless on-off sensor having a sensing field with predetermined range, with a minimum limit of the range spaced from the spout by a predetermined distance to allow hand contact with the spout without triggering sensor operation, with pre-established top and bottom height limits as a function of angular position and detecting when an object is present in the sensing field, determining the distance of the object from the sensor, and sending a signal to said controller indicative of an on-off flow selection instruction dependent upon the distance of the object from the sensor. 13. The faucet of claim 6, further comprising: a temperature sensor communicating actual water temperature to said electronic controller; anda series array of indicator lights capable of selectively displaying at least two colors, located on said spout, wherein said array is responsive to water temperature selection at said control user interface to indicate selected water temperature by lighting a first indicator light of a first color within said array at a proportional location in the array indicating temperature setting, and wherein the array is responsive to the electronic controller by indicating the actual water temperature by lighting a second indicator light of a second color within the array at a proportional location in the array indicating actual water temperature; andwherein the electronic controller provides updates of actual water temperature, and in response thereto, said series array of indicator lights updates the position of the second light in the array. 14. A touchless water temperature and flow control faucet adapted for use with external sources of hot and cold water, the faucet comprising: a faucet stem pivotally attached to a mounting base such that said stem has freedom of pivotal motion through an arc of stem movement with respect to the mounting base;a water supply conduit extending through the stem and adapted for connection, in use, to external sources of hot and cold water;a spout engagable with the stem in a home position in which the stem supports the spout for pivotal motion through said arc of stem movement, and wherein the spout is connected to said water supply conduit for receiving water into the spout;an electronic controller adapted to selectively establish at least a setup mode and a normal mode of faucet operations;angle monitoring means for monitoring and communicating angular position of the faucet stem with respect to said mounting base to said electronic controller;a downward directed sensor in said spout controlled by said electronic controller such that when the electronic controller is in setup mode and the stem is moved through the arc of stem movement, the downward directed sensor maps the particular external contours below the spout over the arc of stem movement and communicates mapping data to the electronic controller, and when the electronic controller is in normal mode, the downward directed sensor monitors the area intermediate the downward directed sensor and the mapped contour below the sensor to detect, in use, the presence of an object other than a mapped contour and to communicate data indicative of the detected object to the electronic controller;water temperature adjusting means for variably mixing hot and cold water from said sources of hot and cold water in the water supply conduit;a temperature sensor measuring actual water temperature in the water supply conduit and providing a signal indicative of measured water temperature;flow rate adjusting means for varying water flow rate in the water supply conduit;flow on-off selecting means for variably switching water flow on or off in the water supply conduit;a user control interface adapted to receive user control instructions indicating desired water temperature and desired flow rate and to send a corresponding signal to said electronic controller;wherein the electronic controller is adapted to receive data from said angle monitoring means and the downward directed sensor, when in setup mode establishing and retaining a map, and when in normal mode determining an on-off flow selection by decision derived from a comparison to said retained map, and wherein the electronic controller is further adapted to receive said signal indicative of measured water temperature and said user control instructions from said user control interface respectively indicative of user-desired water temperature and user-desired flow rate, and in response to control said water temperature adjusting means and flow rate adjusting means; anda series array of indicator lights capable of selectively displaying at least two colors, located on said spout, wherein said array is responsive to said user control instruction indicating desired water temperature by lighting an indicator light of a first color within said array at a proportional location in the array indicating desired temperature, and wherein the array is responsive to the electronic controller by indicating the actual water temperature by lighting an indicator light of a second color within the array at a proportional location in the array indicating actual water temperature. 15. The faucet of claim 14, further comprising: means for delivering a fixed volume of water;wherein said electronic controller is further adapted in normal mode to control said means for delivering a fixed volume of water; andsaid user control interface is further adapted, in use, to receive touchless control instructions from a user selecting delivery of a fixed volume of water and to correspondingly signal said electronic controller. 16. The faucet of claim 14, wherein: said angle monitoring means is an accelerometer in said spout. 17. The faucet of claim 14, wherein said downward directed sensor comprises at least one touchless on-off sensor having a downward directed sensing field, adapted in setup mode to detect a dynamic field of acceptable faucet operation with bottom plane and top plane as a function of spout angle, and adapted in normal mode to sense relative height of a detected external object relative to the dynamic field of acceptable faucet operation, and to send a signal to said electronic controller indicative of an on-off flow selection instruction dependent upon the height of the detected object in the dynamic field of acceptable faucet operation. 18. The faucet of claim 14, wherein said user control interface is adapted to receive touchless instructions by voice activation based upon voice recognition of commands by a user. 19. The faucet of claim 14, wherein said spout further comprises: a nozzle connected to said water supply conduit and providing at least two water outlets, each having a different water flow pattern;flow pattern selection means for variably selecting a water outlet from said at least two water outlets for receiving water from the water supply conduit; andsaid user control interface is further adapted, in use, to receive touchless control instructions from a user selecting flow pattern and to correspondingly signal said electronic controller to select a water outlet. 20. The faucet of claim 14, wherein said user control interface is adapted to receive voice recognition input signals to vary on-off flow selection, adjust water temperature, control flow rate, select delivery of a fixed volume of water, select a water outlet, or combinations thereof. 21. The faucet of claim 14, wherein said user control interface includes touchless proximity sensors carried on said spout, adapted to provide instructions for water temperature adjustment, further comprising: means for detecting when the spout is removed from said stem and in response thereto disabling said touchless proximity sensors with respect to instructions for water temperature adjustment. 22. The faucet of claim 14, wherein: said spout carries said user control interface and a connection to said electronic controller;exclusive of connections to the electronic controller and water supply conduit, the spout is configured as a hand-graspable sphere.