초록 ▼

A faucet includes a spout and a manual handle that controls a manual valve located in a passageway that conducts fluid flow through the spout. An electrically operable valve is also located within the passageway. The faucet also includes an insulator located between the spout and the manual handle s

A faucet includes a spout and a manual handle that controls a manual valve located in a passageway that conducts fluid flow through the spout. An electrically operable valve is also located within the passageway. The faucet also includes an insulator located between the spout and the manual handle so that the spout is electrically isolated from the manual handle, a first touch sensor on the manual valve handle, a second touch sensor on the spout, and a capacitive sensor directly coupled to one of the first and second touch sensors and capacitively coupled to the other of the first and second touch sensors. The faucet further includes a controller coupled to the capacitive sensor. The controller monitors an output signal from the capacitive sensor to detect touching of the spout and the manual valve handle. The controller is also coupled to the electrically operable valve to control the electrically operable valve in response to the output signal from the capacitive sensor.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A faucet comprising: a spout;a passageway that conducts fluid flow through the spout;an electrically operable valve located within the passageway;a manual valve located within the passageway in series with the electrically operable valve;a manual handle that controls the manual valve;an insulator

1. A faucet comprising: a spout;a passageway that conducts fluid flow through the spout;an electrically operable valve located within the passageway;a manual valve located within the passageway in series with the electrically operable valve;a manual handle that controls the manual valve;an insulator located between the spout and the manual handle so that the spout is electrically isolated from the manual handle;a first touch sensor on the manual valve handle;a second touch sensor on the spout;a capacitive sensor directly coupled to one of the first and second touch sensors and capacitively coupled to the other of the first and second touch sensors without a direct electrical connection through a conductor to the capacitive sensor, the capacitive sensor providing an output signal; anda controller coupled to the capacitive sensor, the controller being configured to monitor the output signal from the capacitive sensor to detect touching of the spout and the manual valve handle, the controller also being coupled to the electrically operable valve to control the electrically operable valve in response to the output signal from the capacitive sensor. 2. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the controller toggles the electrically operable valve between open and closed positions in response to detecting a user tapping one of the spout and the manual valve handle. 3. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the controller toggles the electrically operable valve when either of the first and second touch sensors are touched and released within a period of time shorter than a predetermined time. 4. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the electrically operable valve is a magnetically latching valve. 5. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the controller determines that a user has tapped one of the spout and the manual valve handle when both a positive slope of the output signal and a negative slope of the output signal are detected within a predetermined period of time. 6. The faucet of claim 5, wherein the controller further determines whether an electromagnetic event caused the positive slope of the output signal instead of a tap by the user on the spout or the manual valve handle. 7. The faucet of claim 5, wherein the controller further determines that a user has grabbed one of the spout and the manual valve handle when the length of time between the positive slope of the output signal and the negative slope of the output signal is greater than the predetermined time. 8. The faucet of claim 7, wherein, if the controller determines that one of the spout and manual valve handle was grabbed by a user, the controller further determines which one of the spout and manual valve handle was grabbed by a user based upon an amplitude of the output signal between the detected positive and negative slopes. 9. The faucet of claim 8, wherein the controller determines that the manual valve handle was grabbed by a user if the amplitude of output signal between the detected positive and negative slopes is greater than a predetermined threshold value. 10. The faucet of claim 9, wherein the controller determines that the spout was grabbed by a user if the amplitude of the output signal between the detected positive and negative slopes is less than the predetermined threshold value. 11. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the electrically operable valve is an electronic proportioning valve and wherein the controller directs the electrically operable valve to change among open, closed, and the plurality of partially closed positions in response to a duration of contact by the user with the first and second touch controls. 12. The faucet of claim 1, further comprising a faucet body hub, the manual valve handle being movably coupled to the faucet body hub to control the manual valve, the manual valve handle being electrically coupled to the faucet body hub, and wherein the spout is coupled to the faucet body hub by the insulator so that the spout is electrically isolated from the faucet body hub. 13. The faucet of claim 12, wherein the spout is rotatably coupled to the faucet body hub. 14. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the first touch sensor includes a first electrode coupled to the manual valve handle, the first electrode being directly coupled to the capacitive sensor. 15. The faucet of claim 14, wherein the second touch sensor includes a second electrode on the spout, the second electrode being capacitively coupled to the first electrode. 16. The faucet of claim 15, wherein the spout is formed from a conductive material to provide the second electrode. 17. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to monitor the output signal from the capacitive sensor and to distinguish between a user tapping one of the spout and the manual valve handle, a user grabbing the spout, and a user grabbing the manual valve handle, and wherein the controller controls the electrically operable valve in response to the output signal from the capacitive sensor as follows: if either of the first and second touch sensors are tapped while the electrically operable valve is closed, the controller opens the electrically operable valve;if the first touch sensor is grabbed and the electrically operable valve is closed, the controller opens the electrically operable valve;if either of the first and second touch sensors are tapped while the electrically operable valve is open, the controller closes the electrically operable valve;if first touch sensor is grabbed and the electrically operable valve is open, no action is taken on the electrically operable valve;if second touch sensor is grabbed and the electrically operable valve is open, no action is taken on the electrically operable valve; andif second touch sensor is grabbed and the electrically operable valve is closed, no action is taken on the electrically operable valve. 18. A faucet comprising: a spout;a passageway that conducts fluid flow through the spout;an electrically operable valve in fluid communication with the passageway;a manual valve in fluid communication with the passageway in spaced relation to the electrically operable valve;a manual handle that controls the manual valve;an insulator located between the spout and the manual handle so that the spout is electrically isolated from the manual handle;a first touch sensor on the manual valve handle;a second touch sensor on the spout;a capacitive sensor directly coupled to one of the first and second touch sensors and capacitively coupled to the other of the first and second touch sensors without a direct electrical connection through a conductor to the capacitive sensor, the capacitive sensor providing an output signal; anda controller coupled to the capacitive sensor, the controller being configured to monitor the output signal from the capacitive sensor to detect touching of the spout and the manual valve handle, the controller also being coupled to the electrically operable valve to control the electrically operable valve in response to the output signal from the capacitive sensor. 19. The faucet of claim 18, wherein the first touch sensor includes a first electrode coupled to the manual valve handle, the first electrode being directly coupled to the capacitive sensor. 20. The faucet of claim 19, wherein the second touch sensor includes a second electrode on the spout, the second electrode being capacitively coupled to the first electrode. 21. The faucet of claim 20, wherein the spout is formed from a conductive material to provide the second electrode.