Drinking water supply device and method of controlling the same
AssigneeLG Electronics Inc.
InventorsMyounghoon Lee, Jinpyo Hong, Kiwon Yu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of controlling a drinking water supply device includes inputting a water discharge signal through an input lever, opening a first valve such that drinking water flows through a first channel and measuring the amount of drinking water flowing through the first channel using a flow rate sensor, opening a second valve for a predetermined time to discharge minerals when the amount of drinking water measured by the flow rate sensor reaches a first predetermined amount, and, opening the second valve again for the predetermined time to further discharge minerals when a second predetermined amount of drinking water is measured by the flow rate sensor.
Claims9
A method of controlling a drinking water supply device, the method comprising:
- receiving a water discharge signal through a lever configured to be pushed, the water discharge signal being generated when the lever is pushed;
- opening a first valve such that water flows through a first channel;
- sensing a flow rate by a flow rate sensor to determine an amount of water flowing through the first channel;
- opening a second valve to discharge minerals to be combined with the water when the amount of water reaches a first predetermined amount;
- closing the second valve after a first predetermined amount of time to prevent discharge of minerals while the first valve is open for flow of water;
- reopening the second valve to discharge minerals to be combined with the water when the amount of water reaches a second predetermined amount, the second predetermined amount being greater than the first predetermined amount;
- and
- closing the second valve after a second predetermined amount of time.
A drinking water supply device comprising:
- a first channel through which water flows, the first channel including a first valve that opens and closes the first channel and a flow rate sensor that senses a flow rate of the drinking water through the first channel;
- a water discharge channel connected downstream of the first channel and configured to discharge the water;
- a connection pipe that connects the first channel to the water discharge channel;
- a second channel through which minerals are supplied to the connection pipe, the second channel including a second valve that opens and closes the second channel;
- a mineral container connected to the second channel and provided upstream of the second valve to receive minerals;
- a lever configured to generate a water discharge signal when the lever is pushed and configured to generate a water discharge end signal when a pushed state of the lever is released;
- and
- a controller configured to open the second valve for a first predetermined time to discharge minerals upon receiving the water discharge signal and determining that an amount of water has reached a first predetermined amount and a second predetermined amount that is greater than the first predetermined amount.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.