Pressure sensitive touch electronic faucet
AssigneeSpectrum Brands, Inc.
InventorsJerome F. Czerwinski, Jr., Chasen Scott Beck, Stephen Paul Blizzard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A faucet having a pressure-sensitive surface for dynamically adjusting the faucet's water flow rate and/or temperature based on an amount of pressure applied to the surface of the faucet is disclosed. A pressure sensor may be electronically connected to one or more electronic valves of the faucet to control the flow of water through either the cold or hot water lines, thereby controlling the flow rate and/or temperature of water coming from the faucet.
Claims17
A faucet comprising:
- a spout;
- an electronic valve assembly including a cold water inlet for receiving a cold water line, a hot water inlet for receiving a hot water line, and a mixed water outlet in fluid communication with the spout, the electronic valve assembly configured to control a temperature and a flow rate of water flowing through the spout;
- a pressure sensor assembly including at least one pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure or a location of the pressure applied to a predetermined exterior surface associated with the faucet, wherein multiple locations of pressure can be detected simultaneously to allow sensing of multi-touch input;
- and
- a circuit electronically coupled to the pressure sensor assembly and the electronic valve assembly, the circuit configured to dynamically adjust the electronic valve assembly based on the pressure detected by the pressure sensor assembly;
- wherein the circuit is configured to differentiate between pressure readings and the location of the pressure applied to the pressure sensor assembly to dynamically adjust the electronic valve assembly differently with respect to flow rate and/or temperature based on a change in pressure readings detected by the pressure sensor assembly.
An electronic valve assembly comprising:
- an electronic valve arrangement including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the electronic valve arrangement configured to control a temperature and/or a flow rate of fluid coming from the outlet;
- a pressure sensor assembly including at least one pressure sensor configured to detect an amount of pressure or the location of the pressure being applied to a surface, wherein multiple locations of pressure can be detected simultaneously to allow sensing of multi-touch input;
- and
- a circuit electronically coupled to the pressure sensor assembly and the electronic valve arrangement, the circuit configured to control the electronic valve arrangement to dynamically adjust a temperature and/or a flow rate of water through the outlet based on a change in pressure detected or the location of the pressure detected by the pressure sensor assembly.
A method of adjusting water flowing through a faucet, the method comprising:
- providing a faucet including a spout and an electronic valve assembly for controlling a flow rate and/or temperature of water flowing through the spout;
- detecting, via a pressure sensor assembly including at least one pressure sensor, an amount of pressure being applied to a surface or a location of the pressure applied, wherein multiple locations of pressure can be detected simultaneously to allow sensing of multi-touch input;
- and
- dynamically adjusting a flow rate and/or temperature of water flowing through the electronic valve assembly based on a change in pressure detected by the pressure sensor assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.