# US 10,870,972 B2 · Pressure sensitive touch electronic faucet > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,870,972 B2 - Document ID: US10870972B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/998,572 - Filed: 2017-02-03 - Published: 2019-01-31 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-15 - Assignees: Spectrum Brands, Inc. - Applicants: Spectrum Brands, Inc. - Inventors: Jerome F. Czerwinski, Jr.; Chasen Scott Beck; Stephen Paul Blizzard - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870972B2 ## CPC - E03C 1/055: {Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like} - E03C 2001/0415: {having an extendable water outlet} - E03C 2201/50: Constructional features of escutcheons for domestic plumbing installations - E03C: DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER (not connected to either water-supply main or to waste pipe A47K; devices of the kind used in the ground E03B, E03F); SINKS ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The faucet of claim 1, wherein the circuit is configured to adjust the electronic valve assembly to increase a temperature of water flowing through the spout based on a first pressure detected by the pressure sensor assembly and decrease a temperature of water flowing through the spout based on a second pressure detected by the pressure sensor assembly, wherein the first pressure and the second pressure are different pressures. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The faucet of claim 1, wherein the circuit is configured to adjust the electronic valve assembly to increase a flow rate of water flowing through the spout based on a first pressure detected by the pressure sensor assembly and decrease a flow rate of water flowing through the spout based on a second pressure detected by the pressure sensor assembly, wherein the first pressure and the second pressure are different pressures. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The faucet of claim 1, wherein the circuit is configured to adjust the electronic valve assembly to dynamically increase or decrease temperature of water flowing through the spout as pressure detected by the pressure sensor assembly increases. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The faucet of claim 1, wherein the circuit is configured to dynamically adjust the electronic valve assembly with respect to flow rate based on a change in pressure detected by the pressure sensor assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The faucet of claim 5, wherein the circuit is configured to adjust the electronic valve assembly to dynamically increase or decrease flow rate of water flowing through the spout as pressure detected by the pressure sensor assembly increases or decreases. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The faucet of claim 1, wherein the predetermined exterior surface is located on an exterior surface of the faucet and/or a deck plate of the faucet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The faucet of claim 1, wherein the faucet further includes a second pressure sensor assembly configured to detect a pressure applied or the location of the pressure applied to a second predetermined exterior surface associated with the faucet, wherein the circuit is configured to control operation of the electronic valve based on the pressure measured or the location of the pressure detected by the pressure sensor assembly and the second pressure sensor assembly, wherein the circuit is configured to control flow rate of water flowing through the spout based on the pressure sensor assembly and control temperature of water flowing through the spout based on the second pressure sensor assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The faucet of claim 1, wherein the faucet further comprises a manual valve that controls a flow and/or temperature of water flowing through the spout based on user-actuated movement of a faucet handle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The faucet of claim 1, further comprising an indicator that visually represents a desired temperature based on the pressure measured by the pressure sensor. ### Claim 11 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electronic valve assembly of claim 11, wherein the circuit is configured to control the electronic valve arrangement such that the amount of pressure being applied to the surface detected by the pressure sensor assembly dynamically adjusts a flow rate of fluid through the fluid outlet. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The electronic valve assembly of claim 11, wherein the circuit is configured to control the electronic valve arrangement such that the amount of pressure being applied to the surface detected by the pressure sensor assembly dynamically adjusts a temperature of fluid flow through the outlet. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The electronic valve assembly of claim 11, wherein the pressure sensor assembly includes a first pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure being applied to a first surface and a second pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure being applied to a second surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The electronic valve assembly of claim 14, wherein the circuit is configured to adjust a flow rate of fluid flowing through the outlet of the electronic valve arrangement based on a pressure detected by the first pressure sensor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The electronic valve assembly of claim 14, wherein the circuit is configured to adjust a temperature of fluid flowing through the outlet of the electronic valve arrangement based on a pressure detected by the second pressure sensor. ### Claim 17 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.