# US 11,299,876 B2 · Electronic plumbing fixture fitting including measurement system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,876 B2 - Document ID: US11299876B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/857,903 - Filed: 2020-04-24 - Published: 2020-10-29 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-24 - Assignees: FB Global Plumbing Group LLC - Applicants: FB Global Plumbing Group LLC - Inventors: George John Polly; Christopher R. Novick; Brian Patrick Frackelton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299876B2 ## CPC - E03C 1/0409: {Shower handles} - E03C 1/055: {Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like} - E03C 1/0404: {Constructional or functional features of the spout} - E03C 1/0408: {Water installations especially for showers (E03C1/06 takes precedence; shower heads B05B1/18)} - E03C 1/057: {touchless, i.e. using sensors} - 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 The present invention provides an electronic plumbing fixture fitting including a measurement system. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting includes a user input module. The user input module includes a mechanism to receive from the user numerical value(s) of parameter(s) for water to be delivered through a discharge outlet of the electronic plumbing fixture fitting (e.g., volume or volume and temperature) and a mechanism to deliver to the user the numerical value(s) of the parameter(s) via the water delivered through the discharge outlet of the electronic plumbing fixture fitting. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic plumbing fixture fitting, comprising: a discharge outlet, the discharge outlet operable to deliver water; an electronic valve, the electronic valve operable to permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is activated and to not permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is deactivated, the electronic valve operable to control a volume of water flowing through the discharge outlet; a user input module, the user input module operable to communicate with a user regarding a desired volume of water; a flow sensor, the flow sensor operable to detect a volume of water; and a processor, the processor operable to communicate with each of the electronic valve, the user input module, and the flow sensor regarding at least one of the desired volume of water and the detected volume of water; wherein the user input module is operable to receive the desired volume of water from the user and to send a desired volume signal to the processor indicating the desired volume of water; wherein the processor is operable to receive the desired volume signal from the user input module indicating the desired volume of water and to send a first control signal to the electronic valve to control the volume of water; wherein the electronic valve is operable to receive the first control signal from the processor to control the volume of water; wherein the electronic valve is operable to open and deliver water at an initial low flow rate for a set period of time; wherein the flow sensor is operable to detect the volume of water and to send a detected volume signal to the processor indicating the detected volume of water; wherein the processor is operable to receive the detected volume signal from the flow sensor indicating the detected volume of water and to send a second control signal to the electronic valve to further control the volume of water; wherein the electronic valve is operable to receive the second control signal from the processor to further control the volume of water; wherein the electronic valve is operable to deliver water at a full flow rate for a variable period of time; and wherein the electronic valve is operable to deliver water at a final low flow rate for a set period of time and close once the detected volume of water is approximately equal to the desired volume of water. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 1, wherein the user input module is operable to provide the user with an option to dispense water immediately or to dispense water upon receipt of an input from the user. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 1, wherein the electronic valve is operable to deliver water at a variable flow rate after the initial low flow rate and before the final low flow rate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 1, wherein, after the electronic valve opens, the flow rate ramps up to the full flow rate; and wherein, before the electronic valve closes, the flow rate ramps down from the full flow rate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 1, wherein the variable period of time is determined, in part, based on the desired volume and the full flow rate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 1, wherein, before the electronic valve closes, the flow rate ramps down from the full flow rate; and wherein a time at which the flow rate starts to ramp down is calculated based on a time needed for the electronic valve to close or a volume at which the flow rate starts to ramp down is calculated based on a volume of water that is delivered while the electronic valve is closing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 1, wherein, after the electronic valve opens, the flow rate ramps up at a linear rate; and wherein, before the electronic valve closes, the flow rate ramps down at a linear rate. ### Claim 8 An electronic plumbing fixture fitting, comprising: a discharge outlet, the discharge outlet operable to deliver water; an electronic valve, the electronic valve operable to permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is activated and to not permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is deactivated, the electronic valve operable to control a volume and a temperature of water flowing through the discharge outlet; a user input module, the user input module operable to communicate with a user regarding a desired volume and a desired temperature of water; a flow sensor, the flow sensor operable to detect a volume of water; a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor operable to detect a temperature of water; and a processor, the processor operable to communicate with each of the electronic valve, the user input module, the flow sensor, and the temperature sensor regarding at least one of the desired volume of water, the detected volume of water, the desired temperature of water, and the detected temperature of water; wherein the user input module is operable to receive the desired volume and the desired temperature of water from the user and to send a desired volume and desired temperature signal to the processor indicating the desired volume and the desired temperature of water; wherein the processor is operable to receive the desired volume and desired temperature signal from the user input module indicating the desired volume and the desired temperature of water and to send a first control signal to the electronic valve to control the volume and the temperature of water; wherein the electronic valve is operable to receive the first control signal from the processor to control the volume and the temperature of water; wherein the electronic valve is operable to open and deliver water; wherein the temperature sensor is operable to detect the temperature of water and to send a detected temperature signal to the processor indicating the detected temperature of water; wherein the processor is operable to receive the detected temperature signal from the temperature sensor indicating the detected temperature of water and to send a second control signal to the electronic valve to further control the temperature of water; wherein the electronic valve is operable to receive the second control signal from the processor to further control the temperature of water; wherein the electronic valve is operable to close and the flow of water is stopped once the detected temperature of water is approximately equal to the desired temperature of water; wherein, once the flow of water is stopped, the user input module is operable to communicate with the user regarding a desired time for delivery of the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water; wherein, once the user inputs the desired time for delivery of the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water, the user input module is operable to send a desired time signal to the processor indicating the desired time for delivery of the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water; wherein the processor is operable to receive the desired time signal from the user input module indicating the desired time for delivery of the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water and to send a delivery signal to the electronic valve to deliver the water; wherein the electronic valve is operable to receive the delivery signal from the processor to deliver the water; wherein, at the desired time, the electronic valve is operable to open and deliver the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water; and wherein the electronic valve is operable to close once the detected volume of water is approximately equal to the desired volume of water. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 8, wherein the user input module communicates with the user regarding the desired time for delivery of the water by notifying the user once the detected temperature of water is approximately equal to the desired temperature of water. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 8, wherein the user input module communicates with the user regarding the desired time for delivery of the water by receiving an input from the user when the user is ready for the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water to be delivered. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 8, wherein the electronic valve includes a cold water electronic valve and a hot water electronic valve; wherein, when the electronic valve is opened to deliver the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water, the cold water electronic valve is opened prior to the hot water electronic valve; and wherein, when the electronic valve is closed once the detected volume of water is approximately equal to the desired volume of water, the hot water electronic valve is closed prior to the cold water electronic valve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 8, wherein, after the electronic valve opens to deliver the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water, the electronic valve is operable to deliver water at an initial low flow rate; and wherein, before the electronic valve closes once the detected volume of water is approximately equal to the desired volume of water, the electronic valve is operable to deliver water at a final low flow rate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 8, wherein, after the electronic valve opens to deliver the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water, the flow rate ramps up to a full flow rate; wherein, before the electronic valve closes once the detected volume of water is approximately equal to the desired volume of water, the flow rate ramps down from the full flow rate; and wherein control of the temperature of water being delivered is stopped at approximately the same time as the flow rate ramp down is started. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 8, wherein, when the electronic valve opens before the detected temperature of water is approximately equal to the desired temperature of water, the electronic valve delivers water at a flow rate that is greater than the initial low flow rate and the final low flow rate. ### Claim 15 An electronic plumbing fixture fitting, comprising: a discharge outlet, the discharge outlet operable to deliver water; an electronic valve, the electronic valve operable to permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is activated and to not permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is deactivated, the electronic valve operable to control a volume and a temperature of water flowing through the discharge outlet; a user input module, the user input module operable to communicate with a user regarding a desired volume and a desired temperature of water; a flow sensor, the flow sensor operable to detect a volume of water; a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor operable to detect a temperature of water; and a processor, the processor operable to communicate with each of the electronic valve, the user input module, the flow sensor, and the temperature sensor regarding at least one of the desired volume of water, the detected volume of water, the desired temperature of water, and the detected temperature of water; wherein the user input module is operable to receive the desired volume and the desired temperature of water from the user and to send a desired volume and desired temperature signal to the processor indicating the desired volume and the desired temperature of water; wherein the processor is operable to receive the desired volume and desired temperature signal from the user input module indicating the desired volume and the desired temperature of water and to send a first control signal to the electronic valve to control the volume and the temperature of water; wherein the electronic valve is operable to receive the first control signal from the processor to control the volume and the temperature of water; wherein the electronic valve is operable to open and deliver water at an initial low flow rate for a set period of time; wherein the flow sensor is operable to detect the volume of water and to send a detected volume signal to the processor indicating the detected volume of water; wherein the temperature sensor is operable to detect the temperature of water and to send a detected temperature signal to the processor indicating the detected temperature of water; wherein the processor is operable to receive the detected volume signal from the flow sensor indicating the detected volume of water and the detected temperature signal from the temperature sensor indicating the detected temperature of water and to send a second control signal to the electronic valve to further control the volume and the temperature of water; wherein the electronic valve is operable to receive the second control signal from the processor to further control the volume and the temperature of water; wherein the electronic valve is operable to deliver water at a full flow rate for a variable period of time; and wherein the electronic valve is operable to deliver water at a final low flow rate for a set period of time and close once the detected volume of water is approximately equal to the desired volume of water. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 15, wherein the user input module is operable to provide the user with an option to dispense water immediately or to dispense water once the detected temperature is approximately equal to the desired temperature and the user input module has received an input from the user when the user is ready for the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water to be delivered. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 15, wherein the user input module is operable to provide the user with an option to dispense water immediately or to dispense water upon receipt of an input from the user. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 15, wherein the electronic valve is operable to deliver water at a variable flow rate after the initial low flow rate and before the final low flow rate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 15, wherein the variable period of time is determined, in part, based on the desired volume and the full flow rate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 15, wherein, after the electronic valve opens to deliver the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water, the flow rate ramps up to the full flow rate; wherein, before the electronic valve closes once the detected volume of water is approximately equal to the desired volume of water, the flow rate ramps down from the full flow rate; and wherein control of the temperature of water being delivered is stopped at approximately the same time as the flow rate ramp down is started.