# US 12,215,490 B2 · Electronic plumbing fixture fittings with shaped and limited sensor detection zones > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,215,490 B2 - Document ID: US12215490B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/222,208 - Filed: 2023-07-14 - Published: 2024-03-14 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-20 - Assignees: Fortune Brands Water Innovations LLC - Applicants: Fortune Brands Water Innovations LLC - Inventors: Inho Song - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12215490B2 ## CPC - E03C 1/057: {touchless, i.e. using sensors} - G01S 17/04: Systems determining the presence of a target - 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 - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES ## Abstract The present application discloses electronic plumbing fixture fittings, such as electronic faucets, with a shaped and limited sensor detection zone. Exemplary embodiments include devices with a plurality of overlapping sensors and devices with a single time-of-flight (TOF) sensor capable of detecting the presence or absence of an object whether or not water is flowing out of a discharge outlet in the in a TOF detection zone. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic plumbing fixture fitting, comprising: a faucet body including a discharge outlet, the discharge outlet being operable to deliver water through an expected fluid flow volume; an electronically controlled valve in fluid communication with the faucet body upstream of the discharge outlet; at least one processor programmed to control the electronically controlled valve to selectively control a flow of fluid from the electronically controlled valve out the discharge outlet of the faucet body; and a time-of-flight (TOF) sensor in electrical communication with the processor and operably connected to the faucet body and positioned to transmit a sensing signal toward the expected fluid flow volume in a sensing signal volume; and wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to create a detection zone inside the sensing signal volume that overlaps at least a portion of the expected fluid flow volume; and wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to permit the TOF sensor to detect the presence or absence of an object in the detection zone whether or not water is flowing out of the discharge outlet through the expected fluid flow volume. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to exclude from the detection zone at least a portion of the sensing signal volume between the expected fluid flow volume and the faucet body proximate the TOF sensor, thereby permitting the faucet body proximate the sensing signal volume to be wiped clean without causing the processor to open the electronically controlled valve while it is closed. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting, according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to exclude from the detection zone at least a distal portion of the sensing signal volume past the expected fluid flow volume, thereby permitting a user to walk up to the electronic plumbing fixture fitting without causing the processor to open the electronically controlled valve while it is closed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting, according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to exclude from the detection zone at least a distal portion of the sensing signal volume past the expected fluid flow volume, thereby permitting a user to walk up to the electronic plumbing fixture fitting without causing the processor to open the electronically controlled valve while it is closed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting, according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to exclude from the detection zone substantially all of the sensing signal volume between the expected fluid flow volume and the faucet body proximate the TOF sensor, thereby permitting the faucet body proximate the TOF sensor to be wiped clean without causing the processor to open the electronically controlled valve while it is closed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting, according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to exclude from the detection zone substantially all of the sensing signal volume between the expected fluid flow volume and the faucet body proximate the TOF sensor, thereby permitting the faucet body proximate the TOF sensor to be wiped clean without causing the processor to open the electronically controlled valve while it is closed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting, according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to exclude from the detection zone substantially all of the sensing signal volume between the expected fluid flow volume and the faucet body proximate the TOF sensor, thereby permitting the faucet body proximate the TOF sensor to be wiped clean without causing the processor to open the electronically controlled valve while it is closed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting, according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to exclude from the detection zone substantially all of the sensing signal volume between the expected fluid flow volume and the faucet body proximate the TOF sensor, thereby permitting the faucet body proximate the TOF sensor to be wiped clean without causing the processor to open the electronically controlled valve while it is closed. ### Claim 9 An electronic plumbing fixture fitting, comprising: a faucet body, the faucet body being operable to mount above a mounting surface, the faucet body including a discharge outlet, the discharge outlet being operable to deliver water through an expected fluid flow volume; an electronically controlled valve in fluid communication with the faucet body upstream of the discharge outlet; at least one processor programmed to control the electronically controlled valve to selectively control a flow of fluid from the electronically controlled valve out the discharge outlet of the faucet body; and a time-of-flight (TOF) sensor operably connected with the faucet body and positioned to transmit a sensing signal toward the expected fluid flow volume in a sensing signal volume; and wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to create a detection zone inside the sensing signal volume and overlapping at least a portion of the expected fluid flow volume; wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to permit the TOF sensor to detect the presence or absence of an object in the detection zone while no water is flowing out of the discharge outlet; wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to permit the TOF sensor to detect the presence or absence of an object in the detection zone while delivered water is flowing in the expected fluid flow volume in the detection zone; wherein the TOF sensor is electrically coupled to the at least one processor to communicate to the at least one processor TOF data representing one or more of (a) the presence or absence of an object in the detection zone, (b) a distance of an object in the detection zone, and (c) a time of travel of a signal indicating an object in the detection zone; wherein the at least one processor has code causing the at least one processor to selectively open the electronically controlled valve to cause a flow of fluid from the electronically controlled valve out the discharge outlet in the expected fluid flow volume responsive to at least the TOF data; and wherein the at least one processor has code causing the at least one processor to selectively close the electronically controlled valve to stop the flow of fluid from the electronically controlled valve out the discharge outlet in the expected fluid flow volume responsive to at least TOF data collected while the flow of fluid is flowing in the expected fluid flow volume in the detection zone. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to exclude from the detection zone at least a portion of the sensing signal volume between the expected fluid flow volume and the faucet body proximate the TOF sensor, thereby permitting the faucet body proximate the sensing signal volume to be wiped clean without causing the processor to open the electronically controlled valve while it is closed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting, according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to exclude from the detection zone at least a distal portion of the sensing signal volume past the expected fluid flow volume, thereby permitting a user to walk up to the electronic plumbing fixture fitting without causing the processor to open the electronically controlled valve while it is closed. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting, according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to exclude from the detection zone at least a distal portion of the sensing signal volume past the expected fluid flow volume, thereby permitting a user to walk up to the electronic plumbing fixture fitting without causing the processor to open the electronically controlled valve while it is closed. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting, according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to exclude from the detection zone substantially all of the sensing signal volume between the expected fluid flow volume and the faucet body proximate the TOF sensor, thereby permitting the faucet body proximate the TOF sensor to be wiped clean without causing the processor to open the electronically controlled valve while it is closed. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting, according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to exclude from the detection zone substantially all of the sensing signal volume between the expected fluid flow volume and the faucet body proximate the TOF sensor, thereby permitting the faucet body proximate the TOF sensor to be wiped clean without causing the processor to open the electronically controlled valve while it is closed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting, according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to exclude from the detection zone substantially all of the sensing signal volume between the expected fluid flow volume and the faucet body proximate the TOF sensor, thereby permitting the faucet body proximate the TOF sensor to be wiped clean without causing the processor to open the electronically controlled valve while it is closed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting, according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to exclude from the detection zone substantially all of the sensing signal volume between the expected fluid flow volume and the faucet body proximate the TOF sensor, thereby permitting the faucet body proximate the TOF sensor to be wiped clean without causing the processor to open the electronically controlled valve while it is closed. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting, according to claim 9: wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to permit the TOF sensor to detect the presence or absence of a user's hand in the detection zone while no water is flowing out of the discharge outlet; wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to permit the TOF sensor to detect the presence or absence of a user's hand in the detection zone while delivered water is flowing in the expected fluid flow volume in the detection zone; wherein the TOF sensor is electrically coupled to the at least one processor to communicate to the at least one processor TOF data representing one or more of (a) the presence or absence of a user's hand in the detection zone, (b) a distance of a user's hand in the detection zone, and (c) a time of travel of a signal indicating a user's hand in the detection zone; wherein the at least one processor has code causing the at least one processor to selectively open the electronically controlled valve to cause a flow of fluid from the electronically controlled valve out the discharge outlet in the expected fluid flow volume responsive to at least the TOF data indicating the presence of a user's hand in the detection zone; wherein the at least one processor has code causing the at least one processor to selectively close the electronically controlled valve to stop the flow of fluid from the electronically controlled valve out the discharge outlet in the expected fluid flow volume responsive to at least TOF data collected while the flow of fluid is flowing in the expected fluid flow volume in the detection zone; wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to exclude from the detection zone at least a portion of the sensing signal volume between the expected fluid flow volume and the faucet body proximate the TOF sensor, thereby permitting the faucet body proximate the sensing signal volume to be wiped clean without causing the processor to open the electronically controlled valve while it is closed; and wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to exclude from the detection zone at least a distal portion of the sensing signal volume past the expected fluid flow volume, thereby permitting a user to walk up to the electronic plumbing fixture fitting without causing the processor to open the electronically controlled valve while it is closed. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting, according to claim 16: wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to permit the TOF sensor to detect the presence or absence of a user's hand in the detection zone while no water is flowing out of the discharge outlet; wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to permit the TOF sensor to detect the presence or absence of a user's hand in the detection zone while delivered water is flowing in the expected fluid flow volume in the detection zone; wherein the TOF sensor is electrically coupled to the at least one processor to communicate to the at least one processor TOF data representing one or more of (a) the presence or absence of a user's hand in the detection zone, (b) a distance of a user's hand in the detection zone, and (c) a time of travel of a signal indicating a user's hand in the detection zone; wherein the at least one processor has code causing the at least one processor to selectively open the electronically controlled valve to cause a flow of fluid from the electronically controlled valve out the discharge outlet in the expected fluid flow volume responsive to at least the TOF data indicating the presence of a user's hand in the detection zone; wherein the at least one processor has code causing the at least one processor to selectively close the electronically controlled valve to stop the flow of fluid from the electronically controlled valve out the discharge outlet in the expected fluid flow volume responsive to at least TOF data collected while the flow of fluid is flowing in the expected fluid flow volume in the detection zone; wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to exclude from the detection zone at least a portion of the sensing signal volume between the expected fluid flow volume and the faucet body proximate the TOF sensor, thereby permitting the faucet body proximate the sensing signal volume to be wiped clean without causing the processor to open the electronically controlled valve while it is closed; and wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the TOF sensor is configured to exclude from the detection zone at least a distal portion of the sensing signal volume past the expected fluid flow volume, thereby permitting a user to walk up to the electronic plumbing fixture fitting without causing the processor to open the electronically controlled valve while it is closed. ### Claim 19 An electronic plumbing fixture fitting, comprising: a faucet body including a discharge outlet, the discharge outlet being operable to deliver water through an expected fluid flow volume; an electronically controlled valve in fluid communication with the faucet body upstream of the discharge outlet; at least one processor programmed to control the electronically controlled valve to selectively control a flow of fluid from the electronically controlled valve out the discharge outlet of the faucet body; and a plurality of sensors in electrical communication with the processor and operably connected to the faucet body and positioned to transmit a sensing signal toward the expected fluid flow volume in a sensing signal volume, the plurality of sensors located in different locations and having overlapping sensing signal volumes creating a shaped and limited sensor detection zone that overlaps at least a portion of the expected fluid flow volume; and wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the plurality of sensors is configured to permit the plurality of sensors to detect the presence or absence of an object in the detection zone. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The electronic plumbing fixture fitting, according to claim 19, wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the plurality of sensors is configured to permit the plurality of sensors to detect the presence or absence of an object in the detection zone whether or not water is flowing out of the discharge outlet through the expected fluid flow volume.