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US 2006/0214016 A1Published application
Hands-free faucet
OwnerEdward Erdely, Michael Maridakis +1inventors
InventorsEdward Erdely, Michael Maridakis, Alston Williams
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A faucet includes a spout defining a primary water path. A water path is coupled to the primary water path of the spout. An electrically-operated valve is coupled in the water path to control a water flow through the water path. A control device is communicatively coupled to the electrically-operated valve. The control circuit includes a sensor that sends a signal to the electrically-operated valve to place the electrically-operated valve in an ON state when the sensor detects the presence of an object.
Claims46
A faucet, comprising:
- a spout defining a primary flow path;
- a first flow path coupled to said primary flow path of said spout;
- a first solenoid-operated valve coupled into said first flow path to control a first water flow through said first flow path;
- a second flow path coupled to said primary flow path of said spout;
- a second solenoid-operated valve coupled into said second flow path to control a second water flow through said second flow path;
- a control device communicatively coupled to each of said first solenoid-operated valve and said second solenoid-operated valve, said control device including a sensor that sends a signal to said first solenoid-operated valve to place said first solenoid-operated valve in an ON state and to said second solenoid-operated valve to place said second solenoid-operated valve in an ON state when said sensor detects the presence of an object;
- and
- a temperature control coupled into said first flow path and coupled into said second flow path to regulate a water temperature in said primary flow path.
5 more elements
A faucet, comprising:
- a spout defining a primary flow path;
- a first flow path coupled to said primary flow path of said spout;
- a first solenoid-operated valve coupled into said first flow path to control a first water flow through said first flow path;
- a second flow path coupled to said primary flow path of said spout;
- a second solenoid-operated valve coupled into said second flow path to control a second water flow through said second flow path;
- a control device communicatively coupled to each of said first solenoid-operated valve and said second solenoid-operated valve, said control device including a sensor that sends a signal to said first solenoid-operated valve to place said first solenoid-operated valve in an ON state and to said second solenoid-operated valve to place said second solenoid-operated valve in an ON state when said sensor detects the presence of an object;
- a first auxiliary flow path connected in parallel with said first solenoid-operated valve;
- a second auxiliary flow path connected in parallel with said second solenoid-operated valve;
- and
- a flow control device coupled into said first auxiliary flow path and into said second auxiliary flow path.
7 more elements
A faucet, comprising:
- a spout defining a primary flow path;
- a first flow path coupled to said primary flow path of said spout;
- a first electrically-operated valve coupled into said first flow path to control a first water flow through said first flow path;
- a second flow path coupled to said primary flow path of said spout;
- a second electrically-operated valve coupled into said second flow path to control a second water flow through said second flow path;
- and
- a control device communicatively coupled to each of said first electrically-operated valve and said second electrically-operated valve, said control device including a sensor that sends a signal to said first electrically-operated valve to place said first electrically-operated valve in an ON state and to said second electrically-operated valve to place said second electrically-operated valve in an ON state when said sensor detects the presence of an object,
- wherein each said ON state includes a variable range of flow volumes, said signal individually operating said first electrically-operated valve and second electrically-operated valve to regulate a volume of water in said primary flow path.
5 more elements
A faucet assembly, comprising:
- a spout defining a primary flow path;
- a first valve assembly providing water flow regulation and water temperature regulation, said first valve assembly having a first input port, a second input port and a first output port;
- a first water supply path coupled to said first input port of said first valve assembly;
- a second water supply path coupled to a second input port of said first valve assembly;
- a third flow path coupled between said output port of said first valve assembly and said primary flow path of said spout;
- a second valve assembly providing at least one of water flow regulation and water temperature regulation, said second valve assembly having a third input port, a fourth input port and a second output port;
- a fourth flow path coupled between said third input port and said first water supply path;
- a fifth flow path coupled between said fourth input port and said second water supply path;
- a sixth flow path coupled between said second output port of said second valve assembly and said primary flow path of said spout;
- an electrically-operated valve coupled into said sixth flow path to control a water flow through said second valve assembly;
- a flow sensor coupled into said third flow path to detect a water flow through said first valve assembly;
- an object sensor to detect a presence of an object;
- and
- a switching device communicatively coupled to said flow sensor, said object sensor, and said electrically-operated valve, said switching device being configured such that if a water flow is detected in said third flow path by said flow sensor, then said electrically-operated valve is retained in an OFF state.
11 more elements
A faucet assembly, comprising:
- a spout defining a primary flow path;
- a first valve assembly providing at least one of water flow regulation and water temperature regulation, said first valve assembly having a first electrically-operated valve, a second electrically-operated valve, a first input port, a second input port, and a first output port, said first electrically-operated valve being coupled between said first input port and said first output port and said second electrically-operated valve being coupled between said second input port and said first output port;
- a first water supply path coupled to said first input port of said first valve assembly;
- a second water supply path coupled to said second input port of said first valve assembly;
- a third flow path coupled between said output port of said first valve assembly and said primary flow path of said spout;
- a second valve assembly providing water flow regulation and water temperature regulation, said second valve assembly having a third input port, a fourth input port and a second output port;
- a fourth flow path coupled between said third input port and said first water supply path;
- a fifth flow path coupled between said fourth input port and said second water supply path;
- a sixth flow path coupled between said second output port of said second valve assembly and said primary flow path of said spout;
- a flow sensor coupled into said sixth flow path for detecting a water flow through said second valve assembly;
- an object sensor for detecting a presence of an object;
- and
- a switching device communicatively coupled to said flow sensor, said object sensor, said first electrically-operated valve, and said second electrically-operated valve, said switching device being configured such that if a water flow is detected in said sixth flow path by said flow sensor, then each of said first electrically-operated valve and said second electrically-operated valve is retained in an OFF state.
10 more elements
A faucet assembly, comprising:
- a spout defining a primary flow path;
- a first valve assembly providing at least one of water flow regulation and water temperature regulation, said first valve assembly having a first electrically-operated valve, a second electrically-operated valve, a first input port, a second input port, and a first output port, said first electrically-operated valve being coupled between said first input port and said first output port and said second electrically-operated valve being coupled between said second input port and said first output port;
- a first water supply path coupled to said first input port of said first valve assembly;
- a second water supply path coupled to said second input port of said first valve assembly;
- a third flow path coupled between said first output port of said first valve assembly and said spout;
- a first sensor array having a first plurality of sensors located in a predetermined pattern, said first sensor array providing a first sensor array output signal corresponding to a position of an object in relation to the respective locations of said first plurality of sensors in said first sensor array;
- and
- a control module communicatively coupled to said first electrically-operated valve, said second electrically-operated valve, and said first sensor array, said control module controlling said first electrically-operated valve and said second electrically-operated valve to open by an amount as determined from said first sensor array output signal.
5 more elements
An electronic controller for a faucet, comprising:
- a body;
- and
- a first sensor array having a first plurality of sensors located in a predetermined pattern on said body, said first sensor array providing a first sensor array output signal corresponding to a position of an object in relation to the respective locations of said first plurality of sensors in said first sensor array.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.