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US 2012/0055557 A1Published application
Faucet including a capacitance based sensor
AssigneeDelta Faucet Company
InventorsJeffrey J. Belz, David M. Burke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic faucet is provided that includes a spout having a passageway configured to conduct fluid flow through the spout, an electrically operable valve coupled to the passageway, and a capacitive sensor coupled to the faucet. A controller may dynamically change on/off thresholds and monitor a stability signal to determine when to turn off the electrically operable valve.
Claims31
An electronic faucet comprising:
- a spout having a passageway configured to deliver fluid through the spout;
- an electrically operable valve positioned in the passageway;
- a capacitive sensor coupled to the faucet;
- and
- a controller in electrical communication with the capacitive sensor and defining a threshold, the capacitive sensor being configured to send a signal to the controller, the controller being configured to open the valve when a measure of the signal reaches the threshold and to adjust the threshold in response to at least one environmental factor.
2 more elements
An electronic faucet comprising:
- a spout having a passageway configured to deliver fluid through the spout;
- an electrically operable valve positioned in the passageway;
- a capacitive sensor coupled to the faucet and defining a detection area;
- and
- a controller in electrical communication with the capacitive sensor, wherein the controller is configured to maintain the valve in an open position when an object is moving within the detection area.
2 more elements
A method of controlling an electronic faucet, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a faucet including a spout having a passageway configured to deliver fluid through the spout, a valve positioned in the passageway, and a capacitive sensor coupled to the faucet;
- detecting a signal provided with the capacitive sensor;
- comparing a measure of the signal with a threshold;
- opening the valve when the measure of the signal reaches the threshold;
- and
- adjusting the threshold in response to at least one environmental factor.
3 more elements
A method of controlling an electronic faucet, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a faucet including a spout having a passageway configured to deliver fluid through the spout, a valve positioned in the passageway, and a sensor coupled to the faucet and defining a detection area;
- positioning the valve in an open position;
- detecting movement of an object in the detection area based on a signal provided with the sensor;
- and
- maintaining the valve in the open position when the movement of the object is detected in the detection area.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.