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US 2013/0291950 A1Published application
System and method for conveying status information regarding an electronic faucet
AssigneeMasco Corporation of Indiana
InventorJoel D. Sawaski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic faucet has a controller configured to selectively open and close a valve to provide fluid flow through the valve and a passageway of the faucet. The controller is programmed to selectively open and close the valve to generate a fluid flow pattern through the passageway to provide an indication to a user of a condition of the electronic faucet.
Claims36
An electronic faucet comprising:
- a spout;
- a passageway configured to conduct fluid flow through the spout;
- an electrically operable valve in fluid communication with the passageway;
- a controller coupled to the electrically operable valve, the controller being configured to selectively open and close the electrically operable valve to control fluid flow through the electrically operable valve and the passageway of the spout, the controller configured to detect a status condition of the electronic faucet and to selectively open and close the electrically operable valve to generate a fluid flow pattern through the passageway to provide an indication to a user of the detected status condition of the electronic faucet;
- and
- at least one on/off sensor coupled to the controller, the controller configured to selectively open the electrically operable valve in response to an output signal received from the at least one on/off sensor.
3 more elements
The faucet of claim wherein the at least one on/off sensor includes a touch sensor.
An electronic faucet comprising:
- a spout;
- a passageway configured to conduct fluid flow through the spout;
- an electrically operable valve in fluid communication with the passageway;
- a manual valve in fluid communication with the passageway, and a manual handle configured to control the manual valve;
- and
- a controller coupled to the electrically operable valve, the controller being configured to selectively open and close the electrically operable valve to control fluid flow through the electrically operable valve and the passageway of the spout, the controller being programmed to detect a status condition of the electronic faucet and to selectively open and close the valve to generate a fluid flow pattern through the passageway to provide an indication to a user of the detected status condition of the electronic faucet.
3 more elements
An electronic faucet comprising:
- a spout;
- a passageway configured to conduct fluid flow through the spout;
- an electrically operable valve in fluid communication with the passageway;
- a manual valve in fluid communication with the passageway, and a manual handle configured to control the manual valve;
- a controller coupled to the electrically operable valve, the controller being configured to selectively open and close the electrically operable valve to control fluid flow through the electrically operable valve and the passageway of the spout, the controller configured to selectively open and close the electrically operable valve to generate a fluid flow pattern through the passageway to provide an indication to a user of a status condition of the electronic faucet;
- and
- at least one on/off sensor coupled to the controller, the controller configured to selectively open the electrically operable valve in response to an output signal received from the at least one on/off sensor;
- wherein the fluid flow pattern includes at least one of:
- a time delay between receipt by the controller of a signal to open or close the valve and the controller actually opening or closing the valve, the time delay providing an indication to the user of the status condition of the faucet, and
- a plurality of fluid pulses having a pattern indicative of the status condition of the faucet.
7 more elements
A method of controlling fluid flow from an electronic faucet having a spout, a passageway configured to conduct fluid flow through the spout, and an electrically operable valve in fluid communication with the passageway, the method comprising:
- detecting a condition of the electronic faucet;
- receiving a signal to open the valve and permit fluid flow through the passageway;
- providing at least one sensor configured to detect an input from a user and to generate the signal to open the valve;
- and
- controlling opening and closing of the valve in response to the signal to generate a fluid flow pattern through the passageway that provides an indication to a user of the detected condition for the electronic faucet.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.