Water control sensor apparatus and method

An apparatus for controlling the flow of water through a spout in response to human proximity comprising:

• electric field radiator means placed in the vicinity of a sink and excited with an alternating voltage of known frequency by means of an electrical conductor connected to a source of said voltage, said radiator means producing a primary electric field at said known frequency that is coupled to the human's body when a portion thereof enters the primary electric field, the human's body then radiating a secondary electric field in syncopation with the primary electric field;
• conductive receiving means responsive to the secondary electric field for converting the secondary electric field to a received electrical signal, the receiving means being located apart from the field radiator means;
• amplification means for increasing the power of the received electrical signals to a usable level;
• electrical filter means for preferentially passing received electrical signals at said known frequency;
• conversion means for converting the filtered and amplified received electrical signals to an electrical representation indicative of a parameter of the received signal such as signal strength or signal phase;
• comparison means responsive to the output of the conversion means and to a reference level for generating a detection signal indicative of whether the output of the conversion means is greater or less than the reference level;
• actuator control means responsive to the detection signal for controlling an electromechanical actuator used to control the flow of water to the spout;
• power supply means for supplying electrical power to the electronic portions of the apparatus.