Water treatment device with volumetric and time monitoring features

A meter system for a water treatment device through which water flows, the device having an inlet port and an outlet port, the meter system comprising:

• a turbine rotatably positioned in the channel and exposed to the water;
• a signal generating member positioned on the turbine;
• a switch positioned proximately to the flow reactive device, and being sensitive to the proximity of the signal generating member, the switch generating a flow signal corresponding to water flow in the channel;
• a controller, having a plurality of thresholds programmed therein, said plurality of thresholds including a threshold for each of delay use during water flow, acceptance use, cautious use and termination of use conditions, receiving and accumulating the flow signal and comparing the accumulated flow signal to each of the plurality of thresholds;
• an output device in communication with said controller and capable of providing a plurality of output signals, each of said output signals associated with one of said plurality of thresholds;
• and
• said controller actuating said output device to provide said one of said plurality of output signals associated with said one of the plurality of thresholds surpassed.

A water treatment device for attachment to the end of a faucet to filter water flowing from the faucet, said water treatment device comprising:

• a housing having an inlet configured to attach to the faucet, and a bypass outlet and a filtered outlet, with a non-filtered bypass flow path defined in fluid communication between said inlet and said bypass outlets, and a filtered flow-path defined in fluid communication between said inlet and said filtered outlets;
• a valve attached to said housing and selectively positionable to select said non-filtered bypass flow path or said filtered flow-path;
• a filter inside said housing positioned in the filtered flow-path to filter said water flowing through said filtered flow-path;
• a meter system positioned in the filtered flow path inside the housing to meter the water flowing through said filtered flow-path, said meter system comprising:
• a flow reactive device positioned in the filtered flow path and exposed to the flowing water, said flow reactive device producing a spatially varying signal in reaction to water flow;
• a sensor coupled to the flow reactive device, and being sensitive to the proximity of the spatially varying signal of the flow reacting device, the sensor generating a flow signal corresponding to water flowing in said filtered flow-path;
• an output device for indicating when the filter has become useable;
• a controller, including a threshold value, coupled to receive and accumulate the flow signal, the controller activating the output device when the accumulated flow signal exceeds the threshold.

An end of faucet filter for mounting on the end of a faucet, the end of faucet filter having a water treatment device, an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture, and a channel for channeling flowing water between the inlet and outlet apertures, the end of faucet filter further comprising:

• a flow reactive device positioned in the channel and exposed to the water;
• a signal generating member positioned on the flow reactive device causing said flow reactive device to produce a spatially varying signal in reaction to water flow;
• a sensor coupled to the flow reactive device, and being sensitive to the proximity of the spatially varying signal of the flow reactive device, the sensor generating a flow signal corresponding to water flow in the channel;
• an output device for indicating when the water treatment device is usable;
• and
• a controller coupled to receive and accumulate the flow signal, and including a first threshold representing a delay function during water flow, and a second threshold representing a termination of use, said controller comparing the accumulated flow signal to the first threshold, the controller not actuating the output device when the accumulated flow signal is below the first threshold, the output device thus indicating the delay function, and the controller activating the output device when the accumulated flow signal exceeds the first threshold and is below the second threshold.