# US 7,743,782 B2 · Wave control circuit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,743,782 B2 - Document ID: US7743782B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/674,479 - Filed: 2007-02-13 - Published: 2007-08-16 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2006-02-14 - Assignees: Technical Concepts, LLC - Inventors: George Jost - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7743782B2 ## CPC - E03C 1/057: {touchless, i.e. using sensors} - Y10T 137/0318: Processes - Y10T 137/8208: Time - Y10T 137/86389: Programmer or timer - E03C: DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER (not connected to either water-supply main or to waste pipe A47K; devices of the kind used in the ground E03B, E03F); SINKS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A wave control circuit disclosed herein may be used to control the operation of various plumbing devices and appliances. The wave control circuit uses a sensor to sense presence of objects in the vicinity of the plumbing device and appliance using the wave control circuit and a control circuit to control the operation of the plumbing device or appliance. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for controlling operation of a plumbing device, the apparatus comprising: a sensor device adapted to detect movement of an object in its sensing field and to generate a sensing signal; a control circuit adapted to: generate a timing event in response to the sensing signal, generate an enabling signal to enable a valve in response to the timing event, calibrate the sensor device after a delay following the enabling of the valve, determine if the valve needs to be disabled by starting an automatic timer after calibrating the sensor, and at least one of determining if there is an object near the sensor and if the timer has expired, and generate a disabling signal to disable the valve. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plumbing device is at least one of a faucet and a showerhead. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein calibrating the sensor device further comprises calibrating the sensor device to account for a flow of fluid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the control circuit is adapted to generate enabling and disabling signals for a hot valve and a cold valve. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the control circuit is further adapted to control the hot valve and the cold valve in a manner so as to cycle the flow of fluid from the plumbing device through a warm state, a hot state and a cold state in a predetermined order. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the control circuit is further adapted to turn on at least one of a red LED and a blue LED based on a temperature of the fluid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the control circuit is further adapted to select at least one of the warm state, the hot state and the cold state upon detection of an object near the sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the control circuit is further adapted to control a volume of fluid dispensed through the plumbing device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the control circuit is further adapted to set the volume of fluid from the plumbing device through a number of pre-determined volume levels. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control circuit is further adapted to select one of the number of pre-determined volume levels based on detection of an object near the sensor. ### Claim 11 A method of controlling operation of a plumbing device, the method comprising: detecting movement of an object in sensing field of a sensor to generate a sensing signal; generating a timing event in response to the sensing signal; generating an enabling signal to enable a valve in response to the timing event; calibrating the sensor device after a delay following the enabling of the valve; determining if the valve needs to be disabled by starting an automatic timer after calibrating the sensor; and at least one of determining if there is an object near the sensor and if the time has expired; and generating a disabling signal to disable the valve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the plumbing device is at least one of a faucet and a showerhead. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising controlling a hot valve and a cold valve in a manner so as to cycle a flow of fluid from the plumbing device through a warm state, a hot state and a cold state in a predetermined order. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising turning on at least one of a red LED and a blue LED based on a temperature of the fluid. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising controlling a volume of fluid dispensed through the plumbing device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising setting the volume of fluid from the plumbing device through a number of pre-determined volume levels. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising selecting one of the number of predetermined volume levels based on detection of an object near the sensor.