USER INTERFACE FOR CONTROLLING A BATHROOM PLUMBING FIXTURE
First Claim
1. A user interface which produces electrical signals for controlling a plumbing fixture, said user interface comprising:
- an enclosure having a faceplate with an exterior surface and a pedestal projecting outward from and fixedly attached to the faceplate;
a display for presenting information to a user of the plumbing fixture, wherein the display is visible through the exterior surface of the faceplate;
a selector having a selector ring positioned to rotate around the pedestal and containing an annular arrangement of a plurality of permanent magnets, and having a Hall effect sensor located adjacent the selector ring and producing an electrical signal in response to motion of the plurality of permanent magnets; and
a plurality of switches each responding to a user pressing a different portion of the faceplate.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A plumbing fixture is operated by a user interface that has an enclosure with a faceplate from which a pedestal seamlessly projects outward. An alphanumeric display is visible through the faceplate and a plurality of switches respond to the user pressing different portions of the faceplate. A selector includes a selector ring that has a plurality of permanent magnets and which is positioned to rotate around the pedestal. A Hall effect sensor of the selector is located adjacent the selector ring and produces an electrical signal in response to motion of the permanent magnets. The user interface also enables the selection of a plurality of predefined operating configurations for the plumbing fixture. An optional wireless remote control may be provided by which the user can activate and deactivate the plumbing fixture and select from among the predefined operating configurations.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A user interface which produces electrical signals for controlling a plumbing fixture, said user interface comprising:
-
an enclosure having a faceplate with an exterior surface and a pedestal projecting outward from and fixedly attached to the faceplate; a display for presenting information to a user of the plumbing fixture, wherein the display is visible through the exterior surface of the faceplate; a selector having a selector ring positioned to rotate around the pedestal and containing an annular arrangement of a plurality of permanent magnets, and having a Hall effect sensor located adjacent the selector ring and producing an electrical signal in response to motion of the plurality of permanent magnets; and a plurality of switches each responding to a user pressing a different portion of the faceplate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A user interface which produces electrical signals for controlling a plumbing fixture, said user interface comprising:
-
an enclosure having a faceplate with an exterior surface; a display for alphanumeric characters and a cursor, wherein the display is visible through the exterior surface of the faceplate; a rotatable selector coupled to the faceplate for moving the cursor on the display; a plurality of switches each responding to a user pressing a different portion of the faceplate, wherein one of the plurality of switches functions to select an item on the display that is designated by the cursor, and another of the plurality of switches functions to select one of a plurality of preset operating configurations for the plumbing fixture; and a wireless remote control comprising a first switch for activating and deactivating the plumbing fixture, a second switch for selecting one of the plurality of preset operating configurations, and a visual indicator designating each of the plurality of preset operating configurations. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification