CAPACITIVE COUPLING ARRANGEMENT FOR A FAUCET
First Claim
1. A faucet comprising:
- a spout;
a passageway that conducts fluid flow through the spout;
a electrically operable valve located within the passageway;
a manual valve located within the passageway in series with the electrically operable valve;
a manual handle that controls the manual valve;
a first touch sensor on the manual valve handle;
a second touch sensor on the spout;
a capacitive sensor directly coupled to one of the first and second touch sensors and capacitively coupled to the other of the first and second touch sensors, the capacitive sensor providing an output signal; and
a controller coupled to the capacitive sensor, the controller being configured to monitor the output signal from the capacitive sensor and to distinguish between a user tapping one of the spout and the manual valve handle, a user grabbing the spout, and a user grabbing the manual valve handle, the controller also being coupled to the electrically operable valve to control the electrically operable valve is response to the output signal from the capacitive sensor.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A faucet (10) includes a spout (12), a passageway that conducts fluid flow through the spout (12), a electrically operable valve (22) located within the passageway, a manual valve (20) located within the passageway in series with the electrically operable valve, and a manual handle (14) that controls the manual valve (20). The faucet (10) also includes a first touch sensor (26) on the manual valve handle (14), a second touch sensor (28) on the spout (12), a capacitive sensor (30) directly coupled to one of the first and second touch sensors (26, 28) and capacitively coupled to the other of the first and second touch sensors (26, 28), and a controller (24) coupled to the capacitive sensor (30). The controller (24) is configured to monitor the output signal from the capacitive sensor (30) and to distinguish between a user tapping one of the spout (12) and the manual valve handle (14), a user grabbing the spout (12), and a user grabbing the manual valve handle (14). The controller (24) is also coupled to the electrically operable valve (22) to control the electrically operable valve (22) is response to the output signal from the capacitive sensor (30).
139 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A faucet comprising:
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a spout; a passageway that conducts fluid flow through the spout; a electrically operable valve located within the passageway; a manual valve located within the passageway in series with the electrically operable valve; a manual handle that controls the manual valve; a first touch sensor on the manual valve handle; a second touch sensor on the spout; a capacitive sensor directly coupled to one of the first and second touch sensors and capacitively coupled to the other of the first and second touch sensors, the capacitive sensor providing an output signal; and a controller coupled to the capacitive sensor, the controller being configured to monitor the output signal from the capacitive sensor and to distinguish between a user tapping one of the spout and the manual valve handle, a user grabbing the spout, and a user grabbing the manual valve handle, the controller also being coupled to the electrically operable valve to control the electrically operable valve is response to the output signal from the capacitive sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of controlling fluid flow in a faucet having a spout, a passageway that conducts fluid flow through the spout, a electrically operable valve located within the passageway, a manual valve located within the passageway in series with the electrically operable valve, and a manual handle that controls the manual valve, the method comprising:
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providing a first touch sensor on the manual valve handle; providing a second touch sensor on the spout; providing a capacitive sensor; directly coupling one of the first and second touch sensors to the capacitive sensor; capacitively coupling the other of the first and second touch sensors to the same capacitive sensor; monitoring an output signal from the capacitive sensor to detect touches of both the first and second touch sensors by a user; and controlling the electrically operable valve is response to the monitoring step. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification