TOUCH FREE AUTOMATIC FAUCET

• US 20110185493A1
• Filed: 06/14/2010
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chung-Chia Chen
• Original Assignee: Chung-Chia Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Chung-Chia
• Granted Patent: US 9,057,183 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/623
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2001/026 with flow restricting devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1927 using a plurality of sensors G05D23/1902, G05D23/1917, and G05D23/1919 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87096 Valves with separate, correlated, actuators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

A touch free automatic faucet is provided. The faucet includes a faucet housing including many sensors for controlling water flow and water temperature. A processor is connected to the sensors. A first control valve assembly is connected to the processor. A second control valve assembly is connected to the processor. A power source is connected to the processor, the first control valve assembly and the second control valve assembly. Water flow and water temperature are controlled by the sensors without touching of the faucet housing.

Claims

1. A touch free automatic faucet, comprising:

a plurality of sensors for controlling water temperature;

a plurality of sensors for controlling water flow;

a processor coupled to the plurality of sensors;

a voltage source coupled to the processor; and

a temperature control valve assembly coupled to the processor, wherein the processor controls water flow and temperature of water exiting the touch free automatic faucet.

2. The touch free automatic faucet of claim 1, further comprising a primary sensor coupled to the processor adapted for controlling on and off water flow.

3. The touch free automatic faucet of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors for controlling water flow and temperature comprises a plurality of secondary sensors, and a plurality of tertiary sensors.

4. The touch free automatic faucet of claim 1, further comprising a primary sensor coupled to the processor adapted for controlling on and off water flow, wherein the plurality of sensors for controlling water flow and temperature comprises a plurality of secondary sensors, and a plurality of tertiary sensors.

5. The touch free faucet of claim 4, wherein the primary sensor, the plurality of secondary sensors, the plurality of tertiary sensors each includes a transmitter and a receiver mounted on one or more of:

a faucet body and a faucet assembly, wherein each sensor is configured for detecting presence of an object within a predetermined range of the touch free automatic faucet.

6. The touch free faucet of claim 3, wherein the plurality of secondary sensors and the plurality of tertiary sensors each includes a transmitter and a receiver mounted on one or more of:

a faucet body and a faucet assembly, wherein each sensor is configured for detecting presence of an object within a predetermined range of the touch free automatic faucet.

7. The touch free automatic faucet of claim 2, further comprising:

a water flow control valve assembly coupled to the processor, wherein water flow and temperature control of the touch free automatic faucet is controlled in combination by the plurality of secondary sensors and the plurality of tertiary sensors.

8. The touch free automatic faucet of claim 7, wherein said water flow control valve assembly including inlet and outlet conduits extending therefrom, and a motorized gear driven valve for controlling water flow to the automatic touch free faucet.

9. The touch free automatic faucet of claim 8, wherein the temperature control valve assembly including a motorized gear driven valve, two fluid inlet conduits and a fluid outlet conduit extending therefrom for controlling water temperature to the automatic touch free faucet.

10. The touch free automatic faucet of claim 1, further comprising a second temperature control valve assembly, wherein the temperature control valve assembly is coupled to a cold water line, and the second temperature control valve assembly is coupled to a hot water line, the temperature control valve assembly and the second temperature control valve assembly each including a motorized gear driven valve, wherein the temperature control valve assembly and the second temperature control valve assembly are configured for controlling water temperature and water flow to the automatic touch free faucet.

11. The touch free automatic faucet of claim 10, further comprising:

a primary sensor coupled to the processor adapted for controlling on and off water flow, and

a water flow on off control valve coupled to the processor for turning water flow on and off to the faucet.

12. The touch free automatic faucet of claim 4, wherein said primary sensor senses the presence of an object within a predetermined detection zone, and the processor outputs a signal to activate the water flow control valve assembly to start water flow to a faucet spout of the automatic touch free faucet at a preset flow and temperature.

13. The touch free automatic faucet of claim 4, wherein upon the automatic touch free faucet being controlled by the processor in a Primary-Water-Flow-Mode, the water flow control valve assembly is placed in an activated position, the primary sensor does not sense an object within the detection zone, and the processor outputs a signal to deactivate the water flow control valve assembly for stopping water flow to a faucet spout and for resetting the temperature control valves to a default flow and temperature setting.

14. The touch free automatic faucet of claim 4, wherein upon the plurality of secondary sensors each sense a presence of an object in a predetermined detection zone for a predetermined time period, signals from the plurality of secondary sensors trigger the processor to output a signal to activate the water flow control valve assembly and begin a continuous water flow to a faucet spout of the automatic touch free faucet at a default flow and temperature.

15. The touch free automatic faucet of claim 7, wherein the water flow control valve assembly is placed in an activated position and water flows to the faucet spout upon a primary sensor of the plurality of secondary sensors sensing presence of an object within the detection zone, the processor increases the temperature by increasing hot water flow and decreasing cold water flow of the temperature control valve assembly accordingly depending on a sensing time period of the primary sensor of the plurality of secondary sensors, and upon a secondary sensor of the plurality of secondary sensors sensing presence of an object within its detection zone, the processor decreases the temperature by decreasing hot water flow and increasing cold water flow of the temperature control valves assembly accordingly depending on a sensing time period of the secondary sensor of the plurality of secondary sensors, wherein faucet water flow temperature is controlled by the primary sensor and the secondary sensor of the plurality of secondary sensors without touching any part of the automatic touch free faucet.

16. The touch free automatic faucet of claim 15, wherein said water flow control valve assembly is placed in an activated position for water flow upon a primary sensor of the tertiary sensors sensing presence of an object within its detection zone, the processor increases the water flow to the faucet spout by increasing both hot and cold water flow of the water flow control valve assembly accordingly depending on a sensing time period of the primary sensor of the plurality of tertiary sensors, and upon a secondary sensor of the plurality of tertiary sensors sensing presence of an object within its detection zone, the processor decreases water flow to the faucet spout by decreasing both of hot and cold water flow of the water flow control valve assembly accordingly depending on a sensing time period of the secondary sensor of the plurality of tertiary sensors, wherein faucet water flow is adjusted by the primary sensor and the secondary sensor of the plurality of tertiary sensors without touching any parts of the automatic touch free faucet.

17. The touch free automatic faucet of claim 7, wherein said water flow control valve assembly is placed in an activated position and faucet water flows continuously upon primary sensor and the secondary sensor of the plurality of secondary sensors sensing presence of an object within their detection zones for a predetermined time period, the processor outputs a signal to deactivate the flow control valve assembly to stop water flow to the faucet spout, wherein a continuous water flow is controlled by the primary sensor and the secondary sensor of the plurality of secondary sensors.

18. The touch free automatic faucet of claim 4, wherein the faucet is placed in a stand-by condition by the processor upon the primary sensor not sensing an object presence within its detection zone and the flow control valve assembly is placed in a deactivation condition by the processor, wherein no water flows from the faucet spout;

and detection of an object within a detection zone of the primary sensor of the plurality of secondary sensors for a predetermined time period triggers the processor to pause the primary sensor wherein an object placed within the detection zone of the primary sensor does not activate faucet water flow.

19. The touch free automatic faucet of claim 4, wherein primary sensor is paused, and upon the primary sensor of the plurality of secondary sensors detecting an object within its detection zone for a predetermined time period triggers the processor to reset the primary sensor, wherein the automatic touch free faucet is placed in a stand-by condition by the processor.

20. The touch free automatic faucet of claim 4, wherein a water flow control valve assembly is placed in an activated position for water flow by the processor upon both of the primary sensor and the secondary sensor of the tertiary sensors sensing presence of an object within their detection zone for a predetermined time period, wherein the processor sets a current temperature and flow condition as a common default settings for water flow.

21. The touch free automatic faucet of claim 4, wherein the automatic faucet enters a customized preset default mode upon activation of a primary sensor or a secondary sensor of a tertiary sensor, the water flow control valve assembly enters an activated state for water flow via the processor upon activation of the primary sensor or activation of both of secondary sensors for a Continuous-water-Flow-Mode, and the processor causes the water flow to be set at a preset default flow and temperature condition.

22. The touch free automatic faucet of claim 4, wherein upon initiating a customized preset default mode, a water flow control valve assembly is activated via the processor for water flow upon both of a primary sensor and a secondary sensor of the tertiary sensors sensing presence of an object within an associated detection zone for a predetermined time period, and the processor is configured for setting a current temperature and flow condition as a customized preset default settings for water flow.

23. The touch free automatic faucet of claim 20, wherein said processor comprises a reset switch and a circuit board, wherein the processor is programmed to process all inputs and outputs of the primary sensor, the plurality of secondary sensors and the plurality of tertiary sensors, the water flow control valve assembly and the temperature control valve assembly, and the reset switch operates for resetting the automatic touch free faucet to stand-by condition.

24. The touch free automatic faucet of claim 1, wherein the power source includes a battery pack and an alternating current to direct current transformer to supply direct current to the processor.

25. The touch free automatic faucet of claim 1, wherein the power source includes a rechargeable battery.

26. The touch free automatic faucet of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor coupled to the processor.

27. The touch free automatic faucet of claim 26, wherein the processor is adapted to save one or more preset temperature settings.

28. The touch free automatic faucet of claim 26, further comprising a temperature display coupled to the processor, the temperature display configured for displaying current water temperature.

29. A faucet, comprising:

a plurality of sensors including;

a main faucet control sensor;

a primary and secondary temperature control sensor;

a primary and secondary water flow control sensors;

a processor coupled to the plurality of sensors;

a water flow control valve assembly coupled to the processor;

a temperature control valve assembly coupled to the processor; and

a power supply coupled to the processor and configured for controlling water flow through the water flow control valve assembly and water temperature through the temperature control valve assembly.

30. A faucet system, comprising:

a faucet housing including a plurality of sensors for controlling water flow and water temperature;

a processor coupled to the plurality of sensors;

a first control valve assembly coupled to the processor;

a second control valve assembly coupled to the processor; and

a power source coupled to the processor, the first control valve assembly and the second control valve assembly,

wherein water flow and water temperature are controlled by the plurality of sensors without touching of the faucet housing.

31. The faucet system of claim 30, further comprising a third control valve assembly coupled to the processor, the third control valve assembly configured for turning water flow on and off.

32. The faucet system of claim 30, wherein the first control valve assembly is coupled to a first water source, the second control valve assembly is coupled to a second water source, wherein the first control valve assembly and the second control valve assembly are configured for controlling water flow and water temperature.

33. The faucet system of claim 30, wherein the first control valve assembly is coupled to a first water source and a second water source, wherein the first control valve assembly is configured for controlling water temperature and the second control valve assembly is configured for controlling water flow.

34. The faucet system of claim 30, further comprising a water temperature sensor coupled to the processor.

35. The faucet system of claim 34, wherein the processor is configured to storing one or more default preset temperature settings.

36. The faucet system of claim 34, further comprising a temperature display coupled to the processor, wherein the temperature display is configured for displaying one or more of:

current water temperature and flow information.

37. A faucet housing, comprising:

a faucet housing including a plurality of sensor windows;

a plurality of sensor assemblies removably coupled to the faucet housing; and

a shaft at least partially disposed within the faucet housing coupled with a securing nut, wherein the securing nut is configured to hold the sensor assemblies within the faucet housing, and for aligning the plurality sensor assemblies with the plurality of sensor windows.

38. The faucet housing of claim 37, wherein the plurality of sensor assemblies comprises a first sensor assembly and a second sensor assembly, wherein the first sensor assembly is aligned to a first set of sensor windows, and the second sensor assembly is aligned to a second set of sensor windows.

39. The faucet housing of claim 37, further comprising a third sensor assembly, wherein the third sensor assembly is aligned with a third sensor assembly sensor window.

40. The faucet housing of claim 37, wherein each of the first sensor assembly and the second sensor assembly are configured for aligning with either the first set of sensor windows or the second set of sensor windows.