ELECTRONIC PLUMBING FIXTURE FITTING WITH SENSOR MOUNTING ON ELECTRONIC BOARD

• US 20160208467A1
• Filed: 01/19/2016
• Published: 07/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fortune Brands Water Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Moen, Inc. (Canada) (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Inventors: Song, Inho
• Granted Patent: US 10,081,931 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/385 contacting in the closed position, over a substantial axial length, a seat surface having the same inclination
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/22 with an actuating member for each valve, e.g. interconnected to form multiple-way valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/0263 multiple way valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/02 electric F16K31/004 takes precedence; magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/04 using a motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

The present invention provides an electronic plumbing fixture fitting with a sensor mounted on an electronic board, such as an electronic faucet with a sensor mounted on an electronic board.

Claims

1. An electronic plumbing fixture fitting, comprising:

a discharge outlet, the discharge outlet being operable to deliver water, the discharge outlet being located above a mounting surface for the fitting;

an electronic valve, the electronic valve being operable to permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is activated and to not permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is deactivated;

a sensor, the sensor being operable to send a signal when the sensor is triggered, the sensor being mounted on an electronic board, the sensor being located above the mounting surface;

an electronic control, the electronic control being operable to receive the signal from the sensor when the sensor is triggered and, in response, send a signal to the electronic valve to activate the electronic valve, at least a portion of the electronic control being located above the mounting surface; and

a cable, the cable being operable to electrically connect the sensor to the electronic control, at least a portion of the cable being operable to electrically connect the sensor to the portion of the electronic control located above the mounting surface;

wherein the electronic board and the portion of the cable operable to electrically connect the sensor to the portion of the electronic control located above the mounting surface are integrally formed.

2. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 1, wherein:

the electronic control includes a control module;

the control module is operable to receive the signal from the sensor when the sensor is triggered and, in response, send the signal to the electronic valve to activate the electronic valve;

the control module is located above the mounting surface; and

the cable is operable to electrically connect the sensor to the control module.

3. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 1, wherein:

the electronic control includes an electronics module;

the electronics module is operable to receive the signal from the sensor when the sensor is triggered and, in response, send the signal to the electronic valve to activate the electronic valve;

the electronics module is located below the mounting surface; and

the cable is operable to electrically connect the sensor to the electronics module.

4. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 1, wherein:

the electronic control includes a control module and an electronics module;

at least one of the control module and the electronics module is operable to receive the signal from the sensor when the sensor is triggered and, in response, send the signal to the electronic valve to activate the electronic valve;

the control module is located above the mounting surface;

the electronics module is located below the mounting surface; and

the cable is operable to electrically connect the sensor to the control module and the electronics module.

5. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 1, wherein the electronic board is a flexible printed circuit board.

6. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the flexible printed circuit board is attached to a stiffener.

7. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 1, wherein the portion of the cable operable to electrically connect the sensor to the portion of the electronic control located above the mounting surface is a flexible printed circuit board.

8. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the flexible printed circuit board is attached to a stiffener.

9. An electronic plumbing fixture fitting, comprising:

a discharge outlet, the discharge outlet being operable to deliver water, the discharge outlet being located above a mounting surface for the fitting;

an electronic valve, the electronic valve being operable to permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is activated and to not permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is deactivated;

a first sensor, the first sensor being operable to send a first signal when the first sensor is triggered, the first sensor being mounted on a first electronic board, the first sensor being located above the mounting surface;

a second sensor, the second sensor being operable to send a second signal when the second sensor is triggered, the second sensor being mounted on a second electronic board, the second sensor being located above the mounting surface;

an electronic control, the electronic control being operable to receive the first signal from the first sensor when the first sensor is triggered and, in response, send a first signal to the electronic valve to activate the electronic valve, the electronic control being operable to receive the second signal from the second sensor when the second sensor is triggered and, in response, send a second signal to the electronic valve to activate the electronic valve, at least a portion of the electronic control being located above the mounting surface;

a first cable, the first cable being operable to electrically connect the first sensor to the second sensor, the first cable being located above the mounting surface; and

a second cable, the second cable being operable to electrically connect the second sensor to the electronic control, at least a portion of the second cable being operable to electrically connect the second sensor to the portion of the electronic control located above the mounting surface;

wherein the first electronic board, the second electronic board, the first cable, and at least the portion of the second cable operable to electrically connect the second sensor to the portion of the electronic control located above the mounting surface are integrally formed.

10. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 9, wherein:

the electronic control includes a control module;

the control module is operable to receive the first signal from the first sensor when the first sensor is triggered and, in response, send the first signal to the electronic valve to activate the electronic valve, the control module is operable to receive the second signal from the second sensor when the second sensor is triggered and, in response, send the second signal to the electronic valve to active the electronic valve;

the control module is located above the mounting surface; and

the second cable is operable to electrically connect the second sensor to the control module.

11. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 9, wherein:

the electronic control includes an electronics module;

the electronics module is operable to receive the first signal from the first sensor when the first sensor is triggered and, in response, send the first signal to the electronic valve to activate the electronic valve, the electronics module is operable to receive the second signal from the second sensor when the second sensor is triggered and, in response, send the second signal to the electronic valve to active the electronic valve;

the electronics module is located below the mounting surface; and

the second cable is operable to electrically connect the second sensor to the electronics module.

12. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 9, wherein:

the electronic control includes a control module and an electronics module;

at least one of the control module and the electronics module is operable to receive the first signal from the first sensor when the first sensor is triggered and, in response, send the first signal to the electronic valve to activate the electronic valve, at least one of the control module and the electronics module is operable to receive the second signal from the second sensor when the second sensor is triggered and, in response, send the second signal to the electronic valve to active the electronic valve;

the control module is located above the mounting surface;

the electronics module is located below the mounting surface; and

the second cable is operable to electrically connect the second sensor to the control module and the electronics module.

13. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 9, wherein the first electronic board is a first flexible printed circuit board, and the first cable is s second flexible printed circuit board.

14. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the first flexible printed circuit board is attached to a stiffener, and at least a portion of the second flexible printed circuit board is attached to a stiffener.

15. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 9, wherein the second electronic board is a third flexible printed circuit board, and the portion of the second cable operable to electrically connect the second sensor to the portion of the electronic control located above the mounting surface is a fourth flexible printed circuit board.

16. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the third flexible printed circuit board is attached to a stiffener, and at least a portion of the fourth flexible printed circuit board is attached to a stiffener.

17. An electronic plumbing fixture fitting, comprising:

a discharge outlet, the discharge outlet being operable to deliver water, the discharge outlet being located above a mounting surface for the fitting;

an electronic valve, the electronic valve being operable to permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is activated and to not permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is deactivated;

a first sensor, the first sensor being operable to send a first signal when the first sensor is triggered, the first sensor being mounted on a first electronic board, the first sensor being located above the mounting surface;

a second sensor, the second sensor being operable to send a second signal when the second sensor is triggered, the second sensor being mounted on a second electronic board, the second sensor being located above the mounting surface;

an electronic control, the electronic control being operable to receive the first signal from the first sensor when the first sensor is triggered and, in response, send a first signal to the electronic valve to activate the electronic valve, the electronic control being operable to receive the second signal from the second sensor when the second sensor is triggered and, in response, send a second signal to the electronic valve to activate the electronic valve;

a first cable, the first cable being operable to electrically connect the first sensor to the second sensor, the first cable being located above the mounting surface; and

a second cable, the second cable being operable to electrically connect the second sensor to the electronic control, at least a portion of the second cable being located above the mounting surface;

wherein the first electronic board, the second electronic board, and the first cable are integrally formed.

18. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 17, wherein:

the electronic control is located above the mounting surface; and

the second cable is integrally formed with the first electronic board, the second electronic board, and the first cable.

19. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 17, wherein:

the electronic control is located below the mounting surface; and

at least the portion of the second cable located above the mounting surface is integrally formed with the first electronic board, the second electronic board, and the first cable.

20. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 17, wherein:

at least a portion of the electronic control is located above the mounting surface;

at least a portion of the electronic control is located below the mounting surface;

at least a portion of the second cable is operable to electrically connect the second sensor to the portion of the electronic control located above the mounting surface; and

at least the portion of the second cable operable to electrically connect the second sensor to the portion of the electronic control located above the mounting surface is integrally formed with the first electronic board, the second electronic board, and the first cable.