TOUCH DETECTION DEVICE FOR WATER HANDLING EQUIPMENT, AND FAUCET APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME

• US 20180106024A1
• Filed: 09/25/2017
• Published: 04/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toto Limited
• Original Assignee: Toto Limited
• Inventors: KAWANA, Kohei, HATAKEYAMA, Makoto, HARA, Masashi, MATSUI, Hideyuki
• Granted Patent: US 10,316,500 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/055 Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/00 Construction of housing methods for welding housings B23K; Use of materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/96 Touch switches specially adapted for electronic time-pieces with no moving parts G04G21/08

Abstract

A touch detection device has a sensing unit that includes a contact portion which comes into contact with an object, a vibration excitation element that vibrates the contact portion, a detection circuit that includes a drive circuit and a contact determination circuit, and an electrical wire that connects the vibration excitation element and the detection circuit, and is covered with a covering material. The vibration excitation element is covered with a potting layer made of resin through a predetermined internal space. While being inserted into the potting layer, the electrical wire has an end connected to the vibration excitation element, and an insertion portion inserted into the potting layer includes a non-covering portion formed by peeling of the covering material.

Claims

1. A touch detection device for water handling equipment, the touch detection device comprising:

a sensing unit including a contact portion configured to come into contact with an object, and the sensing unit being configured to sense contact of the object with the contact portion;

a vibration excitation element configured to vibrate the contact portion; and

a detection circuit including a drive circuit and a contact determination circuit, the drive circuit being configured to excite vibration to the contact portion by applying a voltage to the vibration excitation element, and the contact determination circuit being configured to determine whether or not the object comes into contact with the contact portion, on the basis of the vibration of the contact portion; and

an electrical wire configured to connect the vibration excitation element and the detection circuit, and the electrical wire being covered with a covering material,

wherein the vibration excitation element is covered with a potting layer made of resin through a predetermined internal space, and

the electrical wire includes one end connected to the vibration excitation element while the electrical wire is inserted into the potting layer, and an insertion portion of the electrical wire inserted into the potting layer includes a non-covering portion formed by peeling of the covering material.

2. The touch detection device according to claim 1, wherein the contact portion of the sensing unit is provided in a part of the faucet apparatus.

3. The touch detection device according to claim 1, wherein the non-covering portion of the electrical wire is provided in a middle of the potting layer.

4. The touch detection device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical wire is composed of a stranded conductor, and a moisture-proof material is applied to at least a part of the non-covering portion in the insertion portion inserted into the potting layer of the electrical wire.

5. The touch detection device according to claim 4, wherein the moisture-proof material is composed of solder.

6. The touch detection device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a potting receiving portion configured to receive the potting layer, and the potting receiving portion being made of resin; and

a sealing member provided between the potting receiving portion and the contact portion,

wherein the potting layer is composed of epoxy resin.

7. A faucet apparatus configured to switch between spouting and water stop by touch operation, the faucet apparatus comprising:

the touch detection device according to claim 1;

an operating unit including the sensing unit; and

an on-off valve configured to open and close on the basis of contact determination of an object to the contact portion of the sensing unit by the touch detection device.