SMART WATER SUPPLY VALVE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME

• US 20180148912A1
• Filed: 04/30/2015
• Published: 05/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: PARK, Jongseok
• Granted Patent: US 10,233,621 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/04 Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths valves, faucets, mixing valves, taps F16K
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/05 Arrangements of devices on wash-basins, baths, sinks, or the like for remote control of taps remote control of taps or the like per se F16K
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/055 Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2001/0418 having temperature indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/02 electric F16K31/004 takes precedence; magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/005 for measuring fluid parameters F16K37/0033 takes precedence

Abstract

A smart water supply valve system according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises an inflow unit for being supplied with water through one or more pipes; a valve for allowing/suspending the flow of water input through the inflow unit; a first sensing unit for sensing the pressure or flow rate of water unit input through the input unit; a second sensing unit for sensing at least one of the movement, the shape, and the heat distribution of an object; a controller for controlling the amount of opening/closing of the valve or the flow rate of water on the basis of sensing outputs from the first and second sensing units; and an outflow unit for discharging water supplied from the pipe.

Claims

1. A smart water supply valve system comprising:

an inlet supplied with water through one or more pipes;

a valve for opening or closing water input through the inlet;

a first sensing unit for sensing a pressure or flow rate of water input through the inlet;

a second sensing unit for sensing at least one or more of motion, shape and heat distribution of an object;

a controller for controlling a switching rate of the valve or a flow rate of water on the basis of an output sensed from the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit; and

an outlet for discharging water supplied from the pipe.

2. The smart water supply valve system according to claim 1, wherein the first sensing unit includes at least one of a pressure sensor and a flow rate sensor.

3. The smart water supply valve system according to claim 2, wherein the pressure sensor or the flow rate sensor is installed in at least one of the inlet, the outlet and the valve, through which water passes.

4. The smart water supply valve system according to claim 1, wherein the second sensing unit includes at least one or more of an infrared sensor, a temperature sensor, a proximity sensor, a heat sensor and a camera.

5. The smart water supply valve system according to claim 4, wherein the infrared sensor, the temperature sensor, the proximity sensor, the heat sensor or the camera are installed near the outlet through which water is discharged.

6. The smart water supply valve system according to claim 4, wherein the controller determines a user mode in accordance with the output of the second sensing unit, and variably controls a switching rate of the valve or a flow rate of water in accordance with the user mode.

7. The smart water supply valve system according to claim 1, further comprising a power module for supplying a power source to the valve, the first sensing unit, the second sensing unit or the controller.

8. The smart water supply valve system according to claim 7, further comprising a communication module for receiving a control command from the outside or transmitting internal data to the outside.

9. The smart water supply valve system according to claim 1, wherein the inlet further includes a hot water inlet supplied with hot water from the pipe, a cool water inlet supplied with cool water from the pipe, a mixing water unit where the hot water and the cool water are mixed with each other, and a temperature sensor installed in the mixing water unit to measure a temperature of the mixing water.

10. The smart water supply valve system according to claim 7, further comprising a display module for displaying a switching rate of the valve, a flow rate of water, a temperature of water, or a user mode.

11. The smart water supply valve system according to claim 7, further comprising a valve electric driving module for performing a switching operation of the valve.

12. The smart water supply valve system according to claim 7, further comprising a manual switching module for manually switching the valve.

13. The smart water supply valve system according to claim 10, wherein the controller provides a function that may previously reserve and set the amount and temperature of water discharged through the outlet.

14. The smart water supply valve system according to claim 8, wherein the communication module receives information that may previously reserve and set the amount and temperature of water, from a mobile device.

15. A method for controlling a smart water supply valve system, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing that water enters an inlet;

sensing a pressure or flow rate of the water entering the inlet;

sensing at least one of motion, shape and heat distribution of an object;

selecting a switching rate of the valve of a flow rate of water on the basis of the sensed output; and

variably controlling the switching rate or switching time of the valve in accordance with the selected result.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the selecting step includes:

selecting a user mode on the basis of the sensed motion, shape or heat distribution of the object; and

variably controlling the amount of water or a temperature of water, which is discharged, in accordance with the selected user mode.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the variably controlling step includes variably controlling the amount of water by controlling a discharging time of water or the switching rate of the valve.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the variably controlling step includes variably controlling the temperature of water by controlling at least one of a switching rate of a hot water valve and a switching rate of a cool water valve.

19. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of displaying information on an accumulated usage of water for a specific time period and an average temperature of water for a specific time period.

20. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of receiving a control command from an external device or transmitting internal data stored in a memory to the external device through a communication module.

21. A method for controlling a smart water supply valve system, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing a pressure or flow rate of water entering an inlet;

receiving information on at least one of a timing when water is discharged from a mobile device, the amount of water or a temperature of water;

determining a switching rate of a valve of a flow rate of water on the basis of the received information; and

controlling switching of the valve in accordance with the determined result.