MULTIFUNCTION FAUCET

• US 20190323215A1
• Filed: 03/18/2019
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shanghai Kohler Electronics Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Shanghai Kohler Electronics Ltd.
• Inventors: Zhou, Xiaojun, Xiao, Qiang, Su, Feiying, Lin, Weiren
• Granted Patent: US 10,907,330 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0404 Constructional or functional features of the spout
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0465 by mounting an independent soap dispenser to outlet of tap
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/055 Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like

Abstract

A faucet that includes a housing with a water supply assembly, a soap supply assembly, first and second sensing probe assemblies, and a controller provided in the housing, wherein a sensing region of the first sensing probe assembly is an upper portion of the housing, a sensing region of the second sensing probe assembly is a lower portion of the housing, an output terminal of each sensing probe assembly is electrically connected with an input terminal of the controller, and an output terminal of the controller is electrically connected with a control terminal of each of the water and soap supply assemblies. The controller controls the water supply assembly to start/stop water supply according to the sensing signal from the first or second sensing probe assembly, and controls the soap supply assembly to start/stop soap supply according to the sensing signal from the first or second sensing probe assembly.

Claims

1. A multifunctional faucet, comprising:

a faucet housing;

a water supply assembly provided in the faucet housing;

a soap supply assembly provided in the faucet housing;

a first sensing probe assembly provided in the faucet housing and comprising a sensing region that is an upper portion of the faucet housing;

a second sensing probe assembly provided in the faucet housing and comprising a sensing region that is a lower portion of the faucet housing; and

a controller provided in the faucet housing;

wherein an output terminal of the first sensing probe assembly and an output terminal of the second sensing probe assembly are respectively in communicative connection with an input terminal of the controller, an output terminal of the controller is in communicative connection with a control terminal of the water supply assembly and a control terminal of the soap supply assembly, the controller controls the water supply assembly to start water supply or stop water supply in response to a sensing signal from the first sensing probe assembly or the second sensing probe assembly, and the controller controls the soap supply assembly to start soap supply or stop soap supply in response to a sensing signal from the first sensing probe assembly or the second sensing probe assembly.

2. The multifunctional faucet of claim 1, further comprising a third sensing probe assembly disposed in the faucet housing and comprising a sensing region that is a front of the faucet housing, wherein an output terminal of the third sensing probe assembly is in communicative connection with a trigger terminal of the controller, and the controller is triggered and activated when the third sensing probe assembly detects a sensing signal.

3. The multifunctional faucet of claim 2, further comprising an electrolyte assembly disposed in the faucet housing, wherein the output terminal of the controller is in communicative connection with the electrolyte assembly, and the controller controls the electrolyte assembly to start/stop an electrolyte supply.

4. The multifunctional faucet of claim 3, wherein that the faucet housing comprises a base and a cover assembly in coordination with the base;

the base and the cover assembly form an accommodating chamber;

the water supply assembly, the soap supply assembly, and the second sensing probe assembly are accommodated in the accommodating chamber; and

the first sensing probe assembly is accommodated in the cover assembly.

5. The multifunctional faucet of claim 4, wherein a water supply indicator, a hand-waving prompt indicator, a wait-for-soap indicator, and a soap supply indicator are further provided in the cover assembly, and the output terminal of the controller is in communicative connection with the water supply indicator, the hand-waving prompt indicator, the wait-for-soap indicator, and the soap supply indicator.

6. The multifunctional faucet of claim 1, further comprising an electrolyte assembly disposed in the faucet housing, wherein the output terminal of the controller is in communicative connection with the electrolyte assembly, and the controller controls the electrolyte assembly to start/stop an electrolyte supply.

7. The multifunctional faucet of claim 1, wherein that the faucet housing comprises a base and a cover assembly in coordination with the base;

the base and the cover assembly form an accommodating chamber; and

at least one of the water supply assembly and the soap supply assembly is disposed in the accommodating chamber.

8. The multifunctional faucet of claim 7, wherein the water supply assembly, the soap supply assembly, and the second sensing probe assembly are disposed in the accommodating chamber.

9. The multifunctional faucet of claim 7, wherein the first sensing probe assembly is disposed within the cover assembly.

10. The multifunctional faucet of claim 7, wherein at least one of a water supply indicator, a hand-waving prompt indicator, a wait-for-soap indicator, and a soap supply indicator is provided in the cover assembly;

and wherein the output terminal of the controller is in communicative connection with at least one of the water supply indicator, the hand-waving prompt indicator, the wait-for-soap indicator, and the soap supply indicator.

11. The multifunctional faucet of claim 7, wherein a water supply indicator, a hand-waving prompt indicator, a wait-for-soap indicator, and a soap supply indicator are provided in the cover assembly;

and wherein the output terminal of the controller is in communicative connection with the water supply indicator, the hand-waving prompt indicator, the wait-for-soap indicator, and the soap supply indicator.

12. A control method for a multifunctional faucet comprising at least a first sensing probe assembly, which is provided in a faucet housing and comprises a sensing region that is an upper portion of the faucet housing, and second sensing probe assembly, which is provided in the faucet housing and comprises a sensing region that is a lower portion of the faucet housing, the control method comprising:

when a controller of the faucet is in a wake state;

the controller enters a water supply state to control the water supply assembly to start water supply in response to receiving a sensing signal from the second sensing probe assembly; and

the controller enters a soap supply state to control the soap supply assembly to start soap supply within a preset soap supply period and control the soap supply assembly to stop soap supply after the preset soap supply period in response to receiving a sensing signal from the first sensing probe assembly;

when the controller is in the water supply state;

the controller enters the soap supply state to control the soap supply assembly to start soap supply within the preset soap supply period and control the soap supply assembly to stop soap supply after the preset soap supply period in response to receiving a sensing signal from the first sensing probe assembly; and

the controller enters the wake state if no sensing signal is received from the first sensing probe assembly and no sensing signal is received from the second sensing probe assembly;

when the controller is in the soap supply state and after the preset soap supply period;

the controller enters the water supply state to control the water supply assembly to start water supply in response to receiving a sensing signal from the second sensing probe assembly; and

the controller enters the wake state to control the water supply assembly to stop water supply if no sensing signal is received from the second sensing probe assembly.

13. The control method of claim 12, wherein the step of the controller entering the soap supply state in response to receiving the sensing signal from the first sensing probe assembly comprises:

the controller enters a switch to soap state in response to receiving the sensing signal from the first sensing probe assembly; and

when the controller is in the switch to soap state;

the controller enters the soap supply state in response to continuously receiving the sensing signal from the first sensing probe assembly within a preset confirmation period; and

the controller enters the wake state if no sensing signal is continuously received from the first sensing probe assembly within the preset confirmation period.

14. The control method of claim 13, wherein the faucet housing comprises a base and a cover assembly in coordination with the base;

the base and the cover assembly form an accommodating chamber;

the water supply assembly, the soap supply assembly, and the second sensing probe assembly are accommodated in the accommodating chamber;

the first sensing probe assembly is accommodated in the cover assembly;

a water supply indicator, a hand waving prompt indicator, a wait for soap indicator, and a soap supply indicator are provided in the cover assembly; and

the output terminal of the controller is in communicative connection with the water supply indicator, the hand waving prompt indicator, the wait for soap indicator, and the soap supply indicator.

15. The control method of claim 14, wherein the step of when the controller is in the water supply state, the controller enters the wake state if no sensing signal is received from the first sensing probe assembly and no sensing signal is received from the second sensing probe assembly comprises:

when the controller is in the water supply state, if no sensing signal is received from the first sensing probe assembly and no sensing signal is received from the second sensing probe assembly, the controller enters a return to wake state and controls the hand waving prompt indicator to display a preset prompt effect, and if the controller is in the return to wake state, no sensing signal is received from the first sensing probe assembly and no sensing signal is received from the second sensing probe assembly continuously within a preset return period, the controller enters the wake state.

16. The control method of claim 15, further comprising:

controlling the water supply indicator to display a preset water supplying animation effect when the controller is in the water supply state;

controlling the wait for soap indicator to display a preset soap switching animation effect when the controller is in the switch to soap state; and

controlling the soap supply indicator to display a preset soap supplying animation effect when the controller is in the soap supply state.

17. The control method of claim 12, wherein the multifunctional faucet comprises a third sensing probe assembly and a sensing region of the third sensing probe assembly is a front of the faucet housing, an output terminal of the third sensing probe assembly is in communicative connection with a trigger terminal of the controller, and

18. The control method of claim 17, further comprising:

triggering the controller to enter the wake state when the third sensing probe assembly detects a sensing signal; and

when the controller is in the wake state, the controller enters a standby state if no sensing signal is received from the first sensing probe assembly and no sensing signal is received from the second sensing probe assembly within a preset standby detection period.

19. The control method of claim 18, wherein the multifunctional faucet comprises an electrolyte assembly disposed in the faucet housing, the output terminal of the controller is in communicative connection with the electrolyte assembly, the controller controls the electrolyte assembly to start/stop an electrolyte supply, and the control method further comprises:

controlling the electrolyte assembly to start the electrolyte supply after every preset cleaning interval, and controlling the electrolyte assembly to stop the electrolyte supply after a preset electrolyte supply period.

20. The control method of claim 19, wherein the step of controlling the electrolyte assembly to start the electrolyte supply after every preset cleaning interval comprises:

after every preset cleaning interval, controlling the electrolyte assembly to start the electrolyte supply if the controller is in the standby state, and controlling the electrolyte assembly to suspend the electrolyte supply if the controller is in a state other than the standby state.