Ultrasonically operated water faucet

• US 4,402,095 A
• Filed: 03/26/1981
• Issued: 09/06/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Patricia K. Pepper
• Original Assignee: Robert B. Pepper
• Inventors: Pepper, Robert B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Artis, Henry K.
• Application Number:
  US06/247,997
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 4/623, 4/DIG. 3, 4/249, 4/302, 4/304, 4/305, 129/111 R, 354/198, 354/25
• US Class Current: 4/623
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/88 Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 4/03 Electric flushing

Abstract

A water faucet is disclosed that is automatically turned on and off in response to the proximity of the user'"'"'s hand or other object to the faucet. An ultrasonic transducer is located in the faucet near the water outlet and transmits bursts of ultrasonic waves. When a wave reflects off a user'"'"'s hand and creates an echo signal, the echo is detected by the ultrasonic transducer. Circuitry connected to the ultrasonic transducer determines when an object is within a predetermined distance of the faucet by measuring the time elapsed between the transmission of the burst and the reception of the echo. Once an object is within this predetermined distance, the circuitry causes a valve to open and water is supplied by the faucet.

Claims

1. A faucet for a fluid comprising:

a fluid inlet;

a fluid outlet;

distance measuring means located in a predetermined spatial relationship with the fluid outlet for detecting and measuring the distance of an object from the fluid outlet; and

valve means coupled between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet and coupled to the distance measuring means for causing the fluid to flow from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet in response to the detection of an object within a predetermined distance of the fluid outlet and for preventing the fluid from flowing from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet when no object is detected within the predetermined distance.

2. A faucet as in claim 1 wherein the predetermined distance is adjustable.

3. A faucet as in claim 1 where in the distance detecting means further comprises:

ultrasonic transducer means located in a predetermined spatial relationship with the fluid outlet; and

circuit means connected to the ultrasonic transducer means for causing signals to be transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer means and for responding to echo signals received by the ultrasonic transducer means to produce a signal indicative of the distance of an object from the fluid outlet.

4. A faucet as in claim 3 wherein the circuit means comprises:

transmit means coupled to the ultrasonic transducer means for causing the ultrasonic transducer means to emit an ultrasonic signal;

receive means coupled to the ultrasonic transducer means for detecting ultrasonic echoes received by the ultrasonic transducer means; and

measurement means coupled to the transmit means and the receive means for producing the signal indicative of the distance of an object from the fluid outlet.

5. A faucet as in claim 4 wherein the measurement means comprises time measurement means for measuring the elapsed time between the emission of an ultrasonic signal and the receipt of an echo and wherein the predetermined distance corresponds to a predetermined elapsed time.

6. A faucet as in claim 5 wherein the predetermined elapsed time is adjustable.

7. A faucet as in claim 6 wherein the valve means comprises an electrically operated solenoid valve.

8. A faucet as in claim 7 wherein the fluid is water and further comprising sink means for receiving the water.

9. A faucet as in claim 4 wherein the ultrasonic transducer means comprises a single unit for emitting the ultrasonic signal and for receiving ultrasonic echoes.

10. A faucet as in claim 1 further comprising temperature control means connected to the fluid inlet for controlling the temperature of the fluid.

11. A faucet as in claim 10 wherein the temperature control means comprises a thermostatically controlled valve.

24. A faucet as in claim 3 further comprising a housing containing the fluid outlet and the ultrasonic transducer means, wherein the ultrasonic transducer means has a transmitting surface that faces substantially the same direction as the direction of fluid flow from the fluid outlet.

12. A faucet for a fluid comprising:

a fluid inlet;

a fluid outlet;

distance measuring means located in a predetermined spatial relationship with the fluid outlet for detecting and measuring the distance of an object from the fluid outlet; and

valve means coupled between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet and coupled to the distance measuring means for causing the fluid to flow from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet in response to the detection of an object within a predetermined range of distances of the fluid outlet and for preventing the fluid from flowing from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet when no object is detected within the predetermined range of distances.

13. A faucet as in claim 12 wherein the predetermined range of distances is adjustable.

14. A faucet as in claim 12 wherein the distance measuring means further comprises:

ultrasonic transducer means located in a predetermined spatial relationship with the fluid outlet; and

circuit means connected to the ultrasonic transducer means for causing signals to be transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer means and for responding to echo signals received by the ultrasonic transducer means to produce a signal indicative of the distance of an object from the fluid outlet.

15. A faucet as in claim 14 wherein the circuit means comprises:

transmit means coupled to the ultrasonic transducer means for causing the ultrasonic transducer means to emit an ultrasonic signal;

receive means coupled to the ultrasonic transducer means for detecting ultrasonic echoes received by the ultrasonic transducer means; and

measurement means coupled to the transmit means and the receive means for producing the signal indicative of the distance of an object from the fluid outlet.

16. A faucet as in claim 15 wherein the measurement means comprises time measurement means for measuring the elapsed time between the emission of an ultrasonic signal and the receipt of an echo and wherein the predetermined range of distances corresponds to a predetermined range of elapsed times.

17. A faucet as in claim 16 wherein the predetermined range of elapsed times is adjustable.

18. A faucet as in claim 17 wherein the valve means comprises an electrically operated solenoid valve.

19. A faucet as in claim 18 wherein the fluid is water and further comprising sink means for receiving the water.

20. A faucet as in claim 14 further comprising a housing containing the fluid outlet and the ultrasonic transducer means, wherein the ultrasonic transducer means has a transmitting surface that faces substantially the same direction as the direction of fluid flow from the fluid outlet.

21. A faucet as in claim 15 wherein the ultrasonic transducer means comprises a single unit for emitting the ultrasonic signal and for receiving ultrasonic echoes.

22. A faucet as in claim 12 further comprising temperature control means connected to the fluid inlet for controlling the temperature of the fluid.

23. A faucet as in claim 22 wherein the temperature control means comprises a thermostatically controlled valve.

25. A faucet for a fluid comprising:

a fluid inlet;

a fluid outlet;

distance measuring means located in a predetermined spatial relationship with the fluid outlet for detecting and measuring the distance of a surface from the fluid outlet; and

valve means coupled between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet and coupled to the distance measuring means for causing the fluid to flow from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet in response to the detection of a surface within a predetermined distance of the fluid outlet and for preventing the fluid from flowing from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet when no surface is detected within the predetermined distance.

26. A faucet as in claim 25 wherein the predetermined distance is adjustable.

27. A faucet as in claim 25 where in the distance detecting means further comprises:

ultrasonic transducer means located in a predetermined spatial relationship with the fluid outlet; and

circuit means connected to the ultrasonic transducer means for causing signals to be transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer means and for responding to echo signals received by the ultrasonic transducer means to produce a signal indicative of the distance of a surface from the fluid outlet.

28. A faucet as in claim 27 wherein the circuit means comprises:

transmit means coupled to the ultrasonic transducer means for causing the ultrasonic transducer means to emit an ultrasonic signal;

receive means coupled to the ultrasonic transducer means for detecting ultrasonic echoes received by the ultrasonic transducer means; and

measurement means coupled to the transmit means and the receive means for producing the signal indicative of the distance of a surface from the fluid outlet.

29. A faucet as in claim 28 wherein the measurement means comprises time measurement means for measuring the elapsed time between the emission of an ultrasonic signal and the receipt of an echo and wherein the predetermined distance corresponds to a predetermined elapsed time.

30. A faucet as in claim 29 wherein the predetermined elapsed time is adjustable.

31. A faucet as in claim 30 wherein the valve means comprises an electrically operated solenoid valve.

32. A faucet as in claim 28 wherein the ultrasonic transducer means comprises a single unit for emitting the ultrasonic signal and for receiving ultrasonic echoes.

33. A faucet as in claim 25 further comprising temperature control means connected to the fluid inlet for controlling the temperature of the fluid.

34. A faucet as in claim 27 further comprising a housing containing the fluid outlet and the ultrasonic transducer means, wherein the ultrasonic transducer means has a transmitting surface that faces substantially the same direction as the direction of fluid flow from the fluid outlet.

35. A faucet for a fluid comprising:

a fluid inlet;

a fluid outlet;

distance measuring means located in a predetermined spatial relationship with the fluid outlet for detecting and measuring the distance of a surface from the fluid outlet; and

valve means coupled between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet and coupled to the distance measuring means for causing the fluid to flow from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet in response to the detection of a surface within a predetermined range of distances of the fluid outlet and for preventing the fluid from flowing from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet when no surface is detected within the predetermined range of distances.

36. A faucet as in claim 35 wherein the predetermined range of distances is adjustable.

37. A faucet as in claim 35 wherein the distance measuring means further comprises:

ultrasonic transducer means located in a predetermined spatial relationship with the fluid outlet; and

circuit means connected to the ultrasonic transducer means for causing signals to be transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer means and for responding to echo signals received by the ultrasonic transducer means to produce a signal indicative of the distance of a surface from the fluid outlet.

38. A faucet as in claim 37 wherein the circuit means comprises:

transmit means coupled to the ultrasonic transducer means for causing the ultrasonic transducer means to emit an ultrasonic signal;

receive means coupled to the ultrasonic transducer means for detecting ultrasonic echoes received by the ultrasonic transducer means; and

measurement means coupled to the transmit means and the receive means for producing the signal indicative of the distance of a surface from the fluid outlet.

39. A faucet as in claim 38 wherein the measurement means comprises time measurement means for measuring the elapsed time between the emission of an ultrasonic signal and the receipt of an echo and wherein the predetermined range of distances corresponds to a predetermined range of elapsed times.

40. A faucet as in claim 39 wherein the predetermined range of elapsed times is adjustable.

41. A faucet as in claim 40 wherein the valve means comprises an electrically operated solenoid valve.

42. A faucet as in claim 37 further comprising a housing containing the fluid outlet and the ultrasonic transducer means, wherein the ultrasonic transducer means has a transmitting surface that faces substantially the same direction as the direction of fluid flow from the fluid outlet.

43. A faucet as in claim 38 wherein the ultrasonic transducer means comprises a single unit for emitting the ultrasonic signal and for receiving ultrasonic echoes.

44. A faucet as in claim 35 further comprising temperature control means connected to the fluid inlet for controlling the temperature of the fluid.