Water faucet with touchless controls

• US 5,868,311 A
• Filed: 09/03/1997
• Issued: 02/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1997
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: L.D.C. Wonder
• Original Assignee: L.D.C. Wonder
• Inventors: Cretu-Petra, Eugen
• Primary Examiner(s): Tapolcai, William E.
• Application Number:
  US08/922,843
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 236/12.12, 4/623, 251/129.04
• US Class Current: 236/12.12
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2001/0418 having temperature indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1393 characterised by the use of electric means

Abstract

A water faucet assembly providing touchless water temperature and water flow adjustment. The assembly comprises a spout, a water mixing valve, at least one proximity sensor, and a microcomputer. The water mixing valve provides a mix and controls the flow of hot water from a hot water supply and cold water from a cold water supply to the spout. The at least one proximity sensor provides a water temperature or water flow input signal having a value corresponding to the distance of an object from the sensor. The microcomputer is responsive to the value of the water temperature input signal to control the water mixing valve and generate a mixture of the hot and cold water corresponding to the distance of the object from the proximity sensor. The microcomputer is also responsive to the value of the water flow input signal to provide a flow of water from the spout corresponding to the distance of the object from the proximity sensor.

Claims

1. A water faucet assembly comprising:

a spout;

a water mixing valve for providing a mix of hot water from a hot water supply and cold water from a cold water supply to the spout;

at least one proximity sensor for providing a water temperature input signal having a value corresponding to the distance of an object from the sensor; and

a microcomputer responsive to the value of the water temperature input signal to control the water mixing valve and generate a mixture of the hot and cold water corresponding to the distance of the object from the proximity sensor, thereby providing touchless water temperature adjustment.

2. The assembly of claim 1 including a temperature sensor responsive to the temperature of the water leaving the water mixing valve for providing water temperature data and wherein the microcomputer is responsive to the water temperature data to control the water mixing valve and generate a mixture of the hot and cold water corresponding to the distance of the object from the proximity sensor.

3. The assembly of claim 1 including a display controlled by the microcomputer for providing operational status information in a visual form.

4. The assembly of claim 1 including a speaker controlled by the microcomputer for providing operational status information in a verbal form.

5. The assembly of claim 1 including flood detection means to generate a flood signal preventing an overflow of water from a basin and wherein the microcomputer controls the water mixing valve based upon the flood signal provided by the flood detection means.

6. The assembly of claim 1 including a microphone responsive to verbal instructions to actuate the microcomputer to execute the verbal instructions.

7. The assembly of claim 1 including an instant tankless water heater controlled by the microcomputer to provide hot water.

8. The assembly of claim 1 including a touchless liquid dispenser controlled by the microcomputer to dispense a liquid such as a soap or shampoo.

9. A water faucet assembly comprising:

a spout;

a water mixing valve for controlling a flow of hot water from a hot water supply and cold water from a cold water supply to the spout;

at least one proximity sensor for providing a water flow input signal having a value corresponding to the distance of an object from the sensor; and

a microcomputer responsive to the value of the water flow input signal to provide a flow of water from the spout with the flow of water corresponding to the distance of the object from the proximity sensor, thereby providing touchless water flow adjustment.

10. The assembly of claim 9 including a temperature sensor responsive to the temperature of the water leaving the water mixing valve for providing water temperature data and wherein the microcomputer is responsive to the water temperature data to control the water mixing valve and generate a mixture of the hot and cold water corresponding to the distance of the object from the proximity sensor.

11. The assembly of claim 9 including a display controlled by the microcomputer for providing operational status information in a visual form.

12. The assembly of claim 9 including a speaker controlled by the microcomputer for providing operational status information in a verbal form.

13. The assembly of claim 9 including flood detection means to generate a flood signal preventing an overflow of water from a basin and wherein the microcomputer controls the water mixing valve based upon the flood signal provided by the flood detection means.

14. The assembly of claim 9 including a microphone responsive to verbal instructions to actuate the microcomputer to execute the verbal instructions.

15. The assembly of claim 9 including an instant tankless water heater controlled by the microcomputer to provide hot water.

16. The assembly of claim 9 including a touchless liquid dispenser controlled by the microcomputer to dispense a liquid such as a soap or shampoo.

17. A water faucet assembly comprising:

a spout;

a water mixing valve for providing a mix of hot water from a hot water supply and cold water from a cold water supply to the spout;

at least one proximity sensor for providing a water temperature input signal having a value corresponding to the distance of an object from the sensor;

a microcomputer to control the water mixing valve;

a temperature sensor responsive to the temperature of the water leaving the water mixing valve for providing water temperature data and wherein the microcomputer is responsive to the water temperature data to control the water mixing valve and generate a mixture of the hot and cold water corresponding to the distance of the object from the proximity sensor, thereby providing touchless water temperature adjustment;

a display controlled by the microcomputer for providing operational status information in a visual form;

a speaker controlled by the microcomputer for providing operational status information in a verbal form;

flood detection means to generate a flood signal preventing an overflow of water from a basin and wherein the microcomputer controls the water mixing valve based upon the flood signal provided by the flood detection means;

a microphone responsive to verbal instructions to actuate the microcomputer to execute the verbal instructions;

an instant tankless water heater controlled by the microcomputer to provide hot water; and

a touchless liquid dispenser controlled by the microcomputer to dispense a liquid such as a soap or shampoo.