Electronically controlled water faucet

• US 5,961,095 A
• Filed: 09/10/1997
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aquis SAnitär AG
• Original Assignee: Harald Schrott
• Inventors: Schrott, Harald
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferensic, Denise L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BALL, JOHN WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US08/913,234
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.04, 251/129.05, 137/801, 4/623, 4/678, 340/603
• US Class Current: 251/129.04
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

A water outlet fitting with a transmitter, a receiver and an electronic circuit for the contactless operation of an integrated non-return valve, in which the circuit is designed for operation in a plurality of selectable functions. On the fitting there is a manually operable switch, especially a push-button which, when operated, can issue setting commands in the form of switching pulse groups in order to select and activate a given function.

Claims

1. A water outlet faucet having a transmitter a receiver a shut-off valve that can be electrically actuated and an electronic circuit arrangement for non-contact actuation of a built-in shut-off valve, said circuit arrangement having a plurality of functions and a decoding device, which accepts encoded setting commands for adjusting one of the possible functions and for rendering them effective, said faucet further comprising an externally accessible, hand-operated electric OFF/ON switch which generates respective actuation setting commands in the form of switching pulse groups that differ in at least one of number, length and the sequence of the individual pulses and wherein the decoding device is adjusted to these switching pulse groups.

2. A water outlet faucet according to claim 1, wherein the switch is a pushbutton.

3. A water outlet faucet according to claim 1, further comprising an optical indicator device which acknowledges the setting command entered by means of the switch.