On demand electronic faucet

• US 7,979,928 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2007
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Sloan Valve Company
• Original Assignee: Sloan Valve Company
• Inventors: Zosimadis, Peter, Allen, Charles S. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh; Khoa D
• Application Number:
  US11/863,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20080078019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 462/3, 430/4, 430/5, 431/3, 4DI/G 3, 251/129.04
• US Class Current: 4/623
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87579 Faucet attachment

Abstract

An on-demand electronic faucet system for providing a faucet with a flow of water in response to a stimulus. A sensor unit is positioned remote from the faucet and in wireless communication with a wireless valve control unit. The wireless valve control unit controls a valve in the water supply line that feeds the faucet. In response to a stimulus, the sensor signals the wireless valve control unit to change the status of the valve in the water supply line from open to closed or closed to open and other states affecting flow and temperature.

Claims

1. A wireless apparatus for controlling water flow to a faucet fed by a water line having a hot water supply valve and a cold water supply valve, the wireless apparatus comprising:

a sensor unit having a housing with a sensor for detecting and differentiating a plurality of stimuli, a manual actuation switch, and a sensor wireless communication device, the sensor unit located remote from the faucet;

a wireless hot water control valve device in operative communication with the hot water valve such that the wireless hot water control valve device selectively controls the volume of hot water supplied to the water supply line;

a wireless cold water control valve device in operative communication with the cold water valve such that the wireless cold water control valve device selectively controls the volume of cold water supplied to the water supply line

wherein upon detection of a first stimulus of the plurality of stimuli or actuation of the manual actuation switch, a first signal is transmitted from the sensor wireless communication device to the wireless cold water control valve device thereby triggering a change in the state of the cold water supply valve and upon detection of a second stimulus of the plurality of stimuli, a second signal is transmitted from the sensor wireless communication device to the wireless hot water control valve device thereby triggering a change in the state of the hot water supply valve, wherein the rate of flow of water from the faucet is altered upon detection of a third stimulus, wherein the faucet is positioned on a vanity and the sensor unit is positioned remotely therefrom on another portion of the vanity, the sensor unit have a zone of detection above the vanity, and wherein the sensor unit wireless communication device transmission have an identification code and the wireless cold water control valve device and the wireless hot water control valve device respond only to transmission bearing the identification code.

2. The wireless apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor wireless communication device comprises a sensor transceiver, the wireless cold water control valve device also comprises a wireless cold water control valve transceiver, and the wireless hot water control valve device also comprises a wireless hot water control valve transceiver, the transceivers being in wireless send/receive communication with each other.

3. The wireless apparatus of claim 2 wherein the sensor transceiver, upon transmitting data, verifies that the control valve transceiver received the data.

4. The wireless apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit wireless communication device and the wireless cold water control valve device and the wireless hot water control valve device have paired frequencies for wireless communication.

5. The wireless apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit wireless communication device comprises a transmitter the wireless cold water control valve device comprises a receiver, and the wireless hot water control valve device comprises a receiver, the transmitter and receivers in wireless communication.

6. The wireless apparatus of claim 5, wherein the transmitter and receivers communication via radio frequency transmissions.

7. The wireless apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a light positioned in the sensor unit.

8. An on-demand faucet system comprising:

a vanity having a basin and a faucet, the faucet in fluid communication with a water supply line formed from a hot water supply line and a cold water supply line;

a hot water valve operatively positioned on the hot water supply line for controlling the volume of hot water supplied to the water supply line;

a wireless hot water valve receiver in operative communication with the hot water valve such that the wireless hot water valve receiver selectively controls the volume of hot water supplied to the water supply line;

a cold water valve operatively positioned on the cold water supply line for controlling the volume of cold water supplied to the water supply line;

a wireless cold water valve receiver in operative communication with the cold water valve such that the wireless cold water valve receiver selectively controls the volume of cold water supplied to the water supply line; and

a sensor unit positioned on the vanity remote from the faucet and comprising a housing with a wireless transmitter, a manual actuation switch, a temperature display configured to indicate the temperature of water at the faucet, and a sensor having a zone of detection above the vanity for presence detection, the transmitter of the sensor unit in wireless communication with the wireless hot water valve receiver and the wireless cold water valve receiver; and

wherein upon presence detection, the flow of water supplied from the cold water supply line and the hot water supply line to the water supply line is altered, adjusting the temperature of the water from the faucet, wherein the sensor is able to discern at least a first, second and third type of presence, wherein upon detection of the first type of presence, a first transmission is made to the hot water valve device triggering a change in state of the hot water valve and upon detection of a second type of presence, a second signal is transmitted to the cold water valve device triggering a change in state of the cold water valve, thus allowing for independent control of the hot water supply line and the cold water supply line, wherein the rate of flow of water from the faucet is altered upon detection of a third type of presence, wherein the faucet is positioned on a vanity and the sensor unit is positioned remotely therefrom on another portion of the vanity, and wherein the sensor unit wireless communication device transmission have an identification code and the wireless cold water control valve device and the wireless hot water control valve device respond only to transmission bearing the identification.

9. The on-demand faucet system of claim 8, wherein the zone of detection is such that the sensor is capable of detecting presence and wherein the zone of detection is movable in relation to the faucet.

10. The on-demand faucet system of claim 8, further comprising a temperature sensor positioned in thermal contact with the water supply line and in wireless communication with the sensor unit, the sensor unit comprising a display for indicating the temperature of the water.

11. The on-demand faucet system of claim 10, further comprising a temperature triggered water shut-off switch positioned on the water supply line and in communication with the temperature sensor, wherein the flow of water to the faucet is stopped when the temperature sensor detects a temperature above a predetermined limit.

12. The on-demand faucet system of claim 8, further comprising an automatic shut-off timer, activated when the control valve device is switched from closed to open and which changes the state from open to closed after a predetermined period.

13. The on-demand faucet system of claim 8, further comprising a manual actuator positioned on the sensor unit and in communication with the sensor unit wireless transmitter wherein actuation of the actuator initiates a transmission of a signal to one or both of the hot and cold control valve receivers.