Touch-free water-control system

• US 8,827,240 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2013
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chung-Chia Chen
• Original Assignee: Chung-Chia Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Chung-Chia
• Primary Examiner(s): Houston, Elizabeth
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAQUETTE, IAN G
• Application Number:
  US14/089,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20140076407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.04, 4302-305, 462/3, 700/282
• US Class Current: 251/129.04
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/04 Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths valves, faucets, mixing valves, taps F16K
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 19/006 Specially adapted for faucets
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/193 sensing the temperaure in different places in thermal relationship with one or more spaces
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0629 characterised by the type of regulator means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1842 Ambient condition change responsive

Abstract

A system and method of Touch Free Automatic faucet controlled by electronic sensors provides a Primary-Water-Flow-Mode, a Continue-Water-Flow-Mode, a Temperature-Control-Mode, a Faucet-Pause-Mode, an Adjust-Water-Flow-Mode and a Flow-Temperature-Default-Setting-Mode for users to control faucet water flow and water temperature without touching any parts of faucet body. The system comprises at least three electronic sensors, a logical processor circuit board, an electricity power supply package, a water flow control valve assembly, a temperature control valve assembly, at least one faucet body housing and at least one inlet fluid line. From the outputs of the sensors, the logical processor responds to the flow control valve assembly and to the temperature control valve assembly to control water flow and temperature to the faucet spout.

Claims

1. A system for providing touch-free control of water, comprising:

a water-flow control interface apparatus enclosing at least two touch-free sensors;

a water-flow control valve configured to permit the flow of water through it, and, alternatively, to prevent the flow of water through it, in response to electronic signals;

a logic processor configured to;

receive a first input signal from a first touch-free sensor in response to the presence of an object relative to the first touch-free sensor and, if the system is in a non-paused-mode, then in response to the first input signal transmit a first output signal to the water-flow control valve instructing the water-flow control valve to permit the flow of water through it;

determine, based upon input from the first touch-free sensor, that there is an absence of any triggering object relative to the touch-free sensor and in response to the determination, if the system is in a primary-water-flow-mode, transmit a second output signal to the water-flow control valve, said second output signal instructing the water-flow control valve to prevent the flow of water through it;

receive a second input signal from at least a second touch-free sensor and, in response thereto, if the system is in the primary-water-flow-mode, change the system from the primary-water-flow-mode to a continuous-water-flow-mode, and transmit a third output signal to the water-flow control valve instructing the water-flow control valve to permit the flow of water through it;

receive a third input signal from at least one touch-free sensor and, in response thereto, if the system is in the continuous-water-flow-mode, change the system from the continuous-water-flow-mode to the primary-water-flow-mode and transmit a fourth output signal to the water-flow control valve instructing the water-flow control valve to prevent the flow of water through it;

receive a fourth input signal from at least one touch-free sensor and, in response thereto, if the system is in the non-paused-mode, change the system from the non-paused-mode to a paused-mode; and

receive a fifth input signal from at least one touch-free sensor and, in response thereto, if the system is in the paused-mode, change the system from the paused-mode to the non-paused-mode.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the water-flow control apparatus is a faucet.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the water-flow control apparatus is a sensor-compartment that is not a faucet.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first touch-free sensor comprises an infrared receiver.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first input signal is received in response to the presence of the object relative to the first touch-free sensor for a first sensing time period.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second input signal is received in response to the presence of an object relative to at least the second touch-free sensor for a second sensing time period.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the third input signal is received in response to the presence of an object relative to at least one touch-free sensor for a third sensing time period.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the fourth input signal is received in response to the presence of an object relative to at least one touch-free sensor for a fourth sensing time period.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the fifth input signal is received in response to the presence of an object relative to at least one touch-free sensor for a fifth sensing time period.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic processor is configured to determine that there is an absence of any triggering object relative to the first touch-free sensor based upon the absence of input received from the first touch-free sensor.

11. A method for providing touch-free control of water, comprising:

receiving a first input signal in response to the presence of an object relative to a first touch-free sensor enclosed in a water-flow control interface apparatus;

determining whether a pause-state is in either a paused-mode or a non-paused-mode;

in response to both (1) determining that the pause-state is in a non-paused-mode, and (2) receiving the first input signal, transmitting a first output signal to a water-flow control valve instructing the water-flow control valve to permit the flow of water through it;

determining, based upon input, that there is an absence of any triggering object relative to the first touch-free sensor,

determining whether a water-flow-state is in either a primary-water-flow-mode or a continuous-water-flow-mode;

in response to both (1) determining, based upon input, that there is an absence of any triggering object relative to the first touch-free sensor, and (2) determining that the water-flow-state is in a primary-water-flow-mode, transmitting a second output signal to the water-flow control valve instructing the water-flow control valve to prevent the flow of water through it;

receiving a second input signal from at least a second touch-free sensor and, in response thereto, if the water-flow-state is in the primary-water-flow-mode, changing the water-flow-state from the primary-water-flow-mode to the continuous-water-flow-mode, and transmitting a third output signal to the water-flow control valve instructing the water-flow control valve to permit the flow of water through it;

receiving a third input signal from at least one touch-free sensor and, in response thereto, if the water-flow-state is in the continuous-water-flow-mode, changing the water-flow-state from the continuous-water-flow-mode to the primary-water-flow-mode and transmitting a fourth output signal to the water-flow control valve instructing the water-flow control valve to prevent the flow of water through it;

receiving a fourth input signal from at least one touch-free sensor and, in response thereto, if the system is in the non-paused-mode, change the system from the non-paused-mode to a paused-mode; and

receive a fifth input signal from at least one touch-free sensor and, in response thereto, if the system is in the paused-mode, change the system from the paused-mode to the non-paused-mode.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the water-flow control apparatus is a faucet.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the water-flow control apparatus is a sensor-compartment that is not a faucet.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first touch-free sensor comprises an infrared receiver.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first input signal is received in response to the presence of the object relative to the first touch-free sensor for a first sensing time period.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the second input signal is received in response to the presence of an object relative to at least the second touch-free sensor for a second sensing time period.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the third input signal is received in response to the presence of an object relative to at least one touch-free sensor for a third sensing time period.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the fourth input signal is received in response to the presence of an object relative to at least one touch-free sensor for a fourth sensing time period.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the fifth input signal is received in response to the presence of an object relative to at least one touch-free sensor for a fifth sensing time period.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein determining that there is an absence of any triggering object relative to the first touch-free sensor is based upon a lack of input from the first touch-free sensor.