Spatially reactive water system incorporating a non tactile control module

• US 9,057,182 B1
• Filed: 01/11/2012
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Friedman, Adam, Tyler Adams
• Original Assignee: Friedman, Adam, Tyler Adams
• Inventors: Friedman, Adam, Adams, Tyler
• Primary Examiner(s): BAKER, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US13/348,539
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 4619-660
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/05 Arrangements of devices on wash-basins, baths, sinks, or the like for remote control of taps remote control of taps or the like per se F16K
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/18 Sinks, whether or not connected to the waste-pipe

Abstract

A touchless water control system having at least one sensor capable of determining hand movement from point A to point B in a first direction, from point C to point D in a second direction and from point E to point F in a third direction thereby establishing a spatial field spaced away from a faucet through which a user'"'"'s hand can be moved to initiate or terminate water flow, water temperature and water pressure.

Claims

1. A spatially reactive water system comprising:

a) a water supply conduit comprising a faucet having a spout above a sink in fluid communication with a water source;

b) an electronically controlled valve inter-disposed between said water supply conduit and said water source;

c) first and second sensors deployed to a side of said sink constructed and arranged to detect motions of a hand of a user, said sensors creating a three dimensional zone through which an operator moves said hand to control initiation of water flow, intensity of water flow, temperature of water being dispensed from said faucet, and water shut-off, said sensors being perpendicularly disposed to each other where water temperature and pressure are programmably regulated through locational interpretation of the user'"'"'s hand moving through said three dimensional zone;

d) a processor in electrical communication with said sensors and electronically controlled valves for controlling water flow through said faucet; and

e) a power supply in electrical communication with the sensors, processor and valves.

2. A spatially reactive water system according to claim 1, wherein said electronically controlled valves are proportional valves.

3. A spatially reactive water system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a) at least one visual indicator that activates and deactivates in response to activation and deactivation of said sensors; and

b) wherein said at least one visual indicator located adjacent said sensors displaying water temperature.

4. A spatially reactive water system according to claim 3, further comprising a plurality of visual indicators that accordingly increment and decrement correspondingly to varying sensor signal.

5. A spatially reactive water system according to claim 1, further comprising an audio indicator that activates and deactivates in response to activation and deactivation of said sensors.

6. A spatially reactive water system according to claim 5, wherein said audio indicator'"'"'s sound increments and decrements corresponding to a variable sensor signal.

7. A spatially reactive water system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one microphone for controlling water variables through voice activation.

8. A spatially reactive water system comprising:

a) a water supply conduit comprising a faucet having a spout above a sink in fluid communication with a water source;

b) an electronically controlled valve inter-disposed between said water supply conduit and said water source;

c) a non-tactile control module located on a surface on a side of and adjacent said sink for controlling water variables;

d) said non-tactile control module creating a sensor operable open-field around said non-tactile control module;

e) a pair of sensors positioned within the non-tactile control module generating a pair of independent sensor fields external to said module, said module constructed and arranged to detect motions of a hand of a user, said sensors creating a three dimensional zone through which an operator moves said hand to control initiation of water flow, intensity of water flow, temperature of water being dispensed from said faucet, and water shut-off;

f) a processor in electrical communication with said sensors and said electronically controlled valve; and

g) a power supply in electrical communication with the sensors, processor and valve.

9. A spatially reactive water system according to claim 8, further comprising a visual indicator that activates and deactivates in response to activation and deactivation to a respective sensor.

10. A spatially reactive water system according to claim 9, further comprising:

a) a plurality of visual indicators that accordingly increment and decrement correspondingly to a respective varying sensor signal; and

b) wherein said plurality of visual indicator may peripherally extend around the control module housing providing a 360 degree viewing angle of the status of said sensor.

11. A spatially reactive water system according to claim 8, further comprising a pair of audio indicators each having a different tone signaling activation of a respective sensor.

12. A spatially reactive water system according to claim 11, wherein either of said audio indicator'"'"'s having a different tone signaling activation and deactivation of a respective sensor may increment and decrement its volume correspondingly to its respective variable sensor signal.

13. A spatially reactive water system according to claim 8, further comprising at least one microphone for controlling water variables through voice activation.

14. A spatially reactive water system according to claim 8, wherein said water variables are selected from the group consisting of:

water on and off, flow velocity, flow velocity pause and un-pause and water temperature.

15. A spatially reactive water system according to claim 8, wherein said sensor fields are co-planar to each other.

16. A spatially reactive water system according to claim 8, wherein said sensor fields are respectively perpendicular to each other.

17. A spatially reactive water system comprising:

a) a water supply conduit comprising a faucet having a spout above a sink in fluid communication with a water source;

b) an electronically controlled valve inter-disposed between said water supply conduit and said water source;

c) a non-tactile control module adjacent said sink for controlling water variables;

d) said non-tactile control module creating a sensor operable open-field around said non-tactile control module;

e) a plurality of sensors positioned within the non-tactile control module generating a sensor field external to said module for controlling a water variable in response to detect motions of a hand of a user, said sensors creating a three dimensional zone through which an operator moves said hand to control initiation of water flow, intensity of water flow, temperature of water being dispensed from said faucet, and water shut-off;

f) visual indicators along a bottom of said module to incrementally illuminate changes in a water variable as said hand moves about in said sensor field;

g) a processor in electrical communication with said sensor and said electronically controlled valve; and

h) a power supply in electrical communication with the sensor, processor and valve.

18. A spatially reactive water system according to claim 17, further comprising a plurality of audio indicators that activate and deactivate in response to activation and deactivation of a respective sensor.

19. A spatially reactive water system according to claim 17, wherein a plurality of audio indicators provide user feedback in response to a varying incrementing/decrementing sensor signal.

20. A spatially reactive water system according to claim 17, further comprising at least one microphone for controlling the water variable through voice activation.

21. A spatially reactive water system according to claim 17, wherein said water variable is selected from the group consisting of:

water on and off, flow velocity, flow velocity pause and un-pause and water temperature.