Capacitive coupling arrangement for a faucet
First Claim
1. A faucet comprising:
- a spout;
a passageway that conducts fluid flow through the spout;
an electrically operable valve located within the passageway;
a manual valve located within the passageway in series with the electrically operable valve;
a manual handle that controls the manual valve;
an insulator located between the spout and the manual handle so that the spout is electrically isolated from the manual handle;
a first touch sensor on the manual valve handle;
a second touch sensor on the spout;
a capacitive sensor directly coupled to one of the first and second touch sensors and capacitively coupled to the other of the first and second touch sensors without a direct electrical connection through a conductor to the capacitive sensor, the capacitive sensor providing an output signal; and
a controller coupled to the capacitive sensor, the controller being configured to monitor the output signal from the capacitive sensor to detect touching of the spout and the manual valve handle, the controller also being coupled to the electrically operable valve to control the electrically operable valve in response to the output signal from the capacitive sensor.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A faucet includes a spout and a manual handle that controls a manual valve located in a passageway that conducts fluid flow through the spout. An electrically operable valve is also located within the passageway. The faucet also includes an insulator located between the spout and the manual handle so that the spout is electrically isolated from the manual handle, a first touch sensor on the manual valve handle, a second touch sensor on the spout, and a capacitive sensor directly coupled to one of the first and second touch sensors and capacitively coupled to the other of the first and second touch sensors. The faucet further includes a controller coupled to the capacitive sensor. The controller monitors an output signal from the capacitive sensor to detect touching of the spout and the manual valve handle. The controller is also coupled to the electrically operable valve to control the electrically operable valve in response to the output signal from the capacitive sensor.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A faucet comprising:
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a spout; a passageway that conducts fluid flow through the spout; an electrically operable valve located within the passageway; a manual valve located within the passageway in series with the electrically operable valve; a manual handle that controls the manual valve; an insulator located between the spout and the manual handle so that the spout is electrically isolated from the manual handle; a first touch sensor on the manual valve handle; a second touch sensor on the spout; a capacitive sensor directly coupled to one of the first and second touch sensors and capacitively coupled to the other of the first and second touch sensors without a direct electrical connection through a conductor to the capacitive sensor, the capacitive sensor providing an output signal; and a controller coupled to the capacitive sensor, the controller being configured to monitor the output signal from the capacitive sensor to detect touching of the spout and the manual valve handle, the controller also being coupled to the electrically operable valve to control the electrically operable valve in response to the output signal from the capacitive sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A faucet comprising:
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a spout; a passageway that conducts fluid flow through the spout; an electrically operable valve in fluid communication with the passageway; a manual valve in fluid communication with the passageway in spaced relation to the electrically operable valve; a manual handle that controls the manual valve; an insulator located between the spout and the manual handle so that the spout is electrically isolated from the manual handle; a first touch sensor on the manual valve handle; a second touch sensor on the spout; a capacitive sensor directly coupled to one of the first and second touch sensors and capacitively coupled to the other of the first and second touch sensors without a direct electrical connection through a conductor to the capacitive sensor, the capacitive sensor providing an output signal; and a controller coupled to the capacitive sensor, the controller being configured to monitor the output signal from the capacitive sensor to detect touching of the spout and the manual valve handle, the controller also being coupled to the electrically operable valve to control the electrically operable valve in response to the output signal from the capacitive sensor. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification