Faucet assembly
First Claim
1. A faucet apparatus for providing user-controllable continuous water flow, the faucet apparatus comprising:
- a spout configured to direct water flow into a sink;
a logic processor;
a first sensor zone comprising a first sensor, said first sensor facing the area in which the spout is configured to direct water to flow; and
a second sensor zone comprising a second sensor, said second sensor configured to detect an object in the second sensor zone and respond to the detection by providing input to the logic processor;
wherein the logic processor is programmed to;
determine whether an electronic representation of a flow state is in either a primary-water-flow-mode or a continuous-water-flow mode;
receive input from the first sensor indicating the presence of an object within the first sensor zone and, in response thereto, cause the spout to direct water flow while the input from the first sensor indicates than an object is present in the first sensor zone;
cause the spout to stop directing water flow when the input from the first sensor indicates that no object is present within the first sensor zone, if it is determined that the electronic representation of the flow state is in the primary-water-flow-mode; and
receive input from the second sensor indicating the presence of an object within the second sensor zone and, in response thereto, if the electronic representation of the flow state is in the primary-water-flow-mode, determine an amount of time for continuous water flow based on the amount of substantially uninterrupted time in which the object is detected in the second sensor zone and in response thereto, change the electronic representation of the flow state from the primary-water-flow-mode to the continuous-water-flow-mode, and cause the spout to direct water flow for the determined amount of time for continuous water flow, regardless of whether an object is present in the first sensor zone.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A touch-free faucet provides control over flow and/or temperature by detecting object presence in one or more detection zones. In one embodiment, the faucet provides for continuous-flow water flow wherein the spout of the faucet pours water for a period of time regardless of whether an object is detected in a detection zone, such as the sink, during that time. The faucet may initiate continuous-flow based on the detection of an object in another detection zone, and may cause continuous-flow operation for a determined period of time based on the amount of substantially uninterrupted time during which an object is detected in a detection zone associated with initiating continuous-flow mode. Furthermore, the faucet may provide for user-programmable sensitivity affecting the amount of continuous-flow time that is determined based on the amount of time that the faucet detects object in the continuous-flow mode detection zone.
92 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A faucet apparatus for providing user-controllable continuous water flow, the faucet apparatus comprising:
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a spout configured to direct water flow into a sink; a logic processor; a first sensor zone comprising a first sensor, said first sensor facing the area in which the spout is configured to direct water to flow; and a second sensor zone comprising a second sensor, said second sensor configured to detect an object in the second sensor zone and respond to the detection by providing input to the logic processor; wherein the logic processor is programmed to; determine whether an electronic representation of a flow state is in either a primary-water-flow-mode or a continuous-water-flow mode; receive input from the first sensor indicating the presence of an object within the first sensor zone and, in response thereto, cause the spout to direct water flow while the input from the first sensor indicates than an object is present in the first sensor zone; cause the spout to stop directing water flow when the input from the first sensor indicates that no object is present within the first sensor zone, if it is determined that the electronic representation of the flow state is in the primary-water-flow-mode; and receive input from the second sensor indicating the presence of an object within the second sensor zone and, in response thereto, if the electronic representation of the flow state is in the primary-water-flow-mode, determine an amount of time for continuous water flow based on the amount of substantially uninterrupted time in which the object is detected in the second sensor zone and in response thereto, change the electronic representation of the flow state from the primary-water-flow-mode to the continuous-water-flow-mode, and cause the spout to direct water flow for the determined amount of time for continuous water flow, regardless of whether an object is present in the first sensor zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of providing user-controllable continuous water flow comprising:
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receiving a first signal from a first sensor of a plurality of sensors, said first signal indicating a presence of an object within a zone of the first sensor; determining whether an electronic representation of a flow state is in either a primary-water-flow-mode or a continuous-water-flow mode; determining how long said sensor detects said object from the first signal; determining, using a logic processor, an amount of time for continuous water flow based in part on said determination of how long said sensor detected said object; changing the electronic representation of the flow state to the continuous-water-flow-mode based in part on said determination of the electronic representation; causing the spout to direct water flow for the determined amount of time for continuous water flow; and increasing the determined amount of time based in part on receiving a second signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification