Apparatus and control system for multi-gestural control of water delivery devices

• US 9,783,964 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2015
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kohler MIRA Limited (Kohler Company)
• Original Assignee: Kohler MIRA Limited (Kohler Company)
• Inventors: Thompson, Christopher Ian, Zhu, Xiangzhen
• Primary Examiner(s): Jellett, Matthew W
• Application Number:
  US14/693,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20150308089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 25112904
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/075 Arrangement of devices for control of pressure or flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/055 Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/02 with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 19/006 Specially adapted for faucets
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/02 electric F16K31/004 takes precedence; magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/08 operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by objects or geological structures or by detecting devices with electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1393 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0635 by action on throttling means G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87579 Faucet attachment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8766 With selectively operated flow control means

Abstract

A water delivery device includes a body, a user interface, a micro-mixing valve, first and second capacitive sensors, and a controller. The body includes a base and a spout. The user interface is provided on the spout. The micro-mixing valve is contained within the body and is in fluid communication with a hot water source and a cold water source. The first capacitive sensor is provided below the user interface. The second capacitive sensor is provided below the user interface and is spaced apart from the first capacitive sensor. The controller is operatively connected to the first capacitive sensor, the second capacitive sensor, and the micro-mixing valve. Each of the first and second capacitive sensors is configured to be independently activated by a user to transmit a signal to the controller to increase or decrease a temperature of a flow of water flowing from the micro-mixing valve.

Claims

1. A water delivery device comprising:

a body including a base and a spout;

a user interface provided on the spout;

a micro-mixing valve contained within the body and in fluid communication with a hot water source and a cold water source;

a first capacitive sensor pad provided below the user interface;

a second capacitive sensor pad provided below the user interface spaced apart from the first capacitive sensor pad, wherein the second capacitive sensor pad is physically separated from the first capacitive sensor pad; and

a controller operatively connected to the first capacitive sensor pad, the second capacitive sensor pad, and the micro-mixing valve;

wherein each of the first and second capacitive sensor pads is configured to be independently activated by a user to transmit a signal to the controller to increase or decrease a temperature of a flow of water flowing from the micro-mixing valve; and

wherein the first and second capacitive sensor pads are located laterally adjacent to each other and extend along a longitudinal direction from the base to a distal end of the spout.

2. The water delivery device of claim 1, wherein the controller is disposed within the spout and is configured, in response to a signal from the first or second capacitive sensor pad, to transmit a corresponding signal to the micro-mixing valve to increase or decrease the temperature of the flow of water flowing from the micro-mixing valve.

3. The water delivery device of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to maintain a constant flow rate of the flow of water flowing from the micro-mixing valve during a water temperature adjustment.

4. The water delivery device of claim 1, wherein when the first capacitive sensor pad and second capacitive sensor pad are activated in close succession, the controller is configured to act upon the activation of the first capacitive sensor pad and to disregard the activation of the second capacitive sensor pad.

5. The water delivery device of claim 1, wherein when the first capacitive sensor pad is activated, the controller is configured to initiate a delay period during which the second capacitive sensor pad is not capable of being activated so as to prevent inadvertent activation of the second capacitive sensor pad and wherein when the second capacitive sensor pad is activated, the controller is configured to initiate a delay period during which the first capacitive sensor pad is not capable of being activated so as to prevent inadvertent activation of the first capacitive sensor pad.

6. The water delivery device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to incrementally adjust the temperature of the flow of water flowing from the micro-mixing valve in response to momentary or repeated activation of the first or the second capacitive sensor pad while maintaining a substantially constant flow rate of the flow of water.

7. The water delivery device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to continuously adjust the temperature of the flow of water flowing from the micro-mixing valve in response to continuous activation of the first or the second capacitive sensor pad while maintaining a substantially constant flow rate of the flow of water.

8. The water delivery device of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a timer having a first programmable period corresponding to an incremental adjustment of water temperature, and a second programmable period corresponding to a continuous adjustment of water temperature;

wherein the second period is shorter than the first period so as to provide for a more rapid adjustment of the temperature of the flow of water flowing from the micro-mixing valve.

9. The water delivery device of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to automatically switch from the first period to the second period if the controller determines that the first or the second capacitive sensor pad is being continuously activated.

10. The water delivery device of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to continuously adjust the temperature of the flow of water flowing from the micro-mixing valve until a minimum or a maximum outlet water temperature is reached.

11. The water delivery device of claim 10, wherein the minimum and the maximum outlet water temperatures are adjustable via the controller.

12. The water delivery device of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a panel member, a graphics layer, and a substantially transparent outer layer;

wherein the substantially transparent outer layer is overmolded onto the panel member with the graphics layer disposed therebetween.

13. The water delivery device of claim 12, wherein each of the first and the second capacitive sensor pads is adhered to a rear inner surface of the panel member.

14. The water delivery device of claim 1, further comprising one or more light sources positioned below the user interface and configured to provide a visual indication on the user interface that the water delivery device is undergoing at least one of a programmed cycle or a service.

15. A faucet assembly comprising:

a body including a base and a spout, the spout extending outwardly from the base;

a user interface provided on the spout;

an electronically controlled micro-mixing valve in fluid communication with a hot water source and a cold water source;

a first capacitive sensor pad provided below the user interface on the spout and configured to increase a temperature of a flow of water flowing from the electronically controlled micro-mixing valve;

a second capacitive sensor pad provided below the user interface on the spout and configured to decrease the temperature of the flow of water flowing from the electronically controlled micro-mixing valve, wherein the second capacitive sensor pad is physically separated from the first capacitive sensor pad; and

a controller operatively connected to the first capacitive sensor pad, the second capacitive sensor pad, and the electronically controlled micro-mixing valve;

wherein the controller is configured to receive a signal from the first or the second capacitive sensor pad and to transmit a corresponding signal to the electronically controlled micro-mixing valve to independently control a flow of water from the hot water source and the cold water source so as to increase or decrease the temperature of the flow of water flowing from the electronically controlled micro-mixing valve;

wherein each of the electronically controlled micro-mixing valve and the controller is disposed within the body of the faucet assembly; and

wherein the first and second capacitive sensor pads are located laterally adjacent to each other and extend along a longitudinal direction from the base to a distal end of the spout.

16. The faucet assembly of claim 15, wherein the user interface includes a panel member, a graphics layer, and a substantially transparent outer layer;

wherein the substantially transparent outer layer is overmolded onto the panel member with the graphics layer disposed therebetween.

17. The faucet assembly of claim 16, wherein each of the first and the second capacitive sensor pads is adhered to a rear inner surface of the panel member.

18. The faucet assembly of claim 15, further comprising one or more light sources positioned below the user interface and configured to provide a visual indication on the user interface that the faucet assembly is undergoing at least one of a programmed cycle or a service.

19. The faucet assembly of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to maintain a constant flow rate of the flow of water flowing from the electronically controlled micro-mixing valve during a water temperature adjustment.

20. The faucet assembly of claim 15, wherein when the first capacitive sensor pad and second capacitive sensor pad are activated in close succession, the controller is configured to act upon the activation of the first capacitive sensor pad and to disregard the activation of the second capacitive sensor pad.

21. The faucet assembly of claim 15, wherein when the first capacitive sensor pad is activated, the controller is configured to initiate a delay period during which the second capacitive sensor pad is not capable of being activated so as to prevent inadvertent activation of the second capacitive sensor pad and wherein when the second capacitive sensor pad is activated, the controller is configured to initiate a delay period during which the first capacitive sensor pad is not capable of being activated so as to prevent inadvertent activation of the first capacitive sensor pad.

22. The faucet assembly of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to incrementally adjust the temperature of the flow of water flowing from the electronically controlled micro-mixing valve in response to momentary or repeated activation of the first or the second capacitive sensor pad while maintaining a constant flow rate of the flow of water.

23. The faucet assembly of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to continuously adjust the temperature of the flow of water flowing from the electronically controlled micro-mixing valve in response to continuous activation of the first or the second capacitive sensor pad while maintaining a constant flow rate of the flow of water.

24. The faucet assembly of claim 15, wherein the controller includes a timer having a first period corresponding to an incremental adjustment of water temperature, and a second period corresponding to a continuous adjustment of water temperature;

wherein the second period is shorter than the first period so as to provide for a more rapid adjustment of the temperature of the flow of water flowing from the electronically controlled micro-mixing valve.

25. The faucet assembly of claim 24, wherein the controller is configured to automatically switch from the first period to the second period if the controller determines that the first or the second capacitive sensor pad is being continuously activated.

26. The faucet assembly of claim 24, wherein the controller is configured to continuously adjust the temperature of the flow of water flowing from the electronically controlled micro-mixing valve until a minimum or a maximum outlet water temperature is reached.

27. The faucet assembly of claim 26, wherein the minimum and the maximum outlet water temperatures are adjustable via the controller.

28. A water delivery device comprising:

a body including a base and a spout;

a micro-mixing valve disposed within the body and in fluid communication with a hot water source and a cold water source;

a first capacitive sensor pad provided within the body and associated with a water temperature increase;

a second capacitive sensor pad provided within the body spaced apart from the first capacitive sensor pad and associated with a water temperature decrease, wherein the second capacitive sensor pad is physically separated from the first capacitive sensor pad such that the first and second capacitive sensor pads are independent of each other; and

a controller disposed within the body and operatively connected to the micro-mixing valve, the first capacitive sensor pad, and the second capacitive sensor pad;

wherein each of the first and second capacitive sensor pads is configured to be independently activated by a user to control a flow of water from the hot and the cold water sources to adjust a temperature of a flow of water flowing from the micro-mixing valve; and

wherein the first and second capacitive sensor pads are located laterally adjacent to each other and extend along a longitudinal direction from the base to a distal end of the spout.

29. The water delivery device of claim 28, wherein the controller is configured to maintain a constant flow rate of the flow of water flowing from the micro-mixing valve during a water temperature adjustment.

30. The water delivery device of claim 29, wherein when the first capacitive sensor pad and second capacitive sensor pad are activated in close succession, the controller is configured to act upon the activation of the first capacitive sensor pad and to disregard the activation of the second capacitive sensor pad.