TOUCH SENSOR

• US 20070246267A1
• Filed: 04/12/2007
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Masco Corporation Of Indiana (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: KOOTTUNGAL, PAUL D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,089,473 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 178/18.60
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/975 using a capacitive movable element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

A sensor is disclosed. The sensor may be a touch sensor. The sensor may be incorporated into a water delivery system.

Claims

1. A touch sensor, comprising:

a rigid base member including a non-linear surface; and

at least two spaced apart conductors positioned along the non-linear surface.

2. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the rigid base member is a printed circuit board and the non-linear surface is an edge of the printed circuit board.

3. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the non-linear surface is curved.

4. The touch sensor of claim 2, wherein the non-linear surface is curved.

5. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the at least two spaced apart conductors are connected to a controller which is configured to determine the location of a user'"'"'s finger relative to the non-linear surface.

6. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the non-linear surface has a profile which matches a profile of a cover.

7. A touch sensor, comprising

a rigid base member including a first side;

and

at least two spaced apart conductors positioned along the first side.

8. The touch sensor of claim 7, wherein a first one of the two spaced apart conductors is positioned proximate to a top edge of the rigid base member along the first side and a second one of the two spaced apart conductors is positioned proximate to a bottom edge of the rigid base member along the first side.

9. A touch sensor, comprising

a rigid base member including a first side;

and

a capacitive sensor element provided generally along the first side.

10. The touch sensor of claim 9, wherein the capacitive sensor includes two spaced apart conductors.

11. The touch sensor of claim 9, wherein the capacitive sensor is a slider sensor.

12. A touch sensor, comprising

a rigid base member including a first side;

and

a sensor element provided generally along the first side.

13. The touch sensor of claim 12, wherein the sensor element is a capacitive sensor.

14. A water delivery system, comprising:

a spout having an internal waterway;

a user interface coupled to the spout, the user interface including

a cover having a non-linear profile along a first direction;

a sensor positioned below the cover having a non-linear profile which generally matches the non-linear profile of the cover.

15. The water delivery system of claim 14, wherein the sensor includes a rigid base member and a capacitive sensor provided generally along a first side of the rigid base member.

16. The water delivery system of claim 15, wherein the sensor further includes a controller coupled to the capacitive sensor.

17. The water delivery system of claim 16, further comprising a valve in fluid communication with the internal waterway of the spout and in fluid communication with at least one source of water, the valve regulating a flow rate of the water communicated to the spout from the at least one source of water, wherein a flow rate is specified by the controller based on the capacitive sensor.

18. The water delivery system of claim 17, wherein the at least one source of water includes a source of hot water and a source of cold water, the valve regulating a temperature of the water communicated to the spout and the flow rate of the water communicated to the spout.

19. The water delivery system, of claim 18, further comprising a second sensor, wherein the controller specifies a temperature based on the second sensor.

20. The water deliver system of claim of claim 14, wherein the sensor includes a flexible strip having an adhesive on a first side and a capacitive sensor on a second side.