Electronic faucets for long-term operation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electronic faucet comprisinga housing;
- at least one water inlet line extending into the housing;
a water outlet from the housing, said housing including removable cover parts;
a valve cartridge located inside said housing, said valve cartridge including a solenoid valve and a diaphragm for controlling the water flow between said at least one inlet line and the outlet;
a battery located inside said housing;
an object sensor, located inside said housing, for detecting a faucet user; and
a control circuit, located inside said housing, for controlling the opening and closing of the solenoid valve, the control circuit including a microcontroller, receiving signals from the object sensor, for controlling operation of the electronic faucet and controlling a solenoid driver receiving battery power from a DC-to-DC converter, the solenoid driver providing power to the solenoid valve, said microcontroller controlling the operation by utilizing timers measuring detection and non-detection of the faucet user by the object sensor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic faucet (10) mounted on a countertop (12) includes a housing, at least one fluid inlet line (24a, 24b) extending into the housing, a fluid outlet (46) from the housing, a solenoid (142, 143) for operating a valve controlling the fluid flow between at least one inlet line and the outlet, and a control circuit (206) for controlling the opening and closing of the valve.
238 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. An electronic faucet comprising
a housing; -
at least one water inlet line extending into the housing; a water outlet from the housing, said housing including removable cover parts; a valve cartridge located inside said housing, said valve cartridge including a solenoid valve and a diaphragm for controlling the water flow between said at least one inlet line and the outlet; a battery located inside said housing; an object sensor, located inside said housing, for detecting a faucet user; and a control circuit, located inside said housing, for controlling the opening and closing of the solenoid valve, the control circuit including a microcontroller, receiving signals from the object sensor, for controlling operation of the electronic faucet and controlling a solenoid driver receiving battery power from a DC-to-DC converter, the solenoid driver providing power to the solenoid valve, said microcontroller controlling the operation by utilizing timers measuring detection and non-detection of the faucet user by the object sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. An electronic faucet mounted on a countertop, comprising
a housing including a mixing valve, a solenoid valve, a battery for providing power, and an object sensor all being located inside the housing; -
a cold water inlet line and a hot water inlet line both extending into said housing and providing water to said mixing valve, said mixing valve adjusting a ratio of cold and hot water; a water outlet for providing water mixed in said mixing valve; and a control circuit including a microcontroller communicating with the object sensor and a solenoid driver receiving battery power and initiating the solenoid valve, said control circuit being constructed to adjust dynamically activation sensitivity of said object sensor to prevent erroneous detection of a faucet user, said microcontroller executing a self calibration routine for said object sensor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An electronic faucet, comprising
a housing; -
at least one water inlet line extending into the housing; a water outlet from the housing; an object sensor for detecting a faucet user; a solenoid valve for controlling the water flow between said at least one inlet line and the outlet; a battery; and a control circuit including a microcontroller communicating with the object sensor, and a solenoid driver receiving battery power and initiating the solenoid valve, said control circuit being constructed to adjust dynamically activation sensitivity, at different sensitivity levels to prevent erroneous detection of the faucet user, said microcontroller executing a self calibration routine for said object sensor. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification