Capacitive sensing system and method for operating a faucet
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electronic faucet comprising:
- a spout having a passageway configured to conduct fluid flow through the spout;
an electrically operable valve coupled to the passageway;
a manual valve located in series with the electrically operable valve;
a manual handle configured to control the manual valve;
a single capacitive sensor coupled to a portion of the faucet, the single capacitive sensor providing both a touch sensor and a proximity sensor for the electronic faucet; and
a controller coupled to the single capacitive sensor, the controller being configured to monitor an output signal from the single capacitive sensor to detect when a portion of the faucet is touched by a user and to detect when a user'"'"'s hands are located in a detection area located near the spout, the controller determining which one of the spout and the manual valve handle is touched by a user based upon an amplitude of the output signal from the single capacitive sensor.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic faucet comprises a spout having a passageway configured to conduct fluid flow through the spout, an electrically operable valve coupled to the passageway, and a single capacitive sensor coupled to a portion of the faucet. The single capacitive sensor provides both a touch sensor and a proximity sensor for the electronic faucet.
460 Citations
26 Claims
-
1. An electronic faucet comprising:
-
a spout having a passageway configured to conduct fluid flow through the spout; an electrically operable valve coupled to the passageway; a manual valve located in series with the electrically operable valve; a manual handle configured to control the manual valve; a single capacitive sensor coupled to a portion of the faucet, the single capacitive sensor providing both a touch sensor and a proximity sensor for the electronic faucet; and a controller coupled to the single capacitive sensor, the controller being configured to monitor an output signal from the single capacitive sensor to detect when a portion of the faucet is touched by a user and to detect when a user'"'"'s hands are located in a detection area located near the spout, the controller determining which one of the spout and the manual valve handle is touched by a user based upon an amplitude of the output signal from the single capacitive sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of controlling fluid flow in an electronic faucet having a spout, a passageway configured to conduct fluid flow through the spout, an electrically operable valve coupled to the passageway, a manual valve located in series with the electrically operable valve, and a manual handle configured to control the manual valve, the method comprising:
-
providing a single capacitive sensor coupled to one of the spout and the manual valve handle; monitoring an output signal from the single capacitive sensor to distinguish between a user tapping one of the spout and the manual valve handle, a user grabbing the spout, and a user grabbing the manual valve handle and to detect when a user'"'"'s hands are located in a detection area located near the faucet; and controlling the electrically operable valve is response to monitoring the output signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
Specification