Capacitive coupling arrangement for a faucet

• US 8,613,419 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2008
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Masco Corporation Of Indiana (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Rodenbeck, Robert W, Burke, David M, Sawaski, Joel D
• Primary Examiner(s): Fristoe, Jr., John K
• Assistant Examiner(s): JELLETT, MATTHEW WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US12/600,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20100170570A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,839 Days
• Field of Search: 25112903-12906, 462/3
• US Class Current: 251/129.04
• 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: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/94052 with evaluation of actuation pattern or sequence, e.g. tapping
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/94089 Wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1842 Ambient condition change responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

A faucet (10) includes a spout (12), a passageway that conducts fluid flow through the spout (12), a electrically operable valve (22) located within the passageway, a manual valve (20) located within the passageway in series with the electrically operable valve, and a manual handle (14) that controls the manual valve (20). The faucet (10) also includes a first touch sensor (26) on the manual valve handle (14), a second touch sensor (28) on the spout (12), a capacitive sensor (30) directly coupled to one of the first and second touch sensors (26, 28) and capacitively coupled to the other of the first and second touch sensors (26, 28), and a controller (24) coupled to the capacitive sensor (30). The controller (24) is configured to monitor the output signal from the capacitive sensor (30) and to distinguish between a user tapping one of the spout (12) and the manual valve handle (14), a user grabbing the spout (12), and a user grabbing the manual valve handle (14). The controller (24) is also coupled to the electrically operable valve (22) to control the electrically operable valve (22) is response to the output signal from the capacitive sensor (30).

Claims

1. A faucet comprising:

a spout;

a passageway that conducts fluid flow through the spout;

a electrically operable valve located within the passageway;

a manual valve located within the passageway in series with the electrically operable valve;

a manual handle that controls the manual valve;

an insulator located between the spout and the manual handle so that the spout is electrically isolated from the manual handle;

a first touch sensor on the manual valve handle;

a second touch sensor on the spout;

a capacitive sensor directly coupled to one of the first and second touch sensors and capacitively coupled to the other of the first and second touch sensors without a direct electrical connection through a conductor to the capacitive sensor, the capacitive sensor providing an output signal; and

a controller coupled to the capacitive sensor, the controller being configured to monitor the output signal from the capacitive sensor and 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, the controller also being coupled to the electrically operable valve to control the electrically operable valve is response to the output signal from the capacitive sensor.

2. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the controller toggles the electrically operable valve between open and closed positions in response to detecting a user tapping one of the spout and the manual valve handle.

3. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the controller toggles the electrically operable valve when either of the first and second touch controls are touched and released within a period of time shorter than a predetermined time.

4. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the electrically operable valve is a magnetically latching valve.

5. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the controller determines that a user has tapped one of the spout and the manual valve handle when both a positive slope of the output signal and a negative slope of the output signal are detected within a predetermined period of time.

6. The faucet of claim 5, wherein the controller further determines whether an electromagnetic event caused the positive slope of the output signal instead of a tap by the user on the spout or the manual valve handle.

7. The faucet of claim 5, wherein the controller further determines that a user has grabbed one of the spout and the manual valve handle when the length of time between the positive slope of the output signal and the negative slope of the output signal is greater than the predetermined time.

8. The faucet of claim 7, wherein, if the controller determines that one of the spout and manual valve handle was grabbed by a user, the controller further determines which one of the spout and manual valve handle was grabbed by a user based upon an amplitude of the output signal between the detected positive and negative slopes.

9. The faucet of claim 8, wherein the controller determines that the manual valve handle was grabbed by a user if the amplitude of output signal between the detected positive and negative slopes is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

10. The faucet of claim 9, wherein the controller determines that the spout was grabbed by a user if the amplitude of the output signal between the detected positive and negative slopes is less than the predetermined threshold value.

11. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the electrically operable valve is an electronic proportioning valve and wherein the controller directs the electrically operable valve to change among open, closed, and the plurality of partially closed positions in response to a duration of contact by the user with the first and second touch controls.

12. The faucet of claim 1, further comprising a faucet body hub, the manual valve handle being movably coupled to the faucet body hub to control the manual valve, the manual valve handle being electrically coupled to the faucet body hub, and wherein the spout is coupled to the faucet body hub by an the insulator so that the spout is electrically isolated from the faucet body hub.

13. The faucet of claim 12, wherein the spout is rotatably coupled to the faucet body hub.

14. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the first touch sensor includes a first electrode coupled to the manual valve handle, the first electrode being directly coupled to the capacitive sensor.

15. The faucet of claim 14, wherein the second touch sensor includes a second electrode on the spout, the second electrode being capacitively coupled to the first electrode.

16. The faucet of claim 15, wherein the spout is formed from a conductive material to provide the second electrode, and further comprising an insulator located between the spout and the manual valve handle so that the second electrode is capacitively coupled to the first electrode.

17. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the electrically operable valve in response to the output signal from the capacitive sensor as follows:

if either of the first and second touch sensors are tapped while the electrically operable valve is closed, the controller opens the electrically operable valve;

if the first touch sensor is grabbed and the electrically operable valve is closed, the controller opens the electrically operable valve;

if either of the first and second touch sensors are tapped while the electrically operable valve is open, the controller closes the electrically operable valve;

if first touch sensor is grabbed and the electrically operable valve is open, no action is taken on the electrically operable valve;

if second touch sensor is grabbed and the electrically operable valve is open, no action is taken on the electrically operable valve; and

if second touch sensor is grabbed and the electrically operable valve is closed, no action is taken on the electrically operable valve.

33. The faucet of claim 1, further comprising an insulator located between the first and second touch sensors so that the capacitive sensor is directly coupled to one of the first and second touch sensors and the capacitive sensor is capacitively coupled to the other of the first and second touch sensors through the insulator and the directly coupled electrode.

18. A faucet comprising:

a spout;

a passageway that conducts fluid flow through the spout;

an electrically operable valve located within the passageway;

a manual valve located within the passageway in series with the electrically operable valve;

a manual handle that controls the manual valve;

a first touch sensor on the manual valve handle;

a second touch sensor on the spout;

a capacitive sensor directly coupled to one of the first and second touch sensors and capacitively coupled to the other of the first and second touch sensors, the capacitive sensor providing an output signal; and

a controller coupled to the capacitive sensor, the controller being configured to monitor the output signal from the capacitive sensor and 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, the controller also being coupled to the electrically operable valve to control the electrically operable valve in response to the output signal from the capacitive sensor, wherein the controller determines an amplitude of the output signal (SIG) and compares the amplitude to an upper threshold (UT), a middle threshold (MT) and a lower threshold (LT) and to a minimum tap time (T<sub>TAP—

MIN</sub>) and an maximum tap time (T<sub>TAP—

MAX</sub>), the controller being configured to control the electrically operable valve as follows;

(a) if |SIG|>

|UT| for a period t_R, and t_R≧

T<sub>TAP—

MIN</sub>, and the electrically operable valve is closed, the controller opens the electrically operable valve;

(b) if |SIG|>

|MT| for a period t_R, and T<sub>TAP—

MIN</sub> ≦

t_R<

T<sub>TAP—

MAX</sub>, the controller closes the electrically operable valve if it was previously open and opens the electrically operable valve if it was previously closed;

(c) if |SIG|>

|MT| for a period t_R and the electrically operable valve is open, and t_R>

T<sub>TAP—

MAX</sub>, no action is taken; and

(d) if |SIG|>

|MT|, no action is taken, regardless of whether the electrically operable valve is open or closed.

19. A method of controlling fluid flow in a faucet having a spout, a passageway that conducts fluid flow through the spout, an electrically operable valve located within the passageway, a manual valve located within the passageway in series with the electrically operable valve, and a manual handle that controls the manual valve, the method comprising:

electrically isolating the spout from the manual valve handle with an insulator located between the spout and the manual valve handle;

providing a first touch sensor on the manual valve handle;

providing a second touch sensor on the spout;

providing a capacitive sensor;

directly coupling one of the first and second touch sensors to the capacitive sensor;

capacitively coupling the other of the first and second touch sensors to the same capacitive sensor without a direct electrical connection through a conductor to the capacitive sensor;

monitoring an output signal from the capacitive sensor to detect touches of both the first and second touch sensors by a user; and

controlling the electrically operable valve in response to the monitoring step.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the monitoring step includes distinguishing 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.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the monitoring step determines that a user has tapped one of the spout and the manual valve handle when both a positive slope of the output signal and a negative slope of the output signal are detected within a predetermined period of time.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising determining whether an electromagnetic event caused the positive slope of the output signal instead of a tap by the user on the spout or the manual valve handle.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the monitoring step determines that a user has grabbed one of the spout and the manual valve handle when the length of time between the positive slope of the output signal and the negative slope of the output signal is greater than the predetermined time.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein, if the monitoring step determines that one of the spout and manual valve handle was grabbed by a user, the monitoring step then determines which one of the spout and manual valve handle was grabbed by a user based upon an amplitude of the output signal between the detected positive and negative slopes.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the monitoring step determines that the manual valve handle was grabbed by a user if the amplitude of the output signal between the detected positive and negative slopes is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the monitoring step determines that the spout was grabbed by a user if the amplitude of the output signal between the detected positive and negative slopes is less than the predetermined threshold value.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising toggling the electronic valve between open and closed positions in response to detecting a user tapping one of the spout and the manual valve handle during the monitoring step.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein the controller controls the electrically operable valve in response to the output signal from the capacitive sensor as follows:

if either of the first and second touch sensors are tapped while the electrically operable valve is closed, the controller opens the electrically operable valve;

if the first touch sensor is grabbed and the electrically operable valve is closed, the controller opens the electrically operable valve;

if either of the first and second touch sensors are tapped while the electrically operable valve is open, the controller closes the electrically operable valve;

if first touch sensor is grabbed and the electrically operable valve is open, no action is taken on the electrically operable valve;

if second touch sensor is grabbed and the electrically operable valve is open, no action is taken on the electrically operable valve; and

if second touch sensor is grabbed and the electrically operable valve is closed, no action is taken on the electrically operable valve.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein the electrically operable valve is an electronic proportioning valve and wherein the controller directs the electrically operable valve to change among open, closed, and the plurality of partially closed positions in response to a duration of contact by the user with the first and second touch controls.

30. The method of claim 19, wherein the first touch sensor includes a first electrode coupled to the manual valve handle, the first electrode being directly coupled to the capacitive sensor.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the second touch sensor includes a second electrode on the spout, the second electrode being capacitively coupled to the first electrode.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the spout is formed from a conductive material to provide the second electrode, and wherein the insulator located between the spout and the manual valve handle capacitively couples the second electrode is to the first electrode.

34. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing an insulator between the first and second touch sensors so that the capacitive sensor is directly coupled to one of the first and second touch sensors and the capacitive sensor is capacitively coupled to the other of the first and second touch sensors through the insulator and the directly coupled electrode.