User interface for controlling a bathroom plumbing fixture

• US 9,128,495 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2011
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kohler Company
• Original Assignee: Kohler Company
• Inventors: Freier, Donald P., Rexach, Rafael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghebretinsae, Temesgh
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRAWLEY, KEITH L
• Application Number:
  US13/012,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20110169786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,688 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184, 45412-5413, 4545-546, 455/9, 459/7, 4601-605, 461/4, 469/5, 700/17, 700/19, 700 65- 66, 700 83- 85, 700/302, 340/524, 3406861-688, 251/129.01, 251/129.11, 251/205, 251/208, 341/32, 341/35, 324/207.25
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0408 Water installations especially for showers E03C1/06 takes precedence; shower heads B05B1/18
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/055 Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1393 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials

Abstract

A plumbing fixture is operated by a user interface that has an enclosure with a faceplate from which a pedestal seamlessly projects outward. An alphanumeric display is visible through the faceplate and a plurality of switches respond to the user pressing different portions of the faceplate. A selector includes a selector ring that has a plurality of permanent magnets and which is positioned to rotate around the pedestal. A Hall effect sensor of the selector is located adjacent the selector ring and produces an electrical signal in response to motion of the permanent magnets. The user interface also enables the selection of a plurality of predefined operating configurations for the plumbing fixture. An optional wireless remote control may be provided by which the user can activate and deactivate the plumbing fixture and select from among the predefined operating configurations.

Claims

1. A user interface which produces electrical signals for controlling a plumbing fixture, said user interface comprising:

an enclosure having a faceplate with an exterior surface and a pedestal projecting outward from and fixedly attached to the faceplate;

a display for presenting information to a user of the plumbing fixture, wherein the display is visible through the exterior surface of the faceplate;

a selector having a selector ring positioned to rotate around the pedestal and containing an annular arrangement of a plurality of permanent magnets, and having a Hall effect sensor located adjacent the selector ring and producing an electrical signal in response to motion of the plurality of permanent magnets;

a magnetic ring embedded in a fixed position beneath the exterior surface around the pedestal and configured to attract the annular arrangement of permanent magnets, wherein the magnetic ring pulls the annular arrangement of permanent magnets toward the exterior surface using magnetic force to hold the selector ring to the user interface, wherein the Hall effect sensor is embedded beneath the exterior surface within an opening in the magnetic ring, wherein each of the plurality of permanent magnets in the selector ring magnetically engages the magnetic ring and the Hall effect sensor in sequence as the selector ring rotates;

a controller connected to the display and the Hall effect sensor, wherein the controller causes multiple different graphical menus to be presented on the display, each of the multiple different graphical menus comprising a plurality of selectable shower control options presented concurrently on the display, wherein at least one of the shower control options is displayed with highlighting; and

a data interface connected to the controller, wherein the controller uses the data interface to send commands to a valve controller for a plurality of shower valves, wherein the controller is configured to use the commands for the valve controller to make shower adjustments in response to selections made on the display via the selector, wherein rotation of the selector ring moves the highlighting from one of the shower control options to another of the shower control options presented concurrently on the display and causes the controller to make multiple different shower adjustments based on which of the multiple different graphical menus are presented on the display.

2. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the pedestal projects from the exterior surface without forming a seam in the exterior surface of the faceplate.

3. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to cause the display to show a menu with shower valving options for highlighting via the selector.

4. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to present audio and lighting options to be selected via the display and selector.

5. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless receiver for receiving audio, lighting, or shower control selections from a wireless transmitter.

6. A user interface which produces electrical signals for controlling a plumbing fixture, said user interface comprising:

a seamless front panel extending over an LCD display panel;

at least one selector control coupled with the front panel without creating a seam in the front panel, the at least one selector control comprising a selector ring containing an annular arrangement of a plurality of permanent magnets and a Hall effect sensor located adjacent the selector ring, the Hall effect sensor producing an electrical signal in response to motion of the plurality of permanent magnets;

a magnetic ring embedded in a fixed position beneath the seamless front panel and configured to attract the annular arrangement of permanent magnets, wherein the magnetic ring pulls the annular arrangement of permanent magnets toward the seamless front panel using magnetic force to hold the selector ring to the user interface, wherein the Hall effect sensor is embedded beneath the seamless front panel within an opening in the magnetic ring, wherein each of the plurality of permanent magnets in the selector ring magnetically engages the magnetic ring and the Hall effect sensor in sequence as the selector ring rotates;

a controller connected to the LCD display panel and the at least one selector control, wherein the controller causes multiple different graphical menus to be displayed on the LCD display panel, each of the multiple different graphical menus comprising a plurality of selectable shower control options presented concurrently on the LCD display panel, wherein at least one of the shower control options is displayed with highlighting;

a data interface connected to the controller, wherein the controller uses the data interface to send commands to a valve controller for a plurality of shower valves, wherein the controller is configured to use the commands for the valve controller to make shower adjustments in response to selections made on the graphical menus via the selector, wherein selections made on the graphical menus via the selector move the highlighting from one of the shower control options to another of the shower control options presented concurrently on the display and cause the controller to make multiple different shower adjustments based on which of the multiple different graphical menus are presented on the LCD display panel.

7. The user interface of claim 6, further comprising:

an RF receiver, wherein the controller is configured to interpret command signals received via the RF receiver and to adjust shower valves in response to the interpreted commands signals.

8. The user interface as recited in claim 6 further comprising:

a pedestal extending from the front panel; and

a switch located on a top surface of the pedestal.

9. A user interface for a shower, said user interface comprising:

a seamless front panel extending over an LCD display panel;

at least one selector control coupled with the front panel without creating a seam in the front panel, the at least one selector control comprising a selector ring containing an annular arrangement of a plurality of permanent magnets and a Hall effect sensor located adjacent the selector ring, the Hall effect sensor producing an electrical signal in response to motion of the plurality of permanent magnets;

a magnetic ring embedded in a fixed position beneath the seamless front panel and configured to attract the annular arrangement of permanent magnets, wherein the magnetic ring pulls the annular arrangement of permanent magnets toward the seamless front panel using magnetic force to hold the selector ring to the user interface, wherein the Hall effect sensor is embedded beneath the seamless front panel within an opening in the magnetic ring, wherein each of the plurality of permanent magnets in the selector ring magnetically engages the magnetic ring and the Hall effect sensor in sequence as the selector ring rotates;

a controller connected to the LCD display panel and the at least one selector control, wherein the controller causes multiple different graphical menus to be displayed on the LCD display panel for controlling the shower, each of the multiple different graphical menus comprising a plurality of selectable shower control options presented concurrently on the LCD display panel, wherein at least one of the shower control options is displayed with highlighting, wherein selections made on the graphical menus via the selector move the highlighting from one of the shower control options to another of the shower control options presented concurrently on the display and cause the controller to make multiple different shower adjustments based on which of the multiple different graphical menus are presented on the LCD display panel.

10. The user interface of claim 9, wherein the controller causes at least one command to be generated which causes a light for the shower to change states.

11. The user interface of claim 10, wherein the controller causes a temperature to be displayed on the LCD display panel and changed via the selector, and wherein the controller causes signals for a valving system to be adjusted to achieve the changed temperature.

12. The user interface of claim 9, further comprising:

a wireless receiver connected to the controller and configured to provide control signals received via RF to the controller.

13. The user interface of claim 9, wherein the controller causes audio to be played back via at least one speaker for the shower.

14. The user interface of claim 9, further comprising:

a temperature sensor communicably coupled to the controller and configured to sense the temperature of the shower water.

15. The user interface of claim 14, wherein the controller uses the sensed temperature of the shower water to cause the LCD display to update a display of the shower water temperature.

16. The user interface of claim 15, wherein the controller uses input from the at least one selector control to change the shower water temperature.

17. The user interface of claim 16, wherein the different graphical menus comprise a first menu for changing the water temperature and a second menu for changing a pulse pattern of the shower water.

18. The user interface of claim 17, wherein the different graphical menus are configured to allow the selector to be used to control at least three different shower subsystems.