Fluid delivery device with an in-water capacitive sensor

• US 9,856,634 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2015
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Rodenbeck, Robert W., Spangler, Anthony G., Veros, Michael J., Koottungal, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOECKMANN, JASON J
• Application Number:
  US14/986,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20160122983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 239 67, 239 71, 239 73, 239 68, 239 74, 239407, 239569, 239568, 4623, 137801, 25112904
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0404 Constructional or functional features of the spout
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2001/0415 having an extendable water outlet
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2001/0417 having space-saving features, e.g. retractable, demountable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

A pull-out wand is disclosed for use with a water delivery device. The pull-out wand may include one or more sensors, such as a touch sensor and/or a proximity sensor.

Claims

1. A water delivery device for use by a user, the water delivery device being in fluid communication with at least one source of water positioned below a mounting deck, the water delivery device comprising:

a base portion in fluid communication with the at least one source of water;

at least one water output supported by the base portion;

a valve interposed between the at least one water output and the at least one source of water, the valve being operable to permit communication of water provided by the at least one source of water to the at least one water output in a first configuration and to prevent communication of water provided by the at least one source of water to the at least one water output in a second configuration;

an in water sensor which detects if the user is contacting the water exiting the at least one water output, wherein the in water sensor is a capacitive sensor;

an electronic controller operably coupled to the in water sensor and operably coupled to the valve, the electronic controller causing the valve to remain in the first configuration in response to the in water sensor detecting the user being in contact with the water exiting the at least one water output; and

at least one of a proximity sensor and a touch sensor, the electronic controller causing the valve to be in the first configuration in response to a first indication from the at least one of the proximity sensor and the touch sensor, wherein the electronic controller causes the valve to provide water at a first flow rate in response to the first indication from the at least one of the proximity sensor and the touch sensor and to provide water at a second flow rate in response to the in water sensor detecting the user being in contact with the water exiting the at least one water output.

2. The water delivery device of claim 1, further comprising a pull-out wand portion in fluid communication with the base portion and defining the at least one water output, the pull-out wand portion being moveable between a first position proximate to the base portion and a second position spaced apart from the base portion.

3. The water delivery device of claim 2, further comprising a fluid characteristic input electronic touch sensor supported by the pull-out wand portion, the fluid characteristic input electronic touch sensor adapted to detect a movement of an object contacting the pull-out wand portion along an exterior of the pull-out wand portion, the electronic controller further controlling a fluid characteristic of the water exiting the at least one water output based on an input of the fluid characteristic input electronic touch sensor.

4. The water delivery device of claim 1, wherein the second flow rate is higher than the first flow rate.

5. The water delivery device of claim 1, wherein the valve is a mixing valve.

6. The water delivery device of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the proximity sensor and the touch sensor is defined by the capacitive sensor.

7. The water delivery device of claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is configured to provide an indication of hand washing duration in response to the in water sensor detecting a user contacting the water exiting the at least one water output.

8. A faucet in fluid communication with at least one source of water positioned below a mounting deck, the water delivery device comprising:

a spout in fluid communication with the at least one source of water;

at least one water output supported by the spout;

an in water sensor which detects if the user is contacting the water exiting the at least one water output, wherein the in water sensor is a capacitive sensor;

a valve interposed between the at least one water output and the at least one source of water, the valve being operable to permit communication of water provided by the at least one source of water to the at least one water output in a first configuration and to prevent communication of water provided by the at least one source of water to the at least one water output in a second configuration;

an electronic controller operably coupled to the valve;

at least one of a proximity sensor and a first touch sensor, the electronic controller causing the valve to be in the first configuration in response to a first indication from the at least one of the proximity sensor and the first touch sensor, wherein the electronic controller causes the valve to provide water at a first flow rate in response to the first indication from the at least one of the proximity sensor and the first touch sensor; and

wherein the electronic controller causes the valve to provide water at a second flow rate in response to the in water sensor detecting the user being in contact with the water exiting the at least one water output.

9. The faucet of claim 8, wherein the second flow rate is higher than the first flow rate.

10. The faucet of claim 8, further comprising a pull-out wand portion in fluid communication with the spout and defining the at least one water output, the pull-out wand portion being moveably between a first position proximate to the spout and a second position spaced apart from the spout.

11. The faucet of claim 8, further comprising a fluid characteristic input electronic touch sensor operably coupled to the electronic controller, the fluid characteristic input electronic touch sensor adapted to detect a movement of an object contacting an exterior of the water delivery device.

12. The faucet of claim 11, wherein the electronic controller further controls a fluid characteristic of the water exiting the at least one water output based on an input of the fluid characteristic input electronic touch sensor.

13. The faucet of claim 12, wherein the fluid characteristic input electronic touch sensor is a slide sensor.

14. The faucet of claim 12, wherein the fluid characteristic input electronic touch sensor includes a rigid base member including a non-linear surface;

and at least two spaced apart conductors positioned along the non-linear surface, the at least two spaced apart conductors form a capacitive sensor.

15. The faucet of claim 14, wherein the rigid base member is a printed circuit board and the non-linear surface is an edge of the printed circuit board.

16. The faucet of claim 8, wherein the valve is a mixing valve.

17. The faucet of claim 8, wherein the at least one of the proximity sensor and the first touch sensor is defined by the capacitive sensor.

18. The faucet of claim 8, wherein the electronic controller is configured to provide an indication of hand washing duration in response to the in water sensor detecting a user contacting the water exiting the at least one water output.

19. A water delivery device for use by a user, the water delivery device being in fluid communication with at least one source of water, the water delivery device comprising:

a base portion in fluid communication with the at least one source of water;

at least one water output supported by the base portion;

a valve interposed between the at least one water output and the at least one source of water, the valve being operable to selectively permit and prevent communication of water provided by the at least one source of water to the at least one water output;

a proximity sensor and an in water sensor defined by a capacitive sensor;

wherein the proximity sensor detects if the user is in proximity of the base portion, and the in water sensor detects if the user is contacting the water exiting the at least one water output;

an electronic controller operably coupled to the capacitive sensor and the valve; and

wherein the electronic controller causes the valve to provide water at a first flow rate to the at least one water output in response to user input from the proximity sensor detecting a user in proximity to the base portion, and causes the valve to provide water at a second flow rate to the least one water output in response to user input from the in water sensor detecting a user contacting the water exiting the at least one water output.

20. The water delivery device of claim 19, wherein the valve is operable to permit communication of water provided by the at least one source of water to the at least one water output in a first configuration and to prevent communication of water provided by the at least one source of water to the at least one water output in a second configuration, and the electronic controller causes the valve to remain in the first configuration in response to the in water sensor detecting the user being in contact with the water exiting the at least one water output.

21. The water delivery device of claim 19, wherein the second flow rate is greater than the first flow rate.