Patent ID: 6273394
Filing Date: 2001-08-14
Classification: E03C

Abstract:
An electronic faucet, comprisinga spout having a housing that extends from a base end of said housing to a distal free end of said housing;a spout tube extending through said housing from an opening in said base end to an opening in said free end;a valve having a water inlet, a water outlet, and at least one input that controls switching of said valve between an open state and a closed state, wherein said valve permits water flow through said valve between said inlet and said outlet when in said open state and prevents water flow through said valve between said inlet and said outlet when in said closed state;an electronic control circuit coupled to said input of said valve, said circuit including a microprocessor, a memory accessible by said microprocessor, a control program stored in said memory, and a sensor coupled to said microprocessor, said sensor being supported by said housing and being operable to generate a signal indicative of the presence or absence of objects located within a region of space near said housing;said microprocessor being operable under control of said program to perform a calibration using said sensor to determine an adjustable setpoint indicative of the signal received from said sensor in the absence of a detected object within said region of space; andsaid microprocessor being operable under control of said program to switch said valve from said closed state to said open state when the signal from said sensor increases above said setpoint by a selected amount, and further, said microprocessor being operable to switch said valve from said closed state to said open state when the signal from said sensor decreases below said setpoint by a selected amount.