Faucet with a monitoring device and a monitoring method thereof

A faucet includes a faucet body, a switch unit and a monitoring device. The switch unit is coupled rotatably to the faucet body. The monitoring device is mounted to the switch unit and includes an angle detector, a microprocessor and an alert unit. The angle detector is for detecting angular rotation of the switch unit, and is for generating angle information. The microprocessor is for receiving the angle information, for recording a cumulative time period within which the switch unit is in an open state, and for calculating an outflow value accordingly. The microprocessor generates an alert signal for the alert unit upon determining that the outflow value has reached a predetermined threshold.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 100134573, filed on Sep. 26, 2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a faucet, more particularly to a faucet with a monitoring device, and a monitoring method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional water filter attached to a faucet is configured to filter a certain amount of water properly before it is required to replace a filtering component therein. Conventionally, it is recommended that a user replace the filtering component periodically. However, since water usage varies among different users, undesired instances such as the filtering component being worn out before replacement or the filtering component still being at the time of replacement usable may occur.

Therefore, in Taiwanese utility model no. M345165, there is disclosed a faucet including a valve body, a grip, a magnetic element disposed on the grip, a magnetic sensor disposed in the valve body, a controlling unit electrically coupled to the magnetic element, and a display electrically coupled to the controlling unit.

The magnetic sensor is configured to determine whether the faucet is in an open state by sensing proximity of the magnetic element, and the controlling unit is configured to record a cumulative time period within which the faucet is in the open state. Upon determining that the faucet is in the open state for over a predetermined period, the controlling unit is configured to transmit an alert signal to the display which generates an alert output, thereby providing indication to the user that the filtering component needs replacement.

Nonetheless, the aforementioned faucet has the following drawbacks.

The faucet has a relatively complicated structure due to use of the magnetic element and the magnetic sensor, such that manufacturing cost is high. In addition, the magnetic element and the magnetic sensor of the faucet have to be disposed respectively on the grip and the valve body, and have to be configured to precisely register with each other in order to operate properly, such that manufacture of the faucet is more difficult to assemble.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a faucet that includes a monitoring device, that has a relatively simple structure, and that is relatively easy to assemble.

Accordingly, a faucet of the present invention comprises a faucet body, a switch unit and a monitoring device.

The switch unit is coupled rotatably to the faucet body. The monitoring device is mounted to the switch unit and includes an angle detector, a microprocessor and an alert unit.

The angle detector is for detecting angular rotation of the switch unit from an initial position relative to the faucet body, and is for generating angle information corresponding to the angular rotation thus detected. The microprocessor is coupled electrically to the angle detector for receiving the angle information. The microprocessor is for recording a cumulative time period within which the switch unit is in an open state, for calculating an outflow rate according to the angle information, and for calculating an outflow value according to the outflow rate and the cumulative time period. The microprocessor generates an alert signal upon determining that the outflow value has reached a predetermined threshold. The alert unit is coupled electrically to the microprocessor for receiving the alert signal, and for generating an alert output in response to the alert signal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a monitoring device that has a relatively simple structure and that is relatively easy to assemble.

Accordingly, a monitoring device of the present invention is for a faucet. The faucet includes a faucet body and a switch unit coupled rotatably to the faucet body. The monitoring device is to be mounted to the switch unit and comprises an angle detector, a microprocessor and an alert unit.

The angle detector is for detecting angular rotation of the switch unit from an initial position relative to the faucet body, and for generating angle information corresponding to the angular rotation thus detected.

The microprocessor is coupled electrically to the angle detector. The microprocessor is configured for receiving the angle information, for recording a cumulative time period within which the switch unit is in an open state, for calculating an outflow rate according to the angle information, and for calculating an outflow value according to the outflow rate and the cumulative time period. The microprocessor generates an alert signal upon determining that the outflow value has reached a predetermined threshold.

The alert unit is coupled electrically to the microprocessor for receiving the alert signal and for generating an alert output in response to the alert signal.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a monitoring method for implementation by a faucet. The faucet includes a faucet body, a switch unit coupled rotatably to the faucet body, and a monitoring device mounted to the switch unit.

Accordingly, a monitoring method of the present invention comprises the steps of:

a) configuring the monitoring device for detecting angular rotation of the switch unit from an initial position relative to the faucet body, and for generating angle information corresponding to the angular rotation thus detected;

b) configuring the monitoring device for recording a cumulative time period within which the switch unit is in an open state, and for calculating an outflow rate according to the angle information;

c) configuring the monitoring device for calculating an outflow value according to the outflow rate and the cumulative time period;

d) configuring the monitoring device for determining whether the outflow value has reached a predetermined threshold; and

e) configuring the monitoring device for generating an alert output upon determining that the outflow value has reached a predetermined threshold.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown inFIGS. 1 to 3, the preferred embodiment of a faucet200according to the present invention comprises a faucet body2, a switch unit3and a monitoring device4.

The faucet body2is to be coupled to a backend water filter for supplying water filtered by the water filter.

The switch unit3is coupled rotatably to the faucet body2, and has an axis of rotation (L) that is relative to the faucet body2, and that extends about a horizontal plane. The switch unit3is configured to rotate along the axis of rotation (L) relative to the faucet body2. A larger angular rotation of the switch unit3suggests that water is released from the faucet200at a faster rate.

The monitoring device4is mounted to the switch unit3, and includes a shell40, a battery41, a circuit board42, an angle detector43, a microprocessor44and an alert unit45. In this embodiment, the angle detector43may be a three-axis gravitational sensor or a gyroscope, and the alert unit45is a display using a light emitting diode (LED) or a liquid crystal display (LCD).

The shell40is mounted detachably to the switch unit3. The circuit board42is disposed in the shell40. The battery41, the angle detector43and the alert unit45are disposed on the circuit board42. As shown inFIG. 3, the microprocessor44is coupled electrically to the angle detector43and the alert unit45, and the battery41is coupled electrically to the angle detector the microprocessor44and the alert unit45for providing electricity thereto.

When the switch unit3is rotated by a user (i.e., the faucet is switched open by the user and is in an open state), the angle detector43detects angular rotation of the switch unit3from an initial position relative to the faucet body2, and generates angle information corresponding to the angular rotation thus detected. The microprocessor44is configured to receive the angle information, and to record a cumulative time period within which the switch unit2is in the open state. The microprocessor44subsequently calculates an outflow rate according to the angle information, and calculates an outflow value according to the outflow rate and the cumulative time period. Upon determining that the outflow value has reached a predetermined threshold, the microprocessor44generates an alert signal. The alert unit45is configured to receive the alert signal and to generate an alert output in response to the alert signal. The alert output provides indication to the user that the water filter requires replacement.

Further reference is now made toFIG. 4, showing a monitoring method for implementation by the monitoring device4of the faucet200.

In step100, the microprocessor44of the monitoring device4is configured for performing initialization, and for verifying connections among the microprocessor44, the angle detector43and the alert unit45. In this embodiment, step100is implemented when the battery41is electrically coupled and provides electricity to the monitoring device4.

In step101, the microprocessor44of the monitoring device4is configured for determining whether a proper connection between the monitoring device4and the switch unit3has been made. In this embodiment, it is determined that a proper connection between the monitoring device4and the switch unit3has been made a preset time period after finding that the microprocessor44has entered a mechanical equilibrium state. More specifically, the microprocessor44begins recording a cumulative time period within which the microprocessor44is in a mechanical equilibrium state upon receipt of a signal resulting from the user pressing a designated button (not shown). The flow goes to step102when it is determined that a proper connection between the monitoring device4and the switch unit3has been made, and goes back to repeat step101when otherwise.

In step102, the monitoring device4is configured for setting the initial position relative to the faucet body2.

In step103, the angle detector43of the monitoring device4is configured for detecting angular rotation of the switch unit3from the initial position, and for generating the angle information corresponding to the angular rotation thus detected. More specifically, the angle detector43is configured to filter out ambient noise signal such as vibration prior to the detection, and to detect an angular acceleration of the switch unit3. The angular acceleration is processed by integration twice, in order to evaluate the overall angular displacement from the initial position. The angle information is obtained by adding up the angular displacement to the initial position.

In step104, the microprocessor44of the monitoring device4is configured for recording a cumulative time period within which the switch unit3is in the open state, and for receiving the angle information obtained in step103.

In step105, the microprocessor44of the monitoring device4is configured for calculating an outflow rate according to the angle information. More specifically, the microprocessor44looks up a table stored therein, which contains outflow rate information that corresponds to the angle information.

In step106, the microprocessor44of the monitoring device4is configured for calculating an outflow value according to the outflow rate and the cumulative time period.

In step107, the microprocessor44of the monitoring device4is configured for determining whether the outflow value has reached a predetermined threshold. The flow goes to step109when the outflow value has reached the predetermined threshold, and goes to step108when otherwise.

In step108, the microprocessor44of the monitoring device4is configured to generate a normal output, which is not displayed by the alert unit45. In step109, the microprocessor44of the monitoring device4is configured to generate an alert output, which is displayed by the alert unit45mthereby notifying the user that the water filter needs replacement.

The flow then goes to step110, in which the monitoring device4is configured to enter a standby mode, and to record a standby time period within which the monitoring device4has entered the standby mode.

In step111, the microprocessor44of the monitoring device4is configured for determining whether the standby time period has reached a predetermined time period. The flow goes to step112when the standby time period has reached the predetermined time period, and goes back to step110when otherwise.

In step112, the monitoring device4is configured for reactivating from the standby mode. Once the monitoring device4is reactivated, the flow goes back to step103.

To sum up, the preferred embodiment of this invention has the following advantages.

The monitoring device4has a relatively simple structure, using only a single element (i.e., the angle detector43) to detect angular rotation of the switch unit3. This can efficiently reduce manufacturing costs.

The monitoring device4can be assembled to the switch unit3conveniently, and is operable once the initial position is set. Since the angle detector43only detects the angular rotation of the switch unit3from the initial position, no precise positioning of the monitoring device4relative to the faucet body2is required. Moreover, the monitoring device4may be sold individually, and fitted to other faucets.

Additionally, the monitoring device4is capable of calculating a relatively precise water outflow value by implementing the aforementioned method, thereby being capable of accurately providing indication to the user that the water filter needs replacement.