Faucet with automatic temperature control and method

Embodiments of the present invention provide a faucet having a first sensing arrangement adapted to detect a presence of one or more objects, in a first predetermined region, and adapted to turn a fluid flow on when the one or more objects is present, and further adapted to turn the flow off when the object is removed. Embodiments also include a second sensing arrangement adapted to detect a presence and/or a movement of one or more objects, in a second predetermined region and adapted to adjust a temperature of the fluid based on the presence, or movement of the one or more objects.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of automatic faucets and, more specifically, to a faucet having an automated turn on feature, and an automatic temperature control apparatus, system and a method.

BACKGROUND

Faucets which automatically turn on when a person places their hands in close proximity to the faucet, and off when the person removes their hands from the close proximity are known and have been installed in millions bathrooms, restrooms and washrooms. However, the temperature at which the water flows from the faucet is a preset temperature determined by, for example, the faucet manufacturer, installer of the faucet, maintenance personnel, a plumber, or the like. A person using the faucet may prefer the water be a temperature that is different from the preset temperature.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “A/B” means A or B. For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “A and/or B” means “(A), (B), or (A and B)”. For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “at least one of A, B, and C” means “(A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C)”. For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “(A)B” means “(B) or (AB)” that is, A is an optional element.

In various embodiments of the present invention, methods, apparatuses, and systems for controlling the flow of one or more fluids are provided. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a computing system may be endowed with one or more components of the disclosed apparatuses and/or systems and may be employed to perform one or more methods as disclosed herein.

FIG. 1is a top view illustrating various embodiments according to the invention. A faucet10may include a faucet body12having an internal passage (not shown) for passing a fluid from a fluid source such as a plumbing system in a building. The faucet body12may include a first sensing arrangement14adapted to detect a presence of one or more objects, for example a person's hand, or hands, in a first predetermined region16, and may be adapted to turn a fluid flow on when the object is present, and may be adapted to turn the flow off when the object is removed. The condition, or characteristics of the fluid, such as temperature may be at a starting, or default condition, that may be set by an operator using a control module when it first flows from faucet10. For example the fluid may be water that starts flowing at a warm, i.e. starting, temperature. A second sensing arrangement18may be adapted to detect a presence and/or a movement of one or more objects, for example, a person's hand, or hands, in a second predetermined region20, and may be adapted to adjust the characteristics of the fluid based on the presence, or based on movement of the object. Various embodiments may be adapted to adjust the characteristics of the fluid based on a movement of the one or more objects. For example based on the rate, or direction, of movement.

As stated the one or more objects may be one or both of a user hands. It will be understood that the one or more objects could be a first hand in the first predetermined region and the one or more objects could also be a second hand in the second predetermined region. In other words in some cases two different objects may be considered the one or more objects that may effect control of the flow of a fluid in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2is a top view illustrating various embodiments according to the invention. The illustrated embodiments may include a second predetermined20region which may be a split region having a sub region21adapted to increase the temperature of the fluid upon detecting the presence of an object in the first sub region21, and having a second part24adapted to decrease the temperature of the fluid upon detecting the presence of an object in the second sub region22.

FIG. 3is a schematic view of various embodiments according to the invention. A water delivery arrangement110may include an outlet30for outputting a mixed flow. A mixing valve32may be coupled with a hot water supply34, and may be further coupled with a cold water supply36. The mixing valve32may be for mixing relative amounts of hot water and cold water, and thereby changing the temperature of a mixed flow. The mixing valve32may also be coupled with the outlet30via a mixed supply line38for supplying the mixed flow to the outlet30. A main flow valve40may be disposed between the outlet30and the mixing valve32and adapted to open to allow water to flow from the mixing valve to the outlet. The main flow valve40may also be disposed to close to prevent flow to the outlet30. A first sensing arrangement14for detecting the presence of an object in a first detection zone16may be operatively coupled to the main flow valve40for effecting the opening and the closing of the main flow valve40. A second sensing arrangement18may be adapted to detect the presence of the object, or another object, in a second detection zone20, and may be operatively coupled with the mixing valve to effect the mixing of the relative amounts.

In various embodiments the water delivery arrangement110may further include a control module42which may be coupled with the mixing valve32and the main flow valve32for controlling one or more operating conditions of the water delivery arrangement110. The operating conditions may be one or more from the group consisting of: a default temperature, a maximum temperature, a minimum time for the main flow valve40to remain open to allow water to flow to the outlet30upon detection of the presence of the one or more objects, and a maximum time for the main flow valve to remain open which may prevent wasting water.

In various embodiments the temperature of the fluid may be adjusted by, for example, mixing a source of hot fluid and a source of cold fluid in differing amounts thereby adjusting the temperature of a mixed flow. In various embodiments the fluid may be water, for example. The faucet may be disposed to flow into a basin or sink. In various embodiments various sensors may be proximity sensors, and may use various technologies including but not limited to infrared, electromagnetic, body heat detection and the like. In various embodiments the fluid temperature may be adjusted by predetermined increments. In other embodiments temperature adjustment may be continuous. In various embodiments the temperature may be limited to a predetermined maximum temperature, limited by factors including but not limited to, environmental, cost or safety factors.

FIG. 4is a top view illustrating various embodiments according to the invention. A faucet10may include a first sensing arrangement14for turning flow, of a fluid, on or off, which may utilize a valve (not shown) as described with other embodiments. The first sensing arrangement14may be a proximity sensor and may include an emitter50and a receiver52adapted to detect one or more objects in a first predetermined region16. One or both of the emitter50and receiver52may be adapted to be adjusted such that the location of the first predetermined region16may be adjusted. The faucet10may also include a second sensing arrangement which may be for example a first proximity sensor18and a second proximity sensor22. The first proximity sensor18may coupled with a mixing valve (not shown) and may be adapted to adjust the mixing valve such that the fluid will increase in temperature upon sensing an object in a first sub region21. The second proximity sensor22may be coupled with the mixing valve and may be further adapted to adjust the mixing valve such that the fluid will decrease in temperature upon sensing an object in a second sub region24. The first proximity sensor18may be located at a first side of a basin56. The basin may be disposed to receive the fluid. The second proximity sensor22may be located at a second side of the basin56. Other locations are possible.

In such embodiments a person may approach the basin56, and put one or both hands under the faucet10to turn the water on. The water may begin to flow at a starting, or default, temperature. Then with the flow started the user may move one, hand near the first proximity sensor18to warm the water up, or move one hand near the second proximity sensor22to cool the water down. In various embodiments the rate of warming or cooling may be determined by the amount of time the user's hand is near the first or second proximity sensors18/22. In various other embodiments warming or cooling may be determined by the user moving his or her hand. In one embodiment the rate of warming or cooling maybe determined by the rate at which a user moves his or her hand. In various embodiments if the user removes the hand from under the faucet for a predetermined length of time the temperature of the flow may be reset to the starting or default temperature. The flow may also stop. The predetermined length of time and the default temperature may be considered operating conditions and may be adjustable. Other operating conditions may also be adjustable.

FIG. 5is a top view illustrating one embodiment according to the invention. A fluid temperature control apparatus10may include a first sensor14adapted to detect a presence of one or more objects, for example a person's hand, or hands, in a first predetermined region16, and may be adapted to turn a fluid flow on when the object is present, and may be adapted to turn the flow off if the object is removed. The fluid temperature control apparatus10may also include a second sensing arrangement12which may include a number of sensors, for example three64,66, and68which may be adapted to detect a presence of one or more objects, for example a person's hand, or hands, in a second predetermined region20. The second predetermined region20may include a number of sub regions, for example three sub regions70,72, and74which may be adapted such that if an object is moved in a first direction76the temperature of the fluid may increase, and if the object is moved in a second direction78the temperature of the fluid may decrease. In various embodiments a maximum temperature may be achieved upon a single pass across the sub regions70/72/74in the first direction30, and in various embodiments minimum temperature may be achieved upon a single pass across the sub regions70/72/74in the second direction78. In various other embodiments the temperature of the mixed flow may be gradually increased with each pass across the sub regions70/72/74in the first direction76, and the temperature of the mixed flow may be gradually decreased with each pass across the sub regions70/72/74in the second direction78. Various embodiments may have various numbers of sub regions.

FIGS. 6-9are side views illustrating various embodiments according to the invention, wherein the second predetermined region may include a number of sub regions disposed in various locations. For example, three sub regions70,72, and74may be respectively located: in a horizontal line below the faucet head; in a vertical line below the faucet head; in a vertical line in a rear portion of the faucet; in a horizontal line on a top of the faucet head. Other embodiments may have a second predetermined region in other locations, some with multiple sub regions, some without sub regions. The three sub regions70,72, and74may be adapted such that if an object is moved in a first direction76the temperature of the fluid may increase, and if the object is moved in a second direction78the temperature of the fluid may decrease. In various embodiments a maximum temperature, may be achieved upon a single pass, or upon multiple passes across the sub regions70/72/74in the first direction76, and in various embodiments a minimum temperature may be achieved upon a single pass, or upon multiple passes, across the sub regions70/72/74in the second direction78. Various embodiments may have various numbers of sub regions. It will be understood that with various embodiments the rate of movement of an object may affect a rate of temperature change.

FIG. 10is a top views illustrating various embodiments according to the invention, wherein a faucet210may be adapted to have a number of outlets80a-80e, for example five. The same number of sensors82a-82emay be adapted to detect when an object, such as a persons hand is under each respective outlet80a-80e. The respective outlet may then provide a flow of fluid having a respecting predetermined characteristic, such as temperature.

FIG. 11is a top views illustrating various embodiments according to the invention, wherein a faucet310may be adapted to have a number of sensors92a-92g, for example seven. The sensors92a-92gmay be adapted to detect when an object, such as a persons hand is in a predetermined angular relationship with a faucet center312. A faucet arm314may then pivot and track the movement of the object. The characteristics of the flow, such as temperature, may change in accordance with the angular position of the faucet arm314. In various other embodiments, an outlet may be pivotally coupled with a faucet arm, and disposed to pivot about an axis that passes substantially through the faucet arm. In this way the outlet may then pivot and track the movement of an object, such as a user's hands. The characteristics of the flow, such as temperature, may change in accordance with the angular position of the outlet.

In various embodiments according to the invention a faucet may be adapted such that upon an object being positioned in a second predetermined region the temperature of the fluid may change, and upon the object being removed the temperature of the fluid will return to a default or predetermined temperature. For, example a user of various embodiments according to the invention may place one or both hands in a first predetermined region, to turn a flow on which may start at a default or starting temperature. Then the user may place a hand in a second predetermined region to increase the temperature. Upon removing the hand from the second predetermined region the temperature may one of: stay at the adjusted temperature; gradually decrease to the default temperature; or rapidly, and/or immediately decrease to the default temperature. In various embodiments the temperature of the fluid may change by a predetermined amount depending on a length of time an object is in a second region.

Various embodiments in accordance with the invention may include a method including:

reacting to a presence of one or more objects within a first detection zone of a first sensing arrangement by opening a first valve and allowing a mixed fluid to flow;

sensing the presence of the one or more objects in a second detection zone; and

adjusting a mixing valve based on the presence of the one or more objects to adjust relative components of the mixed fluid to change at least one characteristic of the mixed fluid.

With various embodiments the method the mixed fluid may be water and the at least one characteristic is the temperature of the water. Or in various other embodiments the least one characteristic is one from the group consisting of:

sweetness, bitterness, caffeine content, alcohol content, acidity, alkalinity and the like. Various embodiments may be used to adjust concentrations of dry or powered materials.