Abstract:
A liquid dispensing system comprises a liquid dispensing device and a light source that is attached to or located within a close proximity of the liquid dispensing device. Light emitted from the light source illuminates an area in close proximity to the liquid dispensing device. Such light can aid a user by increasing the visibility of various components of the liquid dispensing system. Further, such light can improve the aesthetic appearance of the liquid dispensing system, particularly when the liquid dispensing system is located in an otherwise dimly lit area.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/430,980, filed on Dec. 4, 2002, and entitled “System and Method for Illuminating an Area within Close Proximity of a Liquid Dispensing Device,” which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       RELATED ART  
         [0002]    Conventional liquid dispensing devices, such as faucets, shower heads, and the like, receive a liquid, such as water, from a liquid source, such as a tank or pipe, and dispense the liquid for use by a user. To control the dispensing of the liquid from the liquid dispensing device, some type of fluid control valve, such as a solenoid, for example, is normally employed to selectively allow or impede the flow of the liquid through the dispensing device. In this regard, when the valve is placed in an open state, liquid is typically allowed to flow through the valve and out of the liquid dispensing device. Further, when the valve is placed in a closed state, liquid is prevented from flowing through the valve, thereby preventing the liquid from being dispensed by the liquid dispensing device.  
           [0003]    The valve may be controlled via electrical and/or mechanical components, and the control of valve may be based on manual or automatic inputs. For example, a user may manually control a handle or a knob that mechanically opens and closes the valve. In another example, a sensor, such as an infrared sensor may detect the presence of an object (e.g., a person) within a close proximity of the liquid dispensing device and open the valve in response to such a detection. Various configurations of liquid dispensing devices and various techniques for controlling liquid dispensing devices are well-known in the art.  
           [0004]    Unfortunately, liquid dispensing devices are not always located in well-illuminated areas. Moreover, relatively low visibility can hinder a user&#39;s operation of a liquid dispensing device that is located in a dimly lit area.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0005]    Embodiments of the present invention generally pertain to liquid dispensing systems having a light source that illuminates an area in close proximity to a liquid dispensing device.  
           [0006]    A liquid dispensing system in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a liquid dispensing device and a light source that is attached to the liquid dispensing device. Light emitted from the light source can aid a user by increasing the visibility of various components of the liquid dispensing system. Further, such light can improve the aesthetic appearance of the liquid dispensing system, particularly when the liquid dispensing system is located in an otherwise dimly lit area.  
           [0007]    A liquid dispensing system in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a liquid dispensing device, a light source, an infrared sensor, and logic. The logic is configured to activate, based on the infrared sensor, the light source such that the light source illuminates the liquid dispensing device.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention. Furthermore, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a liquid dispensing system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 illustrates a faucet of the liquid dispensing system depicted by FIG. 1.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 illustrates an instruction execution system that may be implemented in the liquid dispensing system depicted by FIG. 1.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom view of the faucet depicted in FIG. 2.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the faucet depicted by FIG. 2 when the faucet is mounted on a sink counter.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 illustrates a conventional liquid dispensing system for dispensing drinking water.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 illustrates a bubbler of the liquid dispensing system depicted by FIG. 6.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 illustrates a bubbler in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 illustrates the bubbler of FIG. 8 as it is dispensing water.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 10 illustrates a front view of the bubbler depicted in FIG. 8.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]    The present invention generally pertains to a system and method for dispensing a liquid and for illuminating an area within close proximity of the dispensed liquid. As an example, FIG. 1 depicts a liquid dispensing system  10  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown by FIG. 1, the system  10  comprises a liquid dispensing device  12 , such as a faucet, for example, for receiving a liquid, such as water, from a liquid source, such as a pipe or tank, for example. In the example, shown by FIG. 1, the liquid dispensing device  12  is mounted over a sink  17 , and a user may place his hands, or some other object, underneath the device  12  and wash his hands or other object with liquid dispensed from the device  12 . Moreover, liquid may be dispensed from an opening  19  in a lower or bottom side of a head  20  of the device  12 , and the user may place an object directly below the opening  19  such that water dispensed from the opening  19  flows into and/or over the object.  
         [0020]    In the embodiment shown by FIG. 1, the liquid dispensing device  12  comprises a collar  21  and spout  22 . The collar  21  may be used to mount the device  12  and/or secure the device  12  on a support structure  23 . Integrated with the collar is a sensor  25 , such as an infrared sensor, for example, for detecting the presence of an object within close proximity of the device  12 . In this regard, the sensor  25  may be configured to detect when an object, such as a user&#39;s hands, is placed below the opening  19  or otherwise within a close proximity of the device  12 . Note that the sensor  25  may reside in some other location. For example, the sensor  25  may be integrated with the spout  22  instead of the collar  21 , or the sensor  25  may be located external to the spout  22  and collar  21 . Indeed, the collar  21  is not a necessary feature of the present invention and may be removed from the embodiment shown by FIG. 1, if desired.  
         [0021]    As shown by FIG. 2, the sensor  25  may be electrically coupled to control logic  31 , which controls the operation of the liquid dispensing device  12  via techniques that will be described in more detail hereinbelow. Note that the control logic  31  may be implemented via software, hardware, or any combination thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated by way of example in FIG. 3, the control logic  31 , along with its associated methodology, is implemented in software and stored in memory  33  of an instruction execution system  36 .  
         [0022]    Note that the control logic  31 , when implemented in software, can be stored and transported on any computer-readable medium for use by or in connection with any instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch and execute instructions. In the context of this document, a “computer-readable medium” can be any means that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The computer readable-medium can be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific examples (a nonexhaustive list) of the computer-readable medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, and a portable compact disc read-only memory (CDROM). Note that the computer-readable medium could even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as the program can be electronically captured, via for instance optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted or otherwise processed in a suitable manner if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory. As an example, the control logic  31  may be magnetically stored and transported on a conventional portable computer diskette.  
         [0023]    A preferred embodiment of the system  36  of FIG. 3 comprises at least one conventional processing element  38 , such as a digital signal processor (DSP) or a central processing unit (CPU), that communicate to and drive the other elements within the system  36  via a local interface  41 , which can include one or more buses. Furthermore, an input device  44 , for example, a keypad, can be used to input data from a user of the system  36 , and an output device  46 , for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), can be used to output data to the user.  
         [0024]    Furthermore, the system  36  may comprise various input/output (I/O) ports for enabling the system  36  to communicate with electronic components external to the system  36 . As an example, the system  36  may comprise a sensor port  47  coupled to the sensor  25  for enabling the system  36  to receive data from the sensor  25 . The system  36  may also comprise a valve port  48  coupled to a valve  49  (FIG. 2) for enabling the system  36  to control the operation of the valve  49 , which will be described in more detail hereinbelow. In addition, the system  36  may comprise a light source port  48  coupled to a light source  52  for enabling the system  36  to selectively activate and deactivate the light source  52 , which will be described in more detail hereinbelow.  
         [0025]    Note that each of the components of FIG. 3 may be implemented on one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs). In the preferred embodiment, each of the components of the system  36  are implemented on a single PCB, which is positioned within a relatively close proximity of the components  25 ,  49 , and  52  in communication with the system  36 . However, the specific arrangement of the components of the system  36  and the specific location of the system  36  are not material aspects of the present invention.  
         [0026]    In the embodiment shown by FIG. 2, the control logic  31  controls whether the device  12  dispenses liquid by controlling a state of the valve  49 , which may comprise a solenoid or any other switchable device that enables the flow of liquid through the device  12  to be selectively controlled. Moreover, when the control logic  31  determines that the device  12  is to dispense liquid, the logic  31  transmits, via port  48  (FIG. 3), a signal that places the valve  49  in an open state such that liquid flows from a water source, such as a pipe  57 , and through the liquid dispensing device  12 . Such liquid eventually flows out of the device  12  via the opening  19 . When the control logic  31  determines that the device  12  is not to dispense liquid, the logic  31  transmits, via port  48 , a signal that places the valve  49  in a closed state such that liquid is prevented from flowing from the pipe  57  and through the liquid dispensing device  12 . As a result, liquid is not dispensed from the device  12 .  
         [0027]    In one exemplary embodiment, the control logic  31  is configured to determine whether or not liquid is to be dispensed by the device  12  based on data from the sensor  25 . In this regard, the logic  31  may be configured to determine that liquid is to be dispensed and that the valve  49  is, therefore, to be opened when the sensor  25  detects the presence of an object, such as a user&#39;s hands, within close proximity of the liquid dispensing device  12 . Thus, when a user places an object underneath the opening  19 , the sensor  25  automatically detects the presence of the object and transmits, to the control logic  31 , a signal indicative of the detection. In response, the control logic  31  preferably activates the valve  49  or, in other words, places the valve  49  in an open state such that liquid is dispensed from the device  12 .  
         [0028]    The control logic  31  may be configured to keep the valve  49  in an open state for a predetermined amount of time and to deactivate the valve  49  or, in other words, place the valve  49  in a closed state upon expiration of the predetermined amount of time. Alternatively, the control logic  31  may be configured to deactivate the valve  49  based on data from the sensor  25 . In this regard, based on the data from the sensor  25 , the logic  31  may determine when the previously detected object has been removed or has left the monitored range of the sensor  25 . In response to such a determination, the control logic  31  may be configured to deactivate the valve  49 . When deactivated, the valve  49  prevents liquid from flowing through the liquid dispensing device  12  and, therefore, prevents the device  12  from dispensing liquid.  
         [0029]    Note that, in other embodiments, other techniques for controlling the dispensing state of the device  12  may be employed without departing from the principles of the present invention. For example, the valve  49  may be activated and/or deactivated based on manual inputs from a user.  
         [0030]    As shown by FIGS. 1 and 2, a light source  52 , such as one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) or incandescent light bulbs, for example, is preferably integrated with the liquid dispensing device  12 . This light source  52  is preferably utilized to illuminate an object placed within a close proximity of the device  12 . For example, if a user places an object, such as his hands, underneath the opening  19  for enabling liquid from the opening  19  to flow over or into the object, the light source  52  may be used to illuminate the object thereby providing increased or better illumination of the object.  
         [0031]    Note that there are various methodologies that may be employed for controlling the light source  52 . For example, the light source  52  may be automatically controlled such that when a user comes within a close proximity of the device  12  or otherwise places an object, such as his hands, within a close proximity of the device  12 , the light source  52  is automatically activated. Alternatively, the light source  52  may be manually controlled such that a user may manually activate and/or deactivate the light source  52 . As used herein, the light source  52  is referred to as being “activated” when it is placed in a state that causes the light source  52  to emit light, and the light source is referred to as being “deactivated” when it is placed in a state that prevents the light source  52  from emitting light or that causes the light source  52  to emit light at a substantially lower intensity than when the light source  52  is “activated.” Note that, if desired, the light source  52  may be configured to constantly remain in the activated state.  
         [0032]    If the activation state of the light source  52  is to be manually controlled, the system  10  may comprise a switchable input device, (not shown), such as a button, for example, that is electrically coupled to the light source  52 . Such an input device may be integrated with the liquid dispensing device  12  or may be positioned at some desirable location external to the device  12 . When activated by a user, the switchable input device may allow electrical current to flow to the light source  52  causing the light source  52  to emit light. When deactivated by a user, the switchable input device may prevent the electrical current from flowing to the light source  52  preventing the light source from emitting light. Alternatively, the switchable input device, when deactivated, may reduce the electrical current flowing to the light source  52  causing the light source  52  to emit light having a lower intensity.  
         [0033]    If the activation of the light source  52  is to be automatically controlled, the same sensor  25  used to control the dispensing of liquid may also be used to control the activation state of the light source  25 . In this regard, when the sensor  25  detects the presence of an object within close proximity of the device  12 , as described above, the control logic  31  may be configured to activate the light source  52  in addition to placing the valve  49  into an open state. Therefore, when an object is placed within close proximity of the liquid dispensing device  12 , the device  12  automatically begins to dispense liquid, and the light source  52  automatically begins to emit light.  
         [0034]    Note that the light source  52  may be deactivated according to the same techniques used to stop the device  12  from dispensing liquid. In this regard, the control logic  31  may be configured to deactivate the light source  52  after a predetermined amount of time since activation has expired. Alternatively, the control logic  31  may deactivate the light source  25  based on data from the sensor  25 . For example, the control logic  31  may deactivate the light source  25  based on when the data from the sensor  25  indicates that the detected object is no longer within the close proximity of the device  12 . Therefore, the light source  52  may automatically be deactivated when the device  12  stops dispensing liquid or a predetermined amount of time thereafter.  
         [0035]    Further note that it is not necessary for activation and/or deactivation of the light source  52  to be consistent with the dispensing of liquid. In this regard, the activation and deactivation of the light source  25  may be controlled, according to the foregoing techniques, such that the light source  52  is activated when the device  12  is dispensing liquid and/or such that the light source  52  is deactivated when the device  12  stops dispensing liquid. However, in other embodiments, the light source  52  may be activated before or after dispensing of the liquid is commenced, and the light source  52  may be deactivated before or after dispensing of the liquid is stopped.  
         [0036]    Indeed, if desired, the sensor  25  may be configured to detect objects within different ranges for the purposes of separately controlling the dispensing of liquid and the activation state of the light source  52 . For example, the sensor  25  may be configured to detect whether an object is in a first range from the sensor  25 , and the logic  31  may be configured to control the state of the valve  49  based on whether an object is detected within this first range. Further, the sensor  25  may also be configured to detect whether an object is in a second range (either shorter or longer than the first range) from the sensor  25 , and the logic  31  may be configured to control the state of the light source  25  based on whether an object is detected within this second range. Therefore, as a user approaches the liquid dispensing device  12 , the device  12  may automatically begin dispensing liquid and the light source  52  may automatically begin emitting light at different times based on the distance of the user from the liquid dispensing device  12 . Further, as a user leaves the device  12 , the device  12  may automatically stop dispensing liquid and the light source  52  may automatically stop emitting light at different times based on the distance of the user from the device  12 .  
         [0037]    In addition, it is not necessary for the same sensor  25  to provide data for controlling both the state of the light source  52  and the state of the valve  49 . In this regard, a first sensor may be used to detect the presence of an object for the purpose of controlling the light source  52 , and a second sensor may be used to detect the presence of an object for the purpose of controlling the valve  49 . However, employing the same sensor  25  to control both the state of the light source  52  and the state of the valve  49  generally helps to reduce the size and cost of the components used to control the operation of the system  10 .  
         [0038]    Furthermore, when dispensing of a liquid from the device  12  is manually controlled, the same input device (not shown) used to control the dispensing of the liquid may be used to control the activation of the light source  52 . For example, a conventional liquid dispensing device often comprises a handle, knob, or some other input device that enables a user to manually control the dispensing of a liquid from the dispensing device.  
         [0039]    This same input device may be used to control activation of the light source  52 . For example, when a user manipulates the input device such that dispensing of the liquid is commenced, the light source  52  may be activated. Further, when a user manipulates the input device such that dispensing of the liquid is stopped, the light source  52  may be deactivated or may be deactivated some predetermined amount of time thereafter. Thus, the light source  52  is activated when liquid is being dispensed from the device  12 . Note that various other techniques for controlling the activation and/or deactivation of the light source  25  are possible.  
         [0040]    In some embodiments, the sensor  25  or another component of the system  10  may be configured to detect an amount of ambient light present in a proximity close to the liquid dispensing device. Data indicative of this amount may be transmitted to the control logic  31 , which controls an intensity of the light output by the light source  52  based on the detected amount of ambient light. As an example, the control logic  31  may be configured to cause the light source  52  to emit higher intensity light when the detected ambient light is greater and to emit lower intensity light when the amount of detected ambient light is lesser. Conversely, the control logic  31  may be configured to cause the light source  52  to emit higher intensity light when the detected ambient light is lesser and to emit lower intensity light when the amount of detected ambient light is greater. Other methodologies for controlling the intensity of light emitted from the light source  52  are possible for other embodiments.  
         [0041]    Although the light source  52  may be integrated into the device  12  at any desirable location, the light source  52  is preferably positioned on a bottom side (i.e., a side facing the sink  17 ) of the spout  22 , as shown by FIGS. 1 and 4. Note that, in the embodiment shown by FIGS. 1 and 4, both the light source  52  and the opening  19  from where liquid is dispensed are located on the same bottom side of the spout  22 . Further, the light source  52  is preferably positioned on the bottom side of the spout  22  such that the light source  25  is likely to be above an object positioned within the liquid stream dispensed from the opening  19 . This can be generally achieved by positioning the light source  52  within the curvature  60  of the spout  22  or at a point further along the x-direction. Note that the height (relative to the y-direction) of the bottom side of spout  22  generally increases as the position in the x-direction increases from the collar  21  until a point (i.e., point “A”) is reached where the bottom side is substantially parallel to the x-direction. Thus, until point “A” is reached, the height of the light source  52  can be generally increased by moving the source  52  forward in the x-direction.  
         [0042]    Moreover, by positioning the light source  52  as described above, it is likely that the light source  52 , if activated, will directly illuminate the top of an object (i.e., the side of the object facing the bottom side of the spout  22 ) placed within the stream of liquid dispensed from the opening  19 . Noting that the user normally sees the top of the object placed underneath the opening  19 , the aforementioned positional arrangement of the light source  52 , in general, better illuminates the object. In this regard, a substantial amount of light from the light source  52  reflects off of the top of the object and can be readily seen by the user. If the light source  52  is place at another position, for example, integrated into the collar  21  along with the sensor  25 , then a substantial amount of light from the source  52  may illuminate a side of the object not be seen by the user thereby reducing the effect of having the light source illuminate the object.  
         [0043]    In addition, it should be emphasized that it is not necessary to have the light source  52  integrated with the liquid dispensing device  12 . For example, the light source  52  may be mounted on the rim of the sink  17  or at some other desirable location. Indeed, mounting the light source  52  on the rim of the sink at a position opposite of the device  12  (e.g., at a position of the rim that is closest to the user) may enable a substantial amount of light from the source  52  to illuminate a side of the object that is visible to the user. Note that the same sensor  25  or input device (not shown) used to control the state of valve  49  may be used to control the activation state of the light source  52  even when the light source  52  is not an integral component of the liquid dispensing device  12 .  
         [0044]    It should also be noted that a light source  52  may similarly be used to provide additional illumination for other liquid dispensing systems, such as showers, drinking fountains, urinals, water coolers, etc. A light source  52  may be integrated with a liquid dispensing device within such a system such that the light source  52  is an integral component of the device, or the light source  52  may reside at a location external to the liquid dispensing device. Further, as described above, the same sensor or input device used to control dispensing of a liquid from the liquid dispensing device may also be used to control the activation and/or deactivation of the light source  52 . However, separate sensors and/or input devices may be used to respectively control the dispensing of liquid and the activation state of the light source  52 .  
         [0045]    To illustrate another type of liquid dispensing system that may be used to dispense liquid in accordance with present invention, refer to FIGS. 6-10. In this regard, FIG. 6 depicts a conventional system  75  for dispensing drinking water. The system  75 , sometimes referred to as a “water fountain,” typically has a liquid dispensing device  77 , sometimes referred to as a “bubbler,” that dispenses water from an opening  78  in the device  77  based on control inputs received from an input device  79 , such as a button or handle. As shown by FIG. 7, the liquid dispensing device  77  typically employs a shield  82 . This shield  82  helps to deter users from placing their mouths on the device  77  where water is dispensed, and the shield  82  also helps to prevent the dispensed liquid from splashing off of the top surface of the system  75 . As shown by FIGS. 8-10, a light source  52  may be positioned on a surface of the shield  82  or otherwise integrated with the shield  82  or other portion of the dispensing device  77 . Various other locations of the light source  52  are possible in other embodiments.  
         [0046]    It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention.