Abstract:
The present invention relates to the field of fluid flow through pipes and especially to the regulation of water flow through a faucet. A system and method for a smart faucet is presented. The system comprises a remote controlled faucet having a solenoid valve for controlling water flow, an electronic circuit for controlling the solenoid wherein the circuit includes a radio receiver, a remote sending unit for transmitting commands to the radio receiver, and a battery.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/305,500, filed Mar. 8, 2016, entitled System and Method for a Smart Faucet by Jeffery Horwitz and Christopher Kirn, which application is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to the field of fluid flow through pipes and especially to the regulation of water flow through a faucet. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    Water is a precious resource. It becomes even more precious when it is scarce. A severe decrease in precipitation, known as drought, is a recurring problem in many regions throughout the world. In the United States, for example, drought conditions spanning different sections of the Union have been experienced at various times in its history. Perhaps the most famous drought in the United States being the drought of the 1930&#39;s known as the “Dust Bowl,” centered in the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma. Recently, starting in 2011, the Western States, especially California, have been experiencing a severe drought. 
         [0006]    The period between 2011 and 2014 have been the driest in California history. On Jan. 17, 2014, California&#39;s governor proclaimed a State of Emergency throughout the State of California because of the ongoing drought. This State of Emergency, imposed through executive authority, mandated that the State Water Resources Control Board implement a statewide reduction of 25 percent in potable urban water usage and called on the public to reduce water consumption, among other emergency measures. Various conservation measures have been enacted by agencies of California that are still in place at the time of the filing of this application. An important place in the water distribution system to conserve water is at the faucets of dwellings, such as, for example, single-family homes and apartments; and in commercial buildings, such as hotels and restaurants. One approach to help conserve water is to install hands-free faucets that are located in the kitchens and bathrooms of the foregoing structures. In addition to helping conserve water, hands-free faucets have other advantages, as described below. 
         [0007]    One type of hands-free faucet was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,157,548 and teaches a foot pedal assembly connected by wire to a valve assembly located in the plumbing under a sink. The primary disadvantage of this type of hands-free faucet is that the standard plumbing under the sink must be modified for the insertion of a mechanical valve assembly. Another significant disadvantage is that the pedal is not designed to be operated by a hand, elbow or knee. 
         [0008]    Another hands-free faucet was disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,629 issued on Jul. 13, 1993 to Millman et al. Millman teaches a radio controlled faucet with a valve assembly attachable to a nozzle of the faucet. The valve assembly disclosed in Millman has a small pinion gear driven by a battery-powered motor for moving a gate valve member mounted on a rectilinear track. The valve assembly also includes a radio receiving unit for actuating a motor that controls water flow by turning a gear-driven motor, where the radio signal comes from a sending unit operated by the user&#39;s foot. Although Millman teaches a hands-free faucet that does not require modifying the plumbing under the sink to insert a valve assembly and does not require a wire, there are numerous disadvantages to the remote controlled faucet taught by Millman. One disadvantage is that the gear-driven motor in the valve assembly consumes too much energy that quickly depletes the battery and is subject to mechanical failure from wear-and-tear. A second disadvantage is that the valve assembly has no way to recharge the battery. A third disadvantage is that the mechanical system disclosed is expensive to manufacture. In view of these and other disadvantages, the present invention overcomes the shortcomings and deficiencies in the related art. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0009]    The present invention is directed to a smart faucet. A smart faucet having the features of the present invention comprises a remote controlled faucet having a solenoid valve for controlling water flow, an electronic circuit for controlling the solenoid wherein the circuit includes a radio receiver, a remote sending unit for transmitting commands to the radio receiver, and a battery. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of a remote controlled faucet of this invention showing the self-contained valve assembly attached to the nozzle of said faucet. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the remote controlled faucet of this invention showing an exploded view of the parts of the valve assembly attached to a nozzle of said faucet.  FIGS. 2B-2E  are perspective schematic drawings of one embodiment of the solenoid valve of said valve assembly. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are schematic drawings of a bistable valve solenoid used in one embodiment of this invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the valve assembly of one embodiment of this invention that is partially covered with solar cells. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the remote controlled faucet of this invention showing an exploded view of the parts of the valve assembly where a three-port solenoid is implemented that allows for both a stream and a spray. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a cross-section of a miniature hydroelectric generator that is part of the valve assembly and used for the purpose of recharging a battery in one embodiment of this invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  illustrates the architecture of one embodiment of this invention where a remote controlled faucet is in communication with a local area network that is connected to the Internet. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating the steps in one embodiment of a remote controlled faucet to send data to devices connected to a local area network. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating the steps in one embodiment used to retrieve and process stored information previously sent from a remote controlled faucet. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    Referring now in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral  100  denotes generally a remote controlled faucet in accordance with this invention. 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a remote controlled faucet  100  with a single-lever  120  for manual flow control and a spout  140  having a self-contained valve assembly  200  attached to nozzle  180  using certain male and/or female threaded adapters (not shown) that allow for after-market attachment of valve assembly  200 . Valve assembly  200  replaces the conventional assembly attached to nozzle  180 . Valve assembly  200  is intended to be either supplied as part of a new remote controlled faucet  100  or as a retro-fit for an existing conventional faucet. 
         [0022]    A user operates remote sending unit  160  such that, by applying pressure, it communicates with assembly  200  using certain standard short-range radio frequency transmissions  190 . These transmissions can be, for example, FM, Bluetooth, ZigBee or XBee or a similar FCC approved radio frequency band that are implemented using commercially available radio frequency modules. The method for turning on and turning off the flow of water in faucet  100  can be implemented in at least two ways. In one embodiment, depending on where the user places sending unit  160 , water is commanded to flow in assembly  200  by pressing and holding sending unit  160  with an appendage, such as a hand, elbow, knee, foot or part of a mobility aid (e.g., the arm of a wheelchair). Keeping pressure on sending unit  160 , allows water to flow continuously. By releasing sending unit  160 , the user can turn off the flow of water. 
         [0023]    In another embodiment, pressing sending unit  160  with a single tap, turns on the flow in assembly  200 . Pressing sending unit  160  a second time turns off the flow in assembly  200 . 
         [0024]    In another embodiment, pressing sending unit  160  with a double tap places the assembly  200  in an “always on” mode. Pressing sending unit  160  again, this time with a single tap discontinues the “always on” mode. 
         [0025]    Studies have shown that the kitchen faucet is one of the most unsanitary locations in a typical home. The advantage of the knee or foot location is that it is more sanitary for a user than operating remote controlled faucet  100  by using lever  120 , and when used in this mode, faucet  100  greatly reduces the exposure to germs and pathogens that infect faucets typically found in kitchens and bathrooms. In addition, the placement of sending unit  160  may allow the faucet  100  to be accessible by persons using wheelchairs or other aids and may make faucet  100  a candidate for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and amendments thereto. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 2A , one alternative embodiment of the faucet  100  is a valve assembly  200  that encloses a two-port solenoid  210 , a printed circuit board (PCB)  220  and a battery  230 . In one embodiment, these components are placed inside a housing  240 . Solenoid  210  has an inlet water channel  212  and an outlet water channel  214 . Solenoid  210  operates by opening and closing a valve allowing water to flow or stop flowing, as its internal coils are energized, by the user operating sending unit  160 . In one embodiment, solenoid  210  uses a bistable valve that requires power only in transition from open to close or vice versa. When the bistable valve is opened or closed, no power needs to be supplied to solenoid  210 . Bistable solenoid valves or bistable solenoid actuators are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and are described in detail in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,890 and U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. US 2003/0136928. 
         [0027]    Solenoid  210  is connected by wires to PCB  220  containing one or more integrated circuits (ICs) that include a wireless communications IC, such as a Bluetooth, WiFi, ZigBee, XBee or a similar radio frequency module  222 , and other electronics necessary for controlling and applying power to solenoid  210 , such as, for example microcontroller  224  and H-bridge  226 . PCB  220  controls solenoid  210  and receives radio frequency signal  190  sent from sending unit  160 . In addition, PCB  220  is powered by battery  230  that can output a predetermined low-voltage DC, such as, for example, 4.2 volts. Battery  230  can be a rechargeable battery, such as, for example, a lithium-polymer battery or a lithium-iron-phosphate battery for high-power and high-temperature applications. In one embodiment, PCB  220  has count-down timer electronics to close solenoid  210  automatically to stop the flow of water after a predetermined period of time. 
         [0028]    A solenoid has significant advantages over the related art where a motor is used to drive a gear to control water flow in a faucet. Firstly, the operation of solenoid  210  allows for almost instantaneous operation that does not draw current after closing or opening the valve. In other words, energy is conserved because the solenoid  210  stops using power after it has opened or closed, while a gear driven motor consumes power under load and draws significant current, such as, for example, as disclosed in the faucet described in Millman above. In addition, solenoid  210  has other significant advantages over the motors and gears disclosed in the related art, such as having lower friction, lower inertia, faster response time, fewer components and being less expensive to manufacture. Furthermore, because solenoid  210  is essentially frictionless, there is nothing to wear-out, and solenoid  210  will have a very long lifecycle before disposal is required. 
         [0029]    In another embodiment, PCB  220  will have an LED light (not shown), visible to the user viewing the exterior of housing  240 , that will illuminate when the voltage of battery  230  falls below a predetermined threshold and needs charging. In another embodiment, sending unit  160  will have an LED light (not shown) that will turn on when unit  160  needs charging. In another embodiment, PCB  220  will have sufficient electronics to trigger a sleep-mode that powers-down to conserve the energy stored in battery  230 , after a predetermined period of time, when the unit is not in use. Notwithstanding efforts to conserve energy, battery  230  may still become depleted by long-term disuse or from continuous use. When it needs charging, battery  230  can be recharged by a user with an external AC/DC transformer (not shown), where the output direct-current charging wire of the transformer employs a standard male tip connector that is inserted into a standard female electrical connector (not shown) in the case of valve assembly  200  and the input power cord of the transformer is plugged into a standard 110/220 volt AC wall outlet. Alternatively, battery  230  can be charged wirelessly using resonant inductive coupling that is accomplished by commercially available technology available to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0030]    In another alternative embodiment, battery  230  can be recharged by commercially available thermoelectric generator or TEG. The TEG is a solid state device that has no moving parts and converts heat (temperature differences) directly into electrical energy through a phenomenon known as the Seebeck effect. When placed proximate to a hot water source, a small square module (not shown), about 40 mm per side, can capture heat when water is flowing through faucet  100 . An electric current is thereby generated and stored in battery  230 . Electronics in PCB  220  will regulate the flow of current from the TEG to battery  230 . 
         [0031]    The aforementioned described embodiments show the valve assembly  200  located proximate to nozzle  180 . The proximate location of valve assembly  200  to nozzle  180  is not a limitation. The valve assembly  200  and its component parts can located anywhere in faucet  100 . Furthermore, those of skill in the art will understand that the components of valve assembly  200  can be distributed anywhere in faucet  100 , as required by manufacturing requirements or other concerns. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 2B ,  FIG. 2C ,  FIG. 2D  and  FIG. 2E , schematic drawings are shown for different perspectives of one embodiment of a solenoid  210  that is made to fit in a compact housing  240 . In this embodiment the valve geometry of solenoid  210  is implemented such that the inlet water channel  212  and outlet water channel  214  are collinear with respect to each other. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B , schematic drawings of a bistable valve  300  used for solenoid  210  are shown for one embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 3A  shows valve  300  in the open position, and  FIG. 3B  shows valve  300  in the closed position. Using attractive and repulsive magnetic forces, solenoid valve slider  310  is moved by coils  320  and  330  acting on the principle of electromagnetic induction to open and close valve  340 . To save power, the circuit to coils  320  and  330  are automatically shut-off until the user supplies a new command. In one embodiment, the valve slider  310  will move between 2 to 3 millimeters that will take approximately 30 milliseconds, and power is only used during this movement. The bistable valve  300  relies on the water pressure behind valve  340 . When valve  340  is open and no current is supplied to the internal coils  320  and  330  by PCB  220 , the water pressure does not allow the valve  340  to return to the closed position. Current must be supplied to coils  320  and  330  by PCB  220  in the reverse direction to force the valve  340  back to the closed position. In one embodiment, to invert the polarity of the current to coils  320  and  330 , PCB  220  incorporates H-bridge  226  to accomplish this task. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , another alternative embodiment of the faucet  100  shows a valve assembly  400  with solar cells  410  enveloping the top and/or sides of the valve assembly  400 . To charge battery  230 , solar cells  410  can be energized using any available light source, such as, for example, windows that admit sunshine or indoor lights. Solar cells  410  are connected to battery  230  using wires (not shown). 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , another alternative embodiment the faucet  100  shows a valve assembly  500  where—in addition to the PCB  220  and the battery  230  (both not shown)—the valve assembly  500  contains a three-port solenoid  510 , configured to switch from stream to spray, that replaces two-port solenoid  210 . In one embodiment, the water flow between a collection of numerous spray nozzles  520  and a single stream nozzle  530 . Remote sending unit  160  can be configured for the user to make contact so that the user can choose the flow from either nozzles  520  or nozzle  530 . 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , in another alternative embodiment of the faucet  100 , a valve assembly  600  contains—in addition to the two-port solenoid  210 , PCB  220  and the battery  230  (all not shown here)—a self-contained, miniature hydroelectric generator  610 . Generator  610  converts the running water into DC electricity.  FIG. 6  shows a cross section of the generator  610 . Turbine  620  has magnets connected to the ends of vanes  621 ,  622 ,  623 ,  624  and  625  that rotate counterclockwise. The enclosure  650  has an electrically conducting metal coil (not shown) that is tightly wound around the enclosure  650  with a predetermined number of turns. Water enters port  630  and exits via port  640  under pressure and thereby spins turbine  620 , inducing a current through said metal coil using the principle of electromagnetic induction. Electronics either inside generator  610  or on PCB  220  rectifies the AC current to DC current. Leads from said metal coil (not shown) are connected to charging electronics for recharging battery  230 . 
         [0037]    In another alternative embodiment of the invention, the valve assembly  200  will have a microphone that controls the water flow by the user&#39;s voice commands. The microphone can be attached to either the surface of valve assembly  200  or located on the sending unit  160  or on an external puck (not shown). In this embodiment, PCB  220  shall contain commercially available voice recognition ICs and software, well-known to those of ordinary skill in the art, to activate solenoid  210  or  510 , depending on the embodiment. For example, when solenoid  210  is employed, a user can speak the words “Flow on” or “Water Off.” For example, when solenoid  510  is employed, a user can speak the works “spray” or “stream” to control the type of flow desired. 
         [0038]    In another alternative embodiment, the valve assembly  200  contains an internal motor that adjusts a manifold for varying the amount of flow dispensed as a stream or a spray. This internal motor can either be responsive to remote sending unit  160  or to voice commands from a microphone. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , in another embodiment, valve assembly  200 —in one or more faucets  100 —is made part of the Internet of Things  700 , where relevant information collected by faucet  100  can be made available to a homeowner, building manager, water company, or any other entity interested in using the information that can be collected by faucet  100 . For example, in addition to the ICs described above, PCB  220  may also connect to one or more sensors (not shown) that collect information on the condition of the water flowing from nozzle  180  and send it to a memory in microcontroller  224 . This information can bundled into a data set  710  to include one or more of the following: (a) water volume, (b) how much time the water is flowing, (c) water temperature, (d) the presence of one more pathogens, and (e) the presence of one or more heavy metals. In one embodiment, the foregoing information may be transmitted to a local area network using Bluetooth  720  to a local device  725 , such as a smartphone or tablet, and/or using WiFi  730  to a modem/router  740  and to the Internet  750  using standard TCP/IP protocols  760 . 
         [0040]    In the aggregate, data sets  710  from one or more faucets  100 , can be processed on server  770  using applications that allow users of faucet  100  and others to review and understand the quality of the water and how the water is used. These communication signals are implemented using protocols used by standard commercially available wireless communications ICs (not shown) in valve assembly  200  to send data to a smartphone, tablet, router, modem, server or other device for processing and review, using software and techniques well known to those of skill in the art, such as, for example, applications developed for use on the World Wide Web. Furthermore, in another embodiment the numerous data sets  710  can be tagged with location data or other user specific information, such as an IP address. These data sets  710  can be used by applications running on server  770  or other servers to target the users of faucets  100  with advertisements that may be of interest to said users. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a flowchart illustrating a method  800  for the steps used by one embodiment of a remote controlled faucet  100  to send data to devices in communication with faucet  100 . Process block  802  illustrates collecting information of interest on the water flowing from faucet  100 . Process block  804  illustrates compiling the information collected from faucet  100 . Data block  806  illustrates one embodiment of data that is compiled on the water flowing from faucet  100 . Process block  808  illustrates transmitting the data set to one or more wireless communication devices connected to a local area network. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , a flowchart illustrating a method  900  for the steps in one embodiment used for processing stored information sent from a faucet  100 . Process block  902  illustrates retrieving a stored data set from a storage device, such as, for example, a server. Data block  904  illustrates one embodiment of the data that is stored. Process block  906  illustrates processing said data set. Process block  908  illustrates sending the processed data set to one or more devices connected to the Internet, such as, for example, using web pages on the World Wide Web that can contain information on water quality and/or usage valued by a user of faucet  100 , along with advertisements that can be targeted to users of faucet  100 . 
         [0043]    The foregoing described embodiments of the invention are provided as illustrations and descriptions. They are not intended to limit the invention to the precise form described. Other variation and embodiments are possible in light of the above teachings, and it is thus intended that the scope of the invention not be limited by the Detailed Description, but rather by the Claims that follow.