Patent Publication Number: US-9429246-B2

Title: Faucet with a monitoring device and a monitoring method thereof

Description:
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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a faucet according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a faucet body, a switch unit and a monitoring device of the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating electrical connections among an angle detector, a microprocessor and a display of the monitoring device; and 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart of a monitoring method of the preferred embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the preferred embodiment of a faucet  200  according to the present invention comprises a faucet body  2 , a switch unit  3  and a monitoring device  4 . 
     The faucet body  2  is to be coupled to a backend water filter for supplying water filtered by the water filter. 
     The switch unit  3  is coupled rotatably to the faucet body  2 , and has an axis of rotation (L) that is relative to the faucet body  2 , and that extends about a horizontal plane. The switch unit  3  is configured to rotate along the axis of rotation (L) relative to the faucet body  2 . A larger angular rotation of the switch unit  3  suggests that water is released from the faucet  200  at a faster rate. 
     The monitoring device  4  is mounted to the switch unit  3 , and includes a shell  40 , a battery  41 , a circuit board  42 , an angle detector  43 , a microprocessor  44  and an alert unit  45 . In this embodiment, the angle detector  43  may be a three-axis gravitational sensor or a gyroscope, and the alert unit  45  is a display using a light emitting diode (LED) or a liquid crystal display (LCD). 
     The shell  40  is mounted detachably to the switch unit  3 . The circuit board  42  is disposed in the shell  40 . The battery  41 , the angle detector  43  and the alert unit  45  are disposed on the circuit board  42 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the microprocessor  44  is coupled electrically to the angle detector  43  and the alert unit  45 , and the battery  41  is coupled electrically to the angle detector the microprocessor  44  and the alert unit  45  for providing electricity thereto. 
     When the switch unit  3  is rotated by a user (i.e., the faucet is switched open by the user and is in an open state), the angle detector  43  detects angular rotation of the switch unit  3  from an initial position relative to the faucet body  2 , and generates angle information corresponding to the angular rotation thus detected. The microprocessor  44  is configured to receive the angle information, and to record a cumulative time period within which the switch unit  2  is in the open state. The microprocessor  44  subsequently 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 microprocessor  44  generates an alert signal. The alert unit  45  is 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 to  FIG. 4 , showing a monitoring method for implementation by the monitoring device  4  of the faucet  200 . 
     In step  100 , the microprocessor  44  of the monitoring device  4  is configured for performing initialization, and for verifying connections among the microprocessor  44 , the angle detector  43  and the alert unit  45 . In this embodiment, step  100  is implemented when the battery  41  is electrically coupled and provides electricity to the monitoring device  4 . 
     In step  101 , the microprocessor  44  of the monitoring device  4  is configured for determining whether a proper connection between the monitoring device  4  and the switch unit  3  has been made. In this embodiment, it is determined that a proper connection between the monitoring device  4  and the switch unit  3  has been made a preset time period after finding that the microprocessor  44  has entered a mechanical equilibrium state. More specifically, the microprocessor  44  begins recording a cumulative time period within which the microprocessor  44  is in a mechanical equilibrium state upon receipt of a signal resulting from the user pressing a designated button (not shown). The flow goes to step  102  when it is determined that a proper connection between the monitoring device  4  and the switch unit  3  has been made, and goes back to repeat step  101  when otherwise. 
     In step  102 , the monitoring device  4  is configured for setting the initial position relative to the faucet body  2 . 
     In step  103 , the angle detector  43  of the monitoring device  4  is configured for detecting angular rotation of the switch unit  3  from the initial position, and for generating the angle information corresponding to the angular rotation thus detected. More specifically, the angle detector  43  is configured to filter out ambient noise signal such as vibration prior to the detection, and to detect an angular acceleration of the switch unit  3 . 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 step  104 , the microprocessor  44  of the monitoring device  4  is configured for recording a cumulative time period within which the switch unit  3  is in the open state, and for receiving the angle information obtained in step  103 . 
     In step  105 , the microprocessor  44  of the monitoring device  4  is configured for calculating an outflow rate according to the angle information. More specifically, the microprocessor  44  looks up a table stored therein, which contains outflow rate information that corresponds to the angle information. 
     In step  106 , the microprocessor  44  of the monitoring device  4  is configured for calculating an outflow value according to the outflow rate and the cumulative time period. 
     In step  107 , the microprocessor  44  of the monitoring device  4  is configured for determining whether the outflow value has reached a predetermined threshold. The flow goes to step  109  when the outflow value has reached the predetermined threshold, and goes to step  108  when otherwise. 
     In step  108 , the microprocessor  44  of the monitoring device  4  is configured to generate a normal output, which is not displayed by the alert unit  45 . In step  109 , the microprocessor  44  of the monitoring device  4  is configured to generate an alert output, which is displayed by the alert unit  45   m  thereby notifying the user that the water filter needs replacement. 
     The flow then goes to step  110 , in which the monitoring device  4  is configured to enter a standby mode, and to record a standby time period within which the monitoring device  4  has entered the standby mode. 
     In step  111 , the microprocessor  44  of the monitoring device  4  is configured for determining whether the standby time period has reached a predetermined time period. The flow goes to step  112  when the standby time period has reached the predetermined time period, and goes back to step  110  when otherwise. 
     In step  112 , the monitoring device  4  is configured for reactivating from the standby mode. Once the monitoring device  4  is reactivated, the flow goes back to step  103 . 
     To sum up, the preferred embodiment of this invention has the following advantages. 
     The monitoring device  4  has a relatively simple structure, using only a single element (i.e., the angle detector  43 ) to detect angular rotation of the switch unit  3 . This can efficiently reduce manufacturing costs. 
     The monitoring device  4  can be assembled to the switch unit  3  conveniently, and is operable once the initial position is set. Since the angle detector  43  only detects the angular rotation of the switch unit  3  from the initial position, no precise positioning of the monitoring device  4  relative to the faucet body  2  is required. Moreover, the monitoring device  4  may be sold individually, and fitted to other faucets. 
     Additionally, the monitoring device  4  is 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. 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.