Patent Publication Number: US-2007094787-A1

Title: Multiple-electric-eye induction faucet

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      This invention relates to a multiple-electric-eye automatic induction faucet, particularly to one having high inductive sensitivity and able to enlarge its detecting range in height.  
      2. Description of the Prior Art  
      A conventional automatic induction faucet, as shown in  FIG. 1 , includes a faucet body  1  installed thereon with a proximity inductive electric eye  2  able to emit a horizontal signal to pass through a water outflow route under the spout  3  of the faucet body  1 . In using, when a user&#39;s hands are positioned under the spout  3  of the faucet body  1  and aligned to the electric eye  2 , the signal emitted horizontally by the electric eye  2  will touch the user&#39;s hands and then reflect to be received to produce induction and automatically control water to flow out of the spout  3  of the faucet body.  
      However, the electric eye  2  of the conventional automatic induction faucet is installed in a way of emitting signals horizontally, and the inductive level of the electric eye  2  is approximately above the basin  5  of the washstand  4 . Therefore, a user has to position his hands above the basin  5  and under the spout  3  to let the hands induced by the electric eye  2  for permitting water to flow out of the spout  3  for washing. In other words, if a user&#39;s hands are positioned lower than the signal emitting level of the electric eye  2 , like being positioned in the basin  5 , they cannot be induced by the electric eye  2  so that water cannot flow out of the spout  3 , resulting in much inconvenience in use. In this case, a user has to position his hands near the spout  3  for facilitating washing, but doing in this way will easily cause water spray to splash about and wet either the washstand  4  or the user&#39;s clothes. To improve this defect, some conventional automatic induction faucets are adjusted to lessen the amount of water outflow, but too little amount of water supply will surely influent effect in washing and cleaning.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INCENTION  
      The objective of the invention is to offer a multiple-electric-eye automatic induction faucet having its faucet body installed thereon with two electric eyes whose signal emitting directions are not paralleled but intersected and formed with included angles. The signal emitting directions of the two electric eyes are respectively aligned to the bottom of the basin of the washstand and passing through the water outflow route of the spout of the faucet body. One of the two electric eyes can be optionally controlled to be turned on and the other controlled to be turned off in accordance with the extent of intensity of the receptive signal. By so designing, the electric eye that is turned on can automatically carry out induction and control water to flow out of the spout of the faucet body, able to elevate inductive sensitivity and enlarge a detecting and inducing range in height for matching with practical needs in use of water. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
      This invention will be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a side cross-sectional view of a conventional induction faucet assembled on a washstand;  
       FIG. 2  is a side cross-sectional view of an induction faucet assembled on a washstand in the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a front view of two electric eyes disposed on the induction faucet in a first mode in the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the two electric eyes disposed on the induction faucet in a second mode in the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a side cross-sectional view of the induction faucet assembled on the wash stand in the present invention, showing that the two electric eyes are started to emit signals; and  
       FIG. 6  is a side cross-sectional view of the induction faucet having its second electric eye serving as a main signal emission source to induce and allow water to flow out of the spout of the faucet body in the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      A preferred embodiment of a multiple-electric-eye automatic induction faucet in the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 2 , includes a faucet body  10  and two electric eyes  20 .  
      The faucet body  10  is assembled on a washstand  30  with a basin  31  and formed with a spout  11  and a feed water valve  12 .  
      The two electric eyes  20 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , include a first electric eye  201  and a second electric eye  202  positioned close to each other. In this preferred embodiment, the first and the second electric eye  201 ,  202  are respectively provided with an infrared-ray emitter  21  and a common infrared-ray receiver  22  respectively for emitting and receiving infrared-ray signals. The two infrared-ray emitters  21  installed on the faucet body  10  are respectively aligned to a proper location at the bottom of the basin  31  and have their signal emitting directions passing through the outflow route of the spout  11  of the faucet body  10 . In addition, the signal emitting directions of the two infrared-ray emitters  21  are not paralleled but intersected and formed with preset included angles. Thus, after the faucet body  10  is assembled on the wash stand  30  and started, the infrared-ray emitters  21  of the first and the second electric eye  201 ,  202  will respectively produce an emission signal, which will touch the bottom of the basin  31  and reflect to form a signal received by the common infrared-ray receiver  22 . Simultaneously, the signal received is transmitted to an IC board  13  installed in advance in the faucet body  10  and then, and then according to the extent of the intensity of the signal received the IC board  13  will optionally control one of the two infrared-ray emitters  21  to be turned on and the other to be turned off. In this preferred embodiment, the infrared-ray emitter  21  received a comparatively weak signal is turned on, while the other infrared-ray emitter  21  received a comparatively strong signal is turned off, and the infrared-ray emitter  21  turned on serves as a main signal emission source.  
      Referring to  FIG. 5 , after the automatic induction faucet is assembled on the wash stand  30 , and the first and the second electric eyes  201 ,  202  are started, the infrared-ray emitters  21  of the two electric eyes  20  will respectively produce an emission signal intersecting each other and formed with preset included angles. After the emission signals touch the bottom of the basin  31  of the washstand  30 , they will reflect and form a signal received by the common infrared-ray receiver  22 . In this preferred embedment, the infrared-ray emitter  21  of the second electric eye  202  is formed with a comparatively long distance between its emitting point and the bottom of the basin  31  from which signals reflect, so a signal received is comparatively weak. Under this condition, the IC board  13  installed in the faucet body  10  will control the second electric eye  202  under an ON condition, while the first electric eye  201  will then be turned off, letting the second electric eye  202  received a comparatively weak signal serve as a main signal emission source to carry out detecting and inducing for elevating inductive sensitivity.  
      In using, as shown in  FIG. 6 , since the signal emitted by the infrared-ray emitter  21  of the second electric eye  202  is aligned to the bottom of the basin  31  and passes through the outflow route of the spout  11  of the faucet body  10 ; therefore, at whatever level a user&#39;s hands may be positioned under the spout  11 , they can be detected and induced by the second electric eye  202 . Synchronously, according to change of the intensity of the signal received, the second electric eye  202  will automatically turn on the feed water valve  12  of the faucet body  10  to permit water to flow out of the spout  11  of the faucet body  10  for washing.  
      To sum up, the multiple-electric-eye automatic induction faucet in the present invention is able to elevate detecting and inducing sensitivity and enlarge a detecting range in height, having hardly any dead angle in inducing and convenient in using and operating.  
      While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made therein and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications that may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.