Patent ID: 8561626

Claim:
An electronic faucet comprising: a spout having a passageway configured to conduct fluid flow through the spout; an electrically operable valve coupled to the passageway; a manual valve located in series with the electrically operable valve; a manual handle configured to control the manual valve; a single capacitive sensor coupled to a portion of the faucet, the single capacitive sensor providing both a touch sensor and a proximity sensor for the electronic faucet; and a controller coupled to the single capacitive sensor, the controller being configured to monitor an output signal from the single capacitive sensor to detect when a portion of the faucet is touched by a user and to detect when a user's hands are located in a detection area located near the spout, the controller determining which one of the spout and the manual valve handle is touched by a user based upon an amplitude of the output signal from the single capacitive sensor.