Patent ID: 8516628

Claim:
A method of controlling water temperature and flow rate characteristics of a shower or faucet, the method comprising: sensing the proximity of a user in two dimensions using a two-dimensional control surface; determining a position of the user using an electronic controller; controlling the temperature and flow rate of the water responsive to said position of the user using one or more electronically controllable valves coupled to said controller said valves having at least an input for a cold water pipe and an output coupled to a head of the shower or faucet; and wherein said determining of said position of the user comprises sensing with a two-dimensional control surface comprising a plurality of sensors, two or more of said plurality of sensors each having an activated state and a non-activated state, said activated state comprising a plurality of sensitivity levels, and measuring sensitivity levels at two or more of said sensors, and interpolating using said controller, based on said measured levels, to determine an interpolated user position, said sensitivity levels being for determining which sensor the position is proportionally closer to wherein said interpolated user position along a first axis of said control surface determines the water temperature, and the said interpolated position along a second axis of said control surface determines the water flow rate; translating said interpolated user positions along said first and second axis into water temperature and flow rate information by using said interpolated user positions along said first and second axis to X-Y address a lookup table wherein values in said lookup table define a water temperature and flow rate response of said control apparatus to said interpolated user position; such that both the temperature and flow rate of the water are definable by a single touch of the user; the method further comprising: using a plurality of lookup table configurations for allowing said user to define a plurality of said temperature and flow rate combinations; and providing user feedback telling the user one or both of said water temperature and said water flow rate.