Color changing backlight for fluid delivery devices displaying temperature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10102721-B2
Application number	US-201715412893-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2017
Priority date	May 15, 2013
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

A display unit for a fluid delivery device which outputs water includes a printed circuit board, a diffuser supported by the printed circuit board, and a display screen electrically coupled to the printed circuit board. The display unit further includes a first light source electrically coupled to the printed circuit board, and a second light source electrically coupled to the printed circuit board. The first and second light sources define backlighting for the display screen. Operation of the first and second light sources is adjusted in response to a change in temperature of the output water of the fluid delivery device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A display unit for a fluid delivery device configured to output water comprising:
a printed circuit board;
a diffuser supported by the printed circuit board;
a display screen electrically coupled to the printed circuit board;
a first light source electrically coupled to the printed circuit board; and
a second light source electrically coupled to the printed circuit board, the first and second light sources defining backlighting for the display screen, and operation of the first and second light sources being adjusted in response to a change in temperature of the output water of the fluid delivery device;
wherein the first light source generates light of a first color in response to a first water temperature of the output water of the fluid delivery device, the second light source generates light of a second color in response to a second water temperature of the output water of the fluid delivery device, the second water temperature being greater than the first water temperature, and the first and second light sources blend the light of the first color and the light of the second color and generate light of a third color in response to a third water temperature of the output water of the fluid delivery device, the third water temperature being between the first water temperature and the second water temperature.

2. The display unit of claim 1 , wherein the first light source is a first bi-color light-emitting diode (“LED”) and the second light source is a second bi-color LED.

3. The display unit of claim 2 , wherein the first and second bi-color LEDs are blue/red bi-color LEDs.

4. The display unit of claim 3 , wherein the backlighting of the display screen outputs a blue color when the temperature of the water is less than approximately 80° F.

5. The display unit of claim 3 , wherein the backlighting of the display screen outputs a red color when the temperature of the water is greater than approximately 110° F.

6. The display unit of claim 3 , wherein the backlighting of the display screen outputs a color which includes red and blue when the temperature of the water is approximately 80° F.-approximately 110° F.

7. The display unit of claim 1 , wherein the fluid delivery device is a showerhead.

8. The display unit of claim 1 , wherein the fluid delivery device is a hand shower.

9. The display unit of claim 1 , wherein the fluid delivery device is a faucet.

10. The display unit of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor providing an indication of the temperature of the output water to the printed circuit board.

11. The display of claim 10 , wherein the backlighting changes color from blue to red through a successive gradient between blue and red.

12. A display unit for a fluid delivery device configured to output water comprising:
a support;
a display screen electrically coupled to the support;
a first light source operably coupled to the support;
a second light source operably coupled to the support, the first and second light sources defining backlighting for the display screen, and operation of the first and second light sources being adjusted in response to a change in temperature of the output water of the fluid delivery device; and
wherein the first light source generates light of a first color in response to a first water temperature of the output water of the fluid delivery device, the second light source generates light of a second color in response to a second water temperature of the output water of the fluid delivery device, the second water temperature being greater than the first water temperature, and the first and second light sources blend the light of the first color and the light of the second color and generate light of a third color in response to a third water temperature of the output water of the fluid delivery device, the third water temperature being between the first water temperature and the second water temperature.

13. The display unit of claim 12 , wherein the support is a printed circuit board.

14. The display unit of claim 13 , further comprising a diffuser supported by the printed circuit board.

15. The display unit of claim 12 , further comprising a temperature sensor providing an indication of the temperature of the output water to the first and second light sources.

16. The display of claim 15 , wherein the backlighting changes color from blue to red through a successive gradient between blue and red.

Assignees

• Delta Faucet Co

Inventors

• Schneider Randy L
• Collevechio Scott

Classifications

• G08B5/36 Primary

  using visible light sources · CPC title

• E03C1/055

  Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like · CPC title

• E03C1/0404

  Constructional or functional features of the spout · CPC title

• Y10T29/49002

  Electrical device making · CPC title

• A47K3/281

  Accessories for showers or bathing douches, e.g. cleaning devices for walls or floors of showers (A47K3/30, A47K3/38, A47K3/40 take precedence) · CPC title