Automatic faucet and kitchen

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10392787-B2
Application number	US-201715470096-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2017
Priority date	Sep 29, 2014
Publication date	Aug 27, 2019
Grant date	Aug 27, 2019

Abstract

A detachment sensor detects attachment and detachment of a water discharger to and from a retainer. An object sensor detects presence of an object. A controller causes water discharge triggered by detection of an object by the object sensor while the water discharger is attached to the retainer and suppresses water discharge triggered by detection of an object by the object sensor while the water discharger is detached from the retainer. The controller suppresses water discharge triggered by detection of an object by the object sensor after attachment of the water discharger to the retainer until a non-detection state of an object by the object sensor continues for a predetermined period of time.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic faucet comprising:
a water discharger having a water discharge port;
a retainer that detachably retains the water discharger;
a first detector that detects detachment and reattachment of the water discharger from and into the retainer;
a second detector that detects presence of an object; and
a water supply controller, wherein
in the event of the first detector detecting the water discharger being fitted into the retainer, the water supply controller is configured to cause the faucet to discharge water triggered by the detection of the object by the second detector, and
in the event of the first detector detecting the water discharger being detached from the retainer, the water supply controller is configured to suppress the water discharge from the faucet if the second detector detects the object,
if reattachment of the water discharger into the retainer is detected by the first detector after detachment of the water discharger from the retainer is detected, the water supply controller is configured to suppress the water discharge triggered by the detection of the object by the second detector until an object non-detection state, in which no object is detected by the second detector, continues for a predetermined time period from reattachment of the water discharger into the retainer.

2. The automatic faucet according to claim 1 , wherein the water supply controller measures duration time of the object non-detection state, and resets the duration time if the second detector detects an object before the duration time reaches the predetermined time.

3. A kitchen comprising the automatic faucet according to claim 1 .

4. The automatic faucet according to claim 1 , wherein if a predetermined exception condition is satisfied even before the object non-detection state has continued for the predetermined time, on object detection by the second detector as a trigger, the water supply controller causes the faucet to discharge water.

5. The automatic faucet according to claim 4 , wherein the predetermined exception condition includes that a distance to an object detected by the second detector coincides with a distance determined in advance.

Assignees

• Lixil Corp

Inventors

• Kamata Azumi
• Shirai Yuki
• Hashimoto Mamoru

Classifications

• E03C1/057 Primary

  touchless, i.e. using sensors · CPC title

• E03C2001/0415

  having an extendable water outlet · CPC title

• E03C1/00

  Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks {(work tops A47B77/022)} · CPC title