Integrated bathroom electronic system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10480165-B2
Application number	US-201815996775-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 4, 2018
Priority date	Nov 11, 2005
Publication date	Nov 19, 2019
Grant date	Nov 19, 2019

Abstract

An integrated bathroom electronic system including a plurality of sensors to detect conditions within a bathroom and to provide signals indicative thereof to a controller. A plurality of distinct and exclusive modules or subsystems are illustratively provided for integration into the system. Such modules may include a quick hot water module, a roman tub module, a custom shower module, a hands free faucet module, and a tub shower module. In certain illustrative faucet modules, a controller is configured to select between a manual mode of operation and a hands-free mode of operation in response to a mode signal, and is configured to control an electrically operable valve in response to a proximity signal during the hands-free mode of operation.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A faucet comprising:
a spout;
a first water inlet;
a first manual valve positioned intermediate the first water inlet and the spout, the first manual valve configured to control the flow of water from the first water inlet to the spout during a manual mode of operation;
an electrically operable valve positioned intermediate the first water inlet and the spout, the electrically operable valve being configured to control the flow of water from the first water inlet to the spout during a hands-free mode of operation, the first manual valve being configured to control the flow of water to the spout independent of the electrically operable valve;
a controller in communication with the electrically operable valve;
a mode sensor in communication with the controller and configured to provide a mode signal to the controller;
a proximity sensor in communication with the controller and configured to provide a proximity signal to the controller; and
wherein the controller is configured to select between the manual mode of operation and the hands-free mode of operation in response to the mode signal, and is configured to control the electrically operable valve in response to the proximity signal during the hands-free mode of operation.

2. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the proximity sensor is inactive during the manual mode, and the proximity sensor is configured to provide the proximity signal to the controller during the hands-free mode of operation.

3. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the mode sensor comprises a capacitive touch sensor.

4. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the first manual valve and the electrically operable valve are positioned in parallel.

5. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the mode sensor comprises a flow sensor configured to detect water flowing through the first manual valve.

6. The faucet of claim 5 , wherein the first manual valve and the electrically operable valve are positioned in parallel.

7. The faucet of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second water inlet; and
a second manual valve positioned intermediate the second water inlet and the spout, the second manual valve configured to control the flow of water from the second water inlet to the spout during a manual mode of operation.

8. The faucet of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor in communication with the controller and configured to provide a temperature signal to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to control the electrically operable valve in response to the temperature signal.

9. The faucet of claim 1 , further comprising a recirculation pump positioned upstream from the first manual valve and in communication with the controller.

10. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to select between the manual mode of operation and the hands-free mode of operation in response to the mode signal and operation of the electrically operable valve.

11. The faucet of claim 1 , further comprising a touch sensor in communication with the controller and configured to adjust the mixture of hot water and cold water flowing from the spout.

Assignees

• Delta Faucet Co

Inventors

• Reeder Ryan A
• Stohler Spencer L
• Mendenhall Andrew B
• Zink Paul T
• Rodenbeck Robert W

Classifications

• E03C1/055

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

• E03C1/057 Primary

  touchless, i.e. using sensors · CPC title

• E03D9/04

  Special arrangement or operation of ventilating devices (ventilating rooms in general F24F) · CPC title