Color changing backlight for fluid delivery devices displaying temperature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9552706-B2
Application number	US-201514609035-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2015
Priority date	May 15, 2013
Publication date	Jan 24, 2017
Grant date	Jan 24, 2017

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 fluid delivery device configured to output water comprising:
a temperature sensor for detecting temperature of the output water;
a controller electrically coupled to the temperature sensor;
a display unit electrically coupled to the controller and including a first light source configured to be operated by the controller to adjust backlighting of the display unit,
the controller being configured to receive a signal from the temperature sensor and send at least one signal to the first light source in response to the signal from the temperature sensor; and
a second light source configured to be operated by the controller to adjust the backlighting of the display unit, and the controller is configured to receive the signal from the temperature sensor and send at least one signal to at least one of the first and second light sources in response to the signal from the temperature sensor;
wherein the controller causes the first light source to generate light of a first color when the signal from the temperature sensor detects a first water temperature, the second light source to generate light of a second color when the signal from the temperature sensor detects a second water temperature greater than the first water temperature, and the first and second light sources to blend the light of the first color and the light of the second color and generate light of a third color when the signal from the temperature sensor detects a third water temperature between the first water temperature and the second water temperature.

2. The fluid delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the first light source is a first blue/red bi-color light-emitting diode (“LED”) and the second light source is a second blue/red bi-color LED.

3. The fluid delivery device of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust the backlighting of the display unit to a blue color when the temperature of the water is less than approximately 80° F.

4. The fluid delivery device of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust the backlighting of the display unit to a red color when the temperature of the water is at least approximately 110° F.

5. The fluid delivery device of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust the backlighting of the display unit to a color which includes red and blue when the temperature of the water is approximately 80° F.-approximately 110° F.

6. A method of controlling a backlighting output on a fluid delivery device configured to deliver water comprising the steps of:
providing a display unit on the fluid delivery device;
electrically coupling a first light source defining a first color to the display unit;
electrically coupling a second light source defining a second color to the display unit;
providing a controller configured to adjust an output of the first and second light sources;
sending a first signal from the controller to the first light source to adjust the backlighting output of the fluid delivery device to the first color when a temperature of the water is less than a first temperature;
sending a second signal from the controller to at least the second light source to adjust the backlighting output of the fluid delivery device to include the second color when the temperature of the water is greater than a second temperature, the second temperature being greater than the first temperature;
electrically coupling a temperature sensor to the controller; and
measuring the temperature of the water with the temperature sensor;
wherein the controller causes the first and second light sources to blend the light of the first color and the light of the second color and generate light of a third color when the temperature of the water is between the first water temperature and the second water temperature.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of sending a signal from the controller to the second light source to adjust the backlighting output of the fluid delivery device to the second color when the temperature of the water is at a maximum temperature.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first temperature is approximately 80° F.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the maximum temperature is at least approximately 110° F.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first color is blue and the second color is red.

11. The fluid delivery device of claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board electrically coupled to the first light source, the second light source, and the display unit.

12. The fluid delivery device of claim 11 , further comprising an escutcheon configured to be supported on a shower enclosure, the display unit being supported within an opening of the escutcheon.

13. The fluid delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the first color is blue, the second color is red, and the third color is a blend along a blue-red color gradient.

14. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of providing a printed circuit board electrically coupled to the first light source, the second light source, and the display unit.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the steps of mounting an escutcheon on a shower enclosure, and supporting the display unit within the escutcheon.

16. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first color is blue, the second color is red, and the third color is a blend along a blue-red color gradient.

Assignees

• Delta Faucet Co

Inventors

• Schneider Ii Randy
• Collevechio Scott

Classifications

• 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

• G01K13/02

  for measuring temperature of moving fluids or granular materials capable of flow · CPC title

• E03C2001/0418

  having temperature indicating means · CPC title

• Y10T137/9464

  Faucets and spouts · CPC title

• Y10T29/49002

  Electrical device making · CPC title