Apparatus and control system for multi-gestural control of water delivery devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9783964-B2
Application number	US-201514693447-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 22, 2015
Priority date	Apr 23, 2014
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

A water delivery device includes a body, a user interface, a micro-mixing valve, first and second capacitive sensors, and a controller. The body includes a base and a spout. The user interface is provided on the spout. The micro-mixing valve is contained within the body and is in fluid communication with a hot water source and a cold water source. The first capacitive sensor is provided below the user interface. The second capacitive sensor is provided below the user interface and is spaced apart from the first capacitive sensor. The controller is operatively connected to the first capacitive sensor, the second capacitive sensor, and the micro-mixing valve. Each of the first and second capacitive sensors is configured to be independently activated by a user to transmit a signal to the controller to increase or decrease a temperature of a flow of water flowing from the micro-mixing valve.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A water delivery device comprising:
a body including a base and a spout;
a user interface provided on the spout;
a micro-mixing valve contained within the body and in fluid communication with a hot water source and a cold water source;
a first capacitive sensor pad provided below the user interface;
a second capacitive sensor pad provided below the user interface spaced apart from the first capacitive sensor pad, wherein the second capacitive sensor pad is physically separated from the first capacitive sensor pad; and
a controller operatively connected to the first capacitive sensor pad, the second capacitive sensor pad, and the micro-mixing valve;
wherein each of the first and second capacitive sensor pads is configured to be independently activated by a user to transmit a signal to the controller to increase or decrease a temperature of a flow of water flowing from the micro-mixing valve; and
wherein the first and second capacitive sensor pads are located laterally adjacent to each other and extend along a longitudinal direction from the base to a distal end of the spout.

2. The water delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is disposed within the spout and is configured, in response to a signal from the first or second capacitive sensor pad, to transmit a corresponding signal to the micro-mixing valve to increase or decrease the temperature of the flow of water flowing from the micro-mixing valve.

3. The water delivery device of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to maintain a constant flow rate of the flow of water flowing from the micro-mixing valve during a water temperature adjustment.

4. The water delivery device of claim 1 , wherein when the first capacitive sensor pad and second capacitive sensor pad are activated in close succession, the controller is configured to act upon the activation of the first capacitive sensor pad and to disregard the activation of the second capacitive sensor pad.

5. The water delivery device of claim 1 , wherein when the first capacitive sensor pad is activated, the controller is configured to initiate a delay period during which the second capacitive sensor pad is not capable of being activated so as to prevent inadvertent activation of the second capacitive sensor pad and wherein when the second capacitive sensor pad is activated, the controller is configured to initiate a delay period during which the first capacitive sensor pad is not capable of being activated so as to prevent inadvertent activation of the first capacitive sensor pad.

6. The water delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to incrementally adjust the temperature of the flow of water flowing from the micro-mixing valve in response to momentary or repeated activation of the first or the second capacitive sensor pad while maintaining a substantially constant flow rate of the flow of water.

7. The water delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to continuously adjust the temperature of the flow of water flowing from the micro-mixing valve in response to continuous activation of the first or the second capacitive sensor pad while maintaining a substantially constant flow rate of the flow of water.

8. The water delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the controller includes a timer having a first programmable period corresponding to an incremental adjustment of water temperature, and a second programmable period corresponding to a continuous adjustment of water temperature; wherein the second period is shorter than the first period so as to provide for a more rapid adjustment of the temperature of the flow of water flowing from the micro-mixing valve.

9. The water delivery device of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to automatically switch from the first period to the second period if the controller determines that the first or the second capacitive sensor pad is being continuously activated.

10. The water delivery device of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to continuously adjust the temperature of the flow of water flowing from the micro-mixing valve until a minimum or a maximum outlet water temperature is reached.

11. The water delivery device of claim 10 , wherein the minimum and the maximum outlet water temperatures are adjustable via the controller.

12. The water delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the user interface includes a panel member, a graphics layer, and a substantially transparent outer layer; wherein the substantially transparent outer layer is overmolded onto the panel member with the graphics layer disposed therebetween.

13. The water delivery device of claim 12 , wherein each of the first and the second capacitive sensor pads is adhered to a rear inner surface of the panel member.

14. The water delivery device of claim 1 , further comprising one or more light sources positioned below the user interface and configured to provide a visual indication on the user interface that the water delivery device is undergoing at least one of a programmed cycle or a service.

15. A faucet assembly comprising:
a body including a base and a spout, the spout extending outwardly from the base;
a user interface provided on the spout;
an electronically controlled micro-mixing valve in fluid communication with a hot water source and a cold water source;
a first capacitive sensor pad provided below the user interface on the spout and configured to increase a temperature of a flow of water flowing from the electronically controlled micro-mixing valve;
a second capacitive sensor pad provided below the user interface on the spout and configured to decrease the temperature of the flow of water flowing from the electronically controlled micro-mixing valve, wherein the second capacitive sensor pad is physically separated from the first capacitive sensor pad; and
a controller operatively connected to the first capacitive sensor pad, the second capacitive sensor pad, and the electronically controlled micro-mixing valve;
wherein the controller is configured to receive a signal from the first or the second capacitive sensor pad and to transmit a corresponding signal to the electronically controlled micro-mixing valve to independently control a flow of water from the hot water source and the cold water source so as to increase or decrease the temperature of the flow of water flowing from the electronically controlled micro-mixing valve;
wherein each of the electronically controlled micro-mixing valve and the controller is disposed within the body of the faucet assembly; and
wherein the first and second capacitive sensor pads are located laterally adjacent to each other and extend along a longitudinal direction from the base to a distal end of the spout.

16. The faucet assembly of claim 15 , wherein the user interface includes a panel member, a graphics layer, and a substantially transparent outer layer; wherein the substantially transparent outer layer is overmolded onto the panel member with the graphics layer disposed therebetween.

17. The faucet assembly of claim 16 , wherein each of the first and the second capacitive sensor pads is adhered to a rear inner surface of the panel member.

18. The faucet assembly of claim 15 , further comprising one or more light sources positioned below the user interface and configured to provide a visual indication on the user interface that the faucet assembly is undergoing at least one of a programmed cycle or a service.

19. The faucet assembly of claim 15 , wherein the controller is con

Assignees

• Kohler Mira Ltd

Inventors

• Thompson Christopher Ian
• Zhu Xiangzhen

Classifications

• F16K19/006

  Specially adapted for faucets · CPC title

• F16K11/02

  with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit · CPC title

• Y10T137/8766

  With selectively operated flow control means · CPC title

• E03B7/075 Primary

  Arrangement of devices for control of pressure or flow rate · CPC title

• G05D23/1393

  characterised by the use of electric means · CPC title