Capacitive coupling arrangement for a faucet
US8613419B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 11, 2008 |
| Grant date | Dec 24, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 5, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/9464
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A faucet (10) includes a spout (12), a passageway that conducts fluid flow through the spout (12), a electrically operable valve (22) located within the passageway, a manual valve (20) located within the passageway in series with the electrically operable valve, and a manual handle (14) that controls the manual valve (20). The faucet (10) also includes a first touch sensor (26) on the manual valve handle (14), a second touch sensor (28) on the spout (12), a capacitive sensor (30) directly coupled to one of the first and second touch sensors (26, 28) and capacitively coupled to the other of the first and second touch sensors (26, 28), and a controller (24) coupled to the capacitive sensor (30). The controller (24) is configured to monitor the output signal from the capacitive sensor (30) and to distinguish between a user tapping one of the spout (12) and the manual valve handle (14), a user grabbing the spout (12), and a user grabbing the manual valve handle (14). The controller (24) is also coupled to the electrically operable valve (22) to control the electrically operable valve (22) is response to the output signal from the capacitive sensor (30).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.