Water faucet with touchless controls

Abstract

A water faucet assembly providing touchless water temperature and water flow adjustment. The assembly comprises a spout, a water mixing valve, at least one proximity sensor, and a microcomputer. The water mixing valve provides a mix and controls the flow of hot water from a hot water supply and cold water from a cold water supply to the spout. The at least one proximity sensor provides a water temperature or water flow input signal having a value corresponding to the distance of an object from the sensor. The microcomputer is responsive to the value of the water temperature input signal to control the water mixing valve and generate a mixture of the hot and cold water corresponding to the distance of the object from the proximity sensor. The microcomputer is also responsive to the value of the water flow input signal to provide a flow of water from the spout corresponding to the distance of the object from the proximity sensor.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELDThis invention relates to a water faucet and, more particularly, to a water faucet with touchless water temperature and water flow adjustment.BACKGROUND ARTIn public facilities, automatic water delivery fixtures are widely used to reduce the spread of germs and water consumption. These fixtures provide touchless on and off control of a stream of water through sensing means. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,516 issued to Wilson on Jun. 25, 1991 discloses a faucet with sensing means for automatic operation in the form of an emitter and detector mounted on the spout. Some automatic water delivery fixtures provide a stream of water at a predetermined temperature and flow, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,147 issued to Mauerhofer on Oct. 17, 1995. Other automatic water delivery fixtures provide manual controls for the adjustment of water temperature and flow, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,940 issued to Delabie et al. on May 10, 1994.Although automatic water delivery fixtures have...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a touchless water faucet adapted for domestic use.

is that it provides a touchless water faucet adapted for domestic use.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a water faucet which can be operated by elderly, disabled, and handicapped people.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a water faucet which can detect and prevent a flood condition.

Still another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a water faucet which can maintain a set water temperature as the hot water supply is depleted.

Problems solved by technology

Many homeowners find the delivery of water from a faucet at a predetermined temperature and flow inadequate for their needs.

Further, many persons, such as some elderly, the disabled, and the handicapped, are unable to operate a water faucet with manual controls.

Many automatic water delivery fixtures cannot protect against flooding, scalding, and / or cold shock.

Furthermore, many automatic water delivery fixtures cannot maintain a set water temperature as the hot water supply is depleted.

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