Intelligent water control faucet

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of faucets, in particular to a smart water control faucet, comprising a faucet body; a water control valve group configured to control the water outlet state of the faucet; a sensing assembly arranged on the faucet body and configured to sense a user's operation event and generate a corresponding enabling signal; and a smart control module, the water control valve group and the sensing assembly are electrically connected with the smart control module, and in response to the received enabling signal, the smart control module generates a single-action or linkage control instruction. The smart water control faucet has a novel structure, can realize manual and automatic dual-mode control, and the water outlet type is adjustable, the operation is simple, not only can realize single-action control of the faucet, but also can realize linkage control with other electronic devices, and the user experience is good.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of faucet technology, and more specifically, to a smart faucet. Background Technology

[0002] Faucets are essential kitchen and bathroom appliances. Currently, most kitchen and bathroom faucets on the market are either manual or sensor-operated. Manual faucets require the operator to manually open or close the valve. Since contact with the valve is necessary each time the water is turned on or off, this can easily lead to cross-contamination and affect hygiene. Furthermore, it can be inconvenient for the operator to handle items while using the valve. Sensor-operated faucets, on the other hand, use various sensors to open or close the solenoid valve without contact, thus controlling the flow of water. Sensor-operated faucets do not require direct contact with the water, making them more convenient when hands are dirty or inconvenient to handle.

[0003] However, existing self-sensor faucets typically only have one way to control water flow, generally only offering a continuous flow mode or only a quantitative flow. The control methods are also rather chaotic, unable to dispense water according to the user's wishes. Furthermore, the faucet's structure and design are monotonous, which can easily lead to aesthetic fatigue after prolonged use, resulting in a poor user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the above-mentioned technical problems existing in the prior art, the purpose of this disclosure is to provide an intelligent water control faucet to solve the problems of limited water output type and inability to output water according to user wishes.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted in this disclosure is as follows:

[0006] A smart water-control faucet, comprising:

[0007] The faucet body;

[0008] A water control valve assembly, including mechanical valves and solenoid valves, is configured to control the water flow status of the faucet;

[0009] A sensing component, disposed on the faucet body, is configured to sense user control events and generate corresponding enable signals; and

[0010] The intelligent control module is electrically connected to the water control valve group and the sensing component, respectively;

[0011] The sensing component includes at least a first sensor, which is disposed at a first preset position on the faucet body. The first sensor is configured to sense a first control event within a first preset range and generate a first enable signal.

[0012] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the sensing component further includes:

[0013] A second sensor, positioned at a second preset location on the faucet body, is configured to sense a second control event within a second preset range and generate a second enable signal; and / or,

[0014] A third sensor, located at a third preset position on the faucet body, is configured to sense a third control event within a third preset range and generate a third enable signal.

[0015] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the second and third sensors are further configured to automatically trigger the generation of a fourth enable signal in response to a fourth control event within the second and third preset ranges.

[0016] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the sensing component includes a sensor mounting base, the sensor mounting base having a bottom surface and two side surfaces integrally extended from the bottom surface, the first sensor being disposed on the bottom surface for sensing a first control event within a first preset range; the second sensor and the third sensor being disposed on the two side surfaces respectively for sensing the second control event, the third control event and / or the fourth control event within the second preset range and the third preset range.

[0017] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the first preset range includes a first sensing angle and a first sensing distance.

[0018] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the first sensing angle is limited to: in the XO1Y plane, the value range of the first sensing sub-angle θ1 is -15° to 45°; in the XO1Z plane, the value range of the second sensing sub-angle θ2 is -15° to 15°.

[0019] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the first sensing distance d1 ranges from 0 to 30 cm.

[0020] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the first preset range includes a first sensing area, which includes at least the space between 0 and 15 cm directly below the faucet outlet.

[0021] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the second preset range is defined as a cone-shaped sensing area radiating outward from the second sensor as the apex.

[0022] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the second preset range includes a second sensing angle α and a second sensing distance d2; wherein the value range of the second sensing angle α is -45° to 45°; and the value range of the second sensing distance d2 is 0 to 10cm.

[0023] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the third preset range is set to be axially symmetrical with the second preset range along the faucet body.

[0024] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the sensing angle and sensing distance in the first preset range, the second preset range, and the third preset range are all adjustable.

[0025] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor are laser sensors, TOF sensors, or infrared sensors.

[0026] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the user's control events include at least single-hand waving actions, simultaneous two-hand waving actions, and operations such as pulling and resetting the faucet's pull-out assembly within the effective sensing area of ​​the sensing component.

[0027] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the single-hand waving action and the simultaneous waving action of both hands have a hand dwell time index.

[0028] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the value range of the hand dwell time index is between 500 milliseconds and 2000 milliseconds.

[0029] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the faucet body includes at least a handle, a faucet base, an adapter bend, and a pull-out kit.

[0030] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the handle is disposed on the faucet base and connected to the mechanical valve for controlling the opening and closing of the water flow;

[0031] The faucet base is rotatably connected to one end of the adapter bend, and the other end of the adapter bend is movably connected to the pull-out kit.

[0032] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the pull-out kit includes a free end and a fixed end, the free end being provided with a water outlet, and the fixed end being movably configured on the adapter bend.

[0033] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, a magnetic reed sensing device is provided inside the adapter bend, and the magnetic reed sensing device is electrically connected to the intelligent control module.

[0034] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the fixed end of the pull-out kit is provided with a magnetic component.

[0035] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the pull-out kit further includes a pull-out hose, one end of which is fixed to the fixed end, and the other end is connected to the outlet of the water control valve assembly.

[0036] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, a counterweight is connected to one end of the pull-out hose.

[0037] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the movable end of the pull-out kit is provided with a switching switch, which is configured to adjust the water flow pattern of the faucet.

[0038] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the faucet body is provided with a status indicator light, which is electrically connected to the intelligent control module.

[0039] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the faucet body is also provided with a touch button, which is electrically connected to the intelligent control module.

[0040] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the status indicator light and the touch button are integrated on the faucet base of the faucet body, and the status indicator light is arranged in a shape that surrounds the outer periphery of the touch button.

[0041] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the mechanical valve and the solenoid valve are respectively installed in the mounting position of the faucet body, and the water inlet end of the solenoid valve is connected to the water inlet pipe, and the water outlet end is connected to the pull-out hose.

[0042] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, in response to the received first enable signal, second enable signal or third enable signal, the intelligent control module generates a single-action control command to control the water output state of the faucet.

[0043] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the water outlet state includes continuous water outlet, short water outlet, quantitative water outlet, or no water outlet.

[0044] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, in response to the received fourth enable signal, the intelligent control module generates a linkage control command to control the water control valve group to generate a linkage action with other electronic devices.

[0045] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the electronic device includes a food waste disposer; the linkage actions are sequentially: water flowing from the faucet, the food waste disposer starting to work, the food waste disposer stopping to work, and the faucet stopping water flow.

[0046] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed herein, the intelligent control module is an MCU controller and is interconnected with electronic devices based on the Internet of Things.

[0047] Compared with the prior art, this disclosure has the following beneficial effects:

[0048] (1) The smart water control faucet disclosed herein has a novel structural design and can realize manual and automatic dual-mode control, providing a good user experience;

[0049] (2) The intelligent water control faucet disclosed herein is easy to operate and the water output type is adjustable, which can meet the needs of different application scenarios;

[0050] (3) The intelligent water control faucet disclosed herein can not only realize the single-action water output control of the faucet itself, but also realize the linkage control with other electronic devices.

[0051] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0052] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0053] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a smart water-control faucet according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 1 .

[0054] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a smart water-control faucet according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 .

[0055] Figure 3 This is a structural perspective view of an intelligent water control faucet according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0056] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the sensing range of a sensing component in an embodiment of this disclosure of a smart faucet. Figure 1 .

[0057] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the sensing range of a sensing component in an embodiment of this disclosure of a smart faucet. Figure 2 .

[0058] Figure 6 This is a control principle diagram of an intelligent water faucet according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0059] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0060] 10. Faucet body; 20. Water control valve assembly;

[0061] 30. Sensing components; 40. Intelligent control module;

[0062] 50. Status indicator light; 60. Touch button;

[0063] 11. Faucet base; 110. Fixed end;

[0064] 111. Connecting end; 12. Adapter bend;

[0065] 120. Storage hole; 13. Pull-out kit;

[0066] 14. Handle; 130. Free end;

[0067] 131. Pull-out assembly fixing end; 132. Pull-out hose;

[0068] 15. Inlet pipe flow channel; 16. Outlet pipe flow channel;

[0069] 17. Wiring channel; 18. Water outlet faucet;

[0070] 19. Switch; 31. First sensor;

[0071] 32. Second sensor; 33. Third sensor;

[0072] 34. Sensor mounting bracket. Detailed Implementation

[0073] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this disclosure, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0074] It should be understood that the terms "first" and "second" appearing in the specification and claims of this disclosure are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such terms can be used interchangeably where appropriate so that the embodiments of this disclosure described herein can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" or "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0075] In this disclosure, it should also be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "end," "length," "width," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships, are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing this disclosure and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this disclosure. Furthermore, the terms "installed," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly, for example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this disclosure according to the specific circumstances.

[0076] The technical solutions of this disclosure will be described in detail below with specific embodiments. These specific embodiments can be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be described again in some embodiments.

[0077] As mentioned earlier, current manual faucets in kitchens are inconvenient to operate and can easily cause cross-infection, affecting hygiene; sensor faucets, on the other hand, have a single water output mode, cannot dispense water according to the user's wishes, and cannot establish a linkage effect with other electronic devices.

[0078] To address the aforementioned deficiencies, this disclosure provides an intelligent water-controlling faucet, comprising a faucet body; a water-controlling valve assembly, including a mechanical valve and a solenoid valve, configured to control the water flow state of the faucet; a sensing component, disposed on the faucet body, configured to sense user control events and generate corresponding enable signals; and an intelligent control module, electrically connected to the water-controlling valve assembly and the sensing component; wherein the sensing component includes at least a first sensor, disposed at a first preset position on the faucet body, the first sensor being configured to sense a first control event within a first preset range and generate a first enable signal. This disclosure features a novel structural design, convenient operation, and dual-mode control (manual and automatic), with adjustable water flow type, resulting in a superior user experience.

[0079] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a smart water-control faucet disclosed herein is shown. Figure 1 ; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of a smart water-control faucet disclosed herein is shown. Figure 2 . Figure 3 A structural perspective view of a smart water-control faucet disclosed herein is shown.

[0080] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the intelligent water-control faucet disclosed herein includes at least: a faucet body 10, a water control valve assembly 20, a sensing component 30, and an intelligent control module 40. The water control valve assembly 20 is disposed within the faucet body 10, and both the water control valve assembly 20 and the sensing component 30 are electrically connected to the intelligent control module 40.

[0081] The faucet body 10 internally defines an inlet pipe channel 15, an outlet pipe channel 16, a wiring channel 17, and multiple mounting positions. It also includes a faucet base 11, a rotatable adapter bend 12 mounted on the faucet base 11, a pull-out assembly 13 movably connected to one end of the adapter bend 12, and a handle 14. The faucet base 11, adapter bend 12, and pull-out assembly 13 have hollow inner cavities, collectively defining the faucet's inlet pipe channel 15, outlet pipe channel 16, wiring channel 17, and mounting positions. The inlet pipe channel 15 and outlet pipe channel 16 of the intelligent water-control faucet disclosed herein are used to embed a water inlet pipe (not shown in the figure) and a water outlet pipe, or to form at least a portion of the faucet's water inlet and outlet pipes. The wiring channel 17 is used to route a conductor harness, thereby spatially isolating the live conductor harness from the water flow channel to avoid safety hazards caused by short circuits, leakage, etc.

[0082] The faucet base 11 disclosed herein has a base fixing end 110 and a connecting end 111. The faucet body 10 can be connected and fixed to a sink or work surface through the base fixing end 110. The connecting end 111 can be rotatably connected to one end of the adapter bend 12 to realize flexible adjustment of the water outlet direction of the faucet body 10 at multiple angles to meet the needs of various application occasions. The other end of the adapter bend 12 is movably connected to the pull-out kit 13.

[0083] Specifically, the pull-out kit 13 may include a free end 130 and a fixed end 131, and the end of the adapter bend 12 near the pull-out kit 13 is provided with a receiving hole 120 for accommodating the fixed end 131 of the pull-out kit, the fixed end 131 being movably fitted into the receiving hole 120. Preferably, the fixed end 131 and the receiving hole 120 may be connected and fixed by means of snap-fit ​​connection, clearance fit, or magnetic attraction. This disclosure does not impose any particular limitation in this regard, and any other method that facilitates the flexible pulling and fixing of the pull-out kit from the receiving hole of the adapter bend shall fall within the protection scope of this patent disclosure.

[0084] As another embodiment of this disclosure, the faucet body 10 also includes a reed sensor (not shown in the figure), which is disposed at one end of the adapter bend 12 near the pull-out kit 13; preferably, it is arranged near the inner cavity of the storage hole 120. The reed sensor can be electrically connected to the intelligent control module; and a magnetic element, such as a magnet, is provided at the fixed end 131 of the pull-out kit 13. The reed sensor and the magnetic element together constitute a reed sensor switch. The reed sensor is used to detect whether the fixed end 131 of the pull-out kit 13 is located in the storage hole 120 of the adapter bend 12. When the fixed end 131 is detected to be away from the reed sensor, a water outlet signal is automatically triggered, and the intelligent control module 40 issues a control command to control the valve core of the water control valve group 20 to open and automatically dissipate water; when the fixed end 131 is detected to be reset to the storage hole 120, a water shut-off signal is automatically triggered, and the intelligent control module 40 issues a water stop command to command the water control valve group 20 to automatically close. This design greatly improves ease of use.

[0085] The free end 130 of the pull-out kit 13 disclosed herein is provided with a water outlet 18 at its bottom end, and the free end 130 can be used as a grip, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the pull-out kit 13 can be an L-shaped structure and adopts an ergonomic grip design, which improves the aesthetics and allows the user to hold it more comfortably. By holding the grip, the user can pull out, rotate, and put back the pull-out kit from the adapter bend, which provides a better user experience.

[0086] In addition, a water flow mode switching switch 19 is provided on the side of the grip 130. By pressing the switching switch 19, the water flow mode released through the faucet spout 18 can be switched in multiple modes, such as aerated water mode, blade water mode or shower mode, to meet the needs of users in different application scenarios.

[0087] Furthermore, the pull-out assembly 13 includes a pull-out hose 132 that can be pulled out and reset under external force. One end of the pull-out hose 132 is located near the fixed end 130 of the pull-out assembly 13, and the other end is connected to the water outlet of the water control valve assembly 20. Optionally, the pull-out hose 132 of this disclosure can be used as at least part of the water outlet pipe of a faucet; and the pull-out hose 132 can be a flexible hose with deformability, a spiral hollow coil, etc.; preferably, the pull-out hose 132 can be a hollow tube with a counterweight installed at the end. The pull-out hose can be pulled out from the storage hole by external force, and after use, it can automatically reset by the gravity of the counterweight after the external force disappears. This disclosure does not impose any particular limitation on this, and any tube that can achieve the pull-out and free rotation characteristics of this disclosure should fall within the protection scope of this disclosure.

[0088] In addition, the faucet body 10 is preferably made of stainless steel, and the outer surface is treated with polishing and anodizing processes to avoid the use of electroplating methods that cause more pollution. The faucet body after polishing and anodizing is easier to clean and more consumer-friendly.

[0089] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the water control valve assembly 20 is configured to control the water flow state of the faucet, which includes, but is not limited to, continuous water flow, short water flow, metered water flow, or water flow stop mode.

[0090] The long-flow mode automatically dispenses water upon sensing an object and stops dispensing water upon sensing it again; the short-flow mode automatically dispenses water when an object (such as a hand) is sensed and stops dispensing water when the object leaves or is no longer sensed; the metered-flow mode is activated by sensing an object once and dispenses a metered amount of water upon sensing it a second time; water flow can be stopped when a second sensing in the long-flow mode closes the solenoid valve, or when no object is sensed in the short-flow mode, or when the solenoid valve automatically shuts off after dispensing a metered amount of water.

[0091] The water control valve assembly 20 includes a mechanical valve and a solenoid valve. The mechanical valve is fixed to the mounting position on the faucet base 11, and a handle 14 is also provided on the outside of the faucet base 11. The handle 14 is connected to the mechanical valve, and the flow of water can be controlled by rotating the handle 14.

[0092] Normally, for example, when powered on, the mechanical valve is in the normally open state; the solenoid valve is installed on the outlet pipe channel. The solenoid valve and the mechanical valve can be arranged side by side or staggered vertically to selectively control the water flow in the outlet pipe channel; and when the power is off, the solenoid valve cannot work properly, but the user can still operate the mechanical valve to control the flow of water through the handle 14.

[0093] The water inlet of the mechanical valve disclosed herein is connected to the water inlet pipe, and the water outlet of the mechanical valve is connected to the water inlet of the solenoid valve, so as to ensure that even in the event of an electrical fault or power outage, the user can still control the water flow by switching the mechanical valve in the water control valve assembly. The water inlet pipe of this disclosure may include at least one of a cold water inlet pipe, a hot water inlet pipe, and a cold and hot water mixed inlet pipe.

[0094] According to another embodiment of this disclosure, the sensing component 30 may include a first sensor 31, a second sensor 32, and a third sensor 33, wherein the first sensor 31, the second sensor 32, and the third sensor 33 may be at least one of a laser sensing module, a TOF sensor, a photoelectric sensor, or an infrared sensor.

[0095] The first sensor 31 is located at a first preset position on the faucet body 10, such as the bottom wall of the connecting bend 12. The first sensor 31 is used to detect a first control event within a first preset range. For example, the first sensor 31 can sense whether there is an object in a specific range diagonally in front of the faucet body. If there is, a first enable signal is generated and sent to the intelligent control module 40 to control the faucet to respond to automatic water dispensing, such as automatic short water dispensing.

[0096] The first manipulation event can be an object (such as a hand or container) approaching or moving away from a first preset range. This first preset range includes a first sensing angle and a first sensing distance. For example... Figure 4 As shown, in the spatial coordinate system XYZ, the first preset range has a radial sensing area. For example, in the XO1Y plane with the first sensor 31 as the center point O1, this sensing area has a first sensing sub-angle θ1. The first sensing sub-angle θ1 covers the lower side and front area of ​​the faucet body 10. To improve the convenience of operation and enhance the user experience, the value range of the first sensing sub-angle θ1 can be limited to between -15° and 45°; preferably, the sub-angle can be between 0° and 30°; more preferably, the value range of the first sensing sub-angle can be adjusted according to the needs of the actual application or the user's usage habits. At the same time, in the XO1Z plane, the first preset range also has a second sensing sub-angle θ2, such as... Figure 5As shown, the angle θ2 of the second sensor is in the range of -15° to 15°, thereby ensuring the sensing sensitivity while preventing the sensing range of the first sensor from overlapping with other sensors and causing signal interference.

[0097] Furthermore, the first preset range also includes a first sensing distance d1, which is the sensing distance radiating downwards in a vertical direction with the first sensor 31 as the center point. The value of this sensing distance can range from 0 to 30 cm; preferably, the sensing distance d1 can be from 0 to 15 cm. This sensing distance should be understood as the effective detection distance of the sensor. By reasonably designing this sensing distance, it is possible to prevent the first sensor from being falsely triggered, while ensuring sufficient sensitivity.

[0098] Alternatively, the first preset range may include a first sensing area, which may include at least the space between 0 and 15 cm directly below the faucet spout. The faucet spout is the water outlet of the faucet. In this embodiment, the first preset range may be defined as the first sensing area. When an object approaches and is located in the space directly below the faucet spout, the faucet is triggered to briefly flow water. When the object moves away from the area, the water is automatically turned off.

[0099] Optionally, the first control event can also be the pulling of the pull-out kit 13 away from or near the adapter bend 12. In this case, the first preset range can be the distance between the fixed end 131 of the pull-out kit 13 and the receiving hole 120 of the adapter bend 12. For example, when the distance is greater than 5cm, a first enable signal is generated to automatically trigger the faucet to dispense water; when the distance is less than 5cm, for example, when the pull-out kit 13 is reset, the faucet is triggered to automatically shut off the water. In this embodiment, automatic water dispensing and automatic water shut-off can be achieved by sensing the pulling-out operation of the pull-out kit 13 through the first sensor 31, improving the convenience of use.

[0100] The second sensor 32 and the third sensor 33 can be set at the second and third preset positions of the faucet body 10, such as the two side walls of the adapter bend 12, to detect the second control event within the second preset range and the third control event within the third preset range, and generate the second enable signal and the third enable signal.

[0101] For example, the second sensor 32 can be a laser sensor or a TOF sensor, and the second preset range can be a preset sensing area of ​​the second sensor 32 on the side wall of the adapter bend 12, such as... Figure 4As shown, the second preset range can be a conical region radiating outward from the second sensor 32 as the vertex, and includes a second sensing angle α and a second sensing distance d2. The value range of the second sensing angle α can be -45° to 45°, preferably -12.5° to 12.5°; the value range of the second sensing distance d2 is 0 to 10cm, preferably 0 to 5cm.

[0102] It should be noted that the third preset range of this disclosure is set in a similar manner to the second preset range (including sensing range and distance), and can be set to be symmetrical about the faucet body with respect to the second preset range, that is, the third preset range is arranged symmetrically with respect to the faucet body. Furthermore, the sensing angle and sensing distance in the first, second, and third preset ranges are all adjustable. Users can adjust these ranges according to their usage habits. However, it should be explained that all of the above adjustable ranges have threshold values ​​to avoid signal interference caused by arbitrary adjustments, which could lead to poor stability of the control module.

[0103] In addition, user control events include at least a single-hand waving motion or a simultaneous waving motion of both hands within the effective sensing area of ​​the sensing component. For example, the control event could be a contactless single-hand waving motion on the second sensor 32 side to trigger the faucet to automatically dispense water continuously, and a second waving to stop the water flow; or a contactless single-hand waving motion on the third sensor 33 side to activate the metered water dispensing function module, followed by placing the hand or container within a first preset range of the first sensor 31 to automatically trigger the metered water dispensing function. The metered water dispensing volume can be preset. When the flow meter detects that the dispensing volume has reached the target, it sends a signal to the intelligent control module, which then issues a control command to shut off the solenoid valve, thereby stopping the water dispensing. Alternatively, the user can simultaneously wave both hands on either side of the second sensor 32 and the third sensor 33 to automatically trigger the faucet to automatically dispense water, and trigger the electronic equipment (such as a food waste disposer) paired with the faucet to automatically start or delay starting operation (the smart faucet has already established a linkage effect with the waste disposer through communication technology (such as Bluetooth 2.4G module); and use the same control gesture, such as waving both hands simultaneously on either side of the second sensor 32 and the third sensor 33 again, to automatically trigger the food waste disposer to stop and the faucet to stop dispensing water or delay stopping dispensing water.

[0104] For sensors, both single-handed and double-handed waving events require a preset trigger sensing time. In other words, the user's control event has a trigger sensing duration requirement. For example, for the first, second, and third sensors, single-handed and double-handed waving actions need to ensure that the hand or the sensed object remains within the effective sensing area for a preset duration. In other words, single-handed and double-handed waving actions should have a hand dwell time indicator. The sensor will only trigger its response after the sensed object has remained within the sensor's effective sensing area for the preset duration. It should be noted that the single-handed or double-handed waving actions referred to in this disclosure do not specifically refer to the user's hand; they can also refer to objects held by the user's hand or other body parts, or any other sensed object easily detected by the sensor.

[0105] To improve the sensitivity of the sensor and prevent it from being falsely triggered, the value range of the hand dwell time index in this disclosure should be 500 milliseconds to 2000 milliseconds.

[0106] Optionally, the first sensor 31, the second sensor 32, and the third sensor 33 can be integrated and arranged as a single unit at a preset position on the faucet body 10. For example... Figure 1 and 2 As shown, the sensing assembly 30 includes a sensor mounting base 34, through which the first sensor 31, the second sensor 32 and the third sensor 33 are fixed to the bottom wall and side wall of the adapter bend 12 of the faucet body 10.

[0107] The sensor mounting base 34 has a bottom surface and two side surfaces integrally extended from the bottom surface 341. A first sensor 31 is disposed on the bottom surface for sensing a first control event within a first preset range. A second sensor 32 and a third sensor 33 are disposed on the two side surfaces for sensing a second control event, a third control event, and / or a fourth control event within a second preset range and a third preset range, respectively. Preferably, the bottom surface of the sensor mounting base 34 has a concave inclined surface, and the first sensor 31 is disposed on the inclined surface to sense operation events within the first preset range. By disposing the first sensor on the inclined bottom surface, this disclosure can facilitate the sensing of objects in front of the faucet body, thereby expanding the sensing range and increasing the flexibility and convenience of use.

[0108] This invention, through the ingenious design of sensing components, offers multi-mode operation and flexible and diverse application scenarios. It allows for contactless opening or closing of the faucet valve, or contactless automatic triggering of the faucet to dispense water and automatically start the grinding operation of the food waste disposer. The interconnection between the food waste disposer and the water faucet simplifies the original five-step operation of the disposer (turning on water, turning on the machine, judging the grinding progress by sound, turning off the machine, and turning off the water) into one step: hands-free contactless triggering to start the machine. After grinding is completed, the system automatically determines to stop the machine and shut off the water, thereby greatly improving efficiency and bringing great convenience to users.

[0109] According to another embodiment of this disclosure, the smart water faucet also includes a status indicator light 50 disposed on the faucet body 10 and electrically connected to the smart control module 40, used to indicate the operating status, including but not limited to the water temperature of the faucet, whether the garbage disposal is operating normally, and whether the garbage disposal is stuck.

[0110] The status indicator light 50 disclosed herein can be displayed in the form of a light strip, a ring light, or an LED light array. It can interact and communicate with the user by changing the color of the light or flashing regularly. For example, the indicator light can use stepless color changing of blue, yellow, and orange to visually remind the user of the temperature. Blue indicates cold water, yellow indicates warm water, and orange indicates hot water (e.g., above 45°C, which can be set according to actual needs), to prevent the user from being scalded by hot water. In addition, when the garbage disposal is working, it can also use a flashing green light to inform the user. This method is more user-friendly for people with hearing impairments, allowing them to immediately determine whether the garbage disposal is running by color. When the garbage disposal malfunctions, it can use a flashing red light to issue a warning.

[0111] To further enhance ease of operation, the intelligent water control faucet disclosed herein is also equipped with a touch button 60. This touch button 60 can be a touchscreen or a mechanical button and is integrated into the faucet base 11 of the faucet body 10. By pressing or touching this touch button 60, the user can trigger the faucet to dispense water with a single touch, simultaneously starting or delaying the start of the garbage disposal unit. The faucet automatically determines whether the garbage disposal unit's grinding process has ended and automatically shuts off when it does, immediately or after a preset time (e.g., 3-5 seconds) turning off the faucet. This one-button trigger design provides users with more operational options and improves the user experience.

[0112] Preferably, in this embodiment of the present disclosure, the status indicator light 50 and the touch button 60 can be integrated into one design. For example, the indicator light 50 can be integrated into the periphery or other locations of the touch button 60, making the function key more eye-catching. The two can be perfectly integrated to attract the user's attention to the status of the tap and further highlight the functionality of the one-button system.

[0113] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the intelligent control module 40 of the smart faucet can be a programmable control element such as an MCU (Micro-controller Unit), a CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device), or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and can be linked with other electronic devices (e.g., mobile devices) based on IoT technology. In this embodiment, with the integration of the IoT module, users can link their mobile phones and the smart faucet via the Internet of Things. They can use a mobile app to monitor their water consumption (a flow meter can be built into the faucet outlet), water flow rate, real-time water temperature (a thermometer is built into the faucet outlet), and adjust the detection distance of the sensing components.

[0114] This newly disclosed smart faucet links the garbage disposal unit and the faucet together. The fully automated linkage between the faucet and the garbage disposal unit is also an industry first. The dual water path design enables manual and automatic dual-mode control. The free switching of the water outlet pattern can meet more application scenarios. The breathing indicator light design is more user-friendly. Moreover, the faucet is linked with mobile devices through IoT technology, making it convenient for users to understand the real-time status of the faucet and garbage disposal unit and adjust the equipment parameters.

[0115] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this disclosure and an explanation of the technical principles employed. Those skilled in the art should understand that the scope of this disclosure is not limited to technical solutions formed by specific combinations of the above-described technical features, but should also cover other technical solutions formed by arbitrary combinations of the above-described technical features or their equivalents without departing from the disclosed concept. For example, technical solutions formed by substituting the above-described features with (but not limited to) technical features with similar functions disclosed in this disclosure are all within the protection scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A smart water control faucet, characterized in that, The faucet body comprises: a faucet body; a water control valve group comprising a mechanical valve and an electromagnetic valve configured to control the water outlet state of the faucet; a sensing assembly provided on the faucet body and configured to sense user operation events and generate corresponding enable signals; and an intelligent control module electrically connected to the water control valve group and the sensing assembly; a touch key integrated on the faucet body, which is pressed or touched by the user to trigger the water outlet of the faucet, and simultaneously starts or delays the operation of the garbage disposer; wherein the sensing assembly comprises at least a sensor fixing seat, a first sensor, a second sensor, and / or a third sensor, the sensor fixing seat is protruded on the straight arm portion of the adapter elbow of the faucet, and has a bottom surface and two side surfaces integrally extended from the bottom surface, the bottom surface has an inner concave inclined surface, the first sensor is arranged on the inclined surface for sensing a first operation event within a first preset range and generating a first enable signal, the second sensor and the third sensor are arranged at the two side surfaces respectively for sensing a second operation event, a third operation event, and / or a fourth operation event within a second preset range and a third preset range respectively, and generating a second enable signal, a third enable signal, and / or a fourth enable signal; wherein in response to receiving the first enable signal, the second enable signal, or the third enable signal, the intelligent control module generates a single-action control instruction to control the water outlet state of the faucet; or in response to receiving the fourth enable signal, the intelligent control module generates a linkage control instruction to control the linkage action between the water control valve group and the garbage disposer. The first preset range includes a first sensing angle and a first sensing distance; the first sensing angle includes a first sensing sub-angle and a second sensing sub-angle, wherein the first sensing sub-angle θ1 has a value range of -15°~45° in the XO1Y plane, the second sensing sub-angle θ2 has a value range of -15°~15° in the XO1Z plane, and the first sensing distance d1 has a value range of 0~30cm.

2. The smart volume control faucet of claim 1, wherein: The first preset range includes a first sensing area, which at least includes a space area between 0~15cm below the faucet water outlet.

3. The smart volume control faucet of claim 1, wherein: The second preset range is defined as a conical sensing area radiating outward with the second sensor as the vertex; and the second preset range includes a second sensing angle α and a second sensing distance d2; wherein the second sensing angle α has a value range of -45°~45°, and the second sensing distance d2 has a value range of 0~10cm.

4. The intelligent water control faucet of claim 1, wherein: The third preset range is arranged symmetrically with the second preset range along the left and right of the faucet body.

5. The smart volume control faucet of claim 4, wherein: The sensing angles and sensing distances in the first preset range, the second preset range, and the third preset range are adjustable.

6. The smart volume control faucet of claim 5, wherein: The first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor are laser sensors, TOF sensors, or infrared sensors.

7. The smart volume control faucet according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: wherein 8. The smart volume control faucet of claim 7, wherein: ​ The user's operation event at least includes a single-hand waving action, a double-hand waving action, and a pulling and resetting operation on a faucet pulling assembly within an effective sensing area of the sensor assembly.

9. The smart volume control faucet of claim 8, wherein: The single-hand waving action and the double-hand waving action have a hand staying duration index; wherein the hand staying duration index has a value range of 500 milliseconds to 2000 milliseconds.

10. The intelligent water control faucet according to claim 1, wherein: The faucet body at least includes a handle, a faucet base, an adapter elbow, and a pulling assembly; wherein the handle is arranged on the faucet base and connected with the mechanical valve for controlling the opening and closing of water flow; The faucet base is rotationally connected with one end of the adapter elbow, and the other end of the adapter elbow is movably connected with the pulling assembly.

11. The smart volume control faucet of claim 10, wherein: The pulling assembly includes a free end and a fixed end, and the free end is provided with a water outlet nozzle at the end thereof, and the fixed end is movably arranged on the adapter elbow.

12. The smart volume control faucet of claim 10 or 11, wherein: The adapter elbow is provided with a magnetic spring induction device, and the magnetic spring induction device is electrically connected with the intelligent control module; the fixed end of the pulling assembly is provided with a magnetic member.

13. The smart volume control faucet of claim 11, wherein: The pulling assembly further includes a pulling hose, one end of the pulling hose is fixed to the fixed end, and the other end is connected with a water outlet of the water control valve group.

14. The smart volume control faucet of claim 13, wherein: One end of the pulling hose is connected with a counterweight hammer.

15. The smart volume control faucet of any one of claims 10, 11, or 14, wherein: The movable end of the pulling assembly is provided with a switching switch configured to adjust the water outlet mode of the faucet water flow.

16. The intelligent water control faucet of claim 1, wherein: The faucet body is provided with a state indicating lamp electrically connected with the intelligent control module.

17. The intelligent water control faucet of claim 16, wherein: The state indicating lamp and the touch key are integrated on the faucet body, and the state indicating lamp is arranged in a mode surrounding the outer periphery of the touch key.

18. The intelligent water control faucet of claim 13, wherein: The mechanical valve and the electromagnetic valve are arranged in the installation positions of the faucet body, and the water inlet end of the electromagnetic valve is connected with the water inlet pipeline, and the water outlet end is connected with the pulling hose.

19. The intelligent water control faucet of claim 1, wherein: The water outlet state includes long water outlet, short water outlet, quantitative water outlet, or stop water outlet.

20. The intelligent water control faucet of claim 1, wherein: The linkage action is in sequence of faucet water outlet, garbage disposer work start, garbage disposer work stop, and faucet stop water outlet.

21. The intelligent water control faucet of claim 1, wherein: The intelligent control module is an MCU controller, a CPLD controller, or an FPGA controller, and is interconnected with the garbage disposer based on the Internet of Things.

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