Water supply equipment and control method of water supply equipment

Abstract

The invention provides water supply equipment and a control method of the water supply equipment, the water supply equipment is provided with a water inlet and a water taking port, the water supply equipment comprises a water supply waterway connected between the water inlet and the water taking port, an execution device arranged on the water supply waterway, a distance measuring sensor, a receiving device and a control device, and the distance measuring sensor is arranged at the water taking port and faces downwards; the sensor is used for detecting distance and generating distance measuring signals. The receiving device is used for receiving water taking height information of a user; the control device is electrically connected with the distance measuring sensor, the receiving device and the execution device and used for controlling the execution device according to the distance measuring signal and the information of the water taking height so that water can be supplied through the water taking opening and water supply can be stopped when the water supply amount reaches the water taking height. The water supply equipment can provide water reaching a desired liquid level regardless of the shape of a water taking container and the amount of contents in the water taking container.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of water treatment, and specifically, to a water supply device and a control method thereof. Background Art

[0002] With the continuous improvement of people's requirements for the quality of life and the increasing attention to environmental pollution, various water supply devices such as water purifiers, which can provide clean water sources for people, are becoming more and more popular.

[0003] Common water supply devices on the market can usually control the water output according to volume or weight, etc. Taking a water purifier as an example, the water purifier can communicate with an APP on the user's mobile device. The user pastes an NFC (Near Field Communication) tag bound to the APP under the cup. When fetching water, the desired water intake, such as 200 milliliters or 500 grams, can be input in advance on the APP, and the water intake information is written into the NFC tag. After the water purifier detects the NFC signal, it controls the water pump, flow meter or solenoid valve to discharge water according to the water intake. When it is necessary to change the water intake, the water intake information is changed again on the APP. If the user uses a different cup to fetch water, they need to paste a new NFC tag under the new cup and set the desired water intake.

[0004] Although the above method can reduce the difficulty of users fetching water to a certain extent and improve the user experience, for a water purifier that fetches water by inputting the water intake, if the user has no concept of the capacity of the cup, it is very easy to input an inappropriate water intake, resulting in frequent water fetching due to too little water fetched each time, or the water overflowing the cup. In addition, when there is already water in the cup, the water purifier cannot know that there is water in the cup, and it is also very easy to cause the water to overflow the cup. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention is proposed in view of the above problems.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a water supply device having a water inlet and a water intake, including: a water supply waterway connected between the water inlet and the water intake, an actuator, a ranging sensor, a receiving device and a control device provided on the water supply waterway, the ranging sensor being provided at the water intake and facing downward for detecting a distance and generating a ranging signal; the receiving device for receiving information on the water intake height of the user; the control device being electrically connected to the ranging sensor, the receiving device and the actuator for controlling the actuator according to the ranging signal and the information on the water intake height so as to supply water through the water intake and stop supplying water when the supplied water volume reaches the water intake height.

[0007] In the above technical solution, the receiving device can receive information about the desired water intake height instead of the water intake volume. Moreover, when the water intake container is placed below the water intake port, the distance measuring sensor can measure the distance to the liquid level in the water intake container. In this way, regardless of the thickness of the water intake container, the water supply to the water intake container can be stopped when the liquid level in the water intake container reaches the desired water intake height. The user can more intuitively determine the desired water intake volume without having a clear understanding of the capacity of the cup and making complex estimations of the water intake volume. In addition, even if there is already something in the water intake container, the water supply volume can be reduced through the ranging signal generated by the distance measuring sensor to prevent water overflow.

[0008] Exemplarily, the control device is further configured to determine whether the distance represented by the ranging signal is less than a distance threshold; the control device exits the standby state when the distance is less than the distance threshold.

[0009] In the above technical solution, the control device can enter the standby state when there is no water intake operation, and exit the standby state when the ranging signal generated by the distance measuring sensor indicates that the currently detected distance is less than the distance threshold. Thus, on the premise of not affecting the user's water intake, energy is effectively saved and the service life of the water supply device is extended.

[0010] Exemplarily, the control device is further configured to determine that the distance represented by the first ranging signal is the distance threshold, where the first ranging signal is the ranging signal received by the control device from the distance measuring sensor when starting to enter the standby state or after a preset time in the standby state.

[0011] When the distance measuring sensor is used continuously for a long time, cumulative errors may occur, resulting in a large difference between the detected distance and the actual distance. Therefore, the distance measuring sensor can be calibrated according to the first ranging signal representing the distance to the container placement position to timely eliminate the cumulative error and ensure the accuracy of ranging.

[0012] Exemplarily, the control device controls the actuating device to supply water through the water intake port and stops the water supply when the supplied water volume reaches the water intake height according to the ranging signal and the information about the water intake height, including performing the following operations: calculating the difference between the initial distance value and the water intake height; during the process of supplying water through the water intake port, determining whether the distance represented by the current ranging signal is less than or equal to the difference; when the distance represented by the current ranging signal is less than or equal to the difference, performing a first timing operation; when the time counted by the first timing operation reaches the first time threshold, controlling the actuating device to stop the water supply.

[0013] The above technical solution can ensure that the liquid level is not lower than the target liquid level and eliminate the influence of liquid level jitter on the water intake volume.

[0014] Exemplarily, the control device is further configured to perform a second timing operation starting from the moment when water supply begins at the water intake; when the time counted by the second timing operation reaches a second time threshold, the control device controls the execution device to stop water supply.

[0015] This can ensure that a large amount of water will not overflow, causing serious waste or large water stains that are difficult to clean, thus guaranteeing the user experience.

[0016] Exemplarily, the receiving device includes an input device for receiving information about the water intake height input by the user.

[0017] The input device can allow the user to directly input information about the water intake height, for example, by means of a tactile detection device. This can eliminate the need for cumbersome operations such as using an APP, reducing the difficulty of use for the user.

[0018] Exemplarily, the water supply device further includes a container placement position directly below the water intake. The input device includes a plurality of tactile detection devices arranged on the side of the container placement position. The plurality of tactile detection devices are arranged in the vertical direction. The water intake height is within a first height range of the plurality of tactile detection devices arranged in the vertical direction. The tactile detection devices are configured to, in response to a touch operation by the user, send information about the water intake height to the control device according to the touched position.

[0019] In the above technical solution, using the tactile detection device as the input device of the water supply device has low cost and high accuracy. This technical solution enables the user to provide information about the water intake height to the water supply device only through simple operations, improving the user experience.

[0020] Exemplarily, the water supply device further includes a light-emitting component arranged on the side of the container placement position. The light-emitting component is arranged in a second height range in the vertical direction. The second height range includes the first height range. The control device is further configured to control a first part of the light-emitting component to emit light according to the information about the water intake height. The first part of the light-emitting component is the part of the light-emitting component below a first position, and the first position is at the same horizontal height as the touched position.

[0021] Compared with not setting the light-emitting component, the user can clearly know whether the set height takes effect, and can confirm whether the input height is incorrect according to the height of the light-emitting part in the light-emitting component and adjust it in time. In this way, the water supply device gives appropriate feedback to the user, which can greatly improve the user experience. Using the light-emitting component is more intuitive than voice prompts, etc. The user can clearly see the set height situation at a glance and compare it with the height of the cup to confirm whether the liquid level setting is unreasonable.

[0022] Exemplarily, the lower limit of the second height range is located at the bottom of the container placement position.

[0023] In this way, the lighting position of the light bar can start from the bottom of the cup, which not only allows the user to set a lower water intake height, but also enables the user to clearly know this water intake height.

[0024] Exemplarily, the water supply device further includes a container placement position directly below the water intake. The input device includes a tactile detection device. The tactile detection device includes a light-emitting component, a plurality of tactile sensors, and a current detection device. The light-emitting component is arranged on the side of the container placement position and extends in the vertical direction. The plurality of tactile sensors are correspondingly arranged on the side of the container placement position and arranged in the vertical direction; the tactile sensors are used to cause the light-emitting component below the touched position to emit light in response to the user's touch operation; the current detection device is used to detect the current of the light-emitting component and generate a corresponding current signal; the control device is further used to determine the information of the water intake height according to the current signal.

[0025] With this solution, the control device does not need to establish electrical connections with each tactile sensor separately, and only needs to detect the current of the light-emitting component to determine the user's water intake height. And for detecting the current, only one analog input interface and a sampling resistor for detecting the current are needed, the logic is simpler and more reliable, and the cost is lower. By determining the information of the water intake height set by the user through the current of the light-emitting component in the tactile detection device, what you see is what you get, and the user experience is better.

[0026] Exemplarily, the water supply device further includes a container placement position directly below the water intake. The water supply device further includes a prompt part arranged on the side of the container placement position. The prompt part is arranged in the vertical direction. The water intake height is within the first height range where the prompt part is arranged in the vertical direction. The prompt part is used to provide height reference information, and the height reference information is used to provide a reference for the user to determine the information of the water intake height.

[0027] In the above technical solution, the presence of the prompt part in the water supply device can effectively prompt the user of the water intake height and facilitate the user to obtain the desired amount of water.

[0028] Exemplarily, the receiving device includes a communication device for communicating with the user's smart device to receive the information of the water intake height from the smart device.

[0029] In the above technical solution, using the communication device to receive the information about the water intake height from the user's smart device facilitates the user's remote operation and improves the user experience.

[0030] According to another aspect of the present application, a control method for a water supply device is further provided. The water supply device has a water inlet and a water intake. The water supply device further includes: a water supply waterway connected between the water inlet and the water intake, an execution device and a ranging sensor arranged on the water supply waterway. The ranging sensor is arranged at the water intake and faces downward, and is used to detect the distance and generate a ranging signal. The control method includes: receiving information on the water intake height of the user; and controlling the execution device according to the ranging signal and the information on the water intake height, so as to supply water through the water intake and stop supplying water when the supplied water volume reaches the water intake height.

[0031] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of the present invention. In order to be able to understand the technical means of the present invention more clearly, it can be implemented according to the content of the description. And in order to make the above and other purposes, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and understandable, the specific embodiments of the present invention are specifically exemplified below. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0032] By describing the embodiments of the present invention in more detail in conjunction with the drawings, the above and other purposes, features and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious. The drawings are used to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, and constitute a part of the description. Together with the embodiments of the present invention, they are used to explain the present invention and do not constitute a limitation to the present invention. In the drawings, the same reference numerals generally represent the same components or steps.

[0033] Figure 1 Fig. shows a schematic structural diagram of a water supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 2 Fig. shows a schematic flow chart of a control method for a water supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 3 Fig. shows a schematic flow chart of a control method for a water supply device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Among them, the above-mentioned drawings include the following reference numerals:

[0037] 100, water supply device; 110, touch screen; 120, ranging sensor; 130, water intake; 140, input device; 141, lamp bead; 200, cup; 210, liquid level. Detailed Embodiments

[0038] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention more apparent, exemplary embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all of the embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited by the exemplary embodiments described herein. Based on the embodiments of the present invention described herein, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0039] As described above, existing water supply devices can usually only supply water quantitatively according to the water intake volume input by the user using a mobile device. The water intake volume is usually measured in volume. If the user misestimates the actual volume corresponding to the water intake volume or there is already a certain amount of water in the water intake container, water may overflow from the water intake container. To solve at least part of the above problems, the present application provides a water supply device that can receive information on the water intake height input by the user and can simultaneously detect the liquid level in the container in real time, so as to ensure that the final liquid level in the water intake container conforms to the water intake height input by the user. Compared with volume, the user can more intuitively and clearly know the expected final liquid level in the water intake container, which can avoid water overflowing from the water intake container. The user can use any suitable water intake container such as a bottle, a cup, a kettle, a pot, etc. to draw water. For the convenience of description, the principle of the present invention will be described in detail below by taking the water intake container as a cup as an example.

[0040] Figure 1 FIG. shows a schematic diagram of a water supply device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application. As shown in the figure, the water supply device 100 may include a water inlet (not shown), a water intake port 130, and a water supply water path connected between the water inlet and the water intake port 130. An actuating device may be provided on the water supply water path, and by controlling the action of the actuating device, the amount of water provided by the water supply device 100 each time can be controlled. The water supply device 100 may further include a ranging sensor 120, a receiving device, and a control device. The ranging sensor 120 is disposed at the water intake port 130 and faces downward, and is used to detect the distance and generate a ranging signal. The receiving device is used to receive information on the water intake height of the user. The control device is electrically connected to the ranging sensor 120, the receiving device, and the actuating device. The control device is used to control the actuating device according to the ranging signal and the information on the water intake height, so as to supply water through the water intake port 130 and stop supplying water when the amount of water supplied reaches the water intake height.

[0041] Exemplarily, the execution device can adopt any suitable device such as a control valve, a water pump, etc. When the water in the water supply waterway has pressure, for example, when connected to a tap water pipe, a control valve can be used to control the on-off of the waterway, thereby controlling the water supply volume. The control valve can include a solenoid valve, a pneumatic valve, etc. If the water supply waterway has no pressure or has a small pressure, for example, when connected to a water tank or a pure water bucket, the water can be pumped to the water intake 130 by a water pump. The water pump can include a diaphragm pump, a peristaltic pump, etc.

[0042] A ranging sensor 120 is provided at the water intake 130. The ranging sensor 120 can adopt any type of existing or future possible sensor, including but not limited to an infrared ranging sensor, an ultrasonic ranging sensor, a laser ranging sensor. Generally speaking, a device that uses a camera to measure distance through machine vision can also be considered a ranging sensor. The ranging sensor 120 is provided at the water intake 130 and faces downward. Thus, when the cup 200 is placed below the water intake 130, the ranging sensor 120 can be aligned with the cup 200 to measure the distance. Specifically, if there is water in the cup 200, the ranging sensor 120 can measure the distance to the liquid level in the cup 200 and generate a ranging signal; if there is no water in the cup 200, the ranging sensor 120 can measure the distance to the bottom of the cup 200 and generate a ranging signal.

[0043] The laser ranging sensor can include a laser generator that can generate and emit laser pulses in the non-visible light band, usually infrared light. In this way, during the measurement process, the user will not see the pulsed laser, thus avoiding a bad user experience. In addition, infrared laser is usually not affected by the color of the object. Usually, the cost of an infrared laser with the same power is also lower than that of a laser in the visible light band. The laser pulse is emitted to the target object, and a part of the light will be reflected back to the laser ranging sensor by the target object. The laser ranging sensor will measure the time between emitting the laser pulse and receiving the reflected light, and this time is called the "Time Of Flight". The time of flight can be used to calculate the distance between the object and the laser ranging sensor. The laser ranging sensor can perform multiple measurements to improve the accuracy and reduce errors through filtering and calibration. The laser ranging sensor can include various interfaces such as an I2C interface, an SPI interface, etc. The measured ranging signal can be transmitted to the control device through the above interfaces for further processing.

[0044] Since the speed of sound varies greatly in different media, for example, the speed of sound in air is about 340m / s, and the speed of sound in liquid may reach 1440m / s, while the speed of laser in conventional media, such as air, is about 295550km / s, and the speed of laser in water is about 225000km / s, which is much smaller than the change in the speed of sound. When measuring the distance to the liquid surface in the cup 200, if there is hot water in the cup 200, the hot water will form a large number of suspended droplets in the air. If common distance measurement methods such as ultrasonic waves are used, the speed of sound will change frequently due to the influence of droplets, which seriously affects the accuracy of distance measurement. Therefore, laser distance measurement is more accurate than other distance measurement methods. Moreover, due to the high collimation of the laser, the laser distance measurement sensor has a smaller detection angle than other methods, which can ensure the accuracy of distance measurement. In addition, ranging methods such as ultrasonic ranging will expose the ultrasonic probe to water vapor, which is very easy to be damaged if working in harsh environments for a long time. In contrast, laser ranging sensors can isolate the probe from the harsh external environment by setting a glass protective film under the probe.

[0045] The receiving device can receive information about the user's water intake height. The water intake height refers to the final liquid level height expected by the user in the water intake container, which can represent a height value relative to the reference height. For example, the water supply device 100 can also include a container placement position located directly below the water intake port 130, and the height of the container placement position can be set as the reference height, which can be 0 cm. For example, the receiving device can receive information that the water intake height is 5 cm, and the final liquid level in the cup 200 after the water supply device 100 completes the water supply is 5 cm, that is, the final liquid level is 5 cm higher than the aforementioned reference height, regardless of whether the cup 200 has contents before taking water, such as water, instant medicine, or other food. When the cup 200 has other food before taking water, the water supply amount of the water supply device 100 this time is less; when the empty cup takes water, the water supply amount of the water supply device 100 this time is more. The receiving device can include one or more of any suitable devices such as an input device, a communication device, and a voice recognition device. The input device can include one or more of a key, a touch screen, a mouse, a keyboard, and a touch switch. The input device is used to receive the water intake height information input by the user. The input device can allow the user to directly input the water intake height information, for example, by means of a tactile detection device. This can eliminate the need for cumbersome APP operations, thereby reducing the difficulty of use for the user. In the case where the receiving device includes a communication device, the user can set the desired water intake height on the mobile phone APP, and then the receiving device can obtain the water intake height information set by the user through Bluetooth, near-field communication, etc. The voice recognition device can receive voice commands issued by the user, such as "take 5cm of water", thereby generating water intake information.

[0046] The control device can be built using electronic components such as timers, comparators, registers, digital logic circuits, etc., or implemented using processor chips such as single-chip microcontrollers, microprocessors, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), digital signal processors (DSPs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic arrays (PLAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and their peripheral circuits. The control device can control the actuating device according to the ranging signal and the information of the water intake height, so as to supply water through the water intake port 130 and stop supplying water when the supplied water volume reaches the water intake height. As described above, depending on whether there is content in the cup and the volume of the content, the supplied water volume may be different when the water intake height is the same. The ranging sensor 120 can detect the distance in real time to obtain the liquid level information in the cup 200, so that the control device can control the actuating device to stop supplying water through the water intake port 130 when the liquid level in the cup 200 reaches the desired water intake height of the user.

[0047] In the above technical solution, the receiving device can receive the information of the desired water intake height of the user, rather than the water intake volume. Moreover, when the water intake container is placed below the water intake port, the ranging sensor can measure the distance to the liquid surface in the water intake container. In this way, regardless of the thickness of the water intake container, the water supply to the water intake container can be stopped when the liquid surface in the water intake container reaches the desired water intake height. The user can more intuitively determine the desired water intake volume without having a clear understanding of the capacity of the cup and making complex estimations of the water intake volume. In addition, even if there is already content in the water intake container, the water supply volume can be reduced through the ranging signal generated by the ranging sensor to prevent water overflow.

[0048] In an embodiment not shown, considering that the user may have misoperations, for example, there is more water in the user's cup but the user does not notice and goes to fetch water, the lid of the cup is forgotten to be removed, or the user accidentally touches the receiving device and issues a water fetching instruction after already completing the water fetching. At this time, regardless of whether the distance represented by the ranging signal is the distance to the liquid surface or the distance to other objects such as the cup lid, the control device can stop the water supply according to the ranging signal to avoid water spilling out and affecting the user experience. This can effectively avoid the user's misoperations from causing excessive water to be fetched or water to spill out for other reasons.

[0049] For the case where the user uses a thermos cup with a filter net at the cup mouth, the ranging sensor 120 is very likely to generate a ranging signal according to the distance to the filter net, thus unable to obtain the actual liquid level information. At this time, the control device can also prompt the user to remove the filter net (for example, when detecting that the distance to the object / liquid surface is too close, prompt the user: "The liquid level is too high / remove the cup lid or filter net") to avoid abnormal water intake volume.

[0050] As described above, the water supply device 100 may further include a container placement position directly below the water intake 130. Exemplarily, continuing to refer to Figure 1 , the input device 140 includes a plurality of tactile detection devices disposed on the side of the container placement position. The plurality of tactile detection devices are arranged in the vertical direction, and the water intake height is within the first height range in which the plurality of tactile detection devices are arranged in the vertical direction. The tactile detection device is configured to send information on the water intake height to the control device according to the touched position in response to a user's touch operation.

[0051] Exemplarily, the tactile detection device may include a resistive sensor or a capacitive sensor. The resistive sensor requires the user to apply a certain pressure to it, thereby changing the resistance value between the sensor electrodes. The capacitive sensor can detect the user's own weak current, so that there is no need for the user to press, and only a slight contact is required to detect. Exemplarily, the tactile detection device (not shown in the figure) may be disposed inside the input device 140 and may be vertically arranged upward from the position corresponding to the bottom of the cup until it is at the same height as the water intake 130. Of course, in other embodiments, the installation position of the input device 140 may also be different from that in the figure, and the tactile detection device may also be set higher or lower. For example, the tactile detection device does not start from the height flush with the container placement position, but is set at a higher position. For another example, the highest tactile detection device is not set to the height flush with the water intake 130, but may be set lower, higher than the height of a common water cup. For example, a total of 20 discrete tactile detection devices are provided, and the control device can be connected to each tactile detection device through 20 IO interfaces (input / output interfaces), or a tactile detection device with a higher-cost bus interface is used. Thus, the detection signal of the tactile detection device is obtained. In short, in this example, the user can input the required water intake height to the water supply device 100 by touching the input device 140. Preferably, the input water intake height may be a certain height at which the user clicks the input device 140, or starting from the bottom of the input device 140 and touching, the finger slides upward to a certain height, such as the height indicated by the dotted line in the figure. At this time, the water supply device can supply water to the cup 200 until the liquid level 210 reaches the height indicated by the dotted line.

[0052] In this way, through a simple interaction, the user can input the required height to the water supply device 100, and this height is consistent with the height of the water in the cup 200 that the user desires, and the water supply device 100 can provide the user with the required water.

[0053] Of course, in an embodiment not shown, the user's touch height may not exactly correspond to the set liquid level, but there is a certain proportional relationship.

[0054] In the above technical solution, the tactile detection device is used as the input device of the water supply device 100, which has a low cost and high accuracy. This technical solution supports the user to provide information about the water intake height to the water supply device only through simple operations, improving the user experience.

[0055] Exemplarily, the water supply device 100 further includes a light-emitting component disposed on the side of the container placement position. The light-emitting component can be arranged vertically within a second height range, and the second height range includes the first height range. The control device is further configured to control a first part of the light-emitting component to emit light according to the information about the water intake height. The first part of the light-emitting component is the part of the light-emitting component below the first position, and the first position is at the same horizontal height as the touched position.

[0056] The light-emitting component can include a light bar or a plurality of discrete light beads. For example, the light-emitting component can include a plurality of LED light beads. The light beads can be densely arranged to form a light bar, and the light bar extends in the longitudinal direction. After the user touches or presses the tactile detection device at a certain height, all the light bars below this position are lit, thus forming a light-emitting part with a certain height, that is, the above-mentioned first part. The height of the highest point of the first part can correspond to the final water intake height. As Figure 1 shown, in addition to the internally arranged tactile detection device, the input device 140 can also be provided with a light-emitting component at the same time. Figure 1 In the embodiment shown in, the light-emitting component is a plurality of discrete light beads 141, and the light beads 141 can be arranged under the housing of the input device 140. The housing of the input device 140 can be made of a frosted material. When the light beads 141 are not lit, the user cannot see the positions of the light beads 141, and after the light beads 141 are lit, a light-emitting effect can be formed through the scattering of the frosted material. For example, the user can touch Figure 1 the tactile detection device at the position shown by the dotted line in, and at this time, the light beads 141 at the corresponding position of the dotted line and the light beads 141 below it also light up. The user can confirm that the approximate water intake height is the height at which the light bar lights up. The control device controls the actuating device to supply water from the water intake 130 to the cup 200, and the ranging sensor 120 continuously detects the height of the liquid level 210 until the height of the liquid level 210 is the same as the position shown by the dotted line, then the water supply ends.

[0057] Compared with not setting the light-emitting component, the user can clearly know whether the set height takes effect, and can confirm whether the input height is incorrect according to the height of the light-emitting part in the light-emitting component and adjust it in time. In this way, the water supply device gives appropriate feedback to the user, which can greatly improve the user experience. By adopting the light-emitting component, it is more intuitive than voice prompts, etc. The user can directly know the set height situation at a glance and compare it with the height of the cup 200 to confirm whether the liquid level setting is unreasonable.

[0058] Exemplarily, the lower limit of the second height range can be located at the bottom of the container placement position.

[0059] In this way, the lighting position of the light bar can start from the bottom of the cup 200, which not only allows the user to set a lower water intake height, but also enables the user to clearly know this water intake height.

[0060] In an alternative example, the tactile detection device may include a light-emitting component, a plurality of tactile sensors, and a current detection device. The light-emitting component is arranged on the side of the aforementioned container placement position and extends in the vertical direction. The plurality of tactile sensors are correspondingly arranged on the side of the container placement position and arranged in the vertical direction. The tactile sensors are used to cause the light-emitting component below the touched position to emit light in response to the user's touch operation. The current detection device is used to detect the current of the light-emitting component and generate a corresponding current signal. The control device is further used to determine the information of the water intake height according to the current signal.

[0061] In this embodiment, the tactile sensors can be interconnected with the light-emitting component. Here, an example where the light-emitting component includes a plurality of lamp beads will be described. When the user touches a tactile sensor, the tactile sensor lights up its corresponding lamp bead and the lamp beads below it. The current detection device can detect the change in the current supplied to the light-emitting component. It can be understood that the lamp beads in the light-emitting component are usually connected in parallel to the power supply. The more lamp beads that emit light in the light-emitting component, the greater the supply current from the power supply to the light-emitting component, and it is approximately a linear relationship. At this time, the control device can determine the water intake height specified by the user according to the current signal from the current detection device.

[0062] Adopting this solution, the control device does not need to establish electrical connections with each tactile sensor separately, and only needs to detect the current of the light-emitting component to determine the water intake height of the user. And for detecting the current, only one analog input interface and a sampling resistor for detecting the current are required, the logic is simpler and more reliable, and the cost is lower. By determining the information of the water intake height set by the user through the current of the light-emitting component in the tactile detection device, what you see is what you get, and the user experience is better.

[0063] Exemplarily, the water supply device 100 further includes a prompt part arranged on the side of the container placement position. The prompt parts are arranged in the vertical direction, and the water intake height is within the first height range of the prompt parts arranged in the vertical direction. The prompt part is used to provide height reference information, and the height reference information is used to provide a reference for the user to determine the information of the water intake height.

[0064] In a specific embodiment, the prompting part may include scales, and different labels may be set at different scales. For example, the scales of the prompting part may be in millimeters, which is convenient for users to have a clear concept of the height of the water they want to take. For example, a user may have no clear concept of a height of 10 cm. At this time, the user can confirm the height of the water they want through the scales and input it through the input device 140. For a water supply device without the above-mentioned tactile detection device and light bar, the user can use the above method to confirm the water-taking height. In another example, the prompting part may set a rough corresponding relationship according to the sizes of common cups on the prompting part. For example, a height of 5 cm corresponds to 200 mL of water, a height of 10 cm corresponds to 400 mL of water, etc., which can give the user a general concept of the water volume, so as to prevent the user from setting and taking too much or too little water, which affects the user experience. In some other examples, the prompting part may also set different function prompts at different height positions. For example, a liquid level of 8 cm may correspond to brewing soy milk or coffee, a liquid level of 10 cm may correspond to making tea, etc., so as to show the user various operations that can be performed at different liquid levels, which is convenient for the user to make a choice. The prompting part may also mark percentages, and the user can input the required water output percentage through the touch screen 110 of the receiving device.

[0065] The prompting part may be set on the housing by means of laser marking, silk screen printing, stainless steel signs, etc. For some water supply devices 100 with higher costs or public water supply devices, users can take water through voice commands, so as to achieve contactless water taking. The use of the prompting part can avoid the problem that users cannot clearly know the water-taking height, and avoid the situation that the tactile detection device is frequently touched by many people, resulting in cross-infection (for example, the use scenario of the water supply device is a hospital), or the problem that the sensitivity of the tactile detection device decreases or even fails due to use in a harsh environment, etc., improving the user experience.

[0066] In the above technical solution, the presence of the prompting part in the water supply device can effectively prompt the user of the water-taking height and facilitate the user to obtain the desired water volume.

[0067] Exemplarily, the receiving device may include a communication device for communicating with the user's smart device to receive information about the water-taking height from the smart device. For example, the water supply device may be provided with a QR code, and the user can establish a connection with the communication device through methods such as scanning the code and using the Bluetooth of the mobile phone. After that, the user can set the water-taking height through an APP or a small program, etc.

[0068] The APP or small program in the smart device can provide the user with more information and can also carry functions such as charging. The user can achieve contactless water taking through the smart device. Of course, the smart device can also use methods such as local area network, infrared communication, NFC, etc., or remotely control the water supply device through the Internet.

[0069] In the above technical solution, the communication device receives information about the water intake height from the user's smart device, which facilitates remote operation by the user and improves the user experience.

[0070] Exemplarily, the control device is further configured to determine that the distance represented by the first ranging signal is a distance threshold, where the first ranging signal is a ranging signal received by the control device from the ranging sensor 120 when starting to enter the standby state or after a preset time in the standby state. The above distance threshold is used to trigger the control device to exit the standby state.

[0071] Exemplarily, after the user finishes taking water, the control device can control the water supply device 100 to enter the standby state and turn off the devices that are not necessary for the operation of the water supply device 100, thereby reducing energy consumption. Generally, at this time, the user usually has taken away the cup 200. The control device can control the ranging sensor 120 to detect the distance when starting to enter the standby state or after a period of time since starting standby. This distance can be considered as the distance to the vacant container placement position, corresponding to the first ranging signal. In other words, it can be considered that the distance represented by the first ranging signal is the distance detected when there is no cup 200 on the container placement position. The distance represented by the first ranging signal can be set as the distance threshold. Optionally, the ranging sensor 120 detecting the distance can include performing a detection operation at a first preset frequency, calculating the average value of the distances detected in this period at a second preset frequency, and then sending the calculated average value of the distances to the control device as the first ranging signal. Among them, the first preset frequency is higher than the second preset frequency.

[0072] When the ranging sensor 120 is used continuously for a long time, cumulative errors may occur, resulting in a large difference between the detected distance and the actual distance. Therefore, the ranging sensor 120 can be calibrated according to the first ranging signal representing the distance to the container placement position to eliminate the cumulative error in a timely manner and ensure the accuracy of ranging.

[0073] A water tank may be provided below the container placement position of the water supply device. The water tank can collect the water spilled by the user when taking water or the waste water in the cup, and can also discharge the collected water from the water supply device, for example, into the sewer. The user may use a larger cup to take water. To facilitate compatibility with cups of different sizes, the water tank can be detachable. Therefore, for the same water supply device, the distance from the ranging sensor 120 to the container placement position may be different at different times. Therefore, the above calibration can confirm in a timely manner whether the user has removed the water tank, thus avoiding inaccurate distance detection.

[0074] Not shown, the area below the water intake 130 of the water supply device may also be empty, that is, the ground is directly below the water intake 130. The user can hold a water intake container to draw water below the water intake 130. At this time, the distance represented by the first ranging signal can be the distance measured by the ranging sensor to the ground.

[0075] Exemplarily, the control device is further configured to determine whether the distance represented by the ranging signal is less than a distance threshold, and the control device exits the standby state when the distance is less than the distance threshold.

[0076] As described above, the ranging sensor 120 can generate a ranging signal at a second preset frequency and send it to the control device. The control device compares the distance corresponding to the ranging signal with the distance threshold corresponding to the first ranging signal. If the distance corresponding to the current ranging signal is less than the distance threshold, it can be considered that the user has placed the water intake container directly below the water intake 130, and the standby state can be exited.

[0077] In another embodiment, during the process of the user placing the water intake container at the container placement position, the sudden decrease in the measured distance may be caused when the mouth of the water intake container passes by the ranging sensor 120. Exemplarily, the standby mode can be exited when a very small value less than another distance threshold appears in the distance detected by the ranging sensor 120 (when the mouth of the water intake container passes by the ranging sensor 120). It can be understood that in this embodiment, the distance threshold is also relatively small.

[0078] In the above technical solution, the control device can enter the standby state when there is no water intake operation, and exit the standby state when the distance represented by the ranging signal generated by the ranging sensor 120 indicates that the currently detected distance is less than the distance threshold. Thus, without affecting the user's water intake, energy is effectively saved and the service life of the water supply device is extended.

[0079] Exemplarily, the control device controls the actuator to supply water through the water intake 130 and stops the water supply when the supplied water volume reaches the water intake height according to the ranging signal and the information of the water intake height, including performing the following operations: calculating the difference between the initial distance value and the water intake height; during the process of supplying water through the water intake 130, determining whether the distance represented by the current ranging signal is less than or equal to the difference; when the distance represented by the current ranging signal is less than or equal to the difference, performing a first timing operation; when the time counted by the first timing operation reaches a first time threshold, controlling the actuator to stop the water supply.

[0080] The initial distance value can represent the distance between the ranging sensor 120 and the container placement position. The ranging sensor 120 is located above the cup 200. At startup, the above initial distance value can be obtained. The water intake height can represent the height from the container placement position to the target liquid level. By subtracting the water intake height from the initial distance value, the distance between the target liquid level and the ranging sensor 120, i.e., the above difference, can be obtained. Subsequently, the distance represented by the current ranging signal can be compared with the obtained difference. It can be understood that as the liquid level rises, the distance indicated by the current ranging signal gradually decreases. When the distance represented by the current ranging signal is less than or equal to the difference, it means that the liquid level has generally reached the target liquid level, i.e., the water intake height. Since the water surface may fluctuate due to water flow, water supply can continue and the first timing operation can be started.

[0081] Exemplarily, during the first timing operation, if it is detected that the distance indicated by the current ranging signal changes back to being greater than the difference, the first timing operation can be stopped at this time until the distance indicated by the current ranging signal is less than or equal to the difference again, and the first timing operation can be restarted. When the time counted by the first timing operation reaches the first time threshold, the control execution device is controlled to stop water supply. In other words, during the process that the time counted by the first timing operation reaches the first time threshold, the distance indicated by the current distance signal has not been greater than the difference. The first time threshold can be set to several hundred milliseconds, so that the actual water intake level will not be much higher than the target liquid level.

[0082] The above technical solution can ensure that the liquid level is not lower than the target liquid level and eliminate the influence of liquid surface jitter on the water intake volume.

[0083] Exemplarily, the control device is further configured to perform a second timing operation starting from the moment when water supply starts through the water intake port 130; when the time counted by the second timing operation reaches the second time threshold, control the execution device to stop water supply.

[0084] The ranging sensor 120 may malfunction due to reasons such as static electricity, impact, and vibration. The malfunction may occur briefly or continuously. During the process of the user taking water, there is also a possibility that the ranging sensor 120 is abnormal. At this time, the control device may obtain incorrect data from the ranging sensor 120. For example, the ranging signal of the ranging sensor 120 remains unchanged all the time. The water supply device may also continuously supply water as a result, causing a large amount of water to overflow and be wasted, or spilled onto the ground and difficult to clean. Therefore, exemplarily, according to the size of the water intake container that the water supply device can adapt to, the time required to fill the largest adaptable water intake container can be estimated, and a corresponding second time threshold can be set. The control device can start the second timing operation from the moment when water supply starts. When the duration of the second timing reaches the second time threshold, control the execution device to stop water supply, so as to ensure that a large amount of water will not overflow, causing serious waste or large areas of water stains that are difficult to clean, and protecting the user experience.

[0085] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a control method for a water supply device. The water supply device has a water inlet and a water intake. The water supply device further includes: a water supply waterway connected between the water inlet and the water intake, an actuator provided on the water supply waterway, and a ranging sensor. The ranging sensor is provided at the water intake and faces downward, and is used for detecting a distance and generating a ranging signal.

[0086] Figure 2 A schematic flowchart of the control method according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. As Figure 2 shown, the control method may include the following steps S1 and S2.

[0087] Step S1, receiving information on the water intake height of the user.

[0088] Step S2, controlling the actuator according to the ranging signal and the information on the water intake height, so as to supply water through the water intake and stop the water supply when the supplied water volume reaches the water intake height.

[0089] Exemplarily, the above control method further includes: determining whether the distance represented by the ranging signal is less than a distance threshold; exiting the standby state when the distance is less than the distance threshold.

[0090] Exemplarily, the above control method further includes: determining that the distance represented by the first ranging signal is the distance threshold, where the first ranging signal is a ranging signal received from the ranging sensor when starting to enter the standby state or after a preset time in the standby state.

[0091] Exemplarily, the above controlling the actuator according to the ranging signal and the information on the water intake height to supply water through the water intake and stop the water supply when the supplied water volume reaches the water intake height includes:

[0092] calculating the difference between the initial distance value and the water intake height;

[0093] during the process of supplying water through the water intake, determining whether the distance represented by the current ranging signal is less than or equal to the difference;

[0094] when the distance represented by the current ranging signal is less than or equal to the difference, performing a first timing operation;

[0095] when the time counted by the first timing operation reaches a first time threshold, controlling the actuator to stop the water supply.

[0096] Exemplarily, the above control method further includes: performing a second timing operation since the moment of starting to supply water through the water intake; when the time counted by the second timing operation reaches a second time threshold, controlling the actuator to stop the water supply.

[0097] Figure 3 The schematic flowchart of the control method according to another embodiment of the present application is shown. As Figure 3 shown, after the water supply device is powered on after installation, if there is no water intake action, it can enter the screen-off standby state, thus saving electric energy. At the moment of starting the standby state or after a preset time of entering the standby state, the laser range finder sensor can generate a first ranging signal, and the control device can determine a distance threshold according to the first ranging signal. Specifically, the laser range finder sensor can continuously detect multiple times within several seconds and take the average value to generate a corresponding first ranging signal, so that the control device can determine the distance threshold accordingly. Subsequently, the laser range finder sensor can perform multiple detections for several seconds at intervals, take the average value as the detection distance and generate the current ranging signal accordingly. If the current detection distance represented by the current ranging signal is less than the distance threshold, the screen-off standby mode is exited and the display screen is lit. The information of the water intake height determined by the user according to the prompt part can be received. Optionally, the user can input the required water intake height through the display screen. Or in response to the user's touch operation, the water intake height information is determined, and at the same time, the light-emitting components corresponding to the height are lit. Thus, the water intake height can be determined. Subsequently, the water outlet temperature selected by the user can be received, and in response to the user clicking the water intake button (i.e., receiving the user's confirmation of the water intake information), the control execution device supplies water to the water intake port. The laser range finder sensor detects the liquid level height in real time. When the liquid level height reaches the water intake height and maintains the first time threshold, the control execution device stops supplying water. Subsequently, if there is no water intake action, it re-enters the screen-off standby state.

[0098] Those of ordinary skill in the art can understand the specific steps and beneficial effects of the above control method of the water supply device by reading the above specific description of the water supply device. For the sake of brevity, it will not be repeated here.

[0099] Although example embodiments have been described herein with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that the above example embodiments are merely exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention thereto. Those of ordinary skill in the art can make various changes and modifications therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as claimed in the appended claims.

[0100] Those of ordinary skill in the art can realize that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented by electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are executed in a hardware or software manner depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional technicians can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to exceed the scope of the present invention.

[0101] In several embodiments provided by the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of the units is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another device, or some features can be ignored or not executed.

[0102] In the specification provided herein, a large number of specific details are set forth. However, it can be understood that the embodiments of the present invention can be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known methods, structures, and technologies have not been shown in detail so as not to obscure the understanding of this specification.

[0103] Similarly, it should be understood that, in order to streamline the present invention and assist in understanding one or more of the various inventive aspects, in the description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the various features of the present invention are sometimes grouped together into a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof. However, the methods of the present invention should not be construed as reflecting the intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as reflected by the corresponding claims, the inventive point lies in that the corresponding technical problems can be solved with features fewer than all the features of a single disclosed embodiment. Therefore, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into the detailed description, where each claim itself serves as a separate embodiment of the present invention.

[0104] Those skilled in the art can understand that, except for features that are mutually exclusive, any combination can be adopted for all the features disclosed in this specification (including the accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) and all the processes or units of any method or device so disclosed. Unless otherwise expressly stated, each feature disclosed in this specification (including the accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) can be replaced by an alternative feature that provides the same, equivalent, or similar purpose.

[0105] In addition, those skilled in the art can understand that, although some of the embodiments described herein include certain features included in other embodiments rather than other features, the combination of the features of different embodiments means that it is within the scope of the present invention and forms different embodiments. For example, in the claims, any one of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

[0106] Each component embodiment of the present invention can be implemented in hardware, or in software modules running on one or more processors, or in a combination thereof. Those skilled in the art should understand that a microprocessor or a digital signal processor (DSP) can be used in practice to implement some or all of the functions of some modules of the water supply device according to the embodiments of the present invention. The present invention can also be implemented as a device program (e.g., a computer program and a computer program product) for executing part or all of the methods described herein. Such a program for implementing the present invention can be stored on a computer-readable medium, or can be in the form of one or more signals. Such signals can be downloaded from an Internet website, or provided on a carrier signal, or in any other form.

[0107] It should be noted that the above embodiments illustrate the present invention rather than limit the present invention, and those skilled in the art can design alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claims. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps not listed in the claims. The word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The present invention can be implemented by means of hardware including several different elements and by means of a suitably programmed computer. In a unit claim listing several devices, several of these devices can be embodied by the same item of hardware. The use of the words first, second, and third, etc. does not denote any order. These words can be interpreted as names.

[0108] As described above, it is only the specific implementation manner of the present invention or the description of the specific implementation manner, and the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily think of changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention, and all of them should be covered by the protection scope of the present invention. The protection scope of the present invention shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A water supply device, the water supply device having a water inlet and a water intake, characterized in that, Comprising: A water supply waterway connected between the water inlet and the water intake, an actuating device, a ranging sensor, a receiving device, and a control device provided on the water supply waterway, The ranging sensor is disposed at the water intake and faces downward, for detecting a distance and generating a ranging signal; The receiving device is used for receiving information on the water intake height of the user; The control device is electrically connected to the ranging sensor, the receiving device, and the actuating device, and is used for controlling the actuating device according to the ranging signal and the information on the water intake height, so as to supply water through the water intake and stop supplying water when the supplied water volume reaches the water intake height.

2. The water supply device according to claim 1, wherein The control device is further used for determining whether the distance represented by the ranging signal is less than a distance threshold; The control device exits the standby state when the distance is less than the distance threshold.

3. The water supply device according to claim 2, wherein The control device is further used for determining that the distance represented by a first ranging signal is the distance threshold, wherein the first ranging signal is a ranging signal received by the control device from the ranging sensor when starting to enter the standby state or after a preset time in the standby state.

4. The water supply device according to claim 1, wherein The control device controls the actuating device to supply water through the water intake and stops supplying water when the supplied water volume reaches the water intake height according to the ranging signal and the information on the water intake height, including performing the following operations: Calculating the difference between the initial distance value and the water intake height; During the process of supplying water through the water intake, determining whether the distance represented by the current ranging signal is less than or equal to the difference; When the distance represented by the current ranging signal is less than or equal to the difference, performing a first timing operation; When the time counted by the first timing operation reaches a first time threshold, controlling the actuating device to stop supplying water.

5. The water supply device according to claim 1, wherein The control device is further used for, starting from the moment of starting to supply water through the water intake, performing a second timing operation; when the time counted by the second timing operation reaches a second time threshold, controlling the actuating device to stop supplying water.

6. The water supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein The receiving device includes an input device for receiving the information on the water intake height input by the user.

7. The water supply device according to claim 6, wherein The water supply device further includes a container placement position directly below the water intake, The input device includes a plurality of tactile detection devices provided on the side of the container placement position, the plurality of tactile detection devices are arranged in the vertical direction, and the water intake height is within a first height range in which the plurality of tactile detection devices are arranged in the vertical direction, The plurality of tactile detection devices are used for responding to the touch operation of the user and sending the information on the water intake height to the control device according to the touched position.

8. The water supply device according to claim 7, wherein The water supply device further includes a light-emitting component disposed on a side surface of the container placement position, and the light-emitting component is arranged in a second height range in the vertical direction, and the second height range includes the first height range; The control device is further configured to control a first part of the light-emitting component to emit light according to the information of the water intake height, where the first part of the light-emitting component is the part of the light-emitting component below a first position, and the first position is at the same horizontal height as the touched position.

9. The water supply device according to claim 8, wherein The lower limit of the second height range is located at the bottom of the container placement position.

10. The water supply device according to claim 6, wherein The water supply device further includes a container placement position directly below the water intake. The input device includes a tactile detection device, and the tactile detection device includes a light-emitting component, a plurality of tactile sensors, and a current detection device. The light-emitting component is disposed on a side surface of the container placement position and extends in the vertical direction, and the plurality of tactile sensors are correspondingly arranged on the side surface of the container placement position and arranged in the vertical direction; The tactile sensor is configured to cause the light-emitting component below the touched position to emit light in response to a touch operation of a user; The current detection device is configured to detect a current of the light-emitting component and generate a corresponding current signal; The control device is further configured to determine the information of the water intake height according to the current signal.

11. The water supply device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The water supply device further includes a container placement position directly below the water intake, and the water supply device further includes a prompting portion disposed on a side surface of the container placement position. The prompting portion is arranged in the vertical direction, and the water intake height is within a first height range in which the prompting portion is arranged in the vertical direction. The prompting portion is configured to provide height reference information, and the height reference information is used to provide a reference for a user to determine the information of the water intake height.

12. The water supply device according to claim 1, wherein The receiving device includes a communication device configured to communicate with a user's smart device to receive the information of the water intake height from the smart device.

13. A control method for a water supply device, the water supply device having a water inlet and a water intake, characterized in that, The water supply device further includes: a water supply waterway connected between the water inlet and the water intake, an execution device disposed on the water supply waterway, and a distance measuring sensor. The distance measuring sensor is disposed at the water intake and faces downward, and is configured to detect a distance and generate a distance measuring signal; The control method includes: Receiving the information of the water intake height of the user; Controlling the execution device according to the distance measuring signal and the information of the water intake height to supply water through the water intake and stop supplying water when the supplied water volume reaches the water intake height.

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