Shower Flow Pulsing for Water-Saving Haptic Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sanitary installations, particularly showers, suffer from excessive water consumption due to user unawareness, and existing visual and auditory feedback methods are often ineffective or aesthetically disruptive.
Innovation Solution
Implement a controllable flow limiter with haptic feedback, controlled by a unit that monitors and compares water consumption against predefined limits, pulsing the water flow with varying pulse lengths and intensities to alert users when limits are reached.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If visual or auditory feedback indicators are added to alert users about water consumption, then user awareness of water usage is improved, but device complexity and aesthetic design are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the feedback function from separate visual/auditory indicators and integrates it directly into the water flow itself through pulsing. The water flow carries both the useful function (providing water) and the information function (alerting users via pulses), eliminating the need for additional display elements and reducing device complexity while maintaining user awareness.
2Loss of information
If display elements are added to show water consumption information, then user awareness is improved, but aesthetic design is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the information delivery function with the existing water flow delivery function. The pulsing water flow simultaneously provides water to the user and conveys consumption information, eliminating the need for separate display elements that would compromise aesthetic design while maintaining effective communication of water usage data.
3Ease of operation
If continuous water flow is maintained, then user experience is improved, but water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic pulsing of the water flow instead of continuous flow. The controllable flow limiter creates regular pulses that provide tactile feedback to users about their water consumption, allowing users to adjust their behavior and reduce overall water usage while maintaining an acceptable showering experience through the rhythmic nature of the pulses.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for reducing water consumption in a sanitary installation (10), in particular a shower, comprises the following steps: Providing a controllable flow limiter (22; 22a, 22b) in a first water flow path (14; 14a, 14b); Providing a control unit (24) which drives the controllable flow limiter (22; 22a, 22b); Collecting information on the current water consumption of the sanitary installation (10) via the control unit (24), wherein the control unit (24) summarizes the current water consumption to a total water consumption and compares the total water consumption with a definable consumption limit, wherein once the total water consumption reaches the definable consumption limit the control unit (24) gives haptic feedback to a user of the sanitary installation (10) by driving the controllable flow limiter (22; 22a, 22b) such that a water flow through the water flow path (14; 14a, 14b) is pulsed with one or more pulses having a pulse length between 10 msec and 5 seconds.