IR-Sensed Touchless Faucet With Timed Water Shut-Off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial aviation requires minimizing water usage while ensuring sufficient supply for passengers and crew, and existing faucet technologies lack efficient automatic shut-off mechanisms to conserve water.
Innovation Solution
A touchless faucet design featuring a dual compartment structure with an IR sensor and solenoid system, where the IR sensor detects user presence and communicates with a control board to open the solenoid, allowing fluid flow and automatically shutting off after a predetermined period.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a touchless faucet with automatic shut-off is implemented, then water conservation is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with automated sensing and control systems. An optical sensor detects user presence and triggers an electromagnetic solenoid valve to control water flow automatically, eliminating the need for manual valve operation and enabling precise automatic shut-off to conserve water
Solution Approach 2:
The faucet system performs self-service by automatically detecting when water is needed through optical sensing and autonomously controlling the solenoid valve to open or close water flow without human intervention, thereby conserving water through automatic shut-off after predetermined periods
2Productivity
If automatic shut-off mechanism is added, then water management efficiency is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces simple mechanical faucets with automated systems using optical sensors and electromagnetic solenoids. The sensor detects presence and absence of users, triggering the solenoid to automatically control water flow, thereby improving water management efficiency through precise timing control despite increased manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system controls water flow duration by changing the temporal parameter - automatically shutting off after a predetermined period based on sensor detection. This parameter-based control (time duration) improves water management efficiency by ensuring water flows only when and for as long as needed
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The touchless faucet effectively conserves water by automatically shutting off after use, ensuring efficient water management in aircraft lavatories and potentially other applications.
Implementation Method 1
an IR sensor disposed in the first compartment and communicatively coupled to the at least one control board, the IR sensor configured to sense a presence of a user
Implementation Method 2
a solenoid disposed in the second compartment and communicatively coupled to the at least one control board, the solenoid having an inlet for receiving fluid from a mixing chamber formed in the second compartment and an outlet for delivering the fluid from the mixing chamber to an aerator
Data Source
AI summary
A touchless faucet includes a faucet body having a first compartment and a second compartment, where the second compartment has a mixing chamber for mixing fluid and a flow passage. The faucet also includes an aerator coupled to the faucet body and configured to receive fluid from the flow passage, a control board disposed in the first compartment, a solenoid disposed in the second compartment and communicatively coupled to the control board, and an IR sensor disposed in the first compartment for sensing a presence of a user.