Touchless Water Dispensing Control for Safe Hot Water Use

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional water supply devices require direct user contact, leading to potential contamination and safety hazards, particularly with hot water dispensing, as they lack effective touchless operation and stringent safety conditions.

Innovation Solution

A touchless water dispensing system with capacitive object detection units and a controller that evaluates user gestures to control water valves without direct contact, incorporating additional safety conditions for hot water dispensing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If direct contact operation is used for water dispensing, then ease of operation is improved, but pathogen contamination and spread increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidpathogen contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based valve operation with a capacitive sensing system that detects hand proximity and gestures without physical contact. The object detection unit uses capacitive coupling to sense the user's hand position and movement patterns, enabling touchless water dispensing control while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary detection system (capacitive sensor) between the user and the water valve. This intermediary detects hand gestures and proximity to trigger water dispensing, eliminating direct contact with the valve while preserving the user interface functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If touchless operation is implemented, then pathogen spread is prevented, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen spreadVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates multiple functions into a single capacitive detection system. The same object detection unit handles both proximity detection and gesture recognition, eliminating the need for separate sensors for each function and reducing overall system complexity despite the advanced touchless capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines proximity sensing and gesture recognition functions into a unified capacitive detection system. By merging these functions into one integrated unit rather than using separate sensors, the system achieves touchless operation while minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If additional safety conditions are applied for hot water dispensing, then user safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser safetyVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary gesture recognition requirements before hot water dispensing is activated. The system requires specific hand gesture patterns to be detected and validated before allowing hot water flow, preventing accidental activation while maintaining a natural and intuitive operation flow for authorized users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses feedback from the capacitive sensor to monitor hand gesture patterns in real-time. The system continuously evaluates the detected gestures against safety criteria, providing immediate feedback by either permitting or preventing hot water dispensing based on whether the gesture pattern meets the required safety conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Prevents pathogen spread and enhances user safety by allowing touchless water dispensing while applying strict conditions for hot water handling, reducing the risk of accidental hot water dispensing.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of object detection units connected to capacitive input terminals of the touch sensor chip

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitive sensing: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS11434123B2Touchless water dispensing control system for water supply device and water dispensing control method using same

Publication Date: 2022.09.06 YOUNGONE

AI summary

Proposed is a touchless water dispensing control system, wherein water dispensing operation is possible without requiring physical contact between a user and a water supply device. In an embodiment, proposed are: a touchless water dispensing control system for a water supply device, the water dispensing control system including at least two water dispensing valves, a touchless locking operation module detecting an approaching object, a touchless water dispensing operation module detecting the approaching object, and a controller comparing a user's gesture patterns received from each of the locking operation module and the water dispensing operation module with a preset condition and controlling operation of the water dispensing valves on the basis of a result of comparison; and a water dispensing control method using the same.