CN111981179A

CN111981179A - Water tap

Info

Publication number: CN111981179A
Application number: CN202010449146.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: J·D·萨瓦斯基
Original assignee: Delta Faucet Co
Current assignee: Delta Faucet Co
Priority date: 2019-05-24
Filing date: 2020-05-25
Publication date: 2020-11-24
Also published as: CA3080534A1; CA3080534C

Abstract

The application provides a faucet, includes: a delivery pipe; a channel for guiding water to flow through the delivery pipe; and an electrically operable valve disposed within the passage. A first capacitive sensor having a first detection field, the first capacitive sensor generating a first output signal when a user's hand is detected in the first detection field; and a second capacitive sensor having a second detection field, the second capacitive sensor generating a second output signal when the second capacitive sensor detects a hand of the user in the second detection field. A controller is coupled to the first and second capacitive sensors and the electrically operable valve.

Description

Water tap

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application serial No. 15/645,966 filed on 10.7.2017, a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application serial No. 14/575,925 filed on 18.12.2014, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The present application relates generally to improvements in capacitive sensors for activating faucets. In particular, the present application relates to a faucet including a capacitive sensor for hands-free fluid flow control. More particularly, the present application relates to capacitive sensors placed in or near a faucet delivery tube and/or faucet handle to sense the proximity of a faucet user and then control the faucet based on an output signal from the capacitive sensor.

Background

Electronic faucets are commonly used to control fluid flow. The electronic faucet may include a proximity sensor, such as an active infrared ("IR") proximity detector or a capacitive proximity sensor. Such proximity sensors are used to detect a user's hand located near the faucet and turn the water on and off in response to detecting the user's hand. Other electronic faucets may use touch sensors to control the faucet. Such touch sensors include capacitive touch sensors or other types of touch sensors located on the delivery tube or handle of the faucet for controlling the faucet. Capacitive sensors on the faucet may also be used to detect contact of the faucet member and proximity of a user's hand adjacent the faucet.

Disclosure of Invention

In one illustrated embodiment of the present application, a faucet includes: a delivery pipe; a channel for guiding water to flow through the delivery pipe; an electrically operable valve disposed within the passage and having an open position in which water flows freely through the passage and a closed position in which the passage is blocked; a first capacitive sensor having a first detection field, the first capacitive sensor generating a first output signal when a user's hand is detected in the first detection field; a second capacitive sensor having a second detection field, the second capacitive sensor generating a second output signal when the second capacitive sensor detects a hand of the user in the second detection field; and a controller coupled to the first and second capacitive sensors and the electrically operable valve, the controller programmed to actuate the electrically operable valve in response to detecting the user's hand in the first detection domain but not in the second detection domain.

In another illustrated embodiment of the present application, a method of actuating a faucet, the method comprising: monitoring a first capacitive sensor having a first detection field, the first capacitive sensor generating a first output signal when a user's hand is detected in the first detection field; monitoring a second capacitive sensor having a second detection field, the second capacitive sensor generating a second output signal when the second capacitive sensor detects a hand of the user in the second detection field; and on receipt of the first output signal but not the second output signal, switching an electrically operable valve within the faucet between an open position in which water flows freely through the faucet and a closed position in which the faucet is blocked and water flow through the faucet is inhibited.

Additional features and advantages of the present application will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the application as presently perceived.

Drawings

The detailed description of the drawings is particularly directed to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an electronic faucet of an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 1B is a block diagram of an electronic faucet of another illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 1C is a block diagram of an electronic faucet of another illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present application including first and second capacitive sensors each having separate detection zones positioned to define overlapping central or detection zones, wherein a controller processes output signals from the first and second capacitive sensors to detect when a user is located within the detection zones;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the first and second capacitive sensors of FIG. 2 positioned on a delivery tube of a faucet to define a detection zone adjacent the delivery tube;

FIG. 4 illustrates exemplary output signals from the first and second capacitive sensors of FIGS. 2 and 3 as a user's hand is moved relative to the first and second capacitive sensors;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment of the present application including three capacitive sensors each having a separate detection field positioned to define multiple overlapping detection zones;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment of the present application including a first capacitive sensor and a second capacitive sensor each having separate detection domains, wherein a controller processes output signals from the first capacitive sensor and the second capacitive sensor such that the second capacitive sensor acts as a rejection for the first capacitive sensor;

FIG. 7 illustrates exemplary output signals from the first and second capacitive sensors of FIG. 6 when a user's hand is moved relative to the first and second capacitive sensors; and

fig. 8 is a flow chart illustrating operation of the embodiment of fig. 6.

Detailed Description

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and described below. The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the application to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, these embodiments are chosen and described so that the teachings thereof will be readily available to others skilled in the art. Accordingly, there is no intention to limit the scope of the claimed invention. This application is intended to cover any variations and further modifications of the shown device and described method, as well as further applications of the principles of the application, which would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the application relates.

Fig. 1A is a block diagram showing one illustrative embodiment of the electronic faucet 10 of the present application. Faucet 10 illustratively includes an outlet (e.g., delivery tube 12) for delivering a fluid such as water and at least one manual valve handle 14 for controlling the flow of fluid through delivery tube 12 in a manual mode. Hot water source 16 and cold water source 18 are coupled to manual valve body assembly 20 by

fluid supply lines

17 and 19, respectively. Valve handle 14 is operatively coupled to manual valve body assembly 20 to control the flow of water therethrough.

In one illustrated embodiment, separate manual valve handles 14 are provided for hot water source 16 and cold water source 18. In other embodiments, such as the kitchen faucet embodiment, a single manual valve handle 14 is used for both hot and cold water delivery. In such kitchen faucet embodiments, manual valve handle 14 and delivery tube 12 are typically coupled to the basin by a single hole installation. The output of the valve body assembly 20 is coupled to an actuator driven valve 22 that is electronically controlled by an input signal received from a controller 24. In the illustrative embodiment, the actuator driven valve 22 is an electrically operable valve, such as a solenoid valve. The output of the actuator driven valve 22 supplies fluid to the delivery tube 12 through a water output or supply line 23.

In an alternative embodiment, the hot water source 16 and the cold water source 18 are directly connected to the actuator driven valve 22 to provide a fully automatic faucet without any manual control. In yet another embodiment, controller 24 controls at least one electronic proportional valve (not shown) to supply fluid from hot water source 16 and cold water source 18 to delivery tube 12.

Fig. 1B further shows illustrative embodiment faucet 10' including a first or hot water actuator driven (e.g., electrically operable) valve 22a and a second or cold water actuator driven (e.g., electrically operable) valve 22B. Illustratively, hot water electrically-operable valve 22a is fluidly coupled to hot water source 16, while cold water electrically-operable valve 22b is fluidly coupled to cold water source 18. The outputs of the electrically

operable valves

22a and 22b are in fluid communication with a supply line 23. Each electrically

operable valve

22a and 22b may be independently operated by the controller 24 to define a proportional valve. More specifically, the electrically

operable valves

22a and 22b are configured to cooperate to vary the flow rate and temperature of the water supplied to the supply line 23 and hence to the delivery pipe 12.

FIG. 1C further shows illustrative embodiment faucet 10 "including a first or temperature controlled actuator driven (e.g., electrically operable) valve 22a and a second or flow controlled actuator driven (e.g., electrically operable) valve 22 b. The output of the temperature controlled actuator driven valve 22a is in fluid communication with the flow controlled actuator driven valve 22 b. Illustratively, a temperature controlled electrically operable valve 22a is fluidly coupled to the hot water source 16 and the cold water source 18. Valve 22a controls the ratio of hot water from hot water source 16 to cold water from cold water source 18. In this manner, the electrically operable valve 22a defines a mixing valve that controls the temperature of the water delivered to the flow control actuator driven valve 22 b. An electrically operable valve 22b controls the flow of water supplied to the supply line 23 and hence to the delivery pipe 12.

Because actuator driven valve 22 is electronically controlled by controller 24, the output from sensors, such as

capacitive sensors

26, 28, and/or 30, are used to control the flow of water. As shown in fig. 1A, when the actuator driven valve 22 is open, the faucet 10 may be operated in a conventional manner, i.e., in a manual control mode, by operation of the handle(s) 14 and the manual valve member of the valve body assembly 20. Conversely, the actuator driven valve 22 may be touch controlled when the manually controlled valve body assembly 20 is set to select water temperature and flow, or activated by a proximity sensor to switch water flow on and off when an object (such as a user's hand) is within the detection zone.

In one illustrated embodiment, the delivery tube 12 has at least one capacitive sensor 26 connected to the controller 24. In addition, manual valve handle(s) 14 may also have capacitive sensor(s) 28 mounted thereon that are electrically coupled to controller 24. An additional capacitive sensor 30 may be located near the delivery tube 12 of the faucet 10, such as in an adjacent sink basin.

The output signals from the

capacitive sensors

26, 28 and/or 30 are used to control the actuator driven valve 22, which thereby controls the flow of water from the hot and

cold water sources

16, 18 to the delivery tube 12. By sensing the change in capacitance with the

capacitive sensors

26, 28, the controller 24 can make logical decisions for controlling different modes of operation of the faucet 10, such as changing between manual and hands-free modes of operation, as further described in U.S. patent nos. 8,613,419, 7,690,395 and 7,150,293, and 7,997,301, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Another illustrated configuration of a proximity detector and the logical control of a faucet in response to the proximity detector is described in more detail in U.S. patent No. 7,232,111, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The amount of fluid from hot water source 16 and cold water source 18 is determined based on one or more user inputs, such as a desired fluid temperature, a desired fluid flow rate, a desired fluid volume, inputs based on various tasks, various approved demonstrations, and/or combinations thereof. As discussed above, the faucet 10 may also include an electronically controlled proportioning or mixing valve in fluid communication with both the hot water source 16 and the cold water source 18. Exemplary electronically controlled mixing valves are described in U.S. patent No. 7,458,520 and PCT international publication No. WO 2007/082301, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

The present application relates generally to faucets including hands-free flow control and, more particularly, to faucets including at least two capacitive sensors for detecting a user's hand in a detection zone to control water flow. It is known to provide capacitive sensors on the faucet components, which create a detection zone near the faucet. When a user's hand is detected in the detection zone, the capacitive sensor signals the controller to open the flow of water to the faucet. See, for example, Masco, U.S. patent No. 8,127,782, U.S. patent application publication No. 2010/0170570, or U.S. patent application publication No. 2010/0108165.

Fig. 2 illustrates an embodiment of an electronic faucet system 10 of the present application including a hands-free capacitive sensing system. The system 10 includes a controller 24 and first and second

capacitive sensors

32, 34 located on or near the faucet and coupled to the controller 24. The first capacitive sensor 32 has a generally spherical detection field 36 surrounding the sensor 32 and the second capacitive sensor 34 has a generally spherical detection field 38 surrounding the sensor 34. The

capacitive sensors

32 and 34 detect an object, such as a user's hand, anywhere throughout the

spherical detection regions

36 and 38, respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, the detection domain 36 overlaps the detection domain 38 in a generally prolate spheroid or "football" shaped region or detection zone 40. The controller 24 processes the output signals from the first and second

capacitive sensors

32, 34 to detect when a user's hand is located within the detection zone 40. When a user's hand is detected in the overlap detection zone 40, the controller 24 opens the valve 22 to provide fluid flow to the outlet of the faucet.

Fig. 3 illustrates the embodiment of fig. 2 in which both capacitive

sensors

32 and 34 are coupled to the delivery tube 12 of the faucet. Illustratively, the delivery tube includes an upward extension 42 that is pivotally mounted to a sleeve 44 to enable the delivery tube 12 to rotate about the axis of the upward extension 42. The delivery tube 12 further includes a bend 46 and an outlet 48 such that the delivery tube 12 generally has an inverted J-shape.

Illustratively, the first capacitive sensor 32 is coupled to the delivery tube 12 near the outlet 48. The second capacitive sensor 34 is coupled to a lower section of the sleeve portion 44 or the upward extension 42 of the delivery tube 12. As discussed above, the detection field 36 of the capacitive sensor 32 and the detection field 38 of the capacitive sensor 34 overlap to define a detection zone 40. The first sensor 32 and the second sensor 34 are positioned on the delivery tube 12 such that the detection zone 40 is located at a desired location for detecting a user's hand. For example, the detection zone 40 may be located near the outlet 48 of the delivery tube 12. In one embodiment, the detection zone 40 is below the bend 46 of the delivery tube 12 between the upward extension 42 and the outlet 48. Thus, a user may turn the faucet on and off by placing the user's hand in the detection zone 40.

Fig. 4 illustrates output signals from the first and second

capacitive sensors

32, 34 of the embodiment shown in fig. 2 and 3 as the user's hand moves back and forth between the first and second

capacitive sensors

32, 34. Illustratively, the signal 50 is an output from the first capacitive sensor 32, and the signal 52 is an output signal from the second capacitive sensor 34. Typically, the output signal 52 from the capacitive sensor 34 mounted on the sleeve 44 of the delivery tube 12 has a greater magnitude than the output signal 50 of the capacitive sensor 32 located near the outlet 48 of the delivery tube 12. The peak 54 of the output signal 50 indicates when the user's hand is approaching the first capacitive sensor 32 and the valley 56 indicates when the user's hand is moving away from the capacitive sensor 32. A peak 58 in the output signal 52 shows when the user's hand is approaching the second capacitive sensor 34 on the sleeve 44. The valley 60 indicates when the user's hand has moved away from the second capacitive sensor 34.

Controller 24 monitors output signals 50 and 52 to determine when the user's hand is in detection zone 40. For example, when the magnitudes of both output signals 50 and 52 are within a preselected range that defines the boundaries of the detection zone 40, the controller 24 determines that the user's hand is in the detection zone 40 and opens the valve 22 to begin fluid flow through the delivery tube 12.

Controller 24 determines when the user's hand is in detection zone 40 by looking at the signal strength of output signals 50 and 52 from

capacitive sensors

32 and 34, respectively. The stronger the output signal, the closer the user's hand is to the

sensor

32 or 34. For example, at time 3 in fig. 4, the output signal 52 from the second capacitive sensor 34 is stronger and the output signal 50 from the first capacitive sensor 32 is weaker. This indicates that the user's hand is located closer to the second capacitive sensor 34. At time 8 in fig. 4, the output signal 52 from the second capacitive sensor 34 is weaker and the output signal 50 from the first capacitive sensor 32 is stronger. This indicates that the user's hand is located closer to the first capacitive sensor 32. At time 6 in fig. 4, both output signals 50, 52 are strong. This indicates that the user's hand is in the middle of the detection zone 40.

Another embodiment of the present application is shown in fig. 5. In the present embodiment, a first capacitive sensor 70, a second capacitive sensor 72 and a third capacitive sensor 74 are provided. The

capacitive sensors

70, 72 and 74 each have a

separate detection field

76, 78 and 80. In the illustrated embodiment, the first capacitive sensor 70 is mounted on the delivery tube 12 of the faucet. The second and third

capacitive sensors

72, 74 are mounted on the handle 14, sink basin, or other location adjacent the delivery tube 12.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the detection fields 76 and 78 overlap within the detection zone 82. The detection fields 78 and 80 overlap within the detection zone 84. Detection fields 76 and 80 overlap within detection zone 86. In addition, all three

detection fields

76, 78, and 80 overlap within the central detection zone 88. By monitoring the output from the

capacitive sensors

70, 72, and 74, the controller 24 determines whether the user's hand is in one of the

detection zones

82, 84, 86, or 88. Controller 24 controls the faucet differently depending on the

detection zone

82, 84, 86 or 88 in which the user's hand is located. For example, controller 24 may increase or decrease fluid flow, increase or decrease temperature, turn fluid flow on or off, or otherwise control a faucet or other component based on which

detection zone

82, 84, 86, or 88 the user's hand is located.

Another embodiment of the present application is shown in fig. 6. In the present embodiment, similar to the embodiment of fig. 2, the system 10 illustratively includes a controller 24 and first and second

capacitive sensors

32, 34 located on or near the faucet 10 (fig. 1A) and coupled to the controller 24. The first capacitive sensor 32 has a generally spherical detection zone 36 surrounding the sensor 32 and the second capacitive sensor 34 has a generally spherical detection zone 38 surrounding the sensor 34.

Capacitive sensors

32 and 34 detect an object, such as a user's hand, anywhere in

spherical detection areas

36 and 38, respectively. The detection domain 36 overlaps the detection domain 38 in a generally prolate spheroid or "football" shaped region or detection zone 40.

The first capacitive sensor 32 and the associated detection zone 36 (excluding the overlapping detection zones 40) define an activation domain. In contrast, the second capacitive sensor 34 and the associated detection field 38 (including the overlapping detection field 40) define a forbidden field. More specifically, detection of an object or user's hand within the inhibit field (i.e., detection fields 38 and/or 40) will inhibit operation (e.g., activation or deactivation) of the valve 22 (FIG. 1A). However, detecting an object or a user's hand in the activation domain (i.e., detection domain 36) without detecting the object or user's hand within the inhibit domain (i.e., detection domains 38 and/or 40) will operate the valve 22, such as by switching the valve 22 between the open and closed positions. That is, the valve 22 may switch from the open position to the closed position, or vice versa, if an object or user's hand is detected in the activation field (i.e., the detection field 36) without the occurrence of an object or user's hand being detected within the inhibit field (i.e., the detection fields 38 and/or 40). It is also within the scope of the present application that the overlap detection field 40 may be considered part of the activation field 36 rather than part of the deactivation field 38.

Fig. 8 illustrates the functionality of the controller 24 of fig. 6 with respect to the

capacitive sensors

32 and 34 via the method 100. At block 102, the faucet 10 (fig. 1A) is activated so that the controller 24 may switch the state of the valve 22 based on the signals transmitted by the

capacitive sensors

32 and 34. At block 104, the controller 24 monitors the capacitive sensor 32 to determine whether the capacitive sensor 32 has transmitted the first output signal to the controller 24. When an object (e.g., a user's hand) is detected within the detection field 36 over a specified period of time, the capacitive sensor 32 transmits a first output signal to the controller 24. In an exemplary embodiment, the capacitive sensor 32 transmits the first output signal when an object (illustratively referred to as a "swipe") is detected within the detection field 36 over a period of time between 60 milliseconds and 270 milliseconds. However, it is contemplated that other time periods may be used. As discussed further herein, if the controller 24 receives a first output signal from the capacitive sensor 32 at block 104, the controller 24 moves to block 106 and determines whether the capacitive sensor 34 receives a second output signal based on whether an object or a user's hand is detected in the detection fields 38 and/or 40. If the controller 24 does not receive the first output signal from the capacitive sensor 32 at block 104, the controller 24 continues to monitor the status of the capacitive sensor 32.

At block 106, the controller 24 monitors the capacitive sensor 34 to determine whether a second output signal from the capacitive sensor 34 has been transmitted to the controller 24. At block 104, the controller 24 monitors the capacitive sensor 34 over a predetermined period of time (e.g., before and/or after) before and after receiving the first output signal from the capacitive sensor 32. In an exemplary embodiment, the controller 24 monitors the capacitive sensor 36 to determine whether an object (e.g., a user's hand) is present within the detection fields 38 and/or 40 in no more than 120 milliseconds. However, it is contemplated that other time ranges may be used. If the controller 24 detects the second output signal from the capacitive sensor 34 within the predetermined period of time, the controller 24 moves to block 108 and ignores the signal previously received from the capacitive sensor 32 at block 104. As discussed above, ignoring the capacitive sensor 32 may keep the valve 22 (i.e., prevent switching) in its current state (e.g., deactivate the valve 22 and thereby inhibit liquid from exiting the delivery tube 12 or allow liquid to continue exiting the delivery tube 12 (fig. 1A)). The controller 24 then returns to monitoring the status of the capacitive sensor 32 at block 104. On the other hand, if controller 24 does not detect the second output signal from capacitive sensor 34 within the predetermined period of time at block 106, controller 24 proceeds to block 110 and operates valve 22 normally, such as by switching valve 22 between an open position in which liquid is dispensed from delivery tube 12 and a closed position in which dispensing of liquid is stopped.

Fig. 7 shows the output signals from the first and second

capacitive sensors

32, 34 of the embodiment shown in fig. 6 as the user's hand moves back and forth between the first and second

capacitive sensors

32, 34. Illustratively, the signal 52 is an output from the first capacitive sensor 32 and the signal 50 is an output signal from the second capacitive sensor 34. Typically, the output signal 52 from the capacitive sensor 32 mounted on the sleeve 44 of the delivery tube 12 has a greater magnitude than the output signal 50 of the capacitive sensor 34 located near the outlet 48 of the delivery tube 12. The peak 54 of the output signal 50 indicates when the user's hand is approaching the first capacitive sensor 34 and the valley 56 indicates when the user's hand is moving away from the capacitive sensor 34. A peak 58 in the output signal 52 shows when the user's hand is approaching the second capacitive sensor 32 on the sleeve 44. The valley 60 indicates when the user's hand has moved away from the second capacitive sensor 34.

Controller 24 controls the behavior of delivery tube 12 by monitoring output signals 50 and 52 to determine when the user's hand is within detection zone 36 and/or

detection zones

38, 40, respectively. That is, controller 24 monitors the spatial relationship between the signal strengths of output signal 52 and output signal 50. When the controller 24 receives a peak value (e.g., peak value 58) of the output signal 52 from the capacitive sensor 32, the controller 24 monitors over a predetermined time interval before and after the peak value to determine whether liquid flow through the delivery tube 12 should be inhibited due to the presence of a peak value (e.g., peak value 54) of the output signal 50 from the capacitive sensor 34. When the peak of output signal 52 is spaced from the peak of output signal 50 over a time interval greater than the predetermined time interval set in block 106 discussed above, controller 24 may determine that the user's hand is in detection zone 36 and open valve 22 to begin fluid flow through delivery tube 12. Exemplary time periods with this configuration are shown as regions I and V.

When the peak of the output signal 52 aligns with or is spaced from the magnitude of the output signal 50 at a time interval that is less than or equal to the predetermined time interval set in block 106 discussed above, the controller 24 may illustratively determine that the user's hand is in the detection zone 38 and/or 40 and, if the valve 22 is already in the closed position (and/or closes the valve 22 if open), maintain the valve 22 in the closed position to inhibit fluid flow through the delivery tube 12. Exemplary time periods with this configuration are shown as regions II-IV and VI. With respect to zones II and VI, the valve 22 is illustratively switched from the open position to the closed position of zones I and V discussed previously.

In an alternative embodiment, the

capacitive sensors

32 and 34 may switch the valve 22 between an open position and a closed position. More specifically, as previously discussed, the capacitance signals emitted by the

sensors

32 and 34 switch the valve 22 directly between the open and closed positions depending on whether an object or user's hand is detected in the activation domain (i.e., the detection domain 36) without detecting the occurrence of the object or user's hand within the inhibition domain (i.e., the detection domains 38 and/or 40).

The exemplary time period shown as region VII may be ignored by the controller 24 because there are no peaks from the output signal 52 from which measurements are made to determine whether the valve 22 should be opened.

While this application has been described as having exemplary designs and embodiments, the present application may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this application. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the application using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this application pertains. While the present application has been described in detail with reference to certain illustrated embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the spirit and scope of the present application as illustrated and defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A faucet, comprising:

a delivery pipe;

a channel to guide water flow through the delivery tube;

a first electrically operable valve in fluid communication with the passage;

a second electrically operable valve in fluid communication with the passage and spaced apart from the first electrically operable valve;

a first capacitive sensor having a first detection field, the first capacitive sensor generating a first output signal when a user's hand is detected in the first detection field;

a second capacitive sensor having a second detection zone, the second capacitive sensor generating a second output signal upon detection of a user's hand in the second detection zone, the first detection zone overlapping the second detection zone to define a detection zone; and

a controller coupled to the first and second capacitive sensors and the first and second electrically operable valves, the controller programmed to actuate at least one of the first and second electrically operable valves in response to detection of the user's hand in the detection zone.

2. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the delivery tube includes an upward extension pivotally mounted to a sleeve such that the delivery tube is rotatable about an axis of the upward extension, the delivery tube further including a bend and an outlet, the first capacitive sensor coupled to the delivery tube proximate the outlet, and the second capacitive sensor coupled to the sleeve to define the detection zone proximate the outlet of the delivery tube.

3. The faucet of claim 2, wherein the detection area is below a bend of the delivery tube and between the upward extension of the delivery tube and the outlet.

4. The faucet of claim 1, further comprising a manual valve disposed within the passageway in series with the first electrically operable valve; and a manual handle controlling the manual valve.

5. The faucet of claim 4, wherein the first capacitive sensor is coupled to the delivery tube and the second capacitive sensor is coupled to the manual handle to define the detection zone between the delivery tube and the manual handle.

6. The faucet of claim 1, further comprising a third capacitive sensor having a third detection field, the third capacitive sensor generating a third output signal upon detection of a user's hand in the third detection field, the third detection field overlapping the first detection field and the second detection field to define a plurality of detection zones; and is

Wherein the controller is further coupled to the third capacitive sensor and programmed to determine when the user's hand is in each of the plurality of detection zones.

7. The faucet of claim 6, wherein the controller is programmed to increase or decrease fluid flow, increase or decrease the temperature of the fluid, and turn fluid flow on or off based on a detection zone in which the user's hand is located.

8. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the first electrically-operable valve is a hot water proportional valve fluidly coupled to a hot water source and the second electrically-operable valve is a cold water proportional valve fluidly coupled to a cold water source.

9. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the first electrically operable valve is a temperature control valve fluidly coupled to a hot water source and a cold water source, and the second electrically operable valve is a flow control valve fluidly coupled to the temperature control valve.

10. A faucet, comprising:

a delivery pipe;

a channel to guide water flow through the delivery tube;

a first electrically operable valve in fluid communication with the passage;

a second capacitive sensor having a second detection field, the second capacitive sensor generating a second output signal when the second capacitive sensor detects a hand of the user in the second detection field; and

a controller coupled to the first and second capacitive sensors and the first and second electrically operable valves, the controller programmed to actuate at least one of the first and second electrically operable valves in response to detecting the user's hand in the first detection field but not in the second detection field.

11. The faucet of claim 10, wherein the delivery tube includes an upward extension pivotally mounted to a sleeve such that the delivery tube is rotatable about an axis of the upward extension, the delivery tube further including a bend and an outlet, the first capacitive sensor being coupled to the delivery tube proximate the outlet, and the second capacitive sensor being coupled to the sleeve to define the first detection zone proximate the outlet of the delivery tube.

12. The faucet of claim 11, wherein the first detection zone is below the bend of the delivery tube and between the upward extension and the outlet.

13. The faucet of claim 10, wherein the controller inhibits at least one of the first electrically operable valve and the second electrically operable valve from moving to an open position when the user's hand is detected within the first detection field and the second detection field.

14. The faucet of claim 10, wherein the controller inhibits at least one of the first electrically operable valve and the second electrically operable valve from moving to an open position when the user's hand is detected within the second detection field for a predetermined time before and after the user's hand is detected in the first detection field.

15. The faucet of claim 10, further comprising: a manual valve disposed within the passageway and in series with the first electrically operable valve; and a manual handle controlling the manual valve.

16. The faucet of claim 15, wherein the first capacitive sensor is coupled to the delivery tube and the second capacitive sensor is coupled to the manual handle.

17. The faucet of claim 10, wherein the second detection domain overlaps the first detection domain in a manner that reduces a size of the first detection domain.

18. The faucet of claim 10, wherein the first electrically-operable valve is a hot water proportional valve fluidly coupled to a hot water source and the second electrically-operable valve is a cold water proportional valve fluidly coupled to a cold water source.

19. The faucet of claim 10, wherein the first electrically operable valve is a temperature control valve fluidly coupled to a hot water source and a cold water source, and the second electrically operable valve is a flow control valve fluidly coupled to the temperature control valve.