US20120211086A1 - Method of controlling water supply by a sensitive faucet capable of automatically adjusting a detected distance - Google Patents
Method of controlling water supply by a sensitive faucet capable of automatically adjusting a detected distance Download PDFInfo
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- US20120211086A1 US20120211086A1 US13/423,219 US201213423219A US2012211086A1 US 20120211086 A1 US20120211086 A1 US 20120211086A1 US 201213423219 A US201213423219 A US 201213423219A US 2012211086 A1 US2012211086 A1 US 2012211086A1
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- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 51
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 21
- 239000008400 supply water Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 claims description 18
- 230000003068 static effect Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000003213 activating effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009877 rendering Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002351 wastewater Substances 0.000 description 1
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Classifications
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
- E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
- E03C1/00—Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks
- E03C1/02—Plumbing installations for fresh water
- E03C1/05—Arrangements of devices on wash-basins, baths, sinks, or the like for remote control of taps
- E03C1/055—Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like
- E03C1/057—Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like touchless, i.e. using sensors
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
- Y10T137/0318—Processes
- Y10T137/0324—With control of flow by a condition or characteristic of a fluid
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method of controlling water supply by a sensitive faucet, more particularly a sensitive faucet which is able to automatically adjust the detected distance.
- a conventional sensitive faucet includes a water outlet 3 disposed on a washbasin 1 .
- a top end of the water outlet 3 forms a water jet 4 directing toward an inside 2 of the washbasin 1
- an infrared sensitive apparatus 5 is disposed in the proximity of the water jet 4 .
- the infrared sensitive apparatus 5 continuously emits a pulse to the washbasin 1 and detects a reflected pulse reflected from the washbasin 1 .
- the infrared sensitive apparatus 5 senses a reflected pulse of the hands and emits a reflection value of the pulse to a controlling unit.
- the reflection value When the reflection value is larger than a predetermined threshold stored in the infrared sensitive apparatus 5 , it turns a supply switch on to automatically activate the sensitive faucet open to supply water through the water jet 4 of the water outlet 3 .
- the purpose of automatically supplying water is attained.
- the infrared sensitive apparatus 5 of the conventional sensitive faucet is mainly set to detect a fixed distance.
- the use efficiency of the infrared sensitive apparatus 5 is affected by washbasin with different specifications in the market.
- the infrared sensitive apparatus 5 can not successfully operate and control the water supply; in contrast, when the detected distance is overlong, the conventional configuration inevitably increases the consumption of electricity and easily incurs the erroneous detection.
- objects besides the hands can also cause the automatic operation of the water outlet once the objects are put within the detected area of the infrared sensitive apparatus 5 , which results in a waste of water.
- the Mauerhofer reference discloses to emit a pulse to a background of the washbasin and use a successive approximation method to define the minimum pulse strength of the background and send the pulse with the minimum pulse strength and another pulse with the pulse strength a bit smaller than the minimum pulse strength at the same time. If the scanning head of the Mauerhofer reference merely detects the pulse, the minimum pulse strength of the background is thence defined to allows the movement of the hands to control the water outlet open while putting the hands into the washbasin. If the reflected pulse is not scanned, the minimum pulse strength of the background should be redefined.
- the structure in the Mauerhofer reference may attain to automatically supply water, monitor the background distance of the washbasin and determine when to supply water or redefine the minimum pulse strength of the background.
- the background conditions of the washbasin are promiscuous enough to change the strength of the reflected pulse and cause the water outlet to erroneously supply water, such erroneous operation can not be obviated or adjusted by itself and will keep supplying water. Therefore, the problems attendant on the erroneous operation are to waste water and break the automatic appliance as disclosed. Therefore, it is necessary to find a method of controlling the water supply by a sensitive faucet which can apply to various backgrounds of washbasins by automatically adjusting the detected distance and accurately control the water supply according to different situations for saving water and electricity.
- the object of the present invention is to provide a method of controlling water supply by a sensitive faucet capable of automatically adjusting a detected distance.
- the method can automatically adjust the detected distance according to different washbasins as well as situations and attains the effects of water conservation and electricity saving.
- the method in accordance with the present invention includes:
- a step of automatically adjusting a detected distance which uses a transmitting unit to emit a pulse to a background e.g., a washbasin
- (B) A step of defining a background value which emits the pulse toward the background and detects the reflected pulse according to the pulse width of the transmitting unit saved in the controlling unit in the step (A), so that the reflection value of the reflected pulse is defined as a background value and stored in the controlling unit for setting to a standby state.
- (C) A step of determining a user state which periodically emits the pulse, detects the reflected pulse, and determines a user state according to the reflection value of the reflected pulse, wherein when the reflection value is higher than the background value, the controlling unit controls a faucet unit open to supply water and continuously emits the pulse and detects the reflected pulse, so that when the reflection value is close to the background value, the controlling unit closes the faucet unit and sets to the standby state.
- the method of the present invention mainly uses the step (A) to automatically adjust the detected distance of the sensitive faucet and uses the step (B) to define the background value so as to attain the adjustment of detected distance for suiting to different washbasins and facilitate the electricity saving effect.
- the step (C) can also adjust the detected distance according to different situations and prevent from wasting water.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a conventional structure
- FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 3 is a front view showing a circuit board of the present invention.
- FIG. 4 is a top view showing a circuit board of the present invention.
- FIG. 5 is a flow diagram showing the present invention.
- FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the present invention for automatically adjusting a detected distance and defining a background value
- FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the present invention for automatically adjusting a detected distance and defining a background value
- FIG. 8 is a bar chart showing the wave form of the transmitting unit and the monitoring unit while automatically adjusting the detected distance and setting the background value;
- FIG. 9 is a flow diagram showing the present invention for determining the user state
- FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the present invention for determining the user state
- FIG. 11 is a bar chart showing the wave form of the transmitting unit and the monitoring unit while determining the user state
- FIG. 12 is another flow diagram showing the present invention for determining the user state
- FIG. 13 is another schematic view showing the present invention for determining the user state.
- FIG. 14 is another bar chart showing the wave form of the transmitting unit and the monitoring unit while determining the user state.
- FIG. 2 , FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 respectively show a schematic view of the present invention, a front view of a circuit board and a top view of the circuit board.
- a sensitive faucet 100 of the present invention includes a faucet unit 10 disposed on a washbasin 20 , a water jet 11 , at the upper end of the faucet unit 10 , directing toward an inside 21 of the washbasin 20 , and a circuit board 30 disposed in the proximity of the water jet 11 .
- the circuit board 30 includes two transmitting units 31 , a monitoring unit 32 , an alarm device 33 and a controlling unit 34 disposed thereon.
- the present method includes:
- FIG. 6 , FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 respectively illustrate a flow chart showing the present invention for automatically adjusting a detected distance and defining a background value, a schematic view showing the present invention for automatically adjusting a detected distance and defining a background value, and a bar chart showing the wave form of the transmitting unit and the monitoring unit while automatically adjusting the detected distance and setting the background value.
- the transmitting unit 31 While in the first time of using the sensitive faucet 100 , the transmitting unit 31 emits a pulse 41 at fixed voltage and the monitoring unit 32 receives the reflection value 41 a of the pulse.
- the reflection value 41 a is higher than the predetermined value 341 stored in the controlling unit 34 , the reflection value 41 a considerably causes the pulse width of the transmitting units 34 to decrease and emits another corresponding pulse 42 .
- the reflection value 42 a of the reflected pulse 42 higher than the predetermined value 341 the reflection value 42 a considerably causes the pulse width of the transmitting units 31 to decrease and emits a further corresponding pulse 43 . Then, when the monitoring unit 32 detects the reflected value 43 a of the pulse 43 lower than or close to the predetermined value 341 , the pulse width of the transmitting units 31 is then stored in the controlling unit 34 . The step of automatically adjusting the detected distance is thence accomplished.
- the present invention emits the pulse 43 toward the background and detects the reflected pulse 43 with the reflection value 43 a according to the pulse width of the transmitting unit 31 saved in the controlling unit 34 , so that the reflection value 43 a is defined as the background value 50 and stored in the controlling unit 34 for setting to a standby state.
- the controlling unit 34 has a fixed value 342
- the background value 50 is the sum of the reflection value 43 a and the fixed value 342 . Because the background value 50 is a bit larger than the reflection value 43 a , the present invention is able to prevent the erroneous detection of the controlling unit 34 subjected to the disturbance of the reflection value when the washbasin is in a promiscuous situation.
- FIG. 9 , FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 respectively illustrate a flow diagram showing the present invention for determining the user state, a schematic view showing the present invention for determining the user state, and a bar chart showing the wave form of the transmitting unit and the monitoring unit while determining the user state.
- the transmitting units 31 emit the pulse 40 toward the background and detect the reflected pulse 40 periodically, for example, at intervals of 0.3 seconds in the preferred embodiment.
- the monitoring unit 32 detects the reflected pulse 43 of the hands and sends the reflection value 43 b of the reflected pulse to the controlling unit 34 .
- the controlling unit 34 controls the faucet unit 10 open to supply water. While supplying water, the sensitive faucet 100 continuously emits the pulse 43 and detects the reflected pulse 43 , so that when the reflection value 43 f is lower than the background value 50 , the controlling unit 34 then closes the faucet unit 10 to stop the water supply.
- a water saving mode is actuated while the faucet unit 10 is set open to supply water. The water saving mode automatically stops supplying water after the faucet unit is set open for 30 seconds so as to prevent the erroneous detection and solves the problem of wasting water. If the user continues operating the sensitive faucet 100 , simply approaching the sensitive faucet 100 can satisfy the demand of water supply again.
- FIG. 12 , FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 respectively illustrate another flow diagram showing the present invention for determining the user state, another schematic view showing the present invention for determining the user state and another bar chart showing the wave form of the transmitting unit and the monitoring unit while determining the user state.
- the monitoring unit 32 receives the reflected pulse 43 of the object 200 and transmits it to the controlling unit 34 .
- the controlling unit 34 controls the faucet unit 10 open to supply water and activates the water saving mode.
- the controlling unit 34 will make the faucet unit 10 close and determine whether the reflection value 43 f of the reflected pulse 43 is static when the faucet unit 10 lasts close for 3 seconds. In the preferred embodiment, if the reflection value 43 f is dynamic after closing the faucet unit 10 for 3 seconds, the controlling unit 34 will define the reflection value as a user, maintain the close state of the faucet unit 10 and continuously determine whether the user is far away from the detected area. When the user leaves the detected area of the sensitive faucet 100 , the sensitive faucet 100 is set to the standby state.
- the controlling unit 34 will define the reflection value as the object 200 and the reflection value 43 f of the reflected pulse considerably causes the background value 50 to decrease for rendering the reflection value 34 f lower than or close to the background value 51 .
- the background value 51 is the sum of the reflection value 43 f and the fixed value 342 , which allows the controlling unit 34 to redefine another background value 51 and set to the standby state. If the object 200 is taken out of the inside 21 , the monitoring unit 32 receives the reflected pulse 43 of the background and transmits it to the controlling unit 34 for the controlling unit 34 to be able to decrease the background value 50 again and set to the standby state.
- the sensitive faucet 100 efficiently adjusts the background base on different situation and controls the water supply by determining the reflection value, therefore the problem that the sensitive faucet is disable because of activating the water saving mode when the object 200 is left in the inside 21 and ignored by the user is prevented.
- the water saving mode is able to adjust the time of supplying water according to user's demands to save water and attain the effect of water conservation. If the user continues using the sensitive faucet 100 , he or she just needs to approach the sensitive faucet 100 again to output the water for using. Further, a battery or a socket can be used according to the demand to provide the sensitive faucet 100 with electricity. If the battery is used as a resource, the alarm device 33 will be actuated by flashing for warning the user when the battery provides with insufficient electricity.
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Abstract
A method of controlling water supply by a sensitive faucet capable of automatically adjusting a detected distance comprises steps of: (A) automatically adjusting a detected distance which uses a transmitting unit to emit a pulse to a background, detects a reflection value of the pulse and adjusts the pulse width via a controlling unit; (B) defining a background value which emits the pulse to the background and detects the reflected pulse for setting the reflection value as a background value; and (C) determining a user state which periodically emits the pulse, detects the reflected pulse and determines a user state according to the reflection value for the controlling unit to control a faucet unit open to supply water. Accordingly, the sensitive faucet automatically adjusts a detected distance, for saving water and electricity.
Description
- The current application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims a priority to Ser. No. 12/502,776 filed on Jul. 14, 2009.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a method of controlling water supply by a sensitive faucet, more particularly a sensitive faucet which is able to automatically adjust the detected distance.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- Referring to
FIG. 1 , a conventional sensitive faucet includes awater outlet 3 disposed on awashbasin 1. Wherein, a top end of thewater outlet 3 forms a water jet 4 directing toward aninside 2 of thewashbasin 1, and an infraredsensitive apparatus 5 is disposed in the proximity of the water jet 4. The infraredsensitive apparatus 5 continuously emits a pulse to thewashbasin 1 and detects a reflected pulse reflected from thewashbasin 1. When user's hands enter a detected area of the infraredsensitive apparatus 5, the infraredsensitive apparatus 5 senses a reflected pulse of the hands and emits a reflection value of the pulse to a controlling unit. When the reflection value is larger than a predetermined threshold stored in the infraredsensitive apparatus 5, it turns a supply switch on to automatically activate the sensitive faucet open to supply water through the water jet 4 of thewater outlet 3. The purpose of automatically supplying water is attained. - The infrared
sensitive apparatus 5 of the conventional sensitive faucet is mainly set to detect a fixed distance. However, the use efficiency of the infraredsensitive apparatus 5 is affected by washbasin with different specifications in the market. When the detected distance is over short, the infraredsensitive apparatus 5 can not successfully operate and control the water supply; in contrast, when the detected distance is overlong, the conventional configuration inevitably increases the consumption of electricity and easily incurs the erroneous detection. Further, objects besides the hands can also cause the automatic operation of the water outlet once the objects are put within the detected area of the infraredsensitive apparatus 5, which results in a waste of water. As disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,147, the Mauerhofer reference discloses to emit a pulse to a background of the washbasin and use a successive approximation method to define the minimum pulse strength of the background and send the pulse with the minimum pulse strength and another pulse with the pulse strength a bit smaller than the minimum pulse strength at the same time. If the scanning head of the Mauerhofer reference merely detects the pulse, the minimum pulse strength of the background is thence defined to allows the movement of the hands to control the water outlet open while putting the hands into the washbasin. If the reflected pulse is not scanned, the minimum pulse strength of the background should be redefined. - The structure in the Mauerhofer reference may attain to automatically supply water, monitor the background distance of the washbasin and determine when to supply water or redefine the minimum pulse strength of the background. However, if the background conditions of the washbasin are promiscuous enough to change the strength of the reflected pulse and cause the water outlet to erroneously supply water, such erroneous operation can not be obviated or adjusted by itself and will keep supplying water. Therefore, the problems attendant on the erroneous operation are to waste water and break the automatic appliance as disclosed. Therefore, it is necessary to find a method of controlling the water supply by a sensitive faucet which can apply to various backgrounds of washbasins by automatically adjusting the detected distance and accurately control the water supply according to different situations for saving water and electricity.
- The object of the present invention is to provide a method of controlling water supply by a sensitive faucet capable of automatically adjusting a detected distance. The method can automatically adjust the detected distance according to different washbasins as well as situations and attains the effects of water conservation and electricity saving.
- In order to achieve the above object, the method in accordance with the present invention includes:
- (A) A step of automatically adjusting a detected distance which uses a transmitting unit to emit a pulse to a background, e.g., a washbasin, then uses a monitoring unit to detect a reflection value of the pulse that is reflected from the background as a reflected pulse and send the reflection value to a controlling unit, and then adjusts a pulse width of the transmitting unit according to the reflection value, wherein when the reflection value is higher than a predetermined value stored in the controlling unit, the reflection value considerably causes the pulse width of the transmitting unit to decrease and emits another corresponding pulse, so that when the reflection value is lower than or close to the predetermined value, the pulse width of the transmitting unit is thence saved in the controlling unit.
- (B) A step of defining a background value which emits the pulse toward the background and detects the reflected pulse according to the pulse width of the transmitting unit saved in the controlling unit in the step (A), so that the reflection value of the reflected pulse is defined as a background value and stored in the controlling unit for setting to a standby state.
- (C) A step of determining a user state which periodically emits the pulse, detects the reflected pulse, and determines a user state according to the reflection value of the reflected pulse, wherein when the reflection value is higher than the background value, the controlling unit controls a faucet unit open to supply water and continuously emits the pulse and detects the reflected pulse, so that when the reflection value is close to the background value, the controlling unit closes the faucet unit and sets to the standby state.
- From above, at the first time of operating, the method of the present invention mainly uses the step (A) to automatically adjust the detected distance of the sensitive faucet and uses the step (B) to define the background value so as to attain the adjustment of detected distance for suiting to different washbasins and facilitate the electricity saving effect. By using the step (C) to determine the user state and automatically control the water supply, the present invention can also adjust the detected distance according to different situations and prevent from wasting water.
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a conventional structure; -
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and -
FIG. 3 is a front view showing a circuit board of the present invention; -
FIG. 4 is a top view showing a circuit board of the present invention; -
FIG. 5 is a flow diagram showing the present invention; -
FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the present invention for automatically adjusting a detected distance and defining a background value; -
FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the present invention for automatically adjusting a detected distance and defining a background value; -
FIG. 8 is a bar chart showing the wave form of the transmitting unit and the monitoring unit while automatically adjusting the detected distance and setting the background value; -
FIG. 9 is a flow diagram showing the present invention for determining the user state; -
FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the present invention for determining the user state; -
FIG. 11 is a bar chart showing the wave form of the transmitting unit and the monitoring unit while determining the user state; -
FIG. 12 is another flow diagram showing the present invention for determining the user state; -
FIG. 13 is another schematic view showing the present invention for determining the user state; and -
FIG. 14 is another bar chart showing the wave form of the transmitting unit and the monitoring unit while determining the user state. -
FIG. 2 ,FIG. 3 andFIG. 4 respectively show a schematic view of the present invention, a front view of a circuit board and a top view of the circuit board. Asensitive faucet 100 of the present invention includes afaucet unit 10 disposed on awashbasin 20, awater jet 11, at the upper end of thefaucet unit 10, directing toward aninside 21 of thewashbasin 20, and acircuit board 30 disposed in the proximity of thewater jet 11. Wherein, thecircuit board 30 includes two transmittingunits 31, amonitoring unit 32, analarm device 33 and a controllingunit 34 disposed thereon. - Referring to
FIG. 5 showing a flow diagram of the present invention, the present method includes: - (A) A step of automatically adjusting a detected distance between the faucet unit and the background by following processes:
- Transmit a pulse. The present invention, as shown in
FIG. 7 , uses the transmittingunits 31 to emit apulse 40 to a background of thewashbasin 20. Wherein, the transmittingunits 31 are preferably adopted by infrared emitters and respectively disposed on the upper end and the lower end of thecircuit board 30. The transmittingunits 31 emit thepulse 40 with reference to a direction by an angle as shown inFIG. 4 to efficiently increase the accuracy and the detected area and decrease the erroneous detection. - Detect a reflected pulse. Wherein, the
monitoring unit 32 is used to detect thepulse 40 reflected from the background, serving as a reflected pulse with a reflection value, and transmit the reflection value to the controllingunit 34. The controllingunit 34 electrically connects with the transmittingunits 31, themonitoring unit 32 and thealarm device 33, respectively. In the preferred embodiment, themonitoring unit 32 can be an infrared detector, thealarm device 33 can be an LED light and the controllingunit 34 can be a microprocessor. - Adjust the transmitted pulse. According to the reflection value, a pulse width of the transmitting
unit 31 is adjusted. Wherein, when the reflection value is higher than a predetermined value stored in the controllingunit 34, the reflection value considerably causes the pulse width of the transmittingunit 31 to decrease and emits another correspondingpulse 40. When the reflection value is lower than or close to the predetermined value, the pulse width of the transmittingunit 31 is thence saved in the controllingunit 34.
- Transmit a pulse. The present invention, as shown in
- (B) A step of defining a background value which emits the
pulse 40 toward the background and detects the reflectedpulse 40 according to the pulse width of the transmittingunit 31 saved in the controllingunit 34 in the step (A), so that the reflection value of the reflectedpulse 40 is defined as a background value and stored in the controllingunit 34 for setting to a standby state. - (C) A step of determining a user state which periodically emits the
pulse 40, detects the reflectedpulse 40, and determines a user state according to the reflection value of the reflectedpulse 40. Wherein, when the reflection value is higher than the background value, the controllingunit 34 controls thefaucet unit 10 open to supply water and continuously emits thepulse 40 and detects the reflectedpulse 40, and when the reflection value is close to the background value, the controllingunit 34 closes thefaucet unit 10 and sets to a standby state. - The features, the technique field and advantages of the present invention over the known prior arts will become more apparent to those of ordinary skilled in the art upon reading the following descriptions in junction with the accompanying drawings.
-
FIG. 6 ,FIG. 7 andFIG. 8 respectively illustrate a flow chart showing the present invention for automatically adjusting a detected distance and defining a background value, a schematic view showing the present invention for automatically adjusting a detected distance and defining a background value, and a bar chart showing the wave form of the transmitting unit and the monitoring unit while automatically adjusting the detected distance and setting the background value. While in the first time of using thesensitive faucet 100, the transmittingunit 31 emits apulse 41 at fixed voltage and themonitoring unit 32 receives thereflection value 41 a of the pulse. When thereflection value 41 a is higher than thepredetermined value 341 stored in the controllingunit 34, thereflection value 41 a considerably causes the pulse width of the transmittingunits 34 to decrease and emits another correspondingpulse 42. When themonitoring unit 32 detects thereflection value 42 a of the reflectedpulse 42 higher than thepredetermined value 341, thereflection value 42 a considerably causes the pulse width of the transmittingunits 31 to decrease and emits a furthercorresponding pulse 43. Then, when themonitoring unit 32 detects the reflectedvalue 43 a of thepulse 43 lower than or close to thepredetermined value 341, the pulse width of the transmittingunits 31 is then stored in the controllingunit 34. The step of automatically adjusting the detected distance is thence accomplished. Further, to define abackground value 50 of thewashbasin 20, the present invention emits thepulse 43 toward the background and detects the reflectedpulse 43 with thereflection value 43 a according to the pulse width of the transmittingunit 31 saved in the controllingunit 34, so that thereflection value 43 a is defined as thebackground value 50 and stored in the controllingunit 34 for setting to a standby state. In the preferred embodiment, the controllingunit 34 has a fixedvalue 342, and thebackground value 50 is the sum of thereflection value 43 a and the fixedvalue 342. Because thebackground value 50 is a bit larger than thereflection value 43 a, the present invention is able to prevent the erroneous detection of the controllingunit 34 subjected to the disturbance of the reflection value when the washbasin is in a promiscuous situation. -
FIG. 9 ,FIG. 10 andFIG. 11 respectively illustrate a flow diagram showing the present invention for determining the user state, a schematic view showing the present invention for determining the user state, and a bar chart showing the wave form of the transmitting unit and the monitoring unit while determining the user state. In the standby state, the transmittingunits 31 emit thepulse 40 toward the background and detect the reflectedpulse 40 periodically, for example, at intervals of 0.3 seconds in the preferred embodiment. When activating thesensitive faucet 100, the user just needs to make the hands approach thewashbasin 20 for the hands to be located within a detected area of thesensitive faucet 100, so that themonitoring unit 32 detects the reflectedpulse 43 of the hands and sends thereflection value 43 b of the reflected pulse to the controllingunit 34. At this time, when thereflection value 43 b is higher than thebackground value 50, the controllingunit 34 controls thefaucet unit 10 open to supply water. While supplying water, thesensitive faucet 100 continuously emits thepulse 43 and detects the reflectedpulse 43, so that when thereflection value 43 f is lower than thebackground value 50, the controllingunit 34 then closes thefaucet unit 10 to stop the water supply. In addition, a water saving mode is actuated while thefaucet unit 10 is set open to supply water. The water saving mode automatically stops supplying water after the faucet unit is set open for 30 seconds so as to prevent the erroneous detection and solves the problem of wasting water. If the user continues operating thesensitive faucet 100, simply approaching thesensitive faucet 100 can satisfy the demand of water supply again. -
FIG. 12 ,FIG. 13 andFIG. 14 respectively illustrate another flow diagram showing the present invention for determining the user state, another schematic view showing the present invention for determining the user state and another bar chart showing the wave form of the transmitting unit and the monitoring unit while determining the user state. While anobject 200 is put in the inside 21 in the standby state, themonitoring unit 32 receives the reflectedpulse 43 of theobject 200 and transmits it to the controllingunit 34. When thereflection value 43 h of the reflectedpulse 43 is higher than thebackground value 50, the controllingunit 34 controls thefaucet unit 10 open to supply water and activates the water saving mode. If theobject 200 keeps staying in the inside 21 after supplying water for 30 seconds, the controllingunit 34 will make thefaucet unit 10 close and determine whether thereflection value 43 f of the reflectedpulse 43 is static when thefaucet unit 10 lasts close for 3 seconds. In the preferred embodiment, if thereflection value 43 f is dynamic after closing thefaucet unit 10 for 3 seconds, the controllingunit 34 will define the reflection value as a user, maintain the close state of thefaucet unit 10 and continuously determine whether the user is far away from the detected area. When the user leaves the detected area of thesensitive faucet 100, thesensitive faucet 100 is set to the standby state. In contrast, if thereflection value 43 f is static after closing thefaucet unit 10 for 3 seconds, the controllingunit 34 will define the reflection value as theobject 200 and thereflection value 43 f of the reflected pulse considerably causes thebackground value 50 to decrease for rendering the reflection value 34 f lower than or close to thebackground value 51. In the preferred embodiment, thebackground value 51 is the sum of thereflection value 43 f and the fixedvalue 342, which allows the controllingunit 34 to redefine anotherbackground value 51 and set to the standby state. If theobject 200 is taken out of the inside 21, themonitoring unit 32 receives the reflectedpulse 43 of the background and transmits it to the controllingunit 34 for the controllingunit 34 to be able to decrease thebackground value 50 again and set to the standby state. Wherein, thesensitive faucet 100 efficiently adjusts the background base on different situation and controls the water supply by determining the reflection value, therefore the problem that the sensitive faucet is disable because of activating the water saving mode when theobject 200 is left in the inside 21 and ignored by the user is prevented. The water saving mode is able to adjust the time of supplying water according to user's demands to save water and attain the effect of water conservation. If the user continues using thesensitive faucet 100, he or she just needs to approach thesensitive faucet 100 again to output the water for using. Further, a battery or a socket can be used according to the demand to provide thesensitive faucet 100 with electricity. If the battery is used as a resource, thealarm device 33 will be actuated by flashing for warning the user when the battery provides with insufficient electricity. - While the present invention is described in the embodiments, it is recognized that further variations, alternatives and modifications may be apparent to those skilled in the art and be devised without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Claims (9)
1. A method of controlling water supply by a sensitive faucet capable of automatically adjusting a detected distance comprises:
(A) a step of automatically adjusting a detected distance which uses a transmitting unit to emit a pulse to a background, then uses a monitoring unit to detect a reflection value of said pulse that is reflected from said background as a reflected pulse and send said reflection value to a controlling unit, and then adjusts a pulse width of said transmitting unit according to said reflection value, wherein when said reflection value is higher than a predetermined value stored in said controlling unit, said reflection value considerably causes said pulse width of said transmitting unit to decrease and emits another corresponding pulse, so that when said reflection value is lower than or close to said predetermined value, said pulse width of said transmitting unit is thence saved in said controlling unit;
(B) a step of defining a background value which emits said pulse toward said background and detects said reflected pulse according to said pulse width of said transmitting unit saved in said controlling unit in said step (A), so that said reflection value of said reflected pulse is defined as a background value and stored in said controlling unit for setting to a standby state; and
(C) a step of determining a user state which periodically emits said pulse, detects said reflected pulse, and determines a user state according to said reflection value of said reflected pulse, wherein when said reflection value is higher than said background value, said controlling unit controls a faucet unit open to supply water and continuously emits said pulse and detects said reflected pulse, so that when said reflection value is close to said background value, said controlling unit closes said faucet unit and sets to a standby state, facilitating to attain a sensitive faucet that is able to automatically adjust a detected distance, determine said user state in light of said reflection value and use said controlling unit to control said faucet open to supply water for saving water and electricity.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a water saving mode is actuated while said faucet unit in said step (C) is set open to supply water; said water saving mode automatically stops supplying water after a predetermined period of water supplying, so that said sensitive faucet is then set to a standby state.
3. The method as claimed in claim. 1, wherein said water saving mode automatically stops supplying water after said faucet unit is set open for 30 seconds.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when said reflection value of said reflected pulse in said step (C) is larger than said background value and is set static within a predetermined time, said reflection value of said reflected pulse considerably causes said background value to increase.
5. The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said controlling unit controls said faucet unit open to supply water and automatically closes said faucet unit after supplying water for 30 seconds, and after closing said faucet unit, when said reflection value of said reflected pulse is larger than said background value and is set static within 3 seconds, said reflection value of said reflected pulse considerably causes said background value to increase.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a fixed value is stored in said controlling unit and said background value is the sum of said reflection value and said fixed value.
7. The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein a fixed value is stored in said controlling unit, and said background value is the sum of said reflection value and said fixed value.
8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said transmitting unit in said step (C) emits said pulse to said background and detects said reflected pulse at intervals of 0.3 seconds.
9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said faucet uses a battery as a resource and said controlling unit activates an alarm device by flashing for warning when said battery provides with insufficient electricity.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/423,219 US20120211086A1 (en) | 2009-07-14 | 2012-03-18 | Method of controlling water supply by a sensitive faucet capable of automatically adjusting a detected distance |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/502,776 US20110010845A1 (en) | 2009-07-14 | 2009-07-14 | Inductive faucet of which a detection range is adjustable |
US13/423,219 US20120211086A1 (en) | 2009-07-14 | 2012-03-18 | Method of controlling water supply by a sensitive faucet capable of automatically adjusting a detected distance |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US12/502,776 Continuation-In-Part US20110010845A1 (en) | 2009-07-14 | 2009-07-14 | Inductive faucet of which a detection range is adjustable |
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US20120211086A1 true US20120211086A1 (en) | 2012-08-23 |
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US13/423,219 Abandoned US20120211086A1 (en) | 2009-07-14 | 2012-03-18 | Method of controlling water supply by a sensitive faucet capable of automatically adjusting a detected distance |
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JP2014130103A (en) * | 2012-12-28 | 2014-07-10 | Lixil Corp | Human body detection sensor and automatic faucet |
US20180017708A1 (en) * | 2015-01-07 | 2018-01-18 | Gojo Industries, Inc. | Sensing device |
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US5458147A (en) * | 1993-06-30 | 1995-10-17 | Geberit Technik Ag | Device and process for the contactless control of the flow of water in a sanitary appliance |
US5566702A (en) * | 1994-12-30 | 1996-10-22 | Philipp; Harald | Adaptive faucet controller measuring proximity and motion |
US6202980B1 (en) * | 1999-01-15 | 2001-03-20 | Masco Corporation Of Indiana | Electronic faucet |
US7472433B2 (en) * | 2006-01-05 | 2009-01-06 | Masco Corporation Of Indiana | Method and apparatus for determining when hands are under a faucet for lavatory applications |
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US5458147A (en) * | 1993-06-30 | 1995-10-17 | Geberit Technik Ag | Device and process for the contactless control of the flow of water in a sanitary appliance |
US5566702A (en) * | 1994-12-30 | 1996-10-22 | Philipp; Harald | Adaptive faucet controller measuring proximity and motion |
US6202980B1 (en) * | 1999-01-15 | 2001-03-20 | Masco Corporation Of Indiana | Electronic faucet |
US7472433B2 (en) * | 2006-01-05 | 2009-01-06 | Masco Corporation Of Indiana | Method and apparatus for determining when hands are under a faucet for lavatory applications |
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Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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JP2014130103A (en) * | 2012-12-28 | 2014-07-10 | Lixil Corp | Human body detection sensor and automatic faucet |
EP2940492A4 (en) * | 2012-12-28 | 2016-08-03 | Lixil Corp | Motion detection sensor and automatic faucet |
US9758952B2 (en) | 2012-12-28 | 2017-09-12 | Lixil Corporation | Human body detection sensor and automatic faucet |
US20180017708A1 (en) * | 2015-01-07 | 2018-01-18 | Gojo Industries, Inc. | Sensing device |
US10996370B2 (en) * | 2015-01-07 | 2021-05-04 | Gojo Industries, Inc. | Sensing device |
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