US20240301671A1

US20240301671A1 - Sanitary fitting and method for controlling a sanitary fitting

Info

Publication number: US20240301671A1
Application number: US18/576,976
Authority: US
Inventors: Krystian Przibylla; Heiko Schönbeck; Christopher Hardy BOBERG; David MAINKA
Original assignee: Grohe AG
Current assignee: Grohe AG
Priority date: 2021-07-06
Filing date: 2022-06-29
Publication date: 2024-09-12
Also published as: CN117616181A; WO2023280651A1; DE102021117431A1; EP4367334A1

Abstract

A sanitary faucet (1), at least comprising:a faucet body (2) having at least one outlet opening (3);a proximity sensor (4) for determining a distance from an object (5); anda control unit(14) by means of which at least one program of the sanitary faucet (1) can be selected or controlled depending on the distance of the object (5).In addition, a method for controlling the sanitary faucet (1).

Description

This invention relates to a sanitary faucet and a method for controlling the sanitary faucet. Such sanitary faucets are used, in particular, to dispense a liquid on demand at washbasins, sinks, showers and/or bathtubs.
Sanitary faucets that can be operated using control elements such as buttons and/or levers are known. One of the disadvantages of such control elements is that pathogens can be transmitted to different users when they touch the faucet. Hence, such sanitary faucets do not always meet high standards of hygiene. In addition, using the control elements to operate the sanitary faucets can be inconvenient.
Therefore, the invention addresses the problem of solving at least a part of the issues described with reference to the prior art and, in particular, of providing a sanitary faucet which complies with high standards of hygiene and which is convenient to operate. In addition, a method is to be specified, which can be used to operate a sanitary faucet hygienically and conveniently.
These problems are solved by a sanitary faucet and a method having the features of the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. It will be appreciated that the features listed individually in the dependent claims may be combined in any technologically useful manner and define further embodiments of the invention. In addition, the features indicated in the claims are further specified and explained in the description, wherein further preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.
A sanitary faucet having at least the characteristics listed below contributes thereto:

- a faucet housing having at least one outlet opening;
- a proximity sensor for determining a distance from an object; and
- a control unit by means of which at least one program of the sanitary faucet can be selected or controlled depending on the distance of the object.

The sanitary faucet is used for instance to provide a liquid, in particular water, at a washbasin, sink, shower and/or bathtub. The sanitary faucet has a faucet housing that is preferably at least partially made of plastic and/or (cast) metal, such as brass. The faucet housing can have an outlet that is rigidly or movably secured to the faucet body, in particular in a swiveling and/or at least partially extendable manner. The faucet housing and/or the outlet has/have at least one outlet opening for the liquid. The liquid can be dispensed via the at least one outlet opening, in particular to an environment of the sanitary faucet. Further, the sanitary faucet may comprise a mixing valve for mixing cold water and warm water to form mixed water having a desired mixed-water temperature. In particular, the mixing cartridge is disposed in the faucet housing. The cold water can be supplied to the mixing valve in particular via a cold-water line and the warm water via a warm-water line. The cold water can have a cold-water temperature, which is in particular at most 25° C. (Centigrade), preferably 1° C. to 25° C., particularly preferably 5° C. to 20° C. The hot water can have a hot-water temperature, which is in particular at most 90° C., preferably 25° C. to 90° C., particularly preferably 55° C. to 65° C. In particular, the sanitary faucet can be attached to a support, such as a washbasin, sink, bathtub, shower and/or countertop.
Furthermore, the sanitary faucet has a proximity sensor. In particular, the proximity sensor can be disposed on the faucet housing or on an underside of the outlet of the faucet housing. The proximity sensor can be used to determine the distance from an object. In particular, the distance can be a distance between the object and the proximity sensor or the sanitary faucet. The object can be, for instance, at least one hand of a user of the sanitary faucet and/or an object. The object can, for instance, be a container for holding the liquid, such as a drinking vessel and/or a pot. Furthermore, the object may be an object to be cleaned. The proximity sensor can be used to control the sanitary faucet in particular depending on the distance of the object. In particular, the proximity sensor permits contactless and/or convenient operation of the sanitary faucet. For instance, the proximity sensor can be used to detect dynamic three-dimensional (hand) gestures as motion or, in particular, a motion sequence of the object.
The sanitary faucet has a control unit which is intended and set up to select and/or control at least one program of the sanitary faucet depending on the distance of the object. The control unit may, for instance, comprise a microcontroller and/or be disposed in the faucet housing. It is also possible for the control unit and the proximity sensor to form a single unit. The at least one program is, in particular, a predetermined or specifiable routine, sequence and/or duration of a plurality of program steps, functional executions of the sanitary faucet and/or instructions for the user of the sanitary faucet. The at least one program can, for instance, be stored in the form of digital data in a data memory of the sanitary faucet. For instance, the control system can be used to activate the dispensing of liquid by the sanitary faucet and deactivate it again after a predetermined and/or pre-settable time has elapsed. The control unit can be set up to adjust the quantity and/or temperature of the liquid to be dispensed, in particular automatically according to a predefined (time) sequence or program steps and/or depending on the (currently) detected distance of the object. For this purpose, at least one shut-off valve and/or mixing valve of the sanitary faucet may be controlled by the control unit. Selecting and/or controlling may comprise activating, deactivating, switching and/or changing the at least one program. Furthermore, control may comprise stepping up, stepping down or changing over the program steps of the at least one program. In addition, control may take into account the temporal participation of a user of the sanitary faucet. If, for instance, the user requires more or less time for a program step, this can be detected by the proximity sensor to have the sequence and/or duration of the program steps adjusted by the control system. Thus, in particular, one sequence of the at least one program can be controlled or influenced depending on the distance of the object.
The proximity sensor can be designed in the manner of an infrared sensor. Alternatively, the proximity sensor can also be designed as an optical sensor, inductive sensor, radar sensor, laser range finder, photomix detector, lidar sensor or ultrasonic sensor.
A runtime of a sensor signal of the proximity sensor can be determined. By determining the run time of the sensor signal, the distance of the object can be measured indirectly, as the run time of the sensor signal depends on the location at which the sensor signal is reflected by the object. To compute the run time, the proximity sensor (data-conducting) can be connected to a control unit of the sanitary faucet. The control unit may comprise at least one microprocessor.
The proximity sensor can be used to monitor a number of distance zones. For instance, the proximity sensor can be used to monitor 2 to 10 distance zones, preferably 2 to 3 distance zones. Monitoring can be used to determine in particular whether the object is located in at least one of the distance zones. In particular, the at least one program of the sanitary faucet can be selected, activated and/or controlled as a function of the distance zone(s) in which the object is located. If the object is located in a first distance zone, for instance, it is possible to step up to a program of the sanitary faucet. If the object is in a second distance zone, for instance, it is possible to step down to a program of the sanitary faucet. If the object is located in a third distance zone, for instance, a selected program of the sanitary faucet can be activated or started. A distance zone can be an area or space, particularly a three-dimensional one. Furthermore, the distance zones can be formed below the outlet, below the outlet opening and/or below the proximity sensor, in particular when the sanitary faucet is installed and/or in use. In addition, the distance zones can, for instance, be formed in the shape of an arc, ring segment and/or spherical segment.
A first distance zone can have a first distance from the proximity sensor, a second distance zone can have a second distance from the proximity sensor and a third distance zone can have a third distance from the proximity sensor. The second distance can be greater than the first distance and/or the third distance can be greater than the second distance. For instance, the first distance can be 0 cm (centimeters) to 7.5 cm, the second distance 7.5 cm to 15 cm and/or the third distance 15 cm to 22.5 cm. The distance zones can therefore (directly) adjoin each other.
The sanitary faucet may have a display. The display can, for instance, be disposed on the faucet housing and/or on the outlet of the faucet housing. Furthermore, the display can be designed in the form of an LCD display or OLED display, for instance. The display can be used, for instance, to show an activated program of the sanitary faucet, an operating status of the sanitary faucet and/or instructions for the user of the sanitary faucet.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a method for controlling a sanitary faucet is also proposed, which comprises at least the steps listed below:

- a) using a proximity sensor to determine a distance of an object; and
- b) selecting or controlling at least one program of the sanitary faucet depending on the distance of the object.

The method is used in particular to control a sanitary faucet described above or according to the invention. Steps a) and b) can be performed consecutively or at least in part simultaneously. Determining the distance of the object in step c) can be done continuously, for instance.
In step b), at least one of the programs listed below may be selectable and/or controllable:

- Washing hands;
- Filling at least one container with a predetermined quantity of liquid; or
- Activating and deactivating the dispensing of a liquid via an outlet opening of the sanitary faucet.

A status of the sanitary faucet and/or instructions for a user of the sanitary faucet can be shown on the display of the sanitary faucet. The status may comprise, for instance, the selected program of the sanitary faucet and/or the mixed-water temperature of the mixed water.
When the “Washing hands” program is activated, for instance, the program steps of applying soap, soaping hands, rinsing off soap and/or drying hands can be performed by the sanitary faucet and/or shown on the display. In this way, hand washing can be supported, particularly in accordance with the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO). A timer for the individual program steps can also be shown on the display for this purpose. When the “Filling at least one container with a predetermined quantity of liquid” program is activated, a predetermined and/or specifiable amount of liquid can be dispensed, for instance to fill a drinking vessel or a pot with liquid.
For further details of the method, please refer to the description the sanitary faucet in its entirety.
According to a further aspect, a sanitary faucet having a proximity sensor and means suitable for performing the steps of the method disclosed herein is proposed. In particular, the “means” may comprise one or more of the components listed below: Controller(s), microcontroller, data memory, data connection, display devices (such as a display), counter or timer, at least one further sensor, an energy source, etc. For further details of the design of these components full reference can be made to the description of the sanitary faucet and/or the method proposed here.
Further, a computer program comprising instructions that cause the plumbing fixture disclosed herein to perform the method steps disclosed herein is proposed. It is also possible to provide a computer-readable medium on which this computer program is stored.
The invention and the technical environment are explained in more detail below with reference to the FIGURE. It should be noted that the FIGURE shows a particularly preferred variant of the invention, but the invention is not limited thereto. In the FIGURES:

FIG. 1 schematically shows a side view of a sanitary faucet having a proximity sensor;

FIG. 1 shows a sanitary faucet 1, which is attached to a wash basin. The sanitary faucet 1 comprises a faucet housing 2 having an outlet opening 3, through which a liquid can be dispensed to the washbasin 10. In addition, a proximity sensor 4 is disposed on the faucet housing 2 to determine the distance of an object 5. The proximity sensor 4 can be used to monitor whether the object 5 is located in a first distance zone 6, which has a first distance 11 from the proximity sensor 4, in a second distance zone 7, which has a second distance 12 from the proximity sensor 4, and/or in a third distance zone 8, which has a third distance 13 from the proximity sensor 4. For this purpose, the proximity sensor 4 is connected in a data-conducting manner to a control unit 14, by means of which a runtime of a sensor signal of the proximity sensor 4 can be determined. For instance, the first distance 11 could be 0 cm to 7.5 cm, the second distance 12 could be 7.5 cm to 15 cm and/or the third distance 13 could be 15 cm to 22.5 cm. The distance zones 6, 7, 8 therefore each have a depth of 7.5 cm (in the direction of the proximity sensor 4). In addition, the distance zones 6, 7, 8 extend in an arcuate manner and concentrically around the proximity sensor 4. At least one program of the sanitary faucet 1 can be selected and/or controlled by the control unit 14, depending on the distance zone 6, 7, 8, in which the object 5 is located. In addition, the control unit 14 is connected to a display 9 of the sanitary faucet 1 in a data-conducting manner, via which a status of the sanitary faucet 1 or instructions for action can be displayed to a user of the sanitary faucet 1.
This invention renders the sanitary faucet 1 hygienic and convenient to operate at the same time.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND TERMS

- 1 sanitary faucet
- 2 faucet housing
- 3 discharge opening
- 4 proximity sensor
- 5 object
- 6 first distance zone
- 7 second distance zone
- 8 third distance zone
- 9 display
- 10 washbasin
- 11 first distance
- 12 second distance
- 13 third distance
- 14 control unit

Claims

1. A sanitary faucet (1), at least comprising:

a faucet body (2) having at least one outlet opening (3);

a proximity sensor (4) for determining a distance from an object (5); and

a control unit (14) by means of which at least one program of the sanitary faucet (1) can be selected or controlled depending on the distance of the object (5).

2. The sanitary faucet (1) according to claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor (4) is designed in the manner of an infrared sensor.

3. The sanitary faucet (1) according to claim 1, wherein the runtime of a sensor signal of the proximity sensor (4) can be determined.

4. The sanitary faucet (1) according to claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor (4) can be used to monitor a plurality of distance zones (6, 7, 8).

5. The sanitary faucet (1) according to claim 4, wherein a first distance zone (6) has a first distance (11) from the proximity sensor (4), a second distance zone (7) has a second distance (12) from the proximity sensor (4) and a third distance zone (8) has a third distance (13) from the proximity sensor (4).

6. The sanitary faucet (1) according to claim 1, comprising a display (9).

7. A method for controlling a sanitary faucet (1); comprising at least the steps outlined below:

a) Using a proximity sensor (4) to determine a distance of an object (5); and

b) Selecting or controlling at least one program of the sanitary faucet (1) depending on the distance from the object (5).

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein in step b) at least one of the following programs can be selected or controlled:

Washing hands;

Filling at least one container with a predetermined quantity of liquid; or

Activating and deactivating the dispensing of a liquid via an outlet opening (3) of the sanitary faucet (1).

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein a status of the sanitary faucet (1) or instructions for a user of the sanitary faucet (1) are shown on a display (9) of the sanitary faucet (1).

10. A sanitary faucet (1) comprising a proximity sensor (4) and means suitable for performing the steps of the method according to claim 7.

11. A computer program comprising instructions, which cause the sanitary faucet (1) of claim 10 to perform the method steps according to claim 7.