WO2007034324A2

WO2007034324A2 - Water-supply device with electronic detecting device to set temperature and flowrate, and use of this device

Info

Publication number: WO2007034324A2
Application number: PCT/IB2006/002726
Authority: WO
Inventors: Davide Vercelli
Original assignee: Rubinetterie Ritmonio S.R.L.
Priority date: 2005-09-26
Filing date: 2006-09-25
Publication date: 2007-03-29
Also published as: ITTO20050668A1; WO2007034324A3; WO2007034324A8

Abstract

A water-supply device comprises electrical water-mixing means, deliver means of a mixed flow of water, control means (20) operatively connected to the water-mixing means, and manual-selection means (9), which are in signal communication with the control means and can be actuated by a user for the purposes of setting the temperature and flowrate of water to be supplied. The manual-selection means (9) comprises a first series of emitters and receivers to control the temperature of the water and a second series of emitters and receivers to set the flowrate.

Description

"Water-supply device, and system for managing and distributing water within a building that uses said device"

* * *

Field of the invention The present invention relates to electronically controlled devices for water supply and to systems for the distribution of water within buildings, in particular dwellings for residential purposes, in which said devices find advantageous application.

State of the prior art The devices of the type referred to typically comprise electrically controlled water-mixing means, obtained via solenoid valves, which are managed by an electronic control system for the purposes of supply of a desired flow of water. Operatively associated to the control system are manual-selection means, for example in the form of control panels or keypads, via which a user can set the characteristics of the desired flow, in terms of temperature and/or flowrate. In certain known applications, a number of supply devices of the type referred to form part of a system of distribution of a centralized type, i.e., one that is to supply a plurality of water facilities for domestic purposes. In said applications, the electrical water-mixing means of the various supply devices are positioned in a single distribution unit connected to the sources of hot and cold water, usually in a position that is remote with respect to the various water facilities. In this way, between said unit and each water-using facility governed thereby a single pipe can be provided, designed to convey the water that is mixed in the unit. Positioned in the vicinity of each facility are the selection means, which enable the user to choose the desired characteristics for the flow of water. The selection means of known supply devices and distribution systems are, however, usually complicated, cumbersome and, in some cases, far from precise and reliable. Summary of the invention The primary purpose of the present invention is to overcome the above drawbacks. Said purpose is achieved, according to the present invention, by a water-supply device and by a system for managing and distributing water within buildings that present the characteristics specified in the annexed claims, which form an integral part of the descriptive contents of the present patent application. Brief description of the drawings The detailed description of the invention will be backed up by the annexed plate of drawings, which is provided purely by way of explanatory and non- limiting example, and in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic view of a system for the distribution of water using three water-supply devices built according to the present invention; - Figure 2 is a schematic view of a water control unit forming part of the system of Figure 1;

- Figure 3 is a graph exemplifying the modalities of selection of the conditions of supply of water, which can be effected by means of a control device used in the device or in the system according to the invention; - Figure 4 is an exploded view of a user interface employed in the device or in the system according to the invention;

- Figures 5, 6 and 7 are schematic representations of possible modes of display employed in the user interface of Figure 4;

- Figure 8 is a schematic view of a user interface built in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention; and

- Figure 9 is a schematic cross section of the user interface of Figure 8. Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a system for the distribution of water within buildings, in which the water-supply device forming the subject of the invention proves of advantageous application. In the example provided, the system is used for managing and distributing water within a domestic environment.

In accordance with the embodiment illustrated, the management of the flows of water towards various water-using facilities for domestic purposes is concentrated in a single water control unit or hydraulic derivation box. Said control unit, designated by 1 , is connected to two pipes for supply of hot water and cold water, designated, respectively, by 2 and 3. There branch off from the control unit 1 a plurality of pipes 4A, 4B, 4C, each of which is to supply respective supply outlets A or A', B, C installed on respective water facilities. The case exemplified in Figure 1 refers to a bathroom, in which the aforesaid water facilities are a bathtub 5, a bidet 6, and a washbasin 7. In the example illustrated, the bathtub 5 is equipped with a fixed spout or outlet A for supply of water and a shower outlet A'. In this installation, the water coming from the pipe 4A is directed towards the supply outlet desired by the user (A or else A') via a deviation device 8, governed by a corresponding control circuit. Said deviation device can be constituted, for example, via systems of solenoid valves or systems using any other known technique.

Mounted in a position corresponding to each water-using facility 5, 6, 7 is a respective control device for the supply of water, designated by 9. Each device 9 is pre-arranged to enable selection of the desired flowrate and temperature of the water by the user, maintenance of the desired conditions of supply and selection of the supply outlet to be activated, in the case of water facilities with a number of supply outlets (such as the bathtub 5). Figure 1 refers to the supply of water to three facilities present in a bathroom, but the system is of course applicable to a different number of facilities, of various types, even located in different premises, without modifying the working principle described in what follows. Each facility can moreover be equipped with a variable number of supply outlets, as in the case of the bathtub 5.

The control unit 1, represented schematically in Figure 2, comprises a container 10, within which two main manifolds 11 and 12 are present, connected, respectively, to the pipes 2 and 3. For each facility 5, 6, 7 that is to be supplied with hot, cold or mixed water, the control unit 1 comprises a pair of devices that can be regulated for opening/closing the flow of water, one connected to the manifold 11 and the other connected to the manifold 12. In Figure 2, said devices are designated by 13 and 14 (hot-water side and cold-water side, respectively), with the addition of the reference number (5, 6, 7) indicating the respective facility to which the water is directed. The outlets of each device 13, 14 are each connected, by means of respective pipe fittings 15, to a pipe 4A, 4B, 4C that is to deliver the water to the respective facility. Provided on each pipe 4A-4C or pipe fitting 15 is a temperature sensor 16, used by the control circuit of the respective supply device for verifying whether the conditions of temperature of the water supplied, selected by the user via the control device 9, together with the flowrate, have been reached and are being maintained.

In the application proposed, the devices 13 and 14 are each formed by a screw valve with ceramic disks, which is made to turn thanks to a stepper motor or to a servomotor, fitted to the cartridge. Said motor, which is of a type in itself known, is governed by a respective control circuit positioned in the control device 9. The embodiment cited constitutes a mere example, so that the devices 13, 14 could be replaced by shutoff and/or mixing means of another type (for example, systems based on solenoid valves or proportional solenoid valves), capable of delivering a variable amount of water to the pipe fitting 15. The choice of the shutoff/ mixing means does not affect operation of the entire system, but only the electronic components used, in so far as it is evidently necessary to take into account the type of control that the devices in question require. Preferably, housed in the control unit 1 is the power board of each supply device that is to supply the various components thereof. The boards are designated by 17, with the addition of the reference number (5, 6, 7) indicating the respective water facility. Each board 17, which can be obtained with any known technique, is supplied at low voltage thanks to suitable cables 18. The autonomy of the system, even in the absence of mains voltage supply, is guaranteed by the presence of a rechargeable battery 19. Note that, for greater clarity, in Figure 2 the representations of the electrical connections between the power boards 17, the devices 13 and 14, the temperature sensors 16, and the control devices 9 have been omitted. The control device 9 of each supply device is installed independently on the respective water facility. It comprises a microprocessor control circuit, integrating, or having associated, non-volatile storage means, which is prearranged to enable, in a way in itself known, self-adjustment of the temperature of the mixed water supplied to the respective facility thanks to the presence of the sensor 16. The circuit moreover regulates the degree of opening/closing of the devices 13 and 14 and all the activities linked to operation of the supply device, and is supplied thanks to the respective power board 17 situated in the control unit 1. The control device 9 also comprises the interface between the user and the control circuit. Said user interface, which constitutes the specific subject of the present invention, is pre-arranged to enable selection of the desired conditions of temperature and flowrate of the mixed water, as well as selection of the supply outlet that is to be activated, in the case of a supply device equipped with a number of outlets for the water.

In one embodiment, the user interface referred to is made so that a single operation of setting by a user corresponds to the generation of two variables or values for control of the desired flow of water, namely, flowrate and temperature. In said embodiment, the interface defines an area that is sensitive to the presence of a finger of the user and integrates a system capable of displaying the point selected within the aforesaid area. The selection can be made thanks to the fact that the aforesaid sensitive area can be considered as a cartesian plane, appearing in which on the axis of the abscissa are the possible temperatures that can be selected, whilst given on the axis of the ordinate are the values of flowrate (or vice versa). Said concept can be clarified by the representation of suitable references in the cited display system. As illustrated schematically in Figure 3, the selection of a point S within the sensitive area will thus correspond to a precise and unique condition of temperature T and flowrate P from among the ones available.

Figure 4 illustrates the components that form the control device 9, in one embodiment of the invention. Said components are set on top of one another so as to form a single assembly, which will then be installed alongside the water facility. The base of the device 9 is constituted by a circuit board 20, connected on the bottom surface of which are the microprocessor and the other electronic components of the control circuit (not represented in Figure 4, in so far as it is of a conception in itself known). Positioned at the top of the electronic board 20 is a liquid-crystal display (LCD), designated by 21A. Said display 21A can be lit up by a backlight designated by 21 B. The ensemble constituted by the display 21 A and the backlight 2 IB, both of which can be obtained using techniques in themselves known, will be referred to in what follows as "screen" and identified by the number 21. Set at the top of the screen 21 is a transparent protective element 22 made of glass or plastic material. In the embodiment of Figure 4, the selection of the desired conditions of temperature and flowrate is detected via a system that defines an area sensitive to an action on the part of the user, but without any need for direct contact with a surface or even just grazing thereof. Said detection system comprises first and second series of detectors, each constituted by a pair of emitters 23 A and receivers 23B of electromagnetic radiation, preferably in the form of light- emitting diodes and light-receiving diodes that operate in IR frequencies. Said diodes are preferably fixed directly to the upper part of the board 20 so that their active part is positioned a little above the surface of the protective element 22. The two aforesaid sets of diodes are arranged at an angle with respect to one another. In particular, in the exemplified case, each set of detecting devices is arranged according to a respective axis, with the axis of the first set that is arranged substantially orthogonal with respect to the axis of the second set, such that the beams of electromagnetic radiation between the various pairs of diodes 23 A, 23B form a sort of grid, comprising a plurality of points of intersection or crossing of the beams themselves. The two sets of detectors can lay according to a same plane or lay according to respective planes slightly staggered to each other, for instance parallel planes. Also in this second case, wherein the radiation beams produced by the one set are slightly above or below the radiation beams produced by the other set, a grid is anyway obtained, inwhich in a front view, a plurality of intersection points can be identified, corresponding to the points where the projection of the beams of a set crosses the beams of the other set.

At least one region of said grid includes points of intersection that each identify both a value of flowrate and a value of temperature of the desired flow of mixed water. The interception of the radiation beams in the area of intersection between two beams, for example via a finger of the user, identifies respective selections of values of temperature and flowrate and is detected by the microprocessor control circuit, which interprets the choice made, with modalities that will appear clear to a person skilled in the sector, for the purpose of management of operation of the water-mixing means 13, 14. The system proposed in Figure 4 further comprises a frame 24 made of plastic material, transparent to infrared radiation, defining a series of seats 24 A for positioning and protection of the diodes 23 A and 23B. The frame 24 is fixed in a sealed way with respect to the protective element 22 so as to prevent any infiltration of water between the two components. For this purpose the deposition of a suitable sealing material or the interposition of a seal or gasket can be envisaged. The ensemble of the components represented in Figure 4 can be inserted, at least partially, in a plastic casing (not represented) to guarantee insulation of the circuit from water and moisture, thus preserving operation of the electronic components. Suitable sealing means can be provided also between the upper part of the frame 24 and the aforesaid casing, or between the frame 24 and a possible plaques that covers it for aesthetic purposes of styling. The seats 24A for the diodes 23A, 23B can also be in the form of blind holes, i.e., closed at the top.

The screen 21 enables display of the operations that can be carried out by the user. A few examples of graphs that can be used for said purpose are represented in Figures 5, 6 and 7. Figure 5 illustrates the situation where the screen 21 is in a resting display condition. The selection by the user of the only icon appearing on the screen 21, designated by 25, is detected via the system of diodes 23a-23B and causes the screen to pass into a working display condition, with the consequent possibility of also starting supply of the water. To do this, the screen 21 must change appearance: after selection of the icon 25, then, the visualization of Figure 5 is replaced by the one represented in Figure 6, which exemplifies the case of a user interface for a supply device equipped with just one outlet for the water. In said figure, the reference number 26 designates a region in which the screen 21 highlights — with small dots, in the case represented - the possible choices of temperature and flowrate, corresponding substantially to the points of intersection of the radiation beams of the two series of photocell detectors formed by the pairs of diodes 23A, 23B. In the version exemplified, highlighted in the region 26 of the screen 21 (i.e., of the aforesaid detecting grid) are forty possible combinations of fiowrate/temperature, of which the central one - designated by 27 - identifies the possibility characterized by ideal values of flowrate and temperature of the water supplied.

In this embodiment, when the user intercepts two infrared radiation beams substantially in correspondence of one of the symbols of the region 26, the control system implemented in the circuit of the board 20 enables supply of the water; i.e., it sends a command to the water-mixing means 13 and 14 concerned so as to obtain, in the respective pipe 4A-4C, a flow with flowrate and temperature corresponding to the ones identified by said symbol. As has been said, for this purpose, the control system also uses the information detected by the temperature sensor 16 in question. In Figure 6, the screen 21 likewise highlights an icon 28 that can be used for controlling interruption of the supply of the water and for bringing the screen back into the resting condition of Figure 5.

In the case of a water facility with a number of supply outlets (such as the bathtub 5 of Figure 1), the visualization represented in Figure 6 can be of the type exemplified in Figure 7, in which further icons 29 are visible that enable selection of the desired supply outlet, in a version characterized by three distinct supply outlets.

When the user selects one of the possibilities represented by the icons of the region 26 or by the icons 25, 28 and 29, the screen 21 modifies the appearance of the icon selected to indicate that the selection has been made. The choice of the icon 28 will cause return of the modified icon to its original state.

The representations of Figures 5, 6 and 7 regard a possible choice of arrangement of the graphics of the control device, which is obviously not binding for operation of the device or of the system according to the invention. Other choices, in terms of symbols, additional functions and different visualizations can be implemented, appropriately managed by the control circuit; this is obtained with modalities in themselves known. An example is the possibility of envisaging a further icon to send a command for start of water supply. In this case, after selection of a point of interest of the region 26 and consequent modification in the visualization of the corresponding symbol, the effective start of supply will be obtained following upon selection of the aforesaid further icon.

In the embodiment described above, also the selection of functions different from setting of the desired values of flowrate and temperature is preferably detected by means of the system of diodes. For this purpose, some points of intersection of the grid of radiation beams identify the aforesaid different functions. Said points, and the corresponding icons or symbols, will be preferably arranged within a further region of the grid and of the screen 21, ordered according to a same column or row, along one side of the region 26.

As already mentioned, the assembled components of Figure 4, constituting the control device 9, are inserted at least in part in a container, which guarantees insulation of the electronic components from water and moisture. From said container there branch off one or more cables for the connection of the device 9 to the other parts of the system.

As has been said, operation of the supply device is managed by the control circuit situated on the board 20, programmed for the purpose. At the moment in which the user selects one of the options available — displayed on the screen 21 -, said choice is detected, via the system of diodes 23 A, 23B, by the control circuit, which modifies (if necessary) the corresponding icon on the screen 21 and, in the case of selection of one of the icons present in the region 26, enables supply of water at the temperature and with the flowrate specified by the selection made by the user. To do this, the control circuit issues a command to the devices 13 and 14 in question for causing flows of hot and cold water to reach the respective pipe fitting 15 in appropriate proportions that are a function of the choice made by the user. The data detected by the temperature sensor 16 are used by the control circuit for verifying whether the desired temperature condition has been reached and maintained. In the case where the value detected by the sensor 16 does not correspond to the desired one, the circuit, via an appropriate control loop, sees to modifying the openings of the cartridges of the devices 13 and 14, until the condition selected has been reached. In this version of the invention, the use of flowmeters is not strictly necessary to verify the amount of water supplied, the flowrate being kept constant thanks to the settings of the control system, which are in themselves clear to a person skilled in the art.

In the case where one of the icons 29 is selected, relating to the selection of a supply outlet in the case of water facilities with two or three supply outlets, the control circuit, by acting on the device 8 of Figure 1 , sees to deviating the supply of the water towards the desired outlet. The control system is moreover conveniently programmed for interrupting the flow of water in the case where the supply of cold water fails (anti-scalding function) and for detecting and/or correcting any possible anomalous selections. For example, in the event of simultaneous selection of two points of the grid that are very distant from one another, the screen 21 may highlight appropriate symbols corresponding to said points or cause them to flash, without starting supply. In the case of simultaneous selection of two adjacent points of the grid, the control circuit may instead control the devices 13, 14 in order to supply a flow having an average flowrate and temperature between the ones corresponding to the two points selected.

At the end of use, the user may select the icon 28 for interrupting supply of water, with the screen 21 that will return to the condition of Figure 5, and with the device 9 that will return as a whole into the respective resting condition or condition of standby for selection. It should be noted that, in the embodiment exemplified herein, the control device 9 is always supplied, in order to guarantee display of the icon 25 and to guarantee the active state of the system of diodes. It will, however, be appreciated that the consequent consumption of electricity is negligible, and there is nothing, in principle, to rule out equipping the device 9 with an appropriate on-off switch. The invention is clearly adaptable also to just one water facility. In this case, a control unit of decidedly contained dimensions with respect to the control unit 1 is provided, which contains just one device 13 and just one device 14, connected to respective pipes for supply of hot and cold water. Said control unit envisages in this case just one outlet pipe, equipped with the respective temperature sensor 16, which terminates in the supply outlet of interest or in the device 8. Moreover present within the control unit is a single power board 17, with possible buffer battery 19, which control unit may be mounted in the vicinity of the water facility or directly thereon.

It is clear that numerous variations may be made to the system described herein by way of example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.

In the preferred embodiment, the control unit 1 and the control device 9 can be made of plastic material, preferably of the type flush-mounted on a wall, to facilitate installation thereof. The connection between the control unit 1, the device 9, and the deviation device 8 (if present) is obtained via physical wiring, in the way considered most convenient. Said physical wiring can be at least in part replaced by a wireless communication system, with modalities and means that will appear clear to a person skilled in the art. With the addition of appropriate electronic components, in themselves known, the device or system according to the invention can also be interfaced with domotics systems or similar installations already existing in the domestic sphere, or with a terminal that will enable control of the conditions of supply of the water and the consumption levels, or else remote management of the system. Also the connection with said other systems can be made with physical wiring (for example, a domestic bus), or else using wireless technology (WiFi, Blue-Tooth, etc.).

In the foregoing description of the control device 9, reference is made to a detection system of an optical and contactless type, obtained via emitters and receivers 23A, 23B operating in the IR frequency range. A possible alternative consists in the use of the technology, in itself known, of the so-called "touch screen" capacitive type. Said technology envisages that any dielectric material (ceramic, glass, plastic, wood, stone, etc.) may become an element sensitive to the touch, thanks to activation of appropriate sensors. In this way, it becomes possible to provide, for example, a touch screen, formed by a plate made of glass or other transparent material, on the rear of which the aforesaid sensors are applied. A proper arrangement of the sensors guarantees the presence of a number of "keys" necessary for selection of all the functions envisaged, according to the principle previously outlined. In this way, it is possible to eliminate the frame 24 and the diode detection system 23A, 23B. This type of embodiment can be conveniently used also to convert a small area of a mirror (rendered transparent) into a sensitive area, using it as touch screen, behind which to position the control device 9.

In a possible embodiment, a plurality of capacitive sensors is used to solve the problem of encumbrance for those water facilitiess that have available little space in which to position the control device 9. In said embodiment, the screen 21 and the system of diodes 23 A, 23B are replaced by a touch screen made up of a thin board made of silk-screen printed glass (like the element 22), equipped, via positioning of the capacitive sensors, with some keys for guaranteeing the main functions (for example, turning on, turning off, increasing and reducing the temperature, increasing and reducing the flowrate, supply outlet, etc.). The display of the conditions selected is in this case obtained via combinations of LEDs, where turning-on and/or colouring indicates the values of temperature and flowrate selected, or the other functions chosen.

Such an embodiment is exemplified in Figure 8, in which a possible schematic representation of the aforesaid front part of board made of glass, designated by B, is highlighted. The key, designated by 30, obtained with a respective capacitive sensor, is designed to enable/interrupt the supply of water. The key 31 and the key 32, which are also obtained with respective sensors, are designed, respectively, to increase and reduce the temperature of supply, whilst the keys 34 and 35, which are also obtained using capacitive sensors, perform the same functions in regard to the flowrate of the water supplied. Said keys, obtained by positioning the corresponding capacitive sensors on the rear surface of the board B, can be altogether transparent to visible light, and their presence can be highlighted by symbols made on the board itself, for example via the silk-screen printing technique, as well as by LEDs in corresponding positions, arranged underneath the board B and the sensors. Silk-screen printed in the space comprised between the keys 31 and 32 is a row of boxes 33. Provided in positions corresponding to said boxes, in the part underlying the board B and the sensors, are LEDs, which indicate, by turning on, the temperature selected from among the ones available. The aforesaid LEDs can also have a colouring that can vary from blue to red in order to highlight more intuitively the temperature selected. Between the keys 34 and 35 there are instead present other boxes 36, of increasing areas, to which LEDs for lighting are associated, underneath the board B. As in the previous case, appropriate lighting of the boxes 33 indicates the value of flowrate selected from among the ones available. Figure 9 is a purely indicative cross-sectional view of parts of a control device 9 that integrates the board B of Figure 8. In Figure 9, the reference numbers 30', 34', 35' designate silk-screen prints present on the front surface of the board B, indicating the position of the keys 30, 34, 35. Designated by SC are the capacitive sensors of the keys 30, 34 and 35; designated by LE' are the LEDs used for highlighting the keys; and designated by LE" are the LEDs for highlighting the selections made, positioned underneath the boxes 36. The sensors SC and LEDs LE are connected to the control circuit, here designated as a whole by CC, carried by the board 20. As has been said, the capacitive sensors SC are made and operate according to the known art, for example the one described in the document No. US 6,452,514, the contents of which in this regard are considered as being incorporated herein.

Of course, the selection/display part of the device represented in Figures 8 and 9 is merely indicative, in so far as the same could be made in numerous other variants. This is, in any case and in whatever form it is made, perfectly integrable with what has been described previously in so far as it replaces the system of diodes 23 A, 23B, with the corresponding frame 24, and the screen 21. The remaining part of the system thus remains substantially unchanged, with the microprocessor of the control circuit CC that in this case will be programmed to enable management of the values of flowrate and temperature independently of one another.

Claims

1. A water-supply device that can be connected to a cold-water supply source (2) and to a hot-water supply source (3), comprising mixing means (13-16) for mixing cold water and hot water that can be controlled via manual-selection means (9), which can be governed by a user for the purposes of supply of a desired flow of water, said device being characterized in that:

- the selection means (9) comprise a first series of detecting devices (23A- 23B), which identifies at least one range of regulation of temperature, and a second series of detecting devices (23A-23B), which identifies at least one range of regulation of flowrate, each detecting device comprising an emitter (23A) and a receiver (23B) that face one another, so that a beam of electromagnetic radiation is set up between them, which can be selectively intercepted by a user, for example with a finger; - the first series of detecting devices (23A-23B) is set according at an angle with respect to the second series of detecting devices (23A-23B), such that the radiation beams of the detecting devices (23 A-23B) of the two series cross each other, thus forming a detecting grid comprising a plurality of crossing points of the radiation beams, in which a region of said grid includes first crossing points that each identify both a value of flowrate and a temperature of the desired flow of mixed water, the interception, by the user, of said radiation beams in correspondence of at least some of said first crossing points identifying respective selections of the values of temperature and flowrate.

2. The device according to Claim 1, wherein the selection means (9) are prearranged such that interception, by the user, of said radiation beams in correspondence of a said first crossing point enables supply of the flow of water at a desired temperature and flowrate.

3. The device according to Claim 1, wherein a further region of said grid is dedicated to the setting, by the user, of commands of operation different from said selections of the values of temperature and of flowrate, there belonging to said further region one or more second crossing points of said grid.

4. The device according to Claim 3, wherein the selection means (9) are prearranged so that interception, by the user, of said radiation beams in correspondence of to a said second crossing point identifies at least one from among: - a command for enabling supply of the flow of water;

- a command for arrest of supply of the flow of water;

- a command for variation of state of a display (21) forming part of said selection means (9); - a command for selecting a desired outlet for supply of the flow of water from among a plurality of supply outlets (A, A') associated to a same water facility (5).

5. The device according to Claim 1, wherein the selection means (9) comprise display means (21) that give out onto said grid and are arranged at the rear thereof.

6. The device according to Claim 5, wherein the display means (21) comprise a display (21A), which can be controlled for displaying symbols (27) representing respective crossing points of said grid, and possibly modifying said symbols following upon interception of said radiation beams in correspondence of a respective crossing point.

7. The device according to Claim 6, wherein the display means (21) comprise a liquid-crystal display (21 A), associated to which is a backlight (21B).

8. The device according to any one of Claims 5 to 7, wherein set between said grid and said display means (21) is a protective element made of transparent material (22).

9. The device according to Claim 1, wherein the selection means (9) comprise an electronic-circuit board (20) having a first face and a second face opposite to one another, said emitters and receivers (23A, 23B) being connected to one face and electronic components being connected to the other face.

10. The device according to Claim 1, further comprising control means (20), operatively connected to said water-mixing means (13-16) and in signal communication with said selection means (9).

11. The device according to Claims 9 and 10, wherein said electronic components comprise a microprocessor that forms at least part of said control means.

12. The device according to Claim 9, wherein said emitters and receivers (23A, 23B) are arranged for circumscribing an area, within which said display means (21) are positioned.

13. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said selection means (9) comprise a frame-like structure (24) that forms a positioning and/or protection element for said emitters and receivers (23A, 23B), said structure (24) defining a plurality of seats (24A), housed in each of which is an active part of a respective emitter or receiver (23 A, 23B).

14. The device according to Claims 8 and 13, wherein said frame-like structure (24) and said protective element (22) are mounted in a sealed way with respect to one another.

15. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said detecting devices (23 A-23B) operate in the infrared frequency range.

16. The device according to at least Claims 5, 8, 9 and 13, wherein said display means (21), said protective element (22), said electronic-circuit board (20) and said frame-like structure (24) are assembled together to form an assembly that is at least in part housed in a plastic casing.

17. The device according to Claim 1, wherein said water-mixing means (13- 16) comprise at least two screw valves, preferably with ceramic disks, each governed via a stepper motor or a servomotor.

18. The device according to Claim 1, wherein said water-mixing means comprise (13-16) temperature-sensing means (16) for detecting the flow of water, in signal communication with said control means (20).

19. A water-supply device that can be connected to a cold-water supply source (2) and to a hot-water supply source (3), comprising water-mixing means

(13-16) for mixing cold water with hot water, which can be controlled via manual- selection means (9) that comprise temperature-selecting means and flowrate- selecting means, the temperature-selecting means and the flowrate-selecting means being controllable by a user independently of one another for the purposes of supply of a desired flow of water, said device' being characterized in that the manual-selection means (9) comprise a plurality of capacitive sensors (SC) associated to a plate-like body or the like made of dielectric material (B), for providing therewith selection keys (31, 32, 34, 35) that can be operated by the user, for example with a finger, in which: - at least two first sensors (SC) of said plurality form respective first keys

(31, 32) for regulation of a temperature of the flow of water; and

- at least two second sensors (SC) of said plurality identify respective second keys (34, 35) for regulation of a value of flowrate of the water.

20. The device according to Claim 19 , wherein said sensors (SC) are at least in part transparent to visible light.

21. The device according to Claim 19, wherein said plate- like body or the like (B) is made of transparent material and has a surface, associated to which are said sensors (SC), there facing said surface light-emitting means (LE', LE"), in particular of the LED type, which are able to identify said keys.

22. The device according to Claim 19, wherein on said plate-like body or the like (B) there are impressed, in particular via silk-screen printing, symbols that identify said keys (31, 32, 34, 35).

23. The device according to Claim 19 , wherein:

- said first sensors (SC) comprise only two sensors, which form, respectively, an increment key (31) and a reduction key (32) for incrementing/reducing the temperature; and

- said second sensors (SC) comprise only two sensors, which form, respectively, an increment key (34) and a reduction key (35) for incrementing/reducing the flowrate.

24. The device according to Claim 14, wherein at least one further sensor

(SC) of said plurality forms a respective further control key (30) for a function different from selecting a desired temperature or flowrate of the water, said function being comprised in the following:

- enabling the supply of the flow of water; - arresting the supply of the flow of water; and

- selecting a desired supply outlet of the flow of water from among a plurality of supply outlets (A, A') associated to one and the same water facility (5).

25. The device according to Claim 21, wherein the light-emitting means (LE', LE' ') are provided for highlighting selections made using said keys.

26. The device according to Claim 23, wherein, provided in an area comprised between said two sensors (SC) is a series of light-emitting means (LE"), provided for highlighting a selected level of temperature or flowrate.

27. The device according to Claim 26, wherein the emitting means of said series (LE") have colourings that are substantially different from one another.

28. The device according to Claim 23, wherein provided in an area comprised between said two keys, on a surface of said plate-like body or the like (B), is a series of symbols (33, 36).

29. The device according to Claim 19, further comprising control means (20), operatively connected to said water-mixing means (13-16) and in signal communication with said selection means (9).

30. The device according to Claim 19, wherein said water-mixing means (13-16) comprise at least two screw valves, preferably with ceramic disks, each governed via a stepper motor or a servomotor.

31. The device according to Claim 19, wherein said water-mixing means comprise (13-16) temperature-sensing means (16) for detecting the temperature of the flow of water, in signal communication with said control means (20).

32. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it forms part of a system for the distribution and/or management of water within buildings, in particular dwellings for residential purposes, which comprises a water-distribution unit (1) that is to supply a plurality of said supply devices associated to respective water facilities (5-7).

33. The device according to Claim 32, wherein said unit (1) comprises a first manifold (11), connected to a respective source of cold water (2), and a second manifold (12), connected to a respective source of hot water (3), the unit (1) moreover comprising, for each of said supply devices that are to be supplied with mixed water, the respective water-mixing means (13-16), which are connected at inlet both to the first manifold (11) and to the second manifold (12) and are connected at outlet to a same pipe (4A-4C), the latter being in turn connected to respective delivery means (A-C), where control means (20) of each supply device are operative for controlling, according to settings made via the selection means (9) associated to a respective water facility (5-7), the respective water-mixing means (13-16) in order to carry out mixing between the cold water and the hot water coming from said manifolds (11, 12) and obtain a desired flow of mixed water at outlet from the respective delivery means (A-C).

34. A system for the distribution of water within buildings, in particular dwellings for residential purposes, comprising a water-distribution unit (1) that is to supply a plurality of supply outlets (A-C) associated to respective water facilities (5-7), the system comprising a plurality of supply devices according to one or more of Claims 1 to 32.

35. The system according to Claim 34, wherein the unit (1) comprises:

- a first manifold (11), connected to a source of cold water (2), and a second manifold (12), connected to a source of hot water (3); and

- for each supply outlet (A-C) that is to be supplied with mixed water, the water-mixing means (9-16) of a respective supply device being connected at inlet both to the first manifold (11) and to the second manifold (12) and connected at outlet to one and the same pipe (4A-4C), the latter being in turn connected to a respective supply outlet (A-C).