TWO-DISTANCE TOUCH FREE AUTOMATIC TYPE WATER SUPPLY DEVICE AND METHOD
A two-distance touch free automatic type water supply method includes: when a sensor senses an appearance of an external object at a first distance from the sensor, the sensing signal is an open signal, whereby water of the outlet is supplied; when the sensor senses a disappearance of the external object at the first distance from the sensor, the sensing signal is a closed signal, whereby water of the outlet is not supplied; when the sensor senses a first appearance and a first disappearance of the external object at a second distance from the sensor, the sensing signal is an open signal, whereby water of the outlet is supplied; and when the sensor senses a second appearance and a second disappearance of the external object at the second distance from the sensor, the sensing signal is a closed signal, whereby water of the outlet is not supplied.
This application claims the benefit of Taiwan Patent Application No. 103129835, filed on Aug. 29, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of Invention
The present disclosure relates to a two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device, and more particularly to a two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device whose an electronic control unit includes an only sensor, which can be a long distance mode sensor and a short distance mode sensor simultaneously.
2. Related Art
Recently, a common faucet is provided with a rotational switch located thereon for controlling the faucet to supply water, whereby humans can wash their hand. During the actual use, a user first applies soap to his hand, and then turns on the rotational switch, whereby the faucet can supply clean water to wash the hand so as to finish the washing step. After the washing step, two hands need to take water to wash the surface of the rotational switch sometimes, such that the soap cannot be attached on the rotational switch. But, it is inconvenient and is wasted in the water resource.
The above-mentioned faucet is a touch type faucet, and thus a touch free automatic type faucet is developed in order to avoid the problem that the touch type faucet is inconvenient and wasted in the water resource.
According to the touch free automatic type faucet, when a hand of a user is put at a position below an outlet, the touch free automatic type faucet senses an appearance of the hand. Then, the touch free automatic type faucet is turn on, and the water flows through the outlet. When the hand of the user leaves the position below the outlet, the touch free automatic type faucet senses a disappearance of the hand. Then, the touch free automatic type faucet is turn off, and the water cannot flow through the outlet.
However, when a great quantity of water is needed for a washing work, the hand of the user must be put at the position below the outlet all the time, whereby the touch free automatic type faucet is turn on, and the water flows through the outlet all the time so as to provide a great quantity of water. It is inconvenient for the user.
Accordingly, a need remains for a two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device to solve the foregoing problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe objective of the present disclosure is to provide a two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device, whose an electronic control unit includes an only sensor, which can be a long distance mode sensor and a short distance mode sensor simultaneously.
To achieve the foregoing objective, the present disclosure provides a two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device, including: a shell, an electronic control unit and a driving unit. The shell includes an inlet, a flow channel and an outlet, wherein the outlet is communicated with the inlet through the flow channel. The electronic control unit includes: a sensor adjacent to the outlet for sensing an external object and then generating a sensing signal; and a control circuit electrically connected to the sensor and receiving the sensing signal for generating a control signal. An end of the driving unit is disposed in the shell, and the other end of the driving unit is physically connected to the flow channel for automatically controlling whether water of the outlet is supplied according to the control signal. When the sensor senses an appearance of an external object at a first distance from the sensor, the sensing signal is an open signal, whereby the water of the outlet is supplied; when the sensor senses a disappearance of the external object at the first distance from the sensor, the sensing signal is a closed signal, whereby the water of the outlet is not supplied; when the sensor senses a first appearance and a first disappearance of the external object at a second distance from the sensor, the sensing signal is an open signal, whereby the water of the outlet is supplied, wherein the first distance is different from the second distance; and when the sensor senses a second appearance and a second disappearance of the external object at the second distance from the sensor, the sensing signal is a closed signal, whereby the water of the outlet is not supplied.
According to the two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device of the present disclosure, the electronic control unit includes an only sensor, which can be a long distance mode sensor and a short distance mode sensor simultaneously, wherein a long distance is the first distance, a short distance is the second distance, and the second distance is different from the first distance. Thus, the electronic control unit doesn't need to include at least two sensors used to be the long distance mode sensor and the short distance mode sensor, whereby the number of elements of the electronic control unit can be decreased, the design of the electronic control unit can be simplified, and further the cost of the two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device can be decreased
To make the aforementioned and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure clearer, detailed illustration is provided in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given for illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present disclosure.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
For example, when the hand of the user appears at the position being far slightly from the outlet 116 (e.g., the position at the first distance D1 from the sensor 132), the sensor 132 senses an appearance of the hand, and the sensing signal is an open signal. The control circuit 134 receives the sensing signal, and then generates a control signal. Then, the driving unit 140 opens the outlet 116 according to the control signal, and the water flows through the outlet 116. When the hand of the user disappears at the position being far slightly from the outlet 116 (e.g., the position at the first distance D1 from the sensor 132), the sensor 132 senses a disappearance of the hand, and the sensing signal is a closed signal. The control circuit 134 receives the sensing signal, and then generates a control signal. Then, the driving unit 140 closes the outlet 116 according to the control signal, and the water doesn't flow through the outlet 116.
Referring to
For example, when the hand of the user appears and disappears at the position being near slightly from the outlet 116 (e.g., the position at the second distance D2 from the sensor 132) for the first time, the sensor 132 senses the first appearance and the first disappearance of the hand, and the sensing signal is an open signal. The control circuit 134 receives the sensing signal, and then generates a control signal. Then, the driving unit 140 opens the outlet 116 according to the control signal, and the water continuously flows through the outlet 116. When the hand of the user appears and disappears the position being near slightly from the outlet 116 (e.g., the position at the second distance D2 from the sensor 132) for the second time, the sensor 132 senses the second appearance and the second disappearance of the hand, and the sensing signal is a closed signal. The control circuit 134 receives the sensing signal, and then generates a control signal. Then, the driving unit 140 closes the outlet 116 according to the control signal, and the water doesn't flow through the outlet 116.
The above-mentioned corresponding steps of the long distance mode and the short distance mode of the two-distance touch free automatic type water supply method of the present disclosure are not desired to limit the present disclosure. According to the two-distance touch free automatic type water supply method in another embodiment, the corresponding steps of the long distance mode and the short distance mode can be interchanged to each other. For example, according to a short distance mode, when the sensor 132 senses an appearance of an external object at the second distance D2 from the sensor 132, the sensing signal is an open signal so as to switch on the water supply of the outlet 116; and when the sensor 132 senses a disappearance of the external object at the second distance D2 from the sensor 132, the sensing signal is a closed signal so as to switch off the water supply of the outlet 116. The second distance D2 can be set from 2 to 8 centimeters. According to a long distance mode, when the sensor 132 senses a first appearance and a first disappearance of an external object at the first distance D1 from the sensor 132 (the first distance D1 is longer than the second distance D2), the sensing signal is an open signal so as to switch on the water supply of the outlet 116; and when the sensor 132 senses a second appearance and a second disappearance of the external object at the first distance D1 from the sensor 132, the sensing signal is a closed signal so as to switch off the water supply of the outlet 116. The first distance D1 can be set from 10 to 15 centimeters
According to the two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device of the present disclosure, the electronic control unit includes an only sensor, which can be a long distance mode sensor and a short distance mode sensor simultaneously, wherein a long distance is the first distance, a short distance is the second distance, and the second distance is different from the first distance. Thus, the electronic control unit doesn't need to include at least two sensors used to be the long distance mode sensor and the short distance mode sensor, whereby the number of elements of the electronic control unit can be decreased, the design of the electronic control unit can be simplified, and further the cost of the two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device can be decreased.
The two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device 200 in the second embodiment is similar to the two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device 100 in the first embodiment, and the similar elements have been designated by similar reference numbers. The difference between the two-distance touch free automatic type water supply devices 200, 100 in the second and first embodiments is that: the two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device 200 further includes a cold/hot rotary switch 250 and a valve core 260, as shown in
Referring to
When a user rotates a mark 252 of the cold/hot rotary switch 250 in a left direction (shown in
The two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device 300 in the third embodiment is similar to the two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device 100 in the first embodiment, and the similar elements have been designated by similar reference numbers. The difference between the two-distance touch free automatic type water supply devices 300, 100 in the third and first embodiments is that: the two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device 300 can be installed at a conventional touch type faucet 302, shown in
After a user installs the two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device 300 to the touch type faucet 302 by himself, the long distance mode of the two-distance touch free automatic type water supply method of the present disclosure can provides a suitable quantity of water for washing the hand, but the hand needs to appear at the position being far slightly from the outlet 316 all the time. The short distance mode of the two-distance touch free automatic type water supply method of the present disclosure can continuously supply the water for providing a great quantity of water, but the hand doesn't need to appear at the position being near slightly from the outlet 316 all the time.
The two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device 400 in the fourth embodiment is similar to the two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device 100 in the first embodiment, and the similar elements have been designated by similar reference numbers. The difference between the two-distance touch free automatic type water supply devices 400, 100 in the fourth and first embodiments is that: the two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device 400 further includes an automatic/manual mode cold/hot rotary switch 450 and a valve core 460, as shown in
Referring to
When a user rotates a mark 452 of the automatic/manual mode cold/hot rotary switch 450 in a left direction (shown in
When a user rotates a mark 452 of the automatic/manual mode cold/hot rotary switch 450 in a middle direction (shown in
When a user rotates a mark 452 of the automatic/manual mode cold/hot rotary switch 450 in a right direction (shown in
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the implementation manners or embodiments of the technical solutions adopted by the present disclosure to solve the problems and it's not desired to limit the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure.
Claims
1. A two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device, comprising:
- a shell comprising an inlet, a flow channel and an outlet, wherein the outlet is communicated with the inlet through the flow channel;
- an electronic control unit comprising: a sensor adjacent to the outlet for sensing an external object and then generating a sensing signal; and a control circuit electrically connected to the sensor and receiving the sensing signal for generating a control signal; and
- a driving unit, wherein an end of the driving unit is disposed in the shell, and the other end of the driving unit is physically connected to the flow channel for automatically controlling whether water of the outlet is supplied according to the control signal;
- wherein:
- when the sensor senses an appearance of an external object at a first distance from the sensor, the sensing signal is an open signal, whereby the water of the outlet is supplied;
- when the sensor senses a disappearance of the external object at the first distance from the sensor, the sensing signal is a closed signal, whereby the water of the outlet is not supplied;
- when the sensor senses a first appearance and a first disappearance of the external object at a second distance from the sensor, the sensing signal is an open signal, whereby the water of the outlet is supplied, wherein the first distance is different from the second distance; and
- when the sensor senses a second appearance and a second disappearance of the external object at the second distance from the sensor, the sensing signal is a closed signal, whereby the water of the outlet is not supplied.
2. The two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the first distance is set from 10 to 15 centimeters, and the second distance is set from 2 to 8 centimeters.
3. The two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit is a solenoid valve.
4. The two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a cold/hot rotary switch adapted to set whether the water supply of the outlet is hot water, warm water or cold water; and
- a first valve core, wherein an end of the first valve core is physically connected to the cold/hot rotary switch, and the other end of the first valve core is physically connected to the inlet for controlling a mixture ratio of cold water to hot water of the inlet.
5. The two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device according to claim 4, wherein the first valve core comprises:
- a control rod mechanically connected to the cold/hot rotary switch; and
- a throttling plate physically connected to the control rod, and comprising two through apertures, which are corresponding to the cold water pipe and the hot water pipe of the inlet respectively, whereby when the cold/hot rotary switch drives the control rod and further rotates the throttling plate, an overlapping area between one of the two through apertures and the cold water pipe and an overlapping area between the other one of the two through apertures and the hot water pipe can be adjusted.
6. The two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device is a touch free automatic type faucet.
7. The two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device is installed at a touch type faucet.
8. The two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is disposed onto the shell.
9. The two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is disposed on the control circuit and is exposed out from the shell.
10. The two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device according to claim 1, further comprising:
- an automatic/manual mode cold/hot rotary switch adapted to set whether the water supply of the outlet is hot water, warm water or cold water in an automatic mode, the water supply of the outlet is hot water, warm water or cold water in a manual mode, or the water supply of the outlet is in a stop mode; and
- a second valve core, wherein an end of the second valve core is physically connected to the automatic/manual mode cold/hot rotary switch, and the other end of the second valve core is physically connected to the inlet for controlling a mixture ratio of cold water to hot water of the inlet.
11. The two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device according to claim 10 wherein the second valve core comprises:
- a control rod mechanically connected to the automatic/manual mode cold/hot rotary switch; and
- a throttling plate physically connected to the control rod, and comprising two first and two second through apertures, wherein:
- during the automatic mode the two first through apertures are corresponding to the cold water pipe and the hot water pipe of the inlet respectively, whereby when the automatic/manual mode cold/hot rotary switch drives the control rod and further rotates the throttling plate, an overlapping area between one of the two first through apertures and the cold water pipe and an overlapping area between the other one of the two first through apertures and the hot water pipe can be adjusted in the automatic mode; and
- during the manual mode the two second through apertures are corresponding to the cold water pipe and the hot water pipe of the inlet respectively, whereby when the automatic/manual mode cold/hot rotary switch drives the control rod and further rotates the throttling plate, an overlapping area between one of the two second through apertures and the cold water pipe and an overlapping area between the other one of the two second through apertures and the hot water pipe can be adjusted in the manual mode.
12. A two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device, comprising:
- a shell comprising an inlet, a flow channel and an outlet, wherein the outlet is communicated with the inlet through the flow channel;
- an electronic control unit comprising: an only sensor adjacent to the outlet for sensing an external object and then generating a sensing signal; and a control circuit electrically connected to the sensor and receiving the sensing signal for generating a control signal; and
- a driving unit, wherein an end of the driving unit is disposed in the shell, and the other end of the driving unit is physically connected to the flow channel for automatically controlling whether water of the outlet is supplied according to the control signal;
- wherein:
- when the sensor senses an appearance of an external object at a first distance from the sensor, the sensing signal is an open signal, whereby the water of the outlet is supplied;
- when the sensor senses a disappearance of the external object at the first distance from the sensor, the sensing signal is a closed signal, whereby the water of the outlet is not supplied;
- when the sensor senses a first appearance and a first disappearance of the external object at a second distance from the sensor, the sensing signal is an open signal, whereby the water of the outlet is supplied, wherein the first distance is different from the second distance; and
- when the sensor senses a second appearance and a second disappearance of the external object at the second distance from the sensor, the sensing signal is a closed signal, whereby the water of the outlet is not supplied.
13. The two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device according to claim 12, wherein the first distance is set from 10 to 15 centimeters, and the second distance is set from 2 to 8 centimeters.
14. The two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device according to claim 12, wherein the driving unit is a solenoid valve.
15. The two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device according to claim 12, further comprising:
- a cold/hot rotary switch adapted to set whether the water supply of the outlet is hot water, warm water or cold water; and
- a valve core, wherein an end of the valve core is physically connected to the cold/hot rotary switch, and the other end of the valve core is physically connected to the inlet for controlling a mixture ratio of cold water to hot water of the inlet.
16. The two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device according to claim 15, wherein valve core comprises:
- a control rod mechanically connected to the cold/hot rotary switch; and
- a throttling plate physically connected to the control rod, and comprises two through apertures, which are corresponding to the cold water pipe and the hot water pipe of the inlet respectively, whereby when the cold/hot rotary switch drives the control rod and further rotates the throttling plate, an overlapping area between one of the two through apertures and the cold water pipe and an overlapping area between the other one of the two through apertures and the hot water pipe can be adjusted.
17. The two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device according to claim 12, wherein the two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device is a touch free automatic type faucet.
18. The two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device according to claim 12, wherein the two-distance touch free automatic type water supply device is installed at a touch type faucet.
19. A two-distance touch free automatic type water supply method, comprising the following steps of:
- providing a sensor, wherein the sensor is adjacent to an outlet for sensing an external object and then generating a sensing signal;
- when the sensor senses an appearance of an external object at a first distance from the sensor, the sensing signal is an open signal, whereby the water of the outlet is supplied;
- when the sensor senses a disappearance of the external object at the first distance from the sensor, the sensing signal is a closed signal, whereby the water of the outlet is not supplied;
- when the sensor senses a first appearance and a first disappearance of the external object at a second distance from the sensor, the sensing signal is an open signal, whereby the water of the outlet is supplied, wherein the first distance is different from the second distance; and
- when the sensor senses a second appearance and a second disappearance of the external object at the second distance from the sensor, the sensing signal is a closed signal, whereby the water of the outlet is not supplied.
20. The two-distance touch free automatic type water supply method according to claim 19, wherein the first distance is set from 10 to 15 centimeters, and the second distance is set from 2 to 8 centimeters.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 9, 2015
Publication Date: Mar 3, 2016
Inventor: TIEN HO CHUNG (LUKANG TOWNSHIP)
Application Number: 14/734,560