Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090197124 | POWER SUPPLY FOR PLUMBING DEVICE - An example arrangement for providing power includes a microbial fuel cell and a controller for supplying power to a plumbing component. The controller supplies power using power generated by the microbial fuel cell. An example method of powering a plumbing device includes providing wastewater to a microbial fuel cell and generating power with the microbial fuel cell. The method powers a plumbing device using the power generated by the microbial fuel cell. | 08-06-2009 |
20100012194 | MULTI-MODE HANDS FREE AUTOMATIC FAUCET - A hands-free faucet comprises a proximity sensor, a logical control, a handle, a spout, and a touch control operably coupled to at least one of the spout and the handle. | 01-21-2010 |
20100044604 | CAPACITIVE TOUCH SENSOR - A fluid delivery apparatus comprises a spout, a fluid supply conduit supported by the spout, a valve assembly to supply fluid through the fluid supply conduit, and a capacitive touch sensor. The capacitive touch sensor is coupled to a controller. The controller is also coupled to the valve assembly. The controller is configured to detect a user touching the sensor and to control flow of fluid through the fluid supply conduit. | 02-25-2010 |
20100096017 | MULTI-MODE HANDS FREE AUTOMATIC FAUCET - A faucet includes a proximity sensor, a logical control, a handle, a spout, and a touch control operably coupled to at least one of the spout and the handle. The logical control includes a mode controller that changes the faucet between a first mode and a second mode in response to substantially simultaneous touching of the spout and the handle. | 04-22-2010 |
20100108165 | CAPACITIVE SENSING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FAUCETS - A fluid delivery apparatus includes a spout ( | 05-06-2010 |
20100170570 | CAPACITIVE COUPLING ARRANGEMENT FOR A FAUCET | 07-08-2010 |
20110264293 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DETERMINING AN ENERGY HARVESTING CAPABILITY OF A LOCATION - A method of determining an energy harvesting capability of a location harvests energy at a location using an energy harvester and charges an energy storage device using the harvested energy. The energy storage device is discharged into a test circuit to provide a notification. The steps of charging the energy storage device and discharging the energy storage device are selectively repeated such that the notification is provided at a rate proportional to an amount of energy being harvested at the location. | 10-27-2011 |
20120055557 | FAUCET INCLUDING A CAPACITANCE BASED SENSOR - An electronic faucet is provided that includes a spout having a passageway configured to conduct fluid flow through the spout, an electrically operable valve coupled to the passageway, and a capacitive sensor coupled to the faucet. A controller may dynamically change on/off thresholds and monitor a stability signal to determine when to turn off the electrically operable valve. | 03-08-2012 |
20120062042 | LOW POWER START-UP CIRCUIT - A start-up circuit includes an energy storage device operable to selectively power a load. A switch controls a flow of current from the energy storage device to the load. The switch preventing a flow of current to the load in an OFF state. A voltage comparison device is configured to turn the switch ON to permit a flow of current to the load in response to a charge of the energy storage device exceeding a predefined voltage threshold. The voltage comparison device maintains the switch in an OFF state in response to the charge of the energy storage device being below the predefined voltage threshold. | 03-15-2012 |
20120097874 | POSITION-SENSING DETECTOR ARRANGEMENT FOR CONTROLLING A FAUCET - A faucet arrangement includes a sensing device for sensing a presence of a user of a spout. The sensing device includes an infrared emitter installed such that a direction of emission of the emitter is oriented an angle of approximately between 5 and 15 degrees relative to a vertical direction. A receiver receives a diffused infrared energy from the emitter. A control device is in communication with the receiver and controls a flow of liquid through the spout dependent upon an angle at which the diffused infrared energy is received by the receiver. | 04-26-2012 |
20120160349 | MULTI-MODE HANDS FREE AUTOMATIC FAUCET - A faucet includes a proximity sensor, a logical control, a handle, a spout, and a touch control operably coupled to at least one of the spout and the handle. | 06-28-2012 |
20140000733 | MULTI-MODE HANDS FREE AUTOMATIC FAUCET | 01-02-2014 |
20140109984 | CAPACITIVE COUPLING ARRANGEMENT FOR A FAUCET - A faucet includes a spout and a manual handle that controls a manual valve located in a passageway that conducts fluid flow through the spout. An electrically operable valve is also located within the passageway. The faucet also includes an insulator located between the spout and the manual handle so that the spout is electrically isolated from the manual handle, a first touch sensor on the manual valve handle, a second touch sensor on the spout, and a capacitive sensor directly coupled to one of the first and second touch sensors and capacitively coupled to the other of the first and second touch sensors. The faucet further includes a controller coupled to the capacitive sensor. The controller monitors an output signal from the capacitive sensor to detect touching of the spout and the manual valve handle. The controller is also coupled to the electrically operable valve to control the electrically operable valve in response to the output signal from the capacitive sensor. | 04-24-2014 |