Method and apparatus for flow control

Details Method and apparatus for flow control Method and apparatus for flow control

1989-02-24

1990-05-01

Rosenthal, Arnold

Valves and valve actuation

Electrically actuated valve

Remote or follow-up control system for electrical actuator

4623, F16K 3106, E03C 510

Patent

active

049212117

ABSTRACT:
An automatic faucet (100) includes a faucet (102) through which flow is controlled by an electronically operated valve (108). A sensing apparatus (104) senses the motion of objects below the faucet (102) and causes the valve (108) to open when sensed objects exhibit motion that meets certain predetermined criteria. Operation of the valve (108) in response to motion that is not intended to cause water flow is reduced by a technique that involves computing an "average" distance, which represents the position assumed by a sensed stationary object. Specifically, objects sensed near the average distance must exhibit motion more consistently than other objects because the former objects are more likely to be splashing water, which should not result in the valve's being opened. Also, some motion greater than 1.5 inches between sensing cycles is ignored because there is a significant likelihood that such apparent motion is caused by the intermittent "disappearance" of a standing-water surface acting as a sonic mirror. To reduce the undesirable insensitivity that might otherwise result from this 1.5-inch threshold, the threshold is increased to 3 inches when the apparent motion does not include a position separated from the sensor by more than the average distance.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4520516 (1985-06-01), Parsons
patent: 4788998 (1988-12-01), Pepper

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