IP Library Granted Patent US 10,392,787
Granted Patent B2
US 10,392,787 · App. 15/470,096 · Granted Aug 27, 2019

Automatic faucet and kitchen

Inventors: Azumi Kamata (Tokyo, JP); Yuki Shirai (Tokyo, JP); Mamoru Hashimoto (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: LIXIL CORPORATION
E03C1/057E03C1/00E03C2001/0415
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,392,787
App. No.
15/470,096
Granted
Aug 27, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A detachment sensor detects attachment and detachment of a water discharger to and from a retainer. An object sensor detects presence of an object. A controller causes water discharge triggered by detection of an object by the object sensor while the water discharger is attached to the retainer and suppresses water discharge triggered by detection of an object by the object sensor while the water discharger is detached from the retainer. The controller suppresses water discharge triggered by detection of an object by the object sensor after attachment of the water discharger to the retainer until a non-detection state of an object by the object sensor continues for a predetermined period of time.

Claims (13)

1. An automatic faucet comprising:

a water discharger having a water discharge port;

a retainer that detachably retains the water discharger;

a first detector that detects detachment and reattachment of the water discharger from and into the retainer;

a second detector that detects presence of an object; and

a water supply controller, wherein

in the event of the first detector detecting the water discharger being fitted into the retainer, the water supply controller is configured to cause the faucet to discharge water triggered by the detection of the object by the second detector, and

in the event of the first detector detecting the water discharger being detached from the retainer, the water supply controller is configured to suppress the water discharge from the faucet if the second detector detects the object,

if reattachment of the water discharger into the retainer is detected by the first detector after detachment of the water discharger from the retainer is detected, the water supply controller is configured to suppress the water discharge triggered by the detection of the object by the second detector until an object non-detection state, in which no object is detected by the second detector, continues for a predetermined time period from reattachment of the water discharger into the retainer.

2. The automatic faucet according to claim 1 , wherein the water supply controller measures duration time of the object non-detection state, and resets the duration time if the second detector detects an object before the duration time reaches the predetermined time.

3. A kitchen comprising the automatic faucet according to claim 1 .

4. The automatic faucet according to claim 1 , wherein if a predetermined exception condition is satisfied even before the object non-detection state has continued for the predetermined time, on object detection by the second detector as a trigger, the water supply controller causes the faucet to discharge water.

5. The automatic faucet according to claim 4 , wherein the predetermined exception condition includes that a distance to an object detected by the second detector coincides with a distance determined in advance.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 10, 2021
From: LIXIL GROUP CORPORATION
To: LIXIL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055545/0434 →
MERGER Recorded Mar 9, 2021
From: LIXIL CORPORATION
To: LIXIL GROUP CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055532/0047 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 27, 2017
From: KAMATA, AZUMI; SHIRAI, YUKI; HASHIMOTO, MAMORU
To: LIXIL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 041752/0955 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2014-198786 · Sep 29, 2014 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2015064602 · May 21, 2015
Related Publication 20170198460A1 · Jul 13, 2017
Cited By (1)
US 12,295,356