Electronic faucet with smart features
A faucet is provided that electronically controls the flow volume and temperature of water being dispensed. The faucet illustratively includes a faucet body and a faucet handle. In some embodiments, the faucet may include a faucet body and be voice controlled. The faucet illustratively includes an inertial motion unit sensor mounted in the faucet handle to sense spatial orientation of the faucet handle. The faucet illustratively includes an electronic flow control system to adjust flow volume and temperature of water being dispensed. The faucet illustratively includes a controller configured to receive signals from the inertial motion unit sensor and control the electronic flow control system to adjust flow volume and temperature of water being dispensed based upon the position of the faucet handle.
1. A faucet assembly comprising:
a faucet comprising a faucet body;
a flow control box, the flow control box being separate from the faucet body, wherein the flow control box includes:
an electronic flow control system to adjust flow volume of water being dispensed, wherein the electronic flow control system includes a first valve and a second valve, wherein the operation of each of the first and second valves is controlled by a motor of the electronic flow control system; and
a controller configured to receive a control action from a server configured to issue control actions to the faucet assembly via a network connection between the faucet assembly and the server, the control action being based on a voice command received at the server from a computing device separate from the flow control box, and receive signals from a hands-free sensor configured to sense a user gesture,
wherein the controller is further configured to control the electronic flow control system to adjust flow volume of water being dispensed based on at least one of the control action or the user gesture; and
a user interface including one or more display indicators and the hands-free sensor,
wherein the one or more display indicators provide visual feedback in response to the controller actuating the electronic flow control system in response to either of (1) the control action, or (2) the user gesture.
2. The faucet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the faucet is mounted to a countertop, and wherein the flow control box is mounted below the countertop.
3. The faucet assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a power supply positioned below the countertop and electrically connected to the controller.
4. The faucet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more display indicators are integrated in the faucet body such that, when not illuminated, the faucet body appears to be a single integrated piece.
5. The faucet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the faucet body further includes a handle mounted thereon, the handle being operable to control flow of water from water supply inlet hoses through the faucet.
6. The faucet assembly of claim 1 , further comprising the computing device separate from the flow control box, the computing device including a microphone and providing the voice command to the server.
7. The faucet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the voice command comprises a command to dispense a predetermined volume of liquid.
8. The faucet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the user gesture comprises a gesture to adjust water flow through the faucet.
9. The faucet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flow volume includes an overall volume of water dispensed.
10. A method of controlling a faucet comprising:
receiving, via a microphone at a computing device, a voice command associated with a faucet, the faucet including a faucet body and a flow control enclosure separate from the faucet body, wherein the computing device is separate from the faucet;
sending the voice command from the computing device to a server;
receiving, at the computing device, a control action to be taken by the faucet from the server in response to the voice command;
transmitting the control action from the computing device to a controller in the flow control enclosure of the faucet, thereby actuating the faucet to perform the control action, wherein the flow control enclosure connects to at least two of a plurality of water supply inlet hoses and at least one outlet hose extending from the flow control enclosure into the faucet body, the flow control enclosure including a first valve and a second valve, the first and second valves being electronically controllable via the control action, and wherein operation of each of the first and second valves is controlled by a motor within the flow control enclosure;
receiving, via a hands-free sensor integrated into the faucet body, a user gesture associated with the faucet; and
in response to the user gesture, actuating the flow control enclosure to operate the faucet in accordance with the user gesture.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising manually adjusting a handle mounted to the faucet body to adjust water flow through the faucet.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising providing visual feedback via one or more display indicators in response to the controller actuating the flow control enclosure in response to at least one of (1) the control action, or (2) the user gesture.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the faucet body lacks a handle.
14. A faucet assembly comprising:
a faucet comprising a faucet body and a spray head, the faucet body forming a single integrated piece without a faucet handle;
a flow control box, the flow control box being separate from the faucet body, wherein the flow control box includes:
an electronic flow control system to adjust flow volume of water being dispensed, wherein the electronic flow control system includes a first valve and a second valve and is fluidically connected to an outlet hose leading to the spray head, wherein the operation of each of the first and second valves is controlled by a motor of the electronic flow control system; and
a controller configured to receive a control action from a server configured to issue control actions to the faucet assembly via a network connection between the faucet assembly and the server, the control action being based on a voice command received at the server from a computing device separate from the flow control box, and receive signals from a hands-free sensor configured to sense a user gesture,
wherein the controller is further configured to control the electronic flow control system to adjust the flow volume of water being dispensed based on at least one of the control action or the user gesture; and
a user interface integrated into the faucet body and including one or more display indicators and the hands-free sensor,
wherein the one or more display indicators provide visual feedback in response to the controller actuating the electronic flow control system in response to either of (1) the control action, or (2) the user gesture.
15. The faucet assembly of claim 14 , wherein the spray head is detachable from the faucet body.
16. A faucet assembly comprising:
a faucet comprising a faucet body and a spray head, the faucet body forming a single integrated piece without a faucet handle;
a flow control box, the flow control box being separate from the faucet body, wherein the flow control box includes:
an electronic flow control system to adjust flow volume of water being dispensed, wherein the electronic flow control system includes a first valve and a second valve and is fluidically connected to an outlet hose leading to the spray head, wherein the operation of each of the first and second valves is controlled by a motor of the electronic flow control system; and
a controller configured to receive a control action from a server configured to issue control actions to the faucet assembly via a network connection between the faucet assembly and the server, the control action being based on a voice command received at the server from a computing device separate from the flow control box,
wherein the controller is further configured to control the electronic flow control system to adjust the flow volume of water being dispensed based on the control action; and
a user interface integrated into the faucet body and including one or more display indicators and the hands-free sensor,
wherein the one or more display indicators provide visual feedback in response to the controller actuating the electronic flow control system in response to the control action.