Electronic showerhead device

Abstract

An electronic showerhead device for automatically controlling water flow includes a body configured to be connected to a main water channel via a main water valve, a presence detector located within the body, and a first water channel providing a primary water stream exiting the body. The primary water stream remains off when the main water valve is turned on. Subsequent interruption of the presence interrogation beam area by a person or an object turns on the first water channel. The presence detector includes an infra-red (IR) proximity sensor and a visible light sensor (VLS).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic showerhead device for automatically controlling water flow comprising:
 a body configured to be connected to a main water channel via a main water valve;   a presence detector located within the body;   a first water channel providing a primary water stream exiting the body, wherein the first water channel is connected to the main water channel, and wherein the primary water stream remains off when the main water valve is turned on;   wherein subsequent interruption of a presence interrogation beam area by a person or an object turns on the primary water stream; and   wherein the presence detector comprises an infra-red (IR) proximity sensor and a visible light sensor (VLS).   
     
     
         2 . The electronic showerhead device of  claim 1 , wherein the IR proximity sensor comprises at least one IR emitter and at least one IR receiver and wherein the IR emitter emits a conically shaped IR presence interrogation light beam and the IR receiver detects IR light reflected by a person or an object interrupting the IR light beam and generates an IR receiver signal, and wherein presence of a person or an object is determined as a result of a variation of the IR receiver signal. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic showerhead device of  claim 2 , wherein the visible light sensor detects ambient visible light and generates a VLS signal and wherein presence of a person or an object is determined as a result of a variation of the VLS signal. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic showerhead device of  claim 3 , further comprising a computing processing unit (CPU) and an application comprising computer executable instructions configured to receive and compare the IR receiver signal and the VLS signal in order to determine presence of a person or an object within the presence interrogation beam area with high accuracy and reduced false negatives. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic showerhead device of  claim 2 , wherein the IR emitter is separated by the IR receiver by a distance of at least 1.5 cm. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic showerhead device of  claim 2 , wherein the IR proximity sensor and the VLS sensor are integrated in a sensor housing comprising light absorbing material. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic showerhead device of  claim 6 , wherein the sensor housing comprises a cover transparent to visible light. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic showerhead device of  claim 1 , further comprising an electronically controlled valve and wherein the electronically controlled valve is in-line with the first water channel and is activated by the presence detector. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic showerhead device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second water channel providing a secondary water stream exiting the body, wherein the second water channel is connected to the main water channel and wherein turning on the main water valve turns on only the secondary water stream, while the primary water stream remains off. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic showerhead device of  claim 1 , wherein the conically shaped IR presence interrogation beam comprises a cone angle in the range of 10 degrees to 45 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . A water delivering device for automatically controlling water flow comprising:
 a main body configured to be connected to a main water channel via a main water valve;   a presence detector located within the main body;   a first water channel providing a primary water stream exiting the main body, wherein the first water channel is connected to the main water channel, and wherein the primary water stream remains off when the main water valve is turned on;   wherein subsequent interruption of a presence interrogation beam area by a person or an object turns on the primary water stream; and   wherein the presence detector comprises an infra-red (IR) proximity sensor and a visible light sensor (VLS).   
     
     
         12 . A method for automatically controlling water flow in an electronic showerhead device comprising:
 providing a body configured to be connected to a main water channel via a main water valve;   providing a presence detector located within the body;   providing a first water channel providing a primary water stream exiting the body, wherein the first water channel is connected to the main water channel, and wherein the primary water stream remains off when the main water valve is turned on;   subsequently interrupting a presence interrogation beam area by a person or an object turns on the primary water stream; and   wherein the presence detector comprises an infra-red (IR) proximity sensor and a visible light sensor (VLS).   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the IR proximity sensor comprises at least one IR emitter and at least one IR receiver and wherein the IR emitter emits a conically shaped IR presence interrogation light beam and the IR receiver detects IR light reflected by a person or an object interrupting the IR light beam and generates an IR receiver signal, and wherein presence of a person or an object is determined as a result of a variation of the IR receiver signal. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the visible light sensor detects ambient visible light and generates a VLS signal and wherein presence of a person or an object is determined as a result of a reduction of the VLS signal. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising providing a computing processing unit (CPU) and an application comprising computer executable instructions configured to receive and compare the IR receiver signal and the VLS signal in order to determine presence of a person or an object within the presence interrogation beam area with high accuracy and reduced false negatives. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the IR emitter is separated by the IR receiver by a distance of at least 1.5 cm. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the IR proximity sensor and the VLS sensor are integrated in a sensor housing comprising light absorbing material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor housing comprises a cover transparent to visible light. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising providing an electronically controlled valve and wherein the electronically controlled valve is in-line with the first water channel and is activated by the presence detector. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising providing a second water channel providing a secondary water stream exiting the body, wherein the second water channel is connected to the main water channel and wherein turning on the main water valve turns on only the secondary water stream, while the primary water stream remains off. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the conically shaped IR presence interrogation beam comprises a cone angle in the range of 10 degrees to 45 degrees. 
     
     
         22 . A method for automatically controlling water flow in a water delivering device comprising:
 providing a main body configured to be connected to a main water channel via a main water valve;   providing a presence detector;   providing a first water channel providing a primary water stream exiting the main body, wherein the first water channel is connected to the main water channel, and wherein the primary water stream remains off when the main water valve is turned on;   subsequently interrupting a presence interrogation beam area by a person or an object turns on the primary water stream; and   wherein the presence detector comprises a combination of an infra-red (IR) proximity sensor and a visible light sensor (VLS).