Electronic foot-operated faucet

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to an electronic foot-operated faucet, system having such a faucet, method for operating such a faucet, control system configured according to such a method, and memory having computer instructions that when executed cause such a method to be performed. The faucet includes: a faucet spout for dispensing liquid; an electronically-controllable valve for controlling flow of the liquid to the faucet spout; a foot detection sensor configured to sense a presence of an individual's foot or other object within a foot detection region; and a control subsystem. The control subsystem is configured to cause the faucet to: detect an object within the foot detection region based on sensor data from the foot detection sensor; and control the electronically-controllable valve based on the detection of an object within the foot detection region.

1 . An electronic foot-operated faucet, comprising:
 a faucet spout for dispensing liquid;   an electronically-controllable valve for controlling flow of the liquid to the faucet spout;   a foot detection sensor configured to sense a presence of an individual's foot or other object within a foot detection region; and   a control subsystem configured to:
 detect an object within the foot detection region based on sensor data from the foot detection sensor; and 
 control the electronically-controllable valve based on a detection of an object within the foot detection region. 
   
     
     
         2 . The electronic foot-operated faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the foot detection sensor is a time of flight sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic foot-operated faucet of  claim 2 , wherein the time of flight sensor is:
 an infrared sensor that uses information obtained from infrared (IR), near infrared (NIR), mid infrared (MIR), and/or far infrared (FIR); or   an ultrasonic sensor that information obtained from ultrasonic waves transmitted from the foot detection region.   
     
     
         4 . The electronic foot-operated faucet of  claim 1 , further comprising an approach sensor configured to detect when an individual is within an approach region. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic foot-operated faucet of  claim 4 , wherein the foot detection region includes a region located between the approach region and a vertical projection plane positioned vertically in tangential contact with an exit location of the faucet spout at which the liquid is dispensed. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic foot-operated faucet of  claim 5 , wherein the approach region is located in front of the electronic foot-operated faucet, corresponding to a region in which an individual stands when operating the electronic foot-operated faucet. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic foot-operated faucet of  claim 4 , wherein the approach sensor is a proximity sensor that detects when a proximity detection zone is occupied, and wherein the proximity detection zone is or is located in the approach region. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic foot-operated faucet of  claim 4 , wherein the electronically-controllable valve is controlled based on the detection of the object within the foot detection region when the control subsystem is in an active state, and wherein the control subsystem enters the active state when an individual is detected within the approach region by the approach sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic foot-operated faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the electronically-controllable valve is a first electronically-controllable valve, wherein the electronic foot-operated faucet further comprises a second electronically-controllable valve, and wherein the control subsystem is configured to control the second electronically-controllable valve based on the detection of the object within the foot detection region. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic foot-operated faucet of  claim 9 , wherein the foot detection region includes a first foot detection subregion and a second foot detection subregion, and wherein the control subsystem is configured to: control the first electronically-controllable valve based on the detection of the object within the first foot detection subregion; and control the second electronically-controllable valve based on the detection of the object within the second foot detection subregion. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic foot-operated faucet of  claim 9 , wherein the first electronically-controllable valve controls dispensing of cold water through the faucet spout and the second electronically-controllable valve controls dispensing of hot water through the faucet spout. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic foot-operated faucet of  claim 11 , wherein the control subsystem is configured to control the first electronically-controllable valve and the second electronically-controllable valve in order to change a temperature of the liquid being dispensed based on a lateral position of the object detected within the foot detection region. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic foot-operated faucet of  claim 12 , wherein the control subsystem is configured to cause colder water to be dispensed when the object is detected toward a first lateral side of a foot detection region and hotter water to be dispensed when the object is detected toward a second lateral side of the foot detection region. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic foot-operated faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the control subsystem is configured to provide an audible and/or visual indication indicating a detection status of the control subsystem. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic foot-operated faucet of  claim 14 , further comprising a light source, wherein the control subsystem is configured to control output of the light source so as to provide the audible and/or visual indication as a visible light output generated by the light source. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic foot-operated faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the faucet is a wall-mounted faucet or a deckmounted faucet. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic foot-operated faucet of  claim 1 , further comprising a faucet basin for collecting the liquid after being dispensed through the faucet spout, wherein the faucet basin projects forward from the faucet spout, and wherein the foot detection region includes a region located vertically underneath the faucet basin. 
     
     
         18 . A method of controlling dispensing of liquid of an electronic foot-operated faucet, comprising the steps of:
 detecting of an object within a foot detection region based on sensor data from a foot detection sensor, wherein the foot detection sensor is configured to sense a presence of an individual's foot or other object within the foot detection region; and   controlling an electronically-controllable valve based on a detection of an object within the foot detection region, wherein the electronically-controllable valve is for controlling flow of liquid to a faucet spout that dispenses the liquid.   
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory, computer-readable medium, comprising computer instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, carry out the method of  claim 18 . 
     
     
         20 . An electronic foot-operated control system for an electronic foot-operated faucet, comprising electronics configured to perform a process including:
 detect of an object within a foot detection region based on sensor data from a foot detection sensor, wherein the foot detection sensor is configured to sense a presence of an individual's foot or other object within the foot detection region; and   control an electronically-controllable valve based on a detection of an object within the foot detection region, wherein the electronically-controllable valve is for controlling flow of liquid to a faucet spout that dispenses the liquid.