The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Apr. 19, 2016

Filed:

Dec. 23, 2013
Applicant:

Delta Faucet Company, Indianapolis, IN (US);

Inventors:

Robert W. Rodenbeck, Indianapolis, IN (US);

David M. Burke, Taylor, MI (US);

Joel D. Sawaski, Indianapolis, IN (US);

Assignee:

Delta Faucet Company, Indianapolis, IN (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
E03C 1/05 (2006.01); H03K 17/96 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
E03C 1/057 (2013.01); E03C 1/055 (2013.01); H03K 17/962 (2013.01); H03K 2217/94052 (2013.01); H03K 2217/94089 (2013.01); Y10T 137/0318 (2015.04); Y10T 137/1842 (2015.04); Y10T 137/9464 (2015.04);
Abstract

A faucet includes a spout and a manual handle that controls a manual valve located in a passageway that conducts fluid flow through the spout. An electrically operable valve is also located within the passageway. The faucet also includes an insulator located between the spout and the manual handle so that the spout is electrically isolated from the manual handle, a first touch sensor on the manual valve handle, a second touch sensor on the spout, and a capacitive sensor directly coupled to one of the first and second touch sensors and capacitively coupled to the other of the first and second touch sensors. The faucet further includes a controller coupled to the capacitive sensor. The controller monitors an output signal from the capacitive sensor to detect touching of the spout and the manual valve handle. The controller is also coupled to the electrically operable valve to control the electrically operable valve in response to the output signal from the capacitive sensor.


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