Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02644720 2008-11-24
METHOD FOR CONTROLLING DIGITAL SHOWER SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for controlling a digital shower
system, and
more particularly to a control method capable of discharging water in advance
and
automatically shutting off the water output in a certain period of time so as
to save water.
Related Art
Nowadays, people are paying more and more attention to the quality of their
daily lives.
Besides pursuing the comfort of habitation, they also have a high demand for
daily used
bathing equipments.
Currently, in a common water tap of a bathing equipment, a cold water inlet
pipe, a hot
water inlet pipe, a valve, and an outlet pipe are disposed within a body, and
the body is
provided with a handle connected to the valve. The cold water inlet pipe and
the hot water
inlet pipe are respectively used for supplying cold water and hot water. The
outlet pipe is
communicated with a water outlet at an end of the body. The valve is
communicated with
the cold water inlet pipe, the hot water inlet pipe, and the outlet pipe, and
is connected to
the handle. Therefore, the handle may not only drive the valve to adjust the
quantity of the
water flowing out of the outlet, but also drive the valve to change the
communication of the
outlet pipe with the cold water inlet pipe and the hot water inlet pipe so as
to adjust the
temperature of the water flowing out of the outlet.
Compared with an ordinary water tap, a water tap for shower is additionally
provided
with a shower water outlet in communication with a shower head via a water
pipe.
Moreover, the tap body is further provided with a water flow selector between
the shower
1
CA 02644720 2008-11-24
water outlet and a universal water outlet. The water flow selector protrudes
from the tap
body, such that a user may adjust and select whether to allow the water to
flow out from the
shower water outlet or the universal water outlet.
In the above structure, the handle is manually controlled by the user to
adjust the
quantity and pressure of the cold water and hot water flowing through the cold
water inlet
pipe and the hot water inlet pipe, so as to obtain an output water flow at a
desired
temperature through the universal water outlet, the outlet pipe, and the water
pipe connected
to the shower head or the water tap. However, the accuracy of manually
controlling the
temperature of the water flow is low, and the user has to directly touch the
outlet water to
sense whether the water temperature is within a preset temperature range or
not. If the
outlet water temperature is too high, the user may easily be scalded. If the
outlet water
temperature is too low in winters, the user may easily catch a cold and feel
bad. In addition,
during the manual adjustment of the temperature, the water has to be kept
flowing out from
the water outlet (the outlet pipe), thus resulting in the waste of water and
also the increase
of the water cost.
Therefore, in order to allow the user to directly set the outlet water
temperature in a
detected manner,'a control panel is used for directly setting and controlling
the temperature.
US Patent Publication No. 6,286,764 discloses a fluid and gas supply system,
which
includes a cold water source, a hot water source, a mixing device, a flow
control valve, an
outlet pipe, a shower head, and a user interface. The hot water source is
provided with a
hot water temperature sensor at an inlet end thereof for sensing the
temperature of the inlet
hot water. The cold water source and the hot water source are respectively
provided with a
cold water supply valve and a hot water supply valve for controlling the
quantity of the inlet
cold water and the quantity of the inlet hot water, and are both connected to
the mixing
device for mixing the cold water and the hot water. A cold water supply valve
sensor is
disposed between the cold water source and the mixing device, and a hot water
supply
valve sensor is disposed between the hot water source and the mixing device,
for
respectively sensing the quantity of the cold water flowing into the mixing
device and the
2
CA 02644720 2008-11-24
quantity of the hot water flowing into the mixing device.
A mixed water flow from the mixing device passes through the flow control
valve and
the outlet pipe, and then flows out from the shower head for the user to take
a shower. A
mixed fluid temperature sensor and a fluid and gas composition sensor are
sequentially
mounted between the mixing device and the flow control valve for respectively
sensing the
temperature and pressure of the mixed water flow. The outlet pipe is provided
with a flow
sensor for sensing the quantity of an outlet water flow provided to the user.
After the user inputs a desired outlet water temperature into a control unit
through the
user interface, the control unit simultaneously controls the cold water supply
valve, the hot
water supply valve, the mixing device, and the flow control valve, receives
temperature and
pressure information from the hot water temperature sensor, the mixed fluid
temperature
sensor, the fluid and gas composition sensor, and the flow sensor, and then
accordingly
controls the valves to obtain the outlet water temperature preset by the user.
Further, US Patent Publication No. 6,705,534 discloses a shower control
system, which
includes two inlet pipes, a stem pipe, a shower head, and a mixing assembly.
The two inlet
pipes are respectively used for supplying cold water and hot water. A solenoid
is disposed
between each inlet pipe and the stem pipe. The solenoids are respectively used
for
controlling the quantities of the inlet cold water and the inlet hot water.
The mixing
assembly includes a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and a control
assembly. The
pressure sensor and the temperature sensor are mounted on the stem pipe. A
power
assembly is provided for supplying power to the control assembly. The control
assembly is
electrically connected to the solenoids, the pressure sensor, and the
temperature sensor.
After a user inputs a desired outlet water temperature through the control
assembly, the
control assembly changes the quantities of the inlet cold water and the inlet
hot water,
receives information sent by the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor,
compares the
water temperature input by the user according to the received information, and
then controls
the solenoids until the outlet water temperature matches the water temperature
input by the
3
CA 02644720 2008-11-24
user.
Although the above structures and methods allow the user to directly input the
desired
outlet water temperature without sensing the outlet water temperature by
directly touching
the water, a lot of water is wasted in controlling the outlet water
temperature. In addition,
as the water flow previously left in the hot water source that does not reach
the preset outlet
water temperature and the water flow in the outlet pipe cannot be discharged
in advance,
even when the user intends to take a shower after the cold water and the hot
water are
mixed, the user is bound to first contact the water flow previously left in
the hot water
source that does not reach the preset outlet water temperature and the water
flow in the
outlet pipe. As such, the water flow output at first is not at the temperature
preset by the
user. Moreover, if the user leaves the shower room for other business and
forgets to turn
off the shower equipment, the shower equipment is still on and cannot be
automatically
turned off to compensate for the inattention of the user, thus resulting in
the waste of water.
Therefore, it is the problem in urgent need of solutions to provide a method
for
controlling a shower system. The method allows the user to digitally input and
adjust a
preset outlet water temperature, and is capable of discharging water in
advance before the
shower system is used and automatically shutting off the water output during a
shower if the
user does not use the shower system in a certain period of time, so as to save
the water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method for controlling a
digital shower
system, so as to discharge in advance a water flow previously left in an
outlet pipe before an
outlet water flow at a temperature preset by a user is output.
The present invention is also directed to a method for controlling a digital
shower system,
so as to automatically shut off the water output in a certain period of time
when the user
does not use the digital shower system without turning off the water output or
when the user
4
CA 02644720 2008-11-24
does not use the digital shower system after pausing without turning off the
water output,
thus saving water.
In order to achieve the above objectives, a method for controlling a digital
shower system
is provided. The digital shower system includes a cold water inlet pipe, a hot
water inlet
pipe, a mixing device with one end communicated with both the cold water inlet
pipe and
the hot water inlet pipe, an outlet pipe communicated with the other end of
the mixing
device, at least one water outlet communicated with the other end of the
outlet pipe, a
digital user interface, and a control unit. The cold water inlet pipe and the
hot water inlet
pipe are respectively provided with a check valve at positions adjacent to the
mixing device.
The mixing device is provided with a temperature sensor. The outlet pipe is
provided with
a control valve. The temperature sensor and the control valve are respectively
electrically
connected to the control unit. A user inputs a preset outlet water temperature
through the
digital user interface. The method includes the following steps:
Step Al: actuating the digital shower system for operation (power-on);
Step A2: detecting whether the system is in order or not, and if not,
generating an error
message; otherwise, performing the next step;
Step A3: entering a ready mode (RM), for discharging in advance a water flow
in the outlet
pipe that does not reach the preset outlet water temperature;
Step A4: entering a shower mode (SM), in which a desired message is input
through the
digital user interface, the control valve is controlled by the control unit to
make the water
continuously output from the water outlet and remain at the same temperature
as the preset
outlet water temperature, and several preset power-off conditions are
provided; and
Step A5: automatically turning off the digital shower system by the preset
power-off
conditions (power-oft).
Step A3 of entering the RM includes the following steps:
5
CA 02644720 2008-11-24
Step RI: turning on the RM, so as to discharge water in the hot water inlet
pipe in
advance;
Step R2: detecting by the temperature sensor whether an outlet water flow
flowing toward
the outlet pipe is at the same temperature as the preset outlet water
temperature, and if not,
returning to Step R1; otherwise, performing the next step;
Step R3: discharging water for three seconds; and
Step R4: stopping the water discharge and turning off the RM, so as to enter
the SM.
Preferably, the digital user interface is provided with a plurality of keys
including several
function keys and several number keys, and a first preset power-off condition
out of the
preset power-off conditions includes the following steps:
Step B 1: turning on the SM; and
Step B2: determining whether the keys of the digital user interface are used
in five minutes
or not, and if yes, entering a setting screen and completing the setting of
the water outlet by
the digital user interface; otherwise, performing Step A5.
Preferably, a second preset power-off condition out of the preset power-off
conditions is
performed after completing the setting by the digital user interface in Step
B2, and the
second preset power-off condition includes the following steps:
Step C l: determining whether the digital user interface is used in twenty
minutes or not,
and if yes, keeping outputting water from the water outlet; otherwise,
performing the next
step;
Step C2: stopping outputting water from the water outlet; and
Step C3: determining whether the function keys of the digital user interface
are used in
five minutes or not, and if yes, resuming to output water from the water
outlet; otherwise,
6
CA 02644720 2008-11-24
performing Step A5.
Preferably, a third preset power-off condition out of the preset power-off
conditions is
performed after resuming to output water from the water outlet in Step C3, the
keys include
a pause key, and the third preset power-off condition includes the following
step:
Step D1: determining whether the digital user interface is used in ten minutes
or not after
the pause key is pressed down, and if yes, keeping outputting water from the
water outlet;
otherwise, performing Step C2.
Therefore, through the above control method of the present invention, a water
flow
previously left in the hot water pipe and/or the outlet pipe can be discharged
in advance
before an outlet water flow at an outlet water temperature preset by a user is
output.
Besides, the water output can be automatically shut off in a certain period of
time when the
user does not use the digital shower system without turning off the water
output or when the
user does not use the digital shower system after pausing without turning off
the water
output, thus saving water.
The detailed features and advantages of the present invention will be
described in detail
in the following embodiments. Those skilled in the arts can easily understand
and
implement the content of the present invention. Furthermore, the relative
objectives and
advantages of the present invention are apparent to those skilled in the arts
with reference to
the content disclosed in the specification, claims, and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed
description
given herein below for illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the
present invention,
and wherein:
FIG. I is a schematic structural view of a digital shower system of the
present
7
CA 02644720 2008-11-24
invention;
FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for controlling a digital shower system of
the present
invention;
FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the present invention in an RM; and
FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the present invention in an SM.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in detail below
with the
accompanying drawings.
FIG 1 is a schematic structural view of a digital shower system of the present
invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, a digital shower system 1 of this embodiment includes a
cold water
inlet pipe 11, a hot water inlet pipe 12, a mixing device 13, an outlet pipe
14, a water outlet
15, a digital user interface 16, and a control unit 17. The cold water inlet
pipe 11 may be
provided with a flow control unit 11 a, and the hot water inlet pipe 12 may be
provided with
a flow control unit 12a. The outlet pipe 14 is provided with a control valve
14a. The flow
control units 11 a and 12a as well as the control valve 14a are respectively
electrically
connected to the control unit 17. A user may input a preset outlet water
temperature T
through the digital user interface 16.
In addition, the cold water inlet pipe 11 and the hot water inlet pipe 12 are
respectively
provided with a check valve l lb and a check valve 12b at positions adjacent
to the mixing
device 13 for preventing the cold water or the hot water from flowing back
into the other
inlet pipe due to an excessive water pressure.
A plurality of water outlets 15 may be provided, and the control unit 17 is
used to
control the water outlet mode of the water outlets 15 into, for example,
outputting water
8
CA 02644720 2008-11-24
through a single water outlet, through two water outlets, or through three
water outlets.
Herein, the embodiment of the present invention is illustrated with regard to
one water
outlet.
When additionally provided, the flow control unit 11 a and the flow control
unit 12a are
respectively used for controlling the quantities of a cold water flow and a
hot water flow
flowing into the mixing device 13. The mixing device 13 may be provided with a
temperature sensor 13a at a water outlet portion thereof. The temperature
sensor 13a is
electrically connected to the control unit 17 for sensing the temperature of a
primarily
mixed water flow and sending the temperature value of the primarily mixed
water flow to
the control unit 17.
Moreover, the digital user interface 16 is electrically connected to the
control unit 17
and provided with a plurality of keys 16a and a display element 16c. The keys
16a include
number keys, function keys, and a pause key 16b. The display element 16c may
be, but not
limited to, a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel.
Therefore, through the above structure, once a user inputs information into
the digital
user interface 16, the digital user interface 16 transmits the information to
the control unit
17 such that the control unit 17 controls the flow control unit 11 a and the
flow control unit
12a. After a cold water flow and a hot water flow are mixed by the mixing
device 13, the
temperature sensor 13a provides a sensed temperature value to the control unit
17 for
controlling the control valve 14a disposed in the outlet pipe 14, such that
the control valve
14a controls whether to output water from the water outlet 15 or not. Then,
the
temperature of the mixed water flow is adjusted by the mixing device 13 to be
the
temperature T input by the user through the digital user interface 16.
FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for controlling a digital shower system of
the present
invention. Referring to FIG 2, the method of the present invention includes
the following
steps:
9
CA 02644720 2008-11-24
Step SA1: actuating the digital shower system 1 for operation (power-on);
Step SA2: detecting whether the digital shower system 1 is in order or not,
and if not,
generating an error message (Step SA21); otherwise, performing the next step;
Step SA3: entering a ready mode (RM), for discharging in advance a water flow
in the
outlet pipe 14 that does not reach the preset outlet water temperature T;
Step SA4: entering a shower mode (SM), in which a desired message (the preset
outlet
water temperature T) is input through the digital user interface 16, the water
outlet 15 is
controlled by the control unit 17 to continuously output water maintained at
the same
temperature as the preset outlet water temperature T, and several preset power-
off
conditions are provided; and
Step SA5: automatically turning off the digital shower system 1 by the preset
power-off
conditions (power-off).
In Step SA2, the control unit 17 detects whether the temperature sensor 13a
feeds back
a signal or not (Step SA21) and detects whether the mixing device 13 feeds
back a signal or
not (Step SA22), so as to detect whether the digital shower system 1 is in
order or not.
FIG 3 is a flow chart of the present invention in an RM. Referring to FIG 3,
Step SA3
of entering the RM includes the following steps:
Step SRI: turning on the RM (Step SR11), so as to discharge water in the hot
water
inlet pipe 12 in advance (Step SR12);
Step SR2: detecting by the temperature sensor 13a whether an outlet water flow
flowing toward the outlet pipe 14 is at the same temperature as the preset
outlet water
temperature T input by the user through the digital user interface 16, and if
not, returning to
Step SRl (Step SR12); otherwise, performing the next step;
Step SR3: discharging water for three seconds; and
CA 02644720 2008-11-24
Step SR4: stopping the water discharge and turning off the RM, so as to enter
the SM.
FIG 4 is a flow chart of the present invention in an SM. The SM is entered
after the
function of discharging water in advance in the RM is completed (Step SA4). A
first preset
power-off condition in Step SA4 includes the following steps:
Step SB 1: turning on the SM; and
Step SB2: determining whether the keys 16a of the digital user interface 16
are used in
five minutes or not, and if yes, entering a setting screen and completing the
setting of the
water outlet 15 by the digital user interface 16 (Step SB21); otherwise,
performing Step
SA5.
A second preset power-off condition out of the preset power-off conditions in
Step SA4
is performed after completing the setting by the digital user interface 16,
and the second
preset power-off condition includes the following steps:
Step SC1: determining whether the digital user interface 16 is used in twenty
minutes
or not, and if yes, keeping outputting water from the water outlet 15 (Step SC
11); otherwise,
performing the next step;
Step SC2: stopping outputting water from the water outlet 15; and
Step SC3: determining whether the keys 16a of the digital user interface 16
are used in
five minutes or not, and if yes, resuming to output water from the water
outlet 15; otherwise,
performing Step SA5.
A third preset power-off condition out of the preset power-off conditions in
Step SA4 is
performed after resuming to output water from the water outlet 15, and the
third preset
power-off condition includes the following step:
Step SD1: determining whether the digital user interface 16 is used in ten
minutes or
not after the pause key 16b is pressed down, and if yes, keeping outputting
water from the
11
CA 02644720 2008-11-24
water outlet 15 (Step SC11); otherwise, performing Step SC2.
Therefore, through the above structure and control method of the present
invention, a
water flow previously left in the hot water pipe and/or the outlet pipe can be
discharged in
advance before an outlet water flow at an outlet water temperature preset by a
user is output.
Besides, the water output can be automatically shut off in a certain period of
time when the
user does not use the digital shower system without turning off the water
output or when the
user does not use the digital shower system after pausing without turning off
the water
output, thus saving water.
The above descriptions are only illustrative, but not intended to limit the
present
invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the structure
of the present
invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view
of the
foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and
variations of this
invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and
their equivalents.
12
