WO2006029692A1

WO2006029692A1 - Utility mixing valve, equipped with an electronic display device for displaying water flow rate and temperature, and method for operating a display device having such function

Info

Publication number: WO2006029692A1
Application number: PCT/EP2005/009086
Authority: WO
Inventors: Horst Kunkel
Original assignee: Hansa Metallwerke Ag
Priority date: 2004-09-18
Filing date: 2005-08-23
Publication date: 2006-03-23
Also published as: DE102004045428A1; EP1789635A1; DE102004045428B4

Abstract

The invention concerns a utility mixing valve, equipped with an electronic display device (1) for displaying water temperature and flow rate, and a control unit for controlling said display device (1), as well as a method for operating such a display device. Said display device (1) has at least one lighting means (2), consisting of a number of lighting elements (4) capable of being individually excited based on the water flow and whereof the colour may vary according to the water temperature.

Description

SANITARY MIXING ARM WITH AN ELECTRONIC DISPLAY DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING THE WATER VOLUME FLOW AND WATER TEMPERATURE, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A DISPLAY DEVICE HAVING EQUIVALENT FUNCTION

The invention relates to a sanitary Mischaπnatur with an electronic display device for displaying the water temperature and the water volume flow and a control unit for the display device.

In addition, the invention relates to a method for operating an electronic display device of a sanitary mixing fitting, in which the water temperature and the water volume flow is displayed with the display device,

In order to inform a user about the water temperature and the water volume flow, known sanitary mixing fittings have display devices with digital displays. Although numerical values for the instantaneous water temperature and the instantaneous water volume flow can be precisely represented with these, the user must be able to read and interpret the values. Especially for preschool children who can not read yet, and persons with ill health who, for example, do not wear visual aids in a shower and therefore are not able to recognize numbers, reading is already causing problems. But decoding is also possible in poor light conditions numerical values on a digital display are often flawed.

The object of the present invention is to design a sanitary mixing fitting and a method of the type mentioned above such that the display device simultaneously displays the water temperature and the water volume flow in such a way that these parameters are read by the user even in poor light conditions or impaired vision and without the need for further interpretation

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the display device has at least one luminous means which comprises a plurality of luminous elements, which are individually controllable depending on the water volume flow and whose color is variable depending on the water temperature.

According to the invention, the display device has a luminous means with which the water temperature and the water volume flow can be simultaneously displayed quasi-analogously. This is made possible by the fact that the water temperature can easily be detected from the number of activated light elements and at the same time from the color of the light elements.

In an advantageous embodiment, the lighting elements are arranged in a row, so that a change in the water volume flow can be detected in a particularly simple manner.

A further embodiment has proven particularly expedient in which the luminous elements comprise a large number of individually controllable luminous bodies of different colors, in particular of blue and red radiating luminous bodies. It is thus possible to generate mixed colors by appropriately activating the differently colored luminous bodies in order to achieve a continuous, analog or quasi-analogue representation of the current water temperature. Since it is customary to associate the color blue with cold water and the color red with warm water, this representation is particularly easy to understand for the user. The luminous bodies of blue and red-emitting light-emitting diodes, which are simple to assemble, easy to control and maintenance-free, can be implemented in a particularly simple manner. In addition, light-emitting diodes can be driven with little expenditure of energy.

In particular, in order to protect the luminous means, for example from splash water, a further advantageous embodiment provides for arranging a pane, in particular a diffuser of an opaque material, in front of the luminous means. Opaque material has the advantage that the filaments themselves are not visible, and thus the Ein¬ pressure of a homogeneous light strip is formed. So that the user is informed about the adjustment of the water temperature or the volume flow, the control unit can be connected to an input unit for the setpoint values of the water temperature and the water volume flow.

In order to inform the user of the current values of the water temperature and the water volume flow, the control unit may be connected to a detection unit for detecting the actual values of the water temperature and the water volume flow.

In the method according to the invention, light is produced with a quantity dependent on the volume of the water volume, in particular a spatial extent, of which color is changed as a function of the water temperature. In this way it is possible to simultaneously display both parameters with the display device. Each water temperature is assigned a color here. Each water volume flow is assigned a corresponding spatial extent of the light source or a light intensity.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the method has proven to be expedient in which, depending on the volume of water flow, a number of luminous elements of the display device that is substantially proportional to this is activated. With an increasing spatial extent of the lighting elements, the user particularly easily associates an increase in the water volume flow.

A further advantageous embodiment of the method provides that upon actuation of an input unit for the water temperature and / or the water volume flow, a light signal is output. In this way, the user is additionally informed about the successful operation of the input unit

In addition, in a further advantageous embodiment of the method, it is provided that a light signal is output upon reaching a predetermined or predeterminable water temperature and / or a predetermined or predefinable water volume flow. This increases the ease of use since the user can, for example, It is informed that no further temperature change or change in the water volume flow is any longer possible because, for example, valves to be set in a cold water feed line or hot water supply line have reached their preset end positions for changing these values. In addition, when exceeding a predeterminable limit temperature, for example, of 40 ° C, a warning signal for the user will be issued.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing; show it

1 shows schematically a first Ausfühnjngsbeispiel a display device of a sanitary mixing fitting for the water temperature and the Was¬ servolumenstrom;

Figure 2 schematically shows a second embodiment of a display device of a sanitary mixing fitting for the water temperature and the Was¬ servolumenstrom, which is arranged behind a lens;

Figure 3 is a flowchart of a method for driving the m Figure 1 and

Figure 2 shown display devices.

1 shows a first embodiment of a display device 1 of a sanitary mixing fitting, not shown, is shown. With the display device 1, the water temperature and the water volume flow are simultaneously displayed visually. It is possible to display detectable actual values either with sensors that are not shown, or setpoint values to be indicated by the user via an input unit (not shown).

The display device 1 has a lighting means in the form of a light strip 2. The light strip 2 is arranged along the circular arc of a circular segment-shaped fastening plate 3. The chord of the mounting plate 3 is interrupted centrally by a substantially semicircular recess 7 for a Wasseraus¬ not shown running the sanitary mixing fitting. The light strip 2 comprises a multiplicity of light elements which are realized by light emitting diode pairs 4. Each light-emitting diode pair 4 comprises in the figure on the left a red-emitting light-emitting diode 5 and on the right a blue-emitting light-emitting diode 6 as a light body.

Each light-emitting diode 5, 6 is ein¬ individually controllable with a control unit, not shown, the sanitary mixing fitting depending on the water temperature and the water volume flow.

At the maximum achievable water temperature, in which only a not illustrated hot water valve in a hot water supply line is opened at least in part and an unillustrated cold water valve is closed in a cold water supply line, only red radiant, at the minimum achievable water temperature, at which the Setting the two valves is reversed, only blue emitting LEDs 5, 6 activated so that they light up.

If no water volume flow is present, none of the light emitting diodes S, 6 illuminates. Depending on the water temperature, all the red emitting and / or all blue emitting light emitting diodes S, 6 light up at a maximum water volume flow.

In order to represent intermediate values of the water temperature, both the red-emitting light-emitting diodes 5 and the blue-emitting light-emitting diodes 6 are actuated, thus creating a mixed color for each light-emitting diode pair 4. The greater the water temperature, the more energy is applied to the control unit the red-emitting light emitting diodes 5 transmitted and the less energy is transmitted to the blue emitting LEDs 6, so that the red emitting LEDs 5 shine brighter than the blue emitting LEDs 6. At a lower water temperature, the energy ratio and thus the brightness ratio is shifted accordingly. This results in continuously changing mixed colors, which are very easily recognized by the user as a temperature representation. In the course of a change in the water temperature from cold to warm, a color spectrum from blue to violet to red is passed through. At a minimum water volume flow, in which at least one of the valves are minimally opened, depending on the water temperature, only the light-emitting diodes 5, 6 of the light-emitting diode pair 4 are controlled in the middle of the light strip 2. If the water volume flow is increased, starting from the middle of the light strip 2 symmetrically in the direction of its opposite ends corresponding light-emitting diodes 5, 6 of further light-emitting diode pairs 4 are actuated until at a maximum water volume flow at which at least one of the valves is maximally open, the light-emitting diodes 5, 6 of all light-emitting diode pairs 4 are driven.

If a predetermined end position of one of the two valves, that is to say a complete opening or closing, or a predeterminable peak temperature value, preferably 40 ° C., is reached, then the activated light-emitting diodes 5, 6 are activated in a burst mode such that they flash to warn the user.

2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a display device 101 of a sa¬ nitären mixing fitting is shown. The display device 101 differs from the display device 1 of the first exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that, instead of the light-emitting diode pairs 4, multi-colored light emitting diodes 104 are provided as light elements which form a light strip 102. The multi-colored light-emitting diodes 104 have a significantly smaller spatial extent than the light-emitting diode pairs 4.

By appropriately controlling depending on the water temperature, the light-emitting diodes 104 change their color analogously to the light-emitting diode pairs 4 used in the first exemplary embodiment.

In addition, a curved diffuser 110 made of opaque material in Figure 2 below in front of the light strip 102 is arranged. The light of the light-emitting diodes 104 diffuses through the diffusing screen 110, so that the impression of a homogeneous light-emitting strip 102 is produced.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for driving the display devices 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; 101 shown. The method is started with a step 201 either by actuating a not shown input unit for the water temperature or the water volumetric flow or automatically with the control unit. This depends on whether the display device 1; 101 is used to display the actual values or the setpoints. The actual values are then displayed, if they were previously detected by sensors, the setpoint values are displayed after the actuation of an input unit

Subsequently, in a checking step 202, it is checked whether the Wasservolumeπ- stream has been changed.

If it is detected in the checking step 202 that the water volume flow has been changed, in a further step 203, the number of light emitting diodes 5, 6 to be activated, that is to say luminous, is to be activated; 104 determined. Subsequently, in a checking step 204, it is checked whether the maximum or the minimum water volume flow has been reached, that is, at least one of the two valves is open or closed to the maximum.

If the maximum or the minimum water volume flow is reached, in a step 205, the activated light-emitting diodes 5, 6; 104 with the control unit so ange¬ controls that these flash in burst mode to warn the user. Thereafter, the process is continued with a water temperature verification step 207.

If, instead, in the checking step 204 it is detected that neither the maximum nor the in-line water volume flow is reached, in a step 206 the corresponding light-emitting diodes 5, 6; 104 activated in appropriate number

On the other hand, if it is detected in the checking step 202 that the water volume flow has not been changed, the method is continued directly with the checking step 207

In the checking step 207, it is checked whether the water temperature has been changed. If the check reveals that the water temperature has not been changed, then the method for display control is ended with a step 212 and restarted at a later time on a further actuation of an input element or automatically with step 201.

If, however, it is determined in the upper-checking step 207 that the water temperature has been changed, the method is continued with a step 208, in which the intensity of the red radiation to be activated is determined in relation to the intensity of the blue radiation to be activated.

Then, in a checking step 209, it is checked whether the water temperature has already reached its maximum or its minimum, that is to say one of the two valves is already completely closed or opened.

If the water temperature has already reached its maximum or minimum, the activated light-emitting diodes 5, 6; 104 in burst mode, so that they flash. Subsequently, the method is terminated with method step 212.

On the other hand, if the water temperature has neither reached its maximum nor its minimum, the intensity of the activated red radiation is changed correspondingly to the intensity of the activated blue radiation in a step 211, and the method is then terminated with step 212.

Instead of or in addition to the red-emitting light-emitting diodes 5 and the blue-emitting light-emitting diodes 6, light-emitting diodes with other colors can also be provided, for example also green light-emitting diodes, whereby an even finer graduation in the color spectrum is made possible. Similarly, the multicolor LEDs 104 may have more than two different color components.

Instead of the opaque scattering disk 110, another curved disk of light-permeable material can also be provided. It can also be an opaque surface with the LEDs 5, 6; 104 are illuminated indirectly. Instead of the light-emitting diode pairs 4 in the first exemplary embodiment, the multi-colored light-emitting diodes 104 from the second exemplary embodiment and vice versa can also be used. It is also possible to use other luminous bodies instead of the light-emitting diodes.

The LEDs S, 6; 104 may be at a water volume flow change instead aus¬ going from the middle of the light strip 2; 102 also be activated starting from one end or symmetrically from both ends.

In the method for display control, it is also possible first to execute the checking step 207 and the subsequent steps 208 to 211, and then the checking step 202 and the subsequent steps 203 to 206.

A check can also be made as to whether a predeterminable limit value of the water temperature or of the water volume flow has been exceeded or fallen below, whereupon corresponding light-emitting diodes 5, 6; 104 in burst mode, that is flashing, be controlled. For example, the red-emitting LEDs 5 flashing or the multicolor LEDs 104 are flashing red ange¬ controls when the water temperature exceeds 40 ° C.

It can also be provided that the activated or all LEDs 5, 6; 104 in burst mode are flashing as soon as the input unit is pressed to confirm the input to the user. In burst mode, instead of a single flashing, a multiple flash of the corresponding light-emitting diodes 5.6; 104 done.

Claims

Patentansnrüche

1. Sanitary mixing fitting with an electronic display device for displaying the water temperature and the water volume flow and a control unit for driving the display device,

characterized in that

the display device (1; 101) has at least one luminous means (2; 102) which comprises a plurality of luminous elements (4; 104) which can be controlled individually depending on the water volume flow and whose color can be changed as a function of the water temperature

2. Sanitary mixing fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that the lighting elements (4; 104) are arranged in a row.

3. Sanitary mixing fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized gekennzeich¬ net, that the light-emitting elements (4) a plurality of individually controllable Leucht¬ bodies (5, 6) of different colors, in particular of blue-emitting and red-emitting luminous bodies comprises.

4. Sanitary mixing fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized gekennzeich¬ net, that in front of the lamp (102) a disc, in particular a lens

(110) of opaque material, is arranged.

5. Sanitary mixing fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized gekennzeich¬ net, that the control unit is connected to an input unit for the input of set values of the water temperature and the water volume flow.

6. Sanitary mixing fitting according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control unit is connected to a detection unit for detecting actual values of the water temperature and the water volume flow

7. A method for operating an electronic display device of a sanitary

Mixer fitting, in which the water temperature and the water volume flow is displayed with the display device, in particular for operating a sanitary mixing fitting according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

Light with a dependent on the water volume flow quantity, in particular a spatial extent, is generated (206) whose color is changed depending on the Wasser¬ temperature (211).

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that depending on the Wasser¬ volume flow to this substantially proportional number of Leucht¬ elements (4; 104) of the display device (1; 101) is activated (206).

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that upon actuation of an input unit for the water temperature and / or the water volume flow, a light signal is output.

10. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that upon reaching a predetermined or predetermined water temperature and / or a predetermined or predetermined water volume flow, a light signal is output (205, 210).