SANITARY DEVICE

Abstract

A sanitary device has a programmable electronic control unit that acts on a metering and mixer valve unit. The electronic control unit has a program memory suitable for the retrievable storage of multiple different water dispensing programs and a central data processing unit that acts on at least one actuator that actuates the metering and mixer valve unit. A user interface has a display that has a central display region and a peripheral display region annularly surrounding the central display region, a rotatable setting ring around the display and at least three buttons around the setting ring. The buttons of the user interface comprise a program selection button, an output button and a temperature button. Actuating a button results in the present setting value of the button function in question being displayed in the central display region of the display.

Claims

1. A sanitary facility (2) having a cold-water supply (3), a hot-water supply (4), at least one water outlet and a metering and mixing valve unit (5), which is suitable for influencing the total flow through the water outlet and the ratio of the partial quantity of cold water and the partial quantity of hot water relative to one another in the total flow, wherein a programmable electronic control unit (12) acts on the metering and mixing valve unit (5), with the following features: the electronic control unit (12) comprises a program memory (16) suitable for storage of several different water-delivery programs capable of being called and a central data-processing unit (13), which acts on at least one actuator for operation of the metering and mixing valve unit (5); a user interface (17) is provided that permits program selection as well as manual modification of the selected water-delivery program; the user interface (17) has a display (18), a setting-selector ring (19) extending around the display (18) and capable of being turned around an axis perpendicular to the display (18), with a circumferential gripping face (20) accessible from radially outside as well as at least three buttons (21) disposed around the setting-selector ring (19); the setting-selector ring (19) and/or the display (18) is axially movable for actuation of a momentary-contact confirmation switch (35); three of the at least three buttons (21) of the user interface (17) are designed in such a way as a program-selection button (23), as an output button (25) and as a temperature button (26) that, upon their actuation, a signal supplied by a rotary-position transducer (22) of the setting-selector-ring is processed in the central data-processing unit (13), depending on the actuated button (21), in the sense of a water-delivery program modification, an output modification within a called water-delivery program or a temperature modification within a called water-delivery program; the display (18) has a central display region (28) and a peripheral display region (29) surrounding it annularly; the peripheral display region (29) comprises at least three segments (30) associated spatially with the buttons (21) and respectively having a function-value status display (36) of the button function in question; upon button actuation, a display of the instantaneous setting value of the button function in question appears in the central display region (28).

2. The sanitary facility of claim 1, wherein, by button actuation, the function-value status display (36) of the button function in question is extinguished in the associated segment (30) of the peripheral display region (29).

3. The sanitary facility of claim 1, wherein the segments (30) of the peripheral display region (29) change color to correspond to the set water-delivery temperature.

4. The sanitary facility of claim 1, wherein the temperature modification mode is activated, either by confirmation of a selection option and/or automatically at a predetermined time after the last actuation of the user interface (17).

5. The sanitary facility of claim 1, wherein the water flow through the water outlet can be adjusted by means of the output button (25).

6. The sanitary facility of claim 1, wherein the total volume of water delivered through the water outlet can be adjusted by means of the output button (25).

7. The sanitary facility of claim 1, wherein a flow sensor (15) is provided downstream from the metering and mixing valve unit (5), and its measured value is supplied to a flow-regulating circuit of the central data-processing unit (13).

8. The sanitary facility of claim 1, wherein the type or quality of the output water can be adjusted by means of the output button (25).

9. The sanitary facility of claim 1, wherein the sanitary facility (2) has at least two water outlets and one distributing valve (6) for switching the water delivery between the water outlets, wherein the central data-processing unit (13) acts on at least one actuator operating the distributing valve (6) according to an outlet setting applied at the user interface (17).

10. The sanitary facility of claim 9, wherein the outlet setting takes place by means of the output button (25).

11. The sanitary facility of claim 9, wherein the outlet setting takes place by means of a fourth button (21), which is designed as an outlet-selection button (24), of the user interface (17), and with which a fourth segment (30) of the peripheral display region (29) of the display (18) of the user interface (17) is associated.

12. The sanitary facility of claim 9, wherein at least one of the at least two water outlets can be used in hand-held manner, wherein an in-use sensor associated with that water outlet generates an in-use signal to be supplied to the central data-processing unit (13).

13. The sanitary facility of claim 1, wherein the sanitary facility is a washing stand, wherein the filling volume or the basin level can be adjusted by means of a fourth button (21), which is designed as a filling-volume button or as a basin-level button, and with which a fourth segment (30) of the peripheral display region (29) of the display (18) of the user interface (17) is associated, and by means of the setting-selector ring (19) of the user interface (17).

14. The sanitary facility of claim 1, wherein a modification memory is provided that stores the modifications made individually to the called water-delivery program.

15. The sanitary facility of claim 1, wherein an identification sensor (37) is provided, wherein a user-identification signal generated thereby can be supplied to the central data-processing unit (13) to bring about a person-specific preselection of the water-delivery programs offered for selection to the user interface (17).

16. The sanitary facility of claim 15, wherein the user-identification sensor (37) can be adjusted between a sensing configuration and a blind configuration that can be physically distinguished therefrom.

17. The sanitary facility of claim 16, wherein the user identification sensor (37) will be adjusted to its blind configuration by the central data-processing unit (13) after user identification has been established.

18. The sanitary facility of claim 16, wherein the user identification sensor (37) will be adjusted in situation-based manner to its blind configuration by the central data-processing unit (13) according to criteria defined by the user in question himself or herself.

19. The sanitary facility of claim 1, wherein a timer is provided, wherein a time signal generated thereby can be supplied to the central data-processing unit (13) to bring about a time-specific preselection of the water-delivery programs offered for selection to the user interface (17).

20. The sanitary facility of claim 1, wherein the control unit (12) comprises a data-communication interface (41), especially for inputting program data created on an external device (40).

21. The sanitary facility of claim 1, wherein a temperature (14) is provided downstream from the metering and mixing valve unit (5), and its measured value is supplied to a temperature-regulating circuit of the central data-processing unit (13).

22. The sanitary facility of claim 1, wherein the sanitary facility (2) comprises a reservoir container for a body-care product plus a connected metering and dispensing device that discharges upstream from the water outlet, wherein the central data-processing unit (13) actuates the metering and dispensing device for at least one of the water-delivery programs.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0033] The present invention will be explained in more detail in the following on the basis of a preferred exemplary embodiment in the form of a shower illustrated in the drawing, wherein:

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a partly schematic diagram of an inventive sanitary facility designed as a shower,

[0035] FIG. 2 shows the user interface of the shower according to FIG. 1 in perspective view,

[0036] FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D show the display of the user interface according to FIG. 2 in different operating phases in the form of the four subordinate, and

[0037] FIG. 4 shows the user interface of an app for programming the shower, installed on a mobile terminal device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0038] The sanitary facility 2 designed as shower 1, shown in FIG. 1, is providedin known mannerwith a cold-water supply 3, a hot-water supply 4, a metering and mixing valve unit 5, a distributing valve 6 and two water outlets in the form of an overhead spray 7 and a hand-held spray 8 (plus wall mount/holder 9 and hose 10). The corresponding components are interconnected in well-known and standard manner via water-conveying lines 11.

[0039] For control of the water delivery via overhead spray 7 or hand-held spray 8 with a specified flow and a specified temperature, metering and mixing valve unit 5 and distributing valve 6 are actuated by an electronic control unit 12. For this purpose, a central data-processing unit 13 of electronic control unit 12 acts on actuators (not illustrated) associated with metering and mixing valve unit 5 as well as distributing valve 6.

[0040] The current water temperature and the current water flow downstream from metering and mixing valve unit 5 are sensed respectively via a temperature sensor 14 and a flowmeter 15, and the measured values in question are supplied for temperature and flow regulation to central data-processing unit 13.

[0041] Electronic control unit 12 is programmable in the sense that water delivery via the two water outlets takes place under program control. For this purpose, electronic control unit 12 comprises a program memory 16 that is suitable for storage of several different water-delivery programs capable of being called, and it communicates with central data-processing unit 13. Furthermore, a user interface 17 that permits selection of the water-delivery program to be executed as well as manual modification thereof communicates with central data-processing unit 13.

[0042] Whereas user interface 17 in FIG. 2 is illustrated in its spatially physical design, its individual elements, parts, components and regions are, for reasons of illustration, isolated from one another in FIG. 1. User interface 17 has a round display 18, a setting-selector ring 19 extending around display 18 and capable of being turned around an axis perpendicular to display 18, with a circumferential gripping face 20 accessible from radially outside as well as four buttons 21 disposed around setting-selector ring 19 and set back relative to this as well as display 18. Setting-selector ring 19 cooperates with a rotary-position transducer 22 of the setting-selector-ring associated with it. According to the functions assigned to them (see below), the four buttons 21 are a program-selection button 23, an outlet-selection button 24, an output button 25 and a temperature button 26. All four buttons 21 have a backlit function symbol 27 symbolizing their function.

[0043] Display 18 has a central display region 28 and a peripheral display region 29 surrounding it circularly. The latter comprises, spatially associated with buttons 21, four segments 30 in the form of a program-display segment 31, an outlet-display segment 32, an output-display segment 33 and a temperature-display segment 34.

[0044] Electronic control unit 12 is configured such that, after actuation of program-selection button 23 during turning of setting-selector ring 19, a signal supplied by rotary-position transducer 22 of the setting-selector-ring is processed in central data-processing unit 13 in the sense of water-delivery program selection.

[0045] By continued turning of setting-selector ring 19, symbols assigned to the individual water-delivery programs stored in program memory 16 and symbolizing them are displayed successively in central display region 28 of display 18. When display 18which is mounted to be axially movableis pressed, a momentary-contact confirmation switch 35 is actuated and in this way the water-delivery program displayed via the associated symbol in central display region 28 of display 18 is confirmed or called. It is called by central data-processing unit 13 from program memory 16.

[0046] Within the respectively called water-delivery program, the user manually may make individual modifications of characteristic water-delivery parameters via user interface 17, so that the delivery of waterdeviating correspondingly from the called programmay be adapted individually to the personal needs. For this purpose, electronic control unit 12 is configured such that a signal supplied by rotary-position transducer 22 of the setting-selector-ring in the sense of a temperature modification after actuation of temperature button 26, a signal supplied by rotary-position transducer 22 of the setting-selector-ring in the sense of a flow modification after actuation of output button 25 and a signal supplied by rotary-position transducer 22 of the setting-selector-ring in the sense of a switch of water outlet after actuation of outlet-selection button 24 are processed in central data-processing unit 13.

[0047] Regardless of any control action of user interface 17, automatic switching of the water delivery to hand-held spray 8 takes place when this is removed from holder 9. For this purpose, holder 9 has an embedded sensor (in-use sensor), which generates an in-use signal to be supplied to central data-processing unit 13 upon removal of hand-held spray 8.

[0048] Each of the four segments 30 of peripheral display region 29 has a function-value status display 36 of the button function in question. Thus the function-value status display embedded in program-display segment 31 showsvia the program symbol associated with itthe called water-delivery program; and the instantaneous, current function/setting valuespossibly resulting from modification of the called program (see above)for water temperature, water flow and water outlet are displayed by means of function-value status displays 36 embedded in temperature-display segment 34, in output-display segment 33 and in outlet-display segment 32 of peripheral display region 29 of display 18. However, upon actuation of one of the buttons 21, function-value status display 36 in the segment 30 of peripheral display region 29 associated with that button 21 is extinguished; and the instantaneous function/setting value that can be adjusted by means of setting-selector ring 19 after actuation of the button 21 in question is displayed in correspondingly large characters in central display region 28 of display 18, so that the change can be recognized particularly easily by the user. This is illustrated in the subordinate FIGS. 3A to 3D.

[0049] Furthermore, electronic control unit 12 is configured such that segments 30 of peripheral display region 29 change color together to correspond to the set water-delivery temperature; thus annular peripheral display region 29 changes color as a wholein gradual stagesfrom blue (at low water temperatures) to red (at high water temperatures). Furthermore, at a predetermined time (e.g. two seconds) after the last actuation of user interface 17, the temperature-modification mode, in which turning of setting-selector ring 19 brings about a change of the set temperature, is activated.

[0050] In the shower according to FIG. 1, a user identification sensor 37 connected to central data-processing unit 13 is further provided. This is designed as an edge-computing camera 38, which recognizes the respective user on the basis of his or her individual movement pattern. Due to identification of the user in the peripheral equipment, i.e. in edge-computing camera 38, there is no need for communication of the sensed movement data to central data-processing unit 13. The user-identification signal generated in edge-computing camera 38 and supplied to central data-processing unit 13 is evaluated in central data-processing unit 13 for a person-specific preselection of the water-delivery programs offered for selection to user interface 17. This edge-computing camera 38 can be adjusted between a sensing configuration and a blind configuration that can be physically distinguished therefrom, in that, in the latter case, it is lowered completely into a housing 39.

[0051] For its programming by means of an external mobile edge device, namely a smartphone 40, on which an app designed and suitable for the purpose is installed, electronic control unit 12 is provided with a data-communication interface 41. FIG. 4 shows, by way of example, a possible smartphone user interface of the corresponding app, and specifically at the level of programming of a specific water-delivery programin this case called a Cool Down Shower and illustrated with a specific pictorial symbol 42, which corresponds to the program symbol displayed on user interface 17. The options of setting (possibly in sequence) of water temperatures, water outlets and water flows are visible. Furthermore, particular individual lighting and sound scenarios can be assigned to the water-delivery program. Other parameters that could be assignedprovided the sanitary facility is equipped with appropriate hardwareto the respective water-delivery program using the programming app may be, for example, addition of a body-care agent to the delivered water, imparting a fragrance to the sanitary facility, generation of heat by means of a heating device, supplying/extracting air by means of a fan, activation of a privacy screen, etc.