Electronic tap with operating system at the end of the spout

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electronic faucet with a head ( 15 ) that incorporates the operative system for controlling dispensing of the water. The head is mounted at the end of the spout ( 4 ). Furthermore, the tap is equipped with a by-pass system for manual operation in an emergency when the operative system has a malfunction.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A faucet, comprising:
 a spout having a head end through which water is dispensed;   a valve system connected to the spout for controlling flow of water through the spout;   an electronic mechanism positioned at the head end of the spout for electronically controlling operation of the valve system to dispense water; and   a bypass system connected to the valve system enabling manual control of the valve system to dispense water when desired.   
     
     
         10 . The faucet of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic mechanism comprises an electronic control circuit including one or more sensors for detecting presence of a user or an object near the faucet to activate the valve system to dispense water and one or more batteries for powering the electronic control circuit. 
     
     
         11 . The faucet of  claim 10 , wherein the electronic control circuit and the one or more batteries are mounted as a unit in a holder in the head end of the spout to facilitate replacement of the unit or the one or more batteries. 
     
     
         12 . The faucet of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise a vertical sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The faucet of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise a front sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The faucet of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise a vertical sensor and a front sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The faucet of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more optical sensors. 
     
     
         16 . The faucet of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic mechanism further comprises a light emitting diode or a back-light system to signal detection of a user or an object near the faucet. 
     
     
         17 . The faucet of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic mechanism further comprises a light emitting diode or a back-light system to signal low battery power. 
     
     
         18 . The faucet of  claim 9 , further comprising a protective glass piece for the electronic mechanism positioned at the head end of the spout, said glass piece having a colored portion and a transparent portion, wherein one or more sensors in the electronic mechanism operate through the transparent portion of the glass piece to detect presence of a user or an object near the faucet. 
     
     
         19 . The faucet of  claim 9 , wherein the colored portion of the glass piece has a color matching a color of the spout. 
     
     
         20 . The faucet of  claim 19 , wherein the glass piece comprises a glass disk, and wherein the transparent portion of the glass piece resembles a slit in the glass disk. 
     
     
         21 . The faucet of  claim 9 , further comprising a back-light system behind the glass piece. 
     
     
         22 . The faucet of  claim 21 , wherein the back-light system comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes. 
     
     
         23 . The faucet of  claim 9 , wherein positioning of the electronic mechanism in the head end of the spout enables free rotation of the spout relative to a surface on which the faucet is mounted. 
     
     
         24 . The faucet of  claim 9 , wherein the valve system includes a solenoid valve controlled by the electronic mechanism, and wherein the bypass system can be activated to cause continuous flow of water through the solenoid valve. 
     
     
         25 . The faucet of  claim 24 , wherein the bypass system can be activated by turning a screw in the bypass system.