1. A filter unit for an appliance, comprising:
a body portion having an exterior surface and an hollow interior volume;
a filter media portion disposed entirely within the interior volume and having a service life;
an inlet aperture disposed on the exterior surface and extending into the interior volume, wherein the inlet aperture fluidly couples with a first side of the filter media portion to deliver a flow of unfiltered water;
an outlet aperture disposed on the exterior surface and extending into the interior volume, wherein the outlet aperture fluidly couples a second side of the filter media portion to dispense a flow of filtered water; and
a flow regulator disposed within the body portion and configured to reduce the flow of filtered water from dispensing from the outlet aperture upon elapsing the service life.
2. The filter unit of claim 1, wherein the flow regulator includes a dual-port valve disposed proximate the outlet aperture and having a large port, a small port, and a plate blocking the small port and slidable from the small port to blocking the large port upon elapsing the service life.
3. The filter unit of claim 2, further comprising:
an electromagnet positioned adjacent to the exterior surface in alignment with the plate, wherein the plate includes a magnetic material that allows the electromagnet to slidably move the plate from small port to the large port.
4. The filter unit of claim 3, further comprising:
a hall sensor positioned adjacent to the exterior surface in alignment with the plate, wherein the hall sensor is configured to determine the position of the plate relative to the small and large ports for determining whether the service life has elapsed.
5. The filter unit of claim 2, wherein the small and large ports separately extend between the outlet aperture and the filter media portion, and wherein the plate slides within a channel extending between an intermediate portion of the small and large ports.
6. The filter unit of claim 5, wherein the large port includes a locking feature that engages the plate when the plate moves to the large port to prevent the plate from moving from the large port to the small port.
7. The filter unit of claim 7, wherein the locking feature includes a resilient element that frictionally engages a surface of the plate to retain the plate in a position blocking the large port.
8. The filter unit of claim 1, wherein the flow regulator includes a sliding valve fluidly coupled between the exterior passage and the interior passage, the sliding valve having a conduit fluidly connecting the inlet and outlet apertures and avoiding the filter media portion, a cavity disposed laterally adjacent to the conduit, and a magnetic plate blocking the unfiltered water from traversing the conduit and slidable into the cavity to allow the unfiltered water flow to bypass the filter media portion.
9. The filter unit of claim 8, further comprising:
an electromagnet positioned adjacent to the exterior surface in alignment with the plate, wherein the plate includes a magnetic material that allows the electromagnet to slidably move the plate into the cavity when the service life has elapsed.
10. The filter unit of claim 9, further comprising:
a hall sensor positioned adjacent to the exterior surface in alignment with the plate, wherein the hall sensor is configured to sense the position of the plate relative to the small and large ports for determining whether the service life has elapsed.
11. A filter unit, comprising:
a body portion having an exterior surface and an hollow interior volume;
a filter media portion disposed entirely within the interior volume and having a service life;
an inlet aperture disposed on the exterior surface and extending into the interior volume, wherein the inlet aperture fluidly couples with a first side of the filter media portion to deliver a flow of unfiltered water;
an outlet aperture disposed on the exterior surface and extending into the interior volume, wherein the outlet aperture fluidly couples a second side of the filter media portion to dispense a flow of filtered water; and
a flow regulator disposed within the interior volume and having a large port, a small port, and a plate slidable between blocking the small port and blocking the large port, wherein the flow regulator is configured to move the plate to block the large port upon elapsing the service life for reduce the flow of filtered water from dispensing from the outlet aperture.
12. The filter unit of claim 11, wherein the filter media portion includes a tubular sidewall and an end cap coupled with an first end portion of the tubular sidewall proximate a distal end of the body portion within the interior volume of the body portion, wherein the end cap urges the flow of unfiltered water to traverse laterally through the tubular sidewall.
13. The filter unit of claim 12, wherein the flow regulator is coupled with a second end portion of the tubular sidewall proximate the inlet and outlet apertures on the body portion.
14. The filter unit of claim 11, further comprising:
an electromagnet positioned adjacent to the exterior surface in alignment with the plate, wherein the plate includes a magnetic material that allows the electromagnet to slidably move the plate from small port to the large port.
15. The filter unit of claim 14, further comprising:
a hall sensor positioned adjacent to the exterior surface in alignment with the plate, wherein the hall sensor is configured to sense the position of the plate relative to the small and large ports for determining whether the service life has elapsed.
16. The filter unit of claim 11, wherein the large port includes a locking feature that engages the plate when the plate moves to the large port to prevent the plate from moving from the large port to the small port.
17. The filter unit of claim 16, wherein the locking feature includes a resilient element that frictionally engages a surface of the plate to retain the plate in a position blocking the large port.
18. A filter unit, comprising:
a cylindrical body portion having a proximal end, a distal end, an interior volume there between, and a central axis extending centrally through the longitudinal extent of the interior volume;
a filter media portion disposed within the interior volume, the filter media portion having a permeable media wall spaced away from the body portion to define an exterior passage and surrounding the central axis to define an interior passage;
an inlet aperture disposed on the proximal end and extending into the interior volume, wherein the inlet aperture fluidly couples with the exterior passage to deliver unfiltered water to the permeable media wall;
an outlet aperture disposed on the proximal end and extending into the interior volume, wherein the outlet aperture fluidly couples with the interior passage to dispense filtered water from the permeable media wall; and
a flow regulator disposed in fluid connection between the interior passage and the outlet aperture and having a large port, a small port, and a magnetic plate slidable between a first position and a second position, wherein the magnetic plate in the first position substantially prevents filtered water flow from traversing through the small port, and wherein the magnetic plate in second position substantially prevents filtered water flow from traversing through the large port, and wherein the magnetic plate moves to the second position upon elapsing a service life of the filter media portion.
19. The filter unit of claim 18, further comprising:
a filter head assembly of an appliance configured to engage the inlet and outlet apertures, wherein the filter head assembly has an electromagnet positioned to align with the magnetic plate and to slidably move the magnetic plate between the first position and the second position.
20. A filter unit of claim 19, further comprising:
a hall sensor positioned on the filter head assembly to align with the magnetic plate, wherein the hall sensor is configured to sense the position of the magnetic plate for determining whether the service life has elapsed.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A system for capturing identification data pertaining to a subject comprising:
(a) a main support assembly spaced a predetermined distance from the subject;
(b) a plurality of image capture devices displaceably supported by said main support assembly for concurrently generating a plurality of graphic representations of the subject, said image capture devices being adjustably disposed in spaced manner one from the other for respectively rendering said graphic representations from preselected view orientations;
(c) at least one auxiliary data capture device for capturing a predetermined biometric parameter pertaining to the subject; and,
(d) a programmably configured workstation operably coupled to said image capture and auxiliary data capture devices for automatically controlling said devices responsive to user actuation thereof, said workstation being operable to formulate for display at least one fixedly combined record containing said plurality of concurrently captured graphic representations arranged adjacent said predetermined biometric parameter captured therewith.
2. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said main support assembly includes a stand and a plurality of support arms adjustably coupled thereto, said support arms extending laterally from said stand.
3. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said main support assembly is operably coupled to said workstation for automatic adjustment responsive thereto.
4. The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a lighting assembly operably coupled to said workstation, said lighting assembly being actuable in synchronized manner with said image capture devices.
5. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said auxiliary data capture device is selected from the group consisting of: a weight sensor, a height sensor, a fingerprint digitizer, a document scanner, and a handwriting sample capturing electronic writing pad.
6. The system as recited in claim 1 comprising a plurality of said auxiliary data capture devices, said auxiliary data capture devices including a weight sensor, a height sensor, and a fingerprint digitizer.
7. The system as recited in claim 1 comprising at least three said image capture devices each including a photo-capture portion, said image capture devices being disposed in spaced manner one relative to the others to respectively render a front and a pair of opposing side views of the subject.
8. The system as recited in claim 7 wherein each said photo-capture portion includes a digital camera operable to generate said graphic representation of the subject in electronic form.
9. The system as recited in claim 7 wherein said workstation includes a controller and a graphic user interface generated thereby, said graphic user interface being configurable to concurrently display each of said front and side views of the subject and at least one said predetermined biometric parameter captured therewith.
10. The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a platform supporting said main support assembly, said platform including an elongate extension for positioning said auxiliary data capture device at a fixed distance from said main support assembly.
11. A system for capturing identification data pertaining to a subject comprising:
(a) an adjustable main support assembly spaced a predetermined distance from die subject, said main support assembly including a stand and a plurality of laterally extending support member adjustably coupled thereto;
(b) a plurality of image capture devices each coupled to one said support member to be offset in spaced manner one from the other for respectively capturing a front and a pair of opposing side views of the subject, said image capture devices being operable to concurrently generate a plurality of graphic representations of the subject, said image capture devices being adjustably disposed for respectively rendering said graphic representations from preselected view orientations;
(c) at least one auxiliary data capture device for capturing a predetermined biometric parameter pertaining to the subject;
(d) a lighting assembly for illuminating the subject actuable in synchronized manner with said image capture devices; and,
(e) a controller operably coupled to said image capture devices, said auxiliary data capture devices and said lighting assembly for automatically controlling said devices responsive to user actuation thereof, said controller being operable to formulate for display at least one fixedly combined record containing said plurality of concurrently captured graphic presentations arranged adjacent said predetermined biometric parameter captured therewith.
12. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein said auxiliary data capture device is selected from the group consisting of: a weight sensor, a height sensor, a fingerprint digitizer, a document scanner, and a handwriting sample capturing electronic writing pad.
13. The system as recited in claim 11 comprising a plurality of said auxiliary data capture devices, said auxiliary data capture devices including a weight sensor, a height sensor, and a fingerprint digitizer.
14. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein each said image capture device includes a digital camera operable to generate said graphic representation of the subject in electronic form.
15. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein said controller is operable to generate a graphic user interface, said graphic user interface being configurable to concurrently display each of said front and side views of the subject and at least one said predetermined biometric parameter captured therewith.
16. The system as recited in claim 11 further comprising a platform supporting said main support assembly, said platform including an elongate extension for positioning said auxiliary data capture device at a fixed distance from said stand of said main support assembly.
17. A system for concurrently capturing identification data pertaining to a subject comprising:
(a) an automatically adjustable main support assembly spaced a predetermined distance from the subject, said main support assembly including a stand and a plurality of laterally extending support arms adjustably coupled thereto;
(b) a plurality of digital camera devices each coupled to one said support arm to be offset in spaced manner one from the other for respectively capturing a front and a pair of opposing side mug shot views of the subject, said camera devices being operable to concurrently generate in electronic form a plurality of graphic representations of the subject, said camera devices being adjustably disposed for respectively rendering said graphic representations from preselected view orientations;
(c) a plurality of auxiliary data capture devices for respectively capturing a plurality of predetermined biometric parameters pertaining to the subject; and,
(d) a programmably configured workstation operably coupled to said image capture and auxiliary data capture devices for automatically controlling said devices responsive to user actuation thereof, said workstation including a controller and data entry and display devices coupled thereto, said workstation being operable to formulate for display at least one fixedly combined record containing said plurality of concurrently captured graphic representations arranged adjacent said predetermined biometric parameters captured therewith.
18. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein said predetermined biometric parameters include the weight, height, and fingerprint of the subject.
19. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein said predetermined biometric parameters further include the handwriting of the subject.
20. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein said workstation includes a controller and a graphic user interface generated thereby, said graphic user interface being configurable to concurrently display said front and side mug shot views of the subject and at least one said predetermined biometric parameter.