Flexible spa control system and method of using same

• US 20020069460A1
• Filed: 02/01/2002
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ranco Incorporated of Delaware (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Ranco Incorporated of Delaware (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Huffington, Jeffrey M., Estes, Bay E., Schiesser, James F., Vitkus, Kimble A., Alvord, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US10/061,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20020069460A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/541.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/0058 controlled by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/005 Electrical circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/0087 Therapeutic baths with agitated or circulated water
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/02 Bathing devices for use with gas-containing liquid, or liquid in which gas is led or generated, e.g. carbon dioxide baths A61H33/6026 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/601 Inlet to the bath

Abstract

A spa communication system for establishing a communication link between a central spa box having a control module and spa components in a spa system. The spa control module is connected to the spa components through a communication link, and the spa control module sends command signals to at least one spa component and receives status information from at least one spa component on the communication link.

Claims

1. A spa communication system for establishing a communication link between a spa box and spa components in a spa system comprising:

a spa box having a spa control module, said spa control module having a communication link;

at least one spa component being in communication with said spa control module through said communication link; and

whereby said spa control module controls said spa component by providing a command signal on said communication link to said spa component.

2. The spa communication system of claim 1 wherein said spa component provides at least one status parameter, said at least one status parameter communicated to said spa control module via said communication link, said spa control module providing said status parameter to a user interface panel in response to a user selection.

3. The spa communication system of claim 1 wherein said spa control module controls at least one spa component on said communication link with a control signal, said control signal including a spa component identification address portion and a control portion, said at least one spa component having a spa component identification address, said at least one spa component performing an operation in response to said spa control module when said spa component identification address portion of said control signal matches said spa component identification address.

4. The spa communication system of claim 3 wherein said at least one spa component comprises at least one jet for directing water flow within a spa enclosure and at least one pump for pumping water to said at least one jet.

5. The spa communication system of claim 4 wherein said at least one spa component further comprises heating means to heat the water as the water flows through the spa, said heating means maintaining the water near a user settable temperature setpoint, said heating means including an interlock mechanism to prevent said heater from heating the water when water temperature exceeds a temperature safety cut-off level, said spa control module providing commands on said communication link to said heating means, said at least one pump, and said at least one jet to circulate and heat water and create a turbulent water flow within said spa enclosure.

6. The spa communication system of claim 3 wherein said communication link comprises an I²C interface and said control signal is configured as an I²C control signal.

7. The spa communication system of claim 3 wherein said communication link comprises an RS-485 interface and said control signal is configured as an RS-485 control signal.

8. A method of providing control signals in a spa system having a spa box and spa components, the spa box having a spa control module and a user interface panel, the method comprising the steps of:

addressing a command signal to at least one of said spa components;

sending said command signal on said communication link to at least one of said spa components; and

controlling said at least one of said spa components.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

requesting status information from at least one of said spa components;

providing at least one status parameter of said at least one of said spa components to said spa control module through said communication link; and

providing said status parameters to the user interface panel.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

requesting status information from at least one of said spa components;

providing at least one status parameter of said at least one of said spa components to said spa control module through said communication link; and

storing said status parameters in memory.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of said spa components with a spa component identification address; and

controlling said plurality of said spa components with a plurality of control signals on said communication link, each one of said plurality of control signals having a spa component identification address portion and a command portion; and

each of said plurality of spa components performing an operation in response to said control signal when said spa component identification address portion of said control signal matches said spa component identification address.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of formatting said control signal for the I²C standard.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of formatting said control signal for the RS-485 standard.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of pre-assigning the spa component address, the step of pre-assigning comprising the steps of:

listing said spa components and potential additional spa components of said spa system;

determining a range of spa component addresses for said spa control module to control;

assigning each of said spa components and said potential additional spa components a spa component address within said range of addresses.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

assigning zones within said spa system where spa components are located;

determining which zone each of said spa components is located;

assigning each of said zones a zone range of addresses; and

assigning each of said spa components an address within said zone range of addresses assigned to the zone where each of said spa components is located.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

determining which of said zones said additional spa component is located within;

assigning said additional spa component an address within said zone range of addresses assigned to the zone where said additional component is located.

14. A method of detecting and controlling an additional spa component in a spa system, the spa system having a communication link between a spa control module and spa components, the additional spa component having a spa component address and connected to the communication link, the method comprising the steps of:

performing one of polling spa component addresses in the spa system and providing a general call command on said communication link, the general call command requesting an answer from each spa component on said communication link;

receiving a response from the additional spa component;

determining the spa component address of the additional spa component;

providing a request for control information to said additional spa component with said spa control module on a communication link, the request sent to the spa component address of the additional spa component;

receiving the control information; and

storing the control information in memory, the control information used to control the additional spa component.