Remotely controllable outlet for water treatment system

• US 20060011526A1
• Filed: 07/15/2004
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baarman, David W., Clews, Andrew M., Kuennen, Roy W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,364,651 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/143
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/008 comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/04 Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths valves, faucets, mixing valves, taps F16K
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/2665 Disintegrating apparatus specially adapted for installation in waste pipes or outlets disintegrating apparatus per se B02C
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2201/40 Arrangement of water treatment devices in domestic plumbing installations
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

A remote control system for providing control of an under-counter water treatment system and garbage disposal. The system includes a remote unit that is electrically connected to an existing switched, under-counter AC power outlet. The garbage disposal and water treatment system are connected to and receive power from the remote unit. The system further includes a control unit that is located above-counter and permits a user to control operation of the remote unit and consequently the garbage disposal and water treatment system. The two units may communicate wirelessly using communication signals that are tagged with a unique security code. In one embodiment, the system includes a microprocessor in each of the control unit and the remote unit, the microprocessor in the remote unit communicating the status of the water treatment system to the control unit and the microprocessor of the control unit appropriately displaying the information.

Claims

1. A remotely controllable system comprising:

a water treatment system;

a remote unit connected to said water treatment system, said remote unit connectable to an AC power source and controlling power to said water treatment system, said remote unit including a receiver; and

a control unit having a transmitter for transmitting power control signals to the remote unit, said signals being tagged with a code unique to a corresponding pair of said remote unit and said control unit, whereby said remote unit controls the supply of power to the water treatment system only when signals with said code are received.

2. The water treatment system of claim 1 wherein said control unit includes a first input, said input capable of receiving user input regarding supply of power to said water treatment system.

3. The water treatment system of claim 2 wherein said remote unit includes a microprocessor and a data line interconnecting said microprocessor and said water treatment system such that information may be transmit by the water treatment system to the microprocessor.

4. The water treatment system of claim 3 further including a garbage disposal connected to said remote unit.

5. The water treatment system of claim 4 wherein said control unit includes a second input capable of receiving user input regarding power to the garbage disposal system.

6. The water treatment system of claim 5 wherein said remote unit includes a first switch for controlling power to said water treatment system.

7. The water treatment system of claim 6 wherein said remote unit includes a second switch for controlling power to said garbage disposal.

8. The water treatment system of claim 7 wherein said control unit includes a display for displaying information indicative of the status of said water treatment system, said receiver of said remote unit being further defined as a transceiver capable of transmitting water treatment system status information to said control unit, said transmitter of said control unit being further defined as a transceiver capable of receiving water treatment system status information from said remote unit.

9. A remotely controllable power system for use in combination with a garbage disposal system and a water treatment system comprising:

a remote unit connectable to an AC power source and having a first power output, said first power output being connected to the garbage disposal system, said remote unit having a switch for selectively controlling supply of power to said garbage disposal system via said power output; and

a control unit having a first input capable of receiving user input regarding supply of power to said garbage disposal unit, said control unit further including a transmitter for transmitting information to said remote unit to control a status of said switch in response to user input received via said input, whereby the user controls on/off status of said garbage disposal by operation of said input at said control unit.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said control unit includes security means for tagging signals transmitted by said control unit to said remote unit with a security code and said remote unit includes security means for affecting status of said switch only in response to signals tagged with said security code.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said control unit includes a display for displaying information regarding a status of the water treatment system.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said receiver of said remote unit is further defined as a transceiver and said transmitter of said control unit is further defined as a transceiver, said transceiver of said remote unit capable of transmitting water treatment status information to said transceiver.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said remote unit includes a microprocessor and a data line interconnecting said microprocessor and the water treatment system, whereby said microprocessor may receive status information from the water treatment system.

14. The system of claim 10 further including a second power output, the water treat system being electrically connected to said second power output.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said control unit includes a second input capable of receiving user input regarding supply of power to the water treatment system;

and

said remote unit includes a second switch for controlling power to said water treatment system independently of said first switch.

16. A control system for a water treatment system and a garbage disposal, comprising:

a control unit having a disposal input, a treatment input, a display and a transceiver, said transceiver capable of transmitting signals in response to actuation of said disposal input and said treatment input, said transceiver receiving capable of receiving information indicative of a status of said water treatment system, said display displaying information concerning a status of said water treatment system;

a remote unit having a disposal power output, a treatment power output and a transceiver, said transceiver capable of receiving signals transmit by said control unit, said remote unit having a disposal switch for toggling supply of power to said disposal output in response to signals received from said control unit and a treatment switch for toggling supply of power to said treatment output in response to signals received from said control unit;

a water treatment system electrically connected to said treatment power output of said remote unit; and

a garbage disposal electrically connected to said disposal power output of said remote unit.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said control unit includes security means for tagging signals transmit by said control unit to said remote unit with a security code and said remote unit includes security means for affecting status of said switch only in response to signals tagged with said security code.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising a data line interconnecting said remote unit and said water treatment system, wherein said remote unit is capable of receiving water treatment system status information from said water treatment system.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein said water treatment system includes a transmitter for transmitting water treatment system status information to said control unit.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein said treatment power output is a conventional AC power outlet and said disposal power output is a conventional AC power outlet.