Swimming pool, spa, and other recreational environment controller systems, equipment, and simulators

• US 20070106403A1
• Filed: 11/10/2005
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zodiac Pool Systems, LLC (Fluidra, S.A.)
• Original Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Incorporated (Fluidra, S.A.)
• Inventors: Peterson, Dave, Bent, John, Le, Han, Gjata, John, Nornberg, Thomas, Kellogg, Dan, Peterson, Ken, Emery, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,398,138 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/90
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/42 from bathing facilities, e.g. swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/008 comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/04 Oxidation reduction potential [ORP]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/06 pH

Abstract

Systems for controlling aspects of recreational or other environments are described. Such systems are especially, but not exclusively, useful for controlling either or both of pool or spa settings and operations and include equipment that may be connected, in any appropriate way, to personal or other computers or other components capable of accepting and processing input. Operations of the systems additionally are capable of being simulated through software.

Claims

1. A system for controlling aspects of a recreational environment including a water-containing vessel, the system comprising:

a. first means for accepting control input; and

b. means for communicating the control input to equipment (i) remote from the first accepting means and (ii) configured to affect one or more characteristics of water contained in the vessel, the equipment comprising at least two devices selected from the group consisting of;

chemical dispensers, heaters, pumps, filters, lighting, automatic pool cleaners, and in-floor pool cleaners.

2. A system according to claim 1 in which the equipment further comprises a device selected from the group consisting of lawn sprinklers, outdoor cooking equipment, and security alarms.

3. A system according to claim 1 further comprising means for displaying information to a user.

4. A system according to claim 3 further comprising second means for accepting control input, the second accepting means being in the form of a portable, hand-held device.

5. A system according to claim 4 in which the second accepting means comprises a transmitter for communicating wirelessly with the means for communicating the control input to the equipment.

6. A system according to claim 5 configured also to accept control input from a personal computer.

7. A system according to claim 5 further comprising at least one sensor adapted to measure a value of pH or oxidation-reduction potential of the water contained in the vessel.

8. A system according to claim 7 in which the vessel is a swimming pool or spa.

9. A system according to claim 8 further comprising a waterproof container configured for placement remote from the water in the swimming pool or spa, the container housing at least a portion of the means for communicating the control input to the equipment.

10. A system according to claim 9 which is modular in design.

11. A system according to claim 1 further comprising means for assigning a hierarchy to control inputs.

12. A system according to claim 111 further comprising means for storing control inputs for use at later times.

13. A system according to claim 12 further comprising (i) a first sensor adapted to measure a value of pH or oxidation-reduction potential of the water contained in the vessel and (ii) means for comparing the measured value to a value accepted as a control input.

14. A system according to claim 13 further comprising a second sensor adapted to measure temperature of the water contained in the vessel.

15. A system according to claim 14 configured for both automatic and manual operation.

23. A system according to claim 14 further comprising a third sensor adapted to measure temperature of ambient air adjacent the water contained in the vessel.

16. A system for simulating performance of a control system for pool or spa equipment, comprising:

a. means for accepting control input from a user;

b. means for comparing the control input to performance data previously obtained for the equipment under control of the control input; and

c. means for communicating the simulated performance to the user.

17. A system according to claim 16 in which the means for accepting control input comprises a computer.

18. A system according to claim 17 in which the communicating means is a display associated with the computer.

19. A system according to claim 18 in which the comparing means is remote from the computer and communicates therewith via the Internet.

20. A system according to claim 16 further comprising means for communicating the control input to the equipment.

21. A system for electronically controlling aspects of a recreational environment, the system comprising:

a. first means for accepting control input; and

b. means for communicating the control input to equipment remote from the first accepting means, the equipment comprising (i) a first device configured to affect at least one characteristic of water contained in a swimming pool or spa and (ii) a second device configured to affect at least one characteristic of the recreational environment other than water contained in the swimming pool or spa.

22. A system for electronically controlling aspects of a recreational environment and a home environment, the system comprising:

a. first means for accepting control input; and

b. means for communicating the control input to equipment remote from the first accepting means, the equipment comprising (i) a first device configured to affect at least one characteristic of water contained in a swimming pool or spa of the recreational environment and (ii) a second device configured to affect at least one characteristic of the home environment.