Residential Environmental Management Control System with Automatic Adjustment

• US 20090164049A1
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zodiac Pool Systems, LLC (Fluidra, S.A.)
• Original Assignee: Zodiac Pool Systems Incorporated (Fluidra, S.A.)
• Inventors: Feten, Edward, Nibler, David B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,145,357 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/106 for selecting a programme, variable or parameter

Abstract

Automatic adjustment of the control and operation of residential environmental management systems is made based upon a time of year, a geographic location, or both. A controller receives input of the time of year or the geographic location of the residential environmental management system, or both. The controller then automatically adjusts one or more functions of the residential environmental management system based upon operational information associated with the time of year and/or geographic location. A user interface connected with the controller may be also used to select a mode of operation, input time or geographic location information, and/or adjust various parameters affecting the automatic seasonal or geographic adjustment of the residential environmental management system.

Claims

1. A residential environmental management control system comprising

a controller comprising a processor and a memory storage and coupled with one or more residential environmental management systems,

wherein the controller is configured to automatically adjust a function of at least one of the residential environmental management systems coupled to the controller based on time of year, geographic location data, or both.

2. The residential environmental management control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to automatically adjust a plurality of functions of the residential environmental management systems coupled to the controller based on the time of year data, the geographic location data, or both.

3. The residential environmental management control system of claim 1 further comprising a user interface coupled to the controller and configured to receive user input of a location identifier for storage in the memory storage and use by the controller as the geographic location data.

4. The residential environmental management control system of claim 3, wherein the location identifier comprises one or more of a geographic location name, a zip code, or a time zone.

5. The residential environmental management control system of claim 1 further comprising a user interface coupled to the controller and configured to receive user input of date and time information for storage in the memory storage and for use by the controller as the time of year data.

6. The residential environmental management control system of claim 1 further comprising a user interface coupled to the controller and configured to receive user input to manually adjust a parameter of the function.

7. The residential environmental management control system of claim 1, wherein

the memory storage further comprises a lookup table of operation schedule information;

and

the controller is further configured to select particular operation schedule information based upon the time of year data, the geographic location data, or both, to automatically adjust the function.

8. The residential environmental management control system of claim 1, wherein

the memory storage further stores an algorithm which uses the time of year data, the geographic location data, or both, as inputs to the algorithm for use in calculating an adjustment to the function;

and

the controller further performs a calculation using the algorithm, the time of year data, the geographic location data, or both, to automatically adjust the function.

9. The residential environmental management control system of claim 1 further comprising

a communication connection for connecting with a communication network;

and wherein

the controller is configured to access and receive date and time information from a remote source for use by the controller as the time of year data

10. The residential environmental management control system of claim 1 further comprising

a communication connection for connecting with a communication network;

and wherein

the controller is configured to access and receive a location identifier from a remote source for use by the controller as the geographic location data.

11. The residential environmental management control system of claim 1 further comprising a communication connection for connecting with a communication network and, wherein

the controller is configured to access and receive operation schedule information from a lookup table in a remote storage;

and

the controller is further configured to select particular operation schedule information based upon the time of year data, the geographic location data, or both, to automatically adjust the function.

12. The residential environmental management control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the function upon a regular, predetermined period of time.

13. The residential environmental management control system of claim 12, wherein the regular, predetermined period of time is one or more of a monthly basis, weekly, or daily basis.

14. A method of operating a residential environmental management control system including a controller, the method comprising

controlling one or more residential environmental management systems using the controller;

and

automatically adjusting a function of at least one of the residential environmental management systems coupled to the controller based on time of year, geographic location data, or both.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising

automatically adjusting a plurality of functions of the residential environmental management systems coupled to the controller based on the time of year data, the geographic location data, or both.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising

receiving user input of a location identifier at a user interface coupled to the controller;

storing the location identifier in a memory storage in the controller for use by the controller as the geographic location data.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the location identifier comprises one or more of a geographic location name, a zip code, or a time zone.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising

receiving user input of date and time information at a user interface coupled to the controller;

storing the date and time information in a memory storage in the controller for use by the controller as the time of year data.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising receiving user input to manually adjust a parameter of the function at a user interface coupled to the controller.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising selecting particular operation schedule information from a lookup table of operation schedule information in the memory storage based upon the time of year data, the geographic location data, or both, to automatically adjust the function.

21. The method of claim 14 further comprising automatically calculating an adjustment to the function using an algorithm and the time of year data, the geographic location data, or both, as inputs for use in the algorithm.

22. The method of claim 14 further comprising

connecting with a communication network;

and

accessing and receiving date and time information from a remote source for use by the controller as the time of year data.

23. The method of claim 14 further comprising

connecting with a communication network;

and

accessing and receiving a location identifier from a remote source for use by the controller as the geographic location data.

24. The method of claim 14 further comprising

connecting with a communication network and, wherein

accessing and receiving operation schedule information from a lookup table in a remote storage;

and

selecting particular operation schedule information based upon the time of year data, the geographic location data, or both, to automatically adjust the function.

25. The method of claim 14 further comprising adjusting the function upon a regular, predetermined period of time.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the regular, predetermined period of time is one or more of a monthly basis, weekly, or daily basis.