MODULAR POOL/SPA CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20140303781A1
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Potucek, Kevin, Murdock, James, Dymov, Murat, Nilsson, Michael, Mainville, Patrick, Fournier, Gregory, Heon, Robert, Blaine, David, Horrocks, Craig, White, Kenneth Jr., Bliveau, Thomas-Eric, Xu, Deyin, Huang, Qiwei, Rivera, Linnette
• Granted Patent: US 10,976,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/275
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/0079 using remote control signal transmission devices, e.g. ultrasonic, infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/0083 Illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/501 connected to external computer devices or networks
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5012 using the internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5015 using specific interfaces or standards, e.g. USB, serial, parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5043 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5058 Sensors or detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5082 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5084 Acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5087 Flow rate sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5092 Optical sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/005 Electrical circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/14 Parts, details or accessories not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0421 Multiprocessor system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21092 At start up, autoconfigure module for proper I-O execution, bootstrap
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0809 Plug-and-play configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 : the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 : Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 : comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 : Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/50 : Address allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 : for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 : Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for controlling pool/spa components. More particularly, disclosed is a system for controlling pool/spa components including a display screen and one or more processors presenting a control user interface for display on the display screen, wherein the control user interface includes a home screen comprising a first portion containing a first plurality of buttons and/or controls for controlling a first group of the plurality of pool/spa components associated with a first body of water, and a second portion containing a second plurality of buttons and/or controls for controlling a second group of the plurality of pool/spa components associated with a second body of water.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a plurality of pool/spa components, the system including a display screen and one or more processors presenting a control user interface for display on the display screen, wherein the control user interface includes a home screen comprising:

a first portion containing a first plurality of buttons and/or controls for controlling a first group of the plurality of pool/spa components associated with a first body of water, and

a second portion containing a second plurality of buttons and/or controls for controlling a second group of the plurality of pool/spa components associated with a second body of water.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control user interface further includes a feature menu screen comprising a first feature menu button corresponding to a first pool/spa function and a second feature menu button corresponding to a second pool/spa function.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein activation of the first feature menu button causes a feature screen to be displayed, the feature screen including first feature buttons and/or controls for controlling a first pool/spa component and second feature buttons and/or controls for controlling a second pool/spa component, the first pool/spa component and the second pool/spa component relating to the first pool/spa function.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first feature button and/or control changes color based on the one or more processors determining that the first pool/spa component has powered off.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the first pool/spa function relates to at least one of:

heating, water spillover, lighting, displays, filters, water chemistry, water features, spa blowers, pumps, fire pit, back lights, or spa jets.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the feature screen includes scheduling buttons and/or controls for receiving, via the control user interface, scheduling information specifying a date and/or time, wherein the one or more processors automatically sends at the specified date and/or time at least one control signal to the first pool/spa component and the second pool/spa component based on the scheduling information.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises color notifications for indicating a status and/or condition of at least one pool/spa component of the plurality of pool/spa components.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises pop-up messages that can be displayed based on the system determining at least one of:

occurrence of a normal operation or condition, occurrence of an operation or condition that is not normal but which is not serious, or occurrence of an operation or condition that is dangerous and/or serious.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the home screen further includes at least one of:

a portion for indicating a date and/or time, a portion for indicating weather conditions, or a portion for indicating information relating to sunrise and sunset.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of buttons and/or controls are selectable and/or reconfigurable by a user via the control user interface.

23. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors is further configured to receive, via the user interface, scheduling information for scheduling control of the first pool/spa component at a specified date and/or time, and automatically send at the specified date and/or time at least one control signal to the first pool/spa component based on the scheduling information.

11. A system for controlling pool/spa components, the system comprising one or more processors configured to, receive information identifying a modular relay pack installed in a pool/spa controller, the modular relay pack comprising a plurality of relays including a first relay and a second relay;

perform a first assignment of the first relay to a first pool/spa component;

perform a second assignment of the second relay to a second pool/spa component;

cause a display to present a control user interface comprising a plurality of buttons and/or controls including a first button and/or control and a second button and/or control;

receive, via the user interface, a first input activating the first button and/or control;

based on the first input and the first assignment, send a first control signal to control the first pool/spa component;

receive, via the user interface, a second input activating the second button and/or control; and

based on the second input and the second assignment, send a second control signal to control the second pool/spa component.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first assignment or the second assignment is performed via the user interface.

13. The system of claim 12, the one or more processors further configured to present, via the user interface, information received from a sensor interface relating to an operating parameter of the first pool/spa component, wherein the operating parameter is controllable by a user via the first button and/or control.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein a screen of the control user interface comprises a first portion containing a first subset of the plurality of buttons and/or controls for controlling a group of pool/spa components associated with a first body of water, and a second portion containing a second subset of the plurality of buttons and/or controls for controlling another group of pool/spa components associated with a second body of water.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the first pool/spa component comprises one of a heater, a pump, a light, or a pH dispense unit, and the second pool/spa component comprises one of a heater, a pump, a light, or a pH dispense unit.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the control user interface includes a theme button associated with the first pool/spa component and the second pool/spa component, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to receive, via the user interface, theme input activating the theme button, and send at least one theme message to control the first pool/spa component and the second pool/spa component based on the theme input.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the user interface comprises color notifications for indicating a status and/or condition of at least one pool/spa component of the plurality of pool/spa components.

18. The system of claim 11, the one or more processors further configured to, perform a third assignment of the second relay to a third pool/spa component instead of the second pool/spa component;

cause the display to present a control user interface comprising another plurality of buttons and/or controls including the first button and/or control and a third button and/or control;

receive, via the user interface, a third input activating the third button and/or control; and

based on the third input and the third assignment, send a third control signal to control the third pool/spa component.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of buttons and/or controls are selectable and/or reconfigurable by a user via the user interface.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of buttons and/or controls further include a chlorinator button and/or control for controlling a chlorinator unit, the chlorinator unit connected to the one or more processors through a chlorinator control subsystem.

21. The system of claim 11, wherein the user interface is presented on a display of at least one of a remote control unit, a wireless device, a website accessibly by the Internet, or a locally served web page accessibly by a computer.

22. The system of claim 11, wherein the user interface further comprises a group of buttons and/or controls for controlling a group of pool/spa components connected to the one or more processors, the group of pool/spa components sharing a common pool/spa function, wherein the group of buttons and/or controls is automatically updated to include an additional button and/or control upon the one or more processors assigning to an additional relay an additional pool/spa component having the common pool/spa function.

24. A method for controlling pool/spa components, comprising the steps of,

receiving, by one or more processors, information identifying a modular relay pack installed in a pool/spa controller, the modular relay pack comprising a plurality of relays including a first relay and a second relay;

performing, by the one or more processors, a first assignment of the first relay to a first pool/spa component;

performing, by the one or more processors, a second assignment of the second relay to a second pool/spa component;

causing, by the one or more processors, a display to present a control user interface comprising a plurality of buttons and/or controls including a first button and/or control and a second button and/or control;

receiving, by the one or more processors via the user interface, a first input activating the first button and/or control;

based on the first input and the first assignment, sending, by the one or more processors, a first control signal to control the first pool/spa component;

receiving, by the control processor via the user interface, a second input activating the second button and/or control; and

based on the second input and the second assignment, sending, by the one or more processors, a second control signal to control the second pool/spa component.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising presenting, by the one or more processors via the user interface, information received from a sensor interface relating to an operating parameter of the first pool/spa component, and controlling, by one or more processors, the operating parameter based on input received from a user via the first button and/or control.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein a screen of the control user interface comprises a first portion containing a first subset of the plurality of buttons and/or controls for controlling a group of pool/spa components associated with a first body of water, and a second portion containing a second subset of the plurality of buttons and/or controls for controlling another group of pool/spa components associated with a second body of water.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising,

performing, by the one or more processors, a third assignment of the second relay to a third pool/spa component instead of the second pool/spa component;

causing, by the one or more processors, the display to present a control user interface comprising another plurality of buttons and/or controls including the first button and/or control and a third button and/or control;

receiving, by the one or more processors via the user interface, a third input activating the third button and/or control; and

based on the third input and the third assignment, sending, by the one or more processors via the user interface, a third control signal to control the third pool/spa component.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the first pool/spa component comprises one of a heater, a pump, a light, or a pH dispense unit, and the second pool/spa component comprises one of a heater, a pump, a light, or a pH dispense unit.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the user interface includes a theme button associated with the first pool/spa component and the second pool/spa component, and wherein the method further comprising receiving, by the one or more processors via the user interface, theme input activating the theme button, and sending at least one theme message to control the first pool/spa component and the second pool/spa component based on the theme input.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising

receiving, by the one or more processors via the user interface, scheduling information for scheduling control of the first pool/spa component at a specified date and/or time;

and

automatically sending at the specified date and/or time, by the one or more processors, a control message to control the first pool/spa component based on the scheduling information.