System for monitoring the status of a water softener

• US 6,456,202 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2001
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecowater Systems LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ecowater Systems LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Zimmerman, Jeffrey A., Johannsen, James
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/833,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20010054966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539, 340/573.6, 340/603, 340/618, 340/619, 340/620, 340/870.02, 340/870.09, 340/870.16, 340/623, 340/612, 210/96.1, 210/140, 210/143, 210/662, 116/228
• US Class Current: 340/623
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4229 Water softening arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 49/85 Controlling or regulating devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/42 by ion-exchange ion-exchange in general B01J

Abstract

A system is provided for monitoring the status of a water softener at a remote location. The system includes a water softener controller with a control processing unit for determining the status of the water softener. The system also includes a water softener transmitter and a water softener indicator. The transmitter is coupled to the controller and transmits the status of the water softener to the indicator. The water softener indicator receives and displays the status message. The system is capable of determining whether the water softener is operating normally, whether the salt level is low or whether the water softener needs servicing.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring the status of a water softener, the system comprising:

a water softener controller;

a water softener control valve that controls the flow of water in the water softener;

the water softener controller having means for determining the status of the water softener including whether or not the water softener is operating properly,

said means for determining having a switch coupled to the controller and indicating the position of the water softener control valve, said determining means monitoring said switch to determine whether said water softener is operating properly;

a water softener transmitter, the water softener transmitter coupled to the water softener controller and having means for transmitting the status of the water softener; and

a water softener status indicator, the water softener status indicator having a means for receiving from the water softener transmitter the transmitted status of the water softener, and means for displaying the status of the water softener.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the water softener transmitter includes an oscillator tuned to a transmitting frequency, the water softener status indicator includes a receiver, the receiver being tuned to the transmitting frequency.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the water softener controller generates an oscillator enable signal, the water softener controller includes an enable output which provides the oscillator enable signal, the transmitter oscillator includes an enable input, the enable input is coupled to the enable output of the water softener controller, the oscillator being enabled with the oscillator enabled signal provided by the water softener controller.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the water softener controller generates data indicating the status of the water softener, the water softener controller having a data output which provides the status data, the transmitter includes a modulator, the modulator having a data input, the data input is coupled to the data output of the water softener controller, whereby the modulator receives the status data via the data output.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the switch having an open circuit position and a closed circuit position, the position of the switch corresponds to the position of the water softener control valve.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the status determining means includes means for determining the position of the switch, and means for determining whether the switch changes position as anticipated, the controller generating a water softener fault signal if the switch does not change position as anticipated.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the status determining means includes means for determining whether the switch changes position within a predetermined time, the controller generating a water softener fault signal if the switch does not change position within the predetermined time.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller includes means for developing the water softener fault signal at the controller data output and an enable signal at the enable output, whereby the water softener fault signal is transmitted via the water softener transmitter.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the status determining means includes means for determining whether the salt level of the water softener is below a predetermined level, the controller generating a low salt signal if the salt level is below the predetermined level.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller includes means for developing the low salt signal at the controller data output, and an enable signal at the enable output, whereby the low salt signal is transmitted via the water softener transmitter.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the status displaying means includes a means for indicating that the water softener is operating normally, means for indicating that the water softener salt level is below a predetermined level and means for indicating that the water softener needs service.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the indicating means is a light emitting diode.