Pulse position modulated dual transceiver remote control

• US 6,900,736 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2000
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Solid Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: Solid Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Crumb, Alan C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shimizu, Matsuichiro
• Application Number:
  US09/732,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20020070875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,636 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.19, 417/2, 449/2, 449/6
• US Class Current: 340/12.5
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/24 using time shift of pulses

Abstract

A pulse position modulated radio remote control system using distributed solid state data processing that includes a remote-control unit and a master-control unit, each unit having an associated transceiver so that information in the form of radio signals can be exchanged bidirectionally between the two units. The master-control unit controls operating functions of a pool or spa on command from the remote-control unit. The master-control unit also monitors operating conditions of the pool or spa and sends information about those conditions of the pool or spa and sends information about those conditions to the remote-control unit on command from the remote-control unit. A display on the remote-control unit allows a user to determine the status of various operating parameters of the pool or spa, such as water temperature. The remote-control unit also has a keypad that allows the user to input signals to be sent to the master-control unit.

Claims

1. A pool or spa remote-operated control system comprising:

a master-control unit and a remote-control unit capable of radio transmission therebetween for use with the pool or spa;

said remote-control unit including a first pulse position modulated transceiver associated therewith;

said master-control unit including a second pulse position modulated transceiver associated therewith; and

said remote-control unit having a display that enables a user to ascertain the status of at least one operating parameter of the pool or spa,

whereby said remote-control unit and said master-control both include means for both controlling necessary operating functions and obtaining status information regarding operating parameters.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said remote-control unit and said master control unit communicate bidirectionally with pulse position modulated radio signals, using distributed data processing.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said display enables the user to determine the temperature of water in the pool or spa.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said remote-control unit comprises a keypad that enables a user to send at least one control signal to said master-control unit.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the control signal tells said master-control unit to turn a spa heater on or off.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the control signal tells said master-control unit to turn spa jets on or off.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the control signal tells said master-control unit to turn a spa light on or off.

8. A remote-operated control-and-status-update system for a pool or spa comprising:

a remote-control unit including a display and a keypad;

a first transceiver connected to said remote control unit;

a master-control unit attached to a pool or spa; and

with distributed solid state data processing; and

a second transceiver connected to said master control unit;

wherein said first transceiver sends command signals to said second transceiver and said first transceiver, receives status signals from said second transceiver; and

wherein the command signals and the status signals are pulse position modulated radio waves that travel through air between said first and second transceivers, wherein said remote-control unit and said master-control unit both include means for both controlling necessary operating functions and obtaining status information regarding operating parameters.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said first transceiver sends to said second transceiver command signals that were manually input to said remote-control unit via the keypad, and wherein said first transceiver receives from said second transceiver status signals that are communicated to a user via the display using distributed solid state data processing.

10. A method of communicating control information from a distance to a control-and-monitor unit and obtaining status information from a distance from a control-and-monitor unit, the control-and-monitor unit associated with a pool or spa, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting from a remote-control unit to the master-control unit at least one pulse position modulated radio-wave signal command concerning an operating function of the pool or spa;

sending from the remote control unit to the master-control unit at least one pulse position modulated radio-wave signal requesting that status information concerning operating parameters of the pool or spa be sent from the master-control unit to the remote-control unit; and

reading status information displayed by the remote-control unit and received from the master-control unit in response to the request signal of said sending step.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said transmitting steps and said sending step are performed when the remote-control unit is situated inside a building and the master-control unit is situated outside of the building.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting a command signal to turn a spa heater on or off.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting a command signal to turn spa jets on or off.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting a command signal to turn a spa light on or off.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said sending step comprises sending a signal requesting the water temperature of the pool or spa.