Controller system for pool and/or spa

• US 7,440,864 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2004
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Balboa Water Group LLC (Helios Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Balboa Instruments Incorporated (Helios Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Otto, Cindy
• Primary Examiner(s): Wachsman; Hal D
• Assistant Examiner(s): O MALLEY, MARY CATHERINE
• Application Number:
  US10/860,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20050063123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 702/55, 702/57, 702/81, 702117-130, 702182-183, 700/95, 700/121, 700108-109, 700281-283, 307115-116, 307/11, 307/118, 361/752, 4507-508, 453/8, 448/8, 438/14
• US Class Current: 702/119
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0173 Means for preventing injuries
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0176 By stopping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/50 Control means thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5082 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/00 Bathing devices for special therapeutic or hygienic purposes A61H35/00 takes precedence; sprays acting on a body or body part not immersed in water A61H9/00; means for washing bed-ridden persons A61G7/0005; for sub aquatic intestinal cleaning A61M9/00; isolation chambers A61M21/0094; electric or magnetic baths, applying ionised fluids A61N1/44 ; heater for bath tubs F24H1/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/005 Electrical circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/0087 Therapeutic baths with agitated or circulated water
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/60 Components specifically designed for the therapeutic baths of groups A61H33/00 plumbing E03C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0263 High current adaptations, e.g. printed high current conductors or using auxiliary non-printed means; Fine and coarse circuit patterns on one circuit board H05K1/0293 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of programming a microcomputer based controller system for a bathing installation. The microcomputer is configured to receive input command and sensor information from a plurality of input devices including a control panel and a bathing installation sensor, and acts on the input information operating according to a program running on the microcomputer which performs control functions for a plurality of bathing installation functions, including operating a water heater and a water pump of the bathing installation.

Claims

1. A method of assembling and programming a circuit board assembly for a bathing pool controller system, comprising:

providing a circuit board configured for in-circuit-programming of a microprocessor device, the circuit board including an input circuit with a set of electrical wiring connections;

populating the board with electronic circuit devices, the circuit board including interface circuitry configured for connection to one or more control panels for the bathing pool controller system and to sensors and controlled devices for the bathing pool, the interface circuitry separate and distinct from said input circuit and said set of electrical wiring connections;

installing an in-circuit-programmable microprocessor device on the circuit board, so that a programming pin set of the microprocessor device is electrically connected to said set of electrical wiring connections and said input circuit;

connecting the board to a programmer device using said input circuit and said electrical connections;

loading a program into a nonvolatile memory of the microprocessor device from the programmer device through said input circuit;

powering up the circuit board; and

verifying the proper functioning of the circuit board with the microprocessor device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said loading a program comprises:

loading a bathing pool program into a nonvolatile memory of the microprocessor device which performs control functions for running bathing pool functions.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the bathing pool controller system is for a bathing pool installation including a water heater and a water pump, and the bathing pool functions controlled by the bathing pool program include running the water heater and water pump.

4. A method of assembling and programming a circuit board assembly for a controller system for a bathing pool installation including a recirculating water path, a water heater fluidically coupled to the recirculating water path and a water pump for recirculating water through the recirculating water path, the method comprising:

providing a controller system circuit board configured for in-circuit-programming of a microprocessor device, the circuit board including an input circuit with a set of electrical wiring connections;

populating the controller system circuit board with electronic circuit devices, the circuit board including interface circuitry configured for connection to one or more control panels and to each sensor for the bathing pool controller system, the interface circuitry separate and distinct from said input circuit and said set of electrical wiring connections;

installing an in-circuit-programmable microprocessor device on the controller system circuit board;

connecting the controller system circuit board to a programmer device using said input circuit and said electrical connections;

loading a bathing pool control program into a nonvolatile memory of the microprocessor device from the programmer device to control functions for running bathing pool functions through said input circuit;

powering up the controller system circuit board; and

verifying the Proper functioning of the controller system circuit board with the microprocessor device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the bathing pool functions controlled by the bathing pool program include running the water heater and water pump.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the bathing pool is a swimming pool.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the bathing pool is a spa.

8. A method of programming a microcomputer-based controller system for a bathing installation, in which a microcomputer is configured to receive input command and sensor information from a plurality of input devices including a control panel and a bathing installation sensor and to act on the input information, thereby operating according to a program running on the microcomputer to perform control functions for a plurality of bathing installation functions, including operating a water heater and a water pump of the bathing installation, the method comprising:

providing a circuit board configured for in-circuit-programming of a microcomputer, the circuit board including an input circuit with a set of electrical wiring connections, the circuit board including interface circuitry configured for connection to one or more control panels of the bathing installation which permit a bathing installation user to input commands which are acted upon by the controller system and to receive input sensor information from one or more sensors of the bathing installation, the interface circuitry separate and distinct from said input circuit and said set of electrical wiring connections;

installing an in-circuit-programmable microcomputer device on the circuit board to mechanically and electrically attach the microcomputer to the circuit board, so that a pin set of the microcomputer device configured for in-circuit-programming of the microcomputer device is electrically connected to said set of electrical wiring connections and said input circuit;

connecting a microcontroller programmer device to the circuit board and the microcontroller device installed in the circuit board using said input circuit and said wiring connections;

loading a program into a nonvolatile memory of the microcomputer device from the programmer device through said input circuit with the microcomputer device installed in the circuit board, the loaded program configured to perform control functions for a plurality of bathing installation functions, including operating a water heater and a water pump of the bathing installation.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

powering up the circuit board; and

verifying the proper functioning of the circuit board with the microcomputer device after said step of loading said program into said nonvolatile memory.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said installing the in-circuit-programmable microcomputer device includes:

soldering the microcomputer device into the circuit board.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the bathing installation is a swimming pool.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the bathing installation is a spa.