Spa controller computer interface for spas

• US 7,489,986 B1
• Filed: 11/07/2000
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gecko Alliance Group Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gecko Alliance Group Inc.
• Inventors: Laflamme, Benoit, Trahan, Jean-Luc, Authier, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick; Michael D
• Application Number:
  US09/709,787
• Time in Patent Office: 3,017 Days
• Field of Search: 392/465, 340/825, 700/275, 700/278, 700/282, 717171-173
• US Class Current: 700/278
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/0079 using remote control signal transmission devices, e.g. ultrasonic, infrared
• 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 33/005 Electrical circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/0087 Therapeutic baths with agitated or circulated water
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

A remotely controlled and monitored spa. An interface signal converter is electrically connected to a spa controller. A remote computer can control the spa and monitor the status of the spa via a communications link between the remote computer and the interface signal converter. The interface signal converter converts communications signals transferred from the remote computer via the communications link and directs the converted signals to the spa controller. Also, the interface signal converter converts signals from the spa controller to be communicated to the remote computer via the communications link. In a preferred embodiment, the interface signal converter comprises an IR and an RS-485 transceiver. In a preferred embodiment, the communications link is the Internet.

Claims

1. A spa control system, comprising:

A) a heating module suitable for heating water;

B) at least one water pump suitable for pumping water through said heating module;

C) a spa controller adapted for controlling said heating module and said water pump at least in part on the basis of software installed on said spa controller;

D) an interface signal converter in communication with said spa controller, said interface signal converter being operative for;

establishing a communications link with a remote computer;

receiving communication signals conveying software components over the communications link, said software components comprising updates to software already installed on said spa controller;

communicating said software components to said spa controller for updating the software installed on said spa controller;

wherein said interface signal converter converts communication signals received from the remote computer via said communications link and directs the converted signals to said spa controller, and

wherein said interface signal converter converts signals from said spa controller to be communicated to the remote computer via said communications link.

2. The spa control system as in claim 1, wherein said interface signal converter comprises an RS transceiver.

3. The spa control system as in claim 2, wherein said RS transceiver is an RS-485 transceiver.

4. The spa control system as in claim 1, wherein said interface signal converter comprises an IR transceiver.

5. The spa control system as in claim 1, wherein said interface converter comprises an RF transceiver.

6. The spa control system as in claim 1, wherein said interface signal converter is capable of transceiving at least two different types of communication signals.

7. The spa control system as in claim 6, wherein said at least two different types of communication signals is an RS differential signal and an IR signal.

8. The spa control system as in claim 1, wherein said interface signal converter is removably attached to said spa controller.

9. The spa control system as in claim 8, wherein said spa controller defines a cavity, wherein said interface signal converter is removably attached to said spa controller via cavity.

10. The spa control system as in claim 1, wherein said interface signal converter is rigidly attached to said spa controller.

11. The spa control system as in claim 1, wherein said interface signal converter is rigidly attached to the spa controller as one unit.

12. The spa control system as in claim 1, wherein said interface signal converter is adapted for establishing a communications link with a remote computer over a wire-line link.

13. The spa control system as in claim 1, wherein said communications link is a wireless communications link.

14. The spa control system as in claim 1, wherein said interface signal converter is adapted for establishing a communications link with a remote computer through a computer network.

15. The spa control system as in claim 14, wherein said computer network is the Internet.

16. The spa control system as in claim 14, wherein said computer network is a LAN.

17. The spa control system as in claim 1, wherein said communications link is established over the Internet.

18. The spa control system as in claim 1, wherein said remote computer is a PDA.

19. The spa control system as in claim 1, wherein said remote computer is a cellular phone.

20. The spa control system as in claim 1, further comprising a spa skirt, and wherein said remote computer is located underneath said spa skirt.

21. The spa control system as in claim 1, wherein said remote computer is used to monitor and control the spa.

22. A spa control system as in claim 1, wherein said interface signal converter is further operative for:

receiving data comprising a record of errors from said spa controller;

transmitting a signal conveying the record of errors to the remote computer over said communications link.

23. A spa control system, comprising:

A) heating means suitable for heating water;

B) water pump means suitable for pumping water through said heating means;

C) a spa controller means adapted for controlling said heating means and said water pumping means at least in part on the basis of software installed on said spa controller means,

D) an interface signal converter means in communication with said spa controller means, said interface signal converter means being operative for;

establishing a communications link with a remote computer;

receiving communication signals conveying software components over the communications link, said software components comprising updates to software already installed on said spa controller means;

communicating said software components to said spa controller means for updating the software installed on said spa controller means;

wherein said interface signal converter means converts communication signals received from the remote computer means via said communications link, and wherein said interface signal converter means converts signals from said spa controller means to be communicated to said remote computer means via the communications link.

24. A spa control system as in claim 23, wherein said interface signal converter means is further operative for:

receiving data comprising a record of errors from said spa controller means;

transmitting a signal conveying the record of errors to the remote computer over said communications link.

25. A spa control system, comprising:

A) a heating module suitable for heating water;

B) at least one water pump suitable for pumping water through said heating module;

C) a spa controller adapted for;

controlling said heating module and said water pump at least in part on the basis of software installed on said spa controller; and

generating a record of errors associated with at least one of said heating module and said at least one water pump;

D) an interface signal converter in communication with said spa controller, said interface signal converter being operative for;

establishing a communications link with a remote computer;

receiving data comprising said record of errors generated at sad spa controller;

transmitting a signal conveying the record of errors to the remote computer over said communications link;

wherein said interface signal converter converts communication signals transferred from the remote computer via said communications link and directs the converted signals to said spa controller, and wherein said interface signal converter converts signals from said spa controller to be communicated to the remote computer via said communications link.

26. The spa control system as in claim 25, wherein said communications link is a wireless communications link.

27. The spa control system as in claim 25, wherein said remote computer is a cellular phone.

28. The spa control system as in claim 25, wherein said interface signal converter is integrated into said spa controller.

29. The spa control system as in claim 25, wherein said interface signal converter comprises an IR transceiver.

30. The spa control system as in claim 25, wherein said record of errors comprises the number of times an error has occurred.

31. A spa control system comprising:

A) a heating module suitable for heating water;

B) at least one water pump suitable for pumping water through said heating module;

C) a spa controller adapted for controlling said heating module and said water pump at least in part on the basis of software installed on said spa controller;

D) an interface signal converter in communication with said spa controller, said interface signal converter being operative for exchanging signals with a hand-portable remote computer over a wireless communications link, wherein the signals received from said hand-portable remote computer include software components comprising updates to software already installed on said spa controller, said interface signal converter being further operative for communicating said software components to said spa controller for updating the software installed on said spa controller.

32. The spa control system as in claim 31, wherein said hand-portable remote computer is a PDA.

33. The spa control system as in claim 31, wherein said hand-portable remote computer is a cellular phone.

34. The spa control system as in claim 31, wherein said interface signal converter converts signals transferred from the hand-portable remote computer via said wireless communications link and directs the converted signals to said spa controller, and wherein said interface signal converter converts signals from said spa controller to be communicated to the hand-portable remote computer via said wireless communications link.

35. The spa control system as in claim 31, wherein said hand-portable remote computer is a PDA device.

36. A spa control system as in claim 31, wherein said interface signal converter means is further operative for:

receiving data comprising a record of errors from said spa controller means;

transmitting a signal conveying the record of errors to the remote computer over said communications link.

37. A spa control system comprising:

A) a interface signal converter;

B) a spa controller in communication with said interface signal converter, said spa controller being adapted for controlling a set of spa components at least in part on the basis of software installed on said spa controller;

C) said interface signal converter being operative for;

establishing a communications link with a remote computer;

receiving information conveying software components over the communications link;

transmitting signals conveying the software components to the spa controller;

D) said spa controller being operative for;

receiving signals conveying the software components from said interface signal converter;

updating software already installed on said spa controller at least in part on the basis of the software components received from interface signal converter.

38. The spa control system as in claim 37, wherein said interface signal converter comprises an RS transceiver.

39. The spa control system as in claim 38, wherein said RS transceiver is an RS-485 transceiver.

40. The spa control system as in claim 37, wherein said interface signal converter comprises an IR transceiver.

41. The spa control system as in claim 37, wherein said interface signal converter comprises an RF transceiver.

42. The spa control system as in claim 37, wherein said interface signal converter is capable of transceiving at least two different types of communication signals.

43. The spa control system as in claim 42, wherein said at least two different types of communication signals include an RS differential signal and an IR signal.

44. The spa control system as in claim 37, wherein said interface signal converter is removably attached to said spa controller.

45. The spa control system as in claim 37, wherein said interface signal converter is rigidly attached to said spa controller.

46. The spa control system as in claim 37, wherein said spa controller include a body, said interface signal converter being an integral part of the body of said spa controller.

47. The spa control system as in claim 37, wherein said interface signal converter is adapted for establishing a communications link with a remote computer over a wire-line link.

48. The spa control system as in claim 37, wherein said communications link is a wireless communications link.

49. The spa control system as in claim 37, wherein said interface signal converter is adapted for establishing a communications link with a remote computer through a computer network.

50. The spa control system as in claim 49, wherein said computer network is the Internet.

51. The spa control system as in claim 37, wherein said remote computer is a PDA.

52. The spa control system as in claim 37, wherein said remote computer is a cellular phone.

53. A spa control system as in claim 37, wherein said interface signal converter means is further operative for:

receiving data comprising a record of errors from said spa controller means;

transmitting a signal conveying the record of errors to the remote computer over said communications link.