Bathing system controller having abnormal operational condition identification capabilities
First Claim
1. A controller suitable for identifying an abnormal operational condition in a bathing system, the bathing system including a set of bathing unit components, each bathing unit component being adapted for acquiring an actuated state and a non-actuated state, the controller being suitable for establishing a connection with a power source through a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), said controller comprising:
- a. a memory unit adapted for storing measurements indicative of electrical currents drawn by the bathing system under normal operating conditions, at least some measurements being indicative of electrical currents being drawn by respective bathing unit components when in the actuated state;
b. a processing unit in communication with said memory unit adapted for;
i. deriving at least one expected current measurement at least in part based on;
1. desired state information associated to the bathing unit components in said set of bathing unit components; and
2. the measurements stored on the memory unit;
ii. obtaining an actual measurement of a current drawn by the bathing system;
iii. detecting an abnormal operational condition associated with the bathing system at least in part based on the at least one expected current measurement and on the actual current measurement;
iv. in response to detection of an abnormal operational condition associated with the bathing system in part based on the at least one expected current measurement and on the actual current measurement, inducing a current leakage to ground such as to cause the ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) to trip.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A controller suitable for identifying an abnormal operational condition in a bathing system is provided. The controller includes a processing unit for detecting an abnormal operational condition associated with the bathing system. In response to detection of an abnormal operational condition, the processing unit causes a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) associated to the bathing system to trip. In a first example, the controller includes a memory unit adapted for storing measurements indicative of electrical currents drawn by respective bathing unit components under normal operating conditions. The processing unit is adapted for detecting an abnormal operational condition associated with the bathing system at least in part based on measurements stored on the memory unit. In a second example, the controller includes a plurality of actuators associated to respective bathing unit components operative for causing bathing unit components to acquire either one of the actuated state or the non-actuated state. The processing unit is adapted for detecting an abnormal operational condition associated with one or more actuators in the plurality of actuators.
87 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A controller suitable for identifying an abnormal operational condition in a bathing system, the bathing system including a set of bathing unit components, each bathing unit component being adapted for acquiring an actuated state and a non-actuated state, the controller being suitable for establishing a connection with a power source through a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), said controller comprising:
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a. a memory unit adapted for storing measurements indicative of electrical currents drawn by the bathing system under normal operating conditions, at least some measurements being indicative of electrical currents being drawn by respective bathing unit components when in the actuated state; b. a processing unit in communication with said memory unit adapted for; i. deriving at least one expected current measurement at least in part based on; 1. desired state information associated to the bathing unit components in said set of bathing unit components; and 2. the measurements stored on the memory unit; ii. obtaining an actual measurement of a current drawn by the bathing system; iii. detecting an abnormal operational condition associated with the bathing system at least in part based on the at least one expected current measurement and on the actual current measurement; iv. in response to detection of an abnormal operational condition associated with the bathing system in part based on the at least one expected current measurement and on the actual current measurement, inducing a current leakage to ground such as to cause the ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) to trip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A controller suitable for use in a bathing system, the bathing system including a set of bathing unit components, each bathing unit component being adapted for acquiring an actuated state and a non-actuated state, the bathing unit components drawing an electrical current when in the actuated state, the controller being suitable for establishing a connection with a power source though a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), said controller comprising:
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a. a plurality of actuators associated to respective bathing unit components, during normal operational conditions the actuators being operative for causing bathing unit components to acquire either one of the actuated state or the non-actuated state; b. a processing unit in communication with the plurality of actuators, said processing unit being operative for; i. controlling said plurality of actuators such as to cause the bathing unit components in said set of bathing unit components to acquire either one of the actuated state or the non-actuated state; ii. detecting an abnormal operational condition associated with an actuator in the plurality of actuators, the abnormal operational condition being detected at least in part based on an expected measurement and an actual measurement, the expected measurement being conditioned in part by desired state information associated with the bathing unit components in said set of bathing unit components; iii. in response to detection of an abnormal operational condition associated with an actuator in the plurality of actuators, inducing a current leakage to ground such as to cause the ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) to trip. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for monitoring a controller of a bathing system, the controller including a plurality of actuators associated to respective bathing unit components, during normal operational conditions, the actuators being operative for causing bathing unit components to acquire either one of an actuated state and a non-actuated state, said method comprising:
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a. establishing a connection with a power source through a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI); b. controlling the plurality of actuators such as to cause the bathing unit components in said set of bathing unit components to acquire either one of the actuated state or the non-actuated state; c. detecting an abnormal operational condition associated with an actuator in the plurality of actuators, the abnormal operational condition being detected at least in part based on an expected measurement and an actual measurement, the expected measurement being conditioned in part by desired state information associated with the bathing unit components in said set of bathing unit components; d. in response to detection of an abnormal operational condition associated with an actuator in the plurality of actuators, inducing a current leakage to ground such as to cause the ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) to trip. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A controller suitable for identifying an abnormal operational condition in a bathing system, the bathing system including a set of bathing unit components, each bathing unit component being adapted for acquiring an actuated state and a non-actuated state, the controller being suitable for establishing a connection with a power source through a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), said controller comprising:
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a. a plurality of actuators associated to respective bathing unit components, during normal operational conditions the actuators being operative for causing bathing unit components to acquire either one of the actuated state or the non-actuated state; b. a processing unit in communication with the plurality of actuators, said processing unit being operative for; i. detecting an abnormal operational condition associated with at least one component in the set of bathing unit components; ii. in response to detection of an abnormal operational condition associated with at least one component, controlling said plurality of actuators such as to cause the at least one bathing unit component to acquire the non-actuated state; iii. detecting an abnormal operational condition associated with an actuator in the plurality of actuators, the abnormal operational condition being detected at least in part based on an expected measurement and an actual measurement, the expected measurement being conditioned in part by desired state information associated with the bathing unit components in said set of bathing unit components; iv. in response to detection of an abnormal operational condition associated with an actuator in the plurality of actuators, inducing a current leakage to ground such as to cause the ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) to trip. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. A controller suitable for use in a bathing system, the bathing system including a set of bathing unit components, each bathing unit component being adapted for acquiring an actuated state and a non-actuated state, the bathing unit components drawing an electrical current when in the actuated state, the controller being suitable for establishing a connection with a power source through a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), said controller comprising:
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a. a plurality of actuators associated to respective bathing unit components, during normal operational conditions the actuators being operative for causing bathing unit components to acquire either one of the actuated state or the non-actuated state; b. a processing unit in communication with the plurality of actuators, said processing unit being operative for; i. controlling said plurality of actuators such as to cause the bathing unit components in said set of bathing unit components to acquire either one of the actuated state or the non-actuated state; ii. detecting an abnormal operational condition associated with an actuator in the plurality of actuators; iii. in response to detection of an abnormal operational condition associated with an actuator in the plurality of actuators, inducing a current leakage to ground such a to cause the ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) to trip.
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Specification