Bathing system controller having abnormal operational condition identification capabilities

• US 7,982,625 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2007
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gecko Alliance Group Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gecko Alliance Group Inc.
• Inventors: Gougerot, Florent, Authier, Michel, Gaudreau, Daniel, Nollet, Louis, Hardy, Martin, LaFlamme, Benoit, Brochu, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hung T.
• Application Number:
  US11/797,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20080030358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,539 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/635, 340/649, 340/650, 340/654, 340/657, 340/661, 340/664, 361/42, 361/49, 361/115, 700/201, 700/275, 700/300, 700/115
• US Class Current: 340/650
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/005 Electrical circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0235 based on a comparison with predetermined threshold or range, e.g. "classical methods", carried out during normal operation; threshold adaptation or choice; when or how to compare with the threshold

Abstract

A controller suitable for identifying an abnormal operational condition in a bathing system is provided. The controller includes a memory unit adapted for storing measurements indicative of electrical currents drawn by the bathing system under normal operating conditions, each measurement being indicative of the electrical current being drawn by a respective bathing unit component in the bathing system. The controller also includes a processing unit for modifying the measurements stored in the memory unit and for detecting an abnormal operational condition associated with the bathing system at least in part on the basis of measurements stored on the memory unit.

Claims

1. A controller suitable for identifying an abnormal operational condition in a bathing system, the bathing system including a set of bathing unit components, at least some bathing unit components in said set of bathing unit components 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, said controller comprising:

a. a memory unit for storing information related to electrical currents drawn by the bathing system under normal operating conditions, at least a portion of said information conveying measurements of electrical currents drawn by respective bathing unit components when in the actuated state;

b. a processing unit in communication with said memory unit, said processing unit being adapted for acquiring a self-programming state and a monitoring state, wherein;

i. in the self-programming state, said processing unit being operative for;

1. obtaining measurements indicative of electrical currents drawn by the bathing system under normal operating conditions;

2. storing information related to the measurements obtained in 1. on the memory unit;

ii. in the monitoring state, said processing unit being operative for detecting an abnormal operational condition associated with the bathing system at least in part based on the information stored on the memory unit.

2. A controller as defined in claim 1, wherein said controller further comprises:

a. a port suitable for establishing a communication link with an auxiliary device for receiving a signal conveying measurements indicative of electrical currents drawn by the bathing unit components in said set of bathing unit components under normal operating conditions;

b. said controller being responsive to the signal conveying measurements received at said port for causing the information in said memory unit to be modified at least in part based on said signal.

3. A controller as defined in claim 2, wherein said port includes a wireless interface.

4. A controller as defined in claim 2, wherein said port includes a wire-line interface.

5. A controller as defined in claim 1, wherein in the self-programming state said processing unit is operative for sequentially causing at least some bathing unit components in the set of bathing unit components to toggle from one of the actuated state and the non-actuated state to the other of the actuated state and the non-actuated state to obtain measurements indicative of electrical currents.

6. A controller as defined in claim 1, wherein in the self-programming state for a given bathing unit component in the set of bathing unit components, said processing unit being operative for:

a. causing the given bathing unit component to acquire the actuated state;

b. causing the bathing unit components in the set of bathing unit components other than the given bathing unit component to acquire the non-actuated state;

c. obtaining a given measurement indicative of an electrical current, the given measurement being indicative of the electrical current being drawn by the given bathing unit component when in the actuated state.

7. A controller as defined in claim 1, wherein the memory unit further stores information related to acceptable ranges of electrical currents associated to respective bathing unit components in said set of bathing unit components, in the self-programming state said processing unit is operative for:

a. processing the obtained measurements indicative of electrical currents drawn by the bathing system under normal operating conditions based at least in part on the information related to the acceptable ranges of electrical currents stored in the memory to derive information conveying whether the obtained measurements are reasonable;

b. selectively causing an error handling process to be initiated based at least in part on the information conveying whether the obtained measurements are reasonable.

8. A controller as defined in claim 1, wherein at least some measurements of electrical currents drawn include a reactive current measurement portion and a real current measurement portion.

9. A controller as defined in claim 1, wherein at least some measurements of electrical currents drawn include an inrush current measurement portion.

10. A controller as defined in claim 1, wherein in the self-programming state said processing unit is further operative for:

a. processing information in said memory unit to associate respective bathing unit components with corresponding bathing unit component types selected from a set of bathing unit component types.

11. A controller as defined in claim 10, wherein the set of bathing unit component types includes at least one bathing unit component type selected from the set consisting of a heating module type, a pump type, an ozonator type, a power supply type, a CD player type and an air blower type.

12. A method for identifying an abnormal operational condition in a bathing system, the bathing system including a set of bathing unit components, at least some bathing unit components in said set of bathing unit components 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, said method being implemented by a processor, said method comprising:

a. using the processor, causing at least one bathing unit component of said set of bathing unit components to acquire the actuated state;

b. using the processor, obtaining measurements indicative of electrical currents drawn by the bathing system under normal operational conditions, at least one of said measurements being indicative of an electrical current drawn by the at least one bathing unit component when in the actuated state;

c. storing the measurements obtained by the processor on a memory unit in communication with a controller associated with the bathing system;

d. using the controller, detecting an abnormal operational condition associated with the bathing unit system at least in part based on the measurements stored on the memory unit.

13. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein obtaining measurements comprises:

a. using the processor, causing the bathing unit components in the set of bathing unit components to acquire the non-actuated state;

b. using the processor, sequentially actuating bathing unit components in said set of bathing unit components to obtain measurements indicative of electrical currents.

14. A method as defined in claim 12, said method comprising:

b. using the processor, causing the bathing unit components in the set of bathing unit components other than the at least one bathing unit component to acquire the non-actuated state.

15. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein at least some measurements of electrical currents drawn include a reactive current measurement portion and a real current measurement portion.

16. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein at least some measurements of electrical currents drawn include an inrush current measurement portion.

17. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein said method further comprises:

a. using the processor, processing the measurements of electrical currents in said memory unit to associate respective bathing unit components with corresponding bathing unit component types selected from a set of bathing unit component types.

18. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein the set of bathing unit component types includes at least one bathing unit component type selected from the set consisting of a heating module type, a pump type, an ozonator type, a power supply type, a CD player type and an air blower type.

28. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein the processor is part of the controller.

19. A controller suitable for identifying an abnormal operational condition in a bathing system, the bathing system including at least two bathing unit components adapted for acquiring an actuated state and a non-actuated state, the bathing unit components drawing an electrical current when in the actuated state, said controller comprising:

a. a memory unit adapted for storing information conveying measurements of operational electrical parameters associated with respective bathing unit components in the bathing unit system;

b. a processing unit in communication with said memory unit, said processing unit being adapted for;

i. detecting an abnormal operational condition associated with the bathing system at least in part on the basis of the information conveying measurements of operational electrical parameters stored on the memory unit;

c. a port suitable for establishing a communication link with an auxiliary device for receiving a signal conveying measurements indicative of operational electrical parameters associated to respective bathing unit components in the bathing unit system operating under normal operating conditions, said controller being responsive to the signal conveying measurements received at said port for causing information in said memory unit to be modified at least in part based on said signal.

20. A controller as defined in claim 19, where the measurements indicative of operational electrical parameters associated to respective bathing unit components in the bathing unit system operating under normal operating conditions include measurements indicative of electrical currents drawn by respective bathing unit components in said set of bathing unit components when in the actuated state.

21. A controller as defined in claim 19, wherein said processing unit is adapted for modifying the information conveying measurements of operational electrical parameters stored in said memory unit based on the signal received at said port.

22. A controller as defined in claim 19, wherein said port includes a wireless interface.

23. A controller as defined in claim 19, wherein said port includes a wire-line interface.

24. A controller as defined in claim 19, wherein the memory unit includes a non-volatile memory component.

25. A method for identifying an abnormal operational condition in a bathing system, the bathing system including at least two bathing unit components adapted for acquiring an actuated state and a non-actuated state, said method comprising:

a. providing a memory unit in communication with a controller associated with said bathing unit, said memory unit being suitable for storing information conveying measurements of operational electrical parameters associated with respective bathing unit components in the bathing unit system;

b. using a processor, establishing a communication link with an auxiliary device and receiving a signal from said auxiliary device, the signal conveying measurements indicative of operational electrical parameters associated with bathing unit components in the bathing unit system operating under normal operating conditions;

c. using the processor, causing information related to the measurements conveyed by said signal to be stored on said memory unit;

d. using the controller, detecting an abnormal operational condition associated with the bathing system at least in part on the basis of the information stored on the memory unit.

29. A method as defined in claim 25, wherein the processor is part of the controller.

30. A method as defined in claim 25, where the measurements of operational electrical parameters conveyed by the signal received from the auxiliary device include measurements indicative of electrical currents drawn by respective bathing unit components in the bathing unit system under normal operating conditions.

26. A controller suitable for identifying an abnormal operational condition in a bathing system, the bathing system including a set of bathing unit components adapted for acquiring an actuated state and a non-actuated state, said controller comprising:

a. a memory unit adapted for storing measurements indicative of operational electrical parameters associated to respective bathing unit components in the bathing unit system;

b. a processing unit in communication with said memory unit, said processing unit being adapted for acquiring a self-programming state and a monitoring state, wherein;

i. in the self-programming state, said processing unit being configured for;

1. obtaining measurements conveying operational electrical parameters associated to respective bathing unit components in the bathing unit system operating under normal operating conditions;

2. storing the measurements obtained in 1. on the memory unit;

ii. in the monitoring state, said processing unit being configured for detecting an abnormal operational condition associated with the bathing system at least in part on the basis of measurements stored on the memory unit.

27. A controller as defined in claim 26, wherein the memory unit further stores acceptable ranges of operational electrical parameters associated to respective bathing unit components in said bathing system, in the self-programming state said processing unit being configured for:

a. processing the obtained measurements indicative of operational electrical parameters associated to bathing unit components operating under normal operating conditions based at least in part on the acceptable ranges of operational electrical parameters stored in the memory unit to derive information conveying whether the obtained measurements are reasonable;

b. selectively causing an error handling process to be initiated based at least in part on the information conveying whether the obtained measurements are reasonable.