Residential environmental management control system with automatic adjustment

• US 8,145,357 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zodiac Pool Systems, LLC (Fluidra, S.A.)
• Original Assignee: Zodiac Pool Systems Incorporated (Fluidra, S.A.)
• Inventors: Feten, Edward, Nibler, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, RAMESH B
• Application Number:
  US12/340,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20090164049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 700/1, 700 19- 20, 700276-278, 700282-284, 340/505, 340/540
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/106 for selecting a programme, variable or parameter

Abstract

Automatic adjustment of the control and operation of residential environmental management systems is made based upon a time of year, a geographic location, or both. A controller receives input of the time of year or the geographic location of the residential environmental management system, or both. The controller then automatically adjusts one or more functions of the residential environmental management system based upon operational information associated with the time of year and/or geographic location. A user interface connected with the controller may be also used to select a mode of operation, input time or geographic location information, and/or adjust various parameters affecting the automatic seasonal or geographic adjustment of the residential environmental management system.

Claims

1. A residential environmental management control system comprising

a controller comprising a processor and a memory storage and coupled with one or more residential environmental management systems,

wherein the controller is configured to automatically adjust a function of at least one of the residential environmental management systems coupled to the controller based upon data from a global positioning system (GPS).

2. The residential environmental management control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to automatically adjust a plurality of functions of the residential environmental management systems coupled to the controller based on the GPS data.

3. The residential environmental management control system of claim 1 further comprising a user interface coupled to the controller and configured to receive user input to manually adjust a parameter of the function.

4. The residential environmental management control system of claim 1, wherein

the memory storage further comprises a lookup table of operation schedule information;

and

the controller is further configured to select particular operation schedule information based upon the GPS data.

5. The residential environmental management control system of claim 1, wherein

the memory storage further stores an algorithm which uses the GPS data as input to the algorithm for use in calculating an adjustment to the function;

and

the controller further performs a calculation using the algorithm to automatically adjust the function.

6. The residential environmental management control system of claim 1, further comprising

a communication connection for connecting with a communication network;

and

wherein the controller is configured to access and receive date and time information from a remote source for use by the controller.

7. The residential environmental management control system of claim 1, further comprising a communication connection for connecting with a communication network and, wherein

the controller is configured to access and receive operation schedule information from a lookup table in a remote storage;

and

the controller is further configured to select particular operation schedule information based upon time of year data, geographic location data, or both, to automatically adjust the function.

8. The residential environmental management control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the function upon a regular, predetermined period of time.

9. The residential environmental management control system of claim 8, wherein the regular, predetermined period of time is one or more of a monthly basis, weekly, or daily basis.

10. A method of operating a residential environmental management control system including a controller, the method comprising

controlling one or more residential environmental management systems using the controller;

and

automatically adjusting a function of at least one of the residential environmental management systems coupled to the controller based on data from a global positioning system (GPS).

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising

automatically adjusting a plurality of functions of the residential environmental management systems coupled to the controller based on the GPS data.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising receiving user input to manually adjust a parameter of the function at a user interface coupled to the controller.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising selecting particular operation schedule information from a lookup table of operation schedule information in the memory storage based upon the GPS data.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising automatically calculating an adjustment to the function using an algorithm and the GPS data as input for use in the algorithm.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising

connecting with a communication network;

and

accessing and receiving date and time information from a remote source for use by the controller.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising

connecting with a communication network and, wherein

accessing and receiving operation schedule information from a lookup table in a remote storage;

and

selecting particular operation schedule information based upon the GPS data.

17. The method of claim 10 further comprising adjusting the function upon a regular, predetermined period of time.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the regular, predetermined period of time is one or more of a monthly basis, weekly, or daily basis.