Bathing system controller having abnormal operational condition identification capabilities

• US 8,164,470 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2010
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gecko Alliance Group Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gecko Alliance Group Inc.
• Inventors: Brochu, Christian, Laflamme, Benoit, Gaudreau, Daniel, Hardy, Martin, Nollet, Louis, Gougerot, Florent, Authier, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung T.
• Application Number:
  US12/775,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20100219962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 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
• 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. In specific implementations, sensing circuitry adapted for obtaining measurements associated to components, such as relays and fuses, is provided. This sensing circuitry allows identify components on the controller, such as relays and fuses for example, and bathing unit components in the bathing system as potential causes of an abnormal operational condition associated with the bathing system.

Claims

1. An auxiliary device for use in connection with a bathing system, the bathing system including a set of bathing unit components and a controller, the set of bathing unit components including at least a first bathing unit component and a second bathing unit component adapted for acquiring an actuated state and a non-actuated state under control of the controller, the bathing unit components drawing electrical currents when in the actuated state, said auxiliary device comprising:

a) a memory unit storing data conveying operational electrical parameters associated with respective bathing unit components in the set of bathing unit components of the bathing system under normal operating conditions, the operational electrical parameters including first operational electrical parameters associated with said first bathing unit component and second operational electrical parameters associated with said second bathing unit component;

b) a communication interface for establishing a communication link between the auxiliary device and the controller of the bathing system;

c) said auxiliary device being configured to upload at least a portion of the data stored in said memory unit to the controller of the bathing system through said communication interface over the communication link.

2. An auxiliary device as defined in claim 1, wherein the portion of said data uploaded by the auxiliary device to the controller of the bathing system is for use when detecting abnormal operational conditions associated with the bathing system.

3. An auxiliary device as defined in claim 2, wherein the operational electrical parameters conveyed by said data include measurements indicative of electrical currents drawn by the bathing system under normal operating conditions, the measurements of electrical currents including:

a) a first measurement conveying information related to an electrical current being drawn by the first bathing unit component when in the actuated state; and

b) a second measurement conveying information related to an electrical current being drawn by the second bathing unit component when in the actuated state.

4. An auxiliary device as defined in claim 3, wherein said auxiliary device is configured to transmit a signal to cause the controller to modify information stored on a local controller memory.

5. An auxiliary device as defined in claim 2, wherein said communication interface includes a wireless interface.

6. An auxiliary device as defined in claim 5, wherein the auxiliary device is selected from the set consisting of a PDA and a computer.

7. An auxiliary device as defined in claim 2, wherein the portion of said data uploaded by the auxiliary device to the controller of the bathing system is for use in detecting abnormal operational conditions associated with either one of the first bathing unit component and the second bathing unit component.

8. An auxiliary device as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller includes a set of connectors connected to respective bathing unit components in the set of bathing unit components, the portion of said data uploaded by the auxiliary device to the controller of the bathing system being for use by the controller when configuring the controller to associate the respective connectors in the set of connectors with bathing unit component types.

9. An auxiliary device as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller includes a set of connectors connected to respective bathing unit components in the set of bathing unit components, wherein the set of connections including a first connector and a second connector, the portion of said data uploaded by the auxiliary device to the controller of the bathing system being used for configuring the controller at least in part by:

a) associating the first connector with one of the first bathing unit component and the second bathing unit component; and

b) associating the second connector with the other one of the first bathing unit component and the second bathing unit component.

10. An auxiliary device as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller includes a set of connectors for engaging respective bathing unit components in the set of bathing unit components, wherein the data stored in the memory unit of the auxiliary device further conveys operational electrical parameters associated with respective connectors in the set of connectors.

11. An auxiliary device as defined in claim 10, wherein the operational electrical parameters associated with respective connectors in the set of connectors include current rating information associated with respective connectors in the set of connectors.

12. An auxiliary device as defined in claim 11, wherein the current rating information is for use in detecting abnormal operational conditions associated with the bathing system at least in part by determining if a current passing through a connector in the set of connectors exceeds a current rating associated with the connector.

13. An auxiliary device as defined in claim 11, wherein the portion of said data uploaded by the auxiliary device to the controller of the bathing system includes at least some of the operational electrical parameters associated with respective connectors in the set of connectors and is for use by the controller of the bathing system in detecting abnormal operational conditions associated with the bathing system.