Pool monitoring

• US 20050258969A1
• Filed: 07/21/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aquasonus LLC
• Original Assignee: Aquasonus LLC
• Inventors: Hoenig, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,019,649 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.600
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/082 by monitoring electrical characteristics of the water
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/185 Signal analysis techniques for reducing or preventing false alarms or for enhancing the reliability of the system

Abstract

A pool monitoring system includes a hydrophone configured to generate an electrical signal in response to receiving a pressure wave in the liquid of a pool, and a processor configured to receive the electrical signal and generate a trigger signal, when the electrical signal includes a characteristic signature over a time period within a predetermined range of time periods.

Claims

1. A pool monitoring system comprising:

a hydrophone configured to generate an electrical signal in response to receiving a sound pressure wave in the liquid of a pool; and

a processor configured to receive the electrical signal and generate a trigger signal, when the electrical signal includes a characteristic signature over a time period within a predetermined range of time periods.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to determine a trigger level from a background noise level.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the processor determines the trigger level by setting a gain of an electrical circuit based on background noise in the electrical signal.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the predetermined range of time periods consists of time periods less than 4 seconds.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the predetermined range of time periods consists of time periods greater than 0.5 seconds.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the hydrophone comprises a piezo-electric material composed of lead zirconate titanate ceramic or polyvinylidene fluoride polymer film.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a poolside horn configured to generate a sound in response to the trigger signal;

a first antenna configured to periodically send radio-frequency status signals;

one or more monitor units which include a second antenna configured to receive the radio-frequency status signals; and

a monitor horn configured to generate a sound in response to the trigger signal.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the monitor units are configured to indicate reception of the radio-frequency status signals.

4-6. -6. (canceled)

9-11. -11. (canceled)

15. A pool intrusion detection method comprising:

generating an electrical signal in response to receiving a sound pressure wave in the liquid of a pool; and

generating a trigger signal in response to receiving the electrical signal when the electrical signal includes a characteristic signature over a time period within a predetermined range of time periods.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising determining a trigger level from a background noise level.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the predetermined range of time periods consists of time periods less than 4 seconds.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein the predetermined range of time periods consists of time periods greater than 0.5 seconds.

22. The method of claim 15 further comprising generating a sound in response to the trigger signal.

17-19. -19. (canceled)

23-27. -27. (canceled)