Bathing system controller having abnormal operational condition identification capabilities

• US 7,843,357 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2007
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gecko Alliance Group Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gecko Alliance Group Inc.
• Inventors: Brochu, Christian, Gougerot, Florent, Authier, Michel, Gaudreau, Daniel, Nollet, Louis, Hardy, Martin, LaFlamme, Benoit
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hung T.
• Application Number:
  US12/000,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20080094235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 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. 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 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;

i. modifying the information related to electrical currents drawn by the bathing system under normal operating conditions stored in said memory unit;

ii. 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 as modified;

c. a plurality of actuators associated to respective bathing unit components, said processing unit being operative for controlling said plurality of actuators 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.

2. A controller as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of actuators includes a relay.

3. A controller as defined in claim 1, wherein said processing unit is operative for identifying an actuator in said plurality of actuators as potentially causing at least part of the abnormal operational condition of the bathing unit.

4. 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 bathing unit components drawing an electrical current when in the actuated state, said controller comprising:

a. a plurality of actuators associated to respective bathing unit components;

b. a memory unit storing information related to electrical currents drawn by the bathing system under normal operating conditions, at least a portion of said information conveying;

i. a measurement of an electrical current drawn by a first bathing unit component in the set of bathing unit components when the first bathing unit component is in the actuated state;

ii. a measurement of an electrical current drawn by a second bathing unit component in the set of bathing unit components when the second bathing unit component is in the actuated state;

c. a processing unit in communication with said memory unit, said processing unit being configured for;

i. controlling said plurality of actuators 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; and

ii. detecting an abnormal operational condition associated with the bathing system at least in part based on the information related to electrical currents drawn by the bathing system under normal operating conditions.

5. A controller as defined in claim 4, wherein the first bathing unit component includes a pump.

6. A controller as defined in claim 4, wherein the first bathing unit component includes a pump and the second bathing unit component includes a heater.

7. 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, said controller comprising:

a. a plurality of actuators associated with respective bathing unit components;

b. a memory unit storing information related to the plurality of actuators, said information conveying a reaction time associated with at least one actuator in said plurality of actuators when the at least one actuator is functioning under normal operating conditions;

c. a processing unit in communication with the plurality of actuators and with said memory unit, said processing unit being configured for;

i. controlling said plurality of actuators 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. obtaining a measurement of a reaction time associated with the at least one actuator in the plurality of actuators;

iii. processing the measurement of the reaction time associated with the at least one actuator obtained in ii. and the information stored on the memory unit related to the plurality of actuators in an attempt to detect a potential malfunction of the at least one actuator;

iv. storing information derived from the measurement of the reaction time associated with the at least one actuator in the memory unit so that the memory unit stores updated reaction time information.

8. A controller as defined in claim 7, wherein said processing unit is configured for using the updated reaction time information in a subsequent attempt to detect the potential malfunction of the at least one actuator in the plurality of actuators.

9. A controller as defined in claim 7, wherein the at least one actuator is adapted for acquiring either one of a closed status or an open status for causing an associated bathing unit component to acquire either one of the actuated state or the non-actuated state.

10. A controller as defined in claim 9, wherein the reaction time conveyed by the information in the memory is indicative of an opening reaction time associated with the at least one actuator.

11. A controller as defined in claim 9, wherein the reaction time conveyed by the information in the memory is indicative of a closing reaction time associated with the at least one actuator.

12. A controller as defined in claim 7, wherein the at least one actuator is adapted for acquiring either one of a closed status or an open status for causing an associated bathing unit component to acquire either one of the actuated state or the non-actuated state, said processing unit being configured for obtaining the measurement of the reaction time associated with the at least one actuator in the plurality of actuators when the at least one actuator is caused to change status from the open status to the closed status.

13. A controller as defined in claim 7, wherein the at least one actuator is adapted for acquiring either one of a closed status or an open status for causing an associated bathing unit component to acquire either one of the actuated state or the non-actuated state, said processing unit being configured for obtaining the measurement of the reaction time associated with the at least one actuator in the plurality of actuators when the at least one actuator is caused to change status from the closed status to the open status.

14. A controller as defined in claim 7, wherein the plurality of actuators includes at least two actuators and wherein the information stored in the memory unit conveys respective reaction times associated with each of said at least two actuators.

15. A controller as defined in claim 7, wherein said controller includes an output module in communication with said processing unit, said output module being adapted for conveying the potential malfunction of the at least one actuator detected by the processing unit to a user of the bathing system.

16. 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, said controller comprising:

a. a plurality of actuators associated with respective bathing unit components, the plurality of actuators including at least one actuator configured for acquiring either one of a closed status or an open status for causing an associated bathing unit component to acquire one of the actuated state or the non-actuated state;

b. a memory unit storing information related to the plurality of actuators, said information conveying a reaction time associated with the at least one actuator in said plurality of actuators when the at least one actuator is functioning under normal operating conditions;

c. a processing unit in communication with said memory unit, said processing unit being configured for issuing a signal for causing the at least one actuator to acquire either one of the closed status or the open status, the issuance of the signal being timed at least in part based on the information nation conveying the reaction time associated with the at least one actuator.

17. A controller as defined in claim 16, wherein the signal for causing the at least one actuator to acquire either one of the closed status or the open status is a signal for causing the at least one actuator to acquire the closed status, the processing unit being configured for:

a. processing the information conveying the reaction time associated with the at least one actuator to derive actuator closure timing information associated with the at least one actuator;

b. determining a time of transmittal of the signal for causing the at least one actuator to acquire the closed status at least in part based on the derived actuator closure timing information so that the at least one actuator will acquire the closed status when a voltage across the at least one actuator is near zero;

c. issuing the signal for causing the at least one actuator to acquire the closed status based at least in part on the determined time of transmittal of the signal.

18. A controller as defined in claim 16, wherein the signal for causing the at least one actuator to acquire either one of the closed status or the open status is a signal for causing the at least one actuator to acquire the open status, wherein the processing unit is configured for:

a. processing the information conveying the reaction time associated with the at least one actuator to derive actuator open timing information associated with the at least one actuator;

b. determining a time of transmittal of the signal for causing the at least one actuator to acquire the open status at least in part based on the derived actuator open timing information so that the at least one actuator will acquire the closed status when a current flowing through the at least one actuator is near zero;

c. issuing the signal for causing the at least one actuator to acquire the open status based at least in part on the determined time of transmittal of the signal.

19. A controller as defined in claim 16, said processing unit being configured for:

i. obtaining a measurement of a reaction time associated with the at least one actuator in the plurality of actuators;

ii. storing the measurement of the reaction time associated with the at least one actuator in the memory unit so that the memory unit stores updated reaction time information.

20. A controller as defined in claim 16, said processing unit being configured for:

i. obtaining a measurement of a reaction time associated with the at least one actuator in the plurality of actuators;

ii. processing the measurement of the reaction time associated with the at least one actuator obtained and the information stored on the memory unit conveying the reaction time associated with the at least one actuator when the at least one actuator is functioning under normal operating conditions to determine whether the at least one actuator in the plurality of actuators is potentially malfunctioning;

iii. in response to determination that the at least one actuator in the plurality of actuators is potentially malfunctioning, initiating an error handling process;

iv. in absence of determination that the at least one actuator in the plurality of actuators is malfunctioning, storing the measurement of the reaction time associated with the at least one actuator in the memory unit so that the memory unit stores updated reaction time information.