Shower control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10626583-B2
Application number	US-201514610296-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 30, 2015
Priority date	Feb 2, 2014
Publication date	Apr 21, 2020
Grant date	Apr 21, 2020

Abstract

A shower control system includes a controller in communication with a plurality of output devices located within a shower enclosure. The controller is configured to control the plurality of output devices. The shower control system further includes a control panel in communication with the controller and configured to provide a graphical user interface for controlling the plurality of output devices. The control panel includes an electronic display configured to present dynamic content, one or more static buttons, and a touch-sensitive panel overlaying both the electronic display and the one or more static buttons. The touch-sensitive panel is configured to detect a user interaction with both the one or more static buttons and the dynamic content presented via the electronic display.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shower control system for a plurality of output devices comprising a plurality of shower outlets located within a shower enclosure, the shower control system comprising:
a controller in communication with the plurality of output devices and configured to control the plurality of output devices to provide multiple features of the shower control system;
a control panel in communication with the controller and configured to present a graphical user interface that allows a user to select or deselect each of the output devices and activate or deactivate each feature by selecting corresponding icons of the graphical user interface;
wherein the controller is configured to:
receive a user input selecting a new feature of the shower control system for activation;
in response to the user input selecting the new feature for activation and prior to activating the new feature, perform a purge process comprising temporarily dispensing water from all of the shower outlets until a temperature of the water dispensed from the shower outlets reaches a threshold temperature; and
in response to the temperature of the water dispensed from the shower outlets reaching the threshold temperature, automatically activate the new feature and stop dispensing the water from any of the shower outlets not selected prior to selecting the new feature for activation.

2. The shower control system of claim 1 , wherein the control panel is configured to provide a graphical user interface for controlling the multiple features of the shower control system, the graphical user interface comprising a plurality of selectable icons representing the plurality of output devices;
wherein the controller is configured to receive a user selection of one or more of the output devices via the graphical user interface and to update first state information based on which of the output devices are selected via the graphical user interface.

3. The shower control system of claim 1 , wherein the control panel is configured to provide a graphical user interface for activating or deactivating the multiple features of the shower control system;
wherein the controller is configured to activate or deactivate the multiple features of the shower control system and to update second state information based on a user input received via the graphical user interface.

4. The shower control system of claim 1 , wherein determining whether to use an output device to provide an output to the shower enclosure comprises:
using first state information to determine whether the output device is selected;
using second state information to determine whether the output device is used in an active feature; and
in response to a determination that the output device is both selected and used in an active feature, using the output device to provide an output to the shower enclosure in accordance with the active feature.

5. The shower control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
receive a user input indicating the selected output devices prior to activating any of the selected output devices; and
activate all of the selected output devices simultaneously upon activating a feature of the shower control system that uses all of the selected output devices.

6. A shower control system for a plurality of output devices located within a shower enclosure, the shower control system comprising:
a controller in communication with the plurality of output and configured to control the plurality of output devices to provide a predetermined sequence of outputs from the plurality of output devices, the predetermined sequence of outputs defining a spa experience; and
a control panel in communication with the controller and configured to provide a graphical user interface for controlling the spa experience, the graphical user interface comprising selectable options for adjusting a parameter of the spa experience while the plurality of output devices are providing the spa experience;
wherein the spa experience comprises multiple timed segments arranged in a playback sequence, each of the segments comprising a different combination of outputs from the plurality of output devices, and the controller is configured to playback the spa experience by operating the plurality of output devices to sequentially provide each combination of outputs in the playback sequence; and
wherein the selectable options for adjusting a parameter of the spa experience comprise options for advancing to a next timed segment of the spa experience and returning to a previous timed segment of the spa experience during playback of the spa experience, wherein the options for advancing to the next timed segment and returning to the previous timed segment cause the controller to skip or repeat one or more of the timed segments of the spa experience without modifying any of the timed segments.

7. The shower control system of claim 6 , wherein the selectable options for adjusting a parameter of the spa experience comprise options for adjusting a target temperature of water output by the plurality of output devices during a segment of the spa experience.

8. The shower control system of claim 6 , wherein the graphical user interface is configured to display a pop-up temperature adjustment window in response to receiving a user input changing a target temperature of water output by the plurality of output devices.

9. The shower control system of claim 6 , wherein the graphical user interface is configured to display:
a temperature rising indicator when a temperature of water output by the plurality of output devices is increasing toward a target temperature; and
a temperature failing indicator when the temperature of water output by the plurality of output devices is decreasing toward the target temperature.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Mazz Margaret C
• Swarte Gregory De
• Freier Donald P
• Wick Brian C
• Tervo Steven M
• Mueller Jeffrey J
• Ruh Keith S

Classifications

• G05B19/042 Primary

  using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G05B2219/26

  Pc applications · CPC title

• A61H33/005

  Electrical circuits therefor · CPC title

• E03C1/0408

  Water installations especially for showers (E03C1/06 takes precedence; shower heads B05B1/18) · CPC title

• E03C1/055 Primary

  Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like · CPC title