Systems and methods for providing network connectivity and remote monitoring, optimization, and control of pool/spa equipment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11000449-B2
Application number	US-201715413224-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2017
Priority date	Jan 22, 2016
Publication date	May 11, 2021
Grant date	May 11, 2021

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing network connectivity and remote monitoring, optimization, and control of pool/spa equipment are provided. “Internet-of-Things” (IoT) functionality is provided for pool and spa equipment in a flexible and cost-effective manner. Network connectivity and remote monitoring/control of pool and spa equipment is provided by various components such as a network communication and local control subsystem installed in pool/spa equipment, and other components. Also disclosed are various control processes (“pool logic”) which can be embodied as software code installed in any of the various embodiments of the present disclosure.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for monitoring and controlling pool or spa equipment comprising:
a light source for illuminating a pool or a spa, the light source housing one or more sensors that sense operational characteristics of the pool or spa;
a processor in communication with the light source, said processor controlling operation of said light source; and
a network communication subsystem in communication with the processor, the network communication subsystem (i) establishing a network connection between the processor and a remote pool or spa device; and (ii) providing for control of the remote pool or spa device by the processor over the network connection based on data received by the processor;
wherein the data received by the processor includes a sensed operational characteristic of the pool or spa sensed by the one or more sensors of the light source;
wherein the processor receives a desired operational characteristic of the pool or spa; and
wherein the processor determines a setpoint for the remote pool or spa device based on the sensed operational characteristic and the desired operational characteristic and controls the remote pool or spa device to operate according to the setpoint.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the network communication subsystem establishes a second network connection between the processor and a second remote device.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the remote device comprises one or more of a chlorinator, a pump, a pool cleaner, a water feature of a pool or a spa, a heater, a chemical dispenser, a valve actuator, a pool cover system, a pool control system, a spa control system, or a water slide controller.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors include one or more of an ambient light sensor, a light output sensor, a motion sensor, an occupancy sensor, a bather detection sensor, a temperature sensor, a moisture sensor, a chlorine content sensor, a pH level sensor, an ambient noise sensor, or an underwater noise sensor.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor receives user input data comprising one or more of a desired lighting color, a light intensity value, lighting duration, a lighting schedule, a lighting program, or a pool temperature setpoint.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor receives operational data comprising one or more of power status data, lighting cycle data, line voltage data, current draw data, power consumption data, environmental data, temperature data, ambient light level data, light color data, or light intensity data.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor receives factory specification data comprising one or more of lumen output data, life expectancy data, current draw data, input voltage data, power consumption data, or operating environment data.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor stores configuration parameter data and transmits the configuration parameter data to the remote device, the configuration parameter data includes one or more of an IP address, a GPS coordinate, a Zip code, a date, or a time.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor receives remote data including one or more of location data, time, date, sunrise data, sunset data, local lighting code data, or weather forecast data.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor stores configuration parameters including one or more of pool surface area, pool geometry, pool liner color, pool cover information, or a pool cover schedule.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor receives health monitoring data including one or more of error data, runtime data, estimated lumen output data, average power consumption data, line voltage data, line current data, percentage of light output, operating environment data, warranty countdown data, or water pressure data.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the network communication subsystem includes an internal antenna and a wireless transceiver module.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the network communication subsystem includes an external antenna.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the network communication subsystem includes a plurality of status indicators, the plurality of status indicators configured to alert a user of current status information of the network communication subsystem.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of status indicators includes a plurality of multi-colored LED indicators.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the current status information of the network communication subsystem comprises one or more of power status, connectivity status, operational status, router status, internet status, signal strength status, or connection speed status.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the network communication subsystem is configured to transmit current status information of the network communication subsystem to the remote device.

18. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a user input module in communication with the processor.

19. The system of claim 18 , further comprising a display in communication with the processor.

20. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors include one or more of a temperature sensor, chemistry sensor, a light sensor, an occupancy sensor, a flow sensor, a water clarity sensor, a water level sensor, a water pressure sensor, a turbidity sensor, or a microphone.

21. The system of claim 1 , wherein the network connection between the processor and the remote device is established over the Internet.

22. A method for monitoring and controlling equipment for a pool or a spa, comprising the steps of:
providing (i) an underwater light having one or more sensors that sense an operational characteristic of the pool or spa, and (ii) a processor for controlling the underwater light and a remote pool or spa device;
establishing a network connection between the processor, the underwater light, and the remote pool or spa device;
receiving at the processor from the one or more sensors of the underwater light the sensed operational characteristic of the pool or spa;
receiving at the processor a desired operational characteristic of the pool or spa;
determining by the processor a setpoint for the remote pool or spa device based on the measured operational characteristic and the desired operational characteristic; and
controlling the remote pool or spa device to operate according to the setpoint determined by the processor.

23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising determining by the processor whether line power being provided to the underwater light is within factory specifications.

24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising activating the light if the line power is within the factory specifications, or transmitting an error condition to the remote device if the line power is not within factory specifications.

25. The method of claim 22 , further comprising determining by the processor an environment in which the light is being operated.

26. The method of claim 25 , further comprising transmitting an error condition to the remote device if the environment is not a factory-specified operating environment.

27. The method of claim 22 , further comprising receiving at the processor information specified at the remote device relating to a desired light show, including one or more of a desired lighting color, a desired lighting speed, or a desired lighting

Assignees

• Hayward Ind Inc

Inventors

• Potucek Kevin
• Murdock James
• Carter James
• Fournier Gregory
• Johnson Iii Arthur W
• Blaine David
• Debruin Jason
• Petty Scott
• Parcell Jason
• Sawyer Jr Douglas
• Horrocks Craig

Classifications

• H02J13/1311

  using the power network as support for the transmission · CPC title

• H05B47/1965

  using handheld communication devices · CPC title

• H05B47/197

  Sound control or voice control · CPC title

• H05B47/19

  via wireless transmission · CPC title

• H04L2101/69

  using geographic information, e.g. room number · CPC title