Systems and methods of monitoring a waterline level of a swimming pool or spa

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023105447-A1
Application number	US-202217953093-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 26, 2022
Priority date	Oct 1, 2021
Publication date	Apr 6, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

An automatic swimming pool cleaner (APC) for swimming pools and spas may be used to monitor and/or determine a waterline level of the swimming pool or spa. Optionally, the determined waterline level may be provided on a user interface of an external device such as but not limited to a control box or a user device. An alert may be provided to a pool owner or other user based on the waterline level relative to a threshold waterline level. Optionally, at least one piece of equipment associated with the swimming pool or spa may be controlled based on the determined waterline level.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1 . A method of monitoring a waterline level of a swimming pool, the method comprising determining the waterline level using an APC.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the waterline level comprises determining the waterline level based on a maximum measured value and a minimum measured value for a characteristic of the swimming pool.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the characteristic of the swimming pool comprises a pressure measured by the APC.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating an alert based on the determined waterline level being below a threshold waterline level.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein generating the alert comprises generating an auditory or visual alert on a control box or a user device.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling at least one piece of equipment for the swimming pool based on the determined waterline level being below a threshold waterline level.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein controlling the at least one piece of equipment comprises controlling a pool filler to add water to the swimming pool based on the determined waterline level being below the threshold waterline level.

8 . A pool system comprising an automatic swimming pool cleaner (APC) configured to measure at least one characteristic of the swimming pool, wherein the pool system is configured to determine a waterline level of the swimming pool based on the measured at least one characteristic.

9 . The pool system of claim 8 , wherein the APC comprises at least one sensor for measuring the at least one characteristic of the swimming pool.

10 . The pool system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a pressure sensor or a depth sensor.

11 . The pool system of claim 8 , further comprising a control box associated with the APC, wherein the control box comprises a user interface, and wherein the user interface is configured to provide an alert of the determined waterline level of the swimming pool.

12 . The pool system of claim 8 , further comprising a controller communicatively coupled to the APC, wherein the controller is configured to generate a response based on a comparison of the determined waterline level to a threshold waterline level.

13 . The pool system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to generate an auditory or visual alert on an external device as the generated response.

14 . The pool system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to control at least one piece of equipment for the swimming pool based on the determined waterline level relative to the threshold waterline level.

15 . The pool system of claim 8 , further comprising a pool filler, wherein the pool system is configured to activate the pool filler to add water to the swimming pool based on the determined waterline level being less than a threshold waterline level.

16 . A method of operating a pool system includes determining a waterline level of a swimming pool using an automatic swimming pool cleaner (APC) and controlling at least one piece of pool equipment associated with the swimming pool based on the determined waterline level.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising generating an alert based on the determined waterline level relative to a threshold waterline level.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein generating the alert comprises controlling a visual indicator on a control box associated with the APC based on the determined waterline level relative to the threshold waterline level.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein controlling the at least one piece of pool equipment comprises controlling a pool filler.

20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising causing a user interface of an external device to display the determined waterline level relative to a threshold waterline level.

Assignees

• Zodiac Pool Care Europe

Inventors

• Duffaut Simon

Classifications

• G05D9/12

  characterised by the use of electric means · CPC title

• G01F23/185

  for discrete levels · CPC title

• E04H4/12

  Devices or arrangements for circulating water {, i.e. devices for removal of polluted water, cleaning baths or for water treatment} · CPC title

• E04H4/1654 Primary

  Self-propelled cleaners · CPC title

• G08B7/06

  using electric transmission {, e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources} · CPC title