Swimming pools and spas with pool vision

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024046651-A1
Application number	US-202318231364-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 8, 2023
Priority date	Aug 8, 2022
Publication date	Feb 8, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A pool vision system may include a camera and a controller. A method of controlling equipment of a swimming pool or spa using the pool vision system may include receiving visual data from the camera having a field of view including the equipment and identify the equipment in the visual data and determining an operational state of the equipment based on the visual data. The method incudes comparing the determined operational state of the equipment with an expected operational state of the equipment and generating a control response based on a difference between the determined operational state of the equipment and the expected operational state of the equipment.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1 . A pool vision system for a swimming pool or spa, the pool vision system comprising:
a camera comprising a field of view of at least a portion of a location comprising the swimming pool or spa; and a controller communicatively coupled with the camera, wherein the controller is configured to receive visual data from the camera and generate a control response based on the visual data, wherein the control response comprises at least one of an alert to a user or control of at least one piece of equipment for the swimming pool or spa.

2 . The pool vision system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
identify equipment in the visual data and determine an operational state of the equipment based on the visual data; compare the determined operational state of the equipment with an expected operational state of the equipment; and generate the control response based on a difference between the determined operational state of the equipment and the expected operational state of the equipment.

3 . The pool vision system of claim 2 , wherein the equipment comprises at least one of a pool light, a pump, an automatic swimming pool cleaner, an entertainment feature, or a pool cover.

4 . The pool vision system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is remote from the camera.

5 . The pool vision system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
identify at least one occupant in the swimming pool based on the visual data; detect movement of the occupant in the swimming pool based on the visual data; and generate a training response based on the detected movement of at least one occupant of the swimming pool.

6 . The pool vision system of claim 5 , wherein the training response comprises controlling equipment or sending information to a user device, and wherein the detected movement comprises one or more of a swimming cadence, a number of swimming laps completed, and/or a type of swimming stroke.

7 . The pool vision system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
identify a plurality of pool lights in the visual and determine a state of at least one characteristic of each pool light based on the visual data; and generate the control response controlling at least one light of the plurality of lights based on a difference in state of the at least one characteristic relative to another light.

8 . A method of controlling equipment of a swimming pool or spa, the method comprising:
receiving visual data from a camera having a field of view including the equipment; identifying the equipment in the visual data and determining an operational state of the equipment based on the visual data; comparing the determined operational state of the equipment with an expected operational state of the equipment; and generating a control response based on a difference between the determined operational state of the equipment and the expected operational state of the equipment.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the equipment comprises a pool light, and wherein the operational state comprises a color, shade, or brightness of light emitted by the pool light.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the expected operational state comprises an operational state of another pool light.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the equipment comprises a valve, and wherein the operational state comprises a status of the valve.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the equipment comprises an automatic swimming pool cleaner, and wherein the operational state comprises a docking status or a cleaning cycle status.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the equipment is a first piece of equipment, and wherein the expected operational state is based on an operational state of a second piece of equipment.

14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein generating the control response comprises at least one of:
controlling the equipment; controlling another piece of equipment for the swimming pool or spa; or generating an alert or notification for a user.

15 . A swimming pool or spa comprising a pool vision system for controlling a piece of equipment pursuant to the method of claim 8 .

16 . A pool vision system for a swimming pool or spa, the pool vision system comprising a pool light with an integrated camera configured to obtain visual data of at least a portion of a location comprising a swimming pool or spa.

17 . The pool vision system of claim 16 , wherein the pool light is submerged within the swimming pool or spa.

18 . The pool vision system of claim 16 , wherein the pool light is outside of the swimming pool or spa.

19 . The pool vision system of claim 16 , further comprising a controller remote from the pool light and communicatively coupled with the camera, wherein the controller is configured to receive the visual data from the camera and generate a control response based on an analysis of the visual data, wherein the control response comprises at least one of an alert or a control of at least one piece of equipment.

20 . The pool vision system of claim 16 , wherein the camera is behind a lens of the pool light or integrated into a housing of the pool light.

Assignees

• Zodiac Pool Systems Llc

Inventors

• Eames Darin
• Uy Dindo
• Bauckman Mark J
• Stiles Jr Robert Warren

Classifications

• G06V40/23

  Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training · CPC title

• G06V10/56

  relating to colour · CPC title

• G06V20/52 Primary

  Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects (recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69) · CPC title

• A63B69/12

  Arrangements in swimming pools for teaching swimming {or for training} · CPC title

• G06V40/20

  Movements or behaviour, e.g. gesture recognition (recognition of facial expressions G06V40/16) · CPC title