Shower control system with network features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9777470-B2
Application number	US-201514803819-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 20, 2015
Priority date	Feb 1, 2010
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

A shower control system includes a water subsystem, a steam subsystem, and a controller in communication with the water subsystem and the steam subsystem. The water subsystem includes one or more electronic valves configured to control a flow rate and a temperature of water dispensed from one or more shower outlets within a shower enclosure. The steam subsystem is configured to generate and dispense steam from one or more steam outlets within the shower enclosure. The controller is configured to control the water subsystem and the steam subsystem to provide a spa experience including a predetermined and coordinated sequence of water outputs from the shower outlets and steam outputs from the steam outlets.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shower control system comprising:
a water subsystem comprising one or more electronic valves configured to control a flow rate and a temperature of water dispensed from one or more shower outlets within a shower enclosure;
a steam subsystem configured to generate and dispense steam from one or more steam outlets within the shower enclosure; and
a controller in communication with the water subsystem and the steam subsystem, wherein the controller is configured to control the water subsystem and the steam subsystem to provide a spa experience comprising a predetermined and coordinated sequence of water outputs from the shower outlets and steam outputs from the steam outlets;
wherein the predetermined sequence of water outputs from the shower outlets is defined by a first stored multidimensional temperature profile for the shower outlets;
wherein the predetermined sequence of steam outputs from the steam outlets is defined by a second stored multidimensional temperature profile for the steam outlets;
wherein the controller executes both multidimensional temperature profiles concurrently during the spa experience, causing the shower outlets and the steam outlets to provide the coordinated sequence of water outputs and steam outputs.

2. The shower control system of claim 1 , further comprising an audio subsystem configured to provide audio from one or more speakers within the shower enclosure;
wherein the controller is in communication with the audio subsystem and configured to control the audio subsystem;
wherein the spa experience further comprises a predetermined sequence of audio outputs from the speakers coordinated with the water outputs and the steam outputs.

3. The shower control system of claim 1 , further comprising a lighting subsystem configured to provide lighting from one or more lighting devices within the shower enclosure;
wherein the controller is in communication with the lighting subsystem and configured to control the lighting subsystem;
wherein the spa experience further comprises a predetermined sequence of lighting outputs from the lighting devices coordinated with the water outputs and the steam outputs.

4. The shower control system of claim 1 , further comprising an aromatherapy subsystem configured to dispense an aromatic substance within the shower enclosure;
wherein the controller is in communication with the aromatherapy subsystem and configured to control the aromatherapy subsystem;
wherein the spa experience further comprises a predetermined sequence of aromatherapy outputs coordinated with the water outputs and the steam outputs.

5. The shower control system of claim 1 , wherein the spa experience comprises multiple stages, each stage having a predetermined duration and comprising a different combination of the water outputs and the steam outputs;
wherein the controller is configured to perform the multiple stages sequentially.

6. The shower control system of claim 5 , wherein performing the multiple stages sequentially comprises:
causing the water subsystem and the steam subsystem to provide a first combination of coordinated water and steam outputs during a first stage of the spa experience;
automatically transitioning from the first stage of the spa experience to a second stage of the spa experience; and
causing the water subsystem and the steam subsystem to provide a second combination of coordinated water and steam outputs during the second stage of the spa experience, wherein the second combination of coordinated water and steam outputs is different from the first combination of coordinated water and steam outputs.

7. The shower control system of claim 1 , further comprising a control panel in communication with the controller and comprising an electronic display;
wherein the controller causes the control panel to display a graphical user interface for controlling the spa experience.

8. The shower control system of claim 7 , wherein the graphical user interface comprises the first stored multidimensional temperature profile representing an output provided by a group of the shower outlets during the spa experience;
wherein the controller causes the group of shower outlets to provide a water output defined by the first stored multidimensional temperature profile during the spa experience.

9. The shower control system of claim 8 , wherein the first stored multidimensional temperature profile comprises a time axis, a temperature axis, and a plurality of points, each point having a time attribute and a temperature attribute defining a location of the point in the multidimensional temperature profile.

10. The shower control system of claim 8 , wherein the graphical user interface further comprises the second stored multidimensional temperature profile representing an output provided by the steam outlets during the spa experience;
wherein the controller causes the steam outlets to provide a steam output defined by the second multidimensional temperature profile during the spa experience.

11. A shower control system comprising:
a water subsystem comprising one or more electronic valves configured to control a flow rate and a temperature of water dispensed from one or more shower outlets within a shower enclosure;
a steam subsystem configured to generate and dispense steam from one or more steam outlets within the shower enclosure; and
a controller for the water subsystem and the steam subsystem, wherein the controller is configured to receive update data from a remote system, use the update data to update configuration settings stored within the controller, and generate control signals for the water subsystem and the steam subsystem using the updated configuration settings;
wherein the predetermined sequence of water outputs from the shower outlets is defined by a first stored multidimensional temperature profile for the shower outlets;
wherein the predetermined sequence of steam outputs from the steam outlets is defined by a second stored multidimensional temperature profile for the steam outlets;
wherein the controller executes both multidimensional temperature profiles concurrently during the spa experience, causing the shower outlets and the steam outlets to provide the coordinated sequence of water outputs and steam outputs.

12. The control system of claim 11 , wherein the water subsystem is configured to use the control signals to adjust an attribute of the water dispensed from the shower outlets;
wherein the steam subsystem is configured to use the control signals to adjust an attribute of the steam dispensed from the steam outlets.

13. The control system of claim 11 , wherein the remote system comprises an internet file server configured to provide the update data to the controller via the internet.

14. The control system of claim 11 , wherein the update data comprises at least one of updated firmware for the controller, updated control parameters used by the controller, and updated configuration settings for the controller.

15. The control system of claim 11 , further comprising a control panel configured to present a user interface for monitoring and controlling the water subsystem and the steam subsystem;
wherein the update data comprises an updated user interface for the control panel.

16. The control system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to:
collect usage information describing control operations performed by the water subsystem and the steam subsystem;
store the usage information within a memory of the controller; and
report the usage information to the remote system via a c

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
• Knowles Greta

Classifications

• E03C1/055 Primary

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

• Y10T137/86292

  System with plural openings, one a gas vent or access opening · CPC title

• G05D7/0623

  characterised by the set value given to the control element · CPC title

• E03C1/05 Primary

  Arrangements of devices on wash-basins, baths, sinks, or the like for remote control of taps (remote control of taps or the like per se F16K) · CPC title

• Y10T137/0318

  Processes · CPC title