Swimming pool, spa, and other recreational environment controller systems, equipment, and simulators

Abstract

Systems for controlling aspects of recreational or other environments are described. Such systems are especially, but not exclusively, useful for controlling either or both of pool or spa settings and operations and include equipment that may be connected, in any appropriate way, to personal or other computers or other components capable of accepting and processing input. Operations of the systems additionally are capable of being simulated through software.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 271,205 filed on Nov. 10, 2005, now pending, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to systems and equipment for controlling aspects of recreational environments including, but not limited to, operation and maintenance of swimming pools and spas. The invention additionally relates to simulations of such systems and equipment and, if desired, systems and methods for providing information obtained from the simulators to the controllers themselves. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,250 to Lorenzen, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference, describes automatic chemical dispensers for use with swimming pools. The devices are designed to dispense water-sanitization chemicals such as, for example, sodium dichlor granules into water within sw...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] Equipment of the invention may connect in any appropriate way to personal or other computers or other components capable of accepting and processing input. Presently-preferred equipment connects, via Ethernet, serial connectivity, wirelessly, or otherwise to the personal computer (“PC”) of a user. Users may access the equipment via their PCs, personal data assistants (“PDAs”), the Internet or other networks, or in any other appropriate manner. Software updates and back-ups may be provided to users from remote locations, and information contained in user records may be downloaded remotely, facilitating diagnosing and trouble-shooting of problems users may encounter with their recreational devices.

[0010] Controllers of the present invention may be modular in design. Accordingly, different printed circuit boards may be added to or removed from the equipment to perform different control tasks. Alternatively or additionally, complete functionality may be built into the controller and slave functions turned on and off (via software or hardware) as required or desired. Whether through plug-in boards or toggling slave functions, the present controllers may eliminate need for separate units, providing a single unit useful for all intended purposes.

[0017] It is a further optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide systems in which software updates and back-ups may be provided to users from remote locations and information contained in user records may be downloaded remotely.

[0020] It is yet another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide simulations of such systems that may accept and save input data so that a virtual system, once configured, may continue to be available to a user for simulation without repeated reconfiguring.

Problems solved by technology

However, they are not immediately adaptable to control numerous other aspects of pool or spa operation and maintenance or other aspects of recreational environments.

As a result, no opportunity exists to evaluate or manipulate either controller other than through actual use in its intended environment.

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