U.S. patent application number 16/708980 was filed with the patent office on 2020-05-07 for control boxes principally for use with equipment of swimming pools and spas.
This patent application is currently assigned to Zodiac Pool Systems LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Zodiac Pool Systems LLC. Invention is credited to Mark Bauckman, Krishna Desai, David Goldman, Hwa Heng, Dindo Uy.
Application Number | 20200146163 16/708980 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 64277849 |
Filed Date | 2020-05-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200146163 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Uy; Dindo ; et al. |
May 7, 2020 |
CONTROL BOXES PRINCIPALLY FOR USE WITH EQUIPMENT OF SWIMMING POOLS
AND SPAS
Abstract
Control boxes with segregated low- and high-voltage components
are described. Service technicians (or others) requiring access to
one set of components may do so without necessarily accessing the
other set. Dual user interfaces may be utilized, further, with one
interface being present at the control box and the other being
remote therefrom.
Inventors: |
Uy; Dindo; (North Hollywood,
CA) ; Bauckman; Mark; (San Marcos, CA) ; Heng;
Hwa; (Carlsbad, CA) ; Desai; Krishna;
(Carlsbad, CA) ; Goldman; David; (Carlsbad,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Zodiac Pool Systems LLC |
Carlsbad |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Zodiac Pool Systems LLC
Carlsbad
CA
|
Family ID: |
64277849 |
Appl. No.: |
16/708980 |
Filed: |
December 10, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
16170355 |
Oct 25, 2018 |
10537034 |
|
|
16708980 |
|
|
|
|
62580221 |
Nov 1, 2017 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61H 2201/5097 20130101;
H02G 3/081 20130101; H05K 5/0217 20130101; H04B 1/3827 20130101;
A61H 33/005 20130101; A61H 2033/0058 20130101; E04H 4/12
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H05K 5/02 20060101
H05K005/02; H02G 3/08 20060101 H02G003/08; A61H 33/00 20060101
A61H033/00; E04H 4/12 20060101 E04H004/12 |
Claims
1. A system for controlling equipment of a swimming pool or spa,
comprising: a. a master device comprising a first user interface;
and b. a control box (i) separate from the master device, (ii)
functioning as a servant to the master device, and (iii) comprising
a second user interface.
2. A system according to claim 1 in which the control box further
comprises an interior region including a high-voltage sub-panel
assembly and a low-voltage sub-panel assembly.
3. A system according to claim 2 in which the low-voltage sub-panel
assembly includes the second user interface.
4. A system according to claim 3 in which the master device is
portable and configured to transmit and receive wireless
signals.
5. A system according to claim 4 in which a position of the control
box is fixed in use.
6. A system according to claim 5 in which the control box comprises
a receiver for receiving wireless signals transmitted by the master
device.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of allowed U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 16/170,355, filed Oct. 25, 2018, and having
the same title as appears above, which allowed application claims
the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application
Ser. No. 62/580,221, filed Nov. 1, 2017, and having the same title
as appears above, the entire contents of both of which applications
are hereby incorporated herein by this reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to control mechanisms for equipment
and more particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, to control
boxes providing central control of such equipment for swimming
pools and spas.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0258809 of
Karslo, whose entire contents are incorporated herein by this
reference, discloses control panels "that automate or manually
operate various pool tasks, such as cleaning, filtration, heating,
lighting, and other accessories." See Karslo, p. 1, 0002. An
illustrated panel includes a door hinged to a hollow body which
contains multiple manually-operable waterproof switches. See id.,
0013; FIGS. 1-2. High voltage (240V and 120V) is present at the
panel, with circuit protectors (breakers) available to limit the
current draw to ten to sixteen amperes (10-16 A). Both these
voltage and current values substantially exceed what is necessary
to operate, for example, electronic logic components of the control
system.
[0004] Control panels such as these, at which high voltage is
present without segregation, typically may be serviced only by
licensed electricians. Accordingly, service technicians lacking
licensure may be precluded from accessing the panels. Of course,
even for a licensed electrician, unneeded exposure to high voltages
may create safety concerns.
[0005] Additionally absent from the control panels of the Karslo
application are any transmitters and receivers or other means for
communicating data to or from the panels. Consequently, the Karslo
application does not contemplate remotely monitoring or controlling
any operations of the control panels. Control panels of the Karslo
application additionally are intended for permanent installation
"remote from each of the individual pool devices," see id., 0012,
which may inhibit obtaining real-time user information needed to
operate the devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention seeks to resolve these and other
issues associated with conventional controllers of, principally,
swimming pool and spa equipment. Boxes (sometimes called "power
cans") consistent with the invention may segregate low-voltage
components and wiring from high-voltage components and wiring,
effectively forming two separate, segregated sub-panels. A service
technician needing to work on low-voltage components or wiring
hence need only access the low-voltage sub-panel, avoiding both any
licensure requirement and any exposure to the high-voltage
components and wiring. Conversely, a qualified servicer of the
high-voltage components and wiring need access only the
high-voltage sub-panel, thus reducing risk of accidentally damaging
any otherwise-exposed low-voltage components and wiring through
inadvertent contact with high voltage.
[0007] Versions of the present invention also may include dual user
interfaces. One such interface may be present at the control box,
while the other may be remote therefrom. In particular, the other
user interface may be present on a portable device capable of
transmitting and receiving information wirelessly. In
presently-preferred embodiments of the invention, the portable
device functions as a master, whereas the components of the
(fixed-position) control box function as slaves, or servants, to
the master. As a result, when information needs to be gathered or
input remote from the control box (e.g., a chlorinator needs to be
viewed for purposes of providing user input), the user may carry
the portable device to the chlorinator, utilize the user interface
of the portable device to supply the requisite input, and thereby
cause the input to be transmitted to the control box for reception
and processing.
[0008] Moreover, any or all of the wireless radios, Ethernet
capabilities, and main logic of the system may reside on the master
device. This direct communication avoids need for any secondary
communication links, hence improving communications speeds. The
master device additionally may be compatible with multiple wireless
protocols (e.g. Zigbee, WiFi, Bluetooth, etc.), enhancing its
overall range, accessibility, and speed, for example.
[0009] It thus is an optional, non-exclusive object of the present
invention to provide control devices in which low-voltage and
high-voltage components are segregated.
[0010] It is also an optional, non-exclusive object of the present
invention to provide control devices in which access to some
components may be obtained without accessing other components.
[0011] It is an additional optional, non-exclusive object of the
present invention to provide control devices in the form of control
boxes whose components function as servants to master devices.
[0012] It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present
invention to provide master devices which may be portable
transceivers.
[0013] It is, moreover, an optional, non-exclusive object of the
present invention to provide dual user interfaces, one present at
the control box and the other present on the portable device.
[0014] It is a further optional, non-exclusive object of the
present invention to provide wireless radios, Ethernet
capabilities, and main logic residing on the master devices.
[0015] Other objects, features, and advantages of the present
invention will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art
with reference to the remaining text and drawings of this
application.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a control box and portable
device consistent with the present invention.
[0017] FIGS. 2-3 schematically illustrate certain internal portions
of the control box and portable device of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary control box 10 and portable
device 14 of the present invention. Portable device 14 is
identified as the master device, whereas control box 10 (and its
incorporated components) may function as slave, or servant, to
device 14. Portable device 14 preferably is configured to transmit
and receive information wirelessly. In addition to a wireless
radio, portable device 14 also may, if desired, incorporate
Ethernet capabilities and main logic.
[0019] FIG. 2 generally depicts control box 10 with a door 18
thereof open so as to expose interior region 22. Interior region 22
may be divided into sub-panels, including high-voltage sub-panel
assembly 26 (containing, e.g., electric relays 28 (FIG. 3)) and
low-voltage sub-panel assembly 30 (containing, e.g., solid-state
electronics 32 (FIG. 3)). Although sub-panel assemblies 26 and 30
may be configured in any appropriate way, preferably they have
independent first and second closure devices (e.g. respective
removable first and second panels 33 and 35) so that one sub-panel
assembly 26 or 30 may be accessed without accessing the other
sub-panel assembly 30 or 26. Interior region 22 may include at
least one user interface 34, typically as part of the low-voltage
sub-panel assembly. Another user interface 38, as noted above, may
exist as part of portable device 14.
[0020] The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating,
explaining, and describing embodiments of the present invention.
Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent
to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from
the scope or spirit of the invention. As an example of contemplated
modifications, device 14 need not necessarily be portable, even
though it is intended to be separate from control box 10. Device 14
further may be configured to access the Internet and receive and
transmit information via the Internet.
* * * * *