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US 12,135,539 B2Granted
Sensor systems principally for swimming pools and spas
AssigneeZodiac Pool Systems LLC
InventorsDavid Goldman, Hwa Heng
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pool or spa control system includes a sensor system with one or more sensors in contact with a main body of water. The sensor system measures water condition data of the body of water and is mounted on a wall submerged in the main body of water. The pool or spa control system also includes a modem that facilitates data communications between the sensor system and communication equipment positioned at a different location from the main body of water.
Claims17
A pool or spa control system comprising:
- a sensor system comprising one or more sensors in contact with a main body of water, wherein the sensor system is configured to measure water condition data of the main body of water, and wherein the sensor system is mounted on a wall submerged in the main body of water;
- first housing comprising a first inductive coupling that is electrically coupled to a power line;
- and
- a second housing comprising a second inductive coupling and a first sensor of the one or more sensors, wherein the second housing is configured to receive electrical power and data communications at the second inductive coupling from the first inductive coupling.
1 more element
A sensor system, comprising:
- a first housing comprising a first inductive coupling that is electrically coupled to a power line, wherein the power line is configured to enable transmission of electrical power from a transformer to the first inductive coupling and data communications from a modem to the first inductive coupling using a power-line communication protocol;
- and
- a second housing comprising a second inductive coupling and a first sensor, wherein the second housing is configured to receive the electrical power and the data communications at the second inductive coupling from the first inductive coupling.
A method for controlling a sensor system, comprising:
- determining whether a software application is within a range relative to a controller of a sensor;
- determining a type of connection from a plurality of types of connections between the software application and the controller based on the software application being within the range or out of the range, wherein, responsive to the software application being within the range, the type of connection comprises a first type of connection of the plurality of types of connections, and wherein, responsive to the software application out of the range, the type of connection comprises a second type of connection of the plurality of types of connections different from the first type of connection;
- transmitting electrical power from a transformer to the sensor along a power line, wherein the sensor is in contact with a body of water;
- transmitting data communications from a modem to the sensor along the power line using a power-line communication protocol;
- receiving sensor readings measured by the sensor at the modem from the power line;
- and
- receiving, from the software application and by the controller, a control signal using the determined type of connection.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.