US 12,574,257 B2 · Smart heater system for bathing installations including spas

Abstract

A bathing installation system includes a controller configured to communicate with one or more sensors, and interfaces, and is electrically connected to load devices of the bathing installation, the load devices including a heater. The controller is configured to generate a host authentication query for transmission to the heater, and to receive heater authentication responses received in response to the host authentication query. The heater includes a heater element and a client authentication IC configured to receive the authentication query from the controller and to generate a heater authentication response in response to the received authentication query. The controller system is configured to enable normal operation of the heater if the received heater authentication response matches the host authentication response, and, if not, to generate a notification to a bathing installation user that the heater is not an authentic heater or other action.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An electric heater system for a bathing installation, comprising:

a heater housing;
a resistive heater element disposed within the heater housing;
a terminal set electrically connected to the resistive element and configured for application of electrical power to the resistive element;
a communication interface;
a client authentication integrated circuit (IC) connected to the communication interface;
and wherein the client authentication IC is configured to receive an authentication query from an electronic bathing installation controller through said communication interface and generates an authentication response for delivery to said bathing installation controller through said communication interface in response to the received authentication query;
a printed circuit board (PCB) within an enclosure attached to the heater housing, the client authentication IC mounted to the PCB, and which housing also encloses the terminal set, and wherein said communication interface is passed into the enclosure and communicates with the client authentication IC.

4 more elements

A spa controller system operating to control operation of a water heater for a spa to heat spa water, comprising:

a microcontroller configured to communicate with one or more sensors and interfaces, and is electrically connected to load devices of the spa, the load devices including the water heater;
wherein the spa controller system controls operation of the water heater in a basic mode of operation to control the water heater to turn on/off, or to modulate electrical current supplied to the heater, to reach a set spa water temperature and then maintain the spa water at the set temperature;
wherein the spa controller system is configured to generate an electronic host authentication query for transmission to said water heater through one of said interfaces, and to receive heater authentication responses from the water heater in response to the host authentication query.

A bathing installation system comprising:

a controller system including a microcontroller, said controller system configured to communicate with one or more sensors, and interfaces, and is electrically connected to load devices of the bathing installation, the load devices including a water heater connected to the controller through one of said interfaces;
and
wherein the controller system is configured to generate a host authentication query for transmission to said water heater through said one of said interfaces, and to receive heater authentication responses received in response to the host authentication query;
and
the water heater, comprising:
a heater housing:
a resistive heater element;
a terminal set electrically connected to the resistive element and configured for application of electrical power to the resistive element;
a communication interface;
a client authentication integrated circuit (IC);
and
wherein the client authentication IC receives the authentication query from the controller and to generates a heater authentication response in response to the received authentication query.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Smart heater system for bathing installations including spas

Life of this patent

Smart heater system for bathing installations including spas

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15