# US 2016/0259348 A1 · Chemical Controller System and Method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0259348 A1 - Document ID: US20160259348A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/061,047 - Filed: 2016-03-04 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-05 - Assignees: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc. - Applicants: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc. - Inventors: Keith Lewis; Greg Lyons - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160259348A1 ## CPC - G05D 21/02: characterised by the use of electric means - C02F 1/008: {Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F} - C02F 1/685: {Devices for dosing the additives} - C02F 1/50: by addition or application of a germicide or by oligodynamic treatment {(C02F1/4606, C02F1/467, C02F1/76 take precedence)} - C02F 1/66: by neutralisation; pH adjustment (for degassing C02F1/20; using ion-exchange C02F1/42; for flocculation or precipitation of suspended impurities C02F1/52; for removing dissolved compounds C02F1/58) - C02F 1/74: with air (aeration of stretches of water C02F7/00) - C02F 1/76: with halogens or compounds of halogens {(C02F1/4674 takes precedence)} - C02F 2103/42: from bathing facilities, e.g. swimming pools - C02F 2209/006: comprising a software program or a logic diagram - C02F 2209/008: comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas - C02F 2209/06: pH - C02F 2209/07: Alkalinity - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) ## Abstract A chemical controller for an aquatic application comprising at least one output relay. The chemical controller further includes a current detection circuit configured to detect current on an output of the at least one output relay and a current fault detection device configured to output a current fault signal indicative of the occurrence of a current fault condition. The chemical controller further comprises at least one relay latch configured to receive the relay enable signal and the current fault signal and to decouple the relay enable signal from a corresponding relay latch output when the current fault signal indicates the occurrence of a current fault condition. A relay drive circuit is configured to receive a signal from the corresponding relay latch output to and to responsively activate and deactivate the at least one output relay. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A chemical controller for an aquatic application, comprising: at least one output relay; a current detection circuit configured to detect current on an output of the at least one output relay; a current fault detection device configured to output a current fault signal indicative of an occurrence of a current fault condition, wherein the current fault condition comprises a condition where a current exists on the output of the at least one output relay while the at least one output relay is instructed to be deactivated via a corresponding relay enable signal; at least one relay latch configured to receive the relay enable signal and the current fault signal and to decouple the relay enable signal from a corresponding relay latch output when the current fault signal indicates the occurrence of a current fault condition and to couple the relay enable signal to the corresponding relay latch output when the current fault signal indicates a current fault condition has not occurred; and a relay drive circuit configured to receive a signal from the corresponding relay latch output and to responsively activate and deactivate the at least one output relay. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The chemical controller of claim 1 further comprising: at least one output power shutoff relay configured to remove an output power provided to the at least one output relay when the current fault signal indicates the occurrence of the current fault condition. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The chemical controller of claim 1, wherein the chemical controller is in electrical communication with a pump. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The chemical controller of claim 3, wherein the pump is designed to deliver a chemical into the aquatic application. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The chemical controller of claim 1, wherein the aquatic application is at least one of a pool, a hot tub, a spa tub, a fountain, a pond, or a recirculating aquaculture system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The chemical controller of claim 1, wherein the chemical controller is in communication with a sensor, the sensor configured to sense one or more characteristics of the aquatic application. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The chemical controller of claim 6, wherein the one or more characteristics include pH values and alkalinity values. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The chemical controller of claim 6, wherein the chemical controller controls a pump to cause delivery of a chemical based on the sensed characteristic of the aquatic application. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The chemical controller of claim 8, wherein the chemical controller controls at least a first and a second body of water in the aquatic application. ### Claim 10 A method of monitoring an output relay in a chemical controller, the method comprising: detecting a current on an output of at least one output relay using a current sensor; outputting a current fault signal from the current sensor, the current fault signal indicative of an occurrence of a current fault condition, wherein the current fault condition comprises a condition where a current exists on the output of the at least one output relay while the at least one output relay is instructed to be deactivated via a corresponding relay enable signal; decoupling a relay enable signal from a corresponding relay latch output when the current fault signal indicates the occurrence of a current fault condition and coupling the relay enable signal to the corresponding relay latch output when the current fault signal indicates a current fault condition has not occurred; and transmitting a signal to a relay drive circuit from the corresponding relay latch output, the relay drive circuit configured to activate and deactivate the at least one output relay based on the received signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: removing an output power provided to the at least one output relay when the current fault signal indicates the occurrence of the current fault condition. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the output power is removed to the at least one output relay by deactivating a power master relay. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: outputting a processor fault signal from a processor, the processor fault signal indicative of an occurrence of a processor fault condition; decoupling a relay enable signal from a corresponding relay latch output when the processor fault signal indicates the occurrence of a processor fault condition; and transmitting a signal to a relay drive circuit from the corresponding relay latch output, the relay drive circuit configured to activate and deactivate the at least one output relay based on the received signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the processor fault signal indicates a hung processor. ### Claim 15 A chemical control system for an aquatic application, the system comprising: a chemical controller, the chemical controller configured to regulate a chemical parameter of the aquatic application; a pump, the pump configured to introduce at least one chemical into the aquatic application, wherein the chemical controller controls operation of the pump using an output relay; and an output relay monitoring circuit, the output relay monitoring circuit comprising: a current detection circuit configured to detect a current on an output of the output relay; a current fault detection device configured to output a current fault signal when current exists on the output of the output relay while the output relay is instructed to be deactivated via a corresponding relay enable signal; a relay latch circuit configured to receive the current fault signal and decouple a relay enable signal from a corresponding relay latch output; and a relay drive circuit, the relay drive circuit deactivating the output relay when the relay enable signal is decoupled. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The chemical control system of claim 15, wherein the output relay monitoring circuit further comprises at least one output power shutoff relay configured to remove an output power provided to the at least one output relay when the current fault signal indicates an occurrence of a current fault condition. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The chemical control system of claim 15, wherein the chemical controller includes a user interface, the user interface configured to allow a user to input chemical parameters associated with the aquatic application. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The chemical control system of claim 17, wherein the controller includes a display. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The chemical control system of claim 15, wherein the chemical controller is in communication with a sensor, the sensor configured to sense one or more chemical characteristics of the aquatic application. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The chemical control system of claim 15, wherein the pump is a peristaltic pump.