Gesturing Proximity Sensor for Spa Operation
AssigneeSundance Spas, Inc.
InventorsBrian Koops, Adrian Alfaro, John I. Giddens, Bryan D. Gordon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spa can include one or more variable features or functions that can be controlled by a user using a gesture recognition sensor. The gesture recognition sensor can be located proximate to the spa and optionally out of the normal range of motion of a user in a basin of the spa. Predetermined gestures detected by gesture recognition sensor can be interpreted as a command to alter a predetermined feature or function of the spa. Also disclosed is a method of controlling one or more variable features or functions of the spa using the gesture recognition sensor.
Claims14
A spa comprising:
- a shell defining a basin for holding water;
- a plurality of variable features or functions of the spa;
- a programmed controller configured to control the plurality of variable features or functions;
- and
- a gesture recognition sensor operative for generating an electric field and for detecting at least one change in a distribution of electric field lines of the electric field in response to movement of an object in the electric field, wherein the controller is responsive to the gesture recognition sensor detecting said at least one change for controlling a first of the plurality of variable features or functions based on said change.
A spa control method comprising:
- (a) providing a gesture recognition sensor operative for generating an electric field and for detecting a change or sequence of changes in a distribution of electric field lines of the electric field in response to movement of an object in the electric field;
- (b) sensing a first change or a first sequence of changes in the distribution of electric field lines of the electric field in response to a first movement of the object in the electric field;
- and
- (c) in response to step (b), controlling a first variable feature or function of the spa.
A spa control method comprising:
- (a) a gesture recognition sensor detecting a first predetermined set of changes in a distribution of electric field lines of an electric field generated by the gesture recognition sensor in response to an object performing a first predetermined gesture in the electric field;
- and
- (b) adjusting a first variable feature or function of the spa related to the first predetermined set of changes in the distribution of electric field lines detected in step (a).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.