Method and system for detecting open status of cover on a bathing unit and for operating bathing unit based on same

A control system for a spa system including a water receptacle for holding water and a spa cover, the spa cover being configured to be in a closed position and an open position, wherein when in the closed position the spa cover is configured for concurrently covering the water receptacle and a peripheral wall of the water receptacle, the control system including:

• a. a topside control panel being configured to be mounted to the peripheral wall of the water receptacle, the topside control panel comprising:
• i) a panel body having an upper surface including a user interface for controlling operational settings of the spa system;
• and
• ii) a light detection sensor positioned on the panel body, the light detection sensor being proximate the user interface and being configured to measure lighting conditions on the topside control panel;
• and
• b. one or more processors in communication with the topside control panel, the one or more processors being configured for:
• i) receiving signals from the light detection sensor conveying the lighting conditions on the topside control panel;
• ii) processing the signals from the light detection sensor conveying the lighting conditions to derive a spa cover status indicator for the spa cover;
• iii) processing information conveying current operational settings of the spa system and the spa cover status indicator for detecting inconsistencies between the current operational settings of the spa system and the spa cover;
• and
• iv) in response to detection of specific inconsistencies, performing an inconsistency management process, the inconsistency management process including at least one of:
• 1. issuing a notification to a user device conveying a presence of inconsistencies;
• 2. causing the operational settings of the spa system to be set to standby settings or error settings.

A topside control panel for a spa system including a water receptacle for holding water, a spa controller for controlling spa components in the spa system and a spa cover, the topside control panel being configured to be mounted to a peripheral wall of the water receptacle, the spa cover being configured to de displaced from a closed position to an open position and from the closed position to the open position, wherein when in the closed position the spa cover is configured for concurrently covering the water receptacle and the topside control panel, the topside control panel comprising:

• a. a panel body having an upper surface including a user interface for controlling operational settings of the spa system;
• b. a light detection sensor positioned on the panel body, the light detection sensor being proximate the user interface and being configured to measure lighting conditions on the topside control panel;
• c. a processing unit in communication with the user interface and the light detection sensor, the processing unit being configured to:
• i) receive signals from the light detection sensor conveying the lighting conditions on the topside control panel;
• ii) processing the signals from the light detection sensor conveying the lighting conditions on the topside control panel to detect occurrences of transitions in a spa cover status from one of:
• 1. the closed position to the open position;
• and
• 2. the open position to the closed position;
• the transitions in the spa cover status being detected at least in part by processing changes in the lighting conditions on the topside control panel;
• iii) in response to detection of a specific transition in the spa cover status, transmitting a control signal for causing the spa controller to implement specific corresponding operational settings in the spa system, the specific corresponding operational settings being derived at least in part by processing the specific transition detected.

A topside combination for a spa system, the spa system including a water receptacle for holding water, a spa controller for controlling spa components in the spa system and a spa cover, the spa cover being configured to be in a closed position, in a fully opened position and in one or more partially opened positions, wherein when in the closed position the spa cover is configured for concurrently covering the water receptacle and a peripheral wall of the water receptacle, the topside combination comprising:

• a. a first member configured to be mounted at a first location on the peripheral wall of the water receptacle, the first member including a topside control panel having an upper surface with a user interface for controlling operational settings of the spa system, wherein a first light detection sensor is positioned on the first member, the first light detection sensor being proximate the user interface and being configured to measure lighting conditions on the topside control panel;
• b. a second member configured to be positioned at a second location on the peripheral wall of the water receptacle, the second location on the peripheral wall being spaced apart from the first location on the peripheral wall, the second member including a second light detection sensor configured to measure lighting conditions at the second location on the peripheral wall;
• and
• c. a processing unit in communication with the first member and the second member, the processing unit being configured to:
• i) receive signals from the first light detection sensor and the second light detection sensor conveying the lighting conditions on the topside control panel and the lighting conditions at the second location on the peripheral wall;
• ii) processing the signals received in i) to derive a spa cover status indicator for the spa cover;
• iii) in response to the spa cover status indicator conveying that the spa cover is in the closed position, transmitting control signals causing the spa controller to operate the spa system in accordance with a closed cover operational process;
• and
• iv) in response to the spa cover status indicator failing to convey that the spa cover is in the closed position, transmitting control signals causing the spa controller to operate the spa system in accordance with one of an open cover operational process and a partially open cover operational process.

A topside control panel for a bathing unit system, comprising:

• a. a user interface including a touch screen;
• b. a light detection sensor proximate the touch screen that is configured to detect if light falling on the light detection sensor on above or below a threshold;
• and
• c. a processor electrically coupled to the touch screen and configured to receive a signal from the light detection sensor and thereby determine if a spa cover is in an open configuration or a closed configuration and modify the user interface in response.