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US 7,397,360 B2Granted
Remote spa monitor
AssigneeBalboa Instruments, Inc.
InventorsRichard A. Corrington, Kurt A. Dykema, David L. Klamer, Brent K. Bouws
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for remotely monitoring a status of a spa installation includes transmitting status commands from a spa monitor to a spa installation over a communication link, and generating an alarm if status data is not returned via the link.
Claims20
A method for remotely monitoring a status of a spa installation including an electronic spa controller, a spa control panel and a tub, the method comprising:
- entering a sleep or low power mode of operation of a spa monitor remotely located relative to the spa installation;
- at periodic time intervals after entering the sleep or low power mode, automatically transmitting query signals from the spa monitor to the spa installation over a communication link;
- activating a spa monitor receiver adapted to receive query response signals from the spa installation over the communication link responsive to said query signals;
- entering the sleep or low power mode if status query response signals are received;
- and
- generating an alarm under a set of conditions based on query response signals and lack of query response signals received from the spa installation via the communication link, said generating an alarm including generating an alarm indicative of loss of electrical power to the spa installation based on failure to receive query response signals at the spa monitor in response to repeated query signals transmitted to the spa installation.
3 more elements
A remote spa monitor system for a spa installation including an electronic spa controller, the remote spa monitor system comprising:
- a base station transceiver connected to the electronic spa controller through an interface allowing transmission of commands and data between the transceiver and the electronic spa controller;
- and
- a spa monitor remotely located relative to the spa installation, the spa monitor for communicating with the base station transceiver, said spa monitor comprising a monitor receiver and an electronic controller adapted to periodically send query signals to the base station transceiver, monitor the monitor receiver for query response signals from the base station transceiver, and generate an alarm under a set of conditions based on query response signals and lack of query response signals received from the spa;
- and
- wherein said set of conditions includes repeated lack of query response signals from the base station transceiver in response to a plurality of successive periodic query signals, the spa monitor electronic controller configured to interpret said repeated lack of query response signals as indicative of a loss of electrical power to the spa installation.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.