Apparatus, system and method for multi-function intelligent spa control

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method involving controlling a spa system having a basin for holding a fluid are provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an electronics control portion for receiving inputs from an operator of the spa system and for generating signals in response to the inputs that are received from the operator. In addition the apparatus includes a fluid mixing portion that receives the fluid from a supply and outputs the received fluid into the basin of the spa system. Moreover, the electronics control portion controls a temperature of the fluid in the fluid mixing portion in response to one of the inputs received from the operator.

1 . An apparatus for controlling a spa system having a basin for holding a fluid, the apparatus comprising:
 an electronics control portion for receiving inputs from an operator of the spa system and for generating signals in response to the inputs that are received from the operator; and   a fluid mixing portion that receives the fluid from a supply and outputs the received fluid into the basin of the spa system;   wherein the electronics control portion controls a temperature of the fluid in the fluid mixing portion in response to one of the inputs received from the operator.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the fluid mixing portion includes a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the fluid in the fluid mixing portion, the temperature sensor supplying a signal to the electronics control portion; and   wherein the electronics control portion controls the temperature of the fluid that is received by the fluid mixing portion in response to the signal supplied by the temperature sensor.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the fluid mixing portion includes a pair of fluid input valves, one of the fluid input valves for coupling to a first fluid supply having a first temperature and the other of the input valves for coupling to a second fluid supply having a second temperature that is different than the first temperature; and   wherein the electronics control portion controls the temperature of the fluid that is received by the fluid mixing portion by controlling the fluid input valves.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the fluid mixing portion includes a sanitizer for sanitizing the fluid in the fluid mixing portion, the sanitizer being coupled to the electronics control portion; and   wherein the electronics control portion controls operation of the sanitizer.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the sanitizer includes an ionizer that injects sanitizing ions into the fluid in the fluid mixing portion; and   wherein the ionizer includes a plurality of electrodes that are coupled to the electronics control portion, the electrodes receiving signals from the electronics control portion for energizing the electrodes, and the electrodes releasing sanitization ions into the fluid in the fluid mixing portion in response to being energized.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the sanitizer includes an ozone sanitizer. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the electronics control portion and the fluid mixing portion are detachably coupled to one another. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the electronics control portion is operable to receive a signal from a fluid level sensor; and   wherein the electronics control portion controls the fluid that is received by the fluid mixing portion in response to the signal from the fluid level sensor.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the fluid level sensor input is one of a capacitive fluid level sensor and an optical fluid level sensor, the fluid level sensor being coupled to an outer surface of the basin and being operable for sensing a fluid level in the basin. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the electronics control portion includes an operator interface for receiving an input for increasing temperature of the fluid, an input for decreasing temperature of the fluid, and an input for setting a desired temperature of the fluid that is to be outputted to the basin. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a tub that includes a basin for containing fluid;   an operator interface for receiving inputs from an operator, the operator interface having a temperature setting switch for setting a desired temperature of the fluid that is to be filled in the basin;   a jet pump disposed in the basin that disturbs the fluid in the basin;   a fluid chamber that receives fluid from a supply, the fluid chamber having a temperature sensing portion that senses the temperature of the fluid therein; and   a control portion that:
 receives information from the temperature sensing portion and controls the supply of fluid into the fluid chamber in response to the desired temperature set by the operator; and 
 controls the jet pump in response to the operator engaging a corresponding input on the operator interface. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further including a fluid sanitizing portion that sanitizes the fluid in the fluid chamber, the fluid sanitizing portion being coupled to the control portion that operates the sanitizer in response to a signal received from the operator interface. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the fluid sanitizing portion is operable to inject sanitization ions into the fluid in the fluid chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , further including a fluid level sensor for sensing a fluid level in the basin, the fluid level sensor being coupled to the control portion, and the control portion controlling the fluid level in the basin in response to a signal received from the fluid level sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the fluid level sensor includes one of a capacitive sensor and an optical sensor, the fluid level sensor being coupled to an outer surface of the basin and being operable for sensing the fluid level in the basin. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , further including a light disposed in the basin for lighting the fluid that is contained therein, wherein the operator interface includes a light switch for engaging the light, and wherein the control portion controls the light in response to the operator engaging the light switch on the operator interface. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the operator interface includes a jet pump switch for engaging the jet pump, and wherein the electronics control portion controls the jet pump in response to the operator engaging the jet pump switch on the operator interface. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the system includes one of a pedicure system, a jacuzzi system, a bathtub system, and a whirlpool system. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the control portion includes a power supply interface that includes at least one of a direct current (DC) power supply output and an alternating current (AC) power supply output, and wherein the power supply interface provides power to a technician light that is powered off one of a DC and AC power. 
     
     
         20 . A method for controlling a spa system having a control chamber, a fluid chamber, and a tub, the method comprising:
 receiving fluid from input sections of the fluid chamber;   mixing the fluid in the fluid chamber;   receiving a desired temperature setting input from an operator, the desired temperature setting input being a desired temperature of the fluid after mixing the fluid in the fluid chamber;   outputting the mixed fluid into the tub;   monitoring the temperature of the fluid that is in the fluid chamber; and   in response to the desired temperature setting input and the temperature of the fluid in the fluid chamber, controlling the fluid that is received at the input sections of the fluid chamber in a manner so that the fluid being received is mixed in the fluid chamber to achieve the desired temperature.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 ,
 wherein the input sections of the fluid chamber includes a first fluid input for coupling to a first fluid supply having a first temperature and a second fluid input for coupling to a second fluid supply having a second temperature that is different than the first temperature;   wherein receiving fluid from the input sections of the fluid chamber includes receiving fluid from the first and second fluid supplies via the first and second fluid inputs, respectively; and   wherein mixing the fluid in the fluid chamber includes mixing fluid having the first temperature and fluid having the second temperature from the respective first and second fluid inputs.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further including monitoring a level of the fluid that is outputted into the tub. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein monitoring the level of the fluid that is outputted into the tub includes sensing a fluid level in the tub. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further including controlling the fluid that is outputted into the tub in response to the fluid level in the tub. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , further including injecting sanitizing ions into the fluid that is being mixed in the fluid chamber. 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus for controlling a spa system having a jet pump, a manual fluid mixer, a chamber for receiving and temporarily holding fluid, and having a basin for receiving fluid from the chamber, the apparatus comprising an electronics control portion that couples to the spa system for receiving signals from the spa system and for generating signals in response to the signals that are received from the spa system, wherein the electronics control portion controls the jet pump in response to a signal indicating that the fluid level in the basin has reached a predetermined level. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the manual fluid mixer is operable for controlling the temperature of the fluid that is received by the chamber. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the electronics control portion controls the flow of fluid from the chamber to the basin. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein the electronics control portion controls the flow of fluid from the chamber to the basin in response to receiving a signal from the spa system indicating that the fluid level in the basin has reached a predetermined level. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein the electronics control portion controls the flow of fluid from the chamber to the basin in response to receiving an input from an operator of the spa system.