System and method for ambient temperature sensing of a pump system

Abstract

A pump system including a motor, a fluid pump powered by the motor, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The controller including a processor and a computer readable memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to receive a first temperature value from the temperature sensor, receive a second temperature value from the temperature sensor, calculate a rate of temperature change by comparing the first temperature value and the second temperature value, calculate a heating offset value based on the rate of temperature change, and calculate an ambient temperature based on the second temperature value and the heating offset value.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pump system comprising:
 a motor   a fluid pump powered by the motor;   a temperature sensor; and   a controller including a processor and a computer readable memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to
 receive a first temperature value from the temperature sensor, 
 receive a second temperature value from the temperature sensor, 
 calculate a rate of temperature change by comparing the first temperature value and the second temperature value, 
 calculate a heating offset value based on the rate of temperature change, and 
 calculate an ambient temperature based on the second temperature value and the heating offset value. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the controller to
 receive a third temperature value from the temperature sensor,   calculate an updated rate of temperature change by comparing the second temperature value and the third temperature value,   calculate an updated heating offset value based on the updated rate of temperature change, and   calculate an updated ambient temperature based on the third temperature value and the updated heating offset value.   
     
     
         3 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein there is a predetermined time period between receiving the first temperature value and the second temperature value. 
     
     
         4 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the controller to
 determine if the rate of temperature change is above a predetermined upper rate of temperature change threshold and below a predetermined lower rate of temperature change threshold,   wherein if the rate of temperature change is above the predetermined rate of temperature change threshold or below the predetermined lower rate of temperature change threshold the controller does not calculate the ambient temperature based on the heating offset value.   
     
     
         5 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is located outside a housing of the pump system. 
     
     
         6 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the controller to
 activate the motor to begin pumping of fluid when the ambient temperature is below a freeze protection temperature threshold.   
     
     
         7 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the controller to
 indicate an error condition when the temperature value from the temperature sensor exceeds an overheat temperature threshold.   
     
     
         8 . The pump system of  claim 1 , further including a user-interface module. 
     
     
         9 . The pump system of  claim 8 , wherein the temperature sensor is integrated into the user-interface module. 
     
     
         10 . A method of determining an ambient temperature of a pump system, the pump system including a motor, a fluid pump powered by the motor, and a temperature sensor, the method comprising:
 receiving a first temperature value from the temperature sensor;   receiving a second temperature value from the temperature sensor;   calculating a rate of temperature change by comparing the first temperature value and the second temperature value;   calculating a heating offset value based on the rate of temperature change; and   calculating an ambient temperature based on the second temperature value and the heating offset value.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising
 receiving a third temperature value from the temperature sensor,   calculating an updated rate of temperature change by comparing the second temperature value and the third temperature value,   calculating an updated heating offset value based on the updated rate of temperature change, and   calculating an updated ambient temperature based on the third temperature value and the updated heating offset value.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein there is a predetermined time period between receiving the first temperature value and the second temperature value. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising determining if the rate of temperature change is above a predetermined upper rate of temperature change threshold and below a predetermined lower rate of temperature change threshold, wherein if the rate of temperature change is above the predetermined rate of temperature change threshold or below the predetermined lower rate of temperature change threshold not calculating the ambient temperature based on the heating offset value. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising activating the motor to begin pumping of fluid when the ambient temperature is below a freeze protection temperature threshold. 
     
     
         15 . A pool system comprising
 a vessel; and   a pump system including
 a motor, 
 a fluid pump powered by the motor, 
 a temperature sensor, and 
 a controller including a processor and a computer readable memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to
 receive a first temperature value from the temperature sensor, 
 receive a second temperature value from the temperature sensor, 
 calculate a rate of temperature change by comparing the first temperature value and the second temperature value, 
 calculate a heating offset value based on the rate of temperature change, and 
 calculate an ambient temperature based on the second temperature value and the heating offset value. 
 
   
     
     
         16 . The controller of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the controller to
 receive a third temperature value from the temperature sensor,   calculate an updated rate of temperature change by comparing the second temperature value and the third temperature value,   calculate an updated heating offset value based on the updated rate of temperature change, and   calculate an updated ambient temperature based on the third temperature value and the updated heating offset value.   
     
     
         17 . The pump system of  claim 15 , wherein there is a predetermined time period between receiving the first temperature value and the second temperature value. 
     
     
         18 . The controller of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the controller to
 determine if the rate of temperature change is above a predetermined upper rate of temperature change threshold and below a predetermined lower rate of temperature change threshold,   wherein if the rate of temperature change is above the predetermined rate of temperature change threshold or below the predetermined lower rate of temperature change threshold the controller does not calculate the ambient temperature based on the heating offset value.   
     
     
         19 . The pump system of  claim 15 , wherein the temperature sensor is located outside a housing of the pump system. 
     
     
         20 . The pump system of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the controller to
 activate the motor to begin pumping of fluid when the ambient temperature is below a freeze protection temperature threshold.   
     
     
         21 . The pump system of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the controller to
 indicate an error condition when the temperature value from the temperature sensor exceeds an overheat temperature threshold.   
     
     
         22 . The pump system of  claim 15 , further including a user-interface module. 
     
     
         23 . The pump system of  claim 22 , wherein the temperature sensor is integrated into the user-interface module.