초록 ▼

The present invention provides a control system for a bathing unit that comprises a heating module, a temperature sensing entity and a heating module controller. The heating module includes a body that defines a passage through which water can flow, that has an inner surface and an outer surface. Th

The present invention provides a control system for a bathing unit that comprises a heating module, a temperature sensing entity and a heating module controller. The heating module includes a body that defines a passage through which water can flow, that has an inner surface and an outer surface. The heating module further includes a heating device that is operative for heating the water that flows through the body. The temperature sensing entity is mounted to the outer surface of the body such that the temperature sensing entity is in thermally conductive communication with water flowing through the body. The heating module controller is operative for obtaining temperature information associated with the temperature sensing entity for detecting at least in part on the basis of the temperature information the sufficiency of water flow through the body.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A method for measuring a sufficiency of water flow through a heating module of a bathing unit, the heating module having a body defining a passage through which water can flow and a heating device for heating the water that flows through the body, the heating device bei

The invention claimed is: 1. A method for measuring a sufficiency of water flow through a heating module of a bathing unit, the heating module having a body defining a passage through which water can flow and a heating device for heating the water that flows through the body, the heating device being adapted for acquiring a heating state and a non-hearing state, the method comprising: a) obtaining a first temperature measurement associated with a thermal element mounted in thermally conductive communication with water flowing through the body of said heating module, the first temperature measurement being distinct from a water temperature associated to the water that flows through the body of the heating module; b) activating the thermal element to cause it to acquire a certain temperature condition for a predetermined time interval; c) deactivating the thermal element following the predetermined time interval; d) obtaining a subsequent temperature measurement associated with the thermal element, the subsequent temperature measurement: i) being taken a certain time interval after deactivating the thermal element; and ii) being distinct from a water temperature associated to the water that flows through the body of the heating module: e) processing the first temperature measurement and the subsequent temperature measurement to derive information associated to the sufficiency of water flow through the heating module; f) causing the device to acquire a selected one of the heating state and the non-heating state based at least in part on the information associated to the sufficiency of water flow derived in step e). 2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said method comprises: a) computing a difference measurement indicative of a difference between the first temperature measurement and the subsequent temperature measurement; b) deriving the information associated to the sufficiency of water flow through the heating module based at least in part on the difference measurement. 3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said subsequent temperature measurement is a third temperature measurement, said method comprising: a) obtaining a second temperature measurement associated with the thermal element, the second temperature measurement being taken after deactivating the thermal element and prior to taking the third temperature measurement; b) processing the first temperature measurement, the second temperature measurement and the third temperature measurement to derive information associated to the sufficiency of water flow through the heating module. 4. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein said method comprises: a) computing a first difference measurement indicative of a difference between the first temperature measurement and the second temperature measurement; b) computing a second difference measurement indicative of a difference between the first temperature measurement and the third temperature measurement; c) deriving the information associated to the sufficiency of water flow through the heating module based at least in part on a ratio between the first difference measurement and the second difference measurement. 5. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein said method comprises: a) computing a ratio between the first difference measurement and the second difference measurement; b) comparing the ratio between the first difference measurement and the second difference measurement to a threshold ratio to derive the information associated to the sufficiency of water flow through the heating module. 6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the thermal element is activated and deactivated independently from the activation and deactivation of the heating device. 7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the thermal element is activated when the heating device acquires the heating state and is deactivated when the heating device acquires the non-heating state. 8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein steps a), b), c), d) and e) are performed while the heating device is in the non-heating state. 9. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said thermal element includes a transistor, the transistor including a base and an emitter, wherein obtaining a first temperature measurement associated with the thermal element includes: a) obtaining a first voltage measurement between the base and emitter of the transistor; b) processing the voltage measurement to derive the first temperature measurement. 10. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said method comprises causing the heating device to acquire the non-heating state upon detection of insufficient water flow. 11. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said method comprises conveying to a user data derived at least in part from the information associated to the sufficiency of water flow through the heating module. 12. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein said method comprises causing a display unit to display a message conveying the data derived at least in part from the information associated to the sufficiency of water flow through the heating module. 13. A control system for regulating water temperature a bathing unit, the bathing unit including a receptacle for holding water, said control system comprising: a) a heating module including: i) a body defining a passage through which water can flow; ii) a heating device operative for heating the water that flows through said body, the heating device being adapted for acquiring a heating state and a non-heating state; b) a thermal element mounted in thermally conductive communication with water flowing through the body of said heating module; c) a heating module controller for controlling activation of the heating device, said heating module controller being operative for performing a water flow sufficiency detection process comprising: i) obtaining a first temperature measurement associated with the thermal element, the first temperature measurement being distinct from a water temperature associated to the water that flows through the body of the heating module; ii) activating the thermal element to cause it to acquire a certain temperature condition for a predetermined time interval; iii) deactivating the thermal element following the predetermined time interval; iv) obtaining a subsequent temperature measurement associated with the thermal element, the subsequent temperature measurement: 1. being taken a certain time interval after deactivating the thermal element; and 2. being distinct from a water temperature associated to the water that flows through the body of the heating module; v) processing the first temperature measurement and the subsequent temperature measurement to derive information associated to a sufficiency of water flow through the heating module; vi) causing the heating device to acquire a selected one of the heating state and the non-heating state based at least in part on the information associated to the sufficiency of water flow derived in step v). 14. A control system as defined in claim 13, wherein said heating module controller is operative for: a) computing a difference measurement indicative of a difference between the first temperature measurement and the subsequent temperature measurement; b) deriving the information associated to the sufficiency of water flow through the heating module based at least in part on the difference measurement. 15. A control system as defined in claim 13, wherein said subsequent temperature measurement is a third temperature measurement, said heating module controller being operative for: a) obtaining a second temperature measurement associated with the thermal element, the second temperature measurement being taken after deactivating the thermal element and prior to taking the third temperature measurement; b) processing the first temperature measurement, the second temperature measurement and the third temperature measurement to derive information associated to the sufficiency of water flow through the heating module. 16. A control system as defined in claim 13, wherein the body of said heating module has a thermally conductive portion that extends from an inner surface of the body of said heating module to an outer surface of the body of said heating module, said thermal element being mounted in contact with said thermally conductive portion. 17. A control system as defined in claim 13, wherein said heating module controller is operative for preventing said heating device from acquiring the heating state upon detection of insufficient water flow through said body. 18. A control system as defined in claim 13, further comprising a user interface for conveying to a user data derived at least in part from the information associated to the sufficiency of water flow through the heating module. 19. A control system as defined in claim 18, wherein said user interface includes a display unit, said heating module controller being operative for causing said display unit to display a message conveying data derived at least in part from the information associated to the sufficiency of water flow through the heating module. 20. A control system as defined in claim 13, wherein said thermal element is operative for controlling power supplied to said heating device, said thermal element increasing in temperature as it supplies power to said heating device. 21. A control system as defined in claim 13, wherein said thermal element includes a device selected from the set consisting of TRIACs, SRCs, FETs, IGBTs, MOSFETs, JFETs and BJTs (bipolar junction transistors). 22. A control system as defined in claim 13, wherein said thermal element includes a transistor, the transistor including a base and an emitter, wherein said heating module controller is adapted for obtaining a first temperature measurement associated with the thermal element by: a) obtaining a first voltage measurement between the base and emitter of the transistor; b) processing the voltage measurement to derive the first temperature measurement. 23. A control system as defined in claim 13, wherein said heating module controller is adapted to activate the thermal element while the heating device is deactivated. 24. A control system as defined in claim 13, wherein said heating module controller is adapted to activate the thermal element independently from the activation of the device. 25. A control system as defined in claim 13, wherein the thermal element is connected in series with the heating device so that the thermal element is activated when the heating device acquires the heating state and is deactivated when the heating device acquires the non-heating state. 26. A control system as defined in claim 15, wherein said heating module controller is adapted for: a) computing a first difference measurement indicative of a difference between the first temperature measurement and the second temperature measurement; b) computing a second difference measurement indicative of a difference between the first temperature measurement and the third temperature measurement; c) deriving the information associated to the sufficiency of water flow through the heating module based at least in part on a ratio between the first difference measurement and the second difference measurement. 27. A control system as defined in claim 26, wherein said heating module controller is adapted for: a) computing a ratio between the first difference measurement and the second difference measurement; b) comparing the ratio computed in a) to a threshold ratio to derive the information associated to the sufficiency of water flow through the heating module. 28. A control system for a bathing unit, said control system comprising: a) a heating module including: i) a body defining a passage through which water can flow; ii) a heating device operative for heating the water that flows through said body, the heating device being adapted for acquiring a heating state and a non-heating state; b) a temperature sensing entity mounted in thermally conductive communication with water flowing through said body, said temperature sensing entity including a unitary thermal component: ii) providing information associated to a measure of temperature of said temperature sensing entity, said measure of temperature being distinct from water temperature information associated to the water that flows through the body of said heating module; c) a heating module controller operative for: i) activating and deactivating said temperature sensing entity to obtain temperature information associated with said temperature sensing entity; ii) processing the temperature information associated with said temperature sensing entity to derive information associated to a sufficiency of water flow through the body of said heating module; iii) causing the heating device to acquire a selected one of the heating state and the non-heating state based at least in part on the information associated to the sufficiency of water flow derived in ii). 29. A control system as defined in claim 28, wherein said heating module controller is operative for: a) obtaining a first temperature measurement associated with the temperature sensing entity; b) activating the temperature sensing entity to cause it to acquire a certain temperature condition for a predetermined time interval; c) deactivating the temperature sensing entity following the predetermined time interval; d) obtaining a subsequent measurement value associated with the temperature sensing entity, the subsequent temperature measurement: i) being taken a certain time interval after deactivating the temperature sensing entity; and ii) being distinct from a water temperature associated to the water that flows through the body of the heating module; e) processing the first temperature measurement and the subsequent temperature measurement to derive information associated to a sufficiency of water flow through the heating module. 30. A control system as defined in claim 29, wherein said heating module controller being operative for: a) computing a difference measurement indicative of a difference between the first temperature measurement and the subsequent temperature measurement; b) deriving the information associated to the sufficiency of water flow through the heating module based at least in part on the difference measurement. 31. A control system as defined in claim 29, wherein said subsequent temperature measurement is a third temperature measurement, said heating module controller being operative for: a) obtaining a second temperature measurement associated with the temperature sensing entity, the second temperature measurement being taken after deactivating the temperature sensing entity and prior to taking the third temperature measurement; b) processing the first temperature measurement, the second temperature measurement and the third temperature measurement to derive information associated to the sufficiency of water flow through the heating module. 32. A control system as defined in claim 31, wherein said heating module controller is adapted for: a) computing a first difference measurement indicative of a difference between the first temperature measurement and the second temperature measurement; b) computing a second difference measurement indicative of a difference between the first temperature measurement and the third temperature measurement; c) deriving the information associated to the sufficiency of water flow through the heating module based at least in part on a ratio between the first difference measurement and the second difference measurement. 33. A control system as defined in claim 32, wherein said heating module controller is adapted for: a) computing a ratio between the first difference measurement and the second difference measurement; b) comparing the ratio computed in a) to a threshold ratio to derive the information associated to the sufficiency of water flow through the heating module. 34. A control system as defined in claim 28, wherein said heating module controller is operative for preventing said heating device from heating the water in the body of said heating module upon detection of insufficient water flow through said body. 35. A control system as defined in claim 28, wherein said temperature sensing entity includes a device selected from the set consisting of TRIACs, SRCs, FETs, IGBTs, MOSFETs, JFETs and BJTs (bipolar junction transistors). 36. A control system as defined in claim 28, wherein said temperature sensing entity includes a transistor, the transistor including a base and an emitter, wherein said heating module controller is adapted for obtaining a first temperature measurement associated with the temperature sensing entity by: a) obtaining a first voltage measurement between the base and emitter of the transistor; b) processing the voltage measurement to derive the first temperature measurement. 37. A control system as defined in claim 28, wherein said control system comprises a display unit to display a message conveying the data derived at least in part from the information associated to the sufficiency of water flow through the heating module. 38. A control system for a bathing unit, said control system comprising: a) heating means including a body defining a passage through which water can flow, said heating means being operative for heating the water that flows through said body, said heating means being adapted for acquiring a heating state and a non-heating state; b) a temperature sensing entity mounted in thermally conductive communication with water flowing through said body, said temperature sensing entity including a unitary thermal component: ii) providing information associated to a measure of temperature of said temperature sensing entity; c) means for activating and deactivating said temperature sensing entity to obtain temperature information associated with said temperature sensing entity, said temperature information being distinct from water temperature information associated to the water that flows through the body of said heating module; d) means for processing the temperature information associated with said temperature sensing entity to derive information associated to a sufficiency of water flow through the body of said heating means; e) means for causing the heating device to acquire a selected one of the heating state and the non-heating state based at least in part on the information associated to the sufficiency of water flow derived in d). 39. A computer readable storage medium including a program element suitable for execution by a computing apparatus for measuring a sufficiency of water flow through a heating module for a bathing unit, the heating module having a body defining a passage through which water can flow and a heating device for heating the water that flows through the body, the heating device being adapted for acquiring a heating state and a non-heating state, said computing apparatus comprising: a) a memory unit; b) a processor operatively connected to said memory unit, said program element when executing on said processor being operative for: i) obtaining a first temperature measurement associated with a thermal element mounted in thermally conductive communication with water flowing through the body of said heating module, the first temperature measurement being distinct from a water temperature associated to the water that flows through the body of the heating module; ii) activating the thermal element to cause it to acquire a certain temperature condition for a predetermined time interval; iii) deactivating the thermal element following the predetermined tune interval; iv) obtaining a subsequent temperature measurement associated with the thermal element, the subsequent temperature measurement: 1. being taken a certain time interval after deactivating the thermal element; and 2. being distinct from a water temperature associated to the water that flows through the body of the heating module; v) processing the first temperature measurement and the subsequent temperature measurement to derive information associated to a sufficiency of water flow through the heating module; vi) causing the heating device to acquire a selected one of the heating state and the non-heating state based at least in part on the information associated to the sufficiency of water flow derived in step v). 40. A control system for a bathing unit, said control system comprising: a) heating means including a body defining a passage through which water can flow, said heating means being operative for heating the water that flows through said body; b) thermal means in thermally conductive communication with water flowing through said body; c) controller means operative for: i) obtaining temperature information associated with said thermal means for detecting at least in part on a basis of said temperature information the sufficiency of water flow through said body, said temperature information associated with said thermal means being distinct from water temperature associated to water flowing through the body of said heating means; ii) causing said heating means to acquire a selected one of a heating state and a non-heating state based at least in part on the temperature information associated with said thermal means.