Abstract:
Monitoring and dosing systems for dosing additives to water in aquatic environments, such as aquariums, swimming pools, hot tubs, and ponds, to maintain the quality of the water within tolerances and/or to control other aspect of the aquatic environment, such as controlling the growth rates of flora and/or fauna in the aquatic environment. Some monitoring systems disclosed include chemical indicator apparatuses submerged in the water and having multiple immobilized-dye-based chemical indicators for detecting the levels of multiple constituents of the water that contribute to water quality. Corresponding monitoring/measuring units include one or more optical readers for acquiring readings of the chemical indicators. Dosing can be performed automatedly and/or in an assisted manner via a dosing calculator and appropriate support systems. A variety of robustness features are also disclosed that can be used to assist the systems in ensuring that measurement readings are as accurate as possible to avoid improper dosing.
Abstract:
A dosing system and method for adding an additive to an aquatic environment from a removable additive container that includes an additive-identification device. The dosing system also includes an additive-presence-detecting device designed and configured to interface with the additive-identification device of the removable additive container so as to identify the additive of the additive container. A controller uses a dosing signal and to the identity of the additive by the additive-presence detecting device so as to control a dispensing mechanism to controllably dispense a desired additive. A plurality of additive receivers may be included in a dosing system such that an additive in each additive receiver can be identified properly by such a dosing system.
Abstract:
A dosing system and method for adding an additive to an aquatic environment from a removable additive container that includes an additive-identification device. The dosing system also includes an additive-presence-detecting device designed and configured to interface with the additive-identification device of the removable additive container so as to identify the additive of the additive container. A controller uses a dosing signal and to the identity of the additive by the additive-presence detecting device so as to control a dispensing mechanism to controllably dispense a desired additive. A plurality of additive receivers may be included in a dosing system such that an additive in each additive receiver can be identified properly by such a dosing system.
Abstract:
An aquatic environment water parameter testing system and related methods and chemical indicator elements. The aquatic environment water parameter testing system includes an electronics portion having an optical reader element and a sample chamber portion having a chemical indicator element which may be removably connected. A chemical indicator element may include an information storage and communication element used, in part, to provide identification of a chemical indicator of the chemical indicator element. Conductivity and/or temperature may be utilized to calibrate readings by the optical reader element. A chemical indicator element may also include a thin film material having particular optical characteristics tied to the light from a light source, such as a light source of an optical reader element.
Abstract:
A dosing system and method for adding an additive to an aquatic environment from a removable additive container that includes an additive-identification device. The dosing system also includes an additive-presence-detecting device designed and configured to interface with the additive-identification device of the removable additive container so as to identify the additive of the additive container. A controller uses a dosing signal and to the identity of the additive by the additive-presence detecting device so as to control a dispensing mechanism to controllably dispense a desired additive. A plurality of additive receivers may be included in a dosing system such that an additive in each additive receiver can be identified properly by such a dosing system.
Abstract:
An aquatic environment water parameter testing system and related methods and chemical indicator elements. The aquatic environment water parameter testing system includes an electronics portion having an optical reader element and a sample chamber portion having a chemical indicator element which may be removably connected. A chemical indicator element may include an information storage and communication element used, in part, to provide identification of a chemical indicator of the chemical indicator element. Conductivity and/or temperature may be utilized to calibrate readings by the optical reader element. A chemical indicator element may also include a thin film material having particular optical characteristics tied to the light from a light source, such as a light source of an optical reader element.
Abstract:
A dosing system and method for adding an additive to an aquatic environment from a removable additive container that includes an additive-identification device. The dosing system also includes an additive-presence-detecting device designed and configured to interface with the additive-identification device of the removable additive container so as to identify the additive of the additive container. A controller uses a dosing signal and to the identity of the additive by the additive-presence detecting device so as to control a dispensing mechanism to controllably dispense a desired additive. A plurality of additive receivers may be included in a dosing system such that an additive in each additive receiver can be identified properly by such a dosing system.
Abstract:
Monitoring and dosing systems for dosing additives to water in aquatic environments, such as aquariums, swimming pools, hot tubs, and ponds, to maintain the quality of the water within tolerances and/or to control other aspect of the aquatic environment, such as controlling the growth rates of flora and/or fauna in the aquatic environment. Some monitoring systems disclosed include chemical indicator apparatuses submerged in the water and having multiple immobilized-dye-based chemical indicators for detecting the levels of multiple constituents of the water that contribute to water quality. Corresponding monitoring/measuring units include one or more optical readers for acquiring readings of the chemical indicators. Dosing can be performed automatedly and/or in an assisted manner via a dosing calculator and appropriate support systems. A variety of robustness features are also disclosed that can be used to assist the systems in ensuring that measurement readings are as accurate as possible to avoid improper dosing.