Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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TITLE: TOPSIDE CONTROL PANEL FOR BATHING UNIT SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of control systems for
bathing unit systems, and
more specifically, to a topside control panel to provide a user with control
and/or monitoring
capabilities in connection with a bathing unit system.
BACKGROUND
Bathing units, such as spas, typically include various bathing unit components
that are used in
operating the bathing system. The bathing unit components generally include
pumps that circulate
water through a piping system, pumps for activating water jets, at least one
heating module to heat
the water, a filter system, an air blower, an ozone generator, a lighting
system, and a control system
that activate and manage the various operational settings of the bathing unit
components. Other
types of bathing units that have similar components include, for instance,
whirlpools, hot tubs,
bathtubs, therapeutic baths, spas and swimming pools. Most modem bathing
systems include a
control panel that is in communication with the bathing unit control system.
The control panel is
typically positioned in proximity to the bathing system so that a user of the
bathing system may
interact with it in order to adjust and control the activation and settings of
the various bathing unit
components.
Positioning the control panel in proximity to the bathing unit system, for
example on a portion of an
outer peripheral wall of the bathing unit system, presents a challenge. While
such proximity of the
control panel to the bathing unit system facilitates user interactions with
the control panel, this
proximity increases detrimental exposure of the control panel internal and
external components to
moisture. As a result, this detrimental moisture exposure may increase, for
example, sanitary (e.g.,
mildew), integrity (e.g., rust), operability / safety (e.g., water-induced
short circuits) risks to the
control panel, as well as other risks which can be apparent to the person of
skill.
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One approach for addressing the above issue is to construct the control panel
using water-resistant
sealing material, such as silicone, to at least partially fill air gaps
present in the control panel device
structure through which moisture could penetrate. The use of such water-
resistant sealing material
may effectively block water entry in the device and thus avoid the control
panel internal components
being exposed to moisture. A deficiency of such an approach is that it
requires the owner of the
bathing unit system to monitor and maintain the sealing material integrity,
which would attract
additional costs and efforts for operating the bathing system.
Another challenge associated with control panels is that different bathing
unit manufacturers as well
as different user may have different preferences in terms of the visual
appearance of the control
panels. To satisfy these different customers, different versions of the
control panels need to be
designed, manufactured and maintained in inventory. Such customization tends
to increase the
manufacturing cost of individual control panels and thus may increase the
price paid by the end
consumer.
Against the background described above, there remains a need in the industry
to provide a topside
control panel for a bathing unit system that alleviates at least in part the
problems associated with
existing control panels of the type described above.
SUMMARY
In accordance with a first aspect, a topside control panel for a bathing unit
system is provided
comprising:
a. a housing including a top surface and a bottom surface opposed to the top
surface;
b. a display touch or presence-sensitive assembly positioned upon the top
surface of the
housing; and
c. a circuit board assembly positioned upon the bottom surface the housing,
the circuit
board assembly being electrically coupled to the display touch or presence-
sensitive
assembly.
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In some implementations, the top surface of the housing may be circumscribed
by a peripheral edge
for engaging the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly. A sealing
material, such as for
example a gasket, may secure the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly
to the housing. In
some specific implementations, the peripheral edge may include a groove or
channel and the sealing
material securing the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly to the
housing may be positioned
within the groove or channel.
In some implementations, the topside control panel may further comprise a
cover frame including a
cut out or window area for receiving the display touch or presence-sensitive
assembly when
assembled with the housing. Optionally, the cover frame may be releasably
fastened to the housing
of the topside control panel through the use of suitable fasteners for
allowing for the easy removal
and/or fastening/re-fastening of the cover frame to the housing.
In some implementations, the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly
includes an electronic
display, a touch or presence-sensitive layer, and a cover layer overlying a
top surface of the touch or
presence-sensitive layer. The cover layer of the touch or presence-sensitive
assembly may include
one or more translucent or transparent areas. In specific practical
implementations, the display
touch or presence-sensitive assembly may be responsive to changes in
capacitance resulting from
touching or close proximity of an object to the touch or presence-sensitive
layer to generate and
transmit signals to a processor located on the circuit board assembly.
In specific practical implementations, one of the one or more translucent or
transparent areas may be
associated with an ambient light sensor positioned on the circuit board
assembly. This may allow
adapting the intensity and/or color of the images displayed by the electronic
display to be
conditioned at least in part on the basis of the detected amount of ambient
light, for example to make
the displayed images more pleasing to the user of the bathing unit system. The
cover layer of the
touch or presence-sensitive assembly preferably may include a tactile zone
providing haptic
feedback and/or a mechanical actuator for associating user tactile input to
software-implemented
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actions. In specific practical implementations, the cover layer is comprised
at least in part of a glass
material.
In accordance with another aspect, a topside control panel for a bathing unit
system is provided
comprising:
a. a display touch or presence-sensitive assembly;
b. a housing having:
i. a top surface circumscribed by a top peripheral wall, the top surface and
the
top peripheral wall defining a first recess for receiving the display touch or
presence-sensitive assembly;
ii. a bottom surface opposed to the top surface, the bottom surface being
circumscribed by a bottom peripheral wall, the bottom surface and the bottom
peripheral wall defining a second recess; and
c. a circuit board assembly positioned in the second recess of the housing,
the circuit
board assembly being electrically coupled to the display touch or presence-
sensitive
assembly.
In at least some specific implementations, the bottom surface may include a
plurality of standoffs
protruding therefrom for contacting the circuit board assembly. The bottom
surface may also
include a plurality of mounting brackets protruding therefrom for securing the
circuit board
assembly within the second recess.
In some specific implementations, the top surface of the housing is
circumscribed by a peripheral
edge for engaging the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly and a
sealing material may be
used to secure the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly to the
housing. The peripheral edge
may in some cases include a groove or channel and the sealing material
securing the display touch
or presence-sensitive assembly to the housing may be positioned within the
groove or channel.
In accordance with another aspect, a topside control panel for a bathing unit
is provided comprising:
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- a display touch or presence-sensitive assembly;
- a housing including:
i. a top surface circumscribed by a top peripheral wall, the top surface and
the
top peripheral wall defining a first recess for receiving the display touch or
presence-sensitive assembly; and
ii. a bottom surface opposed to the top surface, the bottom surface being
circumscribed by a bottom peripheral wall, the bottom surface and the bottom
peripheral wall defining a second recess; and
- a back panel secured to the housing so as to enclose the second recess and
form an
enclosed space, the back panel including a ventilation member configured for
allowing
air communication between the enclosed space and a space external to the
topside control
panel.
In some specific implementations, a circuit board assembly may be positioned
within the second
recess, the circuit board assembly being electrically coupled to the display
touch or presence-
sensitive assembly. The top surface of the housing may be circumscribed by a
peripheral edge for
engaging the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly.
In some specific implementations, the ventilation member may be comprised of
an elongated hollow
member extending from an aperture formed on a wall of the back panel.
In accordance with another aspect, a topside control panel for a bathing unit
is provided comprising:
a. a display touch or presence-sensitive assembly;
b. a housing including:
i. a top surface circumscribed by a top peripheral wall, the top
surface and the top peripheral wall defining a first recess for
receiving the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly so as to
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enclose at least part of the first recess and form a first enclosed
space; and
ii. a bottom surface circumscribed by a bottom peripheral wall, the
bottom surface and the bottom peripheral wall defining a second
recess; and
c. a back panel secured to the housing so as to enclose at least part of the
second recess to form a second enclosed space defined at least in part by
the back panel, the bottom peripheral wall of the housing and the bottom
surface of the housing, wherein a ventilation path is formed between the
top surface and the bottom surface of the housing to allow air
communication between the first enclosed space and the second enclosed
space.
In some specific implementations, the back panel may include a ventilation
member configured for
allowing air communication between the enclosed second space and a space
external to the topside
control panel. In some practical implementations, the ventilation member may
be comprised of an
elongated hollow member extending from an aperture formed on a wall of the
back panel. A circuit
board assembly may be positioned within the second enclosed space of the
housing.
In accordance with another aspect, a bathing unit system is provided
comprising:
a. a receptacle for holding water;
b. a plurality of comfort components including at least a
circulation pump and a heater;
c. a controller for controlling operational settings associated with the
comfort
components; and
d. a topside control panel of the type described above, the topside control
panel being
in communication with the controller for allowing a user of the bathing unit
system
to control and/or monitor operational settings of at least some of the comfort
components in the bathing unit system.
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In accordance with another aspect, a topside control panel for a bathing unit
is provided comprising:
a. a display touch or presence-sensitive assembly;
b. a supporting structure configured for facilitating mounting of the
topside control panel to
the bathing unit, said supporting structure forming a dividing wall disposed
between the
display touch or presence-sensitive assembly and a circuit board assembly,
said
supporting structure including:
i. a top surface circumscribed by a top peripheral wall, the top surface and
the top
peripheral wall defining a first recess for receiving the display touch or
presence-
sensitive assembly; and
ii. a bottom surface opposed to the top surface, the bottom surface being
circumscribed by a bottom peripheral wall, the bottom surface and the bottom
peripheral wall defining a second recess, wherein the circuit board assembly
is
fastened to the bottom surface of the supporting structure, the circuit board
assembly being electrically coupled to the display touch or presence-sensitive
assembly; and
c. a back panel secured to the supporting structure so as to enclose the
second recess and
form an enclosed space holding the circuit board assembly, wherein a portion
of the
enclosed space between a surface of the circuit board assembly and the back
panel is at
least partially filled by air thereby enabling air to circulate over at least
part of the
surface of the circuit board assembly, the back panel including a ventilation
member
configured for allowing air to flow between the portion of the enclosed space
between
the surface of the circuit board assembly and the back panel and a space
external to the
topside control panel to permit moisture in the enclosed space between the
surface of the
circuit board assembly and the back panel to escape to the space external to
the topside
control panel.
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In accordance with another aspect, a topside control panel for a bathing unit
is provided comprising:
a. a display touch or presence-sensitive assembly;
b. a supporting structure configured for facilitating mounting of the
topside control panel to
the bathing unit, said supporting structure forming a dividing wall disposed
between the
display touch or presence-sensitive assembly and a circuit board assembly,
said
supporting structure including:
i. a top surface circumscribed by a top peripheral wall, the top surface and
the top
peripheral wall defining a first recess for receiving the display touch or
presence-
sensitive assembly so as to enclose at least part of the first recess and form
a first
enclosed space; and
ii. a bottom surface circumscribed by a bottom peripheral wall, the bottom
surface
and the bottom peripheral wall defining a second recess holding the circuit
board
assembly, wherein the circuit board assembly is fastened to the bottom surface
of
the supporting structure, the circuit board assembly being electrically
coupled to
the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly; and
c. a back panel secured to the supporting structure so as to enclose at least
part of the
second recess to form a second enclosed space defined at least in part by:
iii. the back panel;
iv. the bottom peripheral wall of the supporting structure; and
v. a surface of the circuit board assembly;
wherein a ventilation path is formed between the top surface and the bottom
surface of the supporting structure to allow air to flow between the first
enclosed
space and the second enclosed space and over at least part of the surface of
the
circuit board assembly.
In specific implementations, the receptacle for holding water may include a
peripheral wall on
which the control panel is positioned.
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All features of embodiments which are described in this disclosure and are not
mutually exclusive
can be combined with one another. Elements of one embodiment can be utilized
in the other
embodiments without further mention. Other aspects and features of the present
invention will
become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the
following description of
specific embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying Figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A detailed description of specific embodiments is provided herein below, by
way of example only,
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a top isometric view of a topside control panel for a bathing
unit in accordance with
a non-limiting example of implementation of the invention.
Figure 2 shows a bottom isometric view of the topside control panel of Figure
1.
Figure 3 shows a side view of the topside control panel of Figure 1.
Figure 4 shows a top isometric exploded view of the topside control panel of
Figure 1 showing a set
of disassembled components from a first viewing perspective.
Figure 5 shows a bottom isometric exploded view of the topside control panel
of Figure 4 showing
the set of disassembled components from a second viewing perspective.
Figure 6 shows a top isometric exploded view of a first subset of components
forming an upper
housing subassembly of the topside control panel of Figure 1 (shown
disassembled in Figures 4 and
5).
Figure 7 shows a bottom isometric exploded view of the first subset of
components of Figure 6.
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Figure 8 shows a top isometric view of an LCD / touch screen assembly of the
topside control panel
of Figure 1 shown disassembled in Figures 4 and 5.
Figure 9 shows a bottom isometric view of the LCD / touch screen assembly of
Figure 8.
Figure 10 shows a top isometric exploded view of the LCD / touch screen
assembly of Figure 8.
Figure 11 shows a bottom isometric exploded view of the LCD / touch screen
assembly of Figure 8.
Figure 12 shows a bottom view of a housing member of the topside control panel
of Figure 1 shown
disassembled in Figures 4 and 5, the housing member being depicted in the
first subset of
components shown in Figure 6 and 7.
Figure 13 shows a bottom isometric exploded view of a second subset of
components of the topside
control panel of Figure 1 shown disassembled in Figures 4 and 5, the second
subset of components
including the housing member of Figure 12 and a rear adhesive gasket.
Figure 14 shows a bottom isometric view of the second subset of components of
Figure 13, in an
assembled form.
Figure 15 shows a bottom isometric exploded view of a third subset of
components of the of the
topside control panel of Figure 1 shown disassembled in Figures 4 and 5, the
third subset of
components including the second subset of components shown in Figures 13 and
14 and a printed
circuit board.
Figure 16 shows a bottom view of the third subset of components of Figure 15,
in an assembled
form.
Figure 17 shows a top isometric view of a back panel component of the topside
control panel of
Figure 1 shown disassembled in Figures 4 and 5.
Figure 18 shows a bottom isometric view of the back panel of Figure 17.
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Figure 19 shows a side view of the back panel of Figure 17.
Figure 20 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line 24-24 of the topside
control panel shown in
Figure 1.
Figure 21 shows a side view of the control panel of Figure 1 installed within
a wall portion of a
bathing unit.
Figure 22 shows an isometric top view of as bathing unit on which the topside
control panel of
Figure 1 is installed on an outer peripheral wall.
Figure 23 shows an example of a user interface may be displayed in a viewing
area of the topside
control panel of Figure 1 in accordance with a non-limiting example of the
present invention.
In the drawings, the embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of
examples. It is to be
expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for the
purpose of illustration and
are an aid for understanding. They are not intended to be a definition of the
limits of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The description below is directed to a specific implementation of a topside
control panel according
to principles of the invention in the context of a bathing system. It is to be
understood that the term
"bathing system", as used for the purposes of the present description, refers
to spas, whirlpools, hot
tubs, bathtubs, therapeutic baths, swimming pools and any other type of
bathing unit that can be
equipped with a control system for controlling various operational settings of
the bathing units.
Figures 1-5 show a topside control panel 100 in accordance with a specific
example of
implementation. The control panel 100 includes a housing 50, which
conceptually, divides the
control panel 100 into an upper housing subassembly 350 and a bottom housing
subassembly 360.
Figures 6-11 illustrate in more details certain features/components of a non-
limiting embodiment of
the upper housing subassembly 350, whereas Figures 12-19 illustrate in more
details certain
features/components of a non-limiting embodiment of the bottom housing
subassemb1y360.
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The following section describes in more details a non-limiting example of
implementation of the
upper housing subassembly 350.
In the specific example of implementation of the topside control panel 100
shown in Figures 1-3,
and shown in exploded/disassembled form in Figures 4 and 5, the control panel
100 includes a cover
frame 10 having an internal wall 146 which is in contact with, or in close
proximity to, an outer
surface of a peripheral wall 138 of the housing 50. In turn. a LCD/touch
screen assembly 20 is
positioned in contact with, or in close proximity to, an inner surface of the
peripheral wall 138 of the
housing 50, in opposite relationship to the cover frame 10. In other words,
when viewed from the
top of the control panel 100, the peripheral wall 138 forms a ring surrounding
the LCD/touch screen
assembly 20, and the cover frame 10 surrounds the ring.
The housing 50 and/or the cover frame 10 can be made of any suitable material
including plastic,
metal or a composite.
The cover frame 10 shown in Figures 1-3 is illustrated with a given aesthetic
appearance and shape,
however it will be apparent that any other aesthetic appearance may be used in
alternative
implementations. In specific practical implementations, the cover frame 10 may
be configured to
engage the housing 50 using any suitable fasteners, including mechanical
fasteners (for example
clips) and adhesives. In some implementations, this type of configuration may
allow customizing
the visual/aesthetic appearance of the topside control panel by using
different shapes and/or color
for the cover frame 10 while the remaining components of the topside control
panel remain
unchanged between different models/designs. In practical implementations the
cover frame 10 may
be made using plastic material, which can be manufactured at a relatively low
cost, potentially
allowing the customization of the topside control panel 100 to be done at a
relatively low cost.
In non-limiting examples, the cover frame 10 may be configured to releasably
engage the housing
50 using any suitable fasteners. Advantageously, embodiments of topside
control panels in which
the cover frame 10 can releasably engage the housing 50 may allow for the
cover frame 10 to be
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replaced by a user (for example in the case of damage and/or when a different
visual appearance is
desired) without having to replace a significant portion of the (or entire)
top-side control panel 100.
With reference to Figures 4-7, which show different portions of the topside
control panel 100 in
exploded form, it can be seen that the housing 50 includes a top surface 50A
circumscribed by a
peripheral edge 140 which in the embodiment depicted includes a peripheral
wall 148. In the
specific example illustrated in Figures 4-7, the top surface 50A and the
peripheral wall 148 define a
recess 46, where the recess 46 is configured for receiving the LCD/touch
screen assembly 20
therein.
In the specific example shown in Figures 4-7, the top surface 50A of the
housing 50 further includes
a plurality of standoffs 38 protruding from the top surface 50A, where one of
the plurality of
standoffs 38 is located generally along an axis b. In practical
implementations, the height of the
plurality of standoffs 38 is chosen such that at least one of the plurality of
standoffs 38 contacts a
portion of a bottom surface 35 of the LCD/touch screen assembly 20. While the
specific example
shown in Figures 4-7 illustrates three standoffs 38, alternative embodiments
may include more or
fewer standoffs. In a specific embodiment, the top surface 50A of the housing
50 may also include
an aperture 32 which is located along an axis a.
The peripheral edge 140 includes a groove or channel 144, which extends along
a perimeter of the
peripheral wall 148. In the embodiments depicted, the peripheral edge surface
140 is circumscribed
by a second peripheral wall 138, where the second peripheral wall 138 is for
engaging the inner
perimeter of the cover frame 10. In a practical implementation, the peripheral
edge surface 140
engages a bottom peripheral edge surface 242 of the LCD/touch screen assembly
20.
In the specific example shown in Figures 4-7, a sealing material 30, which may
be in the form of a
gasket seal, may be used to secure the display touch or presence-sensitive
assembly 20 to the
housing 50. In practical implementations, the sealing material 30 may be
positioned within the
groove or channel 144 to secure the LCD/touch screen assembly 20 to the
housing 50. In an
exemplary embodiment, the sealing material 30 can be a flexible and/or
rubberized gasket seal or a
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double sided tape structure and may be comprised of a water resistant adhesive
that adheres the
peripheral bottom surface 142 of the LCD/touch screen assembly 20 to the
peripheral edge 140 of
housing 50. In practical implementations, the sealing material 30 may
advantageously reduce water
infiltration between the LCD/touch screen assembly 20 and the housing 50.
The housing 50 further includes a peripheral flange 9 which is positioned on
an outer surface of the
second peripheral wall 138. In the specific example illustrated in Figures 4-
7, the peripheral flange
9 is designed to engage a bottom surface 7 of the cover frame 10 such that,
upon assembly, at least
a portion of the bottom surface 7 of the cover frame 10 engages at least a
portion of a top surface of
the peripheral flange 9. In a specific example of implementation, in order to
secure the cover frame
to the housing 50, the peripheral flange 9 includes one or more recesses 5 on
an edge thereof,
which accommodate complementary mating projections 3 on an inner surface of an
outskirt wall 29
of the cover frame 10. By urging the cover frame 10 downward onto the housing
50 while the
projections 3 are axially aligned with the recesses 5, the projections 3
ultimately enter the recesses 5
and the cover frame 10 snaps onto the housing 50. Alternatively, suitable
adhesives or other
fastening techniques may be used in alternative implementations which will
become apparent to the
person skilled in the art in view of the present description. In some
implementations, the fastener
used to couple the cover frame 10 to the housing 50 may be of a releasable
type such as to facilitate
the fastening, removal and re-fastening of the cover frame 10 to/from the
housing 50.In the specific
example shown in Figures 4-7, a light diffusion plate 40 is positioned on the
top surface 50A of the
housing 50 such that the peripheral edge of the light diffusion plate 40 is in
contact with, or in close
proximity to, the meeting portion between upper surface 50A and the first
peripheral wall 148. The
light diffusion plate 40 includes a number of apertures 42 for receiving the
protruding standoffs 38
therethrough, where one aperture is located along the axis b. The light
diffusion plate 40 also
includes aperture 44 located along the axis a as well as an elongated aperture
107 located
substantially in the center of the light diffusion plate 40, and apertures
110A and 108A. The
aperture 107 is cooperatively located with corresponding aperture 34 located
on the bottom surface
50A of the housing 50, whereas the apertures 110A and 108A are cooperatively
located with
corresponding apertures 110B and 108B also positioned on the bottom surface
50A of the housing
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50. In some alternate implementations, the light diffusion plate 40 can be
omitted from, or
integrated into, the control panel 100. In specific practical implementations,
the light diffusion plate
40 may be constructed using any suitable material to peimit light arriving on
a rear (lower) surface
thereof to diffuse along its periphery and travels towards the periphery of
the LCD/touch screen
assembly 20. In a non-limiting practical implementation, the light diffusion
plate 40 is comprised of
a white polyester fabric that is at least partially opaque, however it will be
appreciated that any other
suitable type of material may be used in alternate implementations.
Figures 8-11 show an embodiment of the LCD/touch screen assembly 20 in
accordance with a
specific configuration. Other suitable LCD/touch screen assembly configuration
may be used in
alternative implementations.
In the specific embodiment shown in Figures 8-11, the LCD/touch screen
assembly 20 includes a
cover layer 12, which may be made of glass, plastic or any other suitable
material. By way of a non-
limiting example, the cover layer 12 may be made of a layer of a chemically
strengthened glass,
such as the Gorilla GiassTM (Corning Inc,, NY, U.S.A.). The cover layer 12 may
have an exemplary
thickness of a few millimeters, for example, but without being limited
thereto, 3 mm; other suitable
thicknesses, however, may be used in other practical implementations. The
cover layer 12 may
include an opaque portion 8 and a translucent or transparent portion 6, where
the translucent or
transparent portion 6 is designed to allow the user to see and interact with
the display generated by
the LCD/touch screen assembly 20. In one non-limiting embodiment, the cover
layer 12 also
includes a tactile zone 2 which is located along the axis b shown in Figure 6,
and may also include a
transparent or translucent zone 4 which is located along the axis a shown in
Figure 6. The cover
layer 12 has a bottom surface 35 which is circumscribed by a bottom peripheral
surface 142. As
explained earlier, the bottom peripheral surface 142 is designed to contact
the sealing material 30,
which is positioned in the groove or channel 144 of housing 50. The cover
layer 12 further includes
a peripheral edge surface 242 which circumscribes the bottom peripheral
surface 142. In a practical
implementation, when a bottom surface portion of the LCD/touch screen assembly
20 engages the
space 46 of the housing 50, the peripheral edge surface 242 engages the
peripheral edge surface 140
of the housing 50.
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In a practical implementation, the tactile zone 2 allows associating user
tactile input to software-
implemented actions. In a specific embodiment, the tactile zone 2 provides
haptic feedback and/or
includes a mechanical actuator to provide a user with the possible of
providing commands through a
push-button like action.
In a practical implementation, the transparent or translucent zone 4 is
associated with an ambient
light sensor positioned on the circuit board assembly 80, for example, for
automatically adjusting
the LCD/touch screen assembly 20 brightness display settings according to
software-implemented
actions.
In the specific embodiment shown in Figures 8-11, the LCD/touch screen
assembly 20 further
includes a touch/presence-sensitive layer 14 which is located under the cover
layer 12. A first
wiring element 26 is positioned on a peripheral edge side wall 14A of the
touch/presence-sensitive
layer 14. The first wiring element 26 is designed to include a flange 22 which
extends
longitudinally under the bottom surface of the touch/presence-sensitive layer
14 and connects a
wiring cable 15, which electrically couples the touch/presence-sensitive layer
14 to the circuit board
assembly 80.
In a practical implementation, the touch/presence-sensitive layer 14 can use
capacitive sensor
technology, in which case it can sense changes in capacitance at areas of the
active region of the
panel 100 caused by nearness of a user's finger or other object (such as a
stylus) to the touch
sensitive layer. The panel 100 may therefore be touch or presence-sensitive to
the user's finger or
other device such as a stylus. The sensitivity of the panel display 100 may
typically be adjusted,
e.g., through software driver adjustment, so that the user may not need to
even physically touch the
cover layer to actuate a button or some other activity such as a swipe.
In a practical implementation, the LCD/touch screen assembly 20 is a TFT LCD
(thin film transistor
liquid crystal display) module. Displays employing other technologies may be
used in alternate
implementations. Touch/presence-sensitive display assemblies suitable for the
purpose of the
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touch/presence-sensitive layer 14 may be commercially available and thus need
not be described in
greater detail here.
In the specific embodiment shown in Figures 8-11, the LCD/touch screen
assembly 20 further
includes a display layer 18 which is located under the touch/presence-
sensitive layer 14. The
display layer 18 includes a second wiring element 36 which is positioned on a
peripheral edge side
wall 18A of the display layer 18 corresponding to the peripheral edge side
wall 14A of the
touch/presence-sensitive layer 14 on which is located the first wiring element
26. The second
wiring element 36 is designed to include a flange 222 which extends
longitudinally under the bottom
surface of the display layer 18, and is configured to attach a wiring cable
13, which electrically
couples the display layer 18 to the circuit board assembly 80.
In a practical implementation, the display layer 18 engages the touch/presence-
sensitive layer 14
using any suitable fasteners, including mechanical fasteners (for example
clips) and adhesives. In
the specific embodiment shown in Figures 8-11, the display layer 18 engages a
flange 22 positioned
on the first wiring element 26 and is secured to the touch/presence-sensitive
layer 14 with an
adhesive layer.
In a practical implementation, the display layer 18 and the touch/presence-
sensitive layer 14 engage
the recess 46 defined by the first peripheral wall 148 and the top surface 50A
of the housing 50,
whereas the peripheral edge surface portion 242 of the cover layer 12 engages
the peripheral edge
surface 140 of the housing 50 and may be fastened thereto using any suitable
adhesive material. In
specific practical implementations, the display layer 18, touch/presence-
sensitive layer 14 and cover
layer 12 may be bonded to one another using any suitable adhesive in
accordance with any suitable
technique known in the art. In practical implementations, such a configuration
may afford an
advantageous reduction in water infiltration into the control panel 100.
The following section now describes in more details a non-limiting example of
implementation of
the bottom housing subassembly 360.
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With reference to Figures 12-19, the housing 50 includes a bottom surface 50B
circumscribed by a
peripheral wall 28, where the bottom surface 50B and the peripheral wall 28
define a recess 48.
The peripheral wall 28 can include projecting portions 86 positioned on
respective side wall portions
thereof. In the specific embodiment shown in Figures 12-19, the peripheral
wall 28 includes a pair
of projecting portions 86, in an opposite relationship one to the other, and
which project inwardly
within the recess 48. Each projecting portion projecting portions 86 can
include a plurality of
securing posts 66, positioned on an inner surface thereof within the recess
48. In the specific
embodiment shown in Figures 12-19, each projecting portion of the pair of
projecting portions 86
includes a pair of securing posts 66. One securing post of the pair of
securing posts 66 is positioned
on a first respective side wall portion of one of the projecting portions 86,
in opposite relationship to
the other one securing post of the pair of securing posts 66 which is itself
positioned on a second
respective side wall portion of the same one of the pair of projecting
portions 86. The securing posts
66 protrude from the bottom surface 50B and are designed to narrow in size
towards the protruding
extremity thereof.
The bottom surface 50B may also include a plurality of standoff posts 64 which
also protrude from
the bottom surface 50B and which can be positioned peripherally close to, or
adjacent to, an inner
surface of the peripheral wall 28. Other positioning of the standoff posts 64
on the bottom surface
50B can be used in alternate practical implementations. The standoff posts 64
are designed to have
a certain height such that at least some can contact a portion of a top
surface of the circuit board
assembly 80.
The bottom surface 5011 can also include a plurality of mounting brackets 56
protruding from the
bottom surface 50B, for securing the circuit board assembly 80 to the housing
50. In the specific
embodiment shown in Figures 12-19, the bottom surface SOB includes a pair of
mounting brackets
56. Other numbers of mounting brackets may be used in alternate practical
implementations.
The bottom surface 50B can also include an aperture 32 which opens through the
top surface 50A.
The aperture 32 is inline along the axis a and is designed to receive a
generally hollow connector 60
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extending therethrough, which in the example shown is in the form of a hollow
cylindrical
connector. The connector 60 creates an optical pathway for light signal
thereby associating the
transparent or translucent zone 4 with an ambient light sensor that may be
positioned on the circuit
board assembly 80 along the axis a. In specific practical implementations, the
use of an ambient
light sensor positioned on the circuit board assembly allow adapting the
intensity and/or color of the
images displayed by the electronic display to be conditioned at least in part
on the basis of the
detected amount of ambient light, for example to make the displayed images
more pleasing to the
user of the bathing unit system. Suitable ambient light sensors are
commercially available, and as
such, will not be further described here.
The bottom surface 50B can also include an aperture 34 which open through top
surface 50A
thereby creating a ventilation pathway, which may allow ambient moisture to
circulate and
eventually escape from the control panel 100 to an outside space.
The bottom surface 50B can also include a plurality of light diffusor elements
62, which are shown
in Figure 12-15 allowing the light coming from lighting elements, which may be
LEDs for example,
positioned on the board assembly 88 to allow light generated by these lighting
elements propagate
towards for upper/front portion of the top-side control panel 100. In
combination with the light
diffusion plate 40, the light diffusor elements 62 allow the peripheral wall
138 of the housing 50 to
be illuminated, which in some implementations may create a visually pleasing
back-lit effect for the
top-side control panel 100.
In the specific example shown in Figures 12-19, the peripheral flange 9
present on the periphery of
the housing 50 has a bottom surface 76, which is circumscribed by a bottom
wall 224 positioned on
a peripheral edge of the flange 9. The bottom wall 224 includes one or more
wall portion(s) 68
which are generally inwardly projected.
In the specific example shown in Figures 12-19, an adhesive gasket 70 having
an inner peripheral
wall 78 and which defines a cut out 82, is designed such that the inner
peripheral wall 78 is
complementary to the outer surface of peripheral wall 28 of the housing 50.
The adhesive gasket 70
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is for attaching the top-side control panel 100 on a surface of the bathing
unit. In some
implementations, the adhesive gasket 70 may also act as a water barrier to
prevent water from
penetrating within the body of the topside control panel 100. The adhesive
gasket 70 may further
includes recesses 72 on a peripheral edge thereof, which mate with
complementary wall portion(s)
68 of the bottom vertical wall 224 of the housing 50. In a practical
implementation, by urging the
adhesive gasket 70 upwards onto the housing 50 while the wall portion(s) 68
are axially aligned
with the recesses 72, the wall portion(s) 68 ultimately engage the recesses 72
and the adhesive
gasket 70 engages the housing 50. Alternatively, the adhesive gasket 70 may be
omitted from the
control panel 100 or may be integrated as being part of the body of housing
50.
The circuit board assembly 80 is electrically coupled to the LCD/touch screen
assembly 20. In
specific practical implementations, the circuit board assembly 80 may include
one or more
processing elements configured to provide software-implemented functionality
for operating the
topside control panel 100. The specifics functionality implemented by the
processing elements is
not critical to the invention and will, therefore, not be further described
here. The circuit board's 80
periphery includes a plurality of peripheral recesses 88 which mate with, and
are complementary to,
the plurality of projection portions 86 on the peripheral wall 28 of the
housing 50. In the specific
embodiment shown in Figures 12-19, the circuit board assembly 80 includes a
pair of peripheral
recesses 88 to match with, and be complementary to, the pair of projecting
portions 86.
The circuit board assembly 80 further includes a plurality of apertures 84
which are designed for
engaging the plurality of mounting brackets 56 protruding from the bottom
surface 50B of the
housing 50. In the specific embodiment shown in Figures 12-19, the circuit
board assembly 80
includes a pair of apertures 84 which are designed for engaging the pair of
mounting brackets 56.
The circuit board assembly 80 further includes apertures HOC and 108C for
connecting wiring 13
and 15, respectively. In a practical implementation, apertures 110C and 108C
may be cooperatively
located with apertures 110B and 108B extending through the bottom and top
surface 50B and 50A
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of the housing 50, as well as with apertures 110A and 108A of light diffusion
element 40 (if
present).
In some practical implementations, circuit board assembly 80 may include one
or more lighting
elements, which may be LEDs for example, mounted upon the assembly 80. These
lighting
elements may be controlled by processing components of the circuit board
assembly 80 to generate
light effects, which may be propagated to the upper/front portion of the top-
side control panel 100.
Optionally, light of different colors and/or intensity as well as different
light patterns may be
generated by providing suitable lighting elements and/or appropriate control
functionality on the
circuit board assembly 80. Optionally still, the processing elements on the
circuit board assembly
80 may be programmed for modulating the images displayed by the LCD/touch
screen assembly 20
at least in part based on the type (for example color/intensity and/or
pattern) of light generated by
the one or more lighting elements. For example the color of the image
displayed by the LCD/touch
screen assembly 20 may be modulated to create a visually pleasing effect when
view in
combination with the color and or intensity of the light emitting by the one
or more lighting
elements.
In a practical implementation, the circuit board assembly 80 is secured in the
recess 48 by aligning
the plurality of recesses 88 with the plurality of projecting portions 86 and
aligning the plurality of
apertures 84 with the plurality of mounting brackets 56. Upon urging the
circuit board assembly 80
towards the bottom surface 50B, the plurality of recesses 88 ultimately engage
the plurality of
securing posts 66 positioned on an inner surface of the projecting portions
86, and the plurality of
mounting brackets 56 engage the apertures 84 such that the circuit board
assembly 80 is secured in
the recess 48.
In the specific embodiment shown in Figures 1-3, the control panel 100 further
includes a back
panel 90 which is positioned on the housing 50, in opposite relationship to
the cover frame 10.
Figures 17 to 19 better illustrate a specific embodiment of the back panel 90.
In this specific
embodiment, the back panel 90 includes a top (inner) surface 90A circumscribed
with a peripheral
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wall 126 which, when taken together, define space 116. In a specific example
implementation, the
top surface 90A has a longitudinal concave shape and the peripheral wall 126,
accordingly, includes
a longitudinal portion wall 120 which is complementary to the concave shape of
the top surface
90A. In a practical implementation, the concave shape may afford an
advantageous moisture- \
water-controlling effect in providing an air pathway for moisture or water to
travel away from water
\ moisture sensitive elements present within the control panel 100.
The back panel 90 further includes a peripheral edge 124 which circumscribes
the top surface 90A.
The peripheral edge 124 includes a groove or channel 104 which extends along a
perimeter of the
peripheral wall 126, where the groove or channel 104 engages the peripheral
wall 28 of the housing
50.
In a specific embodiment, the back panel 90 peripheral wall 126 can include a
plurality of recessed
portion walls 98 where each one thereof has a corresponding one of a plurality
of recessed portions
214 on the peripheral edge 124. In the specific embodiment shown in figures 17
to 19, the
peripheral wall 126 includes a pair of recessed portions 98 positioned in
opposite relationship one to
another, on each transversal portion of the peripheral wall 126, where each
one of the pair of
recessed portions 98 has a corresponding recessed portion 214 on the
peripheral edge 124.
In a specific embodiment, the back panel 90 peripheral edge 124 can also
include a plurality of
mounting brackets 112 extending therefrom for engaging the peripheral wall 28
of the housing 50.
In the specific embodiment shown in figures 17 to 19, the peripheral edge 124
includes a pair of
mounting brackets 112 positioned on each transversal portions of the
peripheral edge 124.
Advantageously, each one of the plurality of mounting brackets 112 may include
a snapping portion
114 for releasably securing the back panel 90 to the housing 50. In a
practical implementation, by
urging the back panel 90 upwards onto the housing 50 while each of snapping
portion 114 of the
plurality of mounting brackets 112 are aligned with a respective one of a
plurality of mounting
brackets 58 positioned on an outer surface of peripheral wall 28 of the
housing 50 (shown in Figure
14), and while each one of the plurality of recessed portions 214 are aligned
with a respective one of
the plurality of projecting portions 86, a surface edge of peripheral wall 28
engages into the groove
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or channel 104, each one of the plurality of snapping portions 114 engages the
respective one of the
plurality of mounting brackets 58 and each one of the plurality of recessed
portions 214 engage the
respective one of the plurality of projecting portions 86, resulting in that
the back plate 90 snaps
onto the housing 50 (the resulting configuration is shown in Figure 2). While
Figures 17-19 show a
pair of mounting brackets 112 on each of the transversal portion walls of the
peripheral edge 124, it
will be apparent that any suitable number of mounting brackets 112 may be used
in specific
alternate practical implementations.
Alternatively still, adhesives or other fastening
techniques/mechanisms known in the art may be employed in alternate
implementations for securing
the back plate 90 onto the housing 50.
In a specific embodiment, the back panel 90 includes a ventilation aperture 94
formed on a wall
thereof. In a specific embodiment, the aperture 94 is formed on the top
surface 90A and is
connected to an elongated hollow member 92 extending into a space external to
the topside control
panel 100. In a practical implementation, the hollow member 92 extending from
the aperture 94
formed on a wall of the back panel 90 provides an air communication path
between a space internal
to the topside control panel 100 and a space external thereto.
The back plate 90 includes a pass-through 96 for connecting a power and signal
wiring 134 (shown
in Figure 21) to the circuit board assembly 80. Power and signal wiring
elements are known in the
art and, as such, will not be further described here.
With reference to Figure 20, upon assembly, the topside control panel 100 can
include a
substantially continuous top surface which appears flush to a user's touch.
Alternatively, the topside
control panel 100 can include a discontinuous top surface which appears to a
user's touch as having
physically delimited zones, for example, such discontinuous top surface may
provide a delimited
LCD-touch screen area and a tactile input area.
In a practical implementation, the topside control panel 100 can also include
one or more generally
enclosed spaces. For example, an enclosed space 228 can be created when the
LCD/touch screen
assembly 20 engages the recess 46; an additional or alternate enclosed space
226 can be created
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between the bottom surface 50B and a top surface of the circuit board assembly
80 when the circuit
board assembly 80 is secured within the recess 46; and an additional or
alternate enclosed space 230
can be created between a bottom surface of the circuit board assembly 80 and
the top surface 90A of
the back panel 90 when the circuit board assembly 80 is secured within the
recess 46.
In a first type of practical implementation, one or more of the above
described enclosed spaces may
be filled with a water proof material, such as silicone in order to prevent
water from entering these
enclosed spaces.
In a second type of practical implementation, one or more of the above
described enclosed spaces
may remain generally empty (filled at least in part by air). Tt also has been
observed that leaving
some empty spaces and allowing air communication between the one or more
enclosed space and a
space external to the topside control panel 100 may prevent undesirable
moisture from accumulating
and/or remaining in these enclosed spaces.
Figures 21-22 show the topside control panel 100 illustrated in Figures 1-20
installed in a bathing
unit system 200. An exemplary bathing unit system can be a spa having a spa
tub, although it will
be appreciated that the subject matter may be practiced in connection with
other bathing units, such
as whirlpool baths and pools. The bathing unit system 200 includes a
receptacle for holding a
volume of bathing water 210, a plurality of comfort components including at
least a circulation
pump and a heater and a controller (shown in Figure 21) for controlling
operational settings
associated with the comfort components.
In this exemplary practical implementation, the topside control panel 100 is
positioned on an upper
portion of a peripheral wall 132A of the receptacle for holding water.
In many typical spa installations, the bathing unit may be fabricated in part
using a moldable
material, such as fiberglass. The topside control panel 100 may alternatively
be installed in bathing
units fabricated of other materials, including metal and ceramic materials.
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In a practical implementation, the topside control panel 100 may be installed
by drilling or otherwise
forming an opening in the bathing unit receptacle peripheral wall to form a
mount opening,
disposing the topside control panel through the mount opening, and securing
the topside control
panel in place by an adhesive gasket or mounting fasteners. Figure 21
illustrates an embodiment in
which screws 128 secure the topside control panel 100 via mounting fasteners
130 to an underside
of peripheral wall 132A. Other suitable fasteners may alternatively be
employed in alternative
implementations.
In a specific example implementation shown in figure 21, a wiring harness 134
is connected
between the topside control panel 100 and an electronic controller 136 of the
spa installation, such
that the topside control panel 100 is in communication with the electronic
controller 136 for
allowing a user of the bathing unit to control and/or monitor operational
settings of at least some of
the comfort components in the bathing unit system by using the topside control
panel 100. The
controller 136 responds to commands entered via the control panel 100 and
transmitted
electronically over wiring harness 134 to control operational settings of the
bathing unit system. In a
specific practical implementation, the controller 136 may be a controller of
the type described in
U.S. Patent 7,419,406 and Canadian Patent 2,499,551.
Figure 23 illustrates an exemplary display 220 which may be produced with the
control panel 100,
and showing "button" areas which may be actuated by close proximity or
touching of the user finger
or stylus. Other suitable display configurations may be envisioned for
alternative implementations
and will become apparent to the person skilled in the art in view of the
present description.
The non-limiting embodiment shown in the Figures only illustrates one specific
practical example in
which a person of skill may use the concept presented in the present document
in order to provide a
user with a topside control panel for controlling and /or monitoring component
in a bathing unit
system. Other practical implementations may be possible. For example, while
the topside control
panel illustrated in the Figures is of generally rectangular shape, other
shapes can also be
contemplated in alternative implementations. For instance, it will become
apparent to the person of
skill that the control panel can have another shape such as, but without being
limited thereto, a
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generally square shape, a generally oval shape, a generally circular shape, a
generally triangular
shape, and the like. Additionally or alternatively, the topside control panel
may include top
decorative or informative overlay, optionally including ornamental layers or
designs.
Note that titles or subtitles may be used throughout the present disclosure
for convenience of a
reader, but in no way these should limit the scope of the invention. Moreover,
certain theories may
be proposed and disclosed herein; however, in no way they, whether they are
right or wrong, should
limit the scope of the invention so long as the invention is practiced
according to the present
disclosure without regard for any particular theory or scheme of action.
It will be understood by those of skill in the art that throughout the present
specification, the term
"a" used before a term encompasses embodiments containing one or more to what
the term refers. It
will also be understood by those of skill in the art that throughout the
present specification, the term
"comprising", which is synonymous with "including," "containing," or
"characterized by," is
inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, un-recited elements
or method steps.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have
the same meaning as
commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this
invention pertains. In the case
of conflict, the present document, including definitions will control.
As used in the present disclosure, the terms "around", "about" or
"approximately" shall generally
mean within the error margin generally accepted in the art. Hence, numerical
quantities given
herein generally include such error margin such that the terms "around",
"about" or "approximately"
can be inferred if not expressly stated.
Although various embodiments of the invention have been described and
illustrated, it will be
apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the present description that
numerous modifications
and variations can be made. The scope of the invention is defined in the
appended claims.
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