Abstract:
An interface system for a tub system comprises a screen plate adapted to be mounted to a tub wall. The screen plate has keys representing functions of the tub system, and being made of a material allowing light to pass therethrough. Lights are positioned in register with the keys of the screen plate and concealed from a visible surface of the tub. A controller is adapted to receive commands from a user of the tub to actuate any selected function of the tub system. A light actuator actuates the lights to light up the keys associated with the selected function to visually indicate actuation of the selected function of the tub system through the keys.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present patent application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/807,124, filed on Jul. 12, 2006. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE APPLICATION 
     The present application relates to actuated systems such as jet massage systems, magnetotherapy systems, aromatherapy systems, foot-massage systems, heating systems and the like used in tubs (i.e., bathtubs, hot tubs, whirlpools and similar basins), and more particularly to a keyboard to actuate these systems in tubs. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE ART 
     Tubs are well known for their primary use, namely a washroom installation in which a user person washes and bathes. Tubs have, however, evolved to add relaxation and comfort to practicality, and are found in many forms, such as bathtubs, spas, whirlpools. 
     For instance, tubs are now provided with air-jet systems and whirlpool systems, by which air or water is injected into the water of the tub to create some turbulence in the water. The turbulence creates a massaging effect on the bather in the tub. Other types of electrically actuated systems, such as oxygenation systems, foot-massage systems and aromatherapy systems are provided in conjunction with tubs, whereby a plurality of treatments are available with tubs. Such systems are often actuated by mechanical switches, which are triggered by closed contacts on circuitry. 
     One of the issues associated with such switches is the potential of electrical hazards associated with the liquid in the tubs. Also, mechanical switches are not particularly esthetic. 
     The bather having recourse to such treatments seeks amongst other things a moment of relaxation. It is therefore desired to simplify the use of all such systems to ensure that the bather benefits from relaxing in the tub. 
     SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION 
     It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a touchscreen keyboard system addressing issues associated with the prior art. 
     Therefore, in accordance with the present application, there is provided an interface system for a tub system, comprising a screen plate adapted to be mounted to a tub wall, the screen plate having keys representing functions of the tub system, and being made of a material allowing light to pass therethrough; lights positioned in register with the keys of the screen plate and concealed from a visible surface of the tub; a controller receiving commands from a user of the tub to actuate any selected function of the tub system; and a light actuator actuating the lights to light up the keys associated with the selected function to visually indicate actuation of the selected function of the tub system through the keys. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a touchscreen keyboard system for tubs in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the touchscreen keyboard system of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a touchscreen keyboard for tubs in accordance with an embodiment is generally shown at  10 . The touchscreen keyboard system  10  is an interface between a tub user and a tub system, and has a circuit board  12  with lights  13  (e.g., LEDs), a tubular spacer  14 , a sensor plate  16 , a watertight box  18 , a screen plate  20 , and a layer of adhesive  22 . 
     The circuit board  12  has a microprocessor and circuitry, in addition to the lights  13 , so as enable the various functions performed by the touchscreen keyboard system described hereinafter. 
     The tubular spacer  14  is provided to separate the circuit board  12  and lights  13  from the screen plate  20 , so as to ensure uniform lighting of the keys of the screen plate  20  (e.g., avoid optical cross talk). Light-emitting diodes (i.e., LEDS) are particularly well suited to be used in the touchscreen keyboard system  10 . 
     The sensor plate  16  is wired to the circuit board  12 , and has capacitive sensors  16 A,  16 B,  16 C, etc. The capacitive sensors or like sensors are triggered by the proximity of an object, such as a finger of a user person, to actuate functions of a tub system associated with the system  10 . 
     It is contemplated to provide other types of presence-detecting sensors. For instance, touchless switches (i.e., that can be triggered without mechanical contact) are preferred. Examples include of touchless sensors include surface acoustic wave systems, as well as reed switches. 
     The watertight box  18  accommodates the circuit board  12 , the tubular spacer  14  and the sensor plate  16 . The box  18  is watertight, considering that the circuit board  12  and the sensor plate  16  are wired to a power source. All necessary precautions are taken to avoid electrical hazards. 
     The screen plate  20  is mounted onto the top surface of the watertight box  18 . The screen plate  20  has keys  20 A,  20 B,  20 C, etc. The keys are typically screen-printed onto the screen plate  20 , and are in register with the capacitive sensors  16 A,  16 B and  16 C and with associated lights  13  on the circuit board  12 . The keys  20  represent symbols related to different functions of the tub system used with the touchscreen keyboard system  10  (e.g., on/off, ±, etc.). Considering that the sensors used in the system  10  are preferably touchless sensors, the screen plate  20  is typically a simple flat plate of translucent or transparent material. Moreover, in the preferred embodiment involving touchless switches, the keys each are a surface of the screen plate  20  in register with one of the sensors  16 A to  16 E so as to be sensitive to the presence of an object. Indicia or symbols delimit the sensitive surface forming the key. 
     As the keys  20 A- 20 E are selectively lit by the lights  13  in a sequence to be described hereinafter, the various components of the system  10  are made of an transparent or translucent material (i.e., materials allowing light to pass through), to allow light to be seen through the keys  20 A- 20 E. Therefore, the sensor plate  16 , the top surface  18  of the watertight box  18  and the screen plate  20  are translucent or transparent. 
     The screen plate  20  is secured to the watertight box  18 , for instance using an adhesive  22 . The screen plate  20  being the interface between the user and the tub system, the screen plate  20  is typically embedded in a wall of the tub  24 , so as to be the only visible part of the touchscreen keyboard system  10 . The screen plate  20  is sealingly mounted to the tub wall  24  ( FIG. 2 ) so as to avoid infiltration of water through a gap between the screen plate  20  and the tub wall  24 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the touchscreen keyboard system  10  is shown with greater details with respect to the circuit board  12  and components thereof. 
     The circuit board  12 , in addition to the lights  13  (illustrated as lights  13 A and  13 B), has a controller  30 . The controller  30  has a processing unit, so as to identify command actuations to send to the tub system X according to the user Y&#39;s selection. More specifically, the controller  30  is connected to the sensors  16 A,  16 B, etc. of the sensor plate  16  ( FIG. 1 ), and therefore receives actuation signals associated with the user Y′ selection. 
     The controller  30  receives the signals and sends appropriate command actuations to the tub system X (e.g., start, increase/decrease level, stop). A signal is also sent to a light actuator  32 . 
     The light actuator  32  controls the lighting of the keys  20 A,  20 B, etc., according to the functions of the system  10 . For instance, the system  10  is programmed to light up the keys  20  being triggered by the user Y, to confirm to the user Y that his/her selection has been received. 
     It may be desired to keep one or more lights  13  lit, to indicate that the tub system X is operating. For instance, the light actuator  32  may keep an “ON” key (from the keys  20 ) lit when the tub system X is operating. 
     Alternatively, the light actuator  32  may actuate lights  13  for the options that are available. As an example, if the maximum intensity level of injecting air for the air massage tub system Y has been reached, the light associated with the “+” key may be turned off while the light associated with the “−” key is kept on. In such a case, the symbols in the screen plate  20  ( FIG. 1 ) may be hidden unless lit. 
     The light actuator  32  is also preferably programmed to vary the intensity of the light emitted by the lights  13 . For instance, the lights  13  may always have some dim lighting, the intensity of which is increased to confirm a selection by the user Y. Again, in such a case, the symbols in the screen plate  20  ( FIG. 1 ) may be hidden unless lit. 
     In another embodiment, the controller  30  is connected to a wireless receiver  34 . The wireless receiver  34  receives commands from a remote control. The controller  30  sends corresponding command actuations to the tub system X, as well as selected commands to the light actuator  32 . In such a case, the light actuator  32  preferably confirms the reception of the wireless signal by actuating the lights  13  according to the above-described functions of the system  10 . In such a case, it is considered to simplify the system by splicing the actuation line of the appropriate light  13  to the command line sending a signal from the controller  30  to the tub system X. 
     A sound emitter  36  is also optionally connected to the controller  30 . The sound emitter  36  is actuated to confirm action by way of an audible signal to the user Y. 
     The touchscreen keypad system  10  is typically used with tub systems (a.k.a., apparatuses) such as jet massage system, foot-massage systems, aromatherapy systems, magnetotherapy systems, surface-heating systems, and other similar actuatable tub systems.