A SAUNA OPERATIONAL STATE CONTROL SYSTEM

A sauna operational state control system has a controller comprising an I/O interface interfacing a heater, a state controller configurable in a plurality of sauna operational states including standby and heating states and a heater controller which operably controls the heater via the I/O interface. The state controller is configured to receive schedule data, calculate a session start time according to the schedule data, calculate a heating time period, and calculate a heating time period start time according to the session start time and the heating time period. The state controller monitors time and, at the heating time period start time, enters the heating state wherein the heater controller operates the heater. As such, the present state controller allows for time-based anticipatory operational state control of a sauna including ensuring reaching of temperature setpoint parameters.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to sauna control systems and, more particularly, this invention relates to a sauna operational state control system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A sauna is a small room or building designed as a place to experience dry or wet heat sessions within which steam and high heat makes bathers perspire.

A thermometer in the sauna is typically used to regulate heat and a hygrometer can be used to measure levels of humidity or steam.

The present invention seeks to provide a sauna control system, which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

There is provided herein a sauna operational state control system comprising a controller comprising an I/O interface interfacing a heater. The controller further comprises a processor executing a state controller configurable in a plurality of sauna operational states including standby and heating states. The processor further executes a heater controller operably controlling the heater via the I/O interface.

The controller further comprises data storage and the state controller is configured to receive schedule data when in the standby state and store the schedule data in the data storage.

The state controller is configured to calculate a session start time according to the schedule data, calculate a heating time period, and calculate a heating time period start time according to the session start time and the heating time period.

As such, the state controller monitors time and, at the heating time period start time, enters the heating state wherein the heater controller operates the heater.

The present state controller allows for time-based anticipatory operational state control of a sauna including ensuring reaching of temperature setpoint parameters.

The controller may also control various peripheral components including lighting controllers and audio controllers according to the operational states.

In embodiments beyond ensuring reaching of a temperature setpoints in anticipation of a scheduled session, the system allows for the dynamic calculation of heating time periods, including in accordance with environmental factors and/or previous thermometer measurements.

The system may also adapt to user delays beyond scheduled session start times wherein the controller may further control the heater according to the commencement delay either received from a user electronic device or alternatively calculated by sensing the location thereof.

The system may await user acknowledgement prior entering an in-session state which may received from the user electronic device or alternatively determined by proximity sensors detecting the presence of a user or the electronic device. Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG.1shows a sauna operational state control system100. The system100comprises a controller101.

The controller101comprises a processor109for processing digital data. The controller101further comprises a storage device109configured for storing computer program code instructions and associated data110in operable communication with the processor109via a system bus105. In use, the processor109fetches the computer program code instructions and associated data110from the storage device109for interpretation and execution of the functionality described herein.

In embodiments, the controller101may take the form of a small form factor low-power ruggedised weatherproof computer device executing software or firmware.

The computer program code instructions may be logically divided into a plurality of computer program code instruction controllers108.

These peripherals may include a thermometer113, sauna heater114, lighting controller115, audio controller116, display controller117and/or proximity sensor139.

The controller101may further comprise a data interface107for sending and receiving data across a data network such as a point-to-point data network or a local area or wide area network such as the Internet.

The system100may further comprise an electronic device102in operable communication with the controller101. The electronic device102may similarly comprise a processor109fetching, interpreting and executing computer program code instructions and associated data110from a memory device109via a system bus105.

The electronic device102may similarly comprise a data interface107, including for communication with the controller101.

The electronic device102may comprise a digital display110for the display of digital data thereon. In embodiments, a haptic overlay interfaces the digital display110for the receipt of user gestures and input in relation to digital information displayed thereon.

In embodiments, the electronic device102may further comprise location sensing capability, including by way of a GPS sensor111. Furthermore, the electronic device102may have a wireless communication interface112, which may be a Bluetooth interface. In embodiments, the Bluetooth interface may be a Bluetooth BLE interface configured to transmit or receive periodic data broadcasts.

The controller101may comprise a state controller124operable in a plurality of states as will be described in further detail below with reference toFIG.3.

The controller101may store schedule data123which may be used to calculate sauna session start times and other parameters, such as session durations, temperature setpoints, accessory settings (such as for lighting and music control) and the like.

The controller101may further execute a sensor controller122interfacing one or more sensors via the I/O interface103, such as the thermometer113and proximity sensor139.

The controller101may further execute a heater controller121which controls the heater114via the I/O interface103.

The controller101may further execute a communication controller120, including for transmitting electronic communications to the electronic device102, including by way of push notification.

The controller101may further execute a proximity detector119which may detect proximity of the electronic device102or detect proximity of a person at or within the sauna including by interfacing the proximity sensor139.

The controller101may further execute an I/O controller118which may control various accessories, including the lighting controller115and/or audio controller116via the I/O interface103.

The electronic device103may execute a user interface controller125to display a user interface on the digital display110.

The electronic device103may further execute a registration controller126for registering the controller101with electronic device103, inputting various parameters and the like.

The electronic device103may further execute a schedule controller127which may schedule sauna sessions, including by transmitting schedule data to the controller101.

The electronic device103may further execute an I/O controller128for controlling various peripherals via the I/O interface103. For example, in embodiments, the I/O controller128may control the temperature, lighting, audio and or the like including in response to user input via the user interface.

Exemplary processing129by the system is given inFIG.3wherein the state controller124goes through various states indicated by rounded corner rectangles inFIG.3.

A user may firstly register the electronic device102with the controller101. In embodiments, the electronic device102takes the form of a mobile communication device wherein the user downloads and installs a software application thereon.

The user may then control the user interface to allow the registration controller126to register one or more controllers101with the electronic device102. Generally, each sauna would be provided with its own controller101and therefore a user may register any number of controllers101depending on the number of saunas.

The state controller124is initially in a standby state130.

A user may schedule a sauna session via the user interface by inputting a start time for a sauna session. The user may specify other information, including a duration, a day of the week, repeat frequency if applicable and other parameter settings, including temperature, lighting and audio preferences. In embodiments, a user may commence a sauna session immediately without scheduling.

The session controller127generates session data accordingly and transmits the session data to the controller101. In the standby state, at step130the state controller124is configured to receive schedule data and store the schedule data in the data storage109.

It should be noted that additionally, or alternatively, the schedule data may be configured by way of user interface (not shown) of the controller101, such as by way of an electronic display device with haptic overlay or alternatively pushbutton inputs and the like.

The state controller124calculates a session start time according to the schedule data. Furthermore, the state controller124calculates a heating time period.

The state controller124then calculates a heating time period start time at step131according to the session start time and the heating time period.

The state controller124may monitor an internal clock and, at the heating time period start time, the state controller124may enter the heating state132wherein the heating controller121controls the heater114via the I/O interface103to commence heating the sauna. It should be note that the purpose of the heating state132is to reach the temperature setpoint which, in embodiments, could also involve not activating the heater to allow the sauna to cool down.

The heating controller121may adaptively determine the heating time period so that the temperature setpoint is reached (or nearly reached) at the session start time.

In embodiments, during the initial registration, the controller101is configured with various configurations settings, including the interior volume of the sauna, the power of the heater and the like wherein the heating controller121is able to calculate the heating time period start time according to the configuration settings. For example, for greater interior volumes or lower power heaters, the heating controller121would calculate a longer heating time period as compared to if the interior volume were smaller or the heater of higher power.

In further embodiments, the heating controller121may further dynamically calculate the heating time period in accordance with environmental factors, including ambient temperature, either measured using a thermometer113within the sauna or an external thermometer113.

In yet further embodiments, the heating controller121may dynamically calculate the heating time period by monitoring the rate of temperature measured during previous heating time periods. Specifically, at step133, during each heating time period, the heating controller121may interface the sensor controller122to measure temperature sensed by the thermometer113. As such, the heating controller is able to calculate an average temperature time period gradient.

As such, for an upcoming session, the heater controller121may dynamically calculate the heating time period in accordance with the measured average temperature time period gradient.

After the heating state132, the state controller124may enter a ready state140. During the ready state140, the heater controller121may maintain temperature lower than an in-session temperature setpoint.

Furthermore, after the ready state140, the state controller124may enter an in-session state136. During the in-session state136, the heater controller121may maintain the temperature of the sauna at the in-session temperature setpoint by monitoring temperature readings of the thermometer131. As alluded to above, the temperature setpoint may be specified by the session data.

The in-session temperature setpoint may follow a program profile wherein, for example, a session gradually increases in temperature across the duration thereof.

At the end of a session, the controller124may revert to the standby mode130wherein the heater controller121deactivates the heater114so that the sauna cools.

As shown inFIG.3, in the in-session state136, the state controller124may monitor whether a time period T exceeds a session period P.

The session period may similarly be specified by the session data.

As also shown inFIG.3, when entering the ready state140the communication controller120may transmit a notification at step134to the electronic device102between the heating state132and the session state136.

At step135, the state controller124may determine whether a response is received the notification134.

If a response is received, the state controller124may progress to the in-session state136. Alternatively, if no response is received for a time period, the state controller124may revert to the standby state130.

For example, the communication controller120may transmit a push notification to the electronic device102which may display a prompt on a digital display110thereof indicating to the user that the sauna is ready for the session.

The user may acknowledge the prompt thereby causing the state controller124to progress to the in-session state136.

In the ready state140, the heating controller121may hold the temperature at a standby temperature lower than the in-session temperature setpoint and commence raising the temperature when receiving the response at step135.

In embodiments, the state controller124may further determine a commencement delay prior entering the in-session state136. For example, a user may control the electronic device102to respond that the user will only commence the session in 15 minutes wherein the heater controller121will thereby control the heater114to raise the temperature from the standby temperature to the temperature setpoint over the 15 minute period.

In alternative embodiments, the system100may determine the location of the electronic device102such as by using the GPS receiver111thereof. As such, the heater controller121may hold the temperature at the standby temperature until the electronic device102comes within a geo-fence proximity of the sauna.

In embodiments, the state controller124may receive a response in other manners. For example, the proximity139may comprise a passive infrared motion sensor, door reed switch or the like which detects the presence of a person at the sauna. In further embodiments, the proximity sensor139may detect a Bluetooth BLE transmission by the wireless communication interface112of the electronic device112. In further embodiments, the state controller124may receive the response from user interaction with the user interface of the electronic device103.

As such, when detecting the proximity of a person using the proximally sensor139, the state controller124may move from the ready state140to the in-session state136.

In embodiments, the state controller124may enter the in-session state136when receiving either the response from the electronic device102or detecting proximity of a person using the proximity sensor139.

During the session, the controller101may control the display controller117to display a countdown timer counted down the in-session time period P.

In the in-session state136, the I/O controller118may control the various peripherals, including controlling the lighting controller115, audio controller116and the like at step137.

For example, the session data may specify lighting parameters, including lighting colour, hue and intensity and wherein, during the session, the I/O controller118controls the lighting controller115accordingly. Furthermore, the session data may specify music parameters, including genre, playlist and the like wherein, during the session, the I/O controller118controls the audio controller116to play music accordingly.

In embodiments, I/O controller118may control the lighting controller115to indicate the operational state of the state controller.

The state controller124may further enter a paused state138. The state controller124may enter the paused state after the heating state132(i.e. in anticipation of the commencement of the in-session state136) or alternatively enter the paused state138at any time during the in-session state136.

In the paused state138, the heating controller may hold the temperature at the lower standby temperature.

The term “approximately” or similar as used herein should be construed as being within 10% of the value stated unless otherwise indicated.