Abstract:
The present invention relates to a portable device for pool operation management. The portable device can be used for determining basic mathematical calculations, pool surface area, pool volume, chemical adjustments and breakpoint superchlorination from measured and entered inputs. In one embodiment, the device includes and LCD display for entering inputs and displaying results. The portable device and also include input devices of a ten digit keypad (0-9), decimal point key, math operation keys (+, −, ×, ÷), mode key, directional arrow keys, on/clear key, enter key and back key.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a portable handheld device for entering data and determining calculations for a pool selection and pool operation management. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    It is typical to treat pool water with treatment chemicals to kill/control unhealthy organisms, such as algae, pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Pools are generally treated with chlorine-containing sanitizers so as to contain free available chlorine (FAC) in amounts of from 1 to 3 parts of FAC per million parts of water (ppm). Free available chlorine (FAC) can be established in an aqueous system by adding regularly a source of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) or hypochlorite anion (ClO − ), e.g., calcium hypochlorite, to the water comprising the aqueous system. 
         [0005]    Hypochlorous acid or hypochlorite anion can be introduced into water to be sanitized by passing the water, or a portion thereof, through a container that contains calcium hypochlorite, e.g., calcium hypochlorite in the form of granules, tablets or other shaped forms. Alternatively, calcium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, e.g., granular calcium hypochlorite, can be added directly to water that is to be treated, e.g., sanitized. When water is introduced into the container containing the calcium hypochlorite, it dissolves, thereby forming an aqueous solution comprising hypochlorite anion, which solution is mixed with the water to be treated. 
         [0006]    Periodic batch additions of higher levels of hypochlorite anion can be made to the body of water in addition to the relatively steady and lower level additions described previously. Such batch additions of higher levels of hypochlorite anion are commonly referred to as a “shock treatment” or as “superchlorination” and are made on a periodic basis, e.g., once a week, once a month, or as required by problems or conditions arising in the pool or spa, such as high bather loads, algae blooms, high rainfall, fecal release accidents, and the like. The purpose of a shock treatment is to briefly increase the FAC of the water to, e.g., 5 to 20 mg/L, to consume accumulated organic material, destroy chloramines and/or control algae blooms or pathogen infestations. A shock treatment is administered by, for example, preparing a concentrated aqueous solution of calcium hypochlorite and adding this concentrated solution to the water, or distributing, e.g., broadcasting, an appropriate amount of particulate calcium hypochlorite directly over the surface of the water. 
         [0007]    The amounts of chemicals to be added are typically calculated manually by a user or pool service company. It is desirable to provide a portable device for entering data and determining calculations for chemical treatment during pool operation management. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention relates to a portable device for pool operation management. The portable device can be used for determining basic mathematical calculations, pool surface area, pool volume, chemical adjustments and breakpoint superchlorination from measured and entered inputs. In one embodiment, the device includes an LCD display for entering inputs and displaying results. The portable device and also include input devices of a ten digit keypad (0-9), decimal point key, math operation keys (+, −, ×, ÷), mode key, directional arrow keys, on/clear key, enter key and back key. 
         [0009]    A data collection template can be displayed on the device to provide a user interface for collecting and displaying data. The data collection template can comprise consecutive questions nested in menus or submenus, data collection prompts and commands for guiding a user through data collection activities and displaying results. 
         [0010]    The invention will be more fully described by reference to the following drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a portable device for pool operation management in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a screen display in a surface area calculation mode. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a screen display in a volume calculation mode. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a screen display in a pool operation management mode. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of a screen display in a breakpoint superchlorination mode. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of portable device for pool operation management  10  in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Portable device for pool operation management  10  can be a handheld device. Portable device for pool operation management  10  can be either solar powered or battery-operated. Display  12  displays information  13  of one or more of inputted entry values, menus and result values in a data collection template. In one embodiment, display  12  is a liquid crystal display (LCD). A suitable display  12  can be a LCD touch screen display. 
         [0018]    Mode selection key  14  is used for selecting a mode of operation of portable device for pool operation management  10  as described below. Directional arrow keys  16   a - 16   d  are used for moving or scrolling in a respective direction of right, left, up or down, through information  13  displayed on display  12 . 
         [0019]    Numeric keys  18   a - 18   j  are used to input numeric values. Mathematical operation keys  20   a - 20   d  are used to input a respective mathematical operator of division, addition, multiplication and subtraction. Decimal point key  22  is used to enter decimal point values during input of numeric values. Back key  24  is used to erase a previous entry of information displayed on display  12 . Enter key  26  is used to finish an entry and begin a desired process or to obtain the result of previously entered operations. On/Clear key  28  is used for powering on and off portable device for pool operation management  10 . Processor  29  can be used for receiving input, performing calculation operations and forwarding output to be displayed on display  12 . 
         [0020]    In one embodiment, mode  1  is used as a basic calculation mode in which conventional calculations can be performed by processor  29  based on input from depressing of mathematical operator keys  20   a - 20   d . Mode  2  is used for performing surface area calculations of a housing for a body of water, such as a pool or hot tub. The surface area calculator is used for determining surface area used in many pool related calculations. For example, the surface area can be used in calculations for volume, bather load, cover sizing, heater sizing and the like. Information  13  related to mode  2  can be displayed in a data collection template of one or more screen displays or menus on display  12 . An example menu  30  is shown in  FIG. 2 . In menu item  32 , information  13  is displayed to select a shape, such as, for example, rectangle, square, circle, oval and kidney, from items  34   a - 34   e . Upon selection of items  34   a - 34   e , one or more of entry value requests  36   a - 36   g  are displayed. Entry value requests are from various dimensions of the housing of a body of water. Numeric keys  18   a - 18   j  and decimal key  22 , shown in  FIG. 1 , are used for inputting the requested entry values. For example, if the shape selected with item  34   a  is a rectangular shape, entry value requests of enter length  36   a  and enter width  36   b  are displayed. If the shape selected with item  34   b  is a square shape, entry value requests of enter length  36   a  is displayed. If the shape selected with item  34   c  is a circle shape entry value requests of enter diameter  36   c  is displayed. If the shape selected with item  34   d  is an oval shape entry value requests of enter length  36   a , enter short diameter  36   d  and enter long diameter  36   e  are displayed. If the shape selected with item  34   e  is a kidney shape entry value requests of enter length  36   a , enter short width  36   f  and enter long width  36   f  are displayed. Upon entry of the items of the entry value requests from menu  30  a surface area is calculated using processor  29  for the selected shape and the result is displayed in window  31 . 
         [0021]    Mode  3  is used for determining the volume of a housing for a body of water. Information  12  related to mode  3  can be in a data collection template of one or more screen displays or menus on display  12 . An example menu  40  is shown in  FIG. 3 . In menu item  32 , information  13  is displayed to select a shape, such as, for example, rectangle, square, circle, oval and kidney, from items  34   a - 34   e . Upon selection of items  34   a - 34   e , one or more of entry value requests  36   a - 36   i  are displayed. Numeric keys  18   a - 18   j  and decimal key  22 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , are used for inputting the requested entry values. For example, if the shape selected with item  34   a  is a rectangular shape, entry value requests of enter length  36   a , enter width  36   b , enter shallow depth  36   h  and enter deep depth  36   i  are displayed. If the shape selected with item  34   b  is a square shape, entry value requests of enter length  36   a , enter shallow depth  36   h , and enter deep depth  36   i  are displayed. If the shape selected with item  34   c  is a circle shape entry value requests of enter diameter  36   c , enter shallow depth  36   h  and enter deep depth  36   i  are displayed. If the shape selected with item  34   d  is an oval shape, entry value requests of enter length  36   a , enter short diameter  36   d , enter long diameter  36   e , enter shallow depth  36   h  and enter deep depth  36   i  are displayed. If the shape selected with item  34   e  is a kidney shape, entry value requests of enter length  36   a , enter short width  36   f , enter long width  36   g , enter shallow depth  36   h  and enter deep depth  36   i  are displayed. Upon entry of the items of entry value requests from menu  40  a value is calculated for the selected shape and displayed in window  41 . 
         [0022]    Mode  4  is used for pool operation management for determining memory values for using processor  29  adjustment of chemicals. Information  13  related to mode  4  can be a data collection template of in one or more screen displays or menus on display  12 . An example menu  50  is shown in  FIG. 4 . A display of an entry value request of enter volume  42  is displayed. A value for the volume can be the value determined from mode  3 . Alternatively, a new value for the volume can be inputted by the user. In menu item  43 , information  13  is displayed for entry volume, to select a category of chemicals or additives to be adjusted, such as, for example, chlorine, pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, cyanuric acids from items  44   a - 44   e . An entry value request of enter value of self obtained readings  46  can be displayed. The user can enter self obtained readings from water tested for the body of water. An entry value request of enter an ideal reading  47  can be displayed. The user can enter the ideal reading desired to be obtained. An entry value request of select chemical  48  can be displayed. The user can select a chemical or additive to be used for the pool operation management chemical adjustment. An entry value request of select unit of measurement  49  can be displayed. The user can select a unit of measurement to be used for the chemical adjustments. After entry of the items of the entry value requests from menu  50  an amount of a chemical adjustment for a selected chemical is calculated by processor  29  for the selected shape and is displayed in window  51 . 
         [0023]    Mode  5  is used for pool operation management for determining one or more values for adjustment of superchlorination. Information related to mode  5  can be in a data collection template of one or more screen displays or menus on display  12 . An example menu  60  is shown in  FIG. 5 . A display of an entry value request of enter volume  42  is displayed. An entry value request of enter free available chlorine of self-obtained readings  52  can be displayed. The user can enter self-obtained readings for free available chlorine. An entry value request of enter total available chlorine of self-obtained readings  53  can be displayed. The user can enter self-obtained readings for total available chlorine. An entry value request of select chemical  54  can be displayed. The user can select a chemical or additive to be used for pool operation adjustment. Suitable types of chlorine which can be selected include sodium hypochlorite (liquid chlorine) or calcium hypochlorite (granular chlorine), lithium hypochlorite, trichlor or dichlor. An entry value request of select unit of measurement  55  can be displayed. The user can select a unit of measure to be used for the superchlorination adjustments. After entry of the items of the entry value requests from menu  60  an amount of superchlorination adjustment for a selected chemical is calculated for the selected shape and is displayed in window  61 . 
         [0024]    It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative of only a few of the many possible specific embodiments, which can represent applications of the principles of the invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be readily devised in accordance with these principles by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.