"AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THE PARAMETERS INVOLVED IN THE PREPARATION OF A DRY SAUNA BATH". DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an automated system for controlling the parameters involved in the preparation of a sauna dry bath and the like and, more specifically, to an intelligent control system that is pre-programmed and selects the actuation of all mechanisms involved in the preparation of a dry sauna bath, such as temperature, relative humidity of the air, addition of essences and/or water as well as the maintenance time. As it commonly known, presently the temperatures of the dry type saunas is commanded when a thermostat is actuated by turning on or off the resistances of the heating means without checking "thermal leaks" such as open doors or windows; so that in order to control the relative humidity of the environment of the sauna room it is required to add water manually in a reservoir located right above the heating means thereof, which is then dripped over warmed rocks. ^■

In spite of being widely used, dry type saunas have shortcomings, among which the following can be cited: perceivable temperature changes, low output and high consumption, unsuitable control of the humidity in the sauna environment.

In a specific way, in the case of dry type saunas, one of the inconveniences is the fact that they can only be commanded when the user is in the bath room, and then he/she should wait until the desired temperature is reached or get into same before the final temperature is reached. Another inconvenience of these dry type saunas that are conventionally known is the fact that the mixture of essence and bath salts that compose the solution used during the bath should also be manually added randomly by the user himself/herself, thus forcing him/her to define or identify the optimum amount of essence that may please him/her and is consistent with

his/her preference.

Another inconvenience of these dry type saunas that are conventionally known is the fact that for each bath and each user of the sauna all the procedures for regulating the temperature, the water level and the addition of essences should be carried out empirically and manually, that is, for each user the regulation is unique and with no predetermined value, so that each user has to regulate the parameters of his/her bath somehow, even if the bath is initially prepared by the servant or maid of the house.

Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide an automated system for controlling the parameters involved in the preparation of a dry sauna bath that allows to memorize the selective temperature graduation in the sauna room; as well as to memorize the relative humidity of the air to be kept inside the bath room, in accordance with the body features and taste of a certain user, among others. Another object of the present invention is to provide an automated system for controlling the parameters involved in the preparation of a dry sauna bath, in a general way, that can be remotely actuated without requiring the presence of the user in the bath room, thus assuring that the user will only get into the sauna room when the bath is effectively ready. Another object of the present invention is to provide an automated system for controlling the parameters involved in the preparation of a dry sauna bath that allows to memorize and repeat a value of the bath temperature for each user, said mixing being carried out automatically after the user has pre-selected said temperature. Another object of the present invention is to provide an automated system for controlling the parameters involved in the preparation of a dry sauna bath that regulates permanently and automatically the temperature of the sauna room, as the bath goes on, by keeping same constant through the modulation of the power fed to the heating means. This way, electric power can

O be saved and a more stable temperature can be attained.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automated system for controlling the parameters involved in the preparation of a dry sauna bath that automatically turns off the heating means for any reason even if it is energized but without being used accordingly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automated system for controlling the parameters involved in the preparation of a dry sauna bath that prevents a bath from being prepared when the door of the sauna room is open. Another object of the present invention is to provide with an automated system for controlling the parameters involved in the preparation of a dry sauna bath so that it can perform an auto-diagnosis, by sending the user and/or technical assistance a notice of a problem or a possible problem and the probable cause thereof. Another object of the present invention is to provide with an automated system for controlling the parameters involved in the preparation of a dry sauna bath that is connected through the display of a device that operates through the Internet, of the cellular type, pocket PC, among others, that allow the user to follow all the variants of the system simultaneously. Finally, the object of the present invention is to provide an automated system for controlling the parameters involved in the preparation of a dry sauna bath wherein all the procedures for regulating the temperature, the relative humidity of the sauna room and the addition of the essences are carried out automatically and in a unique way, that is, each user is provided with a regulation that has been defined previously and is actuated whenever it is required.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are attained with an automated system for controlling the parameters involved in the preparation of a dry sauna bath that is comprised of a central

processing unit, a peripherically connected to a control panel being connected thereto that is provided with a display and an alphanumeric keyboard; said central processing unit being connected to the input of a power control circuit that selectively commands a set of resistances of the heating means, as well as a set of electric pumps of hydraulic systems through which the water and the essences can flow; said central processing unit, besides being commanded by the control panel, allows the remote command by means of data reception and transmission interfaces through pulse and/or tone telephone signal and/or electric signal, radio frequency signal, and/or the like, directly and individually connected to said central processing unit; a voice synthesizing circuit that connects the central processing unit with the data reception and transmission interfaces through pulse and/or tone telephone signals, the central processing unit being connected to an analog to digital converting circuit, which in turn receives the signals from humidity and temperature detectors and the like, physically disposed in strategic places in the sauna room; the whole assembly being connected to a power source.

This automated system for controlling the parameters involved in the preparation of an immersion bath also returns the call to the telephone assigned by the user and informs when the bath is ready by sending a voice signal.

Said system provides, when the CPU is programmed, a maximum time for the bath, so that after said time has elapsed the dry sauna de- energizes its heating means, as well as all its electric devices with the exception of the control panel, and keeps waiting a new command. This time counter is restarted every time the user depresses any button in the control panel.

The present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 represents a schematic perspective view of a bath room provided with a sauna room with the automated system for controlling the

parameters involved in the preparation of a dry sauna bath;

Figure 2 represents a block diagram of the automated system for controlling the parameters involved in the preparation of a dry sauna bath.

In accordance with these illustrations, the automated system for controlling the parameters involved in the preparation of a dry sauna bath object of the present invention is comprised of a central processing unit CPU, a peripherically connected to a control panel being connected thereto PC that is provided with a display D, an alphanumeric keyboard Te, and a loudspeaker, see

Figure 1. This central processing unit CPU is connected to the input of a power control circuit CCP, which is electrically connected to a heating means, an electric light for the internal lightening of the sauna room, pumps that selectively command the opening and closing of hydraulic systems through which the essences E and water H can flow.

The central processing unit CPU, besides being commanded by the control panel PC, allows the system to be commanded remotely, through data reception and transmission interfaces of the telephone interface IT type, through pulse and/or tone lines of the electric serial interface IES type to be connected to an automation center; or of the radio frequency interface IRF type to communicate with the remote control. The IRF is only suitable for the short distance remote control

(inside the house) and it is a two-way remote control, so that the sauna, once actuated by the RF remote control, will inform the remote control when the bath is ready.

A voice synthesizing circuit CSV interconnected to the central processing unit CPU with the control panel PC and the data reception and transmission interfaces through pulse and/or tone telephone signal IT is provided; and it also can be actuated by the automation system of the house either through the Internet, or the serial interface RS 232-C or the Intranet.

The central processing unit CPU is connected to an analog to

digital converting CCAD, which in turn receives the signals from the humidity and temperature detectors S, and others that are physically disposed in strategic places of the sauna room B.

A power source FA connected to the central processing unit CPU, feeds all the circuits involved in the system.

Therefore, the automated system allows, besides the control panel PC, the parameters for the preparation of a bath to be carried out through the IT, IRF and IES interfaces which are selectively actuated and commanded remotely, determining all the functions relevant to the preparation of a bath. Both the remote actuation and actuation "in situ" of the system allows the user in question to start the commands related to the preparation of the bath. The system is provided with a set of memories M1 , M2,..., Mn that allow the previous storage of the data and parameters to be used in the preparation of the bath. When the user calls said memory M1 , M2,... Mn, after having entered his/her access password, if the access was allowed remotely by telephone, or the access was allowed in situ, the user can command the preparation of his/her bath within the parameters related to the temperature and level of illumination of the sauna room, the relative humidity of the air in the sauna room, the amount of essence preset by the proper himself/herself. In the event a memory is not entered, the system is activated and a new bath will be prepared according to the parameters related to the temperature, the concentration of essence dispensed into the bath, among others, used for the preparation of the last bath.

Thus, the user can actuate the system anywhere, by means of fixed and/or mobile telephone lines, by means of an electric automation center or in the command panel of the sauna room itself, or through remote control by radio frequency so that the actuation can be interpreted by each one of the respective IT, IES, and IRF interfaces.

The operational description on how to activate the automated

system for controlling the parameters involved in the preparation of a dry sauna bath will be presented below.

The light intensity of the sauna room also can be memorized in memories M1 , M2,..., Mn. To start the operation, the system initially identifies the source of the actuation when it is actuated, which source can be the keyboard of the control panel PC itself; or can be a remote control IES or RF, or else can be a telephone call IT.

In the event the source of the command is the control panel PC, through the keyboard Te, the system identifies if the power F button was depressed or if one of the memory M1 , M2,..., Mn buttons provided in the panel PC was depressed.

In the event one of the memory M1 , M2,... Mn buttons has been depressed, the last one provides the previously stored value of the temperature, the relative humidity of the sauna room, the essence, and the light intensity of the sauna room, and the system starts operating.

In the event the source of the command is a remote control, for example, an automation center IES, the system starts operating.

In the event the source of the command is a telephonic call IT, the system requests a password number. If the password is not valid, the call is disconnected and the system returns to its standby status. In the event the password is valid but the door of the sauna room is open, the system aborts the bath and informs the user about the reason why it was aborted. If the door is closed a value of the temperature is required, and if it is not valid the system is provided with the possibility of being corrected, returning to its standby status. In the event the temperature is valid, the user is asked if he/she whishes the telephone confirmation to be returned, otherwise the system starts operating. In the event the confirmation return is required, a return telephone number is requested and then the system starts operating.

In the event the user wishes to command through the

Internet/intranet, he/she can do so by selecting all the parameters of the bath in the keyboard of the cell phone/computer, and will be on-line with the sauna and follow the preparation of the bath in real time. This is the most sophisticated way to control the sauna remotely because one can be on-line therewith.

When the sauna is turned on, in the beginning the system supplies all the required power to the heating means so that the desired/programmed temperature is reached as soon as possible. When the desired temperature is approached, the sauna starts modulating the power fed to the heating means. Once in the desired/programmed temperature, the sauna continues to modulate the power fed to the heating means to keep the temperature using the minimum amount of electric power required.

Detectors that sense the temperature, the relative humidity of the air inside the bath room and the status of the door (open or closed) are provided in the sauna room B to allow the detection of the bath temperature, the relative humidity of the air inside the bath room and the status of the door (open or closed). The system detects the temperature inside the sauna room B and compares same with the level and temperature values that have been set out previously, thus modulating the power fed to the heating means until the desired temperature is reached.

As soon as the temperature of the bath is equalized, the system starts dispensing the essence when the command is applied, so that the sauna room is ready to be used.

The same temperature detectors monitor constantly the temperature inside the sauna room, and inform a device about the temperature decrease in the sauna room, modulating the power fed to the heating means until the temperature inside the sauna room is restored to the values that have been set out previously.

The humidity control, when activated through the keyboard,

y actuates the water valve according to the reading in the humidity αetector, me parameter of which is the regulation the user has made in the control panel.

If during the preparation of the bath or after it is prepared to be used the door is open for a certain period, the dry sauna returns to the standby status, when the heating means and internal light of the sauna room are de- energized.

The control panel PC is provided with a digital display D that is self-illuminated, to indicate the temperature, and the loudspeaker A informs the user, through the voice synthesizing circuit CSV, when the temperature inside the sauna room B has reached the desired value that is set out by the user.

Although a preferred constructive concept has been described and illustrated, it should be pointed out that changes in the design are possible and attainable without departing from the scope of the present invention.