Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Fountains or drinking tubes and straws – Ornamental
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-05
2001-08-21
Scherbel, David A. (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Fountains or drinking tubes and straws
Ornamental
C239S016000, C239S018000, C239S020000, C239S023000, C239S099000, C239S101000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276612
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to decorative water fountains which incorporate the use of such things as lighting and sound features, and in particular relates to systems, methods and apparatuses for infinitely varying the water output of the fountain and the lighting effect in correspondence with audio or other signals in real time.
2. Background Art
For centuries, fountains have been used to bring life to landscape and architecture. In more recent times, lighting and sound features have been added to enhance the artistic appeal of fountains. Attempts at coordinating the water, light and sound outputs so as to create a cohesive and unified audio/visual effect have either met with failure or have proven to be so labor intensive and costly as to be unfeasible to all but the most pecunious fountain owners. The inventor is unaware of any systematic fountain apparatus which can vary the water and light output of a fountain in a coordinated manner as a function of sound (e.g. music) input signals in real time regardless of the nature, frequency, beat, etc. of the sound input signals. All previous attempts at real time control of water and light output in response to audio signal input have required the creation of software routines customized to the particular piece of music.
One attempt at providing a controlled fountain in which the water and light outputs are varied in accordance with musical sounds is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,170 to Dach. Dach includes valves which are positioned downstream from water pumps, which valves are opened and closed to retard or permit water to flow to output jets. Attempting to control valves in this way will inevitably lead to undesired inertia losses and undue overall complexity in such a system, which will make it virtually impossible to obtain a truly synchronized output of water, light and sound.
Another attempt at providing a fountain in which water output and light emission is varied in accordance with input signals related to audio sounds is U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,210 to Chen. The Chen system operates in three discrete settings: a built-in procedure setting in which a main circuit provides predetermined signal sets to control the water and light performance sub-systems in a predetermined manner; an external sound input mode in which the main unit receives an analog signal which is analyzed and applied to a corresponding set of statistical music theory rules; and an external specific signal mode about which no detail is given. As in the patent to Dach, independent valves downstream of the water pumps are used to control water flow through the array of jets making up the fountain. Further, the valves which control water flow utilize photo interrupters to control valve position and hence water outlet selection.
A still further attempt at providing a fountain having variable operating states is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,387 to Alba. The Alba patent discloses a fountain controlled by a microprocessor, the output of the fountain being variable through the microprocessor in accordance with such parameters as input music signals. However, like the aforementioned references, the water flow is regulated by valves positioned downstream of the flow pumps and, consequently, suffer from the disadvantages already mentioned. In addition, the Alba fountain, although being extremely precise, is extremely complicated in that each water outlet constituting a jet making up the array of possible outlets are individually controlled by a valve residing within and constituting a part of the jet itself. The larger the fountain, the larger the complications incident to varying the pattern(s). In addition, installation of complicated electro-mechanical valves at each jet would essentially prohibit such a fountain from being used as a floating fountain due to size and weight limitations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The shortcomings inherent in the above-described disclosures, and others, are overcome by the instant apparatus, system and method of use wherein input audio signals of any type are fed to a microprocessor which converts the incoming audio signal to real-time control commands for fountain pumps and fountain lighting, and wherein the water output of any given circuit in the fountain is varied by changing the speed of the pump, without depending upon the opening or closing of any valves whatsoever. In this way, much greater versatility is permitted in the design and function of fountain systems of this type.
In its simplest form, the system includes a sound receiving or generating apparatus such as a radio or CD-player, the timing and settings of which can be manual or automated, a digital crossover unit to separate the audio signal into high, medium and low frequency band, an AC-DC converter to convert the separated AC audio signals into amplified usable DC computer inputs for processing, and a microprocessor, preferably in the form of a programmable logic controller, to process the incoming signals from the converter and output real time control commands for the fountain pumps and lighting control circuit(s). The system takes into account delays in water output occasioned by inertia, so that the sound, light and water features of the system are accurately coordinated.
The programmable logic controller can also be programmed to control start-up or discontinuance of the system, musical selections, and the times at which they are to be played.
In another embodiment, the invention may also use an anonometer which causes the output signal to the fountain pumps to be decreased so as to lower the fountain height, or shut the system down entirely, if wind conditions warrant.
Although there are no limits to the configurations into which an illuminated fountain can be constructed, it is to be appreciated that the instant invention is believed to be best suited to the type in which a plurality of independent water flow circuits are used, each of which terminates in a discharge nozzle array or pattern, the arrays from the various circuits being operated relative to each other in such a way that the desired aesthetic effect is produced. In addition, illumination patterns are incorporated into the fountain so as to dramatically enhance the visual effect produced. Each circuit is supplied with liquid by its own independent pump, the output of which is infinitely variable in dependence upon the control signal received from the microprocessor. The actual control features such as power and switching can vary according to the needs of the application as determined by the designer.
Typically, a control room or “pit” is provided adjacent to the fountain to which a water supply is fed, control components housed, and such things as filtration equipment and sumping apparatus are placed. The water level within the fountain can be regulated by a water level control system, and the illumination control system is preferably positioned there for ease of accessibility when maintenance is required.
The pit should be adequately ventilated, and a forced ventilation system having a minimum of 25 cubic feet of air per minute per horsepower of the system pump is preferred. It is also acceptable, however, to use a natural convection cooling and ventilation system as well known in the art.
The external water supply should coordinate with the water level control system to manually or automatically regulate the water level in the fountain.
A controller is employed to tie together the operation of all systems which make up the fountain. The microprocessor and other control elements of the system may be part of the controller or may be independently housed.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a decorative water fountain in which illumination and water output levels are varied in real time in accordance with any conceivable input parameters.
It is also an object of this invention to provide an electro-mechanical control system for a fountain display which comprises a plurality of spray systems and light source systems for illu
Brinkley, McNerney, Morgan Solomon & Tatum, LLP
Evans Robin O.
Scherbel David A.
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