Abstract: Systems, methods, and software that measure a plurality of error values each related to a different condition of an aquatic environment monitoring system including a degradation in a chemical indicator due to photo-aging, a degradation in a chemical indicator due to water-aging, a physical contamination of a chemical indicator, an illumination imbalance related to an optical reader, a degradation of a light source of an optical reader, a contamination in water between an optical reader and a chemical indicator, a displacement due to friction between a chemical indicator apparatus and a monitoring unit, an error intrinsic in a chemical indicator, and an error in distance between a chemical indicator and an optical reader. The plurality of error values are used to determine a confidence level that is compared to a threshold value associated with the monitoring system. A correction instruction is generated for correcting one or more of the conditions.

Abstract: An aquatic environment water parameter testing method that utilizes the conductivity of a liquid sample of an aquatic environment to correct an optical reading of a chemical indicator that has been exposed to the liquid sample to determine the level of a constituent in the aquatic environment. The conductivity of the liquid sample is determined, the chemical indicator element is exposed to the liquid sample, an optical reading is measured from the chemical indicator, and the optical reading is corrected using the conductivity. The temperature of the liquid sample may be utilized to correct the conductivity prior to correcting the optical reading. The temperature of an optical reader used to measure the optical reading may be utilized to correct the optical reading.

Abstract: An aquatic environment water parameter testing system and related methods and chemical indicator elements. The aquatic environment water parameter testing system includes an electronics portion having an optical reader element and a sample chamber portion. Conductivity and/or temperature may be utilized to calibrate readings by the optical reader element. A system may optionally have a sample chamber portion having a chemical indicator element which may be removably connected. A chemical indicator element may include an information storage and communication element used, in part, to provide identification of a chemical indicator of the chemical indicator element.

Abstract: Multi-parameter water analysis system with a water parameter sensing device configured to wirelessly provide detector data and a smart phone displayable indicator of water analysis test results that are calculated by an analysis application that is updateable via a cloud-based data resource to account for a manufacturing change in indicator chemistry and/or an improvement in test result display. The water parameter sensing device includes an optical sensing apparatus configured to detect light from each of a plurality of indicators for different parameters when the indicator and a chemical parameter are exposed to each other, a processor to process information of the detected light, and wireless communication circuitry for communicating detector data based on the information about the detected light to a remote device. Social networking of water quality data allows sharing to other users.

Abstract: A chemical indicator element for use in an aquatic environment water parameter testing system. The chemical indicator element includes a chemical indicator and a thin film material having particular optical characteristics tied to the light from a light source, such as a light source of an optical reader element of a water parameter testing system. The chemical indicator element may also include at least one of a backing material that absorbs one or more wavelengths of the light of the light source and a holder including a material that absorbs one or more wavelengths of the light of the light source.

Abstract: An aquatic environment water parameter testing system and related methods and chemical indicator elements. The aquatic environment water parameter testing system includes an electronics portion having an optical reader element and a sample chamber portion having a chemical indicator element which may be removably connected. A chemical indicator element may include an information storage and communication element used, in part, to provide identification of a chemical indicator of the chemical indicator element. Conductivity and/or temperature may be utilized to calibrate readings by the optical reader element. A chemical indicator element may also include a thin film material having particular optical characteristics tied to the light from a light source, such as a light source of an optical reader element.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software that measure a plurality of error values each related to a different condition of an aquatic environment monitoring system including a degradation in a chemical indicator due to photo-aging, a degradation in a chemical indicator due to water-aging, a physical contamination of a chemical indicator, an illumination imbalance related to an optical reader, a degradation of a light source of an optical reader, a contamination in water between an optical reader and a chemical indicator, a displacement due to friction between a chemical indicator apparatus and a monitoring unit, an error intrinsic in a chemical indicator, and an error in distance between a chemical indicator and an optical reader. The plurality of error values are used to determine a confidence level that is compared to a threshold value associated with the monitoring system. A correction instruction is generated for correcting one or more of the conditions.

Abstract: Combined illuminator/light collectors (I/LCs) that provide measurement and/or reference light to a target and collect light from the target. One example of a use for a combined I/LC of the present disclosure is for an optic of an optical reader used to read one or more chemical indicators that undergo physical changes that can be optically detected. The combined I/LC includes a spot lensing designed and configured in conjunction with the target to provide spot illumination on the target from one or more light sources. A light collector collects light from the target resulting from the spot illumination. Some embodiments further include dispersive lensing to direct a portion of the light from each light source away from the spot illumination to keep that light from interfering with the spot illumination.

Abstract: Cleaning systems for optics of optical readers to periodically clean one or more surfaces of the optics of matter that may deposit on surface(s) and that might interfere with the performance of the reader. In an example, the cleaning system is used on a chemical indicator apparatus that includes one or more chemical indicators that are read by an optical reader having an optic. During use, the chemical indicator apparatus is moved relative optic during a reading mode. A cleaning element is engaged with the chemical indicator apparatus so as to have a neutral position in which it cannot contact the optic during the reading mode. When it is desired to clean the optic, the chemical indicator apparatus is moved in a manner that causes the cleaning element to move from the neutral position to a deployed position in which it contacts the optic in a manner that cleans the optic as the apparatus continues to be moved.

Abstract: A dosing system and method for adding an additive to an aquatic environment from a removable additive container that includes an additive-identification device. The dosing system also includes an additive-presence-detecting device designed and configured to interface with the additive-identification device of the removable additive container so as to identify the additive of the additive container. A controller uses a dosing signal and to the identity of the additive by the additive-presence detecting device so as to control a dispensing mechanism to controllably dispense a desired additive. A plurality of additive receivers may be included in a dosing system such that an additive in each additive receiver can be identified properly by such a dosing system.

Abstract: An aquatic environment water parameter testing system and related methods and chemical indicator elements. The aquatic environment water parameter testing system includes an electronics portion having an optical reader element and a sample chamber portion having a chemical indicator element which may be removably connected. A chemical indicator element may include an information storage and communication element used, in part, to provide identification of a chemical indicator of the chemical indicator element. Conductivity and/or temperature may be utilized to calibrate readings by the optical reader element. A chemical indicator element may also include a thin film material having particular optical characteristics tied to the light from a light source, such as a light source of an optical reader element.

Abstract: A chemical indicator element for use in an aquatic environment water parameter testing system. The chemical indicator element includes a chemical indicator and a thin film material having particular optical characteristics tied to the light from a light source, such as a light source of an optical reader element of a water parameter testing system. The chemical indicator element may also include at least one of a backing material that absorbs one or more wavelengths of the light of the light source and a holder including a material that absorbs one or more wavelengths of the light of the light source.

Abstract: An aquatic environment water parameter testing system and related methods and chemical indicator elements. The aquatic environment water parameter testing system includes an electronics portion having an optical reader element and a sample chamber portion. Conductivity and/or temperature may be utilized to calibrate readings by the optical reader element. A system may optionally have a sample chamber portion having a chemical indicator element which may be removably connected. A chemical indicator element may include an information storage and communication element used, in part, to provide identification of a chemical indicator of the chemical indicator element.

Abstract: Photo-aging monitoring of light-based chemical indicators that experience performance degradation as the cumulative amount of light exposure from measurement and/or reference illumination increases from usage. Differing regions on a chemical indicator are illuminated with measurement illumination light of differing exposures, for example, higher brightness, longer exposure times, or both. Readings from the differing regions are compared with known aging information for the chemical indicator at issue to determine a confidence factor for the measurements. The confidence factor can be used to control various actions relating to measurements acquired from the chemical indicators, such as compensating measurement readings for photo-aging, assigning confidence levels to measurement readings, and issuing alerts to users when photo-aging exceeds one or more predetermined thresholds.

Abstract: Chemical indicator apparatuses containing one or more chemical indicators for use in monitoring the quality of water in an aquatic environment. The apparatuses are designed and configured to be submersible in the water that is being monitored. In some embodiments, each apparatus includes a plurality of immobilized-dye-based chemical indicators that undergo a physical change as levels of one or more constituents of the water change. Such indicators can be read by one or more suitable optical readers. These and other embodiments are designed and configured to be movable by a corresponding monitoring/measuring apparatus, for example, via a magnetically coupled drive. Also disclosed are a variety of features that can be used to provide a chemical indicator apparatus with additional functionalities.

Abstract: A water-quality monitoring system for an aquatic environment that includes a monitoring unit and a chemical indicator wheel designed and configured to be submerged in the water being monitored. The chemical indicator wheel includes a holder that supports a number of chemical indicators selected for use in measuring levels of constituents of the water. When in use, the wheel is drivingly engaged with a monitoring/measuring unit that includes at least one reader for reading the chemical indicators. In some embodiments, each apparatus includes a plurality of immobilized-dye-based chemical indicators that undergo an optically detectable physical change as levels of one or more constituents of the water change. Also disclosed are a variety of features that can be used to provide the monitoring system with additional functionalities.

Abstract: An aquatic environment monitoring system and method that includes correction for adverse conditions in the monitoring system involving the development of confidence levels for certain conditions in the monitoring system using stored information related to the aquatic environment and/or the monitoring system. Corrections to adverse conditions may be made by the environment monitoring system automatically by the monitoring system and manually via communications to a user of the system.

Abstract: A system and method for determining adverse conditions associated with a chemical indicator in an aquatic environment monitoring system in which reference illumination from an optical reader is used to illuminate a chemical indicator. Response from the reference illumination is used to determine a confidence value that can be part of an analysis associated with a measurement illumination response to produce a confidence adjustment instruction for possible action on the measured response value.

Abstract: A water-quality monitoring system for an aquatic environment that includes a monitoring unit and a chemical indicator wheel designed and configured to be submerged in the water being monitored. The chemical indicator wheel includes a holder that supports a number of chemical indicators selected for use in measuring levels of constituents of the water. When in use, the wheel is drivingly engaged with a monitoring/measuring unit that includes at least one reader for reading the chemical indicators. In some embodiments, each apparatus includes a plurality of immobilized-dye-based chemical indicators that undergo an optically detectable physical change as levels of one or more constituents of the water change. Also disclosed are a variety of features that can be used to provide the monitoring system with additional functionalities.

Abstract: Photo-aging monitoring of light-based chemical indicators that experience performance degradation as the cumulative amount of light exposure from measurement and/or reference illumination increases from usage. Differing regions on a chemical indicator are illuminated with measurement illumination light of differing exposures, for example, higher brightness, longer exposure times, or both. Readings from the differing regions are compared with known aging information for the chemical indicator at issue to determine a confidence factor for the measurements. The confidence factor can be used to control various actions relating to measurements acquired from the chemical indicators, such as compensating measurement readings for photo-aging, assigning confidence levels to measurement readings, and issuing alerts to users when photo-aging exceeds one or more predetermined thresholds.