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: 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. Cumulative exposure to measurement and/or reference illumination from a monitoring/measuring system is tracked and stored as at one or more locations. Cumulative exposure information 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: Methods of assisting human users with dosing of aquatic environments, such as aquariums, pools, hot tubs, ponds, etc., that utilize automated monitoring systems that continually monitor various parameters of the water in the aquatic environments. When one or more measured water parameters of an aquatic environment are out of tolerance, a dosing calculator uses water-quality information from a monitoring system to generate dosing instructions for a human user that instruct the user how to dose the aquatic environment with one or more additives that will put the one or more parameters back into tolerance. In some embodiments, input from a user is used to switch the monitoring system to a dosing mode from a normal monitoring mode to track the progress of the dosing more closely than the normal monitoring mode would.

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: An aquatic environment monitoring system that includes chemical indicators that are dyes immobilized in an immobilizing medium, such as a hydrogel, and supported on a holder such that an optical reader may be used to illuminate the indicator dyes. The chemical indicator dyes include chemical indicator dyes that are sensitive for detecting calcium, magnesium, and carbon dioxide present in the aquatic environment.

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 system and method for dosing additives to an aquatic environment. The rate of addition of an additive is monitored by an aquatic environment monitoring device as the additive is added to the aquatic environment. Stored information related to aquatic environment parameters is utilized to generate a rate correction instruction that may be used to make changes in a rate of addition by an automatic dosing device and/or provide an alert to a user of the aquatic environment. A user interface may be provided for entry of certain aquatic environment parameters.

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: 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.