FountainKinetics
technology to drive fountaininnovation
technology
Over the years, we have developed several hardware/software implementations for generating the water effects some of which are illustrated on this site. Much of our technology is under patent or is proprietary. Where appropriate, we supplement our technology with existing outside technology in order to design cost effective solutions to specific problems.
Fountain Pump Control Technology
Our pump technologies afford cost effective means to attain complex fountain or water feature effects virtually unattainable except by significantly more cost-intensive means such as those employed in major existing outdoor fountain installations such as those at the Belagio Hotel in Las Vegas. Our technologies realistically bring complex fountain effects within the reach of home, garden, and small office water-feature budgets.
Our patented and proprietary VFD pump control technologies are embedded in micro-controller-based electronic modules. These modules control the flow rate of submersible low voltage AC pumps (120VAC and below) either by pre-programmed instruction sets, by direct user-control, or by external inputs such as auditory, ultrasonic or infrared signals. To our knowledge this technology is the only VFD based implementation to control pumps operating under 220VAC.
Our pump technologies afford cost effective means to attain complex fountain or water feature effects virtually unattainable except by significantly more cost-intensive means such as those employed in major existing outdoor fountain installations such as those at the Belagio Hotel in Las Vegas. Our technologies realistically bring complex fountain effects within the reach of home, garden, and small office water-feature budgets.
Our patented and proprietary VFD pump control technologies are embedded in micro-controller-based electronic modules. These modules control the flow rate of submersible low voltage AC pumps (120VAC and below) either by pre-programmed instruction sets, by direct user-control, or by external inputs such as auditory, ultrasonic or infrared signals. To our knowledge this technology is the only VFD based implementation to control pumps operating under 220VAC.
Fountain Pump Design Technology
Our patented bi-directional pump technology makes it possible to generate a forwards and back flowing water surge. In contrast to existing bi-directional pumps, our pump technology allows a programmable inflow or outflow of water from a single pump. One fountain application of the technology would be a water display incorporating a pump of our design, which would generate a dynamically changing above-water plume cyclically morphing into a vortex. The result could be time-varying with flows ranging from subtle to the extremely turbulent.
In the reef aquarium arena, our patented pump design allows a realistic tidal surge to be generated in a reef aquarium with as little as one pump. Such a "tidal" surge positively impacts the health of corals and other marine invertebrates in reef aquaria.
Our patented bi-directional pump technology makes it possible to generate a forwards and back flowing water surge. In contrast to existing bi-directional pumps, our pump technology allows a programmable inflow or outflow of water from a single pump. One fountain application of the technology would be a water display incorporating a pump of our design, which would generate a dynamically changing above-water plume cyclically morphing into a vortex. The result could be time-varying with flows ranging from subtle to the extremely turbulent.
In the reef aquarium arena, our patented pump design allows a realistic tidal surge to be generated in a reef aquarium with as little as one pump. Such a "tidal" surge positively impacts the health of corals and other marine invertebrates in reef aquaria.
Fountain Display Technology
Water Wall Technology
Our utility and design patented water wall technology lends itself to large-scale water walls which display changing patterned effects behind translucent lensatic screens. Our water wall modules can be free standing or can be imbedded in an interior or exterior wall of a home, office or museum building.
A distinct advantage of our water wall technology over the prior art is that all water behavior is separated from the viewer space by a clear glass front-piece. This eliminates drinking-water-level quality considerations in commercial or museum spaces where it might be likely for children to interact with the water in the feature. The technology results in reduced maintenance requirements and eliminates liability issues associated with slip-and-fall accidents and water quality.
Water Bell Technology
Shape Changing Technology
Our proprietary water bell shape changing technology is used to generate dynamically changing enclosed water bell sheets that maintain enclosed form while varying in size and shape. This technology has been evolving since the late 1990's and has lately centered on sustaining large diameter water sheets - not necessarily "bell-shaped" - without breakup.
Bell Nozzle Technology
Proprietary water bell nozzle technology specifically designed for generating large and varying enclosed bell shapes (three foot diameter and higher) makes possible the precise control of sheet dynamics enabling spectacular water bell displays to be realized with virtually no time lag between signal and water bell response.
Water Wall Technology
Our utility and design patented water wall technology lends itself to large-scale water walls which display changing patterned effects behind translucent lensatic screens. Our water wall modules can be free standing or can be imbedded in an interior or exterior wall of a home, office or museum building.
A distinct advantage of our water wall technology over the prior art is that all water behavior is separated from the viewer space by a clear glass front-piece. This eliminates drinking-water-level quality considerations in commercial or museum spaces where it might be likely for children to interact with the water in the feature. The technology results in reduced maintenance requirements and eliminates liability issues associated with slip-and-fall accidents and water quality.
Water Bell Technology
Shape Changing Technology
Our proprietary water bell shape changing technology is used to generate dynamically changing enclosed water bell sheets that maintain enclosed form while varying in size and shape. This technology has been evolving since the late 1990's and has lately centered on sustaining large diameter water sheets - not necessarily "bell-shaped" - without breakup.
Bell Nozzle Technology
Proprietary water bell nozzle technology specifically designed for generating large and varying enclosed bell shapes (three foot diameter and higher) makes possible the precise control of sheet dynamics enabling spectacular water bell displays to be realized with virtually no time lag between signal and water bell response.
Lighting Control Technology
We have developed micro-controller-based lighting controllers that can be used in conjunction with our pump controllers. One of these controllers, a metal halide light controller, can be used to provide a glimmering display that responds to ambient room illumination. In addition to its visual appearance the display technology results in maintenance and power cost savings.
An application of the technology to the aquarium industry involves the generation of time-of-day lighting intensity variation for salt water reef aquarium lighting. This variation has positive effects in reducing the buildup of toxic oxygen-free radicals in corals and contributes to the health of the aquarium. We currently have produced a pre-production prototype of a metal halide reef lighting controller employing this technology.
Tinnitus Masking Fountain Technology
We have developed specific fountain technologies to generate user-adjustable masking sounds that can provide relief for tinnitus sufferers. These patent pending technologies are embedded into tabletop water-based devices that the tinnitus sufferer can place in work, home and sleeping environments to mask and/or distract him /her from brain-induced ringing in the ears. While these elegant and visually unobtrusive devices use water as a medium for sound generation they read as "fountains" thus not bringing attention to a tinnitus sufferer's impairment. To the non-tinnitus sufferer they simply add a pleasing, natural background sound to the home or workplace environment and are useful for relaxation or meditation practice. They are especially useful in psychiatrist and psychologist waiting rooms to aid in keeping doctor-patient interactions private.
We have developed micro-controller-based lighting controllers that can be used in conjunction with our pump controllers. One of these controllers, a metal halide light controller, can be used to provide a glimmering display that responds to ambient room illumination. In addition to its visual appearance the display technology results in maintenance and power cost savings.
An application of the technology to the aquarium industry involves the generation of time-of-day lighting intensity variation for salt water reef aquarium lighting. This variation has positive effects in reducing the buildup of toxic oxygen-free radicals in corals and contributes to the health of the aquarium. We currently have produced a pre-production prototype of a metal halide reef lighting controller employing this technology.
Tinnitus Masking Fountain Technology
We have developed specific fountain technologies to generate user-adjustable masking sounds that can provide relief for tinnitus sufferers. These patent pending technologies are embedded into tabletop water-based devices that the tinnitus sufferer can place in work, home and sleeping environments to mask and/or distract him /her from brain-induced ringing in the ears. While these elegant and visually unobtrusive devices use water as a medium for sound generation they read as "fountains" thus not bringing attention to a tinnitus sufferer's impairment. To the non-tinnitus sufferer they simply add a pleasing, natural background sound to the home or workplace environment and are useful for relaxation or meditation practice. They are especially useful in psychiatrist and psychologist waiting rooms to aid in keeping doctor-patient interactions private.
As our technological capabilities are expanding, new developments may not, as yet, be described on this site.
We would be pleased discuss our capabilities with you and respond to your specific display and control requirements.
Copyright © 2003-2022 Fountain Kinetics
Fountain Kinetics is a division of ArtSciDesign, LLC - a functional art and design firm.
We would be pleased discuss our capabilities with you and respond to your specific display and control requirements.
Copyright © 2003-2022 Fountain Kinetics
Fountain Kinetics is a division of ArtSciDesign, LLC - a functional art and design firm.