Touchless utility controller

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12033025-B2
Application number	US-202318170802-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 17, 2023
Priority date	Feb 25, 2022
Publication date	Jul 9, 2024
Grant date	Jul 9, 2024

Abstract

A touchless utility controller is provided. In examples, the utility controller comprises a housing encompassing circuitry configured to receive a signal, and based on the received signal, provide an activation signal to a valve control device for a valve. The housing may comprise a face having an illuminated portion to allow for a visual indictor to illuminate the illuminated portion, wherein the face does not include any physically activated interface elements. In addition, the housing may include at least one of an outer side perimeter connected to the face or a back side, wherein at least one of the outer side perimeter or the back side defines at least one through hole for receiving a input power wiring and output transmission wires for connecting to the valve control device for the valve controlling one of gas or water.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for controlling a utility, the system including:
an RFID reader;
a visual indicator;
a processor; and
memory, storing a list of registered unique identifiers and storing instructions that, when executed the processor, cause the system to perform operations including:
receiving, by the RFID reader, an RFID signal from an RFID tag, the RFID signal including a unique identifier, wherein the RFID tag is one of a set of RFID tags that includes a master RFID tag and a configuration RFID tag;
comparing the unique identifier to the list of registered unique identifiers to determine that the RFID tag is a registered RFID tag;
in response to determining the RFID tag is a registered RFID tag:
transmitting an activation signal to a valve control device to cause a valve controlling a utility to open;
illuminating the visual indicator to a first color; and
initiating a shutdown timer; and

upon expiration of the shutdown timer:
ceasing the transmission of the activation signal; and
illuminating the visual indicator to a second color;

detecting the master RFID tag;
in response to detecting the master RFID tag, entering a configuration mode;
while in the configuration mode, detecting the configuration RFID tag; and
based on the detection of the configuration RFID tag, modifying one or more settings of the system.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first color indicates the utility is active and the second color indicates the utility is inactive.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the RFID reader, the visual indicator, the processor, and the memory are housed within a housing, wherein the housing includes no physically activated interface elements.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the visual indicator illuminates at least 10% of a surface area of a face of the housing.

5. The system of claim 3 , the visual indicator changes to indicate an amount of time remaining on the shutdown timer.

6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the system further includes a shutdown timer indicator that changes to indicate an amount of time remaining on the shutdown timer.

7. A touchless utility controller comprising:
a housing encompassing:
circuitry configured to receive a signal from an RFID tag, and based on the received signal, provide an activation signal to a valve control device for a valve;

wherein the housing comprises:
a face having an illuminated portion to allow for a visual indictor to illuminate the illuminated portion, wherein the face does not include any physically activated interface elements; and
at least one of an outer side perimeter connected to the face or a back side;
wherein at least one of the outer side perimeter or the back side defines at least one through hole for receiving a input power wiring and output transmission wires for connecting to the valve control device for the valve controlling one of gas or water.

8. The utility controller of claim 7 , wherein the illuminated portion has a surface area that is at least 10% of a surface area of the face.

9. The utility controller of claim 7 , further comprising an RFID reader, a memory, and a processor housed in the housing.

10. The utility controller of claim 7 , wherein the face has a width, and an outer edge of the illuminated portion is positioned within 20% of the width from all exterior edges of the face.

11. The utility controller of claim 7 , wherein the housing does not include any physically activated interface elements.

12. A method for controlling a utility, the method comprising:
receiving, by an RFID reader of a utility controller, a first RFID signal from a first RFID tag;
comparing, by a processor of the utility controller, the first RFID signal to a list of registered unique identifiers to determine that the first RFID tag is a registered RFID tag;
in response to determining the first RFID tag is a registered RFID tag:
transmitting an activation signal to a valve control device to cause a valve controlling a utility to open;
illuminating a visual indicator to a first color; and
initiating a shutdown timer;

receiving, by the RFID reader, a second RFID signal from a second RFID tag;
comparing, by the processor of the utility controller, the second RFID signal to the list of registered unique identifiers to determine that the second RFID tag is a registered RFID tag; and
in response to determining the second RFID tag is a registered RFID tag:
ceasing the transmission of the activation signal; and
illuminating the visual indicator to a second color.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
receiving, by the RFID reader, a third RFID signal from a third RFID tag;
based on the third RFID signal, determining that the third RFID tag is a master RFID tag;
entering a configuration mode in response to determining that the third RFID tag is a master RFID tag;
while in the configuration mode, receiving, by the RFID reader, a fourth RFID signal from a fourth RFID tag;
comparing, by the processor of the utility controller, the fourth RFID signal to the list of registered unique identifiers to determine that the fourth RFID tag is not a registered RFID tag;
in response to determining the fourth RFID tag is not a registered RFID tag, adding the fourth RFID tag as a registered RFID tag to the list of registered unique identifiers.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein a duration of the shutdown timer is based on the first RFID signal.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first color indicates the utility is active and the second color indicates the utility is inactive.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the RFID reader, the visual indicator, and the processor, are housed within a housing, wherein the housing includes no manually activated interface elements.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
receiving, by the RFID reader of the utility controller, a third RFID signal;
in response to receiving the third RFID signal:
transmitting a second activation signal to the valve control device to cause the valve controlling the utility to open;

receiving an emergency shutdown signal;
in response to receiving the emergency shutdown signal, ceasing the transmission of the activation signal;
receiving an emergency override signal; and
transmitting, only in response to the emergency override signal, a third activation signal to the valve control device to cause the valve controlling the utility to open.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second RFID signal is received prior to expiration of the shutdown timer.

Assignees

• Wcm Ind Inc

Inventors

• Ball William T
• Pilarczyk Eric
• Young Gabriel

Classifications

• G06K19/0723

  the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs · CPC title

• H04B5/77

  for interrogation · CPC title

• G06Q50/06

  Energy or water supply · CPC title

• G06K7/10366 Primary

  the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications · CPC title

• G06K17/0022 Primary

  arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device ("transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L) · CPC title