Electronic unlock feature
AssigneeA. O. Smith Corporation
InventorsBrian Thomas Branecky, William Gordon Hosken
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for controlling power to a water heater. The method comprises providing the water heater in a locked state, wherein at least one heating element of the water heater is inoperable when the water heater is in the locked state, coupling a digital key module to a communications port of the water heater, and receiving a digital key from the digital key module through the communications port. The method comprises coupling an electrical grid controller to the water heater through the communications port and placing the water heater in an unlocked state, wherein the at least one heating element of the water heater is operable when the water heater is in the unlocked state.
Claims23
A water heater comprising:
- a tank configured to hold a fluid;
- at least one heating element arranged within the tank;
- a controller having a memory and an electronic processor;
- and
- a communication port communicatively coupled to the controller, the communication port configured to:
- couple to a digital key module and transmit a digital key from the digital key module to the controller;
- and
- connect the water heater to an electrical grid controller,
- wherein the controller is configured to activate the at least one heating element only after the water heater has connected to the electrical grid controller and the controller has received the digital key.
A method of controlling power to a water heater, the method comprising:
- providing the water heater in a locked state, wherein at least one heating element of the water heater is inoperable when the water heater is in the locked state;
- coupling a digital key module to a communications port of the water heater;
- receiving a digital key from the digital key module through the communications port;
- coupling an electrical grid controller to the water heater through the communications port;
- placing the water heater in an unlocked state, wherein the at least one heating element of the water heater is operable when the water heater is in the unlocked state;
- and
- broadcasting a Service Set Identifier (SSID) from the digital key module,
- wherein the digital key module broadcasts the SSID only after the water heater is placed in the unlocked state.
A method of controlling power to a water heater, the method comprising:
- providing the water heater in a locked state, wherein at least one heating element of the water heater is inoperable when the water heater is in the locked state;
- coupling a digital key module to a communications port of the water heater;
- receiving a digital key from the digital key module through the communications port;
- coupling an electrical grid controller to the water heater through the communications port;
- and
- placing the water heater in an unlocked state, wherein the at least one heating element of the water heater is operable when the water heater is in the unlocked state,
- wherein the digital key is provided to the digital key module via an external device communicatively coupled to the digital key module.
A method of controlling power to a water heater, the method comprising:
- providing the water heater in a locked state, wherein at least one heating element of the water heater is inoperable when the water heater is in the locked state;
- coupling a digital key module to a communications port of the water heater;
- receiving a digital key from the digital key module through the communications port;
- coupling an electrical grid controller to the water heater through the communications port;
- placing the water heater in an unlocked state, wherein the at least one heating element of the water heater is operable when the water heater is in the unlocked state;
- and
- displaying an indication of whether the water heater is placed in the unlocked state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.