Plumbing control device

A method for installing a plumbing control device (“PCD”) into a plumbing system and manually adjusting the PCD so that fluid flowing through the PCD has a desired characteristic, the method comprising:

• providing a specialized mobile device including,
• an active near field communication (NFC) transponder,
• a display screen,
• a microcontroller operatively connected to the active NFC transponder and the display screen, and
• a computer program loaded on the microcontroller and configured to, upon activation by a user:
• instruct the active NFC transponder to locate a nearby passive NFC transponder, establish a wireless data link with the passive NFC transponder, wirelessly transmit power to the passive NFC transponder, and wirelessly receive measured data from the passive NFC transponder, and
• display the measured data on the display screen;
• providing a PCD for installation into a plumbing system for controlling the flow of fluid through the plumbing system, the PCD including,
• a body including at least one inlet and one outlet for connection to a plumbing system and a passageway extending between the inlet and the outlet for allowing fluid to flow through the PCD,
• at least one manual adjustment mechanism coupled to the body for controlling flow of fluid through the passageway;
• an unpowered sensor configured to measure at least one characteristic of the fluid flowing through the PCD to obtain the measured data when the unpowered sensor receives power, and
• a passive NFC transponder operatively connected to the sensor and configured to,
• establish a wireless data link with the active NFC transponder of the mobile upon being located by the active NFC transponder,
• wirelessly receive power from the active NFC transponder,
• transmit at least a portion of the wirelessly received power to the sensor,
• receive the measured data from the sensor, and
• wirelessly transmit the measured data to the active NFC transponder;
• installing the PCD into a plumbing system by connecting the at least one inlet and one outlet to the plumbing system and allowing fluid from the plumbing system to flow through the passageway of the PCD;
• placing the mobile device near the PCD;
• activating the computer program of the mobile device;
• reading the measured data from the display screen of the mobile device;
• adjusting the flow of fluid through the PCD using the manual adjustment mechanism of the PCD if the measured data from the display screen indicates that the measured characteristic of the fluid is not equal to a desired characteristic.

A plumbing control device (“PCD”) for installation into a plumbing system for controlling the flow of fluid through the plumbing system, the PCD comprising:

• a body including at least one inlet and one outlet for connection to the plumbing system and a passageway extending between the inlet and the outlet for allowing fluid to flow through the PCD;
• at least one manual adjustment mechanism coupled to the body for controlling flow of fluid through the passageway;
• an unpowered sensor configured to measure at least one characteristic of the fluid flowing through the passageway of the body to obtain measured data when the unpowered sensor receives power;
• a passive NFC transponder operatively connected to the sensor and configured to,
• establish a wireless data link with an active NFC transponder of a mobile device upon being located by the active NFC transponder,
• wirelessly receive power from the active NFC transponder,
• transmit at least a portion of the wirelessly received power to the sensor,
• receive the measured data from the sensor, and
• wirelessly transmit the measured data to the active NFC transponder.