US 2023/0274111 A1 · TOUCHLESS UTILITY CONTROLLER

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.

Claims20

Dependent claims

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;
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.

14 more elements

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.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Touchless utility controller

Life of this patent

Touchless utility controller

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20