Service panel with microsprocessor

• US 10,509,380 B1
• Filed: 11/26/2018
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WCM Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WCM Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Parker, Phil A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bukhari, Aqeel H
• Application Number:
  US16/200,207
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/071 Arrangement of safety devices in domestic pipe systems, e.g. devices for automatic shut-off
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2815 using pressure measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24003 Emergency stop
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24146 Configure actuators to be switched off in case of emergency stop
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/15 Leakage reduction or detection in water storage or distribution

Abstract

A service panel for controlling at least one utility actuator to control the availability of a utility comprises a covered enclosure having an exterior region and an interior region, at least one readily accessible utility control providing ON and OFF request signals and a limited access control in the exterior region providing a temporary activate signal. The service panel has a controller and data storage programmed with code and data and control circuitry providing an “ON” control signal to the at least one utility actuator to switch the at least one utility actuator to the “ON” state, and the control circuitry providing an “OFF” control signal to the at least one utility actuator to switch the at least one utility actuator to an OFF state, the control circuitry further providing a re-key signal to the at least one actuator in response to activation of a switch.

Claims

1. A service panel for controlling at least one utility actuator, comprising:

an enclosure having an exterior and an interior;

at least one utility control switch for controlling the at least one utility actuator, wherein the at least one utility actuator is configured to control at least one of a water utility, a gas utility, or an electric utility;

at least one indicator, viewable from the exterior of the enclosure, for indicating whether the utility actuator is in an “

ON”

state or an “

OFF”

state;

a microprocessor housed within the interior of the enclosure;

data storage programmed with code that, when executed by the microprocessor, causes the service panel to function according to a set of configuration options;

a display configured to display a state of at least one configuration option of the set of configuration options; and

at least one input mechanism for changing the state of the at least one configuration option.

2. The service panel of claim 1, wherein the display and the at least one input mechanism are housed in the interior of the enclosure.

3. The service panel of claim 1, wherein the at least one input mechanism includes at least an up button and a down button.

4. The service panel of claim 1, wherein the display is a seven-segment LED display.

5. The service panel of claim 1, further comprising at least one indicator to indicate if the service panel is in a configuration mode.

6. The service panel of claim 1, wherein the set of configuration options include at least one of:

an option a duration of a timer configured to turn off the at least one utility actuator;

an option for whether an exhaust fan requires a service switch keying to turn on;

an option for whether a panic signal is to be delayed;

an option for a response to an energy management system (EMS) signal; and

an option for a response to a fuel gas detector.

7. A service panel for controlling at least one utility actuator, comprising:

an enclosure having an exterior and an interior;

at least one utility control switch, on the exterior of the enclosure, for controlling the at least one utility actuator, wherein the at least one utility actuator is configured to control at least one of a water utility, a gas utility, or an electric utility;

at least one indicator, viewable from the exterior of the enclosure, for indicating whether the utility actuator is in an “

ON”

state or an “

OFF”

state;

a display;

a first button;

a second button;

a microprocessor housed within the interior of the enclosure; and

data storage storing a set of configuration options and programming that, when executed by the microprocessor, causes the service panel to perform a set of operations comprising;

displaying on the display a first configuration position corresponding to a first configuration option in the set of configuration options;

upon receiving a selection of the first button, displaying on the display a first state for the first configuration option;

upon receiving a selection of the second button, displaying on the display a second state for the first configuration option; and

upon receiving a subsequent selection of the first button, storing the second state for the first configuration option.

8. The service panel of claim 7, wherein the display, the first button, and the second button are housed within the interior of the enclosure.

9. The service panel of claim 7, wherein the set of configuration options include at least one of:

an option a duration of a timer configured to turn off the at least one utility actuator;

an option for whether an exhaust fan requires a service switch keying to turn on;

an option for whether a panic signal is to be delayed;

an option for a response to an energy management system (EMS) signal; and

an option for a response to a fuel gas detector.

10. The service panel of claim 7, wherein displaying the first configuration position includes displaying a number corresponding to the first configuration position.

11. The service panel of claim 7, wherein the set of operations further comprises, upon receiving a subsequent selection of second button, displaying on the display a second configuration position corresponding to a second configuration option in the set of configuration options.

12. The service panel of claim 11, wherein the set of operations further comprises, upon receiving a subsequent selection of first button, displaying on the display a state for the second configuration position.

13. The service panel of claim 7, wherein the second button is one of an up button or a down button.

14. A method for controlling at least one utility actuator with a service panel, the method comprising:

receiving a selection of a configuration mode entry mechanism within the service panel, the service panel housing data storage programmed with a set of configuration options;

based on receiving a selection of the configuration mode entry mechanism, entering a configuration mode;

based on entering the configuration mode, displaying, on a display of the service panel, a first configuration position corresponding to a first configuration option in the set of configuration options;

receiving a first selection of a first input mechanism housed in the service panel;

based on receiving the first selection of the first input mechanism, displaying, on the display, a second configuration position corresponding to a second configuration option in the set of configuration options;

receiving a first selection of a second input mechanism to select the displayed second configuration position;

based on receiving the first selection of the second input mechanism, displaying, on the display, a first state for the second configuration position;

receiving a second selection of the first input mechanism;

based on receiving the second selection of the first input mechanism, displaying a second state for the second configuration position;

receiving a second selection of the second selection of the second input mechanism; and

based on receiving the second selection of the second input mechanism, storing the second state for the second configuration position.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein first input mechanism is one of an up button or a down button.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first input mechanism, the second input mechanism, and the display are housed within the service panel.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the second input mechanism is a button.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the display is a seven-segment LED display.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein displaying the first configuration position includes displaying a number corresponding to the first configuration position.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein displaying the first state for the second configuration position includes displaying a number corresponding to the first state.