US 11,719,466 B2
Electronic unlock feature
Brian Thomas Branecky, Oconomowoc, WI (US); and William Gordon Hosken, Atlanta, GA (US)
Assigned to A. O. Smith Corporation, Milwaukee, WI (US)
Filed by A. O. SMITH CORPORATION, Milwaukee, WI (US)
Filed on Mar. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/199,919.
Application 17/199,919 is a continuation of application No. 15/864,700, filed on Jan. 8, 2018, granted, now 10,948,219.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/443,988, filed on Jan. 9, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0199344 A1, Jul. 1, 2021
Int. Cl. F24H 9/20 (2022.01); F24H 1/20 (2022.01)
CPC F24H 9/2021 (2013.01) [F24H 1/202 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. 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.