Thermostat user interface

• US 10,048,852 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2017
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony, Rogers, Matthew, Sloo, David, Plitkins, Michael, Honjo, Shigefumi, Filson, John, Matas, Michael, Bould, Fred, Huppi, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Karim, Ziaul
• Application Number:
  US15/823,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20180129404A1
• Time in Patent Office: 259 Days
• Field of Search: 700277-278, 165237, 165238
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/00 Control or safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/50 characterised by user interfaces or communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/89 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/12 Position of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/14 Activity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0025 Living bodies ear thermometers G01J5/0011; detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/041 : Mountings in enclosures or in a particular environment
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/02 : Means for indicating or recording specially adapted for thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/26 : Testing of individual semiconductor devices testing or measuring during manufacture or treatment H01L22/00; testing of photovoltaic devices H02S50/10
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 : electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/19 : characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 : characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1919 : characterised by the type of controller
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1932 : to control the temperature of a plurality of spaces
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/24 : the sensing element having a resistance varying with temperature, e.g. a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/2454 : using photoelectric elements
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/27 : with sensing element responsive to radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/275 : with sensing element expanding, contracting, or fusing in response to changes of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 : Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 : Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 : by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 : Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 : Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 : Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 : Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 : Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 : with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 : by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 : Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 : Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 : Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 : using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 : Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 : Machine learning
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/06 : Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being along the axis of angular movement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 : in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 : Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 : End-user application control systems

Abstract

An occupancy sensing electronic thermostat is described that includes a thermostat body, an electronic display that is viewable by a user in front of the thermostat, a passive infrared sensor for measuring infrared energy and an infrared energy directing element formed integrally with a front surface of the thermostat body. The passive infrared sensor may be positioned behind the infrared energy directing element such that infrared energy is directed thereonto by the infrared energy directing element. The thermostat may also include a temperature sensor and a microprocessor programmed to detect occupancy based on measurements from the passive infrared sensor.

Claims

1. A thermostat, comprising:

a removable, wall-mountable back-plate;

a shell body having a circular cross-section and a central axis generally perpendicular to a wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the shell body including a sidewall that extends along a length of the central axis between a first end and a second end of the shell body, the first end of the shell body being proximate the wall-mountable back-plate;

a circular rotatable ring mounted proximate the second end of the shell body, wherein;

the circular rotatable ring has an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to the wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted;

the circular rotatable ring being user rotatable about the axis of rotation, the circular rotatable ring slides about a frame of the thermostat;

the circular rotatable ring is depressible such that the circular rotatable ring travels along the axis of rotation towards the wall-mountable back-plate;

the circular rotatable ring receives user input by being rotated and depressed;

the circular rotatable ring springably travels away from the wall-mountable back-plate when pressure applied to the circular rotatable ring along the axis of rotation towards the wall-mountable back-plate by a user is released; and

the circular rotatable ring springably travels away from the wall-mountable back-plate to provide a tactile click sensation;

a circular cover mounted proximate the second end of the shell body, the circular cover having a central axis generally perpendicular to the wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the circular cover comprising a clear circular center portion surrounded by a colored outer portion, wherein the clear circular center portion permits light emitted from a dot-matrix display to pass through the circular cover;

one or more temperature sensors for use in sensing temperature;

the dot-matrix display mounted within the shell body proximate to the circular cover, wherein the dot-matrix display and the circular cover do not rotate when the circular rotatable ring is rotated; and

a processing system provided in operative communication with;

the circular rotatable ring, the dot-matrix display, and the one or more temperature sensors, the processing system configured to;

determine a user-selected setpoint temperature based on user input provided via the circular rotatable ring;

cause the dot-matrix display to display a numerical value representative of the sensed ambient air temperature; and

cause a control signal to be transmitted to a heating system, cooling system, ventilation system, and/or air handling system based at least in part on a comparison of the user-selected setpoint temperature and the sensed ambient air temperature.

2. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein:

the dot-matrix display is non-circular; and

the colored outer portion of the circular cover masks a remaining portion of the dot-matrix display so as to create a visual appearance of a circular graphical user interface.

3. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising a rotation sensor mounted on a printed circuit board to sense rotation of the rotatable ring.

4. The thermostat of claim 3 further comprising:

a first printed circuit board and a second printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board is the second printed circuit board.

5. The thermostat of claim 4, wherein the dot-matrix display is connected with the first printed circuit board.

6. The thermostat of claim 4, wherein a temperature sensor of the one or more temperature sensors is mounted to the second printed circuit board.

7. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the wall-mountable back-plate detachably couples with the shell body via one or more magnets.

8. The thermostat of claim 1 further comprising a battery assembly in which batteries are user-replaceable.

9. The thermostat according to claim 1, wherein the display presents a numerical value representative of the user-selected setpoint temperature at a location along a vertical axis that perpendicularly intersects the central axis and extends vertically in a direction parallel to the wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted.

10. The thermostat according to claim 1, further comprising an occupancy sensor positioned behind the circular cover and between an edge of the dot-matrix display and the circular rotatable ring.

11. A thermostat, comprising:

a removable, wall-mountable back-plate;

a first printed circuit board;

a second printed circuit board;

a rotation sensor mounted on the second printed circuit board;

a shell body having a circular cross-section and a central axis generally perpendicular to a wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the shell body including a sidewall that extends along a length of the central axis between a first end and a second end of the shell body, the first end of the shell body being proximate the wall-mountable back-plate;

a circular rotatable ring mounted proximate the second end of the shell body, wherein;

the circular rotatable ring has an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to the wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted;

the circular rotatable ring being user rotatable about the axis of rotation, the circular rotatable ring slides about a frame of the thermostat;

the circular rotatable ring is depressible such that the circular rotatable ring travels along the axis of rotation towards the wall-mountable back-plate;

the circular rotatable ring receives user input by being rotated and depressed by a user;

the circular rotatable ring springably travels away from the wall-mountable back-plate when pressure applied to the circular rotatable ring along the axis of rotation towards the wall-mountable back-plate by a user is released; and

the circular rotatable ring springably travels away from the wall-mountable back-plate to provide a tactile click sensation;

a circular cover mounted proximate the second end of the shell body, the circular cover having a central axis generally perpendicular to the wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the circular cover comprising a clear circular center portion surrounded by a colored outer portion, wherein the clear circular center portion permits light emitted from a dot-matrix display to pass through the circular cover;

a temperature sensor for use in sensing temperature;

the dot-matrix display mounted within the shell body proximate to the circular cover, wherein;

the dot-matrix display and the circular cover do not rotate when the circular rotatable ring is rotated;

the dot-matrix display is non-circular; and

the colored outer portion of the circular cover masks a remaining portion of the dot-matrix display so as to create a visual appearance of a circular graphical user interface; and

a processing system provided in operative communication with;

the rotation sensor, the dot-matrix display, and the temperature sensor, the processing system configured to;

determine a user-selected setpoint temperature based on user input provided via the circular rotatable ring;

the dot-matrix display mounted within the shell body proximate to the circular cover, wherein the dot-matrix display and the circular cover do not rotate when the circular rotatable ring is rotated; and

cause a control signal to be transmitted to a heating system, cooling system, ventilation system, and/or air handling system based at least in part on a comparison of the user-selected setpoint temperature and the sensed ambient air temperature.

12. The thermostat of claim 11, wherein the temperature sensor is located on the second printed circuit board.

13. The thermostat of claim 11 further comprising a battery assembly in which batteries are user-replaceable.

14. The thermostat according to claim 11, wherein the dot-matrix display presents a numerical value representative of a user-selected setpoint temperature at a location along a vertical axis that perpendicularly intersects the central axis and extends vertically in a direction parallel to the wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted.

15. The thermostat according to claim 11, wherein the processing system is configured to:

determine a user-selected temperature value based on user input provided via rotation of the circular rotatable ring; and

cause the dot-matrix display to display a numerical value representative of the sensed ambient air temperature.

16. The thermostat according to claim 11, wherein the processing system is configured to:

cause a control signal to be transmitted to a heating system, cooling system, ventilation system, and/or air handling system based at least in part on a comparison of a user-selected temperature value and a sensed ambient air temperature.