Graphical user interface system for a thermal comfort controller

• US 20030208282A1
• Filed: 06/03/2003
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dipak J. Shah
• Original Assignee: Dipak J. Shah
• Inventors: Shah, Dipak J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,360,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/1
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2223/04 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2223/38 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/20 with a time programme acting through electrical means, e.g. using time-delay relays
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/203 using electronic means
• 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 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• 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 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/102 for input of programme steps, i.e. setting up sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23197 Curve entered with pen on touchscreen
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23377 Touch screen, with representation of buttons, machine on screen
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23385 Programming pencil, touch probe
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24055 Trace, store a working, operation history
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25403 Compare real clock time with programmed time, if equal execute next command
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25419 Scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 : for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/97 : Instrumentation and component modelling, e.g. interactive control panel

Abstract

A graphical user interface system for a thermal comfort controller. The user interface system has a central processing unit coupled to a memory and a touch sensitive display unit. The memory stores a temperature schedule data structure and perhaps a temperature history data structure. The temperature schedule data structure is made up of at least one set-point. The temperature history data structure is made up of at least one Actual-Temperature-Point. The display presents the set-points and/or the Actual-Temperature-Points. One representation of the display is a graphical step-function. The user uses a finger or stylus to program the set-points by pointing and dragging a portion of the step-function.

Claims

1. A user interface system for a programmable comfort controller, comprising:

a central processing unit;

a memory means for storing a temperature schedule data structure, having at least one set-point,

where the set-points each associate a desired temperature to a desired time, the memory means coupled to the central processing unit; and

a display unit with a touch-sensitive screen, coupled to the central processing unit, for graphically displaying the set-point and for allowing a user to program the set-point.

2. The user interface system of claim 1, further comprising a stylus for allowing a user to program the set-points on the display unit.

3. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the set-points as a step-function.

4. The user interface system of claim 3, wherein the step-function is displayed in a graphical manner on the display unit with a first axis for denoting time, and a second axis for denoting temperature.

5. The user interface system of claim 1, further comprising:

a temperature history data structure, having at least one Actual-Temperature-Point, where the Actual-Temperature-Points associate an actual-temperature to an actual-time;

wherein the display unit can display the Actual-Temperature-Points as a graphical function.

6. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the display unit displays a current time and a current temperature.

7. The user interface system of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional control for causing the display unit to display the set-points as a list of times and temperatures.

8. The user interface system of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional control for causing the display unit to display a set-point as a clock and a temperature control.

9. A method for programming a thermal comfort controller with a user interface system having a central processing unit, a memory means for storing a temperature schedule data structure having at least one set-point, where the set-points each associate a desired temperature to a desired time, and a display unit with a touch-sensitive screen, the memory means and the display unit both coupled to the central processing unit, the method comprising:

graphically displaying the set-points on the display unit;

choosing the at least one set-point from the temperature schedule data structure;

entering a set-time for the at least one set-point on the display unit,

entering a set-temperature for the at least one set-point on the display unit; and

updating the at least one set-point in the temperature schedule data structure with the set-time and the set-temperature.

10. The method for programming a thermal comfort controller from claim 9, wherein the step of graphically displaying, the set-points are displayed as a step-function with a first axis for denoting time, and a second axis for denoting temperature.

11. The method for programming a thermal comfort controller from claim 10, wherein the step of entering the set-time comprises dragging a first graphical line of the step-function from its current location on the step-function to a new position relative to the first axis.

12. The method for programming a thermal comfort controller from claim 10, wherein the step of entering the set-temperature comprises dragging a second graphical line of the step-function from its current location on the step-function to a new position relative to the second axis.

13. The method for programming a thermal comfort controller from claim 10, wherein the user interface further comprises a stylus for allowing a user to program the set-points on the display unit.

14. The method for programming a thermal comfort controller from claim 10, further comprising:

providing a temperature history data structure having at least one Actual-Temperature-Point,

where the Actual-Temperature-Points each associate an actual temperature to an actual time;

graphically displaying the temperature history data structure; and

wherein the memory means stores the temperature history data structure.

15. A thermostat for controlling the temperature within a controlled space by controlling heating/cooling equipment according to a programmed temperature set-point schedule, the thermostat comprising:

a graphical user interface system for graphically presenting the temperature set-point schedule and for allowing the user to input data to adjust the temperature set-point schedule.

16. The thermostat from claim 15, wherein the user interface system displays the set-points as a step-function.

17. The thermostat from claim 15, wherein the user interface system graphically presents a temperature history.