Graphical thermostat and sensor

• US 20040262410A1
• Filed: 04/12/2004
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Automated Logic Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automated Logic Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Hull, Gerry G.
• Application Number:
  US10/823,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20040262410A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/91.00R
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time

Abstract

A graphical thermostat and sensor permits a user to graphically control and customize heating and cooling start/stop times using a large LCD display. The display includes the presentation of a daily trend graph that lets a user quickly determine if the HVAC system is working properly. The large LCD display also shows a trend graph which illustrates when the HVAC system is scheduled to go unoccupied, and can be used to change the occupation/unoccupation schedule at the touch of a button. The thermostat also includes a communications jack that provides access to the HVAC control system for commissioning and maintenance.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating the control of a thermostat, comprising:

providing at least one display, wherein the at least one display is operable to illustrate, on a first axis, a range of temperatures, and on a second axis, a range of times; and

illustrating on the at least one display at least one shaded area, said at least one shaded area defining a temperature differential centered about a temperature set by a user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of presenting, on the at least one display, a line indicating the past temperature of at least one area in which the at least one display resides.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of showing a user-selectable future date on the at least one display.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of showing the present time on the at least one display using a time line, wherein the time line intersects the range of times provided on the second axis.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of providing at least one function button on the at least one display, wherein the at least one function button is selectable by a user.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of receiving a user input from a rotating control knob.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the user input received from the rotating control knob increases or decreases the current temperature.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of measuring a temperature local to the at least one display using a temperature sensor.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of reporting the temperature local to the at least one display to a device located remote from the at least one display.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of reporting further comprises the step of communicating with the device via a network interface.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a range of temperatures selected by a user, said range of temperatures highlighted by the user and displayed on the at least one display.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a range of dates selected by a user, said range of dates highlighted by the user and displayed on the at least one display.

13. A computer program product for permitting the graphic control of a thermostat, said computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer-readable code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable code means comprising;

computer readable program code means for presenting, on at least one display, a range of temperatures on a first axis, and a range of times on a second axis; and

computer readable program code means for illustrating on the at least one display at least one shaded area, said at least one shaded area defining a temperature differential centered about a temperature set by a user.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, further comprising computer readable program code means for displaying a line indicating the past temperature of at least one area in which the at least one display resides, as measured by a temperature sensor local to the at least one display.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, further comprising computer readable program code means for showing the present time on the at least one display using a time line, wherein the time line intersects the range of times provided on the second axis.

16. The computer program product of claim 13, further comprising computer readable program code means for reporting the temperature local to the at least one display to a device located remote from the at least one display.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising computer readable program code means for communicating with the device located remote from the at least one display via a network interface.

18. A graphical thermostat, comprising:

at least one display, wherein the at least one display is operable to illustrate, on a first axis, a range of temperatures, and on a second axis, a range of times; and

a graphical thermostat module, said graphical thermostat module operable to present at least one shaded area on the at least one display, said at least one shaded area defining a temperature differential centered about a temperature set by a user.

19. The graphical thermostat of claim 18, further comprising a communications jack that permits communication with an HVAC system in communication with the graphical thermostat.

20. The graphical thermostat of claim 18, further comprising a temperature sensor and a network interface in communication with the temperature sensor.