Programmable controller with saving changes indication

• US 20050119793A1
• Filed: 12/02/2003
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Bergman, Gabriel A., Amundson, John B., Finch, Heidi J., Vick, Brent D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,274,972 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• 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 11/59 for presetting
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23178 Display status of currently selected controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23472 Confirmation of user for the selection of a program setting
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time

Abstract

A programmable controller such as an HVAC controller that provides a confirmation message to a user indicating that a parameter that has been modified by the user has been or will be saved. Such a confirmation message may help assure a user that their program modifications have been accepted and/or saved by the controller, thereby reducing the anxiety some users feel when programming such controllers.

Claims

1. A method of modifying one or more parameters of a programmable HVAC controller, the HVAC controller having a user interface, the method comprising steps of:

allowing a user to modify at least one of the one or more parameters via the user interface;

saving the at least one modified parameter; and

providing an indication to the user via the user interface that the one or more modified parameters have been or will be saved.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises an alpha numeric display.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a keypad.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a touch screen.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the HVAC controller operates a heating schedule.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the HVAC controller operates a cooling schedule.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the HVAC controller operates a ventilating schedule.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising an initial steps of displaying a plurality of parameters and allowing the user to select one or more parameters for modification via the user interface.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein displaying the plurality of parameters comprises displaying the parameters on an alpha numeric display.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the allowing step of allowing the user to select at least one of the parameters for modification comprises accepting an input via the user interface.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the allowing step of allowing the user to select at least one of the parameters for modification comprises accepting an input from a touch screen or a keypad.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the allowing step of allowing the user to modify at least one of the one or more parameters comprises accepting an aural command.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the allowing step of allowing the user to modify at least one of the one or more parameters comprises accepting an indication from the user via the user interface that a new value for the one or more parameters have been provided.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters comprises a temperature setpoint.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters comprises a humidity setpoint.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters comprises a time setting.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the time setting comprises a start time for one or more of a wake period, a leave period, a return period, or a sleep period.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters comprises a date setting.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein at least selected ones of the one or more parameters comprises in combination a time setting and a temperature setting.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein at least selected ones of the one or more parameters comprises in combination a time setting and a fan setting.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein at least selected ones of the one or more parameters comprises in combination a time setting and an equipment selection setting.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein at least selected ones of the parameters comprises in combination a time setting and an equipment on/off setting.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step of providing an indication that the one or more modified parameters have been or will be saved comprises providing the indication before saving the one or more modified parameters.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step of providing an indication that the one or more modified parameters have been or will be saved comprises providing the indication after saving the one or more modified parameters.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step of providing an indication that the one or more modified parameters have been or will be saved comprises providing the indication simultaneously with saving the one or more modified parameters.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step of providing an indication that the one or more modified parameters have been or will be saved comprises providing a visual message.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the visual message comprises a text message on an alpha numeric display or a touch screen.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the visual message comprises a graphical message or icon on a graphical display.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step of providing an indication that the one or more modified parameters have been or will be saved comprises providing an audio message.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step of providing an indication that the one or more modified parameters have been or will be saved comprises displaying in combination a confirmatory message and at least one of the modified parameters.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein a time setting is displayed in combination with the confirmatory message.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein a day setting is displayed in combination with the confirmatory message.

33. An HVAC controller comprising a user interface, the HVAC controller configured to:

allow a user to modify one or more parameters via the interface;

save the modified parameter; and

provide an indication via the user interface that the one or more modified parameters have been or will be saved.

34. The HVAC controller of claim 33, wherein the interface comprises at least one of an alpha numeric display, a touch screen and a keypad.

35. The HVAC controller of claim 33, wherein the interface comprises at least one of a graphical display, a touch screen and a keypad.

36. The HVAC controller of claim 33, wherein the HVAC controller comprises a thermostat.

37. The HVAC controller of claim 33, further configured to display a plurality of parameters and to permit the user, via the interface, to select a parameter for modification.

38. The HVAC controller of claim 33, wherein the HVAC controller accepts an input from a keypad or touch screen to allow the user to modify the one or more parameters via the interface.

39. The HVAC controller of claim 33, wherein the HVAC controller accepts an aural input to allow the user to modify the one or more parameters via the interface.

40. The HVAC controller of claim 33, wherein the one or more parameters comprises a temperature setpoint.

41. The HVAC controller of claim 33, wherein the one or more parameters comprises a humidity setpoint.

42. The HVAC controller of claim 33, wherein the one or more parameters comprises in combination a time setting and a temperature setting.

43. The HVAC controller of claim 33, wherein the one or more parameters comprises in combination a time setting and a fan setting.

44. The HVAC controller of claim 33, wherein the one or more parameters comprises in combination a time setting and a humidity setting.

45. The HVAC controller of claim 33, wherein the one or more parameters comprises in combination a time setting and an equipment selection setting.

46. The HVAC controller of claim 33, wherein the one or more parameters comprises in combination a time setting and an equipment on/off setting.

47. The HVAC controller of claim 33, wherein the HVAC controller provides an indication that the one or more modified parameters have been or will be saved by providing a visual message via the user interface.

48. The HVAC controller of claim 47, wherein the visual message comprises a text message on an alpha numeric display or a touch screen.

49. The HVAC controller of claim 47, wherein the visual message comprises a graphical message or icon on a graphical display.

50. The HVAC controller of claim 33, wherein the HVAC controller provides an indication that the one or more modified parameters have been or will be saved by providing an audio message or signal.

51. The HVAC controller of claim 33, wherein the HVAC controller provides an indication that the one or more modified parameters have been or will be saved by displaying in combination a confirmatory message and the one or more modified parameters.

52. The HVAC controller of claim 51, wherein a day setting is displayed in combination with the confirmatory message.

53. A programmable controller comprising:

display means to display a plurality of parameters;

receiving means to receive from a user an indication of which parameters are to be edited;

setting means to receive from a user a new setting for at least one of the indicated parameters; and

informing means to inform the user that the new setting has been or will be saved.

54. The programmable thermostat of claim 53, wherein the display means comprises an alpha numeric capable display.

55. The programmable thermostat of claim 53, wherein the display means comprises a graphical display.

56. The programmable thermostat of claim 53, wherein the receiving means and the setting means comprise a touch screen.

57. The programmable thermostat of claim 53, wherein the informing means comprises an alpha numeric display.

58. The programmable thermostat of claim 53, wherein the informing means comprises a graphical display.

59. The programmable thermostat of claim 53, wherein the informing means comprises an aural message.