Appliance diagnostic display apparatus and network incorporating same

• US 20050154496A1
• Filed: 01/06/2005
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invensys Systems Incorporated (Invensys PLC)
• Original Assignee: Maple Chase Company
• Inventors: Ashworth, Nicholas, Wallaert, Timothy E., Chapman, John Gilman Jr., Burt, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,188,002 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/278
• 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 11/38 Failure diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0216 Human interface functionality, e.g. monitoring system providing help to the user in the selection of tests or in its configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value

Abstract

An appliance diagnostic display and interface system providing a centralized user interface for appliance diagnostic information and control of system self-tests is provided. This centralized user interface is provided via an intelligent thermostat that includes an LCD display. The intelligent thermostat interfaces, via wireless or wired communications, with the appliances installed in the home. The intelligent thermostat then generates and displays various user interface screens that allow particular appliances to be selected. Separate appliance specific screens are then generated that allow the user to access the diagnostic information in system test functionality provided by the individual appliance. Soft function keys provided on the intelligent thermostat allow multi-functional access to the features of the invention depending on which screen is currently being displayed.

Claims

1. A method of diagnosing operational status of an appliance, comprising:

displaying on a user interface display screen of a thermostat at least one diagnostic option;

receiving a user selection of one of the at least one diagnostic option;

transmitting an appliance request corresponding to the selected one of the at least one diagnostic option to the appliance;

receiving diagnostic information from the appliance; and

displaying the diagnostic information on the user interface display screen of the thermostat.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying on the user interface display screen of the thermostat at least one diagnostic option comprises the step of displaying on the user interface display screen of the thermostat diagnostic options comprising a diagnostics option and a system test option.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of receiving the user selection of one of the diagnostic options comprises the step of receiving a user selection of the diagnostics option, wherein the step of transmitting the appliance request comprises the step of transmitting a request for diagnostic information stored in the appliance;

and wherein the step of displaying the diagnostic information comprises the step of displaying a history of the diagnostic information.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of receiving the user selection of one of the diagnostic options comprises the step of receiving a user selection of the system test option, wherein the step of transmitting the appliance request comprises the step of transmitting a request for the appliance to run a self-test;

and wherein the step of displaying the diagnostic information comprises the step of displaying self-test results information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

displaying on the user interface display of the thermostat a listing of appliances;

receiving a user selection of one of the appliances; and

wherein the step of displaying on the user interface display of the thermostat diagnostic options comprises the step of displaying diagnostic options for the selected one of the appliances.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the appliance request corresponding to the selected one of the at least one diagnostic option to the appliance comprises the step of wirelessly transmitting the appliance request corresponding to the selected one of the at least one diagnostic option to the appliance.

7. A thermostat, comprising:

a user interface display;

means for communicating diagnostic information with at least one appliance; and

means for displaying diagnostic information on the user interface display.

8. The thermostat of claim 7, wherein the means for communicating transmits a request for the appliance to run a diagnostic self-test, the means for communicating further receiving self-test results from the appliance, and wherein the means for displaying displays the results on the user interface display.

9. The thermostat of claim 7, wherein the means for communicating transmits a request for diagnostic information stored in the appliance, the means for communicating further receiving diagnostic information from the appliance, and wherein the means for displaying displays the diagnostic information from the appliance on the user interface display.

10. The thermostat of claim 7, further comprising user input means for accepting user input, and wherein the means for displaying diagnostic information displays a listing of appliances, and wherein the means for displaying displays diagnostic options for one of the appliances of the listing upon selection thereof by a user via the user input means.

11. The thermostat of claim 10, wherein the means for communicating transmits a request for diagnostic information stored in the appliance upon selection of a diagnostics option by the user via the user input means, the means for communicating further receiving diagnostic information from the appliance, and wherein the means for displaying displays the diagnostic information from the appliance on the user interface display.

12. The thermostat of claim 10, wherein the means for communicating transmits a request for the appliance to run a diagnostic self-test upon selection of a self-test option by the user via the user input means, the means for communicating further receiving self-test results from the appliance, and wherein the means for displaying displays the results on the user interface display.

13. The thermostat of claim 12, wherein the means for displaying displays a test in progress message on the user interface display during the appliance self-test.

14. An appliance diagnostic network, comprising:

a thermostat having a user interface display;

at least one appliance having an electronic controller in communication with the thermostat; and

wherein the thermostat requests diagnostic information from the electronic controller for the appliance; and

wherein the thermostat displays the diagnostic information from the electronic controller on the user interface display.

15. The network of claim 14, wherein the thermostat requests the electronic controller to run an appliance self-test, and wherein the thermostat displays results of the self-test on the user interface display.

16. The network of claim 15, wherein the thermostat displays a test in progress message on the user interface display until the results are received from the electronic controller.

17. The network of claim 14, wherein the thermostat displays diagnostic options on the user interface display for user selection.

18. The network of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of appliances having an electronic controller in communication with the thermostat, and wherein the thermostat displays a listing of the plurality of appliances on the user interface display for user selection.

19. The network of claim 18, wherein the thermostat displays diagnostic options on the user interface display for user selection for one of the plurality of appliances selected by a user via a user input mechanism of the thermostat.

20. The network of claim 19, wherein the diagnostic options include a diagnostic information retrieval option and an appliance self-test option.