Thermostat display system providing animated icons
First Claim
1. A thermostat for controlling heating and/or cooling equipment, comprising:
- a user display screen for displaying operational information about the heating and/or cooling equipment controlled by the thermostat; and
wherein the thermostat displays at least one animated visual indication of operation of at least one of the heating and/or cooling equipment on the user display, the animated visual indication comprising a first icon positioned on the user display in a first orientation and a second icon positioned on the user display in a second orientation differing slightly from the first orientation, the thermostat alternatively displaying the first icon and the second icon.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A visual display system and method for a digital thermostat having a user display screen to provide operational status information of the heating and/or cooling equipment controlled by the thermostat is provided. This visual display system utilizes animated icons to show operational status of the heating and/or cooling equipment. Static icons may also be used in one embodiment to indicate the current mode of the thermostat. Animated icons for the heating system, the cooling system, and fan operation are provided. The illusion of animation is provided by overwriting or replacing a displayed image with another image at a predetermined frequency. This predetermined frequency may be changed programmatically, and varied to provide different visual effects.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A thermostat for controlling heating and/or cooling equipment, comprising:
-
a user display screen for displaying operational information about the heating and/or cooling equipment controlled by the thermostat; and
wherein the thermostat displays at least one animated visual indication of operation of at least one of the heating and/or cooling equipment on the user display, the animated visual indication comprising a first icon positioned on the user display in a first orientation and a second icon positioned on the user display in a second orientation differing slightly from the first orientation, the thermostat alternatively displaying the first icon and the second icon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
- 12. A method of providing a visual indication of an operational status of heating and/or cooling equipment controlled by a thermostat having a user display, comprising the step of displaying an animated image on the user display signifying the operational status of the heating and/or cooling equipment controlled by the thermostat when at least one of the heating and/or cooling equipment is operating.
Specification