CONTROLLER WITH PROGRAMMABLE SERVICE EVENT DISPLAY MODE

• US 20070225869A1
• Filed: 05/23/2007
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Amundson, John, Stoner, Marcus
• Granted Patent: US 7,801,646 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value

Abstract

Controllers and systems for displaying servicing information via a display unit are disclosed. A controller in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention may include an interface for programming a service event display mode in the controller, and a display unit configured to display servicing information when a service event is detected by the controller. An event such as the triggering of a service indicator or the expiration of an equipment service event timer may cause the controller to display servicing information on the display unit, informing the user that servicing may be necessary or is recommended.

Claims

1. A thermostat for controlling a climate control system for a space, the thermostat comprising:

an interface for establishing communication with an external data source to enable the upload of at least one electronic image from the external data source;

a processor for controlling the operation of the thermostat, wherein the processor receives the at least one electronic image uploaded via the interface; and

a display responsive to the processor for displaying a representation of at least one electronic image uploaded from the external data source.

2. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein the processor causes at least one electronic image to be displayed on the display without requiring prompting by a user of the thermostat.

3. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein the processor displays a first screen having at least a sensed temperature value on the display, and subsequently displays a second screen that includes at least one electronic image uploaded from the external data source.

4. The thermostat of claim 3 wherein the second screen that includes at least one electronic image is displayed during a time period when the user is not interacting with the thermostat.

5. The thermostat of claim 3 wherein the processor subsequently displays the second screen on the display without requiring prompting by a user of the thermostat.

6. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein the display includes an LCD display.

7. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein the display includes a dot matrix display.

8. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein the display includes a touch screen display.

9. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein the electronic image is in a jpeg file format.

10. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein the electronic image is in a bitmap file format.

11. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein the electronic image is in a gif file format.

12. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein the electronic image is in a tiff file format.

13. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein the at least one electronic image is displayed during time periods when the user is not interacting with the thermostat.

14. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein the interface is a wireless interface adapted to receive wireless transmissions from an external source.

15. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein the interface is a wired interface adapted to receive wired transmissions from an external source.

16. A thermostat for controlling a climate control system for a space, the thermostat comprising:

a connector adapted to establish connection with an external data source for uploading at least one electronic image from the external data source;

a memory for storing the at least one uploaded electronic image;

a processor for controlling the operation of the thermostat, wherein the processor receives the at least one electronic image uploaded via the connector; and

a display responsive to the microprocessor for displaying a representation of at least one electronic image uploaded from the external data source.

17. The thermostat of claim 16 wherein the processor causes at least one of the at least one electronic image to be displayed on the display without requiring prompting by a user of the thermostat.

18. The thermostat of claim 16 wherein the processor causes at least one of the at least one electronic image to be displayed on the display during a time period when the user is not interacting with the thermostat.

19. The thermostat of claim 16 wherein the processor displays a first screen having at least a sensed temperature value on the display, and subsequently displays a second screen that includes at least one electronic image uploaded from the external data source.

20. The thermostat of claim 19 wherein the processor subsequently displays the second screen without requiring prompting by a user of the thermostat.

21. The thermostat of claim 19 wherein the processor subsequently displays the second screen during a time period when the user is not interacting with the thermostat.

22. A thermostat for controlling a climate control system for a space, the thermostat comprising:

a connector adapted to establish connection with an external data source for uploading at least one electronic image from the external data source;

a memory for storing the at least one uploaded electronic image;

a processor for controlling the operation of the thermostat, wherein the processor receives the at least one electronic image uploaded through the connector; and

a display device responsive to the processor for displaying a first screen having at least a sensed temperature value in the display device, and for displaying at least a second screen without requiring prompting by a user of the thermostat, wherein the second screen comprises a displayed representation of one of the at least one electronic image uploaded through the connector.