Control interface for environment control systems

• US 20080121729A1
• Filed: 09/12/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emme E2MS, LLC
• Original Assignee: Home Comfort Zones Incorporated
• Inventors: Gray, Josh Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,693,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/51
• 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 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1934 each space being provided with one sensor acting on one or more control means

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a control interface for environment control systems. An embodiment of a controller for a climate control system includes a memory to store a plurality of constraints for the climate control system and a processor to choose a current climate control activity, the current climate control activity being based at least in part on the constraints. The controller includes a user control interface to provide information to a user, the information identifying the current climate control activity of the climate control system and a constraint that influenced the choice of the current activity.

Claims

1. A controller for a climate control system comprising:

a memory to store a plurality of constraints for the climate control system;

a processor to choose a current climate control activity, the current climate control activity being based at least in part on the constraints; and

a user control interface to provide information to a user, the information identifying the current climate control activity of the climate control system and identifying a constraint that influenced the choice of the current climate control activity.

2. The controller of claim 1, further comprising an interface with a climate control unit.

3. The controller of claim 2, the climate control unit being a unit selected from the group consisting of a furnace, a cooler, and a humidifier.

4. The controller of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors include a temperature sensor.

5. The controller of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors include a sensor to determine a status of the climate control system.

6. The controller of claim 1, wherein the user control interface further provides a process for modifying the identified constraint.

7. The controller of claim 6, wherein the process for modifying the identified constraint includes receiving input to directly modify the constraint.

8. The controller of claim 6, wherein the user control interface further provides a process for specifying a duration for the modification to the constraint to be in effect.

9. A climate control system comprising:

one or more climate control devices;

a control unit to control the one or more climate control devices, the control unit including a plurality of constraints on the operation of the one or more climate control devices; and

a control interface, the control interface providing information identifying a current activity of the climate control system and a constraint that is a primary influence for the current activity.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the climate control devices provide one or more activity selected from the group comprising heating, cooling, and humidification.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the user control interface further provides information regarding modification of the identified constraint.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the information regarding modification of the identified constraint includes information regarding an amount of modification required to change the current activity of the climate control system.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the information regarding modification of the identified constraint includes a process for imposing a temporary duration for the modification to be in effect.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the identified constraint is an abstract constraint that is dependent on a plurality of conditions.

15. The system of claim 9, further comprising a sensor to measure a current climate condition or a status of the climate control system, wherein the identified constraint is dependent on a measurement of the sensor.

16. A method to control a climate control system comprising:

choosing a current activity for the climate control system, the choice of the current activity being based at least in part on a constraint on the operation of the climate control system;

displaying information regarding the current activity of the climate control system; and

displaying the constraint on the operation of the climate control system.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying a process for modifying the constraint.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the process for modifying the constraint allows the modification without accessing a standard menu for the constraint.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the process for modifying the constraint includes a process for establishing a temporary duration for the modification.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving a request to modify the constraint.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising changing the current activity based at least in part on the modified constraint.

22. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

choosing a current activity for the climate control system, the choice of the current activity being based at least in part on a constraint on the operation of the climate control system;

displaying information regarding the current activity of the climate control system; and

displaying the constraint on the operation of the climate control system.

23. The medium of claim 22, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

displaying a process for modifying the constraint.

24. The medium of claim 23, wherein the process for modifying the constraint includes a process for establishing a temporary duration for the modification.

25. The medium of claim 22, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request to modify the constraint.

26. The medium of claim 25, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

changing the current activity based at least in part on the modified constraint.