CONFIGURABLE WALL MODULE SYSTEM

• US 20090158188A1
• Filed: 12/14/2007
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Gutha, Stalin, Andrzejewski, Jakub, Laberge, Jason C., Jhawar, Ankur, Wacker, Paul C., Johnson, Bruce S., Bray, William J., Ghule, Siddharth, Kasper, Gary P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,285,134 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/771
• 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 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/102 for input of programme steps, i.e. setting up sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25092 Customized control features, configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value

Abstract

A configurable wall module having selectable home screens, custom menu navigation, and incorporating functional design. The display utilizes fixed segments. menu navigation and configuration which may be facilitated with soft keys having indicative labels associated with them. The parameters may be accessed from categories by soft keys via two-level menu navigation. Certain parameter value and setpoint entries may be effected with up/down keys. Module configuration may be performed by a user. To provide such user capability, the module may be programmed and configured by an installer with a software configuration tool used in connection with the building automation system associated with the module.

Claims

1. A structure space module comprising:

a display for providing a home screen;

a processor connected to the display;

one or more sensors, for providing one or more parameters about a space, connected to the processor; and

wherein a number and type of the one or more parameters which can be accessed at the space module is customizable.

2. The module of claim 1, wherein the space module is programmed and/or configured with a software configuration tool in connection with a building automation system to provide the space module with customized access to the building automation system.

3. The module of claim 1, wherein a space module configuration is selectable from one or more predefined space module configurations.

4. The module of claim 1, wherein control of the space module is configurable.

5. The module of claim 1, further comprising:

an installer mode and a user mode; and

wherein permission to access the installer mode and/or a user mode is customizable.

6. The module of claim 5, wherein an amount of information permitted to be viewed by a user is customizable.

7. The module of claim 1, further comprising:

an installer mode and a user mode; and

wherein;

the installer mode is for programming the space module with a software configuration tool in connection with a building automation system; and

programming permitted by the user mode is determined at the installer mode.

8. The module of claim 7, wherein the building automation system comprises:

a controller connected to the space module; and

a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system for the space, connected to the controller; and

wherein the space module is a wall module.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the space module comprises one or more soft keys connected to the processor.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the home screen is selectable from a plurality of home screens at the module via the one or more soft keys; and

each of the plurality of home screens is configurable at the module.

11. The module of claim 9, wherein:

occupancy status is selectable at the space module via the one or more soft keys; and

/or

fan status is selectable at the space module via the one or more soft keys.

12. The module of claim 1, wherein:

the display comprises one or more labels;

each of the one or more labels is a one-or-more-character label; and

each character of the label comprises one or more fixed display segments.

13. The module of claim 9, wherein each soft key of the one or more soft keys has a label indicating an action if the soft key is pressed.

14. The module of claim 9, wherein:

the one or more parameters are classified in one or more categories; and

the one or more parameters are accessed from one or more categories by pressing the one or more soft keys via two-level navigation.

15. The module of claim 14, wherein in absence of a configured or selected two-level navigation menu, a default two-level navigation menu is provided.

16. The module of claim 9, further comprising:

up and down keys; and

wherein;

parameters are selectable at the space module from a category with the one or more soft keys; and

the parameters are adjustable with the up and down keys.

17. A method for operating a thermostat module comprising:

sensing one or more parameters with one or more sensors of the thermostat module;

displaying a screen for showing at least one value and/or setpoint of the one or more parameters; and

selecting the screen from a group of two or more screens.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein:

the screen is selected from the group of two or more screens by pressing one or more soft keys; and

each of the one or more soft keys has a label for indicating an action if the soft key is pressed.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the one or more parameters are in one of one or more categories;

a category is selected from the one or more categories for viewing by pressing one or more soft keys; and

a parameter is selected from the category for viewing and/or editing by pressing one or more soft keys and/or up and down keys.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the thermostat module is situated in a building and connected to a building automation system; and

the building automation system in conjunction with the thermostat module is for controlling environmental conditions in the building.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising programming and/or configuring the thermostat module with a software configuration tool having access to the building automation system.

22. A control system comprising:

one or more sensors for indicating one or more values of one or more parameters sensed by the one or more sensors;

a display for showing a home screen;

a processor connected to the one or more sensors and the display;

one or more soft keys;

one or more labels associated with the one or more soft keys for indicating what appears on the screen if the one or more soft keys are pressed;

up and down keys;

one or more parameters selectable by the one or more soft keys and adjustable by the up and down keys; and

one or more fixed segment characters in the screen for displaying a value of the one or more parameters and/or setpoints.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

additional home screens for selection in lieu of the home screen on the display; and

wherein the one or more sensors comprise a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a CO2 sensor and/or one or more other sensors.

24. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

an occupancy status selectable by the one or more soft keys; and

a fan status selectable by the one or more soft keys.