HVAC CONTROLLER WITH GUIDED SCHEDULE PROGRAMMING

• US 20090192651A1
• Filed: 04/16/2009
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Amundson, John B., Finch, Heidi J., Vick, Brent D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,170,720 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 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

Controllers and methods are disclosed for aiding a user in programming a schedule of a programmable controller. In an illustrative embodiment, a guided programming routine can be activated by a user, which then guides a user through two or more screens that are designed to collect sufficient information from the user to generate and/or update at least some of the schedule parameters of the controller.

Claims

1. A method of programming a schedule of an HVAC controller having a user interface including a display screen, the schedule having a number of schedule parameters including time parameters related to two or more time periods for each of at least some days of a week, and a number of temperature parameters related to one or more temperature set points for each of the two or more time periods, the method comprising the steps of:

activating a guided programming routine via the user interface of the HVAC controller; and

once activated, the guided programming routine providing a sequence of two or more screens on the display from a first screen to a last screen, the sequence of the two or more screens collecting sufficient information from the user for the HVAC controller to generate and/or update at least some of the schedule parameters of the schedule including both time and temperature parameters.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sequence of two or more screens request a selection of days of the week.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sequence of two or more screens requests a time that is related to a user'"'"'s schedule, and in response, the user enters the requested time via the user interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sequence of two or more screens requests a temperature that is related to a user'"'"'s comfort, and in response, the user enters the requested temperature via the user interface.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the sequence of two or more screens requests a time that is related to a user'"'"'s schedule, and in response, the user enters the requested time via the user interface; and

at least one of the sequence of two or more screens requests a temperature that is related to a user'"'"'s comfort, and in response, the user enters the requested temperature via the user interface.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein at least one of the sequence of two or more screens requesting a time that is related to a user'"'"'s schedule requests a wake up time.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein at least one of the sequence of two or more screens requesting a time that is related to a user'"'"'s schedule requests a sleep time.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein at least one of the sequence of two or more screens requesting a time that is related to a user'"'"'s schedule requests a leave time.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein at least one of the sequence of two or more screens requesting a time that is related to a user'"'"'s schedule requests a return time.

10. A method of programming a schedule of an HVAC controller having a user interface including a display screen, the schedule having a number of schedule parameters including time parameters related to two or more time periods for each of at least some days of a week, and a number of temperature parameters related to one or more temperature set points for each of the two or more time periods, the method comprising the steps of:

activating a guided programming routine via the user interface of the HVAC controller;

once activated, the guided programming routine providing a sequence of two or more screens on the display from a first screen to a last screen for guiding a user through programming at least part of the schedule;

at least one of the sequence of two or more screens requesting a time that is related to a user'"'"'s schedule;

at least one of the sequence of two or more screens requesting a temperature that is related to a user'"'"'s comfort; and

the sequence of the two or more screens collecting sufficient information for the HVAC controller to generate and/or updated at least some of the schedule parameters of the schedule including both time and temperature parameters.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of the sequence of two or more screens request a selection of days of the week.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein at least one of the sequence of two or more screens requesting a time that is related to a user'"'"'s schedule requests a wake up time.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein at least one of the sequence of two or more screens requesting a time that is related to a user'"'"'s schedule requests a sleep time.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein at least one of the sequence of two or more screens requesting a time that is related to a user'"'"'s schedule requests a leave time.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein at least one of the sequence of two or more screens requesting a time that is related to a user'"'"'s schedule requests a return time.

16. A method of programming a schedule of an HVAC controller having a user interface including a display screen, the schedule having a number of schedule parameters including time parameters related to two or more time periods for each of at least some days of a week, and a number of temperature parameters related to one or more temperature set points for each of the two or more time periods, the method comprising the steps of:

activating a guided programming routine via the user interface of the HVAC controller;

once activated, the guided programming routine providing a sequence of two or more screens on the display from a first screen to a last screen;

at least one of the sequence of two or more screens request a selection of days of the week;

at least two of the sequence of two or more screens each request a temperature that is related to a user'"'"'s comfort for the selected days of the week;

at least two of the sequence of two or more screens each request a time that is related to a user'"'"'s schedule for the selected days of the week;

the sequence of the two or more screens collecting sufficient information for the HVAC controller to generate and/or updated at least some of the schedule parameters of the schedule for the selected days of the week including both time and temperature parameters

17. The method of claim 16 wherein at least one of the sequence of two or more screens requesting a time that is related to a user'"'"'s schedule requests a wake up time.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein at least one of the sequence of two or more screens requesting a time that is related to a user'"'"'s schedule requests a sleep time.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein at least one of the sequence of two or more screens requesting a time that is related to a user'"'"'s schedule requests a leave time.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein at least one of the sequence of two or more screens requesting a time that is related to a user'"'"'s schedule requests a return time.