DISPLAY APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ENTERING A REMINDER IN A CONTROL UNIT FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20100050108A1
• Filed: 08/22/2008
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lennox Manufacturing Inc. (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Manufacturing Inc. (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mirza, Muhammad Ali
• Application Number:
  US12/197,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20100050108A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/780
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value

Abstract

A display apparatus for a control unit in an environmental control system includes: a display area presenting a plurality of first loci, a plurality of second loci and at least one third locus; each respective first locus of the plurality of first loci being responsive to pressure for effecting a respective response; each respective second locus of the plurality of second loci presenting information using a fixed segment data format; at least one third locus of the at least one third locus presenting information using a dot matrix data format.

Claims

1. A display apparatus for a control unit in an environmental control system;

the display apparatus comprising;

a display area presenting a plurality of input loci for effecting selections associated with said control system;

at least one first selected input locus of said plurality of input loci operating to effect selection of a reminder function;

at least one second selected input locus of said plurality of input loci operating to effect a time entry for a reminder;

said time entry being expressed in terms of a predetermined multi-day time-unit.

2. A display apparatus for a control unit in an environmental control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said multi-day time-unit is weeks.

3. A display apparatus for a control unit in an environmental control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said multi-day time-unit is months.

4. A display apparatus for a control unit in an environmental control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said multi-day time-unit is selectable using at least one third selected input locus of said plurality of input loci.

5. A display apparatus for a control unit in an environmental control system as recited in claim 4 wherein said multi-day time-unit is weeks.

6. A display apparatus for a control unit in an environmental control system as recited in claim 4 wherein said multi-day time-unit is months.

7. A touchscreen input apparatus for an environmental control system;

the apparatus comprising;

a display area having a plurality of touch-sensitive input loci, at least one first selected input locus of said plurality of touch-sensitive input loci operating to effect selection of a reminder function;

at least one second selected input locus of said plurality of touch-sensitive input loci operating to effect a time entry for a reminder;

said time entry being expressed in terms of a predetermined multi-day time-unit.

8. A touchscreen input apparatus for an environmental control system as recited in claim 7 wherein said multi-day time-unit is weeks.

9. A touchscreen input apparatus for an environmental control system as recited in claim 7 wherein said multi-day time-unit is months.

10. A touchscreen input apparatus for an environmental control system as recited in claim 7 wherein said multi-day time-unit is selectable using at least one third selected input locus of said plurality of input loci.

11. A touchscreen input apparatus for an environmental control system as recited in claim 10 wherein said multi-day time-unit is weeks.

12. A touchscreen input apparatus for an environmental control system as recited in claim 10 wherein said multi-day time-unit is months.

13. A method for entering a reminder for display by an environmental control system;

the method comprising;

(a) providing a display area;

said display area presenting a plurality of input loci for effecting selections associated with said control system;

(b) in no particular order;

(1) identifying at least one first selected input locus of said plurality of input loci; and

(2) identifying at least one second selected input locus of said plurality of input loci;

(c) operating said at least one first selected input locus to effect selection of a reminder function; and

(d) operating said at least one second selected input locus to effect a time entry for a reminder;

said time entry being expressed in terms of a predetermined multi-day time-unit.

14. A method for entering a reminder for display by an environmental control system as recited in claim 13 wherein said multi-day time-unit is weeks.

15. A method for entering a reminder for display by an environmental control system as recited in claim 13 wherein said multi-day time-unit is months.

16. A method for entering a reminder for display by an environmental control system as recited in claim 13 wherein the method further comprises a step (b)(3) following step (b)(2) as follows:

(b)(3) identifying at least one third selected input locus of said plurality of input loci.

17. A method for entering a reminder for display by an environmental control system as recited in claim 16 wherein said multi-day time-unit is selectable using said at least one third selected input locus.

18. A method for entering a reminder for display by an environmental control system as recited in claim 17 wherein said multi-day time-unit is weeks.

19. A method for entering a reminder for display by an environmental control system as recited in claim 17 wherein said multi-day time-unit is months.