AIRFLOW ADJUSTMENT USER INTERFACES

• US 20100070085A1
• Filed: 09/15/2009
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Harrod, Gregory Ralph, Beers, Bradley A., Carmichael, Grant E., Bentz, Jedidiah O., Ostrye, Nathan T., Slavens, Amanda L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,346,397 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: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

Controllers for controlling heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and cooling (HVAC) systems are provided. The controllers include graphical user interfaces for user adjustment of system settings. The graphical user interfaces also may be designed to present information that facilitates user understanding of system operations. In certain embodiments, the controllers may allow users to adjust airflow values within a wide range of values. In these embodiments, the graphical user interfaces may include slide bars for adjusting the airflow values.

Claims

1. A control device comprising:

a communication interface suitable for operable connection to an indoor unit that directs conditioned air to an environment and at least one of a heat pump, an air conditioner, or an auxiliary heating system;

a display capable of displaying a maximum airflow setting, a minimum airflow setting, and a range therebetween of incremental settings for the indoor unit;

a graphical user interface capable of receiving a user input that selects one of the incremental settings; and

a processor capable of applying the selected incremental setting to the indoor unit through the communication interface to control flow of the conditioned air based upon the selected incremental setting.

2. The control device of claim 1, wherein the incremental settings comprise fractional portions of the maximum airflow setting.

3. The control device of claim 1, wherein the incremental settings are separated from one another by a predetermined percentage of the maximum airflow setting.

4. The control device of claim 1, wherein the range comprises at least 10 incremental settings.

5. The control device of claim 1, wherein the incremental settings comprise percentages and wherein the processor is capable of converting the percentages to flow-related values.

6. The control device of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a screen for selecting a zone controlled by the control device and wherein the processor is capable of applying the selected incremental setting to the selected zone independent of other zones controlled by the control device.

7. The control device of claim 1, wherein the processor is capable of determining the maximum and minimum airflow settings based on model information for the heat pump, the air conditioner, or the auxiliary heating system.

8. A control device comprising:

a communication interface suitable for operable connection to a heating, ventilating, air conditioning, or cooling system;

a display capable of displaying a graphical element defining a range of incremental airflow settings extending between a maximum airflow setting and a minimum airflow setting for a unit of the heating, ventilating, air conditioning, or cooling system, and a moveable feature disposed on the graphical element;

a graphical user interface capable of receiving a user input that moves the moveable feature on the graphical element to select an incremental airflow setting for the unit; and

a processor capable of applying the selected incremental airflow setting to the unit.

9. The control device of claim 8, wherein the display comprises a touch screen for sensing the user input.

10. The control device of claim 8, wherein the processor is capable of determining whether the selected incremental airflow setting falls within a predetermined efficiency range and wherein the graphical user interface comprises an indicator that is displayed on the display when the selected incremental airflow setting falls within the predetermined efficiency range.

11. The control device of claim 8, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a screen for selecting an operating mode of the heating, ventilating, air conditioning, or cooling system, and wherein the processor is capable of applying the selected airflow setting to the selected operating mode.

12. The control device of claim 8, wherein the processor is capable of determining a dehumidification airflow setting based on the selected incremental airflow setting, and wherein the display is capable of displaying an indicator on the slide bar to identify the dehumidification airflow setting.

13. The control device of claim 8, wherein the unit comprises an indoor unit or an outdoor unit, and wherein the processor is capable of adjusting a fan speed of the unit based on the selected incremental airflow setting.

14. A method comprising:

displaying maximum and minimum airflow settings for a heating, ventilating, air conditioning, or cooling system and displaying a graphical element representing a plurality of incremental airflow settings between the maximum and minimum airflow settings;

sensing a touch that selects a portion of the graphical element;

determining a value that corresponds to the selected portion of the graphical element; and

adjusting a fan of the heating, ventilating, air conditioning, or cooling system to produce an airflow corresponding to the value.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein determining a value comprises correlating a percentage of the maximum airflow setting to a volumetric flow rate.

16. The method of claim 14, comprising displaying a summary of current airflow settings for a plurality of zones of the heating, ventilating, air conditioning, or cooling system.

17. The method of claim 14, comprising displaying a summary of current airflow settings for a plurality of operating modes of the heating, ventilating, air conditioning, or cooling system.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the operating modes comprise a high cool mode, a low cool mode, a high heat mode, a low heat mode, or an electric heating mode.

19. The method of claim 14, comprising determining the maximum and minimum airflow settings based on equipment included in the heating, ventilating, air conditioning, or cooling system.

20. The method of claim 14, comprising displaying an indicator on the graphical element that identifies the incremental airflow settings that correspond to an efficient operating range for the heating, ventilating, air conditioning, or cooling system.