Programmable controller and a user interface for same

• US 20100106305A1
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Manufacturing Inc. (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Thorson, Timothy H., Wallaert, Timothy E., Pavlak, Thomas G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,527,096 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: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value

Abstract

A programmable controller includes a user interface which includes a default interface, a home screen, an indoor settings interface and one or more tab interfaces. As the home screen covers a predominant portion of the default interface and is associated with the indoor settings interface, the home screen enables an operator of the programmable thermostat to intuitively transition from the home screen to the indoor settings and one or more tab interfaces.

Claims

1. A programmable controller for controlling an HVAC system, comprising:

a touch screen; and

a processor subsystem coupled to said touch screen;

said processor subsystem generating a first interface which displays a set of one or more physical conditions produced by operation of said HVAC system and, in response to a touch of said first interface, a second interface from which one or more thermostat settings for said HVAC system may be modified.

2. The programmable controller of claim 1, wherein said first interface is coextensive with a predominant portion of said touch screen.

3. The programmable controller of claim 2, wherein said processor subsystem generates said second interface in response to a touch anywhere within said first interface.

4. The programmable controller of claim 3, wherein a first thermostat setting for said HVAC system is displayed on, and modifiable from, said second interface.

5. The programmable controller of claim 4, wherein both said first interface and said second interface display a second thermostat setting for said HVAC system, said second thermostat setting modifiable from said second interface.

6. The programmable controller of claim 5, and further comprising:

a control button located within the boundary of said first interface, said control button controlling said second thermostat setting displayed on said first interface; and

wherein;

in response to a touch of said control button, said processor subsystem shall instead modify said second thermostat setting displayed on said first interface.

7. The programmable controller of claim 6, wherein a first condition is displayed on both said first interface and said second interface.

8. The programmable controller of claim 7, wherein said first condition is current indoor temperature, said first thermostat setting is operating mode and said second thermostat setting is temperature setpoint.

9. A user interface for a programmable controller, comprising:

a first interface having an area in which a value for a physical parameter is displayed; and

a second interface having a first control button for selecting a conditioning process capable of modifying said value of said physical parameter;

wherein said second interface is generated in response to a touch of said area of said first interface.

10. The user interface of claim 9, wherein a first thermostat setting is displayed in said area and said second interface includes a second control button for modifying said thermostat setting.

11. The user interface of claim 10, wherein said first interface includes a third control button for modifying said thermostat setting.

12. The user interface of claim 11, wherein said third control button is located within a sub-area of said area of said first interface, said second interface not being generated in response to a touch of said sub-area of said first interface.

13. The user interface of claim 12, wherein said area is coextensive with a predominant portion of said first interface.

14. A user interface for a programmable controller for controlling an HVAC system, the user interface comprising:

a default interface, said default interface generated in response to an absence of operator inputs;

a home screen, said home screen overlying a predominant portion of said default interface, said home screen displaying a current indoor temperature, an indoor temperature setpoint and an operating mode; and

an indoor settings interface, said indoor settings interface having a first control for modifying said indoor temperature setpoint and a second control for selecting said operating mode;

wherein said indoor settings interface is generated in response to a touch of said home screen.

15. The user interface of claim 14, and further comprising:

at least one tab interface; and

at least one further settings interface, each of said further settings interface associated with a corresponding one of said at least one tab interface;

wherein said indoor settings interface and said at least one tab interface are generated in response to a touch of said home screen and wherein, in response to a touch of a selected one of said at least one tab interface, a further settings interface associated with said selected tab interface is generated.

16. The user interface of claim 15, wherein:

said at least tab interfaces includes one or more of a weather tab, a programming tab, an indoor humidity tab, a zoning tab and an alert tab; and

wherein;

said at least one further settings interface include one or more of a weather interface, a programming interface, an indoor humidity interface, a zoning interface and an alert interface.

17. The user interface of claim 16, and further comprising:

a home tab;

wherein said home tab is generated in response to a touch of said home screen; and

wherein said home screen is generated in response to a touch of said home tab.

18. The user interface of claim 14, wherein said second control is comprised of a first button for selecting said operating mode in response to a touch thereof.

19. The user interface of claim 14, wherein said first control is comprised of a first button for raising said indoor temperature setpoint in response to a touch thereof and a second button for lowering said indoor temperature setpoint in response to a touch thereof.

20. The user interface of claim 19, wherein said second control is comprised of a third button for selecting said operating mode in response to a touch thereof.

21. The user interface of claim 20, wherein, by touching said third button, said operating mode may be switched between “

heat only”

, “

cool only”

, “

heat &

cool” and

“

off”

settings.

22. The user interface of claim 14, wherein said home screen includes a control for modifying said indoor temperature setpoint.

23. The user interface of claim 22, wherein said home screen is comprised of a first area and a second area, said indoor settings interface generated in response to a touch of said first area of said home screen and said indoor temperature setpoint modified in response to a touch of said second area of said home screen.