SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE FOR A USER INTERFACE DASHBOARD OF A HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING NETWORK

• US 20100107074A1
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Thorson, Timothy H., Wallaert, Timothy, Pavlak, Thomas Gerard
• Granted Patent: US 9,261,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/702
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 22/02 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 27/02 characterised by the use of electric means

Abstract

The disclosure provides systems and methods of use of an HVAC graphical interface dashboard. In various embodiments, the dashboard includes a weather tab, wherein invoking the weather tab advances to a weather screen. The dashboard also includes an indoor humidity tab. A programs tab and a home tab are also provided. The home screen has a single icon that gives a user an indication that there is at least one alert present in the dashboard.

Claims

1. An HVAC graphical interface dashboard, comprising:

a weather tab, wherein invoking the weather tab advances to a weather screen;

an indoor humidity tab, wherein invoking the indoor humidity tab advances to a humidity screen which displays at least a current indoor humidity;

an alerts tab, wherein invoking the alerts tab advances to an alerts screen;

a help tab, wherein invoking the help tab advances to a help screen that provides context sensitive help that presents at least one dialog box related to a function of a current screen;

an indoor settings tab, wherein invoking the indoor settings tab advances to an indoor settings screen which includes a current indoor temperature;

a programs tab, wherein invoking the programs tab advances to a programs screen which can program at least one of;

a) a time;

b) temperature setpoints;

c) heating/cooling setpoints; and

a home tab, wherein invoking the home tab advances to a home screen which provides a summary of indoor conditions, 42.

wherein the home screen has a single icon that gives a user an indication that there is at least one alert present in the dashboard.

2. The home screen of claim 1, wherein pressing the alert icon directly navigates to a display page on the thermostat giving a user:

a) more information about the at least one alert;

b) the ability to clear the at least one alert;

or

c) to set a reminder time for a later date for the at least one alert.

3. The home screen of claim 1, wherein the alert icon is one of three colors:

a) a first color to indicate that the HVAC dashboard is currently running in an energy efficient mode;

b) a second color to indicate that a filter needs to be replaced; and

c) a third color to indicate that a piece of equipment is no longer working.

4. The dashboard of claim 1, wherein a discovered device has a correlated icon for notice by a user.

5. The dashboard of claim 4, wherein an icon is correlated to at least one HVAC device employable by a user.

6. The programs tab of claim 1, wherein a reset setting of the program screen can reset to a predetermined setting.

7. The dashboard of claim 1, wherein the indoor humidity tab can further be used to set current indoor humidity setpoints.

8. The dashboard of claim 1, wherein the programs tab further includes a fan mode.

9. The dashboard of claim 1, wherein, in order to access an installer screen from the home screen, an installer is to press and hold an icon that is a logo with a finger for a given time period and then drag the finger across the interface.

10. An HVAC system including a graphical interface dashboard and at least one coupled device, comprising:

the dashboard, including;

a weather tab, wherein invoking the weather tab advances to a weather screen;

an indoor humidity tab, wherein invoking the indoor humidity tab advances to a humidity screen which displays at least a current indoor humidity;

an alerts tab, wherein invoking the alerts tab advances to an alerts screen;

a help tab, wherein invoking the help tab advances to a help screen that provides context sensitive help that presents at least one dialog box related to a function of a current screen;

an indoor settings tab, wherein invoking the indoor settings tab advances a user to an indoor settings screen which includes a current indoor temperature;

a programs tab, wherein pressing the programs tab invokes a programs screen which can program at least one of;

i) a time;

ii) temperature setpoints;

iii) heating/cooling setpoints; and

a home tab, wherein invoking the home tab advances a user to a home screen which provides a summary of indoor conditions; and

the at least one coupled device selected from the group including;

a) an air handler;

b) a furnace;

c) an evaporator coil;

d) a condenser coil; and

e) a compressor;

wherein the at least one coupled device is viewable from at least one of the tabs, and

wherein the home screen has a single icon that gives a user an indication that there is at least one alert present in the dashboard.

11. The home screen of claim 10, wherein pressing the alert icon directly navigates to a display page on the thermostat giving a user:

a) more information about the at least one alert;

b) the ability to clear the at least one alert;

or

c) to set a reminder time for a later date for the at least one alert.

12. The home screen of claim 10, wherein the alert icon is one of three colors:

a) a first color to indicate that the HVAC dashboard is currently running in an energy efficient mode;

b) a second color to indicate that a filter needs to be replaced; and

c) a third color to indicate that a piece of equipment is no longer working.

13. The dashboard of claim 10, wherein a discovered device has a correlated icon for notice by a user.

14. The programs tab of claim 13, wherein a reset setting of the program screen can reset to a predetermined setting.

15. The programs tab of claim 13, wherein the programming screen for programming a time invokes both:

a) a display of an analog clock; and

b) six interface boxes, each including indicia of one of;

i) an hour;

ii) a minute;

iii) an AM/PM;

iv) a day;

v) a month; and

vi) a year.

17. The program screen of claim 13, wherein at least one value of at least one interface box is adjusted by a user using a number on a clock face as a button to enter a time for the clock.

19. The home screen of claim 10, wherein pressing the alert icon directly navigates to a display page on the thermostat giving a user:

a) more information about the at least one alert;

b) the ability to clear the at least one alert;

or

c) to set a reminder time for a later date for the at least one alert.

20. The home screen of claim 10, wherein the alert icon is one of three colors:

a) a first color to indicate that the HVAC dashboard is currently running in an energy efficient mode;

b) a second color to indicate that a filter needs to be replaced; and

c) a third color to indicate that a piece of equipment is no longer working.

16. The program screen of claim 16, wherein at least one value of at least one interface box is changed as a user drags at least one clock hand of the analog clock.

18. An HVAC graphical interface dashboard, comprising:

a weather tab, wherein invoking the weather tab advances to a weather screen;

an indoor humidity tab, wherein invoking the indoor humidity tab advances to a humidity screen which displays at least a current indoor humidity;

an alerts tab, wherein invoking the alerts tab advances to an alerts screen;

a help tab, wherein invoking the help tab advances to a help screen that provides context sensitive help that presents at least one dialog box related to a function of a current screen;

an indoor settings tab, wherein invoking the indoor settings tab advances to an indoor settings screen which includes a current indoor temperature;

a programs tab, wherein invoking the programs tab advances to a programs screen which can program at least one of;

a) a time;

b) temperature setpoints;

c) heating/cooling setpoints; and

a home tab, wherein invoking the home tab advances to a home screen which provides a summary of indoor conditions,

wherein the home tab can further advance to an installer dashboard that can be accessed only by an entry of a key, wherein the key is entered by an installer.