DISPLAY APPARATUS AND METHOD HAVING TEXTUAL SYSTEM STATUS MESSAGE DISPLAY CAPABILITY FOR AN ENVIROMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20110004824A1
• Filed: 09/17/2010
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2008
• 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 E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,990,718 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/702
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/0065 Control members, e.g. levers or knobs B60H1/00985 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00657 Remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00985 Control systems or circuits characterised by display or indicating devices, e.g. voice simulators characterised by the input of sound using a voice synthesizer B60H1/00757; B60H1/00978 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/00 Control or safety arrangements
• 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 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 Feedback from users
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/32 preventing human errors during the installation, use or maintenance, e.g. goofy proof
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/00 Control of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1951 with control of the working time of a temperature controlling device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials

Abstract

A display apparatus for a control unit in an environmental control system; the display apparatus including: 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; the display apparatus configured to allow textual system status messages to be displayed.

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 first loci, a plurality of second loci and at least one third locus;

each respective first locus of said plurality of first loci being responsive to pressure for effecting a respective response;

each respective second locus of said plurality of second loci presenting information using a fixed segment data format;

at least one third locus of said at least one third locus presenting information using a dot matrix data format;

said display apparatus configured to allow textual system status messages to be displayed.

2. A display apparatus for a control unit in an environmental control system as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one said respective first locus overlaps with at least one said respective second locus.

3. A display apparatus for a control unit in an environmental control system as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one said respective first locus overlaps with at least one said respective third locus.

4. A display apparatus for a control unit in an environmental control system as recited in claim 2 wherein at least one said respective first locus overlaps with at least one said respective third locus.

5. A display apparatus for a control unit in an environmental control system as recited in claim 2 wherein each said respective first locus is substantially aligned with a respective said second locus.

6. A display apparatus for a control unit in an environmental control system as recited in claim 4 wherein each said respective first locus is substantially aligned with a respective said second locus.

7. A display apparatus for a control unit in an environmental control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said display area is configured for selectively populating said respective second loci with display information.

8. A display apparatus for a control unit in an environmental control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said display area is configured for selectively populating said respective second loci with display information.

9. A display apparatus for a control unit in an environmental control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said display area is configured for selectively populating said respective third loci with display information.

10. A display apparatus for a control unit in an environmental control system as recited in claim 8 wherein said display area is configured for selectively populating said respective third loci with display information.

11. 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 display locus and at least one second display locus;

said at least one first display locus presenting information using a fixed segment data format;

said at least one second display locus presenting information using a dot matrix data format;

said touchscreen input apparatus configured to allow textual system status messages to be displayed.

12. A touchscreen input apparatus for an environmental control system as recited in claim 11 wherein at least one respective touch-sensitive input locus of said plurality of touch-sensitive input loci overlaps with at least one respective first display locus of said at least one first display locus.

13. A touchscreen input apparatus for an environmental control system as recited in claim 12 wherein at least one respective touch-sensitive input locus of said plurality of touch-sensitive input loci overlaps with at least one respective second display locus of said at least one second display locus.

14. A touchscreen input apparatus for an environmental control system as recited in claim 11 wherein each said respective touch-sensitive input locus is substantially aligned with a respective said first display locus.

15. A touchscreen input apparatus for an environmental control system as recited in claim 12 wherein each said respective touch-sensitive input locus is substantially aligned with a respective said first display locus.

16. A touchscreen input apparatus for an environmental control system as recited in claim 11 wherein said display area is configured for selectively populating at least one selected first display locus of said at least one first display locus with display information.

17. A touchscreen input apparatus for an environmental control system as recited in claim 11 wherein said display area is configured for selectively populating at least one selected second display locus of said at least one second display locus with display information.

18. A touchscreen input apparatus for an environmental control system as recited in claim 16 wherein said display area is configured for selectively populating at least one selected second display locus of said at least one second display locus with display information.

19. A method for entering input to an environmental control system;

the method comprising;

(a) providing a display area;

(b) in no particular order;

(1) presenting a plurality of first loci in said display area;

(2) presenting a plurality of second loci in said display area; and

(3) presenting at least one third locus in said display area; and

(c) in no particular order;

(1) configuring each respective first locus of said plurality of first loci for being responsive to pressure for effecting a respective said input;

(2) configuring each respective second locus of said plurality of second loci presenting information using a fixed segment data format;

(3) configuring at least one third locus of said at least one third locus presenting information using a dot matrix data format; and

(4) allowing textual system status messages to be displayed.

20. A method for entering input to an environmental control system as recited in claim 19 wherein said display area is configured for selectively populating said respective second loci with display information, and wherein said display area is configured for selectively populating said respective third loci with display information.