USER FRIENDLY INTERFACE FOR CONTROL UNIT
First Claim
1. A programmable device for controlling an HVAC system comprising:
- a rounded body;
a rounded display mounted on the body and adapted to display information to a user;
a rotating ring rotatably mounted on the body and adapted to receive user input;
a processing system adapted to control one or more HVAC functions according to a scheduled program, to display information on the rounded display and to receive user input from the rotating ring.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A user-friendly programmable thermostat is described that includes a circular body having a large central display surrounded by a ring that can be rotated an pressed inward by a user so as to receive user input in a simple elegant fashion. Different colors can be displayed to the user to indicate currently active HVAC functions, and different shades of colors can be displayed to a user to indicate an estimated amount of time and/or energy for reaching a target temperature. The thermostat is wall mountable and is made up of a head unit removeably mounted to a backplate. A locking mechanism can be provided so as to increase security against unauthorized removal of the head unit. The backplate can be adapted to be mounted on a wall so as to be level, for example by including a bubble level on the backplate. One or more vents are preferably located on the sides of the body, such as in a gap beneath the translatably mounted ring, and/or in a gap between the head unit and the backplate. The target temperature for the device can be altered in response to sensing rotation of the rotating ring, and the programmed schedule can be displayed to and altered by the user in response to sensing rotation of the ring and the translational movement of the ring. Historical information such as temperature and cost information can be displayed to a user in response to sensing rotating of the rotating ring. One or more device settings can be displayed to and edited by a user in response to sensing rotating of the rotating member and the translational movement. According to some embodiments, text characters can be entered by the user.
-
Citations
47 Claims
-
1. A programmable device for controlling an HVAC system comprising:
-
a rounded body; a rounded display mounted on the body and adapted to display information to a user; a rotating ring rotatably mounted on the body and adapted to receive user input; a processing system adapted to control one or more HVAC functions according to a scheduled program, to display information on the rounded display and to receive user input from the rotating ring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A method for interacting with a user with a programmable device for controlling an HVAC system, the method comprising:
-
displaying information to a user on a rounded dot-matrix display mounted on a rounded body of the programmable device; and receiving input from a user at least in part using rotating member mounted on the body and by sensing a translational movement of the rotating member toward a base of the device. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
-
-
39. A thermostat for controlling at least one HVAC function in an HVAC system, the thermostat comprising:
-
a back plate including connectors adapted to connect to HVAC control wires, and a back plate processor adapted and programmed so as to turn on and turn off the HVAC function; and a head unit including a display adapted to display information to a user, a user input device for receiving input from a user, and a head unit processor adapted and programmed to control the display and processing received user input, wherein the head unit and back plate are adapted to physically attach to each other so as to provide electrical connection between the head unit and back plate. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
-
Specification