GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR SETPOINT CREATION AND MODIFICATION
First Claim
1. A method of graphically interacting with a user to establish a new setpoint temperature value on a thermostat for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the method comprising:
- graphically displaying a two dimensional setpoint plot area to a user via an electronic display of a user interface, the display being disposed within a housing of the thermostat, the setpoint plot area including a first axis direction indicating a temperature value associated with one or more setpoints and a second axis direction orthogonal to the first axis direction, the second axis direction indicating a time of day value associated with one or more setpoints, said graphically displaying being performed at least in part by a processing system disposed within the housing of the thermostat and coupled to the user interface, the processing system being configured to be in operative communication with one or more temperature sensors for determining an ambient air temperature, in operative communication with one or more input devices including said user interface, and in further operative communication with the HVAC system to control the HVAC system based at least in part on a comparison of a measured ambient temperature and a setpoint temperature value;
receiving user input indicating the user'"'"'s desire to establish a new setpoint, the user input being received on the user interface;
in response to said received user input, displaying on the electronic display a graphical representation indicative of a new setpoint;
on the plot area being displayed on the electronic display, presenting an animated sequence in which the graphical representation is moved to a first position on the plot area indicative of a first temperature value and a first time of day value associated with the new setpoint, the animated graphical representation tending to facilitate attraction of the user'"'"'s attention thereto;
receiving user input on the user interface indicating the user'"'"'s desire to modify either the first temperature value to a second temperature value associated with the new setpoint, or the first time of day value to a second time of day value associated with the new setpoint; and
using the processing system, controlling one or more HVAC system components of the HVAC system in accordance with the temperature value and a time of day value associated with the new setpoint as modified by the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A user-friendly programmable thermostat is described that includes a body having a central electronic display surrounded by a ring that can be rotated and pressed inwardly to provide user input in a simple and elegant fashion. The thermostat can be used to graphically display a two-dimensional setpoint plot area that includes a number of setpoint symbols each being positioned according to the time of day and temperature associated with the setpoint. The user can initiate the “birth” of a new setpoint, which includes presenting an animated sequence in which a new setpoint symbol is moved to a position on the plot area associated with the time of day and temperature for the new setpoint.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of graphically interacting with a user to establish a new setpoint temperature value on a thermostat for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the method comprising:
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graphically displaying a two dimensional setpoint plot area to a user via an electronic display of a user interface, the display being disposed within a housing of the thermostat, the setpoint plot area including a first axis direction indicating a temperature value associated with one or more setpoints and a second axis direction orthogonal to the first axis direction, the second axis direction indicating a time of day value associated with one or more setpoints, said graphically displaying being performed at least in part by a processing system disposed within the housing of the thermostat and coupled to the user interface, the processing system being configured to be in operative communication with one or more temperature sensors for determining an ambient air temperature, in operative communication with one or more input devices including said user interface, and in further operative communication with the HVAC system to control the HVAC system based at least in part on a comparison of a measured ambient temperature and a setpoint temperature value; receiving user input indicating the user'"'"'s desire to establish a new setpoint, the user input being received on the user interface; in response to said received user input, displaying on the electronic display a graphical representation indicative of a new setpoint; on the plot area being displayed on the electronic display, presenting an animated sequence in which the graphical representation is moved to a first position on the plot area indicative of a first temperature value and a first time of day value associated with the new setpoint, the animated graphical representation tending to facilitate attraction of the user'"'"'s attention thereto; receiving user input on the user interface indicating the user'"'"'s desire to modify either the first temperature value to a second temperature value associated with the new setpoint, or the first time of day value to a second time of day value associated with the new setpoint; and using the processing system, controlling one or more HVAC system components of the HVAC system in accordance with the temperature value and a time of day value associated with the new setpoint as modified by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A thermostat comprising:
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a housing; a user interface comprising an electronic display disposed within the housing; and a processing system disposed within the housing and coupled to the user interface, the processing system being configured to be in operative communication with one or more temperature sensors for determining an ambient air temperature, in operative communication with one or more input devices including said user interface for receiving input from a user, and in further operative communication with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to control the HVAC system based at least in part on a comparison of a measured ambient temperature and a setpoint temperature value, wherein the processing system is further configured to; graphically display a two dimensional setpoint plot area to a user via the electronic display of a user interface, the setpoint plot area including a first axis direction indicating a temperature value associated with one or more setpoints and a second axis direction orthogonal to the first axis direction, the second axis direction indicating a time of day value associated with one or more setpoints; graphically display on the plot area a plurality of graphical representations each of which is indicative of an associated setpoint, each graphical representation being positioned on the plot area according to a time of day value and a temperature value associated with the associated setpoint of the graphical representation; receive user input on the user interface indicative of the user'"'"'s desire to modify a time of day value or a temperature value associated with a selected setpoint, the selected setpoint being associated with one of the plurality of graphical representations; in response to said received user input, in real time, on the plot area, present an animated sequence in which a graphical representation associated with the user selected setpoint is moved to a position on the plot area so as indicate a modified temperature value or a modified time of day value associated with user selected setpoint, the motion of the graphical representation tending to facilitate attraction of the user'"'"'s attention to the graphical representation; and control one or more HVAC system components of the HVAC system in accordance with the a temperature value and a time of day value as modified by the user. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A thermostat comprising:
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a housing; a user interface comprising an electronic display disposed within the housing; and a processing system disposed within the housing and coupled to the user interface, the processing system being configured to be in operative communication with one or more temperature sensors for determining an ambient air temperature, in operative communication with one or more input devices including said user interface for receiving input from a user, and in still further operative communication with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to control the HVAC system based at least in part on a comparison of a measured ambient temperature and a setpoint temperature value, wherein the processing system is further configured to; graphically display a two dimensional setpoint plot area to a user via the electronic display of a user interface, the setpoint plot area including a first axis direction indicating a temperature value associated with one or more setpoints and a second axis direction orthogonal to the first axis direction, the second axis direction indicating a time of day value associated with one or more setpoints; receive user input indicating the user'"'"'s desire to establish a new setpoint, the user input being received on the user interface; in response to said received user input, display on the electronic display a graphical representation indicative of a new setpoint; on the plot area being displayed on the electronic display, present an animated sequence in which the graphical representation is moved to a position on the plot area indicating a first temperature value and a first time of day value associated with the new setpoint, the motion of the graphical representation tending to facilitate attraction of the user'"'"'s attention to the graphical representation; receive user input on the user interface indicating the user'"'"'s desire to modify either the first temperature value to a second temperature value associated with the new setpoint, or the first time of day value to a second time of day value associated with the new setpoint; and control one or more HVAC system components of the HVAC system in accordance with the temperature value and a time of day value associated with the new setpoint as modified by the user. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification