THERMOSTAT USER INTERFACE

• US 20140005837A1
• Filed: 06/18/2013
• Published: 01/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nest Labs Incorporated (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony Michael, Rogers, Matthew Lee, Sloo, David, Matas, Michael James, Plitkins, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,706,270 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 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• 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 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/67 Switching between heating and cooling modes
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/12 of the outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/12 Position of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 Feedback from users
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1919 characterised by the type of controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 : Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 : Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 : Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/07 : UV or IR detection, e.g. of human body
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/06 : Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being along the axis of angular movement

Abstract

A thermostat for controlling an HVAC system is described, the thermostat having a user interface that is visually pleasing, approachable, and easy to use while also providing ready access to, and intuitive navigation within, a menuing system capable of receiving a variety of different types of user settings and/or control parameters. For some embodiments, the thermostat comprises a housing, a ring-shaped user-interface component configured to track a rotational input motion of a user, a processing system configured to identify a setpoint temperature value based on the tracked rotational input motion, and an electronic display coupled to the processing system. An interactive thermostat menuing system is accessible to the user by an inward pressing of the ring-shaped user interface component. User navigation within the interactive thermostat menuing system is achievable by virtue of respective rotational input motions and inward pressings of the ring-shaped user interface component.

Claims

1. A thermostat comprising:

a housing having an electronic display disposed thereon;

a rotatable user-interface component configured to track a rotational input motion of a user; and

a processing system disposed within the housing and coupled to the rotatable user interface component and to the electronic display, the processing system being configured to identify a setpoint temperature value based on the tracked rotational input motion, the processing system being further configured to be in operative communication with one or more temperature sensors for receiving an ambient air temperature, the processing system being still further configured to be in 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 the measured ambient temperature and the setpoint temperature value;

wherein said processing system, said electronic display, and said rotatable user interface component are collectively configured such that each of a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation is provided, said first and second modes of operation being in effect at different times,

wherein, during said first mode of operation, graphical information is displayed on said electronic display that is representative of said setpoint temperature value as identified by said processing system according to said tracked rotational input motion of the user,

wherein, during said second mode of operation, an arrangement of selectable menu items is displayed on said electronic display, said tracked rotational input motion of the user causing different ones of the selectable menu items to become visually highlighted as said rotatable user interface component is rotated, a user selection of one of said selectable menu items being established by a user confirmation input provided by the user while that selectable menu item is visually highlighted, and

wherein, during said first mode of operation, a positive-reinforcement icon is displayed on said electronic display when said setpoint temperature value as identified by said processing system is determined to be in a range associated with improved energy conservation.

2. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein, during said first mode of operation, a negative-reinforcement icon is displayed on said electronic display when said setpoint temperature value as identified by said processing system is determined to be associated with reduced energy conservation.

3. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein, during said first mode of operation, said graphical information representative of said setpoint temperature value comprises a graphical setpoint icon displayed along a periphery of the electronic display at a first location that is spatially representative of said setpoint temperature value.

4. The thermostat of claim 3, wherein, during said second mode of operation, said arrangement of selectable menu items is displayed along said periphery of the electronic display and is caused to rotate around said periphery responsive to tracked user rotation of the rotatable user interface component.

5. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein said rotatable user-interface component is further configured to be inwardly pressable in a manner that is detectable by the processor, and wherein the thermostat is configured to switch from said first mode of operation to said second mode of operation in response to an inward pressing of said rotatable user-interface component applied during said first mode of operation.

6. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein said electronic display is substantially circular in shape, and wherein said rotatable user-interface component comprises a mechanically rotatable ring that substantially surrounds said electronic display.

7. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein said positive-reinforcement icon is a non-numerical indicator having a visually pleasing appearance, said display of said positive-reinforcement icon at least partially rewarding the user for rotating said rotatable user interface member to a position corresponding to improved energy savings, whereby energy conservation is encouraged.

8. A method for control of an HVAC system by a thermostat, the thermostat comprising a housing, a rotatable user-interface component, a processing system, and an electronic display, the thermostat having first and second modes of operation that are in effect at different times, the method comprising:

detecting and tracking rotational movements of the rotatable user-interface component to track at least one rotational input motion of a user;

when the thermostat is operating in the first mode of operation;

identifying a setpoint temperature value based on the tracked rotational input motion;

receiving, from one or more temperature sensors, an ambient air temperature;

controlling the HVAC system based at least in part on a comparison between the ambient air temperature and the setpoint temperature value;

displaying, on the electronic display, graphical information that is representative of the identified setpoint temperature value;

when the thermostat is operating in the second mode of operation;

displaying an arrangement of selectable menu items on the electronic display;

visually highlighting different respective ones of the selectable menu items on the electronic display responsive to tracked user rotation of the rotatable user interface component;

detecting a user confirmation input; and

establishing as a selected menu item the selectable menu item that is visually highlighted when the user confirmation input is detected; and

when the thermostat is operating in the first mode of operation;

determining whether the identified setpoint temperature value is in a range associated with improved energy conservation; and

displaying, on the electronic display, a positive-reinforcement icon if the identified setpoint temperature value is so determined to be in the range associated with improved energy conservation.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

when the thermostat is operating in the first mode of operation;

determining whether the identified setpoint temperature value is associated with reduced energy conservation; and

displaying, on the electronic display, a negative-reinforcement icon if the identified setpoint temperature value is so determined to be associated with reduced energy conservation.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the graphical information that is representative of the identified setpoint temperature value during the first mode of operation comprises a graphical setpoint icon displayed along a periphery of the electronic display at a first location that is spatially representative of the identified setpoint temperature value.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said arrangement of selectable menu items during said second mode of operation is displayed along said periphery of the electronic display and is caused to rotate around said periphery responsive to tracked user rotation of the rotatable user interface component.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

when the thermostat is operating in a first mode of operation;

detecting an inward pressing of said rotatable user-interface component; and

responsive to the detection of the inward pressing, switching from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said electronic display is substantially circular in shape, and wherein said rotatable user-interface component comprises a mechanically rotatable ring that substantially surrounds said electronic display.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said positive-reinforcement icon is a non-numerical indicator having a visually pleasing appearance, whereby said displaying of the positive-reinforcement icon serves to at least partially reward the user for rotating said rotatable user interface member to a position corresponding to improved energy savings such that energy conservation is encouraged.

15. A method for control of an HVAC system by a thermostat, the thermostat comprising a housing, a rotatable user-interface component, a processing system, and an electronic display, the thermostat having first and second modes of operation that are in effect at different times, the method comprising:

detecting and tracking rotational movements of the rotatable user-interface component to track at least one rotational input motion of a user;

when the thermostat is operating in a first mode of operation;

identifying a setpoint temperature value based on the tracked rotational input motion;

receiving, from one or more temperature sensors, an ambient air temperature;

controlling the HVAC system based at least in part on a comparison between the ambient air temperature and the setpoint temperature value;

displaying, on the electronic display, graphical information that is representative of the identified setpoint temperature value;

detecting a mode-changing input; and

responsive to the detection of the mode-changing input, switching from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation; and

when the thermostat is operating in a second mode of operation;

displaying an arrangement of selectable menu items on the electronic display;

visually highlighting different respective ones of the selectable menu items on the electronic display responsive to tracked user rotation of the rotatable user interface component;

detecting a user confirmation input; and

establishing as a selected menu item the selectable menu item that is visually highlighted when the user confirmation input is detected; and

when the thermostat is operating in the first mode of operation;

determining whether the identified setpoint temperature value is in a range associated with improved energy conservation; and

displaying, on the electronic display, a positive-reinforcement icon if the identified setpoint temperature value is so determined to be in the range associated with improved energy conservation.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said detecting the mode-changing input comprises detecting an inward pressing of said rotatable user-interface component.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said detecting the user-confirmation input comprises detecting an inward pressing of said rotatable user-interface component.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

when the thermostat is operating in the first mode of operation;

determining whether the identified setpoint temperature value is associated with reduced energy conservation; and

displaying, on the electronic display, a negative-reinforcement icon if the identified setpoint temperature value is so determined to be associated with reduced energy conservation.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the graphical information that is representative of the identified setpoint temperature value during the first mode of operation comprises a graphical setpoint icon displayed along a periphery of the electronic display at a first location that is spatially representative of the identified setpoint temperature value.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said arrangement of selectable menu items during said second mode of operation is displayed along said periphery of the electronic display and is caused to rotate around said periphery responsive to tracked user rotation of the rotatable user interface component.