BUILDING AUTOMATION CONTROLLER WITH CONFIGURABLE AUDIO/VISUAL CUES

• US 20150159902A1
• Filed: 12/09/2014
• Published: 06/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Quam, David, Ix, Weirich, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 10,649,418 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/005 the substrate is supporting also the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• 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 11/526 giving audible indications
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0096 the lights guides being of the hollow type
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/10 for surface mounting on a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/08 specially adapted for terminal emulation, e.g. Telnet
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/12 : Resilient or clamping means for holding component to structure

Abstract

An HVAC controller includes a user interface configured to accept inputs from a user and to display information to the user, and a controller configured to process inputs from the user interface and to provide the user interface with information to be displayed. An equipment connection may be connectable to one or more HVAC components and may be operably coupled to the controller. A network connection may be operably coupled to the controller and may provide the controller with access to outside information. The controller may output (via the user interface) a particular cue in response to information received from the equipment connection and/or the network connection, and wherein the particular cue is a cue that was previously selected and activated by the user.

Claims

1. An HVAC controller comprising:

a user interface configured to accept inputs from a user and to display information to the user;

a controller configured to process inputs from the user interface and to provide the user interface with information to be displayed;

an equipment connection connectable to one or more HVAC components, the equipment connection operably coupled to the controller;

a network connection operably coupled to the controller, the network connection providing the controller with access to outside information; and

wherein the controller is configured to output, via the user interface, a particular cue in response to information received from the equipment connection and/or the network connection, and wherein the particular cue is a cue that was previously selected and activated by the user.

2. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the particular cue is selected and downloaded to the HVAC controller via the network connection.

3. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the cue comprises an audio cue.

4. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the cue comprises a visual cue.

5. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the network connection comprises a wireless connection.

6. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the equipment connection comprises a wired connection.

7. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a touchscreen.

8. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a light ring.

9. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a speaker.

10. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a vibrator.

11. A programmable thermostat comprising:

a controller configured to control an HVAC component;

a user interface operably connected to the controller;

an equipment connection connectable to the HVAC component, the equipment connection operably coupled to the controller;

a network connection operably coupled to the controller, the network connection providing the controller with outside information; and

wherein the controller is configured to output to the user interface a cue in response to information received from the equipment connection and/or the network connection.

12. The programmable thermostat of claim 11, wherein the user interface is configured to permit a user to select a cue that the controller can subsequently output in response to information received from the equipment connection and/or the network connection.

13. The programmable thermostat of claim 11, wherein the cue includes an audio component.

14. The programmable thermostat of claim 11, wherein the cue includes a visual component.

15. The programmable thermostat of claim 11, wherein the cue informs a user that particular information has been received from the equipment connection and/or the network connection.

16. A programmable thermostat comprising:

a sound generation circuit;

a speaker connected to the sound generation circuit;

a memory for storing a plurality of pre-programmed sounds; and

circuitry for selecting one or more of the plurality of pre-programmed sounds and activating the sound generation circuit to play the selected pre-programmed sounds in response to one or more of a user action, a programmed event, and an occurrence of a signal received by the programmable thermostat.

17. The programmable thermostat of claim 16, wherein the pre-programmed sounds are indicative of a direction of change of a variable that is associated with the operation of the programmable thermostat.

18. The programmable thermostat of claim 17, wherein the pre-programmed sounds increase with at least one of pitch and volume when the variable is increased in value, and the pre-programmed sounds decrease with at least one of pitch and volume when the variable is decreased in value.

19. The programmable thermostat of claim 18, wherein the programmable thermostat includes a user interface, and wherein the value is increased and decreased by interacting with the user interface.

20. The programmable thermostat of claim 19, wherein the user interface includes a rotatable ring, and wherein rotating the rotatable ring in a first direction increases the value and rotating the rotatable ring in a second direction decreases the value.