THERMOSTAT USER INTERFACE

• US 20150233595A1
• Filed: 05/04/2015
• Published: 08/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony Michael, Rogers, Matthew Lee, Sloo, David, Matas, Michael James, Plitkins, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,766,606 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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;

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, 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 that are selectable by one or more tracked rotational input motions of the user and one or more user confirmation inputs;

wherein said thermostat further comprises a control system for receiving input from a user of said thermostat; and

wherein said processing system is configured to maintain said electronic display in an off state based on a first input received from the user via said control system, said processing system being further configured to turn on the electronic display responsive to a second input received from the user via said control system.

2. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein said tracked rotational input motion of the user causes a different selectable menu item 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 user confirmation input provided by the user while that selectable menu item is visually highlighted.

3. The thermostat of claim 2, wherein said first input and second input are received via user selection of a corresponding selectable menu item displayed during said second mode of operation.

4. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein said first input comprises an identification of an away occupancy state.

5. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein said control system for receiving input from a user is operable with said rotatable user-interface component.

6. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein said first input and second input received from said user comprises a selection of one of the selectable menu items.

7. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein graphical information is displayed on said electronic display that is representative of said setpoint temperature.

8. 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 processing system, 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.

9. 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;

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, the thermostat being swithable 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;

wherein, during said first mode of operation, 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 that are selectable by one or more tracked rotational input motions of the user and one or more user confirmation inputs;

wherein said thermostat further comprises a control system for receiving input from a user of said thermostat; and

wherein said processing system is configured to maintain said electronic display in an off state based on a first input received from the user via said control system, said processing system being further configured to turn on the electronic display responsive to a second input received from the user via said control system.

10. The thermostat of claim 9, wherein said first input or second input is received via user selection of a selectable menu item displayed during said second mode of operation.

11. The thermostat of claim 9, wherein said first input comprises an identification of an away occupancy state.

12. The thermostat of claim 9, wherein said control system for receiving input from a user is operable with said rotatable user-interface component.

13. The thermostat of claim 9, wherein said rotatable user-interface component is further configured to be inwardly pressable in a manner that is detectable by the processing system, 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.

14. A method for control of an HVAC system by a thermostat, the thermostat comprising a housing, a rotatable user-interface component, a processing system, a control system, and an electronic display, said 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, 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 that are selectable by one or more tracked rotational input motions of the user and one or more user confirmation inputs;

receiving, via the control system, a first input from a user of the thermostat;

turning on the electronic display, via the processing system, responsive to the first input received from the user of the thermostat;

receiving, via the control system, a second input from a user of the thermostat; and

turning off the electronic display, via the processing system, responsive to the second input received from the user of the thermostat.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising, when the thermostat is operating in the second mode of operation:

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.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said selected menu item comprises the first input or the second input received from the user of the thermostat.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said second input comprises an identification of an away occupancy state.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said control system for receiving input from a user is operable with said rotatable user-interface component.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein said first input and second input received from said user comprises a selection of one of the selectable menu items.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising switching the thermostat 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.