METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROL UNIT WITH A VARIABLE ASSIST ROTATIONAL INTERFACE AND DISPLAY
First Claim
1. An electronic thermostat having a user-friendly interface, comprising:
- a housing with an electronic display disposed on a front surface thereof;
a ring-shaped user input member that surrounds the electronic display and is rotatable with respect to the electronic display;
a ring rotation sensor that senses rotation of the ring-shaped user input member; and
a processor that;
provides first signals to the electronic display that cause display elements representative of one or more of temperature, time, and day to appear in the electronic display;
receives second signals from the ring rotation sensor in response to the rotation;
processes the second signals from the ring rotation sensor to determine angular velocity of the rotation; and
provides third signals to the electronic display that cause movement of one or more of the display elements in the electronic display;
wherein;
for a first rotation of the ring-shaped user input member across a first angular range at a first angular velocity, the third signals cause movement of the one or more display elements in the electronic display by a first amount; and
for a second rotation of the ring-shaped user input member across said first angular range at a second angular velocity that is greater than the first angular velocity, the third signals cause movement of the one or more display elements in the electronic display by a second amount that is greater than the first amount.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Provided according to one or more embodiments is a method of processing rotational inputs to a control device having a an electronic display and user interface, such as a programmable thermostat. Methods and systems include displaying on the electronic display associated with the control device at least a portion of an initial display element selected from a sequence of display elements. In response to seeing such information, the user applies a rotational input applied to a rotational input device, such as a rotatable ring around the electronic display. A variable scroll assist engine receives this information and determines an angular movement as provided by the user through the rotational input device. In order to reduce the rotational input required by the user, the variable assist scroll engine applies one or more heuristics to variably assist with a scrolling movement of a sequence of display elements on the electronic display. The variable scroll assist engine may reduce the rotational user input required to traverse an arbitrary number of display elements to as little as a quarter-revolution of the rotational input device in order that a user is better able to operate the control device and utilize the rotational input device when navigating the user interface of the control device.
42 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electronic thermostat having a user-friendly interface, comprising:
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a housing with an electronic display disposed on a front surface thereof; a ring-shaped user input member that surrounds the electronic display and is rotatable with respect to the electronic display; a ring rotation sensor that senses rotation of the ring-shaped user input member; and a processor that; provides first signals to the electronic display that cause display elements representative of one or more of temperature, time, and day to appear in the electronic display; receives second signals from the ring rotation sensor in response to the rotation; processes the second signals from the ring rotation sensor to determine angular velocity of the rotation; and provides third signals to the electronic display that cause movement of one or more of the display elements in the electronic display; wherein; for a first rotation of the ring-shaped user input member across a first angular range at a first angular velocity, the third signals cause movement of the one or more display elements in the electronic display by a first amount; and for a second rotation of the ring-shaped user input member across said first angular range at a second angular velocity that is greater than the first angular velocity, the third signals cause movement of the one or more display elements in the electronic display by a second amount that is greater than the first amount. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A software product, comprising instructions stored in non-transitory, computer readable media, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor of an electronic thermostat, cause the thermostat to execute steps of a user-friendly thermostat interface method, the instructions comprising:
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instructions for sending first signals, from the processor to an electronic display of the thermostat, that cause display elements representative of one or more of temperature, time, and day to appear in the electronic display; instructions for processing second signals, from a ring rotation sensor that senses rotation of a ring-shaped user input member about the electronic display, by the processor, to determine an angular velocity of the rotation; and instructions for sending third signals, from the processor to the electronic display, that cause movement of one or more of the display elements in the electronic display; wherein; in response to a first rotation of the ring-shaped user input member across a first angular range at a first angular velocity, the third signals cause movement of the one or more display elements in the electronic display by a first amount; and in response to a second rotation of the ring-shaped user input member across said first angular range at a second angular velocity that is greater than the first angular velocity, the third signals cause movement of the one or more display elements in the electronic display by a second amount that is greater than the first amount.
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14. A user-friendly thermostat interface method, comprising:
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generating first signals, by a processor, for an electronic display of the thermostat, that cause display elements representative of one or more of temperature, time, and day to appear in the electronic display; sending second signals, from a ring rotation sensor that senses rotation of a ring-shaped user input member that surrounds the electronic display and is rotatable with respect to the electronic display, to the processor; processing the second signals, by the processor, to determine an angular velocity of the rotation; and generating third signals, by the processor, for the electronic display, that cause movement of one or more of the display elements in the electronic display; wherein; in response to a first rotation of the ring-shaped user input member across a first angular range at a first angular velocity, the third signals cause movement of the one or more display elements in the electronic display by a first amount; and in response to a second rotation of the ring-shaped user input member across said first angular range at a second angular velocity that is greater than the first angular velocity, the third signals cause movement of the one or more display elements in the electronic display by a second amount that is greater than the first amount. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification