Programmable thermostat incorporating a display screen selectively presenting system modes that includes a simple mode
First Claim
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1. A programmable thermostat system for controlling space conditioning equipment comprising:
- A) at least one environmental condition sensor providing an electrical signal indicative of the ambient temperature of a conditioned space in which said environmental condition sensor is situated;
B) a transparent touch pad juxtaposed with a liquid crystal display to constitute a touch screen for interactive interface with a user;
C) a processor, said processor including;
1) a central processing unit;
2) a real time clock;
3) a memory coupled to said central processing unit for storing program and data information; and
4) an input/output unit coupled between said processor and said touch screen for carrying out information transfer therebetween, said input/output unit further including;
a) a sensor input coupled to each said environmental condition sensors for receiving said electrical signal therefrom; and
b) a control output coupled to the space conditioning equipment for issuing control signals thereto; and
D) a control program stored in said memory for causing said central processing unit to communicate through said input/output unit to selectively;
1) establish on said liquid crystal display a first representation produced by a first mode comprising a plurality of virtual buttons for detecting user input that controls operation of one or more components of space conditioning equipment and a plurality of items of information or graphics on the liquid crystal display;
2) detect the occurrence of first condition which causes a change from operation of the first mode to operation of a simple mode in the control program; and
3) activate the simple mode and display on said liquid crystal display a simple representation produced by the simple mode comprising fewer virtual buttons and items of information or graphics than displayed in the first mode.
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Abstract
A programmable thermostat, with a touch screen liquid crystal display having the capability to change from a more complex first mode display to a simple mode display for users with adaptive, learning or visual impairments that limit their ability to use the relatively complicated user interfaces of prior art programmable thermostats.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A programmable thermostat system for controlling space conditioning equipment comprising:
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A) at least one environmental condition sensor providing an electrical signal indicative of the ambient temperature of a conditioned space in which said environmental condition sensor is situated; B) a transparent touch pad juxtaposed with a liquid crystal display to constitute a touch screen for interactive interface with a user; C) a processor, said processor including; 1) a central processing unit; 2) a real time clock; 3) a memory coupled to said central processing unit for storing program and data information; and 4) an input/output unit coupled between said processor and said touch screen for carrying out information transfer therebetween, said input/output unit further including; a) a sensor input coupled to each said environmental condition sensors for receiving said electrical signal therefrom; and b) a control output coupled to the space conditioning equipment for issuing control signals thereto; and D) a control program stored in said memory for causing said central processing unit to communicate through said input/output unit to selectively; 1) establish on said liquid crystal display a first representation produced by a first mode comprising a plurality of virtual buttons for detecting user input that controls operation of one or more components of space conditioning equipment and a plurality of items of information or graphics on the liquid crystal display; 2) detect the occurrence of first condition which causes a change from operation of the first mode to operation of a simple mode in the control program; and 3) activate the simple mode and display on said liquid crystal display a simple representation produced by the simple mode comprising fewer virtual buttons and items of information or graphics than displayed in the first mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A programmable thermostat system for controlling space conditioning equipment comprising:
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A) at least one environmental condition sensor providing an electrical signal indicative of the ambient temperature of a conditioned space in which said environmental condition sensor is situated; B) a transparent touch pad juxtaposed with a liquid crystal display to constitute a touch screen for interactive interface with a user; C) a processor, said processor including; 1) a central processing unit; 2) a real time clock; 3) a memory coupled to said central processing unit for storing program and data information; and 4) an input/output unit coupled between said processor and said touch screen for carrying out information transfer therebetween, said input/output unit further including; a) a sensor input coupled to each said environmental condition sensors for receiving said electrical signal therefrom; and b) a control output coupled to the space conditioning equipment for issuing control signals thereto; and D) a control program stored in said memory for causing said central processing unit to communicate through said input/output unit to selectively; 1) establish on said liquid crystal display; a) a first representation produced by a first mode comprising a plurality of virtual buttons for detecting user input that controls operation of one or more components of space conditioning equipment and a plurality of items of information or graphics on the liquid crystal display; 2) detect the occurrence of first condition which establishes on the liquid crystal display a second representation comprising a notice to a user to make a first input that will initiate a change from operation of the first mode to operation of a simple mode in the control program; 3) detect the occurrence of the first input, which then causes a change from operation of the first mode to operation of a simple mode in the control program; and 4) activate the simple mode and display on said liquid crystal display a simple representation produced by the simple mode comprising fewer virtual buttons and items of information or graphics than displayed in the first mode. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification