Thermostat system with touchscreen with user interfaces or operational algorithms via a remote correspondent

• US 7,232,075 B1
• Filed: 01/19/2005
• Issued: 06/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rosen Technologies LLC (IPValuation Partners, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Howard Rosen
• Inventors: Rosen, Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): NORMAN, MARC E
• Application Number:
  US11/039,180
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 236/51, 236/94, 621/26, 165/11.1, 345/87, 345/94, 345/98, 345/99, 345/100, 345/101, 345/102, 345/211
• US Class Current: 236/51
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value

Abstract

A thermostat system includes a temperature sensor, an LCD for selectively displaying alphanumeric and graphic devices on a touchscreen with virtual buttons, a processor having a memory for storing program and data information, and means for establishing communication with a remote correspondent. In one embodiment, the communication from the remote correspondent includes functional programming adding functions or virtual buttons to the thermostat not previously available to it. A communications interface connects the processor and a remote correspondent which is a source of functional programming.

Claims

1. A thermostat system for controlling space conditioning equipment comprising:

A) a temperature sensor for providing an electrical signal indicative of the temperature of a conditioned space in which the temperature sensor is situated;

B) a transparent touch pad juxtaposed over a liquid crystal display to constitute a touch screen for interactive interface with a user and for selectively displaying alphanumeric and graphic devices;

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 including;

a) a sensor input coupled to said temperature sensor for receiving said electrical signal therefrom;

b) a control output coupled to the space conditioning equipment for issuing control signals thereto; and

c) a communications interface adapted to establish communications between said processor and a first remote correspondent which is a source of functional programming; and

D) a control program stored in said memory for causing said central processing unit to selectively;

1) establish on said liquid crystal display one or more representations of buttons at a separated and predetermined positions;

2) read the position on the touch pad juxtaposed with said predetermined position to determine if said representation of a button has been touched; and

3) if said a representation of a button has been touched, processing this information to establish a condition incorporated into the operation of said thermostat system;

4) establish communications between said processor and a first remote correspondent from which is transferred to said memory one or more modules of functional programming; and

5) operate said transferred functional programming to change or add to representations on the touch screen, where said changes or additions of representation on the touch screen were not available to the control program before their transfer to the memory;

E) means coupling said communications interface and said first remote correspondent.

2. The system of claim 1 in which in which said communications interface includes a modem.

3. The system of claim 1 in which said communications interface is coupled to an external modem.

4. The system of claim 1 in which transferred functional programming modules comprise means for controlling space conditioning equipment.

5. The system of claim 1 in which transferred functional programming modules comprise means for controlling space conditioning equipment and providing representations of buttons on the touch screen to provide a user with an interface as part of those means.

6. The system of claim 1 in which in which transferred functional programming modules comprise means for causing successive and substantially different pictorial representations on the touch screen.

7. The system of claim 1 in which in which transferred functional programming modules comprise menus for selecting functional options for the control program.

8. The system of claim 1 in which transferred functional programming modules comprise means for adding space conditioning equipment to that equipment controlled by the thermostat.

9. The system of claim 1 in which in which said first remote correspondent is a network node.

10. The system of claim 1 in which in which said first remote correspondent is removable media.

11. The system of claim 1 in which in which said functional programming determines all or part of a graphical user interface.

12. The system of claim 1 in which in which said functional programming determines size, shape, colors, legends, locations, or other viewable aspects of said buttons on the display.

13. The system of claim 1 in which in which said functional programming determines representations of the size, shape, colors, locations and other viewable aspects of text or graphic devices on the display.

14. The system of claim 1 in which in which said functional programming determines operational algorithms other than those for the graphical user interface.

15. The system of claim 1 in which in which said functional programming determines operational algorithms for control of existing or newly installed space conditioning equipment.

16. The system of claim 1 in which in which said functional programming determines operational algorithms for communications with existing or newly installed environmental sensors.

17. The system of claim 1 in which in which said functional programming includes means for changing one or more functions to be associated with the determination that a virtual button on the touchscreen has been touched or that said button has not been touched.

18. The system of claim 1 in which in which said functional programming includes means for establishing or controlling communication with a remote correspondent.

19. The system of claim 1 in which in which said functional programming determines color of all or part of a graphical user interface.

20. The system of claim 1 in which in which said functional programming controls periodically changing color of all or part of a graphical user interface.