Multiple language user interface for thermal comfort controller

• US 7,320,110 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2003
• Issued: 01/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Shah, Dipak J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Cao (Kevin)
• Application Number:
  US10/453,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20030206196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,687 Days
• Field of Search: 715/771, 715/706, 715/839, 715/866, 715/808, 715762-764, 715784-788, 715/835, 345/440, 345/473
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 1/09 Noble metals or mercury; Salts or compounds thereof; Sulfur, selenium or tellurium, or compounds thereof, e.g. for chemical sensitising G03C1/34, G03C1/35 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 1/46 having more than one photosensitive layer G03F7/0952 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 2001/0055 Aspect ratio of tabular grains in general; High aspect ratio; Intermediate aspect ratio; Low aspect ratio
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 2001/03511 Bromide content
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 2001/094 Rhodium
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 2005/168 X-ray material or process
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 2007/3025 Silver content
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 2200/52 Rapid processing
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 5/16 X-ray, infrared, or ultraviolet ray processes
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 5/17 using screens to intensify X-ray images X-ray conversion screens G21K4/00
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 5/26 Processes using silver-salt-containing photosensitive materials or agents therefor physical development G03C5/58
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 5/264 Supplying of photographic processing chemicals; Preparation or packaging thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time

Abstract

A multiple language user interface system for a thermal comfort controller. The user interface system has a central processing unit coupled to a memory, a language selector and a touch sensitive display unit. The memory can store at least one user interface object and at least one control algorithm. In some embodiments, the user interface system also has a network interface for connecting to the Internet or other network. In some embodiments, the first time the user interface system is powered-up after installation, a first set of user interface objects are displayed on the display unit and the user selects a preferred language. Once a preferred language is chosen, user interface objects can be loaded into the memory and the display unit will display the user interface objects in the preferred language. In some embodiments, control algorithms are loaded into memory.

Claims

1. A user interface system for a programmable comfort controller, comprising:

a central processing unit;

a memory capable of storing at least one user interface object and at least one control algorithm, the memory coupled to the central processing unit;

a display unit coupled to the central processing unit, for displaying the user interface objects and for allowing a user to program the control algorithms; and

a language selector which allows a preferred language of a user to be selected, so that the display unit can display the user interface objects that are in the preferred language.

2. The user interface system of claim 1, further comprising a network interface for connecting to a network, the network interface coupled to the central processing unit.

3. The user interface system of claim 1, further comprising at least one initial interface object, stored in the memory, the initial interface objects used by the language selector in allowing the preferred language to be selected.

4. The user interface system of claim 2, wherein the network interface connects the user interface system to the Internet.

5. The user interface system of claim 2, wherein the network interface connects the user interface system to a telephony network.

6. The user interface system of claim 2, wherein the network interface connects the user interface system to a cellular telephony network.

7. The user interface system of claim 2, wherein the network interface uses infra-red coupling to connect the user interface system to the network.

8. The user interface system of claim 2, wherein the network interface uses radio frequency coupling to connect the user interface system to the network.

9. A method for programming a thermal comfort controller with a user interface system having a central processing unit, a memory capable of storing at least one user interface object and at least one control algorithm, a display unit for displaying the user interface objects and for allowing a user to program the control algorithms, and a language selector which allows a preferred language of a user to be selected so that the display unit can display the user interface objects that are in the preferred language, wherein the memory, the language selector and the display unit are coupled to the central processing unit, the method comprising:

loading at least one initial interface object into the memory, for use by the language selector;

displaying the initial interface objects to request the user to choose a language;

selecting a preferred language with the language selector; and

loading at least one user interface object into the memory, for use by the display unit in displaying user interface objects that are in the preferred language.

10. The method for programming a thermal comfort controller from claim 9, further comprising loading at least one control algorithm into the memory.

11. The method for programming a thermal comfort controller from claim 9, wherein the step of loading at least one initial interface object is initiated when the thermal comfort controller is first powered-up after being installed.

12. The method for programming a thermal comfort controller from claim 9, wherein the step of loading at least one user interface object into the memory accesses the Internet.

13. An interactive display unit, comprising:

a central processing unit;

a memory capable of storing at least one user interface object and at least one control algorithm, the memory coupled to the central processing unit;

a display unit coupled to the central processing unit, for displaying the user interface objects and for allowing a user to program the control algorithms; and

a language selector which allows a preferred language of a user to be selected, so that the display unit can display the user interface objects that are in the preferred language.