Transition temperature adjustment user interfaces

• US 8,332,075 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2009
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Harrod, Gregory Ralph, Beers, Bradley A., Carmichael, Grant E., Rigg, Brian D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cottingham, John R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang, Sunray
• Application Number:
  US12/560,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20100070093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 700/278
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

Controllers for controlling heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and cooling (HVAC) systems are provided. The controllers include graphical user interfaces for user adjustment of system settings. The graphical user interfaces also may be designed to present information that facilitates user understanding of system operations. In certain embodiments, the controllers may allow users to adjust balance point and/or LTCO temperature values. In these embodiments, the graphical user interfaces may include slide bars for adjusting the balance point and/or LTCO temperature values.

Claims

1. A control device comprising:

a communication interface suitable for operable connection to a heat pump, an auxiliary heating system, and a sensor capable of sensing an exterior temperature;

a display configured to display a graphical element that defines a range of possible system transition temperatures, a first moveable feature disposed on the graphical element that identifies a balance point temperature that corresponds to the exterior temperature below which the control device enables the auxiliary heating system, and a second moveable feature disposed on the graphical element that identifies a low cutout temperature that corresponds to the exterior temperature below which the control device disables the heat pump;

a graphical user interface configured to receive a first user input that moves the first moveable feature on the graphical element to select the balance point temperature from the range of possible system transition temperatures and a second user input that moves the second moveable feature on the graphical element to select the low cutout temperature from the range of possible system transition temperatures, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a screen configured to display an explanation area adjacent to the graphical element, and wherein the explanation area comprises a slide bar having a first element and a second element that together divide the slide bar into separate regions comprising an auxiliary heating region where only the auxiliary heating system is enabled, a heat pump region where only the heat pump is enabled, and a combination region where both the auxiliary heating system and the heat pump are enabled; and

a processor configured to selectively enabling the auxiliary heating system and the heat pump based upon the selected balance point temperature, the selected low cutout temperature, and the sensed exterior temperature.

2. The control device of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a touch screen for sensing the user input.

3. The control device of claim 1, wherein the graphical element comprises an additional slide bar and wherein the moveable feature comprises a slider.

4. The control device of claim 1, wherein the display is configured to display indicators adjacent to the graphical element to identify portions of the graphical element.

5. The control device of claim 1, wherein the range comprises at least 10 possible system transition temperatures.

6. The control device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine a suggested system transition temperature based on model information for the heat pump, model information for the auxiliary heating system, or an operating efficiency for the heat pump, or combinations thereof

7. The control device of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary heating system comprises an electric heater or a fossil fuel furnace.

8. The control device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine a suggested system transition temperature based on electricity cost and fuel cost data.

9. The control device of claim 1, wherein the balance point temperature corresponds to the exterior temperature above which the processor disables the auxiliary heating system and wherein the low cutout temperature corresponds to the exterior temperature above which the processor enables the heat pump.

10. The control device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether a minimum temperature difference exists between the balance point temperature and the low cutout temperature.

11. A control device comprising:

a communication interface suitable for operable connection to a heat pump, an auxiliary heating system, and a sensor capable of sensing an exterior temperature;

a display configured to display a balance point temperature that corresponds to the exterior temperature below which the control device enables the auxiliary heating system, a low cutout temperature that corresponds to the exterior temperature below which the control device disables the heat pump, a slide bar that defines a range of possible balance point temperatures and a range of possible low cutout temperatures, a first moveable slider disposed on the slide bar to identify the balance point temperature, and a second moveable slider disposed on the slide bar to identify the low cutout temperature;

a graphical user interface configured to receive a first user input that moves the first moveable slider along the slide bar to select the balance point temperature from the range of possible balance point temperatures and a second user input that moves the second moveable slider along the slide bar to select the low cutout temperature from the range of possible low cutout temperatures, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a screen configured to display an explanation area adjacent to the slide bar, and wherein the explanation area comprises an additional slide bar having a first element and a second element that together divide the additional slide bar into separate regions comprising an auxiliary heating region where only the auxiliary heating system is enabled, a heat pump region where only the heat pump is enabled, and a combination region where both the auxiliary heating system and the heat pump are enabled; and

a processor configured to receive the exterior temperature from the sensor and configured to selectively enable the auxiliary heating system and the heat pump based upon the selected balance point temperature, the selected low cutout temperature, and the sensed exterior temperature.

12. The control device of claim 11, wherein the display comprises a touch screen for sensing the user input.

13. The control device of claim 11, wherein the graphical user interface comprises an additional screen for displaying indicators adjacent to the slide bar.

14. The control device of claim 11, wherein the communication interface comprises a network interface capable of receiving energy cost data and wherein the processor is capable of determining a suggested balance point temperature and a suggested low cutout temperature based on the energy cost data.

15. The control device of claim 11, wherein the communication interface comprises a network interface capable of receiving geographic location data and wherein the processor is configured to determine a suggested balance point temperature and a suggested low cutout temperature based on the geographic location data.

16. The control device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to determine a suggested balance point temperature and a suggested low cutout temperature based on at least one of operating efficiency, operating cost, or operating capacity.

17. The control device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the difference between the selected balance point temperature and the selected low cutout temperature is greater than a predetermined value.

18. The control device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to disable the auxiliary heating system in response to determining that the exterior temperature is above the balance point temperature and to disable the heat pump in response to determining that the exterior temperature is below the low cutout temperature.

19. The control device of claim 11, wherein the first element is configured to move along the additional slide bar in a manner corresponding to movement of the first moveable slider and the second element is configured to move along the additional slide bar in a manner corresponding to movement of the second moveable slider.

20. A method, comprising:

displaying a first moveable element on a range of selectable temperatures, wherein the first moveable element identifies a balance point temperature;

displaying a second moveable element on the range of selectable temperatures, wherein the second moveable element identifies a low cutout temperature;

sensing a first touch that moves the first moveable element to select the balance point temperature from the range of selectable temperatures;

sensing a second touch that moves the second moveable element to select the low cutout temperature from the range of selectable temperatures;

assigning the balance point temperature and the low cutout temperature to a heating system, wherein the heating system operates a heat pump and another heating device based upon the selected balance point temperature and the selected low cutout temperature; and

displaying an explanation area adjacent to the range of selectable temperatures, wherein the explanation area comprises a third moveable element and a fourth moveable element that together divide the explanation area into separate regions comprising an auxiliary heating region where only the auxiliary heating system is enabled, a heat pump region where only the heat pump is enabled, and a combination region where both the auxiliary heating system and the heat pump are enabled.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein assigning the balance point temperature and the low cutout temperature comprises determining that the balance point temperature is greater than the low cutout temperature.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein assigning the balance point temperature and the low cutout temperature comprises determining that the temperature difference between the balance point temperature and the low cutout temperature exceeds a predetermined value.

23. The method of claim 20, comprising moving the third moveable element in a manner corresponding to movement of the first moveable element and moving the fourth moveable element in a manner corresponding to movement of the second moveable element.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the range of selectable temperatures comprises a slide bar, and wherein the first moveable element and second moveable element comprise sliders.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the balance point temperature corresponds to the exterior temperature below which the control device enables the another heating device and wherein the low cutout temperature corresponds to the exterior temperature below which the control device disables the heat pump.