Rapid programming of thermostat with multiple programming mode conditions

• US 9,014,860 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2013
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Braeburn Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Braeburn Systems LLC
• Inventors: Moore, Glenn A, Poplawski, Daniel S, Rados, Robert M
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ramesh
• Application Number:
  US13/972,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20130338838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 700 17- 18, 700276-278, 700299-300, 165/238, 165/254, 236/1.C, 236/91.D, 236/91.E, 236/91.R, 236/94, 715700-702
• 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 11/34 by opening air passages
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/67 Switching between heating and cooling modes
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means

Abstract

The invention provides for a controller such as a thermostat for an HVAC System comprising a housing having a circuit board and a display screen, the display screen having at least one alpha-numeric icon and a group of input control areas. A microprocessor is provided for control on the display screen. Buttons are pressed in order to program set-points of the thermostat so that seven days may be programmed simultaneously. The display includes a seven-day icon so that the user can program the thermostat set-points rapidly (e.g. setting time and temperature settings with minimal steps). The user may activate a first programming mode wherein the activating occurs by depressing a programming-mode button for a first pre-selected duration in order to select a first day for setting the conditioning mode. The user may activate a second programming mode wherein such activating occurs by depressing the programming-mode button for a second pre-selected duration that is longer than the first pre-selected duration in order to select programming for all seven days simultaneously.

Claims

1. A controller display for adjusting a thermostat having multiple programming modes comprising:

a controller including a system button and a first program button;

a display screen including a seven day icon, a single day icon, a temperature icon and a time icon wherein activation of the program button selects one of the seven day icon or single day icon;

the system button provides for selection of one of a heat mode and cool mode; and

the first program button is controlled by a predetermined time trigger so that pressing the first program button for it period of time greater than the predetermined time trigger results in selection of a seven day programming mode and pressing the first program button for a period of time less than the predetermined time trigger results in selection of an individual day programming mode, the individual day programming mode being a different mode from the seven day programming mode.

2. The display of claim 1 wherein activation of the first program button occurs by depressing the first program button for a first preselected duration of less than three seconds in order to select programming for a single day.

3. The display of claim 2 wherein activation of the first program button occurs by depressing the first program button for a second preselected duration that is longer than the first preselected duration of less than three seconds in order to select programming for all seven days.

4. The display of claim 1 wherein selection of a single day programming mode provides for display of the single day icon on the display screen comprising only one of the following icons:

M, Mon, Monday, T, TU, Tuesday, W, Wed, Wednesday, TH, Thur, Thursday, F, FR, Fri, Friday, SA, Sat, Saturday, SU, Sun, Sunday.

5. The display of claim 1 wherein:

the seven day icon comprises an alphanumeric representation of each of the seven days of a week.

6. The display or claim 1 wherein:

the seven day icon comprises M, TU, W, TH, F, SA and SU.

7. The display of claim 1 wherein:

the temperature and time icons comprise an alphanumeric representation.

8. The display of claim 1 further comprising:

a rocker switch for adjusting set points for temperature and time for the modes.

9. The display of claim 1 further comprising:

a fan button for selecting a fan mode for the heat and cool modes.

10. The display of claim 1 wherein depressing the program button for 3 seconds or more activates the seven day programming mode.

11. The display of claim 1 wherein the system button and the first Program button are touch sensitive areas displayed on the display screen of the thermostat.

12. A controller display for operating a thermostat, the display including:

a system button;

a program button;

a seven day icon;

a time icon;

a temperature icon;

the seven day icon displayed upon activation of the program button;

one of a heat mode or cool mode being selected upon activation of the program button;

depressing the program button for a duration greater than a predetermined time trigger results in selection of a seven day programming mode wherein all seven days of the week are simultaneously programmed for the heat mode or cool mode upon adjustment of set points via the system button and the adjustment indicated by the time and temperature icons; and

depressing said program button for a duration less than the predetermined time trigger results in selection of an individual day programming mode.

13. The display of claim 12 wherein:

the seven day icon comprises an alphanumeric representation of each of the seven days of a week.

14. The display of claim 12 wherein:

the temperature and time icons comprise an alphanumeric representation.

15. The display of claim 12 wherein the system button includes a rocker switch for adjusting set points for temperature and time for the modes.

16. The display of claim 12 wherein complete programming of seven days for heating or cooling may be provided without requiring an increment from a first day to a second day during user input to program the thermostat.

17. A controller display having a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a computer program having stored thereon computer executable instructions for programming a thermostat, the instructions, when executed by a computing device, performing steps comprising:

displaying a system button;

displaying a program button;

displaying a seven day icon;

displaying a time icon;

displaying a temperature icon;

selecting the seven day icon upon activation of the program button;

selecting one of a heat mode or cool mode upon activation of the program button;

simultaneously programming seven days for the heat mode or cool mode by adjusting set points via the time and temperature icons;

activating the program button according to a first pre-selected time trigger in order to select an individual day setting; and

activating the program button according to a second pre-selected time trigger that is longer than the first pre-selected time trigger in order to select programming for all seven days simultaneously.

18. The display of claim 17 further comprising;

activating a first programming mode having a first pre-selected time trigger of three seconds in order to select a first day for setting the first programming mode;

activating a second programming mode having the second pre-selected time trigger that is longer than three seconds and programming for all seven days simultaneously.

19. The display of claim 17 further comprising:

disposing mechanical buttons on a housing of the thermostat and activating a mechanical button for adjusting set points for temperature or time.

20. The display of claim 17 further comprising:

displaying touch sensitive areas on a display screen of the thermostat providing for one of a system function and program function.

21. The display of claim 17 further comprising:

displaying a combination of mechanical buttons and a touch sensitive area buttons on the display screen of the thermostat providing for one of a system function and program function.

22. The display of claim 17 further comprising:

selecting the temperature and duration of a fractional day period including one of a morning period, a daytime period, an evening period, a night period, or an occupied period or an unoccupied period.

23. The display of claim 17 further comprising:

selecting a conditioning mode of one of a heating mode, cooling mode, on period, off period, fan period and fan recirculation period.