User friendly interface for control unit

• US 9,223,323 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2011
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Matas, Michael James, Sloo, David, Plitkins, Michael, Fadell, Anthony Michael, Rogers, Matthew Lee, Filson, John Benjamin, Huppi, Brian, Bould, Fred
• Primary Examiner(s): Fennema, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITTINGTON, ANTHONY T
• Application Number:
  US13/033,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20120130546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,770 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0086 Filter condition indicators
• 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 11/32 Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/39 Monitoring filter performance
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/89 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 Feedback from users
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/40 Noise
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/00 Control inputs relating to system states
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 : Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/0265 : the criterion being a learning criterion
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 : electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/19 : characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 : characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 : using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2416 : Means for guiding or retaining wires or cables connected to terminal blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 : Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 : Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 : Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A user-friendly programmable thermostat is described that includes a circular body having a large central display surrounded by a ring that can be rotated an pressed inward by a user so as to receive user input in a simple elegant fashion. Different colors can be displayed to the user to indicate currently active HVAC functions, and different shades of colors can be displayed to a user to indicate an estimated amount of time and/or energy for reaching a target temperature. The thermostat is wall mountable and is made up of a head unit removeably mounted to a backplate. A locking mechanism can be provided so as to increase security against unauthorized removal of the head unit. The backplate can be adapted to be mounted on a wall so as to be level, for example by including a bubble level on the backplate. One or more vents are preferably located on the sides of the body, such as in a gap beneath the translatably mounted ring, and/or in a gap between the head unit and the backplate. The target temperature for the device can be altered in response to sensing rotation of the rotating ring, and the programmed schedule can be displayed to and altered by the user in response to sensing rotation of the ring and the translational movement of the ring. Historical information such as temperature and cost information can be displayed to a user in response to sensing rotating of the rotating ring. One or more device settings can be displayed to and edited by a user in response to sensing rotating of the rotating member and the translational movement. According to some embodiments, text characters can be entered by the user.

Claims

1. A thermostat, comprising:

a back plate;

a detachable head unit that is configured to be detachably coupled to the back plate;

a processing system that includes a head unit processor included in the detachable head unit and a back plate processor included in the back plate;

a display that is part of the detachable head unit, that is configured to display information, and that is controlled by the head unit processor;

a first user input device that is part of the detachable head unit and that receives user input, which is processed by the head unit processor to control one or more HVAC functions in an HVAC system;

a second user input device that is formed by one or more HVAC controls located the back plate, that is exposed when the detachable head unit is detached, and that enables user input of one or more HVAC settings to be used to control the one or more HVAC functions in the HVAC system when the detachable head unit is detached;

a back plate memory located in the back plate for storing the one or more HVAC settings inputted via the second user input device, which is exposed when the detachable head unit is detached;

wherein, when the detachable head unit is coupled to the back plate, the head unit processor controls the one or more functions in the HVAC system;

wherein, when the detachable head unit is detached from the back plate, the back plate processor controls the one or more HVAC functions in the HVAC system according to the one or more HVAC settings stored in the back plate memory.

2. A thermostat according to claim 1 wherein the back plate is wall mountable.

3. A thermostat according to claim 1 wherein the one or more HVAC settings are programmed settings stored in the back plate memory that take effect at different times of the day.

4. A thermostat according to claim 1 wherein the detachable head unit further includes a rechargeable battery.

5. A thermostat according to claim 1 wherein the detachable head unit further includes a wireless communication system.

6. A thermostat according to claim 1 wherein the head unit is removeably attached to the back plate using one or more types selected from a group consisting of:

friction, tab and indentation, magnet, and bayonet.

16. A thermostat according to claim 1 wherein wherein the second user input device is mechanical in nature, such that no electrical power is needed.

17. A thermostat according to claim 16 wherein wherein the second user input device is a setting dial.

18. A thermostat according to claim 17 wherein wherein the second user input device is a COOL-OFF-HEAT switch.

7. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a detachable head unit of a thermostat, a first input corresponding to an interaction with a first input device of the detachable head unit, the detachable head unit including a head unit processor and a display configured to display information, the thermostat including a back plate that includes a back plate processor and one or more HVAC controls that form a second input device, wherein the second input device is exposed when the detachable head unit is detached so as to enable user input when the detachable head unit is detached;

causing, by the head unit processor of the detachable head unit, at least a portion of the first input to be transmitted to the back plate processor of the back plate;

storing, by the back plate processor of the back plate, at least a portion of the first input in a back plate memory of the back plate of the thermostat;

controlling, by the head unit processor of the detachable head unit, one or more functions in an HVAC system according to the first input;

receiving, at the back plate processor of the back plate of the thermostat, an indication that the detachable head unit has been detached;

controlling, by the back plate processor of the back plate, the one or more functions in the HVAC system according to the at least the portion of the first input stored in the back plate memory of the back plate of the thermostat;

receiving, at the back plate of the thermostat, a second input corresponding to a second interaction with the second input device that is exposed when the detachable head unit is detached, wherein the second interaction occurs when the detachable head unit is detached; and

controlling, by the back plate processor of the back plate, the HVAC system according to the second input;

wherein, when the detachable head unit is coupled to the back plate, the head unit processor controls the one or more functions in the HVAC system;

wherein, when the detachable head unit is detached from the back plate, the back plate processor controls the one or more functions in the HVAC system according to the first or second input stored in the back plate memory.

19. A method of claim 7 wherein the second user input device is mechanical in nature, such that no electrical power is needed.

20. A method of claim 19 wherein the second user input device is a COOL-OFF-HEAT switch.

8. A thermostat back plate that attaches to and communicates with a detachable head unit and that functions as a standalone thermostat when the detachable head unit is detached, the detachable head unit including a display configured to display information, a first user input device configured to receive user input, and a head unit processor configured to control the display, the thermostat back plate comprising:

a second user input device formed by one or more HVAC controls that are exposed when the detachable head unit is detached from the thermostat back plate so as to enable a user to input into the thermostat back plate one or more HVAC settings; and

a back plate processor that detects when the detachable head unit is detached from the thermostat back plate and that controls one or more HVAC functions of an HVAC system according to the one or more HVAC settings inputted via the second user input device of the thermostat back plate when the detachable head unit is detached from the thermostat back plate;

wherein, when the detachable head unit is coupled to the back plate, the head unit processor controls the one or more functions in the HVAC system;

wherein, when the detachable head unit is detached from the back plate, the back plate processor controls the one or more functions in the HVAC system according to the one or more HVAC settings stored in the back plate memory.

9. A thermostat back plate according to claim 8, further comprising:

a back plate memory that stores one or more HVAC settings and the back plate processor obtains the one or more HVAC settings from the back plate memory.

10. A thermostat back plate according to claim 8 wherein the second user input device is mechanical in nature, such that no electrical power is needed.

11. A thermostat back plate according to claim 10 wherein the second user input device is a setting dial.

12. A thermostat back plate according to claim 10 wherein the second user input device is a COOL-OFF-HEAT switch.

13. A thermostat back plate according to claim 8 wherein the second user input device is electronic.

14. A thermostat back plate according to claim 13 wherein the one or more HVAC controls are one or more electrical up/down buttons.

15. A thermostat back plate according to claim 8 wherein the back plate memory obtains the one or more inputted HVAC settings from the detachable head unit via a connection terminal when the detachable head unit is attached to the thermostat back plate.