Dynamic device-associated feedback indicative of responsible device usage

• US 9,476,606 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2014
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony Michael, Matsuoka, Yoky, Sloo, David, Plitkins, Michael, Matas, Michael James, Rogers, Matthew Lee, Fisher, Evan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tuan S
• Application Number:
  US14/496,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20150025691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 11/46 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 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/59 for presetting
• 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 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/89 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 Feedback from users
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/409 characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 : Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0613 : The adjustment depending on the type of the information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/37 : Details of the operation on graphic patterns G09G5/38 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods and devices for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system by a thermostat are provided. Input can be received from a user via a thermostat, the input being indicative of an adjustment of an HVAC-related setting. On a real-time basis, the HVAC-related setting that is being adjusted can be compared against a feedback criterion designed to indicate a circumstance under which feedback is to be presented to the user. The circumstance can be indicative of an achievement of a HVAC-related setting of a predetermined responsibility level with respect to an energy usage of the HVAC system. Upon a real-time determination that the feedback criterion is satisfied, visual feedback can be caused to be presented to the user in real-time. The real-time feedback can include a visual icon having a visual appeal corresponding to a desirability of the satisfaction of the feedback criterion.

Claims

1. A thermostat for controlling the operation of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the thermostat comprising:

a housing;

a user-interface component coupled to the housing and including a mechanically movable input component and an electronic display, and being configured to receive input from a user via a mechanical movement of the mechanically movable input component, the input being indicative of an adjustment of an HVAC-related setting; and

a processor coupled to the user-interface component and configured to;

receive a first input from the user via mechanical movement of the mechanically movable input component, the first input corresponding to a first adjustment of the HVAC-related setting;

compare on a real-time basis the first adjustment of the HVAC-related setting against a circumstance under which feedback is to be presented to the user, the circumstance being indicative of responsible energy usage of the HVAC system controlled by the thermostat;

determine, in real-time and based on the comparison, that the first adjustment of the HVAC-related setting corresponds to a responsible energy usage of the HVAC system;

in response to said determination, cause a visual icon to be displayed to the user in real-time on the electronic display;

receive a second input from the user via mechanical movement of the mechanically movable input component, the second input corresponding to a second adjustment of the HVAC-related setting;

determine in real-time that the second adjustment of the HVAC-related setting corresponds to an increased degree of responsible energy usage of the HVAC system; and

in response to said determination, cause the visual icon displayed on the electronic display to brighten to an intensity level corresponding to the increased degree of responsible energy usage of the HVAC system, the visual icon being brightened in real time as the second input is received via mechanical movement of the mechanically movable input component.

2. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

display an additional icon on the electronic display that is indicative of the first adjustment of the HVAC-related setting; and

move in real time a position of the additional icon on the electronic display corresponding to the second input received via mechanical movement of the mechanically movable input component.

3. The thermostat of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to brighten in real time the visual icon displayed on the electronic display as the position of the additional icon is moved on the electronic display.

4. The thermostat of claim 2, wherein the additional icon corresponds to a setpoint temperature of a setpoint temperature schedule.

5. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured, upon detecting a communication from a remote device, to send information of the visual icon to the remote device to allow the remote device to provide real-time display of the visual icon.

6. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the circumstance under which feedback is to be presented is based on a current setpoint temperature of a setpoint temperature schedule.

7. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the mechanically movable input component comprises a rotatable ring.

8. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the HVAC-related setting comprises a setpoint temperature.

9. A method for control of an HVAC system by a thermostat, the thermostat comprising an input component and a display, the method comprising:

receiving a first input via the input component, the first input corresponding to a first adjustment of an HVAC-related setting of the HVAC system;

comparing on a real-time basis the first adjustment of the HVAC-related setting against a circumstance under which feedback is to be presented, the circumstance being indicative of responsible energy usage of the HVAC system;

determining, in real-time and based on the comparison, that the first adjustment of the HVAC-related setting corresponds to a responsible energy usage of the HVAC system;

displaying a visual icon in real-time on the display, the visual icon being representative of the responsible energy usage of the HVAC system;

receiving a second input from the user via the input component, the second input corresponding to a second adjustment of the HVAC-related setting of the HVAC system;

determining in real-time that the second adjustment of the HVAC-related setting corresponds to an increased degree of responsible energy usage of the HVAC system; and

brightening the visual icon displayed on the display to an intensity level corresponding to the increased degree of responsible energy usage of the HVAC system;

wherein the visual icon is brightened in real time as the second input is received via the input component.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

displaying an additional icon on the display that is indicative of the first adjustment of the HVAC-related setting; and

moving in real time a position of the additional icon on the display corresponding to the second input received via the input component.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising brightening in real time the visual icon displayed on the display as the position of the additional icon is moved on the display.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the additional icon corresponds to a setpoint temperature of a setpoint temperature schedule.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising sending information of the visual icon to a remote device upon detecting a communication from the remote device to allow the remote device to provide real-time display of the visual icon.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the circumstance under which feedback is to be presented is based on a current setpoint temperature of a setpoint temperature schedule.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the input component comprises a rotatable ring.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the HVAC-related setting comprises a setpoint temperature.

17. A thermostat control for controlling the operation of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the thermostat control comprising:

a user-interface including an input component and an electronic display, the thermostat control being configured to receive input from a user via the input component, the input being indicative of an adjustment of an HVAC-related setting of the HVAC system; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the user-interface component and configured to;

receive a first input from the user via the input component, the first input corresponding to a first adjustment of the HVAC-related setting;

effect comparison on a real-time basis of the first adjustment of the HVAC-related setting against a circumstance under which feedback is to be presented to the user, the circumstance being indicative of responsible energy usage of the HVAC system;

effect determination in real-time and based on the comparison, that the first adjustment of the HVAC-related setting corresponds to a responsible energy usage of the HVAC system;

cause a visual icon to be displayed to the user in real-time on the electronic display;

receive a second input from the user via the input component, the second input corresponding to a second adjustment of the HVAC-related setting;

effect determination in real-time that the second adjustment of the HVAC-related setting corresponds to an increased degree of responsible energy usage of the HVAC system; and

cause the visual icon displayed on the electronic display to brighten to an intensity level corresponding to the increased degree of responsible energy usage of the HVAC system.

18. The thermostat control of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to:

display an additional icon on the electronic display that is indicative of the first adjustment of the HVAC-related setting; and

move in real time a position of the additional icon on the electronic display corresponding to the second input received via the input component.

19. The thermostat control of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to brighten in real time the visual icon displayed on the electronic display as the position of the additional icon is moved on the electronic display.

20. The thermostat control of claim 18, wherein the visual icon is brightened in real time as the second input is received via the input component.