User friendly interface for control unit

• US 9,612,032 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2015
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• 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): KASENGE, CHARLES R
• Application Number:
  US14/933,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20160054022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• 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 wall-mounted device for sensing and control for one or more systems in a home environment, said device comprising:

a body having a circular cross-section, a wall-facing rear surface, and a user-facing front surface;

an outer ring that laterally surrounds said body to form a circular lateral periphery of said device, said outer ring being user-rotatable around said body and being inwardly pressable;

at least one environmental sensing component disposed within said body;

a communication component configured for providing wired or wireless sensing and/or control-related communications with said one or more systems in the home environment;

a user-facing circular display component configured to highlight respective ones of a circular arrangement of display elements appearing near a periphery thereof as a user rotates said outer ring;

a user input component formed by said user-facing circular display component and said outer ring, wherein a user selection of one of said display elements is established upon an inward pressing of said outer ring while said one of said display elements is highlighted, and wherein plural respective user selections of different ones of said display elements are established by repeated user rotations and inward pressings of said outer ring; and

a processor in operative communication with said at least one environmental sensing component, said communication component, and said user input component;

wherein said processor is configured and programmed to provide a software lockout functionality in which user access to the control of one or more sensing or control functions of said device is prevented unless a user enters a password or combination using said user input component.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one environmental sensing component comprises a temperature sensor, an infrared sensor, and a visible light sensor.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one environmental sensing component comprises an occupancy sensing component, an acoustic sensing component, and a camera component.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said user-facing front surface is configured such that said at least one environmental sensing component is substantially visually concealed from user view while being substantially exposed to said environmental condition being sensed.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said at least one environmental sensing component comprises an acoustic sensing component and/or a temperature sensor, and wherein said user-facing front surface is configured with a grill member that exposes said at least one environmental sensing component to ambient air while substantially concealing said at least one environmental sensing component from user view.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said user-facing front surface provides a darker background against which one or more of said plurality of display elements is highlighted.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein user access to the control of said one or more sensing or control functions of said device enables a user to lock or unlock one of said systems in said home environment.

8. A method for using a wall-mounted device for sensing and control for one or more systems in a home environment, said method comprising:

detecting a user rotation of an outer ring that laterally surrounds a body of said device to form a circular lateral periphery of said device, said body having a circular cross-section, a wall-facing rear surface, and a user-facing front surface, said outer ring being user-rotatable around said body for enabling said user rotation, said device having a user-facing circular display component, said user-facing circular display component and said outer ring forming a user input component, wherein at least one environmental sensing component is disposed within said body of said device, wherein said device includes a communication component configured for providing wired or wireless sensing and/or control-related communications with said one or more systems in the home environment, wherein said device includes a processor in operative communication with said at least one environmental sensing component, said communication component, and said user input component;

highlighting, based on said user rotation of said outer ring, respective ones of a circular arrangement of display elements appearing near a periphery of said user-facing circular display component;

detecting an inward pressing of said outer ring, said outer ring being inwardly pressable for enabling said inward pressing;

identifying as a user selection one of said display elements that is highlighted when said inward pressing of said outer ring is detected, wherein plural respective user selections of different ones of said display elements are identified responsive to repeated user rotations and/or inward pressings of said outer ring; and

permitting user access to the control of one or more sensing or control functions of said device if said plural respective user selections corresponds to a password or combination.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said at least one environmental sensing component comprises a temperature sensor, an infrared sensor, and a visible light sensor.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said at least one environmental sensing component comprises an occupancy sensing component, an acoustic sensing component, and a camera component.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said user-facing front surface is configured such that said at least one environmental sensing component is substantially visually concealed from user view while being substantially exposed to said environmental condition being sensed.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said at least one environmental sensing component comprises an acoustic sensing component and/or a temperature sensor, and wherein said user-facing front surface is configured with a grill member that exposes said at least one environmental sensing component to ambient air while substantially concealing said at least one environmental sensing component from user view.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said user-facing front surface provides a darker background against which one or more of said plurality of display elements is highlighted.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein user access to the control of said one or more sensing or control functions of said device enables a user to lock or unlock one of said systems in said home environment.

15. A wall-mounted device for sensing and control for one or more systems in a home environment, said device comprising:

a body having a circular cross-section and a central axis, said central axis extending generally perpendicular to a wall when said device is wall-mounted, said body having a sidewall that extends along a length of said central axis between first and second ends of said body, said sidewall having inner and outer surfaces, said inner surface at least partially defining an interior area of said body, said first end of said body being wall-facing when said device is wall-mounted, said send end of said body being user-facing when said device is wall-mounted, said first end of said body having a wall-facing outer surface, said first end of said body having a user-facing outer surface;

an outer ring surrounding at least a portion of said outer surface of said sidewall of said body, said outer ring having an axis of rotation that extends generally parallel to said central axis of said body, said outer ring being configured to be rotatable generally about said axis of rotation, wherein at least a portion of said outer ring is configured to be inwardly pressable generally toward said wall when said device is wall-mounted;

at least one environmental sensing component being at least partially disposed within said interior area of said body;

a communication component being configured for providing wired or wireless sensing and/or control-related communications with said one or more systems in the home environment;

a user-facing circular display component being configured to highlight respective ones of a circular arrangement of display elements appearing near a periphery thereof as a user rotates said outer ring;

a user input component being formed by said user-facing circular display component and said outer ring, wherein a user selection of one of said display elements is established upon an inward pressing of said outer ring while said one of said display elements is highlighted, and wherein plural respective user selections of different ones of said display elements are established by repeated user rotations and inward pressings of said outer ring; and

a processor being in operative communication with said at least one environmental sensing component, said communication component, and said user input component;

wherein said processor is configured and programmed to provide a software lockout functionality in which user access to the control of one or more sensing or control functions of said device is prevented unless a user enters a password or combination using said user input component.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said at least one environmental sensing component comprises a temperature sensor, an infrared sensor, and a visible light sensor.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein said at least one environmental sensing component comprises an occupancy sensing component, an acoustic sensing component, and a camera component.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein said user-facing outer surface is configured such that said at least one environmental sensing component is substantially visually concealed from user view while being substantially exposed to said environmental condition being sensed.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said at least one environmental sensing component comprises an acoustic sensing component and/or a temperature sensor, and wherein said user-facing outer surface is configured with a grill member that exposes said at least one environmental sensing component to ambient air while substantially concealing said at least one environmental sensing component from user view.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein said user-facing outer surface provides a darker background against which one or more of said plurality of display elements is highlighted.