HVAC controller having a parameter adjustment element with a qualitative indicator
First Claim
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1. An HVAC controller configured to control one or more components of an HVAC system that can operate to control an environmental condition of an indoor space of a building, the HVAC controller comprising:
- a display;
a controller in communication with the display, the controller configured to;
display on the display a setpoint adjustment element for assisting a user in selecting an appropriate setpoint value for the environmental condition from a range of selectable setpoint values, wherein the range of selectable setpoint values includes at least all integer values within the range, the setpoint adjustment element concurrently displaying at least first and second sub-ranges on the display, wherein each of the at least first and second sub-ranges encompass multiple selectable setpoint values and is labeled with at least one descriptive word that provides a qualitative sensory description of the multiple selectable setpoint values that fall within the corresponding sub-range, and wherein the first sub-range includes multiple selectable setpoint values lower than the multiple selectable setpoint values in the second sub-range, and the controller is configured to display a visible marker on the display identifying a visible boundary between the first sub-range and the second sub-range;
wherein a selected setpoint value corresponds to a desired value for the environmental condition within the building; and
operate an algorithm that at least partially controls the one or more components of the HVAC system in accordance with the selected setpoint value to drive the environmental condition in the indoor space of the building toward the selected setpoint value.
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Abstract
An HVAC controller is described that is configured to be more intuitive and user friendly to program and operate than convention HVAC controllers. In some instances, the HVAC controller may include a touch screen interface that provides greater flexibility in displaying information to the user and/or soliciting information from the user.
202 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An HVAC controller configured to control one or more components of an HVAC system that can operate to control an environmental condition of an indoor space of a building, the HVAC controller comprising:
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a display; a controller in communication with the display, the controller configured to; display on the display a setpoint adjustment element for assisting a user in selecting an appropriate setpoint value for the environmental condition from a range of selectable setpoint values, wherein the range of selectable setpoint values includes at least all integer values within the range, the setpoint adjustment element concurrently displaying at least first and second sub-ranges on the display, wherein each of the at least first and second sub-ranges encompass multiple selectable setpoint values and is labeled with at least one descriptive word that provides a qualitative sensory description of the multiple selectable setpoint values that fall within the corresponding sub-range, and wherein the first sub-range includes multiple selectable setpoint values lower than the multiple selectable setpoint values in the second sub-range, and the controller is configured to display a visible marker on the display identifying a visible boundary between the first sub-range and the second sub-range; wherein a selected setpoint value corresponds to a desired value for the environmental condition within the building; and operate an algorithm that at least partially controls the one or more components of the HVAC system in accordance with the selected setpoint value to drive the environmental condition in the indoor space of the building toward the selected setpoint value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An HVAC controller configured to control one or more components of an HVAC system, the HVAC controller comprising:
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a user interface including a display; a controller in communication with the user interface including the display, the controller configured to operate an algorithm that at least partially controls the one or more components of the HVAC system according to a selected setpoint value for an environmental condition controlled by the HVAC system, the selected setpoint value received from a user via the user interface; and the controller configured to display on the display a setpoint adjustment element for selecting the selected setpoint value from a range of selectable setpoint values, wherein the range of selectable setpoint values includes at least all integer values within the range, the setpoint adjustment element including at least three distinct sub-ranges along the range of selectable setpoint values, wherein each of the at least three distinct sub-ranges includes multiple selectable setpoint values and a qualitative sensory description for the multiple selectable setpoint values that fall within that sub-range, and wherein at least one of the at least three distinct sub ranges defines a comfort range of multiple selectable setpoint values bounded by a lower range and a higher range of multiple selectable setpoint values and wherein the controller is configured to visually distinguish the comfort range from the lower range and the higher range of multiple selectable setpoint values by displaying a first visible boundary between the lower range and the comfort range, and displaying a second visible boundary between the comfort range and the higher range. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method for assisting a user in selecting an appropriate setpoint value of an HVAC controller from a range of selectable setpoint values for an environmental condition of an indoor space of a building serviced by the HVAC controller, the method comprising:
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displaying a setpoint adjustment element on a display, wherein the setpoint adjustment element concurrently displays at least first and second sub-ranges along the range of selectable setpoint values, wherein the range of selectable setpoint values includes at least all integer values within the range, wherein each of the at least first and second sub-ranges includes multiple selectable setpoint values and is labeled with at least one descriptive word that provides a qualitative description of the multiple selectable setpoint values that fall within the corresponding sub-range, wherein the first sub-range includes multiple selectable setpoint values lower than the multiple selectable setpoint values in the second sub-range, with a visible maker displayed on the display designating a boundary between the first sub-range and the second sub-range, the setpoint adjustment element also displaying an indicator that can be moved by the user along the range of selectable setpoint values to select a selected setpoint value; displaying a numeric value for a current reading of the environmental condition, adjacent the setpoint adjustment element; receiving a selected setpoint value by monitoring the indicator of the setpoint adjustment element; and operating an algorithm in an HVAC controller to at least partially control one or more components of an HVAC system in accordance with the selected setpoint value to drive the environmental condition in the indoor space of the building toward the selected setpoint value. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification