Electronic device controller with user-friendly installation features

• US 9,995,499 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2017
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony Michael, Rogers, Matthew Lee, Sloo, David, Stefanski, Mark D., Matsuoka, Yoky
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad M
• Application Number:
  US15/400,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20170138629A1
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 62157
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/66 Sleep mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/32 preventing human errors during the installation, use or maintenance, e.g. goofy proof
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• 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

Abstract

Various arrangements for installing or configuring an electronic device are presented. The device may determine which wire connectors of a set of one or more wire connectors have a wire attached. A user inquiry may be output based on the electronic device identifying the wire connector with which the wire has been connected. The electronic device may be operated based on the response to the user inquiry and the electronic device identifying the wire connector with which the wire has been connected.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a set of one or more wire connectors, wherein each wire connector of the set is configured to receive a wire connected with a remote system and each wire connector of the set of one or more wire connectors is associated with two or more possible functions;

a connection sensing module coupled with the set of one or more wire connectors, the connection sensing module configured to identify a wire connector of the set of one or more wire connectors with which a wire connected with the remote system has been connected; and

a processing system in communication with a user interface, the processing system being configured to be in communication with the remote system via the wire, the processing system configured to;

determine to provide a user inquiry based on the connection sensing module identifying the wire connector with which the wire connected with the remote system has been connected;

cause the user inquiry to be output via the user interface, the user inquiry requesting information for identifying a function of the wire;

receive a response to the user inquiry via the user interface; and

operate the electronic device based on the response to the user inquiry and the connection sensing module identifying the wire connector with which the wire has been connected.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising an electronic display wherein the user interface is presented on the electronic display of the electronic device.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the user interface is presented via a computerized device distinct from the electronic device.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the connection sensing module comprises a detection switch, the detection switch mechanically detecting a presence of the wire.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second set of one or more single-function wire connectors each configured to receive a wire, wherein;

each wire connector of the second set of one or more single-function wire connectors is associated with a single function;

the connection sensing module is coupled with the second set of single-function wire connectors, the connection sensing module configured to identify a single-function wire connector of the second set of single-function wire connectors with which a second wire connected with the remote system has been connected; and

the processing system is further configured to operate the electronic device based on the connection sensing module identifying the single-function wire connector with which the wire has been connected.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein:

the electronic device is a thermostat;

the single-function wire connector is a single-function HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) connector; and

the wire connector is a multi-function HVAC terminal.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the user interface presents a photographic representation of the set of one or more wire connectors that indicates wire connectors having connected wires that have been detected by the connection sensing module.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the user interface presents a graphical representation of the set of one or more wire connectors that indicates wire connectors having connected wires that have been detected by the connection sensing module.

9. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein:

the connection sensing module coupled with the set of one or more wire connectors and the set of one or more single-function wire connectors identifies a different arrangement of one or more wires connected with the set of one or more wire connectors and the set of one or more single-function wire connectors; and

the processing system is further configured to operate the electronic device based on the connection sensing module identifying the different arrangement of the one or more wires connected with the set of one or more wire connectors and the set of one or more single-function wire connectors without presenting a corresponding user inquiry due to no configuration ambiguity being present.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the connection sensing module comprises an electrical sensor, the electrical sensor electrically detecting a presence of the wire connected with the wire connector.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to operate the electronic device based on one or more inferences identified based on previous operation of the electronic device.

12. A method for installing an electronic device, comprising:

determining, by the electronic device, which wire connectors of a set of one or more wire connectors have a wire attached, wherein each wire connector of the set is configured to receive a wire and each wire connector of the set of one or more wire connectors is associated with two or more possible functions;

determining to output a user inquiry based on the electronic device identifying the wire connector with which the wire has been connected;

causing the user inquiry to be output via a user interface, the user inquiry requesting information for identifying a function of the wire;

receiving a response to the user inquiry via the user interface; and

operating the electronic device based on the response to the user inquiry received via the user interface and the electronic device identifying the wire connector with which the wire has been connected.

13. The method for installing the electronic device of claim 12, further comprising presenting, via an electronic display of the electronic device, the user interface comprising the user inquiry.

14. The method for installing the electronic device of claim 12, when the user interface is presented via a computerized device distinct from the electronic device.

15. The method for installing the electronic device of claim 12, wherein determining which wire connectors of the set of one or more wire connectors have a wire attached comprises determining whether a detection switch is mechanically actuated by the presence of a wire.

16. The method for installing the electronic device of claim 12, further comprising:

determining, by the electronic device, which single-function wire connectors of a second set of one or more single-function wire connectors have a wire attached, wherein each wire connector of the second set of one or more single-function wire connectors is associated with a single function; and

identifying a single-function wire connector of the second set of single-function wire connectors with which a second wire connected with the remote system has been connected;

wherein operating the electronic device is further based on identifying the single-function wire connector with which the wire has been connected.

17. The method for installing the electronic device of claim 16, wherein:

the electronic device is a thermostat;

the remote system is an HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system;

the single-function wire connector is a single-function HVAC connector;

the wire connector is a multi-function HVAC terminal; and

operating the electronic device comprises the electronic device controlling activation of the HVAC system.

18. The method for installing the electronic device of claim 12, further comprising:

presenting, as part of the user interface, a photographic representation of the set of one or more wire connectors that indicates wire connectors with which wires have been connected.

19. The method for installing the electronic device of claim 12, further comprising:

presenting, as part of the user interface, a graphical representation of the set of one or more wire connectors that indicates wire connectors with which wires have been connected.

20. The method for installing the electronic device of claim 16, further comprising:

identifying a different arrangement of one or more wires inserted into the set of one or more wire connectors and the set of one or more single-function wire connectors; and

operating the electronic device based on the electronic device identifying the different arrangement of the one or more wires connected with the set of one or more wire connectors and the set of one or more single-function wire connectors without presenting a corresponding user inquiry due to no configuration ambiguity being present.

21. The method for installing the electronic device of claim 12, wherein determining which wire connectors of the set of one or more wire connectors have a wire connected comprises analyzing a measurement from an electrical sensor of the electronic device.

22. The method for installing the electronic device of claim 12, wherein operating the electronic device is further based on one or more inferences identified based on previous operation of the electronic device.

23. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a wire terminal means configured to receive a wire corresponding to a remote system and the wire terminal means is associated with two or more possible functions;

a connection sensing means in communication with the wire terminal means, the connection sensing means configured to identify that the wire terminal means has the wire connected; and

a processing means in communication with a user interface means, the processing means configured to be in communication with the remote system via the wire, the processing means configured to;

determine to provide a user inquiry based on the connection sensing means identifying the wire terminal means with which the wire has been connected;

cause the user inquiry to be output via the user interface means, the user inquiry requesting information for identifying a function of the wire;

receive a response to the user inquiry via the user interface means; and

control the remote system based on the response to the user inquiry and the connection sensing means identifying the wire terminal means having the wire connected.

24. The electronic apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a display means wherein the user interface means is presented on the display means of the electronic apparatus.

25. The electronic apparatus of claim 23, wherein the user interface means is presented via a means remote and distinct from the electronic apparatus.

26. The electronic apparatus of claim 23, wherein the connection sensing apparatus comprises a detection switch, the detection switch mechanically detecting the wire being connected with the wire terminal means.

27. The electronic apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

a single-function wire terminal means configured to receive a second wire, wherein;

the single-function wire terminal means is associated with a single function; and

the connection sensing means is coupled with the single-function wire terminal means, the connection sensing means configured to identify that a second wire has been connected with the single-function wire terminal means; and

the processing means is further configured to operate the electronic apparatus based on the connection sensing means identifying the single-function wire terminal means with which the second wire has been connected.

28. The electronic apparatus of claim 27, wherein:

the electronic apparatus is a thermostat;

the single-function wire terminal means is a single-function HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) connector; and

the wire terminal means is a multi-function HVAC terminal.

29. The electronic apparatus of claim 23, wherein the user interface means presents a photographic representation of the wire terminal means that the wire has been connected with the wire terminal means.

30. The electronic apparatus of claim 23, wherein the user interface means presents a graphical representation of the wire terminal means that indicates the connected wire has been detected by the connection sensing means.

31. The electronic apparatus of claim 27, wherein:

the connection sensing means coupled with the wire terminal means and the single-function wire terminal means is further configured to identify a different arrangement of one or more wires being connected; and

the processing means is further configured to operate the electronic apparatus based on the connection sensing means identifying the different arrangement without presenting a corresponding user inquiry due to no configuration ambiguity being present.

32. The electronic apparatus of claim 23, wherein the connection sensing means comprises an electrical sensor, the electrical sensor electrically detecting the wire being connected with the wire terminal means.

33. The electronic apparatus of claim 23, wherein the processing means is further configured to operate the electronic apparatus based on one or more inferences identified based on previous operation of the electronic apparatus.