TRANSITION TEMPERATURE ADJUSTMENT USER INTERFACES

• US 20100070093A1
• Filed: 09/15/2009
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Rigg, Brian D., Harrod, Gregory Ralph, Beers, Bradley A., Carmichael, Grant E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,332,075 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/278
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

Controllers for controlling heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and cooling (HVAC) systems are provided. The controllers include graphical user interfaces for user adjustment of system settings. The graphical user interfaces also may be designed to present information that facilitates user understanding of system operations. In certain embodiments, the controllers may allow users to adjust balance point and/or LTCO temperature values. In these embodiments, the graphical user interfaces may include slide bars for adjusting the balance point and/or LTCO temperature values.

Claims

1. A control device comprising:

a communication interface suitable for operable connection to a heat pump, an auxiliary heating system, and a sensor capable of sensing an exterior temperature;

a display capable of displaying at least one system transition temperature, a graphical element that defines a range of possible system transition temperatures, and a moveable feature disposed on the graphical element;

a graphical user interface capable of receiving a user input that moves the moveable feature on the graphical element to select the at least one system transition temperature from the range of possible system transition temperatures; and

a processor capable of selectively enabling the auxiliary heating system and the heat pump based upon the at least one selected system transition temperatures and the sensed exterior temperature.

2. The control device of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a touch screen for sensing the user input.

3. The control device of claim 1, wherein the graphical element comprises a slide bar and wherein the moveable feature comprises a slider.

4. The control device of claim 1, wherein the display is capable of displaying indicators that identify portions of the graphical element that when selected enable the heat pump, the auxiliary heating system, or both.

5. The control device of claim 1, wherein the range comprises at least 10 possible system transition temperatures.

6. The control device of claim 1, wherein the processor is capable of determining a suggested system transition temperature based on model information for the heat pump, model information for the auxiliary heating system, or an operating efficiency for the heat pump, or combinations thereof.

7. The control device of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary heating system comprises an electric heater or a fossil fuel furnace.

8. The control device of claim 1, wherein the processor is capable of determining a suggested system transition temperature based on electricity cost and fuel cost data.

9. The control device of claim 1, wherein the at least one system transition temperature comprises a balance point temperature, a low cut out temperature, a heating mode enablement temperature, or a cooling mode enablement temperature, or combinations thereof.

10. A control device comprising:

a communication interface suitable for operable connection to a heat pump, an auxiliary heating system, and a sensor capable of sensing an exterior temperature;

a display capable of displaying a balance point temperature that corresponds to the exterior temperature below which the control device enables the auxiliary heating system, a low cutout temperature that corresponds to the exterior temperature below which the control device disables the heat pump, a slide bar that defines a range of possible balance point temperatures and a range of possible low cutout temperatures, a first moveable slider disposed on the slide bar to identify the balance point temperature, and a second moveable slider disposed on the slide bar to identify the low cutout temperature;

a graphical user interface capable of receiving a first user input that moves the first moveable slider along the slide bar to select the balance point temperature from the range of possible balance point temperatures and a second user input that moves the second moveable slider along the slide bar to select the low cutout temperature from the range of possible low cutout temperatures; and

a processor capable of receiving the exterior temperature from the sensor and capable of selectively enabling the auxiliary heating system and the heat pump based upon the selected balance point temperature, the selected low cutout temperature, and the sensed exterior temperature.

11. The control device of claim 10, wherein the display comprises a touch screen for sensing the user input.

12. The control device of claim 10, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a screen for displaying the slide bar with indicators identifying portions of the slide bar that correspond to operation of the auxiliary heating system, to operation of the heat pump, and to operation of both the auxiliary heating system and the heat pump.

13. The control device of claim 10, wherein the communication interface comprises a network interface capable of receiving energy cost data and wherein the processor is capable of determining a suggested balance point temperature and a suggested low cutout temperature based on the energy cost data.

14. The control device of claim 10, wherein the communication interface comprises a network interface capable of receiving geographic location data and wherein the processor is capable of determining a suggested balance point temperature and a suggested low cutout temperature based on the geographic location data.

15. The control device of claim 10, wherein the processor is capable of determining a suggested balance point temperature and a suggested low cutout temperature based on at least one of operating efficiency, operating cost, or operating capacity.

16. The control device of claim 10, wherein the processor is capable of determining whether the difference between the selected balance point temperature and the selected low cutout temperature is greater than a predetermined value.

17. A method, comprising:

displaying a first moveable element on a range of selectable temperatures;

displaying a second moveable element on the range of selectable temperatures;

sensing a first touch that moves the first moveable element to select a balance point temperature from the range of selectable temperatures;

sensing a second touch that moves the second moveable element to select a low cutout temperature from the range of selectable temperatures; and

assigning the balance point temperature and the low cutout temperature to a heating system, wherein the heating system operates a heat pump and another heating device based upon the selected balance point temperature and the selected low cutout temperature.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein assigning the balance point temperature and the low cutout temperature comprises determining that the balance point temperature is greater than the low cutout temperature.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein assigning the balance point temperature and the low cutout temperature comprises determining that the temperature difference between the balance point temperature and the low cutout temperature exceeds a predetermined value.

20. A control device, comprising:

a communication interface suitable for operable connection to a furnace and a sensor capable of sensing a fuel availability for the furnace;

a processor capable of detecting a low fuel condition when the sensed fuel availability is below a predetermined level; and

a display capable of displaying an alert that notifies a user of the low fuel condition.

21. The control device of claim 20, wherein the communication interface comprises a network connection suitable for transmitting the low fuel condition to a fuel supplier.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the communication interface is suitable for operable connection to a heat pump, and wherein the processor is capable of enabling the heat pump in response to detection of the low fuel condition.

23. A control device, comprising:

a communication interface suitable for operable connection to a furnace and a sensor capable of sensing a fuel availability for the furnace; and

a processor capable of detecting a low fuel condition when the sensed fuel availability is below a predetermined level and capable of enabling an alternate heating device in response to detecting the low fuel condition.

24. A method, comprising:

determining an operating efficiency of an heating, ventilating, air conditioning, or cooling system;

displaying the operating efficiency on a graphical user interface of a controller for the heating, ventilating, air conditioning, or cooling system;

determining operating parameter adjustments for improving the operating efficiency; and

displaying information describing the operating parameter adjustments on the graphical user interface.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein displaying information comprises displaying selectable graphical elements for each of the operating parameter adjustments.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the operating parameter adjustments comprise a temperature set point adjustment, a humidity set point adjustment, or a heating mode adjustment, or a combination thereof.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein displaying information comprises displaying a graph depicting a connection between factors affecting operating efficiency.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the factors comprise a cost index, a comfort index, an environmental index, or an efficiency index, or a combination thereof.