SYSTEM STATUS USER INTERFACES

• US 20100070907A1
• Filed: 09/15/2009
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Beers, Bradley A., Carmichael, Grant E., Abaraw, Mimoun, Harrod, Gregory Ralph
• Granted Patent: US 8,826,165 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/772
• 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 graphical user interfaces may display virtual representations of HVAC systems with graphical elements representing units and/or operating status of the HVAC systems.

Claims

1. A control device comprising:

a communication interface suitable for operable connection to one or more units of a heating, ventilating, air conditioning, or cooling system;

a processor capable of detecting through the communication interface an operating status of each of the units; and

a display capable of displaying a virtual representation of the heating, ventilating, air conditioning, or cooling system with graphical elements representing a physical configuration of each of the units and the connections therebetween and with indicators identifying the operating status of each of the units.

2. The control device of claim 1, wherein the units comprise a heat pump, an air conditioner, a furnace, ultraviolet lamps, a humidifier, or an electronic air cleaner, or a combination thereof.

3. The control device of claim 1, wherein the virtual representation includes a graphical element corresponding to the control device.

4. The control device of claim 1, wherein the graphical elements comprise virtual representations of the units.

5. The control device of claim 1, wherein the indicators comprise pulsing animation.

6. The control device of claim 1, wherein each of the indicators comprise a first graphic corresponding to an operational condition and a second graphic corresponding to a fault condition.

7. The control device of claim 1, comprising a graphical user interface capable of receiving a user input that selects one of the graphical elements to display troubleshooting information for the unit corresponding to the selected graphical element.

8. The control device of claim 7, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a touch screen.

9. The control device of claim 1, comprising a graphical user interface capable of receiving a user input that selects one of the graphical elements to display operating conditions for the unit corresponding to the selected graphical element.

10. The control device of claim 9, wherein the operating conditions comprise a heating capacity, a cooling capacity, a temperature set point, a humidity set point, an average temperature, or historical data, or combinations thereof.

11. A method comprising:

displaying a virtual representation of a heating, ventilating, air conditioning, or cooling system with graphical elements representing a physical configuration of units of the heating, ventilating, air conditioning, or cooling system;

detecting a change in an operating status of one of the units; and

varying the display of at least one of the graphical elements in response to detecting the change.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein varying the display of at least one of the graphical elements comprises changing a color of the at least one graphical element.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein varying the display of at least one of the graphical elements comprises changing an animation of the at least one graphical element.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein varying the display of at least one of the graphical elements comprises displaying a fault indication for the at least one graphical element.

15. The method of claim 11, comprising detecting a change in an operating status comprises detecting a fault condition.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising displaying troubleshooting information for the fault condition.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein displaying a virtual representation comprises displaying connections between the graphical elements depicting units of the heating, ventilating, air conditioning, or cooling system.

20. The method of claim 17, comprising receiving a user input selecting a feature not supported by the heating, ventilating, air conditioning, or cooling system, and wherein determining one or more additional units comprises identifying the one or more additional units that support the feature.

18. A method comprising:

displaying a virtual representation of a heating, ventilating, air conditioning, or cooling system with graphical elements representing a physical configuration of units of the heating, ventilating, air conditioning, or cooling system;

determining one or more additional units that may be connected to the heating, ventilating, air conditioning, or cooling system; and

displaying a recommendation describing the one or more additional units.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein displaying a recommendation comprises displaying at least one of dealer information, ordering information, or price information for the one or more additional units.