CONTROLLER INTERFACE WITH SEPARATE SCHEDULE REVIEW MODE

• US 20100162111A1
• Filed: 03/09/2010
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Vick, Brent D., Bergman, Gabriel A., Amundson, John B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,239,067 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/702
• 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 11/41 Defrosting; Preventing freezing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/59 for presetting
• 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 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/66 Sleep mode
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control

Abstract

A controller equipped with a user interface having a separate schedule review mode, including methods of accessing and/or programming such devices, are disclosed. The controller may include a user interface that can be utilized to initiate a scheduling routine having a separate schedule review mode for displaying one or more schedule parameters of the controller without initiating the editing mode. An illustrative method of accessing a schedule on a controller coupled to a user interface may include the steps of initializing a scheduling routine within the controller, initiating a schedule review mode within the controller, displaying one or more schedule parameters for at least one period on the user interface, and exiting the scheduling routine. One or more of the schedule parameters can be modified, if desired, by initiating a separate editing mode within the controller.

Claims

1. An HVAC controller configured to directly communicate with and control one or more pieces of HVAC equipment in accordance with a programmable schedule, the HVAC controller comprising:

a memory for storing the programmable schedule, wherein the programmable schedule includes at least two time periods for each day or group of days of a week, with one or more schedule parameters corresponding to each of the at least two time periods;

a user interface including a touch screen display;

a processor coupled to the touch screen display, the processor configured to run a scheduling routine for viewing and modifying the programmable schedule of the HVAC controller, the scheduling routine including a schedule review mode and a separate schedule editing mode;

wherein the schedule review mode is initiated by touching a defined region on the touch screen display, and once in the schedule review mode, a user is permitted to select one of the two or more time periods for a day or group of days by touching a defined region on the touch screen display, and in response, the processor displays on the touch screen display the one or more schedule parameters that correspond to the selected time period while not displaying the one or more schedule parameters that do not correspond to the selected time period.

2. The HVAC controller of claim 1 wherein, once in the schedule review mode, a user is permitted to select a different one of the two or more time periods for the day or group of days, and in response, the processor displays on the touch screen display the one or more schedule parameters that correspond to the newly selected time period while not displaying the one or more schedule parameters that do not correspond to the newly selected time period.

3. The HVAC controller of claim 2 wherein, once in the schedule review mode, a user is permitted to select a different day or group of days, and in response, the processor displays on the touch screen display the one or more schedule parameters that correspond to the newly selected time period for the newly selected day or group of days, while not displaying the one or more schedule parameters that do not correspond to the newly selected time period for the newly selected day or group of days.

4. The HVAC controller of claim 1 wherein, once in the schedule review mode, a user is permitted to select a different day or group of days, and in response, the processor displays on the touch screen display the one or more schedule parameters that correspond to the selected time period for the newly selected day or group of days, while not displaying the one or more schedule parameters that do not correspond to the selected time period for the newly selected day or group of days.

5. The HVAC controller of claim 1 wherein the two or more time periods include a wake, a leave, a return and a sleep time period.

6. The HVAC controller of claim 5 wherein the programmable schedule includes a wake, a leave, a return and a sleep time period for each of the days of a week.

7. The HVAC controller of claim 5 wherein the programmable schedule includes a wake, a leave, a return and a sleep time period for each of the week days (M-F) of a week.

8. The HVAC controller of claim 5 wherein the programmable schedule includes a wake, a leave, a return and a sleep time period for each of the weekend days (SA-SU) of a week.

9. The HVAC controller of claim 1 wherein, once in the schedule review mode, the processor displays an exit button region that when selected, exits the schedule review mode.

10. The HVAC controller of claim 9 wherein, once in the schedule review mode, the processor displays an edit button region that when selected, enters the separate schedule editing mode.

11. The HVAC controller of claim 10 wherein, once in the schedule editing mode, the processor permits a user to edit one or more schedule parameters of the programmable schedule.

12. An HVAC controller configured to directly control one or more pieces of HVAC equipment in accordance with a programmable schedule, the HVAC controller comprising:

a memory for storing the programmable schedule, wherein the programmable schedule includes at least two time periods for each day or group of days of a week, with one or more schedule parameters corresponding to each of the at least two time periods;

a user interface including a touch screen display;

a processor coupled to the touch screen display, the processor configured to run a scheduling routine for viewing and modifying the programmable schedule of the HVAC controller, the scheduling routine including a schedule review mode and a separate schedule editing mode;

wherein the schedule review mode is initiated by touching a defined region on the touch screen display, and once in the schedule review mode, a user is permitted to select one of the two or more time periods for a day or group of days by touching a defined region on the touch screen display, and in response, the processor displays on the touch screen display the one or more schedule parameters that correspond to the selected time period while not displaying the one or more schedule parameters that do not correspond to the selected time period; and

wherein the schedule editing mode is initiated once already in the schedule review mode by pressing a button region on the touch screen display, and once in the schedule editing mode, a user is permitted to view and modify one or more schedule parameters of the programmable schedule.

13. The HVAC controller of claim 12 wherein, once in the schedule review mode, a user is permitted to select a different one of the two or more time periods for the day or group of days, and in response, the processor displays on the touch screen display the one or more schedule parameters that correspond to the newly selected time period while not displaying the one or more schedule parameters that do not correspond to the newly selected time period.

14. The HVAC controller of claim 13 wherein, once in the schedule review mode, a user is permitted to select a different day or group of days, and in response, the processor displays on the touch screen display the one or more schedule parameters that correspond to the newly selected time period for the newly selected day or group of days, while not displaying the one or more schedule parameters that do not correspond to the newly selected time period for the newly selected day or group of days.

15. The HVAC controller of claim 12 wherein, once in the schedule review mode, a user is permitted to select a different day or group of days, and in response, the processor displays on the touch screen display the one or more schedule parameters that correspond to the selected time period for the newly selected day or group of days, while not displaying the one or more schedule parameters that do not correspond to the selected time period for the newly selected day or group of days.

16. The HVAC controller of claim 12 wherein the two or more time periods include a wake, a leave, a return and a sleep time period.

17. The HVAC controller of claim 16 wherein the programmable schedule includes a wake, a leave, a return and a sleep time period for each of the days of a week.

18. The HVAC controller of claim 12 wherein, once in the schedule review mode, the processor displays an exit button region that when selected, exits the schedule review mode.

19. The HVAC controller of claim 18 wherein, once in the schedule review mode, the processor displays an edit button region that when selected, initiates the separate schedule editing mode.

20. A method for operating an HVAC controller, wherein the HVAC controller is configured to directly communicate with and control one or more pieces of HVAC equipment in accordance with a programmable schedule, wherein the programmable schedule includes at least two time periods for each day or group of days of a week, with one or more schedule parameters corresponding to each of the at least two time periods, the method comprising:

initiating a schedule review mode in the HVAC controller, the schedule review mode permitting viewing access only and not permitting editing access to one or more of the schedule parameters of the programmable schedule;

once in the schedule review mode, permitted a user to select one of the two or more time periods for a day or group of days;

once one of the two or more time periods are selected, displaying the one or more schedule parameters that correspond to the selected time period while not displaying the one or more schedule parameters that do not correspond to the selected time period;

initiating a schedule editing mode separate from the schedule review mode, wherein the schedule editing mode is initiated once already in the schedule review mode, and

once in the schedule editing mode, permitted a user to view and modify one or more schedule parameters of the programmable schedule.