RAPID PROGRAMMING OF THERMOSTAT

• US 20120232703A1
• Filed: 03/10/2011
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Braeburn Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Braeburn Systems LLC
• Inventors: Moore, Glenn A., Poplawski, Daniel, Rados, Robert M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,517,088 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 11/34 by opening air passages
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/67 Switching between heating and cooling modes
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means

Abstract

The invention provides for a controller such as a thermostat for an HVAC system comprising a housing having a circuit board and a display screen, the display screen having at least one alpha-numeric icon and a group of input control areas. A microprocessor is provided for controlling the display screen. Buttons are pressed in order to program set-points of the thermostat so that seven days may be programmed simultaneously. The display includes a seven day icon so that the user can program the thermostat set-points rapidly (e.g. setting time and temperature settings with minimal steps).

Claims

1. A method for programming a thermostat comprising the steps of:

providing a thermostat having a display and buttons for controlling at least two modes of the thermostat including a heating mode and a cooling mode and the thermostat capable of controlling the heating and cooling modes for every day of the week;

activating a first programming mode in order to select seven days for setting the heating mode for all seven days simultaneously;

displaying a seven day icon on the display during the heating mode selection;

activating a second programming mode in order to select all seven days for setting the cooling mode for all seven days simultaneously; and

displaying the seven day icon on the display during the cooling mode selection.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the buttons are mechanical buttons disposed on a housing of the thermostat.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the buttons are touch sensitive areas displayed on a display screen of the thermostat.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the buttons are a combination of a mechanical button and touch sensitive area button.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the mechanical button is a rocker switch.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

selecting the temperature and duration for a fractional day period including one of a morning period, a daytime period, an evening period, a night period, an occupied period or an unoccupied period.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

selecting a fan setting.

8. A thermostat display for programming a thermostat comprising:

a thermostat including a system button and, a program button;

a display screen including a seven day icon, a temperature icon and a time icon wherein activation of the program button selects the seven day icon; and

activation of the system button provides for selection of one of a heat mode and cool mode and for programming of all seven days simultaneously for one of the modes by adjustment of the temperature and time icons.

9. The display of claim 8 wherein:

the seven day icon comprises an alphanumeric representation of each of the seven days of a week.

10. The display of claim 8 wherein:

the seven day icon comprises M, TU, W, TH, F, SA and SU.

11. The display of claim 8 wherein:

the temperature and time icons comprise an alphanumeric representation.

12. The display of claim 8 further comprising:

a rocker switch for adjusting set points for temperature and time for the modes.

13. The display of claim 8 further comprising:

a fan button for selecting a fan mode for the heat and cool modes.

14. The display of claim 8 wherein the program button includes a predetermined time trigger so that pressing the program button for a period of time greater than the predetermined time trigger results in activation of a seven day programming mode and pressing the program button for a period of time less than the predetermined time trigger results in activation of an individual day programming mode.

15. The display of claim 8 wherein the system button and program button are touch sensitive areas displayed on the display screen of the thermostat.

16. A computer readable media having stored thereon computer executable instructions for programming a thermostat, the instructions, when executed by a computing device, performing steps comprising:

displaying a system button;

displaying a program button;

displaying a seven day icon;

displaying a time icon;

displaying a temperature icon;

selecting the seven day icon upon activation of the program button;

selecting the seven day icon upon activation of the program button;

selecting one of a heat mode or cool mode upon activation of the program button; and

simultaneously programming seven days for the heat mode or cool mode by adjusting set points via the time and temperature icons.

17. The media of claim 16 wherein:

the seven day icon comprises an alphanumeric representation of each of the seven days of a week.

18. The media of claim 16 wherein:

the temperature and time icons comprise an alphanumeric representation.

19. The media of claim 16 further comprising:

a rocker switch for adjusting set points for temperature and time for the modes.

20. The media of claim 16 wherein complete programming of seven days for heating or cooling may be provided without requiring an increment from a first day to a second day during user input to program the thermostat.