THERMOSTAT USER INTERFACE

• US 20160069583A1
• Filed: 10/23/2015
• Published: 03/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony M., Rogers, Matthew L., Sloo, David, Plitkins, Michael, Honjo, Shigefumi, Filson, John B., Matas, Michael J., Bould, Fred, Huppi, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 9,857,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/00 Control or safety arrangements
• 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 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/50 characterised by user interfaces or communication
• 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 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• 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 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/89 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/12 Position of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/14 Activity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0025 Living bodies ear thermometers G01J5/0011; detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/041 : Mountings in enclosures or in a particular environment
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/02 : Means for indicating or recording specially adapted for thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/26 : Testing of individual semiconductor devices testing or measuring during manufacture or treatment H01L22/00; testing of photovoltaic devices H02S50/10
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 : electric
• 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 23/1919 : characterised by the type of controller
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1932 : to control the temperature of a plurality of spaces
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/24 : the sensing element having a resistance varying with temperature, e.g. a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/2454 : using photoelectric elements
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/27 : with sensing element responsive to radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/275 : with sensing element expanding, contracting, or fusing in response to changes of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 : Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 : Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 : by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 : Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 : Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 : Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 : Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 : Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 : with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 : by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 : Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 : Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 : Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 : using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 : Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 : Machine learning
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/06 : Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being along the axis of angular movement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 : in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 : Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 : End-user application control systems

Abstract

An occupancy sensing electronic thermostat is described that includes a thermostat body, an electronic display that is viewable by a user in front of the thermostat, a passive infrared sensor for measuring infrared energy and an infrared energy directing element formed integrally with a front surface of the thermostat body. The passive infrared sensor may be positioned behind the infrared energy directing element such that infrared energy is directed thereonto by the infrared energy directing element. The thermostat may also include a temperature sensor and a microprocessor programmed to detect occupancy based on measurements from the passive infrared sensor.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A thermostat configured to be wall mounted, comprising:

a frustum-shaped shell body having a circular cross-section and a central axis generally perpendicular to a wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the frustum-shaped shell body including a sidewall that extends along a length the central axis between first and second ends of the frustum-shaped shell body, the first end of the frustum-shaped shell body being wall-facing when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body being user-facing when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the first end of the frustum-shaped shell body having a first diameter and the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body having a second, larger diameter;

a circular rotatable ring mounted proximate the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body, the circular rotatable ring having an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to the wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the circular rotatable ring being user rotatable about the axis of rotation, wherein the circular rotatable ring slides about a frame of the thermostat and the circular rotatable ring receives user input;

a circular cover mounted proximate the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body, the circular cover having a central axis generally perpendicular to the wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the circular cover comprising a clear circular center portion surrounded by a colored outer portion, wherein the clear circular center portion permits light emitted from a dot-matrix color display element to pass through the circular cover;

at least one temperature sensor for use in sensing an ambient air temperature;

a passive infrared (PIR) sensor that senses infrared radiation to detect a proximal user presence, the PIR sensor being located between the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body and the circular cover, and the PIR sensor being user-facing when the thermostat is wall-mounted;

a lens, wherein the PIR sensor senses infrared radiation through the lens to detect the proximal user presence;

a plurality of HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) wire terminals configured to receive a respective plurality of HVAC wires;

the dot-matrix color display element mounted at a location between the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body and the circular cover, the dot-matrix color display element and the circular cover do not rotate when the circular rotatable ring is rotated and the thermostat is wall-mounted;

an audio output device to output sound; and

a processing system provided in operative communication with the plurality of HVAC wire terminals, the circular rotatable ring, the dot-matrix color display element, the PIR sensor, the audio output device, and the at least one temperature sensor, the processing system configured to;

determine a user-selected temperature value based on user rotation of the circular rotatable ring;

cause the dot-matrix color display element to display a numerical value representative of the sensed ambient air temperature;

send a control signal to the HVAC system via at least one of the HVAC wire terminals based at least in part on a comparison of the user-selected temperature value and the sensed ambient air temperature;

maintain the dot-matrix color display in a non-active state in an absence of the detection of the proximal user presence by the PIR sensor;

activate the dot-matrix color display element in response to the detection of the proximal user presence;

maintain the dot-matrix color display in the active state during a period in which the proximal user presence is detected;

cause the audio-output device to output synthesized audible ticks in correspondence with user rotation of the circular rotatable ring; and

return the dot-matrix color display to an inactive state when the proximal user presence is no longer detected.

3. The thermostat of claim 2, wherein:

the dot-matrix color display element is non-circular; and

the colored outer portion of the circular cover masks a remaining portion of the non-circular dot-matrix color display element so as to create a circular graphical user interface.

4. The thermostat of claim 2, wherein an exterior surface of the lens matches a contour of an exterior surface the circular cover.

5. The thermostat according to claim 4, wherein a color of the lens substantially matches the colored portion of the circular cover.

6. The thermostat of claim 2, wherein the PIR sensor is located within the thermostat on an axis that perpendicularly intersects the central axis.

7. The thermostat of claim 2, the thermostat further comprising:

a wall-mountable back plate configured to detachably couple to the frustum-shaped shell body so as to provide electrical power to the processing system and the dot-matrix color display element, the back plate comprising;

the plurality of HVAC wire terminals configured to receive the plurality of HVAC wires;

labels associated with the wire connectors to aid thermostat installation; and

a bubble level to aid level wall mounting of the thermostat.

8. The thermostat according to claim 2, wherein the dot-matrix color display presents a numerical value representative of the user-selected setpoint temperature at a location along a vertical axis that perpendicularly intersects the central axis and extends vertically in a direction parallel to the wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted.

9. The thermostat of claim 2, wherein the circular rotatable ring rotatably slides about the frame of the thermostat, wherein a corresponding bearing surface of the frame is greased or otherwise lubricated to dampen the rotational movement of the circular rotatable ring.

10. The thermostat of claim 2, the outside surface of the sidewall having a metallic appearing finish, the sidewall increasing in diameter along the central axis from the first end of the frustum-shaped shell body to the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body such that an acute angle is formed exterior to the thermostat between the outside surface of the sidewall and the wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted, whereby a naturally blending visual appearance of the thermostat with the wall is promoted by virtue of the frustum-shaped shell body, the metallic-appearing finish, and the acute angle when the thermostat is mounted to the wall.

11. A thermostat configured to be wall mounted, comprising:

a frustum-shaped shell body having a circular cross-section and a central axis generally perpendicular to a wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the frustum-shaped shell body including a sidewall that extends along a length the central axis between first and second ends of the frustum-shaped shell body, the first end of the frustum-shaped shell body being wall-facing when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body being user-facing when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the first end of the frustum-shaped shell body having a first diameter and the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body having a second, larger diameter;

a circular rotatable ring mounted proximate the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body, the circular rotatable ring comprising an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to the wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the circular rotatable ring being user rotatable about the axis of rotation;

a circular cover mounted proximate the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body, the circular cover comprising a central axis generally perpendicular to the wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the circular cover comprising a clear circular center portion surrounded by a colored outer portion;

at least one temperature sensor for use in sensing an ambient air temperature;

a passive infrared (PIR) sensor that senses infrared radiation to detect a proximal user presence, the PIR sensor being located between the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body and the circular cover, and the PIR sensor being user-facing when the thermostat is wall-mounted;

a plurality of HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) wire terminals configured to receive a plurality of HVAC wires;

a dot-matrix color display element mounted at a location between the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body and the circular cover, the dot-matrix color display element and the circular cover do not rotate when the circular rotatable ring is rotated and the thermostat is wall-mounted;

an audio output device to output sound; and

a processing system provided in operative communication with the plurality of HVAC wire terminals, the circular rotatable ring, the non-circular dot-matrix color display element, the PIR sensor, and the at least one temperature sensor, the processing system configured to;

in response to receiving a signal from the PIR sensor indicative of the proximal user presence, activate the dot-matrix color display element;

cause the non-circular dot-matrix color display element to display a numerical value representative of a temperature value;

cause the audio-output device to output synthesized audible ticks in correspondence with user rotation of the circular rotatable ring;

determine a user-selected temperature value based on the user rotation of the circular rotatable ring; and

send a control signal to the HVAC system via at least one of the HVAC wire terminals based at least in part on a comparison of the user-selected temperature value and the sensed ambient temperature;

and wherein the dot-matrix color display element is non-circular and the clear circular center portion of the circular cover permits a circular portion of the non-circular dot-matrix color display element to be visible through the circular cover; and

the colored outer portion of the circular cover masks a remaining portion of the non-circular dot-matrix color display element so as to create a circular graphical user interface.

12. The thermostat of claim 11, the thermostat further comprising:

a lens through which the PIR sensor receives the infrared radiation, wherein an exterior surface of the lens matches a contour of an exterior surface the circular cover.

13. The thermostat according to claim 12, wherein a color of the lens substantially matches the colored portion of the circular cover.

14. The thermostat of claim 11, wherein the PIR sensor is located within the thermostat on a vertical axis that perpendicularly intersects the central axis and the vertical axis extends vertically when the thermostat is wall-mounted.

15. The thermostat of claim 11, the thermostat further comprising:

a wall-mountable back plate configured to detachably couple to the frustum-shaped shell body so as to provide electrical power to the processing system and the dot-matrix color display element, the back plate comprising;

the plurality of HVAC wire terminals configured to receive the plurality of HVAC wires;

labels associated with the wire connectors to aid thermostat installation; and

a bubble level to aid level wall mounting.

16. In a thermostat for controlling an HVAC system, a method for interacting with a user of the thermostat, the method comprising:

detecting infrared radiation by a PIR sensor of the thermostat, the infrared radiation being indicative of a proximal user presence;

based on the detected infrared radiation by the PIR sensor of the thermostat, activating, by a processing system of the thermostat, a dot-matrix color display element, wherein;

the thermostat comprises a frustum-shaped shell body having a circular cross-section and a central axis generally perpendicular to a wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the frustum-shaped shell body including a sidewall that extends along a length the central axis between first and second ends of the frustum-shaped shell body, the first end of the frustum-shaped shell body being wall-facing when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body being user-facing when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the first end of the frustum-shaped shell body having a first diameter and the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body having a second, larger diameter; and

the dot-matrix color display element is mounted at a location between the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body and a circular cover of the thermostat, the dot-matrix color display element and the circular cover do not rotate when the circular rotatable ring is rotated and the thermostat is wall-mounted;

causing, by the processing system, the dot-matrix color display element to display a numerical value representative of a temperature value;

causing, by the processing system, an audio-output device of the thermostat, to output synthesized audible ticks in correspondence with user rotation of the circular rotatable ring;

determining, by the processing system, a user-selected temperature value based on user rotation of a circular rotatable ring, the circular rotatable ring being mounted proximate the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body, the circular rotatable ring comprising an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to the wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the circular rotatable ring being user rotatable about the axis of rotation;

determining, by the processing system, an ambient temperature based on at least one ambient temperature measurement from at least one ambient temperature sensor of the thermostat; and

sending, by the processing system, a control signal to the HVAC system via at least one wire terminal of a plurality of HVAC wire terminals based at least in part on a comparison of the user-selected temperature value and the determined ambient temperature, wherein the plurality of HVAC wire terminals are configured to receive a plurality of HVAC wires.

17. The method for interacting with the user of the thermostat of claim 16, wherein the user presence is detected using infrared radiation received by the PIR sensor through a lens, wherein an exterior surface of the lens matches a contour and a color of an exterior surface the circular cover.

18. The method for interacting with the user of the thermostat of claim 16, wherein the PIR sensor is located within the thermostat on an axis that perpendicularly intersects the central axis.

19. The method for interacting with the user of the thermostat of claim 16, further comprising:

coupling the frustum-shaped shell body with a wall-mountable black plate configured to detachably couple with the frustum-shaped shell body so as to provide electrical power to the processing system and the dot-matrix color display.

20. The method for interacting with the user of the thermostat of claim 16, further comprising dampening rotation of the circular rotatable ring that rotatably slides about the frame of the thermostat, such dampening being caused by a bearing surface of the frame that is greased or otherwise lubricated to dampen the rotational movement of the circular rotatable ring.