Programmable thermostat incorporating a display screen selectively presenting system modes that includes a simple mode
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A programmable thermostat system for controlling space conditioning equipment comprising:
- A) at least one environmental condition sensor providing an electrical signal indicative of the ambient temperature of a conditioned space in which said environmental condition sensor is situated;
B) a transparent touch pad juxtaposed with a liquid crystal display to constitute a touch screen for interactive interface with a user;
C) a processor, said processor including;
1) a central processing unit;
2) a real time clock;
3) a memory coupled to said central processing unit for storing program and data information; and
4) an input/output unit coupled between said processor and said touch screen for carrying out information transfer therebetween, said input/output unit further including;
a) a sensor input coupled to each said environmental condition sensors for receiving said electrical signal therefrom; and
b) a control output coupled to the space conditioning equipment for issuing control signals thereto; and
D) a control program stored in said memory for causing said central processing unit to communicate through said input/output unit to selectively;
1) establish on said liquid crystal display a first representation produced by a first mode comprising a plurality of virtual buttons for detecting user input that controls operation of one or more components of space conditioning equipment and a plurality of items of information or graphics on the liquid crystal display;
2) detect the occurrence of first condition which causes a change from operation of the first mode to operation of a simple mode in the control program; and
3) activate the simple mode and display on said liquid crystal display a simple representation produced by the simple mode comprising fewer virtual buttons and items of information or graphics than displayed in the first mode.
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Abstract
A programmable thermostat, with a touch screen liquid crystal display having the capability to change from a more complex first mode display to a simple mode display for users with adaptive, learning or visual impairments that limit their ability to use the relatively complicated user interfaces of prior art programmable thermostats.
204 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A programmable thermostat system for controlling space conditioning equipment comprising:
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A) at least one environmental condition sensor providing an electrical signal indicative of the ambient temperature of a conditioned space in which said environmental condition sensor is situated; B) a transparent touch pad juxtaposed with a liquid crystal display to constitute a touch screen for interactive interface with a user; C) a processor, said processor including; 1) a central processing unit; 2) a real time clock; 3) a memory coupled to said central processing unit for storing program and data information; and 4) an input/output unit coupled between said processor and said touch screen for carrying out information transfer therebetween, said input/output unit further including; a) a sensor input coupled to each said environmental condition sensors for receiving said electrical signal therefrom; and b) a control output coupled to the space conditioning equipment for issuing control signals thereto; and D) a control program stored in said memory for causing said central processing unit to communicate through said input/output unit to selectively; 1) establish on said liquid crystal display a first representation produced by a first mode comprising a plurality of virtual buttons for detecting user input that controls operation of one or more components of space conditioning equipment and a plurality of items of information or graphics on the liquid crystal display; 2) detect the occurrence of first condition which causes a change from operation of the first mode to operation of a simple mode in the control program; and 3) activate the simple mode and display on said liquid crystal display a simple representation produced by the simple mode comprising fewer virtual buttons and items of information or graphics than displayed in the first mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A programmable thermostat system for controlling space conditioning equipment comprising:
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A) at least one environmental condition sensor providing an electrical signal indicative of the ambient temperature of a conditioned space in which said environmental condition sensor is situated; B) a transparent touch pad juxtaposed with a liquid crystal display to constitute a touch screen for interactive interface with a user; C) a processor, said processor including; 1) a central processing unit; 2) a real time clock; 3) a memory coupled to said central processing unit for storing program and data information; and 4) an input/output unit coupled between said processor and said touch screen for carrying out information transfer therebetween, said input/output unit further including; a) a sensor input coupled to each said environmental condition sensors for receiving said electrical signal therefrom; and b) a control output coupled to the space conditioning equipment for issuing control signals thereto; and D) a control program stored in said memory for causing said central processing unit to communicate through said input/output unit to selectively; 1) establish on said liquid crystal display; a) a first representation produced by a first mode comprising a plurality of virtual buttons for detecting user input that controls operation of one or more components of space conditioning equipment and a plurality of items of information or graphics on the liquid crystal display; 2) detect the occurrence of first condition which establishes on the liquid crystal display a second representation comprising a notice to a user to make a first input that will initiate a change from operation of the first mode to operation of a simple mode in the control program; 3) detect the occurrence of the first input, which then causes a change from operation of the first mode to operation of a simple mode in the control program; and 4) activate the simple mode and display on said liquid crystal display a simple representation produced by the simple mode comprising fewer virtual buttons and items of information or graphics than displayed in the first mode. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification