Interactive user guidance interface for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system

• US 8,694,164 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Grohman, Wojciech, Hadzidedic, Darko
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Booker, Kelvin
• Application Number:
  US12/603,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20100107076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,630 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276, 700/278, 700/297
• US Class Current: 700/276
• 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 11/49 ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks
• 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 11/62 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 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/86 by controlling compressors within refrigeration or heat pump circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/00 Control inputs relating to environmental factors not covered by group F24F2110/00
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/10 Weather information or forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

The disclosure includes systems and methods of use of an HVAC graphical interface dashboard. In various embodiments the dashboard includes a weather tab, wherein invoking the weather tab advances to a weather screen. The dashboard also includes an indoor humidity tab, wherein invoking the indoor humidity tab advances to a humidity screen which displays at least a current indoor humidity. The dashboard further includes an alerts tab, wherein invoking the alerts tab advances to an alerts screen. The dashboard still further includes a help tab, wherein invoking the help tab advances to a help screen that provides context sensitive help that presents at least one dialog box related to a function of a current screen. A programs tab and a home tab are also provided, and a subnet controller informs said dashboard to display a specific screen and instructs it how to fill in data.

Claims

1. An HVAC graphical interface dashboard, comprising:

a weather tab, wherein invoking the weather tab advances to a weather screen;

an indoor humidity tab, wherein invoking the indoor humidity tab advances to a humidity screen which displays at least a current indoor humidity;

an alerts tab, wherein invoking the alerts tab advances to an alerts screen;

a help tab, wherein invoking the help tab advances to a help screen that provides context sensitive help that presents at least one dialog box related to a function of a current screen;

an indoor settings tab, wherein invoking the indoor settings tab advances to an indoor settings screen which includes a current indoor temperature;

a programs tab, wherein invoking the programs tab advances to a programs screen which can program at least one of;

a) a time;

b) temperature setpoints;

c) heating/cooling setpoints; and

a home tab, wherein invoking the home tab advances to a home screen which provides a summary of indoor conditions; and

an installer test tab, wherein invoking the installer test tab advances to an installer screen, wherein said dashboard notifies a subnet controller of a pressing of a button and said subnet controller interprets said button press as one of a a) skip test, b) test passed and c) test failed indication from a user;

wherein said subnet controller informs said dashboard to display a specific screen and instructs said dashboard, by employing instructions, how to fill said specific screen in with data.

2. The dashboard of claim 1, wherein said instructions include a selection of two or more data fields.

3. The dashboard of claim 1, wherein said instructions are directed toward dashboard buttons per screen including at least one of:

a) how many there are; and

b) what a caption is per each button.

4. The dashboard of claim 1, further comprising said subnet controller is coupled to a device and instructs said device to operate.

5. The dashboard of claim 1, wherein said dashboard displays information generated by said device according to said instructions of said subnet controller.

6. A method for operating an HVAC interface dashboard having a plurality of tabs, comprising:

providing a weather tab, wherein invoking the weather tab advances to a weather Screen;

providing an indoor humidity tab, wherein invoking the indoor humidity tab advances to a humidity screen which displays at least a current indoor humidity;

providing an alerts tab, wherein invoking the alerts tab advances to an alerts screen;

providing a help tab, wherein invoking the help tab advances to a help screen that provides context sensitive help that presents at least one dialog box related to a function of a current screen;

providing an indoor settings tab, wherein invoking the indoor settings tab advances to an indoor settings screen which includes a current indoor temperature;

providing a programs tab, wherein invoking the programs tab advances to a programs screen which can program at least one of;

a) time;

b) temperature setpoints;

c) heating/cooling setpoints;

providing a home tab, wherein invoking the home tab advances to a home screen which provides a summary of indoor conditions;

informing said dashboard by a subnet controller to display a specific screen and instructs said dashboard, by employing instructions, how to fill said specific screen in with data; and

providing an installer test tab, wherein invoking the installer test tab advances to an installer screen, wherein said dashboard notifies said subnet controller of a pressing of a button and said subnet controller interprets said button press as one of a a) skip test, b) test passed and c) test failed indication from a user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said dashboard displays information generated by said device according to said instructions of said subnet controller.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said instructions include a selection of two or more data fields.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said instructions are directed toward dashboard buttons per screen including at least one of:

a) how many there are; and

b) what a caption is per each button.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising said subnet controller is coupled to a device and instructs said device to operate.

11. An HVAC system including a graphical interface dashboard and at least one coupled device, comprising:

the dashboard, including;

a weather tab, wherein invoking the weather tab advances to a weather screen;

an indoor humidity tab, wherein invoking the indoor humidity tab advances to a humidity screen which displays at least a current indoor humidity;

an alerts tab, wherein invoking the alerts tab advances to an alerts screen;

a help tab, wherein invoking the help tab advances to a help screen that provides context sensitive help that presents at least one dialog box related to a function of a current screen;

an indoor settings tab, wherein invoking the indoor settings tab advances a user to an indoor settings screen which includes a current indoor temperature;

a programs tab, wherein pressing the programs tab invokes a programs screen which can program at least one of;

i) a time;

ii) temperature setpoints;

iii) heating/cooling setpoints; and

a home tab, wherein invoking the home tab advances a user to a home screen which provides a summary of indoor conditions; and

the at least one coupled device selected from the group including;

a) an air handler;

b) a furnace;

c) an evaporator coil;

d) a condenser coil; and

e) a compressor;

wherein the at least one coupled device is viewable from at least one of the tabs,

wherein a subnet controller informs said dashboard to display a specific screen and instructs said dashboard, by employing instructions, how to fill said specific screen in with data; and

wherein said dashboard further includes an installer test tab, wherein invoking the installer test tab advances to an installer screen and said dashboard notifies said subnet controller of a pressing of a button, wherein said subnet controller interprets said button press as one of a a) skip test, b) test passed, and c) test failed indication from a user.

12. The HVAC system of claim 11, wherein the indoor humidity tab can further be used to set current indoor humidity setpoints.

13. The HVAC system of claim 11, wherein said dashboard displays information generated by said device according to said instructions of said subnet controller.

14. The HVAC system of claim 11, wherein said subnet controller is coupled to a device and instructs said device to operate.

15. The HVAC system dashboard of claim 11, wherein said instructions are directed toward dashboard buttons per screen including at least one of:

a) how many there are; and

b) what a caption is per each button.

16. The HVAC system of claim 11, wherein said instructions include a selection of two or more data fields.