# US 10,769,735 B2 · Thermostat with user interface features > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,769,735 B2 - Document ID: US10769735B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/260,299 - Filed: 2016-09-08 - Published: 2017-03-16 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-11 - Assignees: Johnson Controls Technology Company - Applicants: Johnson Controls Technology Company - Inventors: Jedidiah O. Bentz; Brian D. Rigg; Theresa N. Gillette; Tom R. Tasker; Tyler McCune; John W. Uerkvitz; Shaun B. Atchison; Daniel S. Middleton; Aneek Muhammad Noor - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10769735B2 ## CPC - G06Q 50/06: Energy or water supply - F24F 1/0003: characterised by a split arrangement, wherein parts of the air-conditioning system, e.g. evaporator and condenser, are in separately located units - F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring - F24F 11/38: Failure diagnosis - F24F 11/46: Improving electric energy efficiency or saving - F24F 11/523: for displaying temperature data - F24F 11/58: using Internet communication - F24F 11/64: using pre-stored data - F24F 11/84: using valves - F24F 11/88: Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits - G05B 15/02: electric - G05B 19/042: using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence) - G06F 3/017: {Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883)} - 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 - G06F 3/04845: for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour - G06F 3/04847: Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials - G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures - G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text - 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 - G06F 3/167: {Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback} - G06Q 20/102: {Bill distribution or payments} - G06Q 20/127: {Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation} - G06Q 20/145: {Payments according to the detected use or quantity} - G06V 40/10: Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands - G06V 40/172: {Classification, e.g. identification} - G07F 17/0014: {for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 (meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00)} - H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication - F24F 2110/10: Temperature - F24F 2120/00: Control inputs relating to users or occupants - F24F 2120/10: Occupancy - G05B 2219/2642: Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house - G06F 3/04817: using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) - G06F 3/0484: for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range - G06F 2203/0383: Remote input, i.e. interface arrangements in which the signals generated by a pointing device are transmitted to a PC at a remote location, e.g. to a PC in a LAN - G06F 2203/04803: Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas - G06Q 10/40: Business processes related to social networking or social networking services - G10L 17/08: Use of distortion metrics or a particular distance between probe pattern and reference templates - H04B 5/20: characterised by the transmission technique; characterised by the transmission medium - H04L 12/2816: {Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities (arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00)} - H04L 51/52: for supporting social networking services - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - G10L: SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A thermostat for a building space includes an electronic display, a frame, a touch sensitive interface, and a processing circuit. The touch-sensitive interface has a first portion that overlays the electronic display and a second portion that overlays the frame. The touch-sensitive interface is configured to receive touch-based input via both the first portion and the second portion. The processing circuit is configured to define one or more locations within the second portion that correspond to touch-sensitive buttons. The locations of the touch-sensitive buttons are customizable and can be changed by a user. The thermostat further including at least one of a sticker and a skin that covers at least part of the second portion and visually marks the locations of the touch-sensitive buttons. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermostat for a building space, the thermostat comprising: an electronic display; a frame; a touch-sensitive interface having a first portion that overlays the electronic display and a second portion that overlays the frame, wherein the touch-sensitive interface is configured to receive touch-based input via both the first portion and the second portion; and a processing circuit configured to: operate, based on a first predefined configuration while the thermostat is oriented in a particular orientation, one or more first areas of the second portion as one or more touch-sensitive temperature selection buttons, wherein the first predefined configuration comprises a first indication to operate the one or more first areas as the one or more touch-sensitive temperature selection buttons; receive a user selection of a second predefined configuration while the thermostat is oriented in the particular orientation, wherein the second predefined configuration comprises a second indication to operate one or more second areas of the second portion as the one or more touch-sensitive temperature selection buttons, wherein the one or more second areas are different than the one or more first areas; and operate, based on the second predefined configuration while the thermostat is oriented in the particular orientation, the one or more second areas of the second portion as the one or more touch-sensitive temperature selection buttons instead of the one or more first areas in response to a reception of the user selection. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising a skin that covers at least part of the second portion and visually marks locations of the one or more touch-sensitive temperature selection buttons. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The thermostat of claim 2, wherein the user selection is received from at least one of a web-based application or a mobile application, wherein the web-based application and the mobile application are communicatively coupled to the processing circuit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The thermostat of claim 3, wherein a circuit implementing at least one of the web-based application or the mobile application is configured to generate, via the web-based application or the mobile application, a digital file comprising a design for the skin that marks the locations of the one or more touch-sensitive temperature selection buttons. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The thermostat of claim 2, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to generate a digital file comprising a design of the skin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to associate the touch-based input to the one or more first areas or the one or more second areas when the one or more touch-sensitive temperature selection buttons receive the touch-based input. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the second portion, via the one or more touch-sensitive temperature selection buttons, is configured to receive at least one of a direct touch or a touch movement. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The thermostat of claim 7, wherein the touch movement comprises at least one of: a swipe up; a swipe down; a swipe right; or a swipe left. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The thermostat of claim 2, wherein the skin comprises symbols, wherein at least some of the symbols mark the locations of the one or more touch-sensitive temperature selection buttons, the symbols comprising at least one of: a button symbol; a user defined symbol; and a manufacturer defined logo. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is configured to: receive the first configuration and the second configuration, wherein the first configuration and the second configuration are configurations of a home screen of the thermostat configured to display an ambient temperature of the building space, the first configuration defined based on first input of a user of the thermostat and the second configuration defined based on second input of the user; and store the first configuration and the second configuration in a memory device of the thermostat. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is configured to: receive a first selection of a first area of the second portion for a first touch-sensitive temperature selection button from the user; receive a second selection of a second area of the second portion for a second touch-sensitive temperature selection button from the user; generate a custom configuration based on the first selection of the first area and the second selection of the second area; receive a custom configuration selection of the custom configuration from the user; and operate the first area as the first touch-sensitive temperature selection button and the second area as the second touch-sensitive temperatures selection button in response to receiving the custom configuration selection of the custom configuration. ### Claim 12 A method for sensing touch-based input with a thermostat, the method comprising: receiving touch-based input via both a first portion of a touch-sensitive interface and a second portion of the touch-sensitive interface while the thermostat is oriented in a particular orientation, wherein the first portion overlays an electronic display of the touch-sensitive interface and the second portion overlays a frame of the touch-sensitive interface; operating, based on a first predefined configuration, one or more first areas of the second portion as one or more touch-sensitive temperature selection buttons while the thermostat is oriented in the particular orientation, wherein the first predefined configuration comprises a first indication to operate the one or more first areas as the one or more touch-sensitive temperature selection buttons; receiving a user selection of a second predefined configuration while the thermostat is oriented in the particular orientation, wherein the second predefined configuration comprises a second indication to operate one or more second areas of the second portion as the one or more touch-sensitive temperature selection buttons, wherein the one or more second areas are different than the one or more first areas; and operating, based on the second predefined configuration while the thermostat is oriented in the particular orientation, the one or more second areas of the second portion as the one or more touch-sensitive temperature selection buttons instead of the one or more first areas in response to a reception of the user selection. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein receiving the user selection comprises at least one of: receiving the user selection from the touch-sensitive interface; receiving the user selection from a mobile application; and receiving the user selection from a web-based application. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein receiving the touch-based input via the second portion of the touch-sensitive interface comprises associating the touch-based input to the one or more touch-sensitive temperature selection buttons. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the second portion, via the one or more touch-sensitive temperature selection buttons, is configured to detect at least one of a direct touch and a touch movement. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises detecting a touch movement, the touch movement comprising at least one of: a swipe up; a swipe down; a swipe right; or a swipe left. ### Claim 17 A thermostat for a building space, the thermostat comprising: an electronic display; a frame; a touch-sensitive interface having a first portion that overlays the electronic display and a second portion that overlays the frame, wherein the touch-sensitive interface is configured to receive touch-based input via both the first portion and the second portion; a skin that covers at least part of the second portion and visually marks one or more first areas of the second portion as one or more touch-sensitive temperature selection buttons; and a processing circuit configured to: operate, based on a first predefined configuration, the one or more first areas of the second portion as the one or more touch-sensitive temperature selection buttons while the thermostat is oriented in a particular orientation, wherein the first predefined configuration comprises a first indication to operate the one or more first areas as the one or more touch-sensitive temperature selection buttons; receive a user selection of a second predefined configuration while the thermostat is oriented in the particular orientation, wherein the second predefined configuration comprises a second indication to operate one or more second areas of the second portion as the one or more touch-sensitive temperature selection buttons, wherein the one or more second areas are different than the one or more first areas; and operate, based on the second predefined configuration while the thermostat is oriented in the particular orientation, the one or more second areas of the second portion as the one or more touch-sensitive temperature selection buttons instead of the one or more first areas in response to a reception of the user selection, wherein the processing circuit is configured to operate the one or more second areas by detecting at least one of a direct touch or a touch movement based on user input provided via the second portion of the touch-sensitive interface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The thermostat of claim 17, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to associate the touch-based input of the one or more first areas or the one or more second areas to the one or more touch-sensitive temperature selection buttons. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The thermostat of claim 17, wherein the touch movement comprises at least one of: a swipe up; a swipe down; a swipe right; or a swipe left. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The thermostat of claim 17, wherein the processing circuit is configured to receive the user selection from at least one of: the touch-sensitive interface; a mobile application; or a web-based application. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The thermostat of claim 20, wherein a circuit associated with at least one of the web-based application or the mobile application is configured to generate, via at least one of the web-based application or the mobile application, a digital file comprising a design for the skin. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The thermostat of claim 17, wherein the skin comprises symbols, wherein at least some of the symbols visually mark the one or more first areas associated with the one or more touch-sensitive temperature selection buttons, wherein the symbols comprise at least one of: a button symbol; a user defined symbol; and a manufacturer defined logo.