Graphical user interface system for a thermal comfort controller
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorDipak J. Shah
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A graphical user interface system for a thermal comfort controller. The user interface system has a central processing unit coupled to a memory and a touch sensitive display unit. The memory stores a temperature schedule data structure and perhaps a temperature history data structure. The temperature schedule data structure is made up of at least one set-point. The temperature history data structure is made up of at least one Actual-Temperature-Point. The display presents the set-points and/or the Actual-Temperature-Points. One representation of the display is a graphical step-function. The user uses a finger or stylus to program the set-points by pointing and dragging a portion of the step-function.
Claims36
A method for programming a thermal comfort controller with a user interface system having a central processing unit, a memory means for storing a temperature schedule data structure having at least one set-point, where the set-points each associate a desired temperature to a desired time, and a display unit with a touch-sensitive screen, the memory means and the display unit both coupled to the central processing unit, the method comprising:
- displaying at least one set-points on the display unit;
- choosing the at least one set-point from the temperature schedule data structure;
- graphically displaying a clock control on the display unit and simultaneously graphically displaying a temperature control on the display unit;
- entering a set-time for the at least one set-point on the display unit by touching the clock control displayed on the display unit while also displaying the temperature control;
- entering a set-temperature for the at least one set-point on the display unit by touching the temperature control displayed on the display unit while also displaying the clock control;
- and
- updating the at least one set-point in the temperature schedule data structure with the set-time and the set-temperature.
A method for programming a thermal comfort controller with a user interface system having a central processing unit, a memory means for storing a temperature schedule data structure having at least one set-point, where the set-points each associate a desired temperature to a desired time, and a display unit with a touch-sensitive screen, the memory means and the display unit both coupled to the central processing unit, the method comprising:
- displaying at least one set-point including a first set point on the touch sensitive screen of the display unit, wherein the step of displaying the at least one set-point comprises listing a first time and a first temperature associated with the first set point on the touch sensitive screen;
- simultaneously displaying a time control and a temperature control on the touch sensitive screen while a set-time and a set-temperature are entered for the first set-point;
- entering the set-time for the first set-point by touching the time control displayed on the touch sensitive screen;
- entering the set-temperature for the first set-point by touching the temperature control displayed on the touch sensitive screen;
- and
- updating the first set-point in the temperature schedule data structure with the set-time and the set-temperature.
A thermal comfort controller, comprising:
- a memory for storing a temperature schedule data structure having at least one set-point, where the set-points each associate a desired temperature to a desired time;
- a display unit;
- a controller in communication with the display unit and the memory, the controller programmed to:
- graphically display a clock control on the display unit and simultaneously graphically display a temperature control on the display unit;
- accept a set-time input by sensing one or more touches of the clock control on the display unit, wherein the set-time input corresponds to a desired time for at least one set-point;
- accept a set-temperature input by sensing one or more touches of the temperature control on the display, wherein the set-temperature input corresponds to a desired temperature for at least one set-point;
- and
- update the at least one set-point in the temperature schedule data structure with the set-time and the set-temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.