Thermostat user interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9766606-B2
Application number	US-201514702901-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 4, 2015
Priority date	Nov 19, 2010
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

A thermostat for controlling an HVAC system is described, the thermostat having a user interface that is visually pleasing, approachable, and easy to use while also providing ready access to, and intuitive navigation within, a menuing system capable of receiving a variety of different types of user settings and/or control parameters. For some embodiments, the thermostat comprises a housing, a ring-shaped user-interface component configured to track a rotational input motion of a user, a processing system configured to identify a setpoint temperature value based on the tracked rotational input motion, and an electronic display coupled to the processing system. An interactive thermostat menuing system is accessible to the user by an inward pressing of the ring-shaped user interface component. User navigation within the interactive thermostat menuing system is achievable by virtue of respective rotational input motions and inward pressings of the ring-shaped user interface component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A thermostat comprising:
a housing having an electronic display disposed thereon;
a rotatable user-interface component configured to track a rotational input motion of a user;
a processing system disposed within the housing and coupled to the rotatable user interface component and to the electronic display, the processing system being configured to identify a setpoint temperature value based on a tracked rotational input motion, the processing system being further configured to be in operative communication with one or more temperature sensors for receiving an ambient air temperature, the processing system being still further configured to be in operative communication with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to control the HVAC system based at least in part on a comparison of the measured ambient temperature and the setpoint temperature value;
wherein said processing system, said electronic display, and said rotatable user interface component are collectively configured such that each of a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation is provided, said first and second modes of operation being in effect at different times;
wherein, during said first mode of operation, information is displayed on said electronic display that is representative of said setpoint temperature value as identified by said processing system according to said tracked rotational input motion of the user;
wherein, during said second mode of operation, an arrangement of selectable menu items is displayed on said electronic display that are selectable by one or more tracked rotational input motions of the user and one or more user confirmation inputs;
wherein said thermostat further comprises a control system for receiving input from a user of said thermostat; and
wherein said processing system is configured to enter the thermostat into an away occupancy state based on a first input received from the user via said control system, said processing system being further configured to enter the thermostat into an occupied occupancy state responsive to a second input received from the user via said control system.

2. The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein said tracked rotational input motion of the user causes a different selectable menu item to become visually highlighted as said rotatable user interface component is rotated, a user selection of one of said selectable menu items being established by user confirmation input provided by the user while that selectable menu item is visually highlighted.

3. The thermostat of claim 2 , wherein said first input and second input are received via user selection of a corresponding selectable menu item displayed during said second mode of operation.

4. The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein said first input comprises a selection of the away occupancy state.

5. The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein said control system for receiving input from a user is operable with said rotatable user-interface component.

6. The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein said first input and second input received from said user comprises a selection of one of the selectable menu items.

7. The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein graphical information is displayed on said electronic display that is representative of said setpoint temperature.

8. The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein said rotatable user-interface component is further configured to be inwardly pressable in a manner that is detectable by the processing system, and wherein the thermostat is configured to switch from said first mode of operation to said second mode of operation in response to an inward pressing of said rotatable user-interface component applied during said first mode of operation.

9. A thermostat comprising:
a housing having an electronic display disposed thereon;
a rotatable user-interface component configured to track a rotational input motion of a user;
a processing system disposed within the housing and coupled to the rotatable user interface component and to the electronic display, the processing system being configured to identify a setpoint temperature value based on the tracked rotational input motion, the processing system being further configured to be in operative communication with one or more temperature sensors for receiving an ambient air temperature, the processing system being still further configured to be in operative communication with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to control the HVAC system based at least in part on a comparison of the measured ambient temperature and the setpoint temperature value;
wherein said processing system, said electronic display, and said rotatable user interface component are collectively configured such that each of a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation is provided, said first and second modes of operation being in effect at different times, the thermostat being swithable from said first mode of operation to said second mode of operation in response to an inward pressing of said rotatable user-interface component applied during said first mode of operation;
wherein, during said first mode of operation, information is displayed on said electronic display that is representative of said setpoint temperature value as identified by said processing system according to said tracked rotational input motion of the user;
wherein, during said second mode of operation, an arrangement of selectable menu items is displayed on said electronic display that are selectable by one or more tracked rotational input motions of the user and one or more user confirmation inputs;
wherein said thermostat further comprises a control system for receiving input from a user of said thermostat; and
wherein said processing system is configured to enter the thermostat into an away occupancy state based on a first input received from the user via said control system, said processing system being further configured to enter the thermostat into an occupied occupancy state responsive to a second input received from the user via said control system.

10. The thermostat of claim 9 , wherein said first input or second input is received via user selection of a selectable menu item displayed during said second mode of operation.

11. The thermostat of claim 9 , wherein said first input comprises a selection of the away occupancy state.

12. The thermostat of claim 9 , wherein said control system for receiving input from a user is operable with said rotatable user-interface component.

13. The thermostat of claim 9 , wherein said rotatable user-interface component is further configured to be inwardly pressable in a manner that is detectable by the processing system, and wherein the thermostat is configured to switch from said first mode of operation to said second mode of operation in response to an inward pressing of said rotatable user-interface component applied during said first mode of operation.

14. A method for control of an HVAC system by a thermostat, the thermostat comprising a housing, a rotatable user-interface component, a processing system, a control system, and an electronic display, said thermostat having first and second modes of operation that are in effect at different times, the method comprising:
detecting and tracking rotational movements of the rotatable user-interface component to track at least one rotational input motion of a user;
when the thermostat is operating in the first mode of operation:
identifying a setpoint temperature value based on the tracked rotational input motion;
receiving, from one or more temperature sensors, an ambient air temperature;
co

Assignees

• Google Inc

Inventors

• Fadell Anthony Michael
• Rogers Matthew Lee
• Sloo David
• Matas Michael James
• Plitkins Michael

Classifications

• F24F11/56

  Remote control · CPC title

• G06F3/0482

  Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus · CPC title

• G06F3/0362

  with detection of one-dimensional [1D] translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts · CPC title

• F24F11/30

  for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring · CPC title

• F24F2110/10

  Temperature · CPC title