Graphical user interface system for a thermal comfort controller

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.

1 . A method for displaying information on a programmable thermostat that is adapted to sense a temperature at the location of the programmable thermostat and to control an HVAC system in accordance with two or more scheduled set points, the programmable thermostat having a touch screen display, a temperature sensor, and a memory, wherein the memory stores the two or more schedule set points, and wherein each schedule set point associates a time value and a corresponding temperature value, the method comprising the steps of:
 retrieving two or more of the schedule set points from the memory; and   simultaneously displaying two or more of the retrieved schedule set points as a listing of set points on the touch screen display.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the listing of set points displayed on the touch screen display includes the corresponding temperature value for each of the displayed schedule set points. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the corresponding temperature values are displayed in a numerical format. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the listing of set points displayed on the touch screen display includes the time value for each of the displayed schedule set points. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the time values are displayed in a numerical format. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the listing of set points displayed on the touch screen display includes the time value and the corresponding temperature value for each of the displayed schedule set points. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the time values and the corresponding temperature values are displayed in a numerical format. 
   
   
       8 . A method for displaying information on a programmable thermostat that is adapted to sense a temperature at the location of the programmable thermostat and to control an HVAC system in accordance with two or more scheduled set points, the programmable thermostat having a touch screen display, a temperature sensor, and a memory, wherein the memory stores the two or more schedule set points, and wherein each schedule set point includes a time value and a corresponding temperature value, the method comprising the steps of:
 retrieving two or more schedule set points from the memory; and   simultaneously displaying two or more retrieved schedule set points on the touch screen display, wherein for each retrieved schedule set point, the time value and the corresponding temperature value are displayed, wherein at least the temperature value is displayed in a numerical format.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the time value is also displayed in a numerical format. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the two or more retrieved schedule set points are displayed as a listing of set points. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 allowing the user to modify one or more of the schedule set points through user interaction with the touch screen display; and   storing any modified schedule set point to the memory.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising the steps of:
 receiving a sensed temperature from the temperature sensor of the thermostat; and   displaying a measure of the received sensed temperature on the touch screen display in a numerical format.   
   
   
       13 . A programmable thermostat having two or more schedule set points, where each schedule set point includes a time value and a corresponding temperature value, the programmable thermostat comprising:
 a touch screen display;   a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature at the location of the programmable thermostat;   a memory for storing the two or more schedule set points;   a controller coupled to the memory, the touch screen display and the temperature sensor, the controller configured to retrieve two or more of the schedule set points from the memory, and to simultaneously display two or more of the retrieved schedule set points as a listing of set points on the touch screen display.   the controller further configured to allow a user to change one or more of the schedule set points through user interaction with the touch screen display; and   the controller further adapted to display a measure of the sensed temperature on the touch screen display.   
   
   
       14 . The programmable thermostat of  claim 13 , wherein the listing of set points displayed on the touch screen display includes the corresponding temperature value for each of the displayed schedule set points. 
   
   
       15 . The programmable thermostat of  claim 14  wherein the corresponding temperature values are displayed in a numerical format. 
   
   
       16 . The programmable thermostat of  claim 13 , wherein the listing of set points displayed on the touch screen display includes the time value for each of the displayed schedule set points. 
   
   
       17 . The programmable thermostat of  claim 16  wherein the time values are displayed in a numerical format. 
   
   
       18 . The programmable thermostat of  claim 13 , wherein the listing of set points displayed on the touch screen display includes the time values and the corresponding temperature values for each of the displayed schedule set points. 
   
   
       19 . The programmable thermostat of  claim 18  wherein the time values and the corresponding temperature values are displayed in a numerical format. 
   
   
       20 . The programmable thermostat of  claim 13  wherein the controller is configured to retrieve three or more of the schedule set points from the memory, and simultaneously display three or more of the retrieved schedule set points as a listing of set points on the touch screen display.