User interface for special purpose controller

Abstract

A temperature controller for controlling the temperature of an inside space that is serviced by one or more pieces of HVAC equipment. The temperature controller may include a controller having a control algorithm for controlling one or more pieces of HVAC equipment as well as a user interface that may be configured to display a hierarchical menu structure and to permit a user to traverse the menu structure. The user interface may be configured to display breadcrumbs that provide an indication to the user of the current location within a hierarchical menu structure, and in some cases, provide instructional information in a designated or common display area that helps instruct the user in using a particular menu or menu option. These and other features may help make the special purpose controller more intuitive to set up, program and operate.

1 . A temperature controller, comprising:
 a controller having a control algorithm for controlling one or more pieces of HVAC equipment remote from the temperature controller;   a user interface coupled to the controller, the user interface having a display and a number of buttons that are separate from the display, the number of buttons positioned in a button region that is located below the display, the number of buttons including:   an up button and a down button;   a back button and a next button;   a program menu button for initiating a programming mode, the controller displaying a hierarchical menu structure in the programming mode, wherein the hierarchical menu structure is traversed using the up button, the down button, the next button and the back button, the hierarchical menu structure includes a number of menus, wherein in the programming mode, at least some of the menus include a first label for labeling the current active menu on the display, and one or more second labels each for labeling a currently available sub-menu;   a home button for causing the controller to display a home page on the display;   the home button and the program menu button positioned in the button region below the display;   the up button positioned above the down button;   the next button positioned to the right of the back button;   the next button positioned to the right of the up button and down button; and   the back button positioned to the left of the up button and the down button.   
   
   
       2 . The temperature controller of  claim 1 , wherein in the programming mode, one or more of the menus query a user to enter a value, and wherein one or more of the up button, down button, next button and back button are used to enter the value. 
   
   
       3 . The temperature controller of  claim 1 , wherein in the programming mode, one or more of the menus query a user to select a value from a list of values, and wherein one or more of the up button, down button, next button and back button are used to select the value from the list of values. 
   
   
       4 . The temperature controller of  claim 1 , wherein the current active menu includes a first indicator associated with the first label for indicating that a menu immediately above the current active menu can be activated by depressing the back button. 
   
   
       5 . The temperature controller of  claim 4 , wherein a desired one of the one or more second labels can be selected by using the up button and/or down button, and wherein the current active menu includes a second indicator associated with a selected one of the one or more second labels for indicating that a corresponding sub-menu may be activated by depressing the next button. 
   
   
       6 . The temperature controller of  claim 5 , wherein the first label resembles a left pointing arrow. 
   
   
       7 . The temperature controller of  claim 6 , wherein the second label resembles a right pointing arrow. 
   
   
       8 . The temperature controller of  claim 1 , wherein the control algorithm has a number of programmable control parameters, and wherein the home page displays a value of one or more of the control parameters. 
   
   
       9 . The temperature controller of  claim 8 , wherein one of the number of programmable control parameters includes a set point, and wherein the home page displays a value of the set point. 
   
   
       10 . The temperature controller of  claim 1 , wherein the control algorithm accepts one or more sensor input values, and wherein the home page displays a value of one or more of the sensor input values. 
   
   
       11 . The temperature controller of  claim 1 , wherein the control algorithm provides one or more control outputs, and wherein the home page displays a value of one or more of the control outputs. 
   
   
       12 . The temperature controller of  claim 1 , wherein the up button, the down button, the next button and the back button are collectively laterally centered in the button region. 
   
   
       13 . The temperature controller of  claim 1 , wherein the home button is positioned in the upper left of the button region. 
   
   
       14 . The temperature controller of  claim 1 , wherein the program menu button is positioned in the upper right of the button region. 
   
   
       15 . A temperature controller, comprising:
 a controller having a control algorithm for controlling one or more pieces of HVAC equipment remote from the temperature controller;   a user interface coupled to the controller, the user interface having a display and a number of buttons that are separate from the display, the number of buttons positioned in a button region that is located below the display, the number of buttons including:   an up button and a down button;   a back button and a next button;   a program menu button for initiating a programming mode, the controller displaying a hierarchical menu structure in the programming mode, wherein the hierarchical menu structure is traversed using the up button, the down button, the next button and the back button;   a home button for causing the controller to display a home page on the display;   the home button and the program menu button positioned in the button region below the display;   the up button positioned above the down button;   the next button positioned to the right of the back button;   the next button positioned to the right of the up button and down button;   the back button positioned to the left of the up button and the down button;   wherein the hierarchical menu structure includes a number of menus, and wherein in the programming mode, at least some of the menus include a first label for labeling the current active menu on the display, and one or more second labels each for labeling a currently available sub-menu;   wherein in the programming mode, one or more of the menus query a user to enter a value, and wherein one or more of the up button, down button, next button and back button are used to enter the value; and   wherein in the programming mode, one or more of the menus query a user to select a value from a list of values, and wherein one or more of the up button, down button, next button and back button are used to select the value from the list of values.   
   
   
       16 . The temperature controller of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a housing having a front, a back, and side walls extending between the front and back, the front of the housing have a height dimension and a width dimension, wherein the height dimension of the front of the housing is at least twice as large as a width dimension.   
   
   
       17 . The temperature controller of  claim 16 , wherein the display has a height dimension and a width dimension, wherein the height dimension of the display is at least 1.5 times as large as a width dimension of the display 
   
   
       18 . The temperature controller of  claim 15 , wherein the height dimension of the front of the housing is at least three times as large as a width dimension 
   
   
       19 . The temperature controller of  claim 16 , wherein the up button, down button, back button, next button, program menu button and home button are the only buttons on a front of the thermostat. 
   
   
       20 . A thermostat, comprising:
 a housing having a front, a back, and side walls extending between the front and back, the front of the housing have a height dimension and a width dimension, wherein the height dimension of the front of the housing is at least twice as large as a width dimension;   a display on the front of the housing, the display further having a height dimension and a width dimension, wherein the height dimension of the display is at least 1.5 times as large as a width dimension of the display;   a button region on the front of the housing positioned below the display, the button region including:   an up button and a down button;   a back button and a next button;   a program menu button for initiating a programming mode of the temperature controller, the temperature controller displaying a hierarchical menu structure in the programming mode, wherein the hierarchical menu structure is traversed using the up button, the down button, the next button and the back button; and   a home button for causing a home page to be displayed on the display.