Next generation touchless building controls

Abstract

A control device for a conditioned space includes a first face and a second face. The first face is configured to be mounted on a surface at a height accessible by a user. The second face has a display. A first axis normal to the display is angularly offset by an angular amount from a second axis normal to the surface. The first axis normal to the display is substantially parallel with a line of sight associated with the user at an access distance from the control device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A control device for a conditioned space, the control device comprising:
 a first face configured to be mounted on a surface at a height accessible by a user;   a second face having a display; and   wherein a first axis normal to the display is angularly offset by an angular amount from a second axis normal to the surface, and wherein the first axis normal to the display is substantially parallel with a line of sight associated with the user at an access distance from the control device.   
     
     
         2 . The control device of  claim 1 , wherein the angular amount is greater than or equal to 15 degrees and less than or equal to 45 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The control device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sensor configured to detect an identifier associated with the user; and   a processing circuit in communication with the sensor, and the display, and heating, ventilating or air conditioning (HVAC) equipment.   
     
     
         4 . The control device of  claim 3 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to:
 detect the identifier associated with the user with the sensor;   compare the identifier to a list of authorized identifiers to selectively provide access; and   receive an input from the user based on the identifier associated with the user, wherein the input is associated with the conditioned space.   
     
     
         5 . The control device of  claim 4 , further comprising a second sensor in communication with the processing circuit, the second sensor configured to detect a motion of the user within a detectable range associated with the second sensor, wherein the processing circuit is configured to selectively receive the input from the second sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The control device of  claim 5 , further comprising a light emitting device in communication with the processing circuit and configured to emit light toward a perimeter of the first face. 
     
     
         7 . The control device of  claim 4 , wherein the processing circuit selectively receives the input from a user device, wherein the user device is wirelessly connected to the processing circuit. 
     
     
         8 . The control device of  claim 4 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to output an access code on the display prior to selectively receiving the input from the user. 
     
     
         9 . The control device of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect a presence of the user, wherein a third face is associated with the sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The control device of  claim 1 , wherein the display is an electrophoretic display. 
     
     
         11 . The control device of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect a motion of the user, the sensor in communication with a processing circuit, wherein the processing circuit is in communication with the display and the sensor, wherein the processing circuit is configured to receive an input from the sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The control device of  claim 11 , further comprising a light emitting device, wherein the light emitting device is configured to emit a visible light on the surface. 
     
     
         13 . A user interface system for controlling a conditioned space, the user interface system comprising:
 a first display being angularly offset by a first angular amount from a mounting surface;   a first sensor configured to identify a first user within a first detectable range associated with the first sensor;   a second sensor configured to detect a first motion of the first user within a second detectable range associated with the second sensor; and   a first processing circuit in communication with the first display, and the first sensor, the second sensor, the first processing circuit configured to:
 identify the first user within the first detectable range associated with the first sensor; 
 selectively receive a first input from the first user by at least one of the second sensor and a user device, wherein the user device is configured to be wirelessly connected to the first processing circuit; and 
 transmit the first input to a HVAC system. 
   
     
     
         14 . The user interface system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a second display being angularly offset by a second angular amount from a second mounting surface;   a third sensor configured to identify a second user within a third detectable range associated with the third sensor;   a second processing circuit communicably coupled to the second display and the third sensor, the second processing circuit configured to:
 identify the second user within the third detectable range associated with the third sensor; 
 selectively receive a second input from the second user from a second user device associated with the second user based on an identifier of the second user, wherein the second user device is wirelessly connected to the second processing circuit; and 
   wherein the first processing circuit is in communication with the second processing circuit, the first processing circuit configured to receive the second input from the second processing circuit, wherein the first processing circuit is configured to transmit the second input to the HVAC system.   
     
     
         15 . The user interface system of  claim 13 , wherein the first angular amount is between 5 degrees and 90 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . The user interface system of  claim 13 , further comprising a third sensor configured to detect a user within a third detectable range associated with the third sensor, wherein the first processing circuit is further configured to update the first display upon the third sensor detecting the user. 
     
     
         17 . A method for adjusting a characteristic of a conditioned space, the method comprising:
 identifying a user based on a first sensor configured to detect an identifier associated with the user;   determining a user authorization based on the identifier associated with the user;   displaying information on a display being angularly offset by an angular amount from a mounting surface;   receiving a user input; and   commanding a HVAC equipment based on the user input to adjust the characteristic of the conditioned space.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein determining a user authorization further comprises loading a user profile based on the identifier associated with the user. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the receiving a user input further comprises the user input generated by a third sensor configured to detect a touchless motion of the user. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the receiving a user input further comprises the user input received by a user device.