Interactive air vent control interface

Abstract

A moveable graphical user interface object is provided. The moveable graphical user interface object is moveable within a bounded graphical region. A current location of the moveable graphical user interface object in the bounded graphical region corresponds to an indicated direction of concentrated airflow. For example, the moveable graphical user interface object is used to control airflow direction of a HVAC air vent.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 providing a moveable graphical user interface object, wherein the moveable graphical user interface object is moveable within a bounded graphical region, a current location of the moveable graphical user interface object in the bounded graphical region corresponds to an indicated direction of concentrated airflow, and the bounded graphical region includes at least one fixed reference marker identifying at least one location reference;   receiving a user indication that specifies a new location of the moveable graphical user interface object within the bounded graphical region corresponding to a new indicated direction for the concentrated airflow;   determining a climate control mechanical configuration corresponding to the new location; and   implementing the climate control mechanical configuration to redirect the concentrated airflow to the new indicated direction.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fixed reference marker includes a horizontal reference line. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fixed reference marker includes a vertical reference line. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the climate control mechanical configuration includes determining a position of an actuator controlling positions of vanes. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein implementing the climate control mechanical configuration includes adjusting amounts of airflows through a plurality of vents that interact with each other to control a vertical direction of the concentrated airflow. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bounded graphical region includes a visual representation of a reference location of a seat or a person with respect to the current location of the moveable graphical user interface object. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable graphical user interface object is associated with a first set of one or more vents and the method further comprising providing a second moveable graphical user interface object within a second bounded graphical region associated with a second set of one or more air vents. 
     
     
         8 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a user indication that specifies a new location of a moveable graphical user interface object within a bounded graphical region corresponding to a new indicated direction for a concentrated airflow;   determining a climate control mechanical configuration corresponding to the new location; and   implementing the climate control mechanical configuration to redirect the concentrated airflow to the new indicated direction   wherein implementing the climate control mechanical configuration comprises:
 actuating a rotary actuator. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein actuating the rotary actuator comprising rotating a vane about its rotational axis. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein rotating a vane about its rotational axis causes a change in a direction of the concentrated airflow. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein rotating a vane about its rotational axis causes a change in an amount of the concentrate airflow. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein actuating the rotary actuator comprises a single rotary actuator. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the rotary actuator is coupled to a cam member which is couple to at least one set of vanes, wherein actuating the rotary actuator causes the cam member to cause the at least on of a set of vanes to change the concentrated airflow in accordance with the new location. 
     
     
         14 . An air flow control system, the air flow control system comprising:
 a user interface, the user interface comprising;
 a bounded graphical region, the bounded graphical region including at least one fixed reference marker identifying at least one location reference ; 
 a moveable graphical user interface object, wherein the moveable graphical user interface object is moveable within a bounded graphical region,
 wherein a current location of the moveable graphical user interface object in the bounded graphical region corresponds to an indicated direction of concentrated airflow; 
 
 an actuating mechanism configured to redirect the concentrated airflow; 
 at least one set of vanes configured to provide the concentrated airflow; 
 a processor, the processor configured to:
 receive a new location of the moveable graphical user interface object in the bounded graphical region, 
 determine a climate control mechanical configuration corresponding to the new location; and 
 implement the actuating mechanism to redirect the concentrated airflow to climate control mechanical configuration corresponding to the new location. 
 
   
     
     
         15 . The air flow control system of  claim 14  wherein the actuating mechanism comprises a rotary actuator. 
     
     
         16 . The air flow control system of  claim 15 , wherein the rotary actuator is a single rotary actuator. 
     
     
         17 . The air flow control system of  claim 15 , wherein the rotary actuator is coupled to a cam member which is couple to the at least one set of vanes, wherein actuating the rotary actuator causes the cam member to cause the at least one of a set of vanes to change the concentrated airflow in accordance with the new location. 
     
     
         18 . The air flow control system of  claim 15 , wherein the actuating mechanism is configured to rotate a cam member; and wherein the rotation of the cam member is configured to redirect the concentrated airflow. 
     
     
         19 . The air flow control system of  claim 14 , wherein the least one set of vanes comprises a vane rotational axis; and wherein rotating a vane about its rotational axis causes an air change;
 wherein the air change comprises a change in a direction of the concentrated airflow.   
     
     
         20 . The air flow control system of  claim 19 , wherein the air change further comprises a change in an amount of the concentrated airflow.