Rapid programming of thermostat with multiple programming mode conditions
The invention provides for a controller such as a thermostat for an HVAC System comprising a housing having a circuit board and a display screen, the display screen having at least one alpha-numeric icon and a group of input control areas. A microprocessor is provided for control on the display screen. Buttons are pressed in order to program set-points of the thermostat so that seven days may be programed simultaneously. The display includes a seven-day icon so that the user can program the thermostat set-points rapidly (e.g. setting time and temperature settings with minimal steps). The user may activate a first programming mode wherein the activating occurs by depressing a programming-mode button for a first pre-selected duration in order to select a first day for setting the conditioning mode. The user may activate a second programming mode wherein such activating occurs by depressing the programming-mode button for a second pre-selected duration that is longer than the first pre-selected duration in order to select programming for all seven days simultaneously.
1. A method for programming a thermostat comprising the steps of:
providing a thermostat having a display and buttons for controlling at least two modes of the thermostat including a heating mode and a cooling mode and the thermostat capable of controlling the heating and cooling conditioning modes for every day of the week;
activating a first programming mode, wherein such activating occurs by depressing a programming mode button for a first preselected duration in order to select a first day for setting the conditioning mode;
activating a second programming mode, wherein such activating occurs by depressing the programming mode button for a second preselected duration that is longer than the first preselected duration in order to select programming for all seven days for setting the cooling mode for all seven days simultaneously; and
displaying a seven day icon on the display during the conditioning mode selection.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the buttons are mechanical buttons disposed on a housing of the thermostat.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the buttons are touch sensitive areas displayed on a display screen of the thermostat.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the buttons are a combination of a mechanical button and touch sensitive area button.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein:
the mechanical button is a rocker switch.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
selecting the temperature and duration of a fractional day period including one of a morning period, a daytime period, an evening period, a night period, or an occupied period or an unoccupied period.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
selecting a fan setting.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first programming mode is activated by depressing a program button and the program button includes a predetermined time trigger of 3.0 seconds so that pressing the program button for a period of time greater than 3.0 seconds results in activation of a seven day programming mode and pressing the program button for a period of time less than 3.0 seconds results in activation of an individual day programming mode.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the system button and program button are touch sensitive areas on the display screen of the thermostat.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the seven day programming is for setting one of the heating and the cooling modes.
11. A method for programming a thermostat comprising the steps of:
providing a thermostat having a display and buttons for controlling at least two modes of the thermostat and the thermostat capable of controlling the heating and cooling conditioning modes for every day of the week;
activating a first programming mode button having a first pre-selected duration trigger in order to select a first day for setting the conditioning mode;
activating a second programming mode button having a second pre-selected duration trigger that is longer than the first pre-selected duration trigger in order to select programming for all seven days simultaneously.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein:
the buttons are mechanical buttons disposed on a housing of the thermostat.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein:
the buttons are touch sensitive areas displayed on a display screen of the thermostat.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein:
the buttons are a combination of a mechanical button and a touch sensitive area button.
15. The method of claim 11 wherein:
the mechanical button is a rocker switch.
16. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:
selecting the temperature and duration of a fractional day period including one of a morning period, a daytime period, an evening period, a night period, or an occupied period or an unoccupied period.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the conditioning mode includes selection of one of a heating mode, cooling mode, on period, off period, fan period and fan recirculation period.