IP Library Granted Patent US 11,739,965
Granted Patent B2
US 11,739,965 · App. 17/108,758 · Granted Aug 29, 2023

Thermostat with segmented display

Inventor: Richard David Friend (Levittown, PA)
Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
F24F11/52F24F11/54F24F11/65G09G3/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,739,965
App. No.
17/108,758
Granted
Aug 29, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A control device for a building includes a segment display. The segment display includes a first character comprising at least seven segments, a second character comprising at least nine segments proximate to the first character, and a connecting character comprising at least two segments located between the first and second character. The control device further includes a processing circuit that, in a first operation, illuminates at least one segment of each of the first character, the second character, and the connecting character to form a first letter and, in a second operation, illuminates at least one segment of each of the first character, the second character, and the connecting character to form a second letter.

Claims (73)

1. A control device for a building, the control device comprising:

a segment display comprising:

a first character comprising at least seven segments;

a second character comprising at least nine segments proximate to the first character; and

a connecting character comprising at least two segments located between the first character and the second character; and

a processing circuit configured to:

in a first operation, illuminate at least one segment of each of the first character, the second character, and the connecting character to form a first letter; and

in a second operation, illuminate at least one segment of each of the first character, the second character, and the connecting character to form a second letter.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein:

the control device is a thermostat, and

illuminating at least one segment of each of the first character, the second character, and the connecting character to form the first letter further comprises illuminating the letter “M.”

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein illuminating at least one segment of each of the first character, the second character, and the connecting character to form the second letter further comprises illuminating the letter “W.”

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein illuminating at least one segment of each of the first character, the second character, and the connecting character to form the first letter further comprises:

illuminating a top segment of the first character;

illuminating a top segment of the second character;

illuminating a top segment of the connecting character; and

illuminating a right segment on the first character or a left segment on the second character.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein illuminating at least one segment of each of the first character, the second character, and the connecting character to form the second letter further comprises:

illuminating a bottom segment of the first character;

illuminating a bottom segment of the second character;

illuminating a top segment of the connecting character; and

illuminating a right segment on the first character or a left segment on the second character.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

receive an error signal indicative of an error within the control device; and

illuminate a plurality of characters to display an error message on the segment display;

wherein at least one of the plurality of characters includes at least nine segments; and

wherein the error message comprises at least one letter “R.”

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the connecting character comprising at least two segments located between the first character and the second character further comprises a first dot segment located above the bottom of the connecting character and a second dot segment located below the top of the connecting character, wherein illuminating the first dot segment and the second dot segment illuminates a colon symbol on a display of the device.

8. A method for displaying information on a control device, the method comprising:

displaying, via a segment display, a first character comprising at least seven segments;

displaying, via the segment display, a second character comprising at least nine segments proximate to the first character;

displaying, via the segment display, a connecting character comprising at least two segments located between the first character and the second character;

illuminating at least one segment of each of the first character, the second character, and the connecting character to form a first letter; and

illuminating at least one segment of each of the first character, the second character, and the connecting character to form a second letter.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein illuminating at least one segment of each of the first character, the second character, and the connecting character to form the first letter further comprises illuminating the letter “M.”

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein illuminating at least one segment of each of the first character, the second character, and the connecting character to form the second letter further comprises illuminating the letter “W.”

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein illuminating at least one segment of each of the first character, the second character, and the connecting character to form the first letter further comprises:

illuminating a top segment of the first character;

illuminating a top segment of the second character;

illuminating a top segment of the connecting character; and

illuminating a right segment on the first character or a left segment on the second character.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein illuminating at least one segment of each of the first character, the second character, and the connecting character to form the second letter further comprises:

illuminating a bottom segment of the first character;

illuminating a bottom segment of the second character;

illuminating a top segment of the connecting character; and

illuminating a right segment on the first character or a left segment on the second character.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving an error signal indicative of an error within the control device; and

illuminating a plurality of characters to display an error message on the segment display;

wherein at least one of the plurality of characters includes at least nine segments; and

wherein the error message comprises at least one letter “R.”

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the connecting character comprising at least two segments located between the first character and the second character further comprises a first dot segment located above the bottom of the connecting character and a second dot segment located below the top of the connecting character, wherein illuminating the first dot segment and the second dot segment illuminates a colon symbol on a display of the device.

15. A segment display screen for a thermostat comprising:

a first character comprising at least seven segments;

a second character comprising at least nine segments proximate to the first character; and

a connecting character comprising at least two segments located between the first character and the second character; and

wherein in a first operation, at least one segment of each of the first character, the second character, and the connecting character are illuminated to form a first letter; and

wherein in a second operation, at least one segment of each of the first character, the second character, and the connecting character are illuminated to form a second letter.

16. The segment display screen of claim 15 , wherein illuminating at least one segment of each of the first character, the second character, and the connecting character to form the first letter further comprises illuminating the letter “M.”

17. The segment display screen of claim 15 , wherein illuminating at least one segment of each of the first character, the second character, and the connecting character to form the first letter further comprises:

illuminating a top segment of the first character;

illuminating a top segment of the second character;

illuminating a top segment of the connecting character; and

illuminating a right segment on the first character or a left segment on the second character.

18. The segment display screen of claim 15 , wherein illuminating at least one segment of each of the first character, the second character, and the connecting character to form the second letter further comprises:

illuminating a bottom segment of the first character;

illuminating a bottom segment of the second character;

illuminating a top segment of the connecting character; and

illuminating a right segment on the first character or a left segment on the second character.

19. The segment display screen of claim 15 , wherein in a third operation, a plurality of characters are illuminated to display an error message on the segment display screen;

wherein at least one of the plurality of characters includes at least nine segments; and

wherein the error message comprises at least one letter “R.”

20. The segment display screen of claim 15 , wherein the connecting character comprising at least two segments located between the first character and the second character further comprises a first dot segment located above the bottom of the connecting character and a second dot segment located below the top of the connecting character, wherein illuminating the first dot segment and the second dot segment illuminates a colon symbol on a display of the device.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 18, 2024
From: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
To: TYCO FIRE & SECURITY GMBH
Reel/Frame 066957/0796 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2022
From: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
To: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
Reel/Frame 058959/0764 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2020
From: FRIEND, RICHARD DAVID
To: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
Reel/Frame 054682/0898 →
Cited By (2)
US 1,083,976 US 1,096,770