IP Library Granted Patent US 8,744,629
Granted Patent B2
US 8,744,629 · App. 12/603,519 · Granted Jun 3, 2014

System and method of use for a user interface dashboard of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning network

Inventors: Timothy E. Wallaert (Wylie, TX); Thomas G. Pavlak (Commerce Township, MI); Timothy H. Thorson (McKinney, TX); Muhammad Ali Mirza (Farmers Branch, TX); Suresh Kumar Devineni (Lewisville, TX)
Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
F24F11/0086
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,744,629
App. No.
12/603,519
Granted
Jun 3, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosure provides systems and methods of use of an HVAC graphical interface dashboard. In various embodiments, the dashboard includes a weather tab, wherein invoking the weather tab advances to a weather screen. The dashboard also includes an indoor humidity tab. A programs tab and a home tab are also provided. The indoor humidity tab can further be used to set current indoor humidity setpoints.

Claims (60)

1. An HVAC graphical interface dashboard, comprising:

a weather tab, wherein invoking the weather tab advances to a weather screen;

an indoor humidity tab, wherein invoking the indoor humidity tab advances to a humidity screen which displays at least a current indoor humidity and a relative humidity (“RH”) bar for setting a relative humidity, a first side of said RH bar displaying a current indoor relative humidity level with use of a first indicia and a second side of said RH bar displaying a current indoor humidify or dehumidify setpoint with a use of a second indicia, wherein the indoor humidity tab can further be used to set current indoor humidity setpoints;

an alerts tab, wherein invoking the alerts tab advances to an alerts screen;

a help tab, wherein invoking the help tab advances to a help screen that provides context sensitive help that presents at least one dialog box related to a function of a current screen;

an indoor settings tab, wherein invoking the indoor settings tab advances to an indoor settings screen which includes a current indoor temperature;

a programs tab, wherein invoking the programs tab advances to a programs screen which can program at least one of:

a) a time;

b) temperature setpoints;

c) heating/cooling setpoints; and

a home tab, wherein invoking the home tab advances to a home screen which provides a summary of indoor conditions.

2. The program screen of claim 1 , wherein the settings employ a slider between the maximum comfort setting to the maximum energy savings of the selection.

3. The indoor humidity tab of claim 1 , wherein the humidity screen allows users to have different humidity levels during different periods of a day.

4. The humidity screen of claim 3 , wherein the periods include at least one of:

a) waking;

b) leaving;

c) returning; and

d) sleep.

5. The humidity screen of claim 3 , wherein a humidity status and a relative humidity are both presented on a same screen.

6. The humidity screen of claim 1 , wherein said first side of said RH bar is a left side of said RH bar and said second side of said RH bar is a right side of said RH bar.

7. The indoor humidity screen of claim 1 , wherein the first indicia and the second indicia are a triangle.

8. An HVAC system including a graphical interface dashboard and at least one coupled device, comprising:

the dashboard, including:

a weather tab, wherein invoking the weather tab advances to a weather screen;

an indoor humidity tab, wherein invoking the indoor humidity tab advances to a humidity screen which displays at least a current indoor humidity and a relative humidity (“RH”) bar for setting a relative humidity, a first side of said RH bar displaying a current indoor relative humidity level with use of a first indicia and a second side of said RH bar displaying a current indoor humidify or dehumidify setpoint with a use of a second indicia, wherein the indoor humidity tab can further be used to set current indoor humidity setpoints;

an alerts tab, wherein invoking the alerts tab advances to an alerts screen;

a help tab, wherein invoking the help tab advances to a help screen that provides context sensitive help that presents at least one dialog box related to a function of a current screen;

an indoor settings tab, wherein invoking the indoor settings tab advances a user to an indoor settings screen which includes a current indoor temperature;

a programs tab, wherein pressing the programs tab invokes a programs screen which can program at least one of:

i) a time;

ii) temperature setpoints;

iii) heating/cooling setpoints; and

a home tab, wherein invoking the home tab advances a user to a home screen which provides a summary of indoor conditions; and

the at least one coupled device selected from the group including:

a) an air handler;

b) a furnace;

c) an evaporator coil;

d) a condenser coil; and

e) a compressor;

wherein the at least one coupled device is viewable from at least one of the tabs.

9. The indoor humidity screen of claim 8 , wherein the first indicia and the second indicia are a triangle.

10. The program screen of claim 8 , wherein the settings employ a slider between the maximum comfort setting to the maximum energy savings of the selection.

11. The indoor humidity tab of claim 8 , wherein the humidity screen allows users to have different humidity levels during different periods of a day.

12. The humidity screen of claim 8 , wherein said first side of said RH bar is a left side of said RH bar and said second side of said RH bar is a right side of said RH bar.

13. The indoor humidity screen of claim 8 , wherein the first indicia and the second indicia are a triangle.

14. A method for operating an HVAC interface having a plurality of tabs, comprising:

providing a weather tab, wherein invoking the weather tab advances to a weather screen;

providing an indoor humidity tab, wherein invoking the indoor humidity tab advances to a humidity screen which displays at least a current indoor humidity and a relative humidity (“RH”) bar for setting a relative humidity, a first side of said RH bar displaying a current indoor relative humidity level with use of a first indicia and a second side of said RH bar displaying a current indoor humidify or dehumidify setpoint with a use of a second indicia, wherein the indoor humidity tab can further be used to set current indoor humidity setpoints;

providing an alerts tab, wherein invoking the alerts tab advances to an alerts screen;

providing a help tab, wherein invoking the help tab advances to a help screen that provides context sensitive help that presents at least one dialog box related to a function of a current screen;

providing an indoor settings tab, wherein invoking the indoor settings tab advances to an indoor settings screen which includes a current indoor temperature;

providing a programs tab, wherein invoking the programs tab advances to a programs screen which can program at least one of:

a) time;

b) temperature setpoints;

c) heating/cooling setpoints;

providing a home tab, wherein invoking the home tab advances to a home screen which provides a summary of indoor conditions; and

invoking one of the screens.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein providing the programs tab further includes providing a fan mode.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the humidity screen allows users to have different humidity levels during different periods of a day.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein said first side of said RH bar is a left side of said RH bar and said second side of said RH bar is a right side of said RH bar.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 30, 2009
From: PAVLAK, THOMAS GERARD
To: LENNOX INDUSTRIES INC.
Reel/Frame 023452/0766 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation In Part 12258659 · Oct 27, 2008
Provisional Application 61167135 · Apr 6, 2009
Provisional Application 61852676 · Apr 7, 2009
Related Publication 20100107103A1 · Apr 29, 2010