Patent ID: 6786421
Filing Date: 2004-09-07
Classification: G05D,G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
A programmable thermostat system for controlling space conditioning equipment comprising:A) at least one environmental condition sensor providing an electrical signal indicative of the ambient temperature of a conditioned space in which said environmental condition sensor is situated; B) a transparent touch pad juxtaposed with a liquid crystal display to constitute a touch screen for interactive interface with a user; C) a processor, said processor including: 1) a central processing unit; 2) a real time clock; 3) a memory coupled to said central processing unit for storing program and data information; and 4) an input/output unit coupled between said processor and said touch screen for carrying out information transfer therebetween, said input/output unit further including: a) a sensor input coupled to each said environmental condition sensors for receiving said electrical signal therefrom; and b) a control output coupled to the space conditioning equipment for issuing control signals thereto; and D) a control program stored in said memory for causing said central processing unit to communicate through said input/output unit to selectively: 1) establish on said touch screen: a) a representation of a first virtual button; and b) a first legend indicative of said first virtual button, if touched, invoking a first setup function of said thermostat, which first setup function is for entering: i) power consumption ratings for each space conditioning equipment component; and ii) the cost rate for each type of energy used by the space conditioning equipment; 2) read the touch screen to determine if the representation of said first virtual button has been touched; 3) if the first virtual button has been touched, displaying a menu of cost determination information entry virtual buttons on said touch screen, each cost determination information entry virtual button representing a type of cost information; 4) read the positions on the touch screen of said cost determination information entry virtual buttons; and 5) for each cost determination information entry virtual button touched, store in said memory an incremental cost information amount of the type represented thereby.