Patent ID: 7050026
Filing Date: 2006-05-23
Classification: G05D

Abstract:
1. A method for operating a dot matrix type liquid crystal digital display that is optionally backlighted by a backlight for viewing by a user in a room where the liquid crystal digital display is located, where display elements of the liquid crystal digital display are driven by inputs from a programmable environmental control device that comprises control means for environmental control equipment comprising: (a) one or more data items capable of being displayed on the display, where each data item consists of one or more image sections and each image section is substantially surrounded by a surrounding section; (b) each image section is determined by the control means to be a set of substantially continuously adjacent display elements required for viewing by the user; (c) each surrounding section is determined by the control means to be a set of display elements required to substantially outline its image section; (d) presetting requirements of a first condition in the control means and determination by the control means that the first condition has occurred; (e) causing the image sections of a data item to be non-opaque and its surrounding sections to be partially or completely opaque; (f) presetting requirements of a second condition in the control means and determination by the control means that the second condition has occurred; (g) causing the image sections of a data item to be partially or completely opaque and its surrounding sections to be non-opaque; and (h) the first condition is a first time of day and the second condition is a second time of day.