Patent ID: 8489243
Filing Date: 2013-07-16
Classification: F24F,G05B,G05D,G06F,H01H

Abstract:
1. A thermostat comprising: a housing; a rotatable user-interface component configured to track a rotational input motion of a user; an electronic display disposed on a front face of the housing; and a processing system disposed within the housing and coupled to the rotatable user interface component and to the electronic display, the processing system being configured to dynamically identify a setpoint temperature value based on the tracked rotational input motion, the processing system being further configured to be in operative communication with one or more temperature sensors for receiving an ambient air temperature, the processing system being still further configured to be in operative communication with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to control the HVAC system based at least in part on a comparison of the measured ambient temperature and the setpoint temperature value, wherein said processing system, said electronic display, and said rotatable user interface component are collectively configured such that each of a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation is provided, said first and second modes of operation being in effect at different times, wherein, during said first mode of operation, a graphical setpoint icon is displayed along a periphery of the electronic display at a first location that is spatially representative of said setpoint temperature value as identified by said processing system according to said tracked rotational input motion of the user, wherein, during said second mode of operation, a rotatable arrangement of selectable menu items is displayed along said periphery of the electronic display, said rotatable arrangement being caused to rotate around said periphery responsive to tracked user rotation of the rotatable user interface component, said user rotation further causing different respective ones of the selectable menu items to become visually highlighted as said rotatable user interface component is rotated, and wherein a user selection of one of said selectable menu items is established by a user confirmation input provided by the user while that selectable menu item is visually highlighted.