Patent Publication Number: US-11662101-B2

Title: User interface for thermostat and related devices, systems, and methods

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/807,750, filed Nov. 9, 2017, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/419,673, filed Nov. 9, 2016, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to a user interface for a thermostat and more specifically to a user interface for an electronic thermostatic radiator valve in a zoned heating system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Thermostats are used to provide temperature feedback control in climate control systems. For example, in a radiant heating system, thermostatic radiator valves are positioned in multiple zones in a building to provide temperature control. Each radiator valve is connected between a boiler and at least one radiator to selectively provide hot water from the boiler to the radiator. The thermostat opens the valve when the environmental temperature in the zone falls below a set point temperature and likewise closes the valve when the environmental temperature exceeds the set point. Certain radiator valves include user interfaces that allow a user to adjust the set point temperature at the radiator valve. User interfaces can include an indicator providing an indication of the detected temperature and an input device that allows the user to select a new set point temperature. While lay users will know whether the environmental temperature in a room suits them (e.g., whether the environmental temperature is too hot or too cold), they may be unable to understand what set point temperature can make them more comfortable in an energy efficient manner. Moreover, radiator valve user interfaces are often near the floor and/or wall and situated in such a way that they are very difficult to read. As a result, when a lay user selects a new set point temperature, it can often be ineffective or inefficient. 
     SUMMARY 
     Aspects of the disclosure relate to a user interface for a thermostat configured to control a radiator valve. The user interface can include a user input member that is movable from a home position to a set point increase or decrease position to increase or decrease a set point temperature of the thermostat. The user interface can also include a return mechanism for returning the user input member to the home position after being released from one of the set point increase and decrease positions. The user interface can include an indicator panel and a controller that controls the indicator panel to provide an indication of when the set point temperature of the thermostat is being adjusted. The user interface can also include a lockout controller that prevents set point temperature adjustments in response to inputs to the user interface when the set point temperature differs from the environmental temperature by a specified amount. 
     In one aspect, a user interface for adjusting a set point temperature of a thermostat configured to thermostatically control a radiator valve to selectively convey heating fluid to a radiator to adjust an environmental temperature toward the set point comprises a base. A user input member is mounted on the base for movement with respect to the base through a range of motion including a home position, a set point decrease position, and a set point increase position. The user input member is operatively connected to the thermostat to decrease the set point temperature when the user input member is moved from the home position to the set point decrease position and to increase the set point temperature when the user input member is moved from the home position to the set point increase position. A return mechanism is operatively connected to the base and the user input member to automatically return the user input member to the home position after it is moved to either of the set point decrease position and the set point increase position and released. 
     In another aspect, a user interface for adjusting a set point temperature of a thermostat configured to thermostatically control a radiator valve to selectively convey heating fluid to a radiator to adjust an environmental temperature toward the set point temperature comprises a base. A user input member mounted on the base for movement with respect to the base through a range of motion including a home position, a set point decrease position, and a set point increase position. The user input member is operatively connected to the thermostat to decrease the set point temperature when the user input member is moved from the home position to the set point decrease position and to increase the set point temperature when the user input member is moved from the home position to the set point increase position. An indicator light panel is mounted on the base and includes at least a set point decrease light aligned with the set point decrease position of the user input member and a set point increase light aligned with the set point increase position of the user input member. An indicator controller for controlling the indicator light panel is configured to illuminate the set point decrease light when the user interface is used to decrease a set point temperature and to illuminate the set point increase light when the user interface is used to increase the set point temperature. 
     In yet another aspect, a user interface for adjusting a set point temperature of a thermostat configured to thermostatically control a radiator valve to selectively convey heating fluid to a radiator to adjust an environmental temperature toward the set point temperature comprises a user input mechanism including a base and a user input member that is selectively moveable with respect to the base and is operatively connected to the thermostat to adjust the set point temperature of the thermostat in response to movement of the user input member with respect to the base. A set point lockout controller is configured to determine when the environmental temperature differs from the set point temperature by more than a predetermined maximum offset and to prevent further adjustment to the set point temperature in response to movement of the user input member while the environmental temperature differs from the set point temperature by more than the predetermined maximum offset. 
     Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic block diagram of a heating system; 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic block diagram of an electronic thermostatic radiator valve of the heating system; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective of the electronic thermostatic radiator valve; 
         FIG.  3 A  is another perspective of the electronic thermostatic radiator valve illustrating a knob thereof in a home position and a home indicator light thereof illuminated; 
         FIG.  3 B  is a perspective similar to  FIG.  3 A  illustrating the knob of the electronic thermostatic radiator valve in a set point decrease position and a set point decrease indicator light of the electronic thermostatic radiator valve illuminated; 
         FIG.  3 C  is a perspective similar to  FIG.  3 A  illustrating the knob of the electronic thermostatic radiator valve in a set point increase position and a set point increase indicator light of the electronic thermostatic radiator valve illuminated; and 
         FIG.  4    is another perspective of the electronic thermostatic radiator with a user interface thereof exploded away from a base. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , a zoned radiant heating system is generally indicated at reference number  10 . The radiant heating system  10  employs separate thermostats in each of a plurality of environmental zones EZ in a building B. As will be explained below, each thermostat has a user interface that provides intuitive controls for a lay user to make incremental adjustments to the set point temperature for the environmental zone EZ and provides a readily understandable indicator of the status of the thermostat. Although the present disclosure describes the thermostat user interfaces in a zoned radiant heating system  10 , it is understood that the user interfaces could also be implemented in other types of environmental control systems. Before describing an exemplary user interface in detail, the present disclosure provides a brief general overview of the radiant heating system  10 . 
     The system  10  includes a boiler  12  that is fluidly connected to a water supply (not shown). In  FIG.  1   , the flow of water into and out of various components of the system  10 , such as the boiler  12 , is represented schematically by bold arrows. For clarity,  FIG.  1    does not illustrate the interconnecting plumbing for the entire system. But one skilled in the art would readily understand how to interconnect the components of the system  10  through conventional plumbing techniques. The boiler  12  is configured to heat water and to supply hot water (broadly, a heating fluid) to various peripheral components of the system  10 . The boiler  12  may be operatively connected to a controller  20  that is configured to control the boiler. 
     The radiant heating system  10  also includes one or more radiators  30  positioned in each environmental zone EZ for heating the respective environmental zone. In the illustrated embodiment, the building B includes three environmental zones EZ. One environmental zone EZ includes two radiators  30  and the other two environmental zones include one radiator each. It will be understood that the radiant heating system can be used with buildings having other numbers of environmental zones or other numbers of radiators in each zone without departing from the scope of the invention. The radiators  30  are selectively coupled to the boiler  12  to receive the hot water from the boiler. The radiators  30  are configured to convey radiant heat from the hot water to the respective environmental zones EZ. 
     Each environmental zone EZ includes at least one thermostatic radiator valve  32  configured to control the amount of hot water from the boiler  12  that is supplied to the radiator(s)  30  in the zone. In the illustrated embodiment, each radiator  30  has its own valve  32 , but in other embodiments, a single valve can be used to control the flow of hot water to more than one radiator in a respective environmental zone EZ. Each of the illustrated radiator valves  32  is an electronic thermostatic radiator valve. 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , each radiator valve  32  includes a power supply  34  that is operatively connected to an electronic valve positioner  36 . The valve positioner  36  is configured to selectively adjust the position of a valve body to open and close the radiator valve  32 . For example, in one embodiment, the valve positioner  36  comprises an electric motor and the power supply  34  comprises a battery. The electric motor  36  draws power from the battery  36 , which drives the motor to adjust the position of the valve body to open and close the valve  32 . Controlling when and/or the extent to which the radiator valve  32  is opened controls the supply of hot water to the radiator  30  and thus the temperature of the respective environmental zone EZ. 
     The electronic thermostatic radiator valve  32  is configured to locally maintain the temperature of the respective environmental zone EZ at a set point temperature. The radiator valve  32  includes a thermostat  38  that is configured to sense the temperature of the respective environmental zone EZ at the radiator valve and provide feedback control of the valve positioner  36 . The thermostat  38  includes a temperature sensor  38 A configured to sense the environmental temperature of the zone and a thermostatic controller  38 B configured to provide feedback control of the valve positioner  36  based on the sensed temperature. For example, when the sensor  38 A detects a temperature in the environmental zone EZ that is below the set point temperature, the thermostatic controller  38 B controls the valve positioner  36  to open the valve  32  and allow more hot water to flow through the radiator  30 . When the sensor  38 A detects a temperature in the environmental zone EZ that is at or above the set point, the thermostatic controller  38 B controls the valve positioner  36  to close the valve  32  and restrict or prevent the flow of additional hot water to the radiator  30 . By selectively controlling the flow of hot water from the boiler  12  to the radiator  30 , the thermostat  38  can maintain the environmental zone at about a predetermined set point temperature. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , each electronic thermostatic radiator valve  32  is operatively connected to the central controller  20  to communicate with the controller. In the illustrated embodiment, the controller  20  is located in the mechanical room MR remote from at least some of the radiator valves  32  in the respective environmental zones EZ. To lower the cost of setting up the radiant heating system  10 , in certain embodiments, a wireless communications protocol is used to establish a connection between the radiator valves  32  and the controller  20 . As shown in  FIG.  2   , the illustrated radiator valve  32  therefore includes a wireless transceiver  40  for exchanging signals with the controller  20 . In a suitable embodiment, the transceiver  40  communicates with the controller  20  using an RF connection, but other types of wireless connections (e.g., Wi-Fi, etc.) or a wired connection can also be used in other embodiments. As explained in further detail below, the controller  20  is configured to transmit control signals to the valves  32  that are operative to adjust the operation of the valves to control the temperatures in the environmental zones. It is understood that, in some embodiments, the valves  32  are also configured to transmit signals to the controller  20  that are used to provide central control of the zoned climate control system  10 . 
     In one or more embodiments, the controller  20  is operatively connected to a user input device  50  to receive user inputs for adjusting the set point temperature of any of the thermostatic radiator valves  32 . For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the central controller  20  is an internet connected device and the user input device  50  is a mobile device, such as a phone or a tablet, which communicates with the controller over an internet connection. In other embodiments, the central controller can include a local user interface mounted with the controller in the mechanical room MR or elsewhere in the building B. Suitably, the user input device  50  for the controller  20  includes an indicator (e.g., a display) configured to provide an indication to the user of the value of the set point temperature for each of the thermostats  38  in the system  10 . In addition, the user input device  50  is configured to receive user inputs selecting a new set point temperature for any of the thermostats  38 . When the user input device  50  receives a user input selecting a new set point temperature, it transmits a user input signal to the controller  20 . In response, the controller  20  transmits a set point adjustment control signal to the transceiver  40  of the respective valve  32 . The valve  32  receives the set point adjustment control signal and adjusts the set point temperature of the thermostat  38  to the new user-selected set point temperature. 
     In addition to the centralized set point temperature adjustment capabilities provided by the controller  20 , the illustrated heating system  10  is configured to allow a user to make adjustments to the set point temperature of an environmental zone at the respective radiator valve  32 . Referring again to  FIG.  2   , the illustrated radiator valve  32  includes a local user interface, generally indicated at  60 . As explained below, the user interface  60  is located at the valve  32  and provides a user input mechanism  62  that presents to the user simplified controls for making incremental adjustments to the set point temperature of the thermostat  38 . As further explained below, the user interface  60  includes an indicator  64  that provides a local indication of the status of thermostat  38 , including indications of when the thermostat is responding to adjustments that are made to the set point temperature. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  3  and  4   , the user interface  60  for the thermostat  38  is mounted on a base  70 . In the illustrated embodiment, the base  70  is generally cylindrical and includes an end fitting  71  configured to operatively connect the valve positioner  36  to the hot water plumbing adjacent and upstream of the respective radiator  30 . Suitably, the base  70  defines an interior chamber sized and arranged to receive the batteries  34  for powering the valve positioner  36  therein. In certain embodiments, the base  70  includes a removable access panel (not shown) for selectively accessing the enclosure to remove and replace the batteries  34 . The base can have other shapes, sizes, and features in other embodiments. 
     The user input mechanism  62  of the user interface  60  is operatively mounted on the base  70 . In general, the user input mechanism  62  is configured to receive user inputs whereby the user interface  60  transmits a set point temperature adjustment signal to the thermostat  38  that changes the set point temperature to be equal to the environmental temperature detected by the temperature sensor  38 A, plus or minus a predetermined amount (e.g., the thermostat increases or decreases the set point temperature by 2° C. from the detected environmental temperature). In the illustrated embodiment, the user interface  82  includes a knob  82  (broadly, a user input member) that is mounted on the base  70  for movement with respect to the base. The illustrated knob  82  is rotatably mounted at the free end of the base  70  opposite the end fitting  71 . The knob  82  is configured to be rotated by a user with respect to the base  70  through a range of motion. As shown in  FIGS.  3 A- 3 C , the range of motion of the knob  82  includes a home position ( FIG.  3 A ), a set point decrease position ( FIG.  3 B ), and a set point increase position ( FIG.  3 C ). In the illustrated embodiment, the set point decrease position ( FIG.  3 B ) is adjacent one end of the range of motion, the set point increase position ( FIG.  3 C ) is adjacent the opposite end of the range of motion, and the home position ( FIG.  3 A ) is about midway between the set point decrease position and the set point increase position. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , a circuit board  84  is mounted on the base  70  in operative alignment with the knob  82 . Suitably, the circuit board  84  includes first and second momentary contact switches (not shown) that are configured to be activated by movement of the knob  82  to a respective one of the set point decrease position ( FIG.  3 B ) and the set point increase position ( FIG.  3 C ). When the knob  82  is moved from the home position ( FIG.  3 A ) to either of the set point decrease position ( FIG.  3 B ) or the set point increase position ( FIG.  3 C ), it activates the respective momentary contact switch on the circuit board  84  to generate a respective set point decrease signal or set point increase signal. The thermostat  38  is operatively connected to the circuit board  84  to receive the signals from the momentary contact switches when they are activated. For example, in one or more embodiments, the thermostat  38  is mounted on the circuit board  84  and the circuit board includes electrical traces that connect the thermostat to the momentary contact switches. In response to the set point decrease signal, thermostat  38  adjusts the set point temperature to be equal to the detected environmental temperature, minus the predetermined adjustment amount (e.g., 2° C.). Conversely, in response to the set point increase signal, thermostat  38  adjusts the set point temperature to be equal to the detected environmental temperature, plus the predetermined adjustment amount (e.g., 2° C.). In this manner, the user is permitted to make relative adjustments to the temperature of the particular EZ. 
     Referring still to  FIG.  4   , the illustrated user input mechanism  62  further includes a return mechanism that is operatively connected to the base  70  and the knob  82  to automatically return the knob to the home position ( FIG.  3 A ) after it is moved to the set point decrease position ( FIG.  3 B ) or the set point increase position ( FIG.  3 C ). In the illustrated embodiment, the return mechanism includes a resiliently deformable hub member  88  that is mounted on the base. The hub member includes a central portion  88 A and a plurality of lugs  88 B that extend radially outward from the central portion. A screw  89  fastens the outer end portion of each lug to the base  70  to fix the outer end portion of the respective lug in place with respect to the base. The central portion  88 A of the hub member  88  is shaped for interlocking engagement with the knob  82 . For example, the illustrated hub member  88  defines an axially extending aperture  90  that is keyed to a stem portion  92  of the knob  82  and a plurality of locking prongs  94  that extend axially through a hole in the circuit board  84  into corresponding receptacles (not shown) in the knob  82 . The interlocking features of the knob  82  and central portion  88 B of the hub member  88  inhibit relative rotation between the central portion of the hub member and the knob. Thus, when the knob is rotated from the home position ( FIG.  3 A ) to one of the set point decrease position ( FIG.  3 B ) or set point increase position ( FIG.  3 C ), the central portion of the hub member rotates with the knob with respect to the base  70 . But since the lugs  88 B of the hub member  88  are fixed in place with respect to the base  70 , they are deformed to accommodate rotation of the central portion  88 A. Since the lugs  88 B are made of a resiliently deformable material, after the rotational force that deforms the lugs is released, they return to their non-deformed shapes, which likewise returns the central portion  88 A and the knob  82  to the home position. Although the illustrated embodiment uses the resilient hub member  88  to automatically return the knob  82  to the home position ( FIG.  3 A ), other embodiments can use other return mechanisms without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  2 - 3 C , in addition to the user input mechanism  62 , the illustrated user interface  60  also includes the indicator  64 , which is configured to provide an indication of adjustments that are made to the set point temperature while concealing the value of the set point temperature from the user (i.e., the indicator does not display the value of the set point temperature to the user). In the illustrated embodiment, the indicator  64  comprises an indicator light panel. Other indicators, such as an audio indicator, may also be used in other embodiments. As shown in  FIG.  3 A , the indicator light panel  64  includes a home light  64 A that is generally circumferentially aligned with the home position of the knob  82  about the axis of rotation of the knob (e.g., the home light  64 A is circumferentially aligned with a radially protruding indicator spline of the knob  82  in the illustrated embodiment). As shown in  FIG.  3 B , the indicator light panel  64  also includes a set point decrease light  64 B that is generally circumferentially aligned with the set point decrease position of the knob  82 . As shown in  FIG.  3 C , the indicator light panel  64  further includes a set point increase light  64 C that is generally circumferentially aligned with the set point increase position of the knob  82 . Suitably, each of the lights  64 A- 64 C comprises a light emitting diode configured to emit one or more colors of light when illuminated. In one or more embodiments, the set point decrease light  64 B is configured to emit at least blue light, which is commonly understood to represent cool temperatures; and the set point increase light  64 C is configured to emit at least red light, which is commonly understood to represent warm temperatures. Although the illustrated embodiment uses a three-light indicator panel  64 , other types of indicators can also be used in other embodiments. Suitably, however, certain embodiments will conceal (i.e., refrain from displaying) the set point temperature and the detected temperature to the user in order to conserve power and limit the information provided to the user to that which is necessary to use the thermostat  38  to maintain a comfortable environmental temperature. 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , the indicator light panel  64  is operatively connected to an indicator controller  102  that is configured to selectively illuminate the indicator lights  64 A- 64 C. Suitably, the indicator controller  102  is configured to illuminate the set point decrease indicator light  64 B when the set point temperature is less than the environmental temperature detected by the temperature sensor  38 A. For example, after the user twists the knob  82  to the set point decrease position ( FIG.  3 B ) and the set point temperature is reduced from the detected environmental temperature by the predetermined adjustment amount, the set point temperature will be less than the environmental temperature and the indicator controller  102  will illuminate the set point decrease indicator light  64 B. Likewise, after the user twists the knob  82  to the set point increase position ( FIG.  3 C ) and the set point temperature is increased from the detected environmental temperature by the predetermined adjustment amount, the set point temperature will be greater than the environmental temperature and the indicator controller  102  will illuminate the set point increase indicator light  64 C. Once the detected environmental temperature reaches or approaches the new set point temperature (e.g., the detected environmental temperature differs from the set point temperature by no more than the absolute value of a predetermined temperature difference), the indicator controller  102  deactivates the respective indicator light  64 A,  64 B. The set point decrease and increase indicator lights  64 B,  64 C can also be activated and deactivated based on other control logic in other embodiments. For example, in certain embodiments, the indicator controller  102  is connected to the momentary contact switches of the circuit board  84  to determine when an adjustment is made and to selectively illuminate the respective indicator light  64 B,  64 C after the adjustment is made for a predetermined amount of time that generally corresponds with the amount of time required to adjust the temperature of the environmental zone. 
     As can now be appreciated, the indicator controller  102  selectively illuminates the lights  64 B,  64 C to provide the user an indication that the heating system  10  is currently adjusting the temperature of the environmental zone EZ. When neither of the indicator lights  64 B,  64 C is illuminated, the indicator light panel  64  provides an indication that no adjustments are presently being made. Together, these indications help the user distinguish between when a set point adjustment using the knob  82  might help achieve a comfortable environmental temperature (i.e., when the indicator lights  64 B,  64 C are turned off) and when an additional set point adjustment is unnecessary because the system  10  is already making an adjustment (i.e., when one of the indicator lights  64 B,  64 C is turned on). In typical use, the user will not require any additional information to determine whether an additional set point adjustment would improve the environmental temperature of the zone EZ. Thus, the indicator lights  64 B,  64 C are selectively illuminated without identifying the value of the set point temperature or detected environmental temperature, which is superfluous information that can create unnecessary confusion. 
     In one or more embodiments, the indicator light panel  64  is also used to provide additional indications to the user. For example, the indicator controller  102  may be configured to selectively illuminate the home light  64 A and/or one or more of the other lights  64 B,  64 C in one or more colors to provide status indications during system setup and/or to provide an indication of a system error. Still other uses of the indicator light panel  64  are also possible without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , the illustrated user interface  60  further includes a set point lockout controller  110 . The set point lockout controller  110  is operatively connected to the thermostat  38  to determine when a temperature adjustment is being made. For example, in certain embodiments, the lockout controller  110  is configured to receive the temperature signal from the temperature sensor  38 A of the thermostat and use the temperature signal to determine when the temperature of the environmental zone EZ differs from the set point temperature by more than a predetermined maximum temperature offset (e.g., when the detected environmental temperature differs from the set point temperature by a maximum offset of at least about 2° C.). When the lockout controller  110  determines that the set point temperature exceeds the detected temperature by more than the maximum offset, it is configured to prevent a further increase to the set point temperature in response to movement of the knob  82  (i.e., the lockout controller  110  locks the user out from making a further increase to the temperature set point). Likewise, when the lockout controller  110  determines that the detected temperature exceeds the set point temperature by more than the maximum offset, it is configured to prevent a further decrease to the set point temperature in response to movement of the knob  82 . When the difference between the set point temperature and the detected temperature is less than the predetermined offset, the set point lockout controller  110  is configured to permit adjustment of the set point temperature using the knob  82 . It can therefore be seen that the set point lockout controller prevents the lay user who is attempting to adjust the heating system  10  from within an environmental zone from making set point temperature adjustments that are likely to be unnecessary or to result in an excessive change of temperature in the environmental zone EZ. Moreover, because both the set point adjustment and the lockout controls use the detected environmental temperature as a reference point (i.e., a set point adjustment using the knob  82  generates a new set point temperature that is equal to the detected temperature, plus or minus a predetermined amount; and lockout occurs when the detected temperature already differs from the detected temperature by at least the predetermined maximum offset), even when the lockout controller  110  prevents the user from further adjusting the set point temperature, the heating system  10  will still be functioning to adjust the environmental temperature in the zone EZ as the user intended. The lockout controller  110  merely prevents the user from over-adjusting the temperature of the zone EZ. 
     A method of using the heating system  10  to control the temperatures in the environmental zones EZ will now be briefly described. When the electronic thermostatic radiator valves  32  are initially installed in the building B, the thermostats  38  operate at default set point temperatures. To select a new set point temperature value, a user can access the mobile device  50  and provide a user input selecting the desired temperature value for the set point of each environmental zone EZ. During ordinary use, if a user determines that the environmental temperature in any environmental zone is too hot or too cold, the user can make an adjustment to the set point temperature using the user interface  60 . If the temperature in the environmental zone EZ is too hot, the user rotates the knob  82  from the home position ( FIG.  3 A ) to the set point decrease position ( FIG.  3 B ); or if the temperature in the environmental zone EZ is too cold, the user rotates the knob from the home position to the set point increase position ( FIG.  3 C ). In each case, the thermostat controller  38 B automatically changes the set point temperature to the detected temperature, plus or minus the predetermined adjustment amount (e.g., 2° F.). Depending on the system configuration, the decrease or increase in the set point temperature can either be a permanent change to the set point temperature or a temporary change (i.e., the controller  20  can automatically return the set point temperature to its previous or default value after a predetermined amount of time has passed following the set point adjustment). After the user adjusts the set point temperature, the indicator controller  102  automatically illuminates the respective indicator light  64 A,  64 B until the detected environmental temperature approaches the new set point temperature. And until the difference between the new set point temperature and the detected environmental temperature is less than the maximum temperature offset, the set point lockout controller  110  prevents the user from making a further adjustment to the set point temperature using the user interface  60 . 
     As can be seen, the illustrated thermostatic user interface  60  provides intuitive controls for adjusting the set point temperature of an environmental control system in an efficient and effective manner. The user interface  60  provides a simple indicator panel that limits the amount of information provided to the user to only that which is necessary to allow the user to maintain the environmental zone at a comfortable temperature. The lockout controller  110  prevents the user from overcorrecting when the user finds the environment too hot or too cold, and the input mechanism  82  provides intuitive controls that mimic the well understood control scheme of a domestic water knob. 
     When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. 
     In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained. As various changes could be made in the above constructions, products, and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.