GB2408311A

GB2408311A - Parameter control device which can be reset and then altered to a desired value

Info

Publication number: GB2408311A
Application number: GB0326950A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian John Cottrell
Original assignee: Invensys Controls UK Ltd; Invensys Ltd
Current assignee: Schneider Electric Controls UK Ltd; Invensys Ltd
Priority date: 2003-11-20
Filing date: 2003-11-20
Publication date: 2005-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 2023-11-20
Also published as: GB2408311B; GB2408311A8; GB0425522D0; GB0326950D0

Abstract

A device for controlling a parameter (e.g. desired room temperature for a domestic HVAC system) to a desired value can be reset to a predetermined reset value in a first action by pressing knob 3 or slider (5, fig 3), and the reset value then altered to a desired value in a second action by turning the knob 3 or moving the slider (5, fig 3). The device may provide audible or tactile indications (e.g. with a ratchet or vibrations) when altering the value. The device may be easily operated by a visually impaired person. The parameter value set can be displayed on a digital display visible through a window 4. The reset action and the altering action may be performed with the same means.

Description

240831 1

IMPROVED CONTROL DEVICE AND METHOD

OF SETTING A CONTROL DEVICE

The present invention relates to an improved control device and method of setting a control device for controlling the operation of an apparatus, and in particular but not exclusively to a control device for the control of domestic heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment.

Conventional analogue room thermostats for controlling the ambient temperature of living space in domestic central heating systems comprise typically a rotatable knob or linear actuator which are operatively linked to a potentiometer. The method of setting the desired ambient temperature involves rotating the knob or moving the linear actuator against a fixed scale, the absolute position of the knob or actuator dictating the set point of the thermostat.

However, whilst such conventional room thermostats may be easily operated by sighted people, blind or severely visually impaired people find extreme difficulty in operating the thermostatic controller in order to obtain the desired ambient temperature.

: Whilst the difficulty in using the conventional room thermostatic controller for blind or severely visually impaired people may be partially mitigated by the provision of, for example, raised or indented scale markings in the form of braille or perhaps an audible indication of the actuator position, the provision of such extra facilities adds to the expense and complexity of manufacture of the room thermostat controller.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a control device of a relatively simple construction which is equally easily operable by both sighted and blind or severely visually impaired people.

In accordance with a first aspect the invention provides a method of setting a parameter controlling device at a desired parameter value comprising carrying out a first action on a component of the device to reset the device to a predetermined value of the parameter and subsequently carrying out a second action on a component of the device to alter the predetermined value of the parameter to a desired value.

The first and second actions may be carried out on the same component of the device.

The method according to the invention may be applied to the setting of an ambient temperature controlled by a temperature controlling thermostat.

In accordance with the second aspect of the invention there is provided a parameter controlling device comprising means operable in a first action to reset the parameter value to a predetermined value and means operable in a second action to alter the reset parameter value to a desired parameter value.

The means operable to reset the device and the means operable to alter the reset parameter value may be the same means, The parameter controlling device may be a thermostatic controller for a domestic HVAC system. --

: The aforementioned first and second actions may comprise .e I respectively axial and rotational movements or axial and linear movements.

The first and second actions may occur in planes substantially perpendicular to each other. .-

Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, by way of example only, of an embodiment of the . invention in conjunction with the following drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic front view of a parameter controlling device in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 shows a side elevation of the parameter controlling device of Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows a schematic front elevation of another parameter controlling device in accordance with the invention; and Figure 4 shows a side elevation of the parameter controlling device of Figure 3.

Shown in Figures 1 and 2 is an analogue room thermostat (1) comprising a wall mountable rectangular box shaped main body (2), a continuously rotatable circular dial or knob (3) protruding frontwardly outwardly of the main body (2) and a window (4) for displaying a set temperature of the thermostat. The display of the set temperature may be digitally or by other means.

The independently rotatable knob (3) is operatively linked to a potentiometer (not shown).

In the method of operating the temperature controlling thermostat (1) in a first action the outwardly protruding knob (3) is pushed in an inward direction indicated by the arrow label R in Figure 2 in order to reset the thermostat to a predetermined temperature of, for example 20 degrees centigrade. Having pushed the outwardly protruding knob inwards the knob is returned to its outwardly protruding position by return spring means (not shown).

Thus having reset the temperature controlling thermostat to a predetermined reset temperature in a first action, in a subsequent second action the predetermined reset temperature is altered by turning the outwardly protruding knob (3) relative to the main body (2). The temperature controlling thermostat (1) is provided with ratchet, or similar means, to provide audible and / or tactile indication of equiangular movements of the knob each altering the predetermined reset temperature by a pre-specified equal number of ..

degrees or fractions of degrees of temperature.

In this first embodiment the rotatable knob (3) is operatively connected a .to its potentiometer such that turning the knob anti clockwise in the direction .

of arrow D in Figure 1 serves to decrement the predetermined reset temperature whilst movement in the clockwise direction in the direction of arrow I serves to increment the predetermined reset temperature. The pre specified number of degrees of increment or decrement for each equiangular turn may be for example 0.5 degree or 1 degree centigrade.

A blind or severely visually impaired person is thus able to operate the room thermostat (1) by firstly pushing the outwardly protruding knob inwardly to reset the thermostat to a predetermined reset temperature and subsequently by turning the knob either clockwise or anti clockwise and counting the number of indicated equiangular movements of the knob increase or decrease the reset temperature to the desired temperature.

The temperature controlling thermostat (1) may also provided with a window (4) displaying by mechanical or electronic LCD means the set temperature for the benefit of a normally sighted operator.

A non-impaired user may, as an alternative to pressing the knob to re- set to the datum, merely rotate the knob to increase or decrease the desired temperature, using either tactile feedback or information from a scale on the body, or, if provided, a display in the window (4).

In another embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 3 and 4 the rotatable protruding knob (3) of the first embodiment is replaced by a protruding slider (5) which can be similarly pressed inwardly to effect the reset of the thermostat and centralise the slider and then subsequently be moved left or right by a number of equi-linear movements, again controlled by a ratchet or similar means, which are audible and / or vibrationally detectable and in which each equi-linear movement alters the temperature by a predetermined amount. Movement of the slider to the left may effect a decrement of the reset temperature whereas movement to the right may effect an increment to the reset temperature. #. :. #. .

Claims

1. A parameter control device for controlling a parameter to a desired value comprising reset means operable in a first action to reset the parameter control device to a predetermined reset value and means operable in a second action to alter the reset parameter value to a desired parameter value.

2. A parameter control device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the means for resetting the control device to a predetermined reset parameter value and the means for altering the pre-set parameter value to the desired parameter value are the same means.

3. A parameter control device in accordance with either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the manner in which the reset means is operable is by pushing or pressing the means in a direction inwardly of the control device.

2'.

4. A parameter control device in accordance with any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the manner of operating the means to alter the reset parameter value comprises moving the means in a direction or be.

directions perpendicular to the manner of operating the reset means.

5. A parameter control device in accordance with any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control device comprises a main body and the reset means comprises a cylindrical knob extending outwardly of the main body and ë being moveable inwardly in relation to the main body.

6. A parameter control device in accordance with any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control device comprises a main body and a right circular cylindrical knob extending outwardly of the main body and rotationally moveable in both clockwise and anti clockwise directions with respect to said main body.

7. A parameter control device in accordance with any of the preceding claims, wherein the control device is a thermostat for setting and controlling the ambient temperature of a domestic HVAC system.

8. A parameter control device as herein described;. and depicted in Figures 1 to 4.

9. A method of setting a parameter controlling device at a desired parameter value comprising operating reset means in a first action to reset the parameter controlling device to predetermined parameter value and subsequently operating parameter value altering means in a second manner to alter the reset parameter value to a desired parameter value.

10. A method according to claim 5, wherein the reset means and the parameter value altering means are the same means.

11. A method of setting a parameter controlling device in accordance with either of claims 9 or 10, wherein operating the reset means in a first manner comprises moving the reset means in a first direction and wherein operating the parameter value altering means comprises moving the means in a second direction in a plane substantially perpendicular to said first direction. a. ë aeece ë