GB2159653A

GB2159653A - Central heating programmer

Info

Publication number: GB2159653A
Application number: GB08501797A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patrick Bass; Constantine Michaelides; Dennis Walter Foscoe; Terence Raymond Sheppard; Nigel Ordish
Original assignee: United Gas Industries Ltd
Current assignee: United Gas Industries Ltd
Priority date: 1982-07-01
Filing date: 1985-01-24
Publication date: 1985-12-04
Also published as: GB8501797D0; GB2159653B

Abstract

An electronic programmer for use in a domestic central heating system providing both hot water and radiators has a liquid crystal (12) showing present time (13) and four adjustable programme times (14, 15, 16, 17). At each side of the display are vertical strips (18, 19) in which an arrow (21, 23) may be positioned in any four locations so as to point at a selected one of four permanent program me markings, adjacent the display. Buttons (26) and (27) when repeatedly pressed cause the arrow to step down through its possible locations so as both to select the programme and to display which programme has been selected. Other embodiments show switches located adjacent each programme time display, operation of which makes the adjacent time operative or inoperative. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Central heating programmer This invention relates to a central heating programmer, i.e. a device which controls a timed programme of heating periods for central heating and/or hot water systems.

The invention provides a central heating programmer having a liquid crystal for displaying simultaneous representations of present time and two pairs of programme times defining the start and finish of two possible heating periods, means for selecting one of a plurality of programmes in which any or all of said programme times are selectively used to start or finish a heating period, and for displaying a representation of which of said programmes has been selected.

Said selecting means and programme displaying means may be combined in a series of switches, one adjacent each programme time, which switches are manually operable to render the adjacent time operative or inoperative and also visually indicate which has been so operated. The switches may be slider switches or push button switches.

There may be two such series of switches, one relating to a central heating system and the other to a hot water system. Alternatively, there may be one series of switches and a further series of selection switches providing a number of different programme combinations for central heating and hot water systems.

In another arrangement the programme selected is displayed on the liquid crystal display itself, the means for selecting the programme comprising switch means adjacent the display.

The programme selected may be displayed by a movable indicator, e.g. an arrow. Alternatively, it may be displayed by ON or OFF wording selectively displayed adjacent the appropriate programme time.

The programmer has electrical and/or electronic circuits for carrying out the functions necessary to produce control signals to cause said heating periods to take place. It will be understood that the various switches and selections described herein command these circuits to carry out the selections made, as well as controlling the display. However, this invention is concerned with the display, which is the interface between the user and the circuits and with providing a clear indication to the user of what programme is at present set into the circuits and of what the user has to do to alter it.

Some specific embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a first programmer, Figure 1 b is a variation of the programmer of Figure 1, Figure 2 is a front view of a second programmer, Figure 3 is a front view of a third programmer, Figure 4 is a front view of a fourth programmer, and Figure 5 is a front view of a fifth programmer.

Referring first to Figure 1, an electronic programmer for use in a domestic central heating system providing both hot water and heated radiators comprises a housing with a square front elevation shown in the drawing.

Disposed above centre in said front elevation is a rectangular liquid crystsl display (12).

This is controlled by a microprocessor (not shown) mounted in the housing so as to display present time (13) and four adjustable programme times (14, 15, 16, 17) at which times the hot water or radiator systems are to be turned on or off. The micro-processor also provides control signals for a pump, valves and electric switches required to carry out the commands of the programmer, and the housing also has relays operated by said control signals.

As shown, the programme times are arranged in a vertical line down the centre of the liquid crystsl display, while the present time is displayed on a strip across the top of the display. At each side of the programme times are vertical strips (18, 1 g) also comprising part of the liquid crystal display. At the top of the strip (18) is a symbol (20) representing the hot water system, in this case by a tap, which symbol is lit up during any period of time when the hot water system is operating, and which is extinguished at other times.

The symbol (20) also indicates that the information on strip (18) relates to the hot water system, as described further below. Beneath symbol (20) in strip (18) an arrow (21) may be displayed in any one of four vertically spaced positions. Adjacent strip (18) not forming part of the liquid crystal display, are permanent programme markings on the housing surrounding the liquid crystal. These read "CONT", "ONCE", "TWICE" and "OFF" and are arranged in a vertical row, each marking being horizontally aligned with one of the four vertically-spaced positions of arrow (21)so that the arrow head points at a selected one of the markings. When the arrow points at "CONT", the hot water heating system operates at all times whatever the programme times are.When the arrow points at "ONCE", the hot water heating system comes on at time (14), goes off at time (17) and ignores the intervening times. When the arrow points at "TWICE" the hot water heating system comes on at time (14), off at time (15), on at time (16) and off at time (17).

When the arrow points at "OFF", the hot water heating system does not operate.

Similarly at the top of strip (19) is a symbol (22) representing the central heating system by a radiator, which is lit up during any period of time when the radiators are operating, and which is extinguished at other times.

Beneath the symbol an arrow (23) points at a selected one of another series of programme markings similar to those described above, but these being related to the programme selected for the central heating system.

Beneath the liquid crystal display a number of push buttons are mounted in the housing for the purpose of altering the instructions to the micro-processor and thereby the display which sets out what instructions the microprocessor is presently following.

Times button (24) and set button (25) are used to alter the various times displayed as follows. The times button (24) is pressed once which causes the present time display (13) to start flashing on and off. If it is desired to adjust the present time displayed, then set button (25) is pressed. While this button is held down the present time advances. If the set button is held down for more than 3 seconds, the rate of advance increases. When the desired time is displayed, the set button is released and normal control restored to the micro-processor.

If the times button (24) is pressed again, present time display (13) ceases flashing but the first programme time (14) starts flashing.

Operation of set button (25) then alters programme time (14). If the time button is pressed again, then programme time (15) starts flashing, when pressed again programme time (16) starts flashing, when pressed again programme time (17) starts flashing, and when pressed again all the times are still. Only that time display which is flashing is altered by the set button, so to alter any particular time, button (24) is pressed repeatedly until that time starts flashing, the adjustment is made with button (25) and then button (24) is repeatedly pressed until the whole display is still.

Button (26) marked "HOT WATER" causes arrow (21) to step down to the next below position each time it is pressed, returning to the topmost "CONT" position every fourth time it is pressed. Button (27) marked "H EAT- ING" causes arrow (23) to step down in a similar manner.

Buttons (29) and (29') over-ride the existi g operation of the hot water and central heating systems respectively to change an existing "ON" operation to "OFF" or an existing "OFF" operation to "ON".

It will be noted that the programme selection in this embodiment is very simply achieved by repeatedly pressing buttons (26) or (27) until the respective arrows point at the desired programme. The arrows then remain on that position providing a permanent indication so that the user can see at a glance what programme is being used, and, when he is altering the programme, what he has to do to carry out the alteration. It will be appreciated that the buttons (26) and (27) convey instructions to the micro-processor to carry out the selected programme, which instruction is represented by the position of the arrow.

The programmer of Figure 1 b is generally similar to that of Figure 1 and has the same reference numerals used for the same items.

In this liquid crystal display, however, the symbols for hot water and central heating are omitted from strips (18) and (19) and replaced by the letters HW and CH at the bottom of the strips. Times button (24), as in Figure 1, selects which time is to be adjusted, but in this embodiment two set buttons (25) and (25') provide either forward or reverse time adjustment as desired.

In Figure 2 is shown another electronic programmer with an elongated horizontal liquid crystal display (60). The display starts with a section (61) showing present time, followed by a central horizontal row (62) showing the programme times in succession.

Above the row (62) is a top horizontal row (31) providing for selected displays of the word ON adjacent the first programme time, OFF adjacent the second programme time, ON adjacent the third programme time and OFF adjacent the fourth programme time. On the casing adjacent the row (31) are the words "HOT WATER" indicating that a programme set up on row (31) relates to the hot water system.

Below the row (62) is a bottom horizontal row (32) providing for selected displays of the words ON, OFF adjacent the programme times in a similar manner to that described in relation to row (31). On the casing adjacent the row (32) are the words "CENTRAL HEAT" indicating that a programme set up on row (32) relates to the central heating system.

To select a programme for the hot water system "H/W TIMES" button (63) below the display in depressed an appropriate number of times. Each time it is depressed a succeeding ON or OFF display is lit up along the top row (31). When the operation which it is wished to set in to the micro-processor in lit up, set button (64) in depressed. This feeds the instruction into the micro-processor, whereafter the selected word remains lit up. The user may elect to have the hot water system start operating at either or both ON times and to cease operating at either or both OFF times, and the programme selected in easily read by following the sequence of the illuminated ON or OFF signs. Similarly, the programme for the central heating system may be selected by use of "C/H TIMES" button and the same set button (64).

It will be noted that thin programme selection display dinpenses with the "CONT", "ONCE", "TWICE", "OFF" nomenclature of Figure 1 and uses a different method of determining the programme to be used. By tying an ON or OFF indication to the pro gramme time at which the ON or OFF opera tion is to take place, the user is given a more positive representation of what the pro gramme he is setting up actually does.

Figure 3 shows yet another way of convey ing programme information. A rectangular liquid crystal display (67) forms the top part of a rectangular programmer, all the manual controls being in the bottom part (68).

The display comprises a top horizontsl strip (70) showing present time. Beneath this are two horizontal linear time and programme strips (71, 72). These are read in conjunction with a permanent linear 12-hour scale (73), and represent the morning operations.

The period of time for which the central heating system and hot water system operate in the morning are shown by a linear section (74) beginning at the ON time and ending at the OFF time and filled in with banding to give the impression of being a solid section.

The ON and OFF times are read against the hour scale, and therefore lie between midnight and midday.

Further linear time strips (75, 76) beneath the hour scale (73) show afternoon times, i.e.

from midday to midnight, and are also read against the same hour scale (73). It will be seen that the hours 1 to 1 2 of hour scale (73) represent morning times in relation to strips (71, 72) and afternoon times in relation to strips (75, 76).

As shown in the drawing, the afternoon strips (75, 76) have a banded section (77) which extends only across the central heating strip (75) not across the hot water strip. Thin indicates that the programme selected for the afternoon has only a central heating operation, the hot water system not being operated.

A solid line (79) indicates present time on the linear time strips, duplicating the digital indication at (70). The digital indication may in an alternative arrangement be omitted.

The bands filling in the banded section are spaced apart at 15-minute dintances related to the linear hour scale. The time indications are therefore only accurate to 1 5 minutes and can only be altered in 15-minute steps.

Alterations to the programme times and setting in of a programme are carried out using the buttons grouped in the section marked "AUTO SET" immediately beneath the liquid crystal display. In a similar manner to that described in relation to Figure 1, time button (80) when pressed repeatedly steps through the five times displayed so that each can be selected for change. When the present time (70) is set up for change it flashes on and off as before and can then be altered by pressing set button (82). When the other programme times are set up for change, the appropriate end band of the banded section flashes on and off. Set button (82) is then used to change the position of the selected end band, the banding filling the section automatically adjusting to fill the new length section.

In order to set in an individual programme for the central heating system "C H" button (83) is pressed once. This causes the end band at the beginning of the central heating morning programme to flash on and off, i.e.

only that half of the band in strip (71) flashed, not that in strip (72). If this programme time is not to be used to start a morning central heating period, the ON/OFF button (85) is pressed once to an OFF condition and then set button (82) pressed to enter the command into the micro-processor memory. If the programme time in to be used to start a morning central heating period then button (85) is pressed again to an ON condition and set button (82) in pressed. "CH" button (83) is then pressed again, the beginning band of section (74) ceases flashing and the end band of section (74) in the central heating strip (71) starts flashing. This time is also programmed to operate or not to operate the central heating via switches (83), (85) and (82). Similarly, the afternoon times are programmed to operate or not.The procedure in then repeated for the water heating system using button (84) to cycle through the times but the end bands in strips (72) and (76) flashing this time.

Figure 4 shows another form of electronic programmer in which a liquid crystal display (90) has a vertical row of present time and four programme times, as in Figure 1. A programme in set into a single row of four push buttons (91, 92, 93, 94) one adjacent each of the four programme times. When button (91) in depressed the first programme time will be used to turn the system on, when button (92) is depressed the second programme time will be used to turn the system off, and so on. Any selection of buttons may be so selected. Each button which has been operated remains depressed so providing a visual indication of what programme is set up.

When pressed again, each depressed button pops up.

Times button (95) and set button (96) are for changing the displayed times as described in relation to Figure 1.

Over-ride buttons (98, 99) operate to override the hot water and central heating systems respectively, and red lights (98', 99') indicate when either one is operating.

At the right hand side of the programmer in a vertical row of push buttons which provide further manual control of the programme in conjunction with the buttons (91, 92, 93, 94). When the top button (101) is pressed both hot water and central heating systems are off at all times. When the next below button (102) is pressed the central heating system in off at all times, the hot water system being on at all times. When the next below button (103) is pressed the central heating is off at all times and the hot water system operates according to the progr e set in to buttons (91, 92, 93, 94). When the next below button (104) is pressed both hot water and central heating systems operate continuously. When the next below button (105) is pressed both hot water and central heating systems operate the programme setsin to buttons (91, 92, 93, 94).When the bottom button (106) is pressed the central heating system operates the programme set in to buttons (91, 92, 93, 94), and the hot water operates continuously.

With this arrangement, although only one programme in set in for both hot water and radiators using the single set of buttons (91, 92, 93, 94), it is possible to provide a limited number of different options for hot water and central heating by selection of one of the buttons (101) to (106). These buttons are of the press to operate, press to release kind where the operated button remains depressed until released by depressing another button.

In other arrangements the buttons (101) to (106) may provide different options.

Figure 5 shows another electronic programmer having a liquid crystal display (110) showing present time and four programme tines in a vertical row as in Figure 1. Beside the display in a vertical row of four slider switches(111,112, 113, 114) one switch adjacent each of the programme times. The switches are movable horizontally into leftward operative positions in which they uncover ON, OFF wording to show which of the programme times in thus rendered operative.

Beneath the display, times button (116) and set button (11 7) are used to change the set times as described above.

At the right of the programmer a vertical row of push buttons (118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123) provide different options for hot water and central heating systems as described in relation to Figure 4.

Claims

1. A central heating programmer having a liquid crystal for displaying simultaneous representations of present time and two pairs of programme times defining the start and finish of two possible heating periods, means for selecting one of a plurality of programmes in which any or all of said programme times are selectively used to start or finish a heating period, and for displaying a representation of which of said programmes has been selected.

2. A central heating programmer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said representation of which programme has been selected is displayed on the liquid crystal.

3. A central heating programmer as clained in claim 2, wherein said representation comprises an arrow indicator the location of which may be moved so that the arrow points at an appropriate one of a series of permanent programme descriptions.

4. A central heating programmer as claimed in claim 3, wherein said programme times are shown in a normally vertical series down the centre of the display and there are, at either side of the vertical series, vertical strips providing vertical series of locations for said arrow indicator adjacent vertical series of programme descriptions on a housing for the programmer adjacent the liquid crystal display, one of said vertical strips relating to hot water programmes and the other to central heating programmes.

5. A central heating programmer as claimed in claim 4, wherein said casing carries a hot water button, repeated operation of which causes the arrow indicator for the hot water programme to step down through its possible locations until a desired programme for the hot water is indicated, and a central heating button, repeated operation of which causes the arrow indicator for the central heating programme to step down through its possible locations until a desired programme for the central heating is indicated.

6. A central heating programmer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said selecting means and programme displaying means are combined in a series of switches, one adjacent each programme time, which switches are manually operable to render the adjacent programme time operative or inoperative amd also visually indicate which switch has been so operated.

7. A central heating programmer as claimed in claim 6, wherein said switches are push button switches which remain depressed when operated to indicate that they have been operated.

8. A central heating programmer as claimed in claim 6, wherein said switches are slider switches which when operated uncover appropriate ON or OFF wording.

9. A central heating programmer as claimed in claim 1 in which said representation is substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to Figures 1, 1 b, or 2 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A central heating programmer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said programme displaying means in combined with the programme time display in one or more horizontal linear time strips, sections of which are filled with banding to indicate the period of a heating period, one side of the strip relating to hot water operation and the other to central heating, so that different programmes are shown by banding of the appropriate side or sides of the strip.

10. A central heating programmer as claimed in any of claims 1, or 5 to 8, comprising also a further series of selection switches providing a number of different programme combinations for central heating and hot water systems.

11. A central heating programmer substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to Figure 1, or Figure 1 b, or Figure 2, or Figure 3, or Figure 4, or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

CLAIMS Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows:

1. A central heating programmer having a liquid crystal for displaying a representation of which of a number of heating programmes has been selected wherein said representation comprises an indicator, the location of which can be moved on the crystal so as to point at an appropriate one of a series of permanent programme descriptions adjacent the crystal.

2. A central heating programmer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said crystal has one or more location strips along one or more edges of the crystal, providing a series of locations for the indicator display, and the permanent programme descriptions are on a housing for the programmer adjacent said strip or strips.

3. A central heating programmer as claimed in claim 2, wherein there are two normally vertical location strips, one either side of the liquid crystal, one of said vertical strips relating to hot water programmes and the other to central heating programmes.

4. A central heating programmer as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said housing carries a manual button for the or each location strip, repeated operation of which causes the respective indicator to step through its possible locations until a desired programme is indicated and thus selected.

5. A central heating programmer as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the same liquid crystal displays also representations of present time and two pairs of programme times defining the start and finish of two possible heating times.

6. A central heating programmer as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said permanent programme descriptions comprise wording descriptive of programmes in which the heating comes on for one period during the day, for two periods during the day, permanently on during the day and permanently off during the day.

7. A central heating programmer as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, in which said indicator comprises the image of an arrow.

8. A central heating programmer as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, comprising aleo control circuitry adapted to carry out the programme selected by the representation.