Building Controller with Separate User Interface for Ease of Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current building control systems lack improved usability, with existing solutions not effectively addressing the need for user-friendly interfaces and efficient control of building components, particularly in HVAC, security, and lighting systems.
Innovation Solution
A building control system featuring a wall-mountable controller with multiple ports and a separate user interface device that provides a touch screen display with menu screens for viewing and controlling points, managing alarms, and configuring settings, allowing users to select points for display and adjust programmable control values, with features like fast access lists and filter options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a building control system uses a basic controller without an integrated user interface, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to lack of direct user interaction capability
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional modules: a building controller for processing and a standalone user interface device for interaction. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
A communication interface acts as an intermediary between the building controller and the user interface device, enabling data exchange and control commands without requiring direct integration, thus maintaining system flexibility.
2Ease of operation
If a building control system integrates all control functions in one device, then ease of operation improves through unified interface, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into distinct functional units: the building controller handles processing and the separate user interface device handles interaction. This division maintains operational simplicity while reducing individual device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The user interface device is designed to be universally compatible with different building controllers through standardized communication protocols, allowing it to serve multiple functions across various system configurations.
3Ease of operation
If a building controller includes extensive display and control features, then ease of operation improves, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Complex display and control features are extracted from the building controller and placed in a separate user interface device. This extraction reduces the manufacturing complexity and cost of the controller while maintaining full interface functionality in the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The user interface device operates autonomously for display and user interaction purposes, requiring minimal processing resources from the building controller, thus reducing the overall system cost while maintaining functionality.
Data Source
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AI summary
A building control system includes a building controller and a user interface device operatively coupled to the building controller. The building controller is wall mountable and includes a plurality of ports for controlling one or more points that are associated with one or more plants of a building. The building controller controls the one or more points in accordance with one or more programmable point control values that are associated with one or more points. The user interface device provides a user interface for operating the building controller and is configured to display a plurality of menu screens on a display that allow a user to view one or more of the points, change the programmable control value for one or more of the points, and view one or more alarms generated by the building controller for one or more of the points.