HVAC Controller Dual-Input Navigation for Carousel Screen Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional HVAC controllers lack intuitive user interfaces that allow for seamless navigation and efficient control of temperature settings and other parameters, often requiring users to navigate through complex menus without the ability to change screens based on multiple types of user inputs.
Innovation Solution
The HVAC controller features a digital user interface with a rotatable dial and touch-sensitive screen, allowing users to change temperature setpoints, navigate through carousel screens, and access detailed information by rotating the dial or swiping on the screen, providing a hierarchical navigation system that improves user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional HVAC controllers use a single type of input method, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to limited navigation options
Solution Approach 1:
The HVAC controller integrates multiple input methods (rotational dial and touch-sensitive screen) into a single device, allowing users to navigate through carousel screens and access controls using either method. This multi-functional approach improves ease of operation without requiring separate devices for each input type.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller dynamically responds to different input types by interpreting rotational movements for screen navigation and touch swipes for direct screen interaction. The system adapts its response based on the input method used, enabling flexible navigation through temperature settings, carousel screens, and control menus.
2Loss of information
If the HVAC controller displays all information on a single screen, then the device complexity is reduced, but the loss of information increases due to space limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The display system divides information into multiple carousel screens that can be rotated through using the dial or touch interface. Each screen segment displays specific information (temperature, humidity, air quality, etc.), allowing comprehensive information presentation without overwhelming a single screen while maintaining a relatively simple display hardware structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the HVAC controller requires navigation through complex menus, then the adaptability is improved for detailed control, but the loss of time increases for simple operations
Solution Approach 1:
The most frequently accessed controls and information are positioned on the main carousel screen visible without rotation, allowing users to perform common operations immediately. Less frequently used functions are arranged in subsequent screens that require minimal rotation, reducing the time for simple operations while maintaining comprehensive control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotational dial and touch swipe mechanisms enable users to quickly skip through carousel screens to reach desired controls or information, bypassing the need to methodically navigate through each screen in sequence. This accelerates access to both common and uncommon functions.
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, a device can control one or more heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) components within a building and control a digital user interface. The device includes a dial, the digital user interface, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to scroll, in response to detecting a set of user inputs to one or both of the digital user interface and the dial, through a sequence of carousel screens for display on the digital user interface and display, on the digital user interface after a period of time following a most recent user input of the set of user inputs, a default carousel screen of the sequence of carousel screens. Additionally, the processing circuitry is configured to display, on the digital user interface, an idle screen corresponding to the default carousel screen of the sequence of carousel screens.