US 7,455,240 B2
Thermostat display system providing animated icons
John Gilman Chapman, Jr., Delaware, Ohio (US); Robert Burt, Columbus, Ohio (US); and Tony Gray, Dublin, Ohio (US)
Assigned to Ranco Incorporated of Delaware, Wilmington, Del. (US)
Filed on Aug. 31, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/216,426.
Prior Publication US 2007/0045433 A1, Mar. 01, 2007
Int. Cl. B64D 13/00 (2006.01); F24D 19/10 (2006.01); G05B 15/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 236—91D  [236/91 R; 700/83] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A thermostat for controlling heating and/or cooling equipment, comprising:
a user display screen for displaying operational information about the heating and/or cooling equipment controlled by the thermostat; and
wherein the thermostat displays at least one animated visual indication of operation of at least one of the heating and/or cooling equipment on the user display, the animated visual indication comprising a first icon positioned on the user display in a first orientation and a second icon positioned on the user display in a second orientation differing slightly from the first orientation, the thermostat alternatively displaying the first icon and the second icon.