Status indicator for a controller

• US 20050247865A1
• Filed: 05/06/2004
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Readio, Philip O., Takach, Eugene J., Kalla, Arnie P.
• Application Number:
  US10/841,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20050247865A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/239
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/34 the beams of light being detected by photocells

Abstract

A controller housing for use with a controller that may include a location for a status light emitting source. The controller housing may be adapted to hide from view the location for the status light emitting source when the status light emitting source is not present and/or when the status light emitting source is present but not emitting light, but still allow at least some light emitted by an installed and activated status light emitting source to pass though the wall of the controller housing and be viewed from outside of the housing.

Claims

1. A housing for a controller, wherein the controller includes a location for a light emitter, the housing comprising:

a wall having a first region that is adjacent the location for the light emitter when the housing is fixed to the controller, the first region is made from a material that prevents the viewing of the location for the light emitter when the light emitter is not present or when the light emitter is present but not emitting light, and allows at least some of the light emitted by the light emitter to pass though and be viewed, when the light emitter is present and emitting light.

2. The housing of claim 1 wherein the first region includes a pattern that can be viewed when at least some of the light emitted by the light emitter passes through the first region.

3. The housing of claim 1 wherein the wall includes a second region that extends around the first region, the first region of the wall includes a first wall thickness and the second region of the wall includes a second wall thickness, wherein the second wall thickness is greater than the first wall thickness.

4. The housing of claim 3 wherein the first region and the second region are made from the same material.

5. The housing of claim 3 wherein the second wall thickness is adapted to prevent sufficient light emitted by the light emitter, if present, to be viewed.

6. The housing of claim 1 wherein the light emitter includes an LED.

7. The housing of claim 1 wherein the light emitter includes an end of a light pipe.

8. A housing for a controller, wherein the controller includes a location for a light emitter, the housing comprising:

a wall having a first region that is adjacent the location for the light emitter when the housing is fixed to the controller, and a second region that is adjacent to the first region; and

the first region having a first wall thickness and the second region having a second wall thickness, the second wall thickness being greater than the first wall thickness.

9. The housing of claim 8 wherein the first region and the second region are made from the same material.

10. The housing of claim 8 wherein the second region extends around the first region.

11. The housing of claim 8 wherein the light emitter includes an LED.

12. The housing of claim 8 wherein the light emitter includes an end of a light pipe.

13. The housing of claim 8 wherein the first region and the second region are made from a material that prevents the viewing of the location for the light emitter when the light emitter is not present or present and not emitting light.

14. The housing of claim 13 wherein the first wall thickness is adapted to allow at least some of the light emitted by the light emitter, when present, to pass and be viewed.

15. The housing of claim 14 wherein the second wall thickness is adapted to prevent sufficient light emitted by the light emitter, when present, to be viewed.

32. The controller according to claim 12, wherein the thinner region includes a pattern.

33. A controller according to claim 32, wherein the pattern is visible only when the status light source is activated.

16. A controller comprising:

a controller having a location for a light emitter;

a controller housing having an inner surface and an outer surface, the controller housing adapted to be fixed relative to the controller with at least part of the inner surface facing the location for the light emitter; and

the controller housing being formed from a material that prevents a user from viewing the location for the light emitter from outside of the outer surface and allows emitted light to diffuse through the controller housing to the outer surface when a light emitter is at the location for the light emitter and activated by the controller.

17. A controller according to claim 16 wherein the controller includes a light emitter at the location for the light emitter, and the controller activates the light emitter to indicate a status of the controller.

18. A controller according to claim 17, wherein the light emitter is a LED.

19. A controller according to claim 16, wherein the controller housing is of a unitary construction.

20. A controller according to claim 16, wherein the controller housing includes a first region having a first thickness and a second region having a second thickness, wherein the first region is adjacent the location for the light emitter, and the first thickness is less than the second thickness.

21. A controller according to claim 20, wherein the first thickness is 75% or less of the second thickness.

22. A controller according to claim 21, wherein the first thickness is 50% or less of the second thickness.

23. A controller according to claim 22, wherein the first thickness is 25% or less of the second thickness.

24. A controller according to claim 20, wherein the first region includes a pattern.

25. A controller according to claim 24, wherein the pattern is on the inner surface of the controller housing and is only visible from outside the controller housing when the light emitter is activated.

26. A controller comprising:

a controller having a status light source, the status light source configured to emit status light to indicate a status of the controller;

a controller housing fixed relative to the controller, the controller housing having a thicker region of a first thickness and a thinner region of a second thickness, wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness, the thinner region being adjacent the status light source when the controller housing is fixed to the controller, the controller housing being adapted to hide the status light source when the status light source is not activated and allows emitted status light to diffuse through the thinner region when the status light source is activated.

27. A controller according to claim 26, wherein the controller is an HVAC controller.

28. A controller according to claim 26, wherein the controller housing has a front surface with a first thickness of from 1 mm to 3 mm.

29. A controller according to claim 28, wherein the second thickness is 75% or less of the first thickness.

30. A controller according to claim 29, wherein the second thickness is 50% or less of the first thickness.

31. A controller according to claim 30, wherein the second thickness is 25% or less of the first thickness.

34. A method for providing a controller, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a controller having a location for a light emitter;

providing a controller housing, wherein the controller housing includes a wall with a first region that, when the controller housing is fixed to the controller, the first region is adjacent the location for the light emitter, the first region being formed from a material that prevents the viewing of the location for the light emitter when the light emitter is not present or when the light emitter is present but not emitting light, and allows at least some of the light emitted by the light emitter to pass though and be viewed, when the light emitter is present and emitting light; and

fixing the controller housing to the controller.

35. A method according to claim 34 further comprising the step of:

providing a light emitter at the location for the light emitter prior to fixing the controller housing to the controller.

36. A method according to claim 34 wherein the controller is an HVAC controller.

37. A method of illuminating a status indicator on a controller comprising the steps of:

providing a controller having a status light source and a controller housing having an inner surface adjacent to the status light source and an outer surface, wherein the controller housing is adapted to hide the status light source when the status light source is inactive; and

activating the status light source to illuminate the inner surface and diffuse light to the outer surface of the controller housing adjacent to the status light source.

38. A method according to claim 37 wherein the controller is an HVAC controller.