Thermostat with offset drive

• US 20050279841A1
• Filed: 06/22/2004
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Schwendinger, Paul G., Ableitner, Jason L., Redmann, Tim M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,159,790 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/1.C
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/526 giving audible indications
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value

Abstract

A thermostat having a thermostat housing and a rotatable selector rotatably coupled to the thermostat housing via a support member. The rotatable selector is adapted to have a range of rotatable positions, wherein a desired parameter value is identified by the position of the rotatable selector along the range of rotatable positions. The thermostat further includes a mechanical to electrical translator that is laterally offset relative to the support member for translating the mechanical position of the rotatable selector to an electrical signal that is related to the desired parameter value.

Claims

1. A thermostat comprising:

a thermostat housing;

a rotatable selector rotatably coupled to the thermostat housing via a support member, the rotatable selector having a range of rotatable positions, wherein a desired parameter value is identified by the position of the rotatable selector along the range of rotatable positions; and

a mechanical to electrical translator laterally offset relative to the support member for translating the mechanical position of the rotatable selector to an electrical signal that is related to the desired parameter value.

2. A thermostat according to claim 1 wherein the mechanical to electrical translator includes a potentiometer having a rotatable shaft and one or more gears, wherein the one or more gears translate the mechanical position of the rotatable selector to a position of the rotatable shaft of the potentiometer, and the potentiometer translates the position of rotatable shaft to an electrical signal that is related to the desired parameter value.

3. A thermostat according to claim 2 wherein the rotatable selector is attached to a first gear having teeth, and the rotatable shaft is attached to a second gear having teeth, wherein the teeth of the first gear engage the teeth of the second gear.

4. A thermostat according to claim 3 wherein the first gear circumscribes the rotatable selector.

5. A thermostat according to claim 3 wherein the second gear circumscribes the rotatable shaft of the potentiometer.

6. A thermostat according to claim 3 wherein the first gear is larger than the second gear.

7. A thermostat according to claim 2 wherein the rotatable selector rotates in a range of 180 degrees or less, causing the potentiometer rotatable shaft to rotate in unity with the rotatable selector.

8. A thermostat according to claim 2 wherein the rotatable selector rotates a first number of degrees, causing the potentiometer rotatable member to rotate a second number of degrees, wherein the second number of degrees is greater than the first number of degrees.

9. A thermostat according to claim 1 wherein the mechanical to electrical translator includes one or more belts.

10. A thermostat according to claim 1 wherein the mechanical to electrical translator includes one or more engaging wheels.

11. A thermostat according to claim 1 further comprising a circuit board that is fixed relative to the thermostat housing, and wherein the mechanical to electrical translator includes a potentiometer mounted to the circuit board.

12. A thermostat according to claim 1 wherein the rotatable selector includes a face plate that is fixed relative to the support member, and a rotatable dial that is rotatable relative to the support member.

13. A thermostat according to claim 12 wherein the face plate includes a temperature scale, and the rotatable dial includes a pointer.

14. A thermostat according to claim 12 further comprising a temperature indicator fixed relative to the support member.

15. A thermostat according to claim 14 wherein the face plate includes a temperature scale and the temperature indicator includes a pointer.

16. A thermostat according to claim 15 wherein the temperature indicator includes a bi-metal thermometer.

17. A thermostat according to claim 12 wherein the face plate includes a logo region with a logo provided thereon.

18. A thermostat according to claim 12 further comprising a housing ring having an aperture therein, wherein the housing ring is fixed relative to the thermostat housing and the aperture is adapted to accept the face plate.

19. A thermostat according to claim 1 wherein the mechanical to electrical translator includes a magnetic position sensor.

20. A thermostat according to claim 1 wherein the mechanical to electrical translator includes a mechanical slider.

21. A thermostat according to claim 1 wherein the mechanical to electrical translator includes an optical position sensor.

22. A thermostat comprising:

a thermostat housing;

a rotatable selector rotatably coupled to the thermostat housing via a support member, the rotatable selector having a range of rotatable positions, wherein a desired parameter value is identified by the position of the rotatable selector along the range of rotatable positions, and the rotatable selector defines a rotatable selector surface area and the support member is disposed at a centroid of the rotatable selector surface area; and

a mechanical to electrical translator laterally offset relative to the support member for translating the mechanical position of the rotatable selector to an electrical signal that is related to the desired parameter value.

23. A thermostat comprising:

a thermostat housing defining a housing surface area, the housing surface area having a housing centroid;

a rotatable selector rotatably coupled to the thermostat housing via a support member, the rotatable selector having a range of rotatable positions, wherein a desired parameter value is identified by the position of the rotatable selector along the range of rotatable positions; and

a mechanical to electrical translator laterally offset relative to the support member and the housing centroid for translating the mechanical position of the rotatable selector to an electrical signal that is related to the desired parameter value.

24. A thermostat according to claim 23 wherein the support member is disposed at the housing centroid.

25. A thermostat comprising:

a thermostat housing;

a rotatable selector rotatably coupled to the thermostat housing via a support member, the rotatable selector having a range of rotatable positions, wherein a desired parameter value is identified by the position of the rotatable selector along the range of rotatable positions, the rotatable selector having a pattern thereon; and

a mechanical to electrical translator laterally offset relative to the support member for translating the mechanical position of the rotatable selector to an electrical signal that is related to the desired parameter value, the mechanical to electrical translator including means for sensing the pattern on the rotatable selector and to determine a mechanical position of the rotatable selector therefrom.

26. A thermostat according to claim 25 wherein the means for sensing includes an optical sensor.

27. A thermostat according to claim 25 wherein the means for sensing includes a magnetic sensor.

28. A thermostat according to claim 25 wherein the pattern is printed on the rotatable selector.

29. A thermostat according to claim 25 wherein the pattern is printed on a tape, and the tape is adhered to the rotatable selector.

30. A thermostat comprising:

a non-rotatable region;

a rotatable selector extending around at least part of the non-rotatable region, the rotatable selector having a range of rotatable positions, wherein a desired parameter value is identified by the position of the rotatable selector along the range of rotatable positions, the rotatable selector having a rotation axis; and

a mechanical to electrical translator laterally offset relative to the rotation axis for translating the mechanical position of the rotatable selector to an electrical signal that is related to the desired parameter value.

31. A thermostat according to claim 30 wherein the non-rotatable region includes a display.

32. A thermostat according to claim 30 wherein the non-rotatable region includes a button.

33. A thermostat according to claim 30 wherein the non-rotatable region includes an indicator light.

34. A thermostat according to claim 30 wherein the non-rotatable region includes a noise making device.

35. A thermostat according to claim 30 wherein the non-rotatable region includes a logo.

36. A thermostat comprising:

a display;

a rotatable selector having a range of rotatable positions relative to the display, wherein a desired parameter value is identified by the position of the rotatable selector along the range of rotatable positions, the rotatable selector having a rotation axis;

a mechanical to electrical translator laterally offset relative to the rotation axis of the rotatable selector for translating the mechanical position of the rotatable selector to an electrical signal that is related to the desired parameter value.

37. A thermostat according to claim 36 wherein the desired parameter value is displayed on the display.

38. A thermostat according to claim 37 wherein the desired parameter value that is displayed on the display changes as the rotatable selector is rotated.

39. A thermostat comprising:

a non-rotatable region;

a rotatable selector extending around at least part of the non-rotatable region, the rotatable selector having a range of rotatable positions, wherein a desired parameter value is identified by the position of the rotatable selector along the range of rotatable positions, the rotatable selector having a rotation axis; and

mechanical to electrical translator means laterally offset relative to the rotation axis for translating the mechanical position of the rotatable selector to an electrical signal that is related to the desired parameter value.