SWITCH FOR MULTI FUNCTION CONTROL

• US 20120169675A1
• Filed: 12/31/2010
• Published: 07/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Braeburn Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Braeburn Systems LLC
• Inventors: Moore, Glenn A., Soderlund, Ernest E., Poplawski, Daniel S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,690,074 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/184
• 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 11/39 Monitoring filter performance
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means

Abstract

The invention provides for a controller such as a thermostat for an air handler comprising a housing having a circuit board and a display screen, the display screen having at least one alpha-numeric icon and a group of touch sensitive areas comprising at least two displayable touch sensitive areas. A microprocessor provided for the display screen. A sole mechanical button or switch is mounted in the housing and the button has a first end and second end and a touch surface extending between the first end and second end. The sole mechanical button signals the microprocessor in order to adjust the alpha-numeric icon, so that the combination of inputs received by the microprocessor from the group of touch pad sensitive areas and sole mechanical button provide for each and every adjustment required for all of the operational functions of the controller. The mechanical button may be a rocker switch.

Claims

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

12-1. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a pocket and the rocker switch is mounted within the pocket, so that the bar may be rocked therein.

13-2. The thermostat of claim 12, wherein the rocker switch includes a first actuator extending from the first end, a second actuator extending from the second end, and a pivot member disposed between the first and second actuator and the pocket includes a first aperture and the first actuator extends from the bar through the first aperture to the first receptor;

the second actuator extends from the bar through the first aperture to the second receptor; and

the pivot member extends from the bar through the first aperture to the circuit board.

24. The thermostat of claim 24, wherein the modification includes display of a halo around the first icon.

25. The thermostat of claim 25, wherein following display of the halo and depression of the bar;

the halo is deactivated and the first icon is adjusted to reflect the first value.

29. A controller for an air handler comprising:

a housing having a circuit board and a display screen, the display screen having at least one alpha-numeric icon and a group of touch sensitive area comprising at least two displayable touch sensitive area;

a microprocessor for controlling the display screen;

a sole mechanical button mounted in the housing and the button having a first end and second end and a touch sensitive area surface extending between the first end and second end; and

the sole mechanical button for signaling the microprocessor in order to the alpha-numeric icon, so that the combination of inputs received by the microprocessor from the group of touch sensitive area and sole mechanical button provide for each and every adjustment required for all of the operational functions of the controller.

30. The controller of claim 29, wherein the mechanical button is a pivotally mounted rocker switch, having a first and second position.

31. The controller of claim 30, wherein the button is mounted in an aperture formed in a front face of the housing so that the touch sensitive area surface is completely exposed at the front face and upon operation of the mechanical button a user may slide her finger, without interruption, from the first end to the second end of the button along the touch sensitive area surface in order to displace the button from the first position to the second position.

32. The controller of claim 31, wherein the button is a rocker switch pivotally mounted within the housing.

33. The controller of claim 31, wherein the button is a rigid member molded of a single integrated bar.