ESD PROTECTION MECHANISM FOR AN HVAC CONTROLLER

• US 20140321011A1
• Filed: 05/01/2014
• Published: 10/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Bisson, Reed, Cechak, Jaromir, Gabas, Tomas
• Granted Patent: US 9,784,468 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/56
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/76 by means responsive to temperature, e.g. bimetal springs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/20 Casings or covers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0088 of the light guide or other optical sheets in the package
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/19 characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1919 characterised by the type of controller
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 9/04 responsive to excess voltage lightning arrestors H01C7/12, H01C8/04, H01G9/18, H01T
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0215 Grounding of printed circuits by connection to external grounding means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1427 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49126 Assembling bases

Abstract

An electronic sub-assembly for an HVAC Controller may include a touch screen display and a printed circuit board. The touch screen display including a viewing side and a non-viewing side. A conductive trace may be disposed on the viewing side of the touch screen display adjacent a perimeter of the touch screen display. The printed circuit board, which may include a grounding feature, may be positioned adjacent the non-viewing side of the touch screen display. A connector may be in electrical communication with the conductive trace and the grounding feature of the printed circuit board.

Claims

1. An electronic sub-assembly, comprising:

a touch screen display having a viewing side and a non-viewing side;

a conductive trace on the viewing side of the touch screen display and adjacent a perimeter of the touch screen display;

a printed circuit board positioned adjacent the non-viewing side of the touch screen display, the printed circuit board having a grounding feature; and

a connector in electrical communication with the conductive trace and the grounding feature of the printed circuit board.

2. The electronic assembly of claim 1, further comprising a housing for housing the touch screen display, the printed circuit board and the connector, the housing having an aperture that exposes at least part of the viewing side of the touch screen display.

3. The electronic assembly of claim 2, wherein the conductive trace extends adjacent a perimeter of the exposed part of the touch screen display.

4. The electronic assembly of claim 3, wherein the conductive trace is positioned between the viewing side of the touch screen display and the housing.

5. The electronic assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive trace is configured to collect Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) entering between the viewing side of the touch screen display and the housing, and to deliver the collected ESD to the grounding feature of the printed circuit board via the connector.

6. The electronic assembly of claim 5, further comprising a layer over at least part of the conductive trace, wherein at least part of the conductive trace is exposed toward the viewing side of the touch screen display at one or more ESD collection sites.

7. The electronic assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive trace is spaced inward from the perimeter of the touch screen display.

8. The electronic assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive trace extends to the perimeter of the touch screen display.

9. The electronic assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive trace forms a closed loop.

10. The electronic assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive trace include at least one gap so as to not form a closed loop.

11. The electronic assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a frame engaging the touch screen display; and

wherein the frame releasably connects to the printed circuit board to mechanically fix the touch screen display with respect to the printed circuit board.

12. An electronic assembly, comprising:

a touch screen display having a viewing side and a non-viewing side;

a connector extending from the touch screen display and electrically connecting the touch screen display to a printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board is positioned adjacent the non-viewing side of the touch screen display;

a frame releasably connecting the printed circuit board and the touch screen display; and

a conductive trace extending at least substantially around the viewing side of the touch screen display, wherein the conductive trace is in electrical communication with the printed circuit board via the connector.

13. The electronic assembly of claim 12, wherein the touch screen display includes a foil layer, and the conductive trace is applied over the foil layer.

14. The electronic assembly of claim 13, wherein the foil layer and the conductive trace are both spaced inward from an outer edge of the touch screen display.

15. The electronic assembly of claim 12, wherein the touch screen display comprises a plurality of holes spaced inward from an edge of the touch screen display and through at least part of the touch screen display down to the conductive trace.

16. The electronic assembly of claim 12, wherein the conductive trace is configured to collect Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) entering from the viewing side of the touch screen display, and to deliver the collected ESD to the printed circuit board via the connector.

17. The electronic assembly of claim 16, further comprising a layer over at least part of the conductive trace, wherein at least part of the conductive trace is exposed toward the viewing side of the touch screen display at one or more ESD collection sites.

18. The electronic assembly of claim 12, wherein:

the conductive trace has a first portion extending substantially around the viewing side of the touch screen display and spaced from an outer edge of the touch screen display; and

the conductive trace further having a second portion that includes a plurality of strips spaced from one another and extending from the first portion toward the outer edge of the touch screen display.

19. A method of forming an electronic sub-assembly, comprising:

providing a conductive trace on a viewing side of a touch screen display adjacent a perimeter of the touch screen display;

positioning a printed circuit board adjacent a non-viewing side of the touch screen display, the printed circuit board having a grounding feature; and

electrically connecting the conductive trace and the grounding feature of the printed circuit board.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

removably fixing the touch screen display in a frame; and

removably fixing the frame to the printed circuit board.