ROTARY DIAL MECHANISM FOR A BUILDING AUTOMATION CONTROLLER

• US 20150159904A1
• Filed: 12/09/2014
• Published: 06/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Barton, Eric
• Application Number:
  US14/565,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20150159904A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/005 the substrate is supporting also the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• 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 11/526 giving audible indications
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• 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 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0096 the lights guides being of the hollow type
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/10 for surface mounting on a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/08 specially adapted for terminal emulation, e.g. Telnet
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/12 : Resilient or clamping means for holding component to structure

Abstract

An HVAC controller may include a first stationary housing component, a second stationary housing component is secured relative to the first stationary housing component and a rotatable ring situated therebetween. The rotatable ring may have a first side that is configured to slide along a surface of the first stationary housing component when the rotatable ring is rotated, and a second side that is configured to slide along a surface of the second stationary housing component when the rotatable ring is rotated. The first side of the rotatable ring may have an encoded surface that rotates with the rotatable ring, and a stationary encoder may face the encoded surface of the rotatable ring. The stationary encoder may be configured to provide an output signal that is indicative of rotation of the rotatable ring that is used by the HVAC controller as a user input.

Claims

1. An HVAC controller having a back side mountable to a wall, comprising:

a first stationary housing component;

a second stationary housing component secured relative to the first stationary housing component;

a rotatable ring situated between at least part of the first stationary housing component and at least part of the second stationary housing component;

the rotatable ring having a first side and a second opposing side, wherein the first side of the rotatable ring is configured to slide along a surface of the first stationary housing component when the rotatable ring is rotated, and the second side of the rotatable ring is configured to slide along a surface of the second stationary housing component when the rotatable ring is rotated;

the first side of the rotatable ring having an encoded surface that rotates with the rotatable ring; and

a stationary encoder facing the encoded surface of the rotatable ring, the stationary encoder configured to provide an output signal that is indicative of rotation of the rotatable ring that is used by the HVAC controller as an input.

2. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the encoded surface is encoded with an optical pattern, and the stationary encoder is an optical encoder.

3. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the first side of the rotatable ring and the surface of the first stationary housing component collectively define a labyrinth seal to confine grease.

4. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the surface of the second stationary housing component comprises one or more cantilevered dampeners.

5. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the first side of the rotatable ring faces away from the back side of the HVAC controller, and the stationary encoder faces toward the back side of the HVAC controller.

6. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the output signal of the stationary encoder indicates how far and in which direction the rotatable ring was rotated.

7. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the output signal of the stationary encoder is used by the HVAC controller as an adjustment to a temperature setpoint.

8. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the encoded surface comprises a reflective repeating pattern.

9. The HVAC controller of claim 8, wherein the reflective repeating pattern varies with respect to rotational position on the encoded surface.

10. A programmable thermostat comprising:

a base plate mountable to a vertical surface;

a thermostat housing removably securable to the base plate;

a rotatable ring rotatably secured to the thermostat housing, the rotatable ring including an encoded surface facing away from the base plate and an optical pattern formed on the encoded surface;

an optical encoder secured within the thermostat housing, the optical encoder facing towards the base plate and positioned to read the optical pattern on the rotatable ring;

one or more cantilevered dampeners engaging the rotatable ring; and

a controller disposed within the thermostat housing;

wherein rotation of the rotatable ring indicates a temperature setpoint change and the controller is configured to accept an input from the optical encoder indicating the temperature setpoint change.

11. The programmable thermostat of claim 10, wherein the optical encoder provides an output signal that indicates how far and in which direction the rotatable ring was rotated.

12. The programmable thermostat of claim 11, wherein rotation of the rotatable ring in a first direction is interpreted as a decrease in the temperature setpoint, and rotation in a second opposing direction is interpreted as an increase in the temperature setpoint.

13. The programmable thermostat of claim 10, wherein the optical pattern varies with respect to rotational position on the encoded surface.

14. The programmable thermostat of claim 10, wherein the thermostat housing defines a surface upon which a first side of the rotatable ring slides as the rotatable ring is rotated, and wherein the one or more cantilevered dampeners engaging a second opposing side of the rotatable ring.

15. The programmable thermostat of claim 14, wherein the first side of the rotatable ring and the surface of the thermostat housing collectively define a labyrinth seal to confine grease.

16. A programmable thermostat mountable to a wall, comprising:

a thermostat housing;

an annular shaped rotatable ring that is rotatably secured to the thermostat housing, the rotatable ring rotatable about a rotation axis;

the rotatable ring including an optical pattern on an encoded surface, wherein the encoded surface extends inward toward the rotation axis;

an optical encoder secured within the thermostat housing, the optical encoder positioned to read the optical pattern on the encoded surface;

the thermostat housing defining a first surface upon which a first side of the rotatable ring slides as the rotatable ring is rotated about the rotation axis, and further defining a second surface upon which a second opposing side of the rotatable ring slides as the rotatable ring is rotated about the rotation axis;

a controller disposed within the thermostat housing; and

wherein the controller is configured to accept an input from the optical encoder indicating a setpoint change.

17. The programmable thermostat of claim 16, wherein the first side of the rotatable ring and the first surface of the thermostat housing collectively define a labyrinth seal to confine grease.

18. The programmable thermostat of claim 16, wherein the second surface of the thermostat housing comprises one or more dampeners.

19. The programmable thermostat of claim 18, wherein the one or more dampeners comprise two or more cantilevered dampeners.

20. The programmable thermostat of claim 16, wherein the optical pattern varies with respect to rotational position on the encoded surface.