HVAC CONTROLLER WITH THERMISTOR BIASED AGAINST AN OUTER HOUSING

• US 20150163945A1
• Filed: 12/09/2014
• Published: 06/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Barton, Eric, Marak, Pavel, Kucera, Vaclav, Wolff, Steve, Schwendinger, Paul, Takach, Eugene, Aljabari, Mohammad
• Application Number:
  US14/565,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20150163945A1
• 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

Claims

1. An HVAC controller comprising:

a housing having an outer housing wall;

a circuit board within the housing;

a flexible circuit electrically coupled to the circuit board, the flexible circuit providing a bias force toward a non-flexed state when flexed; and

a temperature sensor electrically coupled to the flexible circuit, wherein the flexible circuit is mounted in a flexed configuration within the housing such that the bias force of the flexible circuit biases the temperature sensor against the outer housing wall.

2. The HVAC controller of claim 1, further comprising an intermediate circuit board disposed between the circuit board and the flexible circuit, wherein the intermediate circuit board includes a connector to electrically connect the intermediate circuit board and the circuit board.

3. The HVAC controller of claim 2, wherein the flexible circuit is physically connected to the intermediate circuit board.

4. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor comprises a thermistor.

5. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the bias force of the flexible circuit biases the temperature sensor into physical contact with an inside surface of the outer housing wall.

6. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the housing wall includes a housing front face.

7. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the flexible circuit is mounted such that the temperature sensor is positioned within a pocket formed in the housing.

8. The HVAC controller of claim 7, wherein the HVAC controller includes a plurality of heat producing components positioned inside of the housing, and wherein the temperature sensor is positioned within a pocket formed in the housing such that the temperature sensor is isolated from the plurality of heat producing components.

9. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein one or more components of the HVAC controller are configured to engage and retain the flexible circuit in the flexed configuration.

10. A programmable thermostat comprising:

a temperature sensor mounted on a flexible circuit element;

a daughterboard connected to the flexible circuit element;

a motherboard connected to the daughterboard; and

a thermostat housing for housing the motherboard, the daughterboard and the flexible circuit element.

11. The programmable thermostat of claim 10, wherein the flexible circuit element biases the temperature sensor to rest against a portion of the thermostat housing.

12. The programmable thermostat of claim 11, wherein the portion of the thermostat housing against which the temperature sensor rests defines flexible circuit biases at least part of a pocket.

13. An HVAC controller comprising:

a controller housing including a front window;

a window support disposed behind the front window, a pocket formed between the window support and the front window;

a controller circuit board within the controller housing;

a flexible circuit operatively coupled to the controller circuit board; and

a temperature sensor electrically coupled to the flexible circuit and disposed within the pocket.

14. The HVAC controller of claim 13, further comprising an intermediate circuit board disposed between the controller circuit board and the flexible circuit, wherein the intermediate circuit board includes a connector to electrically couple the intermediate circuit board to the controller circuit board.

15. The HVAC controller of claim 14, wherein the flexible circuit is electrically connected to the intermediate circuit board via a connector.

16. The HVAC controller of claim 13, wherein the temperature sensor comprises a thermistor.

17. The HVAC controller of claim 13, wherein the flexible circuit is configured to bias the temperature sensor into physical contact with the front window.

18. The HVAC controller of claim 13, wherein the window support flexes the flexible circuit.

19. The HVAC controller of claim 13, wherein the pocket thermally isolates the temperature sensor from one or more heat producing components within an interior of the controller housing.

20. The HVAC controller of claim 13, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to be in thermal contact with the front window without the use of thermal grease.