ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHODS

• US 20150204570A1
• Filed: 03/27/2015
• Published: 07/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Adamik, Petr, Khoury, Tarik, Kalla, Arnie, Takach, Eugene J., Aljabari, Mohammad, Lentz, Tracy, Mulhouse, David, McPherson, Steven J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,310,095 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 11/32 Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/42 Circuits effecting compensation of thermal inertia; Circuits for predicting the stationary value of a temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133314 Back frames
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/32 with provision for adjustment of the effect of the auxiliary heating device, e.g. a function of time
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/34 Conductive members located under head of screw
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/10 for surface mounting on a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 9/005 avoiding undesired transient conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 9/04 responsive to excess voltage lightning arrestors H01C7/12, H01C8/04, H01G9/18, H01T
• CPC Class Codes: H05F 3/00 Carrying-off electrostatic charges from shoes A43B7/36; from living beings A61N1/14; from tyres B60C19/08; from vehicles B60R16/06; from aircraft B64D45/02; from large containers B65D90/46
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0254 High voltage adaptations; Electrical insulation details; Overvoltage or electrostatic discharge protection electrostatic discharge protection for electric apparatus in general H05K9/0067, H05K9/0079; Arrangements for regulating voltages or for using plural voltages
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/111 Pads for surface mounting, e.g. lay-out
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/0015 Orientation; Alignment; Positioning
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/32 electrically connecting electric components or wires to printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 : with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0018 : having an electronic display
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1422 : Printed circuit boards receptacles, e.g. stacked structures, electronic circuit modules or box like frames
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1427 : Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0037 : Housings with compartments containing a PCB, e.g. partitioning walls
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0054 : specially adapted for display applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 : Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49124 : On flat or curved insulated base, e.g., printed circuit, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 : Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

An electronic assembly may have a display, a display holder, and a printed circuit board (PCB). The display may have a front side for viewing the display, a back side, and side walls extending between the front side and the back side. The display holder may have a recess for receiving at least part of the display, where the display holder may extend adjacent part of the front side of the display and adjacent at least part of the side walls of the display. The PCB may be secured relative to the display holder and adjacent the back side of the display. The PCB may be in operative communication with the display. In some cases, a spacer may be situated between the back side of the display and the PCB.

Claims

1. A thermostat for use in controlling an HVAC system of a building or other structure, the thermostat including a front, a back, a top and a bottom, the thermostat comprising:

a front window assembly includes a front side positioned toward the front of the thermostat and an opposing back side, the front window assembly includes a front window secured relative to a display holder;

a display including a front side for viewing the display and a back side, the display including a flex tail extending from display;

the display holder of the front window assembly including a recess for receiving at least part of the display, the display holder extending along at least part of the front side and one or more side walls of the display;

the front window assembly configured such that at least part of the display can be viewed from the front of the thermostat;

a printed circuit board including a front side and a back side, the front side of the printed circuit board positioned toward the back side of the display, wherein the printed circuit board is larger than the display with a lower extending portion of the printed circuit board extending out past the display in a downward direction toward the bottom of the thermostat;

the display holder including an alignment feature, and the printed circuit board includes a hole that is configured to accept at least part of the alignment feature of the display holder to help align the printed circuit board with the display holder;

a connector on the back side of the printed circuit board, wherein the flex tail of the display extends from the display, around a side wall of the printed circuit board and connects to the connector;

a back cover having a front side and a back side, the front side of the back cover positioned towards the back side of the printed circuit board;

the back cover secured to the front window assembly such that the front window assembly and the back cover collectively house the display and printed circuit board;

the front side of the back cover including one or more wall portions that extend toward the printed circuit board and contact the back side of the printed circuit board; and

one or more of the wall portions of the back cover, in conjunction with at least part of the lower extending portion of the printed circuit board, defining a temperature sensor pocket, wherein the printed circuit board includes a temperature sensor mounted in the temperature sensor pocket.

2. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the flex tail comprises a ribbon cable.

3. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the display holder includes one or more features used for securing the printed circuit board to the display holder.

4. The thermostat of claim 3, wherein the one or more features are spaced from the alignment feature.

5. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein at least part of the hole of the printed circuit board intersects a side wall of the printed circuit board.

6. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the alignment feature of the display holder comprises a protrusion that extends into the hole of the printed circuit board.

7. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the front window is secured to the display holder.

8. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising an electrically insulating element positioned between the back side of the display and the front side of the printed circuit board.

9. The thermostat of claim 8, wherein the electrically insulating element comprises a polymer.

10. The thermostat of claim 8, wherein the electrically insulating element functions as a spacer that separates the back side of the display from the front side of the printed circuit board.

11. A thermostat for use in controlling an HVAC system of a building or other structure, the thermostat including a front, a back, a top and a bottom, the thermostat comprising:

a front window assembly including a front side positioned toward the front of the thermostat and an opposing back side, the front window assembly including a front window secured relative to a display holder;

a display including a front side for viewing the display and a back side;

the display holder of the front window assembly including a recess for receiving at least part of the display, the display holder extending along at least part of the front side and one or more side walls of the display;

the front window assembly configured such that at least part of the display can be viewed from the front of the thermostat;

a printed circuit board including a front side and a back side, the front side of the printed circuit board positioned toward the back side of the display;

the display holder including an alignment feature, and the printed circuit board includes an aperture that is configured to accept at least part of the alignment feature of the display holder to help align the printed circuit board with the display holder;

a back cover having a front side and a back side, the front side of the back cover positioned towards the back side of the printed circuit board; and

the back cover secured relative to the front window assembly such that the front window assembly and the back cover collectively house the display and printed circuit board.

12. The thermostat of claim 11, wherein:

the display further comprises a flex tail extending from display; and

the printed circuit board comprises a connector on the back side of the printed circuit board, wherein the flex tail of the display extends from the display, around a side wall of the printed circuit board and connects to the connector.

13. The thermostat of claim 11, wherein the printed circuit board is larger than the display with a lower extending portion of the printed circuit board extending out past the display in a downward direction toward the bottom of the thermostat.

14. The thermostat of claim 13, wherein the front side of the back cover includes one or more wall portions that extend toward the printed circuit board and contact the back side of the printed circuit board, and wherein one or more of the wall portions of the back cover, in conjunction with at least part of the lower extending portion of the printed circuit board, define a temperature sensor pocket, wherein the printed circuit board includes a temperature sensor mounted in the temperature sensor pocket.

15. The thermostat of claim 11, wherein the display holder includes one or more features used for securing the printed circuit board to the display holder.

16. The thermostat of claim 15, wherein the one or more features are spaced from the alignment feature.

17. The thermostat of claim 11, further comprising an electrically insulating element positioned between the back side of the display and the front side of the printed circuit board.

18. A thermostat for use in controlling an HVAC system of a building or other structure, the thermostat including a front, a back, a top and a bottom, the thermostat comprising:

a front window;

a display holder;

a display including a front side for viewing the display and a back side, the display including a flex tail extending from display;

the display holder including a recess for receiving at least part of the display, the display holder extending along at least part of the front side and one or more side walls of the display;

the front window and display holder configured such that at least part of the display can be viewed from the front of the thermostat;

a printed circuit board including a front side and a back side, the front side of the printed circuit board positioned toward the back side of the display;

a connector on the back side of the printed circuit board, wherein the flex tail of the display extends from the display, around a side wall of the printed circuit board and connects to the connector;

a back cover having a front side and a back side, the front side of the back cover positioned towards the back side of the printed circuit board; and

the back cover secured relative to the front window to collectively house the display and printed circuit board.

19. The thermostat of claim 18, further comprising an electrically insulating element positioned between the back side of the display and the front side of the printed circuit board.

20. The thermostat of claim 19, wherein the electrically insulating element functions as a spacer that separates the back side of the display from the front side of the printed circuit board.