Thermostat having an illuminated keypad and display

• US 6,435,418 B1
• Filed: 01/25/2000
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Rhodes, William D., Perry, David L., Toth, Bartholomew L.
• Primary Examiner(s): WAYNER, WILLIAM E
• Application Number:
  US09/490,603
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 236/94, 236/46.R, 165/11.1, 345/170, 345/172
• US Class Current: 236/94
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/139 Clusters of instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes

Abstract

A thermostat comprising a circuit board for controlling the thermostat, a display, a keypad, and at least one electroluminescent element. The display is operatively connected to the circuit board for displaying information concerning the thermostat. The keypad has at least one key adapted to be pressed by a user. The key is operatively connected to the circuit board in a manner to enable the user to input at least one signal to the circuit board by pressing the key. The electroluminescent element is operatively connected to the circuit board and has a first electroluminescent section and a second electroluminescent section. The first electroluminescent section is adjacent the keypad and the second electroluminescent section is adjacent the display. The first electroluminescent section and the keypad are adapted so that the first electroluminescent section illuminates the keypad. The second electroluminescent section and the display are adapted so that the second electroluminescent section illuminates the display.

Claims

1. An illuminated thermostat comprising:

a circuit board for controlling the thermostat, the circuit board having at least one actuable element thereon;

a display electrically coupled to the circuit board for displaying information concerning the thermostat;

a keypad having at least one key adapted to be pressed by a user, the at least one key being aligned with the at least one actuable element of the circuit board, the key being moveable between forward and rearward positions and being operatively connected to the actuable element of the circuit board so that movement of the key from its forward position to its rearward position actuates the actuable element; and

at least one electroluminescent element operatively connected to the circuit board, said at least one electroluminescent element having a first electroluminescent and a second electroluminescent section, the first electroluminescent section being adjacent the keyboard, and the second electroluminescent section being adjacent the display, the first electroluminescent section and the keypad being adapted so that the first electroluminescent section illuminates the keypad, the second electroluminescent section and the display being adapted so that the second electroluminescent section illuminates the display, the first electroluminescent section having at least one opening therein, the opening aligned with the at least one actuatable element on the circuit board.

2. An illuminated thermostat as set forth in claim 1 wherein the at least one key of the keypad is of a material sufficiently light-transmittable to enable visible light from the first electroluminescent section to pass through the at least one key.

3. An illuminated thermostat as set forth in claim 2 wherein the material is translucent.

4. An illuminated thermostat as set forth in claim 1 wherein the display overlays the second electroluminescent section.

5. An illuminated thermostat as set forth in claim 4 wherein the display comprises an LCD display.

6. An illuminated thermostat as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first and second electroluminescent sections are portions.

7. An illuminated thermostat as set forth in claim 1 wherein the key constitutes a portion of a keypad member, the keypad member comprising a single unitary member having at least one relatively thick portion forming the key, the key surrounded by a relatively thin, flexible portion to allow the key to be depressed to actuate the actuable element on the circuit board.

8. An illuminated thermostat as set forth in claim 7 wherein the circuit board has a plurality of actuable elements thereon, and wherein the keypad member includes a plurality of relatively thick portions forming a plurality of keys thereon, the keys of the keypad member being aligned with the actuable elements of the circuit board.

9. An illuminated thermostat as set forth in claim 8 wherein the at least one opening in the first electroluminescent section comprises a plurality of openings aligned with the actuable elements of the circuit board, the openings permitting the keys to directly engage the actuable elements as the user depresses the keys.

10. An illuminated thermostat as set forth in claim 8 wherein each key includes a boss thereon extending into one of the openings in the first electroluminescent section and adapted to engage one of the actuable elements of the circuit board.

11. A thermostat having an illuminated keypad and display, the thermostat comprising:

a circuit board having a plurality of actuable elements thereon;

an electroluminescent element on the circuit board, the electroluminescent element having first and second sections, the first section having a plurality of openings therein aligned with the actuable elements on the circuit board;

a keypad member overlying the first section of the electroluminescent element, the keypad member comprising a single unitary member having at least one relatively thick portion forming a key aligned with one of the openings in the electroluminescent element, each key surrounded by a relatively thin, flexible portion to allow the key to be depressed to actuate an actuable element on the circuit board that is aligned with the same opening in the first section of the electroluminescent element with which the key is aligned; and

a display overlying the second portion of the electroluminescent element,

the electroluminescent element being adapted to illuminate the keypad member and the display.

12. An illuminated thermostat as set forth in claim 11 wherein the at least one key of the keypad member is of a material sufficiently translucent to enable visible light from the first electroluminescent section to pass through the at least one key.

13. An illuminated thermostat as set forth in claim 12 wherein the keypad member includes a plurality of relatively thick portions forming a plurality of keys thereon.

14. An illuminated thermostat as set forth in claim 12 wherein each key includes a boss thereon extending into one of the openings in the first electroluminescent section and adapted to engage one of the actuable elements of the circuit board.

15. An illuminated thermostat comprising:

a circuit board having at least one actuable element thereon;

a keypad having at least one key adapted to be pressed by a user, the at least one key being aligned with the at least one actuable element of the circuit board, so that pressing the key actuates the actuable element;

an electroluminescent element between the keypad and at least a portion of the circuit board for back lighting the keypad, the element having an opening therein aligned with the at least one actuable element on the circuit board and the at least one key on the key pad, operatively connected to the circuit board, and having a the key being moveable between forward and rearward positions and being operatively connected to the actuable element of the circuit board so that movement of the key from its forward position to its rearward position actuates the actuable element; and

at least one electroluminescent element operatively connected to the circuit board, said at least one electroluminescent element having at least one opening therein aligned with the actuable element and the at least one key, so that the key can operate the actuable element on the circuit board to operated the thermostat.