Projection display thermostat

• US 6,641,054 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2002
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Morey, Randall L.
• Primary Examiner(s): WAYNER, WILLIAM E
• Application Number:
  US10/053,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20030136853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 236/94, 236/46.R, 165/11.1, 345/168
• US Class Current: 236/94
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/203 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time

Abstract

A thermostat is provided with an image projection capability that allows images concerning the operation of the thermostat to be projected onto a surface in the vicinity of the thermostat. The image projection is preferably accomplished by directing an internally generated image to an image enlargement device which thereafter projects an enlarged image onto the surface in the vicinity of the thermostat. The surface that receives the projected image is preferably defined by a screen affixed to the wall that the thermostat is mounted to.

Claims

1. A thermostat having programmable features that may be selectively programmed by a person entering information concerning the programmable features into the thermostat, said thermostat comprising:

at least one depressible key for entering information into the thermostat concerning at least one programmable feature;

a processor within said thermostat, said processor being operative to generate at least one image relating to the programmable feature;

image projection apparatus for projecting the image generated by said processor onto a surface in the immediate vicinity of the thermostat whereby the person entering information concerning programmable features may view the projected image.

2. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein said thermostat is mounted to a wall and wherein said image projection apparatus includes a screen affixed to the wall in the vicinity of the thermostat so as to receive the projected image by said processor.

3. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein said image projection apparatus comprises:

a device for forming the image on a medium; and

image redirecting means which redirects the image formed on the medium onto the surface in the immediate vicinity of the thermostat.

4. The thermostat of claim 3 wherein said image redirecting means includes an image enlarging means.

5. The thermostat of claim 4 wherein the orientation of said image enlarging means is adjustable so as to define where the image appears on the surface in the vicinity of the thermostat.

6. The thermostat of claim 4 wherein said image enlarging means is located in a housing that is mounted to the body of the thermostat.

7. The thermostat of claim 4 wherein said image enlarging means is a convex shaped mirror.

8. The thermostat of claim 4 wherein said image redirecting means includes at least one mirror located between said device for forming the image on the medium and said convex shaped mirror whereby the image formed on the medium is redirected onto the convex shaped mirror.

9. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein said image projection apparatus includes a device located on the top of the body of the thermostat for projecting the image generated by said processor onto the surface in the immediate vicinity of the thermostat.

10. The thermostat of claim 9 wherein said image projection apparatus includes a screen located above the thermostat so as to receive the image from said device located on the top of the thermostat.

11. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein said processor is programmed so as to generate menus of at least one of the programmable features of the thermostat in response to the activation of the one or more keys for entering information into the thermostat.

12. The thermostat of claim 11 wherein the menu of at least one of the programmable features includes instructions as to how to make menu selections using at least one depressible key for entering information into the thermostat concerning at least one programmable feature.

13. Projection apparatus for projecting information concerning the operation of a thermostat onto a surface in the vicinity of the thermostat, said apparatus comprising:

a processor located within the thermostat, said processor being operative to generate at least one image relating to the operation of the thermostat; and

image projection means responsive to said processor so as to project an image relating to the operation of the thermostat generated by said processor onto the surface in the vicinity of the thermostat wherein said image projection means comprises;

a device for forming the image on a medium; and

image redirecting means which redirects the image formed on the medium onto the surface in the immediate vicinity of the thermostat.

14. The projection apparatus of claim 13 wherein said thermostat is mounted to a wall and wherein said image projection means includes a screen affixed to the wall in the vicinity of the thermostat so as to receive the projected image relating to the operation of the thermostat generated by said processor.

15. The projection apparatus of claim 13 wherein said image redirecting means includes an image enlarging means.

16. The projection apparatus of claim 15 wherein the image enlarging means is a convex shaped mirror.

17. The projection apparatus of claim 16 wherein said image redirecting means includes at least one mirror located between said device for forming the image on the medium and said convex shaped mirror whereby the image formed on the medium is redirected onto the convex shaped mirror.

18. The projection apparatus of claim 13 wherein said image redirecting means includes a device located on the top of the thermostat for projecting the image formed on the medium onto the surface in the immediate vicinity of the thermostat.

19. The projection apparatus of claim 18 wherein said image projection means includes a screen located above the thermostat so as to receive the image from said device located on the top of the thermostat for projecting the image generated by said processor.

20. The thermostat of claim 13 wherein said processor is programmed so as of the programmable features as to the operation of the thermostat.

21. The thermostat of claim 20 wherein of at least one of the menus of programmable features includes instructions as to how to make menu selections using at least on the thermostat.