Thermostat with mechanical user interface
DCFirst Claim
1. A thermostat having a thermostat housing, comprising:
- a rotatable selector having a front face, and further having a range of rotatable positions, wherein a desired parameter value is identified by the position of the rotatable selector along the range of rotatable positions, the rotatable selector being rotatable about a rotation axis;
a potentiometer coupled to the rotatable selector; and
a non-rotating element at least partially overlapping the front face of the rotatable selector, the non-rotating element fixed relative to the thermostat housing via one or more support member, the one or more support member being laterally offset relative to the rotation axis of the rotatable selector.
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Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A thermostat having a thermostat housing and a rotatable selector disposed on the thermostat housing. The rotatable selector adapted to have a range of rotatable positions, where a desired parameter value is identified by the position of the rotatable selector along the range of rotatable positions. The rotatable selector rotates about a rotation axis. A non-rotating member or element, which may at least partially overlap the rotatable selector, may be fixed relative to the thermostat housing via one or more support member(s). The one or more support member(s) may be laterally displaced relative to the rotation axis of the rotatable selector. The non-rotatable member or element may include, for example, a display, a button, an indicator light, a noise making device, a logo, a temperature indicator, and/or any other suitable device or component, as desired.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A thermostat having a thermostat housing, comprising:
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a rotatable selector having a front face, and further having a range of rotatable positions, wherein a desired parameter value is identified by the position of the rotatable selector along the range of rotatable positions, the rotatable selector being rotatable about a rotation axis; a potentiometer coupled to the rotatable selector; and a non-rotating element at least partially overlapping the front face of the rotatable selector, the non-rotating element fixed relative to the thermostat housing via one or more support member, the one or more support member being laterally offset relative to the rotation axis of the rotatable selector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A thermostat having a selected temperature set point and a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor providing a temperature indicator and the thermostat providing a control signal that is dependent at least in part on the selected temperature set point and the temperature indicator, the thermostat comprising:
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a thermostat housing; a rotatable selector having a front face, and further having a range of rotatable positions, wherein a set point is identified by the position of the rotatable selector along the range of rotatable positions, the rotatable selector rotatable about a rotation axis; a potentiometer coupled to the rotatable selector and disposed along the rotation axis of the rotatable selector; and a non-rotating element at least partially overlapping the front face of the rotatable selector, the non-rotating element fixed relative to the thermostat housing via one or more support member, the one or more support member being laterally offset relative to the rotation axis of the rotatable selector. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A thermostat having a thermostat housing, comprising:
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a rotatable selector having a range of rotatable positions, wherein a desired parameter value is identified by the position of the rotatable selector along the range of rotatable positions, the rotatable selector being rotatable about a rotation axis; a potentiometer coupled to the rotatable selector; and a non-rotating element at least partially overlapping the rotatable selector, the non-rotating element fixed relative to the thermostat housing via one or more support member, the one or more support member being laterally displaced relative to the rotation axis of the rotatable selector. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A thermostat having a thermostat housing, comprising:
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a rotatable selector having a front face, and further having a range of rotatable positions, wherein a desired parameter value is identified by the position of the rotatable selector along the range of rotatable positions, the rotatable selector being rotatable about a rotation axis; and a non-rotating element at least partially overlapping the front face of the rotatable selector, the non-rotating element fixed relative to the thermostat housing via one or more support member, the one or more support member being laterally offset relative to the rotation axis of the rotatable selector, wherein the one or more support member extends through an opening or slot in the rotatable selector. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A thermostat having a thermostat housing and a user interface, wherein the user interface is adapted to allow a user'"'"'s hand to adjust at least one parameter value of the thermostat, the thermostat comprising:
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a rotatable selector having a front face, and further having a range of rotatable positions, wherein a desired parameter value is identified by the position of the rotatable selector along the range of rotatable positions, the rotatable selector being rotatable about a rotation axis; and a non-rotating element at least partially overlapping the front face of the rotatable selector, the non-rotating element fixed relative to the thermostat housing via one or more support member, wherein the rotatable selector is accessible and rotatable directly by the user'"'"'s hand. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A thermostat having a thermostat housing, comprising:
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a rotatable selector having a front surface and a back surface, and further having a range of rotatable positions, wherein a desired parameter value is identified by the position of the rotatable selector along the range of rotatable positions, the rotatable selector being rotatable about a rotation axis; a non-rotating element at least partially overlapping the back surface of the rotatable selector, the non-rotating element fixed relative to the thermostat housing, the non-rotating element having one or more support members extending through an opening or slot in the rotatable selector; and a housing having an aperture therein, wherein the aperture is adapted to accept the rotatable selector.
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Specification