User control device with hinged mounting plate

• US 9,890,971 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2016
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Ribbich, Joseph R., Van Derven, Nicholas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Norman, Marc
• Application Number:
  US15/146,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20160327302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 236 94, 700277
• 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 11/50 characterised by user interfaces or communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• 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 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/89 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/00 Control inputs relating to system states
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/12 by detecting audible sound
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A thermostat includes a housing, a touch-sensitive display configured to display visual media and receive user inputs, processing electronics configured to operate the touch-sensitive display, and a mounting plate. The housing includes a base that has walls that define an internal volume. The housing also includes a display mount cantilevered upward from the top wall. The display mount includes a mounting surface perpendicular to the top wall of the base. The housing also includes a touch-sensitive display configured to display visual media and receive user inputs. The touch-sensitive display is attached to the mounting surface of the display mount. The processing electronics are positioned within the interior volume of the base. The mounting plate is configured for attaching the housing to a mounting surface. The mounting plate is attached to the bottom wall by a hinge so that the housing may pivot between an open position and a closed position.

Claims

1. A thermostat, comprising:

a housing, comprising;

a base including a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall connecting the top wall to the bottom wall, a first side wall connecting the top wall to the bottom wall, and a second side wall connecting the top wall to the bottom wall, wherein the top wall, the bottom wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall define an internal volume; and

a display mount cantilevered upward from the top wall, the display mount including a mounting surface perpendicular to the top wall of the base;

a touch-sensitive display configured to display visual media and receive user inputs, wherein the touch-sensitive display is attached to the mounting surface of the display mount;

processing electronics positioned within the interior volume of the base, wherein the processing electronics are configured to operate the touch-sensitive display; and

a mounting plate configured for attaching the housing to a mounting surface, wherein the mounting plate is attached to the bottom wall by a hinge so that the housing may pivot between an open position and a closed position.

2. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the housing is not opaque, and wherein the touch-sensitive display is not opaque.

3. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the housing is a single integral component.

4. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of wire terminals positioned within the internal volume and each configured to secure one of a plurality of control wires from a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system.

5. The thermostat of claim 4, wherein the mounting plate includes an aperture configured to allow the plurality controls wires to pass through the mounting plate into the internal volume of the base.

6. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the ends of the top wall, the bottom wall, the first side, and the second side wall distal from the front wall define a planar rear face of the base;

and

wherein the rear face is adjacent the mounting plate when the housing is in the closed position.

7. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the housing is transparent.

8. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the housing is translucent.

9. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive display is transparent.

10. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive display is translucent.

11. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive display includes a front screen and a rear screen.

12. The thermostat of claim 11, wherein the rear screen is visible to a user when the housing is in an open position.

13. The thermostat of claim 12, wherein the processing electronics are configured to display user information on the rear screen when the housing is in the open position.

14. The thermostat of claim 13, wherein the user information consists of at least one of the group of instructions for installing the thermostat, troubleshooting instructions, a wiring diagram, and a level.

15. A thermostat, comprising:

a housing, comprising;

a base defining an internal volume; and

a display mount cantilevered from the base, the display mount including a mounting surface;

a touch-sensitive display configured to display visual media and receive user inputs, wherein the touch-sensitive display is attached to the mounting surface of the display mount;

processing electronics positioned within the interior volume of the base, wherein the processing electronics are configured to operate the touch-sensitive display; and

a mounting plate configured for attaching the housing to a mounting surface, wherein the mounting plate is attached to the base by a hinge so that that the housing may pivot between an open position and a closed position.

16. The thermostat of claim 15, wherein the housing is not opaque, and wherein the touch-sensitive display is not opaque.

17. The thermostat of claim 15, wherein the mounting plate includes an aperture configured to allow the plurality controls wires to pass through the mounting plate into the internal volume of the base.

18. The thermostat of claim 15, wherein the base includes a rear face and wherein the rear face is adjacent the mounting plate when the housing is in the closed position.

19. The thermostat of claim 15, wherein the touch-sensitive display includes a front screen and a rear screen.

20. The thermostat of claim 19, wherein the rear screen is visible to a user when the housing is in an open position, and wherein the processing electronics are configured to display user information on the rear screen when the housing is in the open position.