HVAC controller
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An HVAC controller comprising:
- an upper housing, the upper housing having a front and a back, the back including a center;
a lens dial secured adjacent to the front of the upper housing, the lens dial being rotatable relative to the upper housing about a rotation axis, the lens dial having an engagement portion that is spaced laterally from the rotation axis of the lens dial, and extends through an opening in the upper housing toward the back of the upper housing, wherein when the lens dial is secured adjacent to the upper housing, at least part of the upper housing is situated between the rotation axis of the lens dial and the engagement portion;
a set point operator including a first portion that is rotatable about the rotation axis of the lens dial and a second portion that extends over toward and engages the engagement portion of the lens dial such that rotation of the lens dial results in movement of the engagement portion along an arc, causing the second portion of the set point operator to move along an arc and to rotate the first portion of the set point operator about the axis of rotation of the lens dial; and
a mechanical movement to electrical signal converter disposed within the HVAC controller such that the first portion of the set point operator communicates with the mechanical movement to electrical signal converter.
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Abstract
An HVAC controller may include an upper housing having a front and a back, the back including a center. A lens dial including an engagement portion may be rotatably secured relative to the upper housing. A set point operator may include a first portion that is disposed about the upper housing center as well as a second portion that is adapted to interact with the lens dial engagement portion. A mechanical movement to electrical signal converter such as a potentiometer may be disposed within the HVAC controller such that the first portion of the set point operator communicates with the potentiometer.
244 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An HVAC controller comprising:
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an upper housing, the upper housing having a front and a back, the back including a center; a lens dial secured adjacent to the front of the upper housing, the lens dial being rotatable relative to the upper housing about a rotation axis, the lens dial having an engagement portion that is spaced laterally from the rotation axis of the lens dial, and extends through an opening in the upper housing toward the back of the upper housing, wherein when the lens dial is secured adjacent to the upper housing, at least part of the upper housing is situated between the rotation axis of the lens dial and the engagement portion; a set point operator including a first portion that is rotatable about the rotation axis of the lens dial and a second portion that extends over toward and engages the engagement portion of the lens dial such that rotation of the lens dial results in movement of the engagement portion along an arc, causing the second portion of the set point operator to move along an arc and to rotate the first portion of the set point operator about the axis of rotation of the lens dial; and a mechanical movement to electrical signal converter disposed within the HVAC controller such that the first portion of the set point operator communicates with the mechanical movement to electrical signal converter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A thermostat comprising:
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a housing; a lens dial rotatably secured to the housing, the lens dial having a periphery and rotating about a rotation axis; a circuit board adapted to control HVAC equipment, the circuit board including a mechanical movement to electrical signal converter positioned along the rotation axis of the lens dial; and a mechanical linkage configured to convert movement at or near the lens dial periphery into movement at the mechanical movement to electrical signal converter, the mechanical linkage comprising a set point operator having a first end configured to interact with an engagement member extending from at or near the lens dial periphery and a second, opposing, end configured to interact with the mechanical movement to electrical signal converter. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification