Switch for multi function control of a thermostat

• US 8,733,667 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2011
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Braeburn Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Braeburn Systems LLC
• Inventors: Moore, Glenn A., Soderlund, Ernest E., Poplawski, Daniel S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tyler, Cheryl J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bradford, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US13/069,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20120168524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• Field of Search: 236/94, 345/184, 700/276
• US Class Current: 236/94
• 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 11/39 Monitoring filter performance
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means

Abstract

The invention provides for a controller such as a thermostat for an HVAC system having a housing having a circuit board and a display screen, the display screen having at least one alpha-numeric icon and a group of touch pads having at least two displayable touch pads. A microprocessor is provided for controlling the display screen. A sole mechanical button or switch is mounted in the housing and the button has a first end and second end and a touch surface extending between the first end and second end. The sole mechanical button signals the microprocessor in order to adjust the alpha-numeric icon(s), so that the combination of inputs received by the microprocessor from the group of touch pads and sole mechanical button provide for each and every adjustment required for all of the operational functions of the controller. The mechanical button may be a rocker switch. The controller may also include a navigation button.

Claims

1. A thermostat including a microprocessor for controlling an HVAC system using multiple modes of operation, the thermostat comprising:

a housing having a circuit board and a display screen;

the display screen having a first and second alpha-numeric icon;

a rocker switch mounted in the housing adjacent the display screen, the rocker switch having a bar having a first end and a second end and the bar is pivotally mounted so that the bar may rock between a first position where the first end is depressed and a second position where the second end is depressed, the rocker switch providing the sole mechanical button of the thermostat, the rocker switch for signaling the microprocessor in order to adjust at least the first alphanumeric icon, so that the combination of inputs received by the microprocessor from the group of touch sensitive areas and the sole mechanical button provide for each and every adjustment required for the standard operational functions of the thermostat;

a first receptor mounted on the circuit board adjacent the first end and a second receptor mounted on the circuit board adjacent the second end;

the first and second receptors for signaling the microprocessor in order to adjust the first and second alpha-numeric icon on the display screen during at least a first and a second mode of operation of the thermostat;

during the first mode of operation moving the rocker switch to the first or second position to cause an adjustment of the first alpha-numeric icon in relation to the first mode of operation;

during the second mode of operation moving the rocker switch to the first or second position in order to adjust the first or second alpha-numeric icon in relation to the second mode of operation; and

a navigation button for navigating between a first and second function.

2. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein the navigation button comprises one of a BACK button, a NEXT button and a RETURN button.

3. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein the navigation button is a touch sensitive area and comprises one of a BACK button, a NEXT button and a RETURN button that each appear on the display simultaneously.

4. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein the first function comprises one of a mode for adjusting the temperature setting, time of day setting, day of week setting, programming set point time, installer setting configuration or user setting and the second function one of a mode of adjusting the temperature setting, time of day setting, day of week setting, programming set point time, installer setting configuration or user setting.

5. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the first and second function are a mode of operation.

6. The thermostat of claim 5, wherein the first and second mode of operation are a display that is adjusted when the navigation button is activated.

7. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the display screen includes the at least one alpha-numeric icon for the navigation button that provides for navigation to one of a programming, configuration, system, fan, hold, day, time, clean, humidity, outdoor, installer or user modes.

8. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the rocker switch adjusts one of a time, day, temperature, fan or humidity value after selection of the mode via the navigation button.

9. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the navigation button selects the second mode of operation.

10. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the navigation button function is operated by the rocker switch.

11. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the first position increments a set point of the first mode of operation after selection of the mode via the navigation button.

12. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the second position decrements a set point of the first mode of operation after selection of the mode via the navigation button.

13. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the navigation button has a constant function.

14. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the display screen includes a touch sensitive area separate from the navigation button for selecting the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation and the rocker switch for adjusting set points for the modes selected by the touch sensitive area.

15. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the rocker switch is depressed to adjust a set point to a first value for the first mode of operation, a first icon on the display is adjusted to reflect the first value;

and

the navigation button being activated to select the second mode of operation, wherein the rocker switch is depressed to adjust a set point to a second value for the second mode of operation and a second icon on the display is adjusted to reflect the second value.

16. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein multiple icons are displayed on the display screen simultaneously, and upon activation of the navigation button, the first icon is modified to indicate it is the icon being adjusted, while the other icons remain unchanged.

17. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the display screen is one of an LCD segmented screen, dot matrix or LED screen.

18. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein the display screen has no touch sensitive areas and the housing includes more than two mechanical buttons for operating the thermostat.

19. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the navigation button provides a return function to return to the previously selected mode display.

20. A controller for an HVAC system comprising:

a housing having a circuit hoard and a display screen, the display screen having at least one alpha-numeric icon and a group of touch sensitive areas comprising at least two displayable touch sensitive areas including a navigation button;

a microprocessor for controlling the display screen;

a sole mechanical button mounted in the housing and the button having a first end and second end and a touch surface extending between the first end and second end; and

the sole mechanical button for signaling the microprocessor in order to adjust the alpha-numeric icon, so that the combination of inputs received by the microprocessor from the group of touch sensitive areas and sole mechanical button provide for each and every adjustment required for all of the standard operational functions of the controller.

21. The controller of claim 20, wherein the navigation button is a single use, constant function button.

22. The controller of claim 21, wherein the navigation button comprises one of a BACK button, a NEXT button and a RETURN button.