User control device with cantilevered display

• US 9,964,328 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2016
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• 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., Diptee, Vinosh C., Abdala, Juilio A., Ribeiro, Claudio Santiago, Gaidish, Charles J., Kornacki, Michael F., Cipolla, John P., Sinha, Sudhi, Ribbich, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Norman, Marc
• Application Number:
  US15/146,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20160327300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 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, and processing electronics configured to operate the touch-sensitive display. The housing includes a base and a display mount. The base includes 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. The top wall, the bottom wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall define an internal volume. The display mount is cantilevered upward from the top wall and includes a mounting surface perpendicular to the top wall of the base. The housing is not opaque. The display is attached to the mounting surface and is not opaque. The processing electronics are positioned within the interior volume.

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;

wherein the housing is not opaque;

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, and wherein the touch-sensitive display is not opaque; and

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

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

3. The thermostat of claim 2, 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.

4. The thermostat of claim 3, further comprising:

a mounting plate configured for attaching the housing to a mounting surface, wherein the mounting plate is positioned within the internal volume of the base and removably attached to the base, and 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.

5. The thermostat of claim 4, 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 mounting plate includes a rear surface that is flush with the rear face of the base when the mounting plate is attached to the base.

6. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising:

a front cover removably attached to the housing, wherein the front cover covers at least a portion of the front wall and covers at least a portion of the bottom wall.

7. The thermostat of claim 6, further comprising:

a sensor lens positioned in an aperture formed through the front cover and the base; and

a sensor positioned within the internal volume of the base and aligned with the sensor lens.

8. The thermostat of claim 7, wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor.

9. The thermostat of claim 7, wherein the sensor is an occupancy sensor.

10. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising:

a top cover removably attached to the housing, wherein the top cover covers at least a portion of the top wall, covers at least a portion of the first side wall, and covers at least a portion of the second side wall.

11. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising:

a protective cover attached to the touch sensitive display so that the touch sensitive display is positioned between the protective cover and the display mount.

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

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

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

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

16. 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 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

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

wherein the housing is not opaque;

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, and wherein the touch-sensitive display is not opaque;

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

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;

a mounting plate configured for attaching the housing to a mounting surface, wherein the mounting plate is positioned within the internal volume of the base and removably attached to the base, 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, and wherein the mounting plate includes a rear surface that is flush with the rear face of the base when the mounting plate is attached to the base;

a front cover removably attached to the housing, wherein the front cover covers at least a portion of the front wall and covers at least a portion of the bottom wall; and

a top cover removably attached to the housing, wherein the top cover covers at least a portion of the top wall, covers at least a portion of the first side wall, and covers at least a portion of the second side wall.

17. The thermostat of claim 16, wherein the housing is a single integral component.

18. 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 perpendicular to an external surface of the base;

wherein the housing is not opaque;

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, and wherein the touch-sensitive display is not opaque; and

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

19. The thermostat of claim 18, wherein the housing is a single integral component.

20. The thermostat of claim 19, wherein the housing and the touch-sensitive display are translucent.