Floating Thermostat Plate with Movable Housing for Intuitive Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wall-mounted thermostats have aesthetically unattractive designs due to the combination of a housing and actuators, and they lack intuitive user interfaces for controlling thermostat functions.
Innovation Solution
A wall-mounted thermostat with a movable housing that functions as the primary actuator, allowing users to make adjustments by touching different areas of the housing, which are detected by sensors to determine the intended command, and includes a processor to control HVAC systems and display information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional wall-mounted thermostats use a housing with separate actuators, then the thermostat can perform control functions, but the design becomes aesthetically unattractive and the user interface becomes non-intuitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the housing and actuators into a single integrated unit. The housing itself becomes the actuator, eliminating the need for separate control components. This integration simplifies the overall structure while providing an intuitive interface where users can directly manipulate the housing to control thermostat functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, aesthetic appearance, and acts as the primary control interface. By making the housing movable and responsive to user input, it combines protective, cosmetic, and operational roles into one component.
2Ease of operation
If the thermostat housing is made movable for intuitive control, then user interaction improves, but the structural stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to move freely in response to user input for intuitive control. This movability is constrained only when needed for mounting stability, creating a system that transitions between static (mounted) and dynamic (operational) states.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing has different mechanical properties in different locations: the mounting portions are designed for stable attachment to the wall, while the control portions are designed for easy movement. This local differentiation allows simultaneous stability and operability.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are described for operating a wall mounted thermostat. An example computer-implemented method includes receiving an indication of a physical touch to an exposed portion of a housing of the thermostat, wherein the housing is movable when touched. The method also includes determining a thermostat command associated with where the housing is touched and movement of the housing in response to the touch, and operating the thermostat according to the determined thermostat command.