Flush-Mount Thermostat With Remote Room Temperature Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermostats are visually unappealing, protrude from walls inconveniently, and fail to accurately measure room temperatures where occupants spend most time, as they are often located near HVAC systems, leading to inefficient temperature control due to their fixed placement and lack of remote controllability.
Innovation Solution
A temperature control apparatus with a face plate and adjustable housing that can be mounted flush into a wall using collapsible clamps, incorporating wireless communication and sensors to gather data from multiple rooms, allowing for remote control and adjustment based on occupancy and preferences, eliminating the need for physical buttons and displays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the thermostat is mounted near the HVAC system to ensure proper connection, then the connection reliability is improved, but the temperature measurement accuracy deteriorates because it measures the HVAC system's temperature rather than the room's temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides temperature measurement into two separate functions: the thermostat at the HVAC location measures HVAC system temperature, while remote wireless sensors measure room temperatures in different locations. This segmentation allows each sensor to perform its measurement function optimally without interference from the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Wireless communication acts as an intermediary between the remote temperature sensors and the thermostat controller. The sensors transmit temperature data wirelessly to the thermostat, which then uses this information along with HVAC temperature data to make control decisions, eliminating the need for physical wire connections to remote sensors.
2Device complexity
If the thermostat protrudes significantly from the wall to accommodate internal components, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to inconvenient user interaction
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface elements (display and control buttons) are extracted from the wall-mounted thermostat body and relocated to a mobile device application. This allows the thermostat to have a minimal protrusion while maintaining full user interaction capabilities through the mobile device, which the user carries anyway.
Solution Approach 2:
Physical mechanical interfaces (buttons, displays, and wiring) are replaced with wireless electronic communication. The mobile device application provides the user interface, and wireless communication replaces the need for complex internal wiring and large housing space.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the thermostat uses traditional wiring without a common wire to obtain power, then the adaptability to existing HVAC systems is improved, but the device complexity increases due to power scavenging requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The thermostat is designed with universal power supply capability that can operate in multiple power scenarios: systems with common wires, systems without common wires, and systems with different voltage levels. The power management circuit automatically adapts to the available power source, making the thermostat compatible with various existing HVAC systems without requiring complex installation modifications.
Data Source
AI summary
At least one aspect of the present disclose is directed towards a temperature control device that includes a face plate, a housing, and an adjustment mechanism. The housing may protrude away from the rear side of the face plate. The housing may include a mounting mechanism that includes a set of clamps configured to engage at least a portion of an inner surface. The set of clamps may be adjustable based on alterations to the adjustment mechanism. The housing may also include one or more cavities that may be configured to receive at least a portion of the set of clamps when the set of clamps is collapsed into the housing.