Rotatable Thermostat Mount With Accelerometer-Based Leveling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wall-mounted thermostats often require incorrect leveling, making it difficult to adjust their attachment to the wall without removing and reattaching them, which is inconvenient and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A wall-mounted thermostat system with a leveling indicator and register, featuring a rotatable interface and accelerometers for precise leveling, allowing users to level the thermostat without disassembly, using either a virtual level indicator on the display or a physical bubble level, and cooperating leveling registers for incremental rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional wall-mounted thermostats are attached to the wall using screws or bolts, then the thermostat is securely fixed to the wall, but it becomes difficult to adjust the leveling without removing and reattaching the entire unit
Solution Approach 1:
The thermostat system is divided into two separate components: a wall-mounting base that remains fixed to the wall, and a thermostat unit that can be detached and reattached. This segmentation allows the thermostat to be adjusted for leveling by simply detaching and reattaching it to the base, without needing to remove the base from the wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment mechanism transitions from a fixed, permanent connection to a dynamic, reversible connection. The wall-mounting base provides a reusable mounting structure that allows the thermostat to be repeatedly attached and detached, enabling easy adjustment of positioning and leveling while maintaining secure fixation during operation.
2Reliability
If the thermostat is securely anchored to the wall, then it remains stable during operation, but any adjustment to the attachment position requires removal and reattachment
Solution Approach 1:
The wall-mounting base is pre-installed and securely anchored to the wall during the initial installation. This preliminary action creates a stable, reusable mounting structure that remains in place, allowing subsequent thermostat adjustments to be made quickly by simply detaching and reattaching the thermostat unit without needing to re-anchor the base.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a dynamic attachment mechanism that allows the thermostat to be quickly detached and reattached to the wall-mounting base. This dynamic connection maintains stability during operation while enabling rapid adjustments to positioning and leveling, significantly reducing the time required for modifications compared to conventional fixed mounting.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the thermostat housing is fixed in position, then it provides a stable mounting structure, but it cannot be rotated or adjusted for proper leveling
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the wall-mounting base (which provides structural stability) from the thermostat unit (which requires positioning flexibility). This segmentation allows the thermostat to be independently adjusted by detaching and reattaching it to the base, enabling proper leveling without compromising the stability of the wall-mounted structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment interface between the thermostat and wall-mounting base is designed to be dynamic rather than fixed. This allows the thermostat to be easily detached, rotated, and reattached at different angles to achieve proper leveling, while the base itself remains stably mounted to the wall.
4Ease of operation
If conventional thermostats use fixed screw holes for mounting, then the attachment is secure, but adjusting the position requires patching previous holes and creating new ones
Solution Approach 1:
The wall-mounting base is designed as a separate, reusable component with pre-defined mounting holes. When the thermostat needs to be repositioned, the entire base can be removed and reinstalled at a new location as a single unit, rather than removing individual screws and patching holes. This segmentation simplifies repositioning to a single removal and reinstallation operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system transitions from a permanent, fixed-hole attachment to a dynamic, reusable base mounting. The wall-mounting base can be repeatedly removed and reinstalled at different locations without requiring patching or modification of the wall, enabling easy repositioning while maintaining secure attachment at each location.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy and convenient leveling of the thermostat without removing the wall-mounting base or patching screws, ensuring accurate alignment and appearance, while maintaining electrical connectivity during the process.
Implementation Method 1
The thermostat includes a first accelerometer for developing leveling data with respect to a plane parallel to the wall
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure is directed to an electronic thermostat for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system that includes an electronic level feature and leveling register that allow the thermostat housing to be rotated about a mounting wall plate to place the thermostat housing in a leveled position. In one aspect, the thermostat includes at least one accelerometer. Other systems and methods are disclosed.