Abstract: An HVAC controller such as a thermostat may include a housing having an aperture formed within the housing and a proximity sensor that is disposed within the housing proximate the aperture. The proximity sensor may include a sense die that has a first IR detector and a second IR detector, and a lens element disposed in front of the sense die. The lens element may be shifted to one side to preferentially direct incident IR energy to the first IR detector at the expense of the second IR detector. An IR energy transparent element may be disposed in front of the lens element, and may include a portion that fits into and seals the aperture formed within the housing. A controller may be configured to receive an electrical signal from the proximity sensor indicating an approach of an individual towards the thermostat, and in response, wake-up a user interface.

Abstract: A system and method for guiding a motor into alignment with a transmission during assembly. The system may allow the motor to be placed into engagement with a motor mount in a first position, wherein in the first position, the position of the motor is constrained by guide structures such that the gear teeth of the drive gear and the gear teeth of a driven gear are not fully intermeshed, and a rotation axis of the drive gear is not parallel to a rotation axis of the driven gear. The motor may then be manipulated in the motor mount while constrained by the guide structures along a motion path until the gear teeth of the drive gear and the gear teeth of the driven gear are more fully intermeshed, and the rotation axis of the drive gear is substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the driven gear.

Abstract: An HVAC controller such as a thermostat may include a housing having an aperture formed within the housing and a proximity sensor that is disposed within the housing proximate the aperture. The proximity sensor may include a sense die that has a first IR detector and a second IR detector, and a lens element disposed in front of the sense die. The lens element may be shifted to one side to preferentially direct incident IR energy to the first IR detector at the expense of the second IR detector. An IR energy transparent element may be disposed in front of the lens element, and may include a portion that fits into and seals the aperture formed within the housing. A controller may be configured to receive an electrical signal from the proximity sensor indicating an approach of an individual towards the thermostat, and in response, wake-up a user interface.

Abstract: A system and method for guiding a motor into alignment with a transmission during assembly. The system may allow the motor to be placed into engagement with a motor mount in a first position, wherein in the first position, the position of the motor is constrained by guide structures such that the gear teeth of the drive gear and the gear teeth of a driven gear are not fully intermeshed, and a rotation axis of the drive gear is not parallel to a rotation axis of the driven gear. The motor may then be manipulated in the motor mount while constrained by the guide structures along a motion path until the gear teeth of the drive gear and the gear teeth of the driven gear are more fully intermeshed, and the rotation axis of the drive gear is substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the driven gear.

Abstract: A humidifier for adding humidity to an air stream of an HVAC system includes a housing configured to be mounted to a surface of an HVAC duct. A back side of the housing may be positioned adjacent to an opening in the surface of the HVAC duct, and the housing may be configured to hold a humidifier pad in an operating position. The housing may define a first air flow path from a first side of the humidifier pad to the opening in the surface of the HVAC duct when the housing is mounted to the surface of the HVAC duct. The housing may further define a second air flow path from a second side of the humidifier pad to a bypass aperture. At least part of the second air flow path may be defined by a bypass duct member. The bypass duct member may be field-reconfigurable between at least a first position resulting in the bypass aperture being located at a first location, and a second position resulting in the bypass aperture being located at a second location.

Abstract: A humidifier for adding humidity to an air stream of an HVAC system includes a housing configured to be mounted to a surface of an HVAC duct. A back side of the housing may be positioned adjacent to an opening in the surface of the HVAC duct, and the housing may be configured to hold a humidifier pad in an operating position. The housing may define a first air flow path from a first side of the humidifier pad to the opening in the surface of the HVAC duct when the housing is mounted to the surface of the HVAC duct. The housing may further define a second air flow path from a second side of the humidifier pad to a bypass aperture. At least part of the second air flow path may be defined by a bypass duct member. The bypass duct member may be field-reconfigurable between at least a first position resulting in the bypass aperture being located at a first location, and a second position resulting in the bypass aperture being located at a second location.

Abstract: A thermostat includes a number of control parameters including a temperature set point, a selected cycle rate, a room temperature swing setting, and/or any other suitable control parameter. In one illustrative embodiment, the thermostat includes a push button for providing a signal each time it is depressed and a controller coupled to the push button. The controller is adapted to receive a sequence of one or more signals from the push button, and is further adapted to set a control parameter such as the cycle rate or room swing setting to a value that corresponds to the sequence of one or more signals. In another illustrative embodiment, the thermostat includes a mechanical user interface such as a rotating selector or slider. The thermostat is adapted to receive a signal that relates to the current position of the mechanical user interface, and sets a control parameter of the thermostat based thereon.

Abstract: A thermostat having a thermostat housing and a rotatable selector disposed on the thermostat housing. The rotatable selector adapted to have a range of rotatable positions, where a desired parameter value is identified by the position of the rotatable selector along the range of rotatable positions. The rotatable selector rotates about a rotation axis. A non-rotating member or element, which may at least partially overlap the rotatable selector, may be fixed relative to the thermostat housing via one or more support member(s). The one or more support member(s) may be laterally displaced relative to the rotation axis of the rotatable selector. The non-rotatable member or element may include, for example, a display, a button, an indicator light, a noise making device, a logo, a temperature indicator, and/or any other suitable device or component, as desired.

Abstract: A thermostat having a thermostat housing and a rotatable selector rotatably coupled to the thermostat housing via a support member. The rotatable selector is adapted to have a range of rotatable positions, wherein a desired parameter value is identified by the position of the rotatable selector along the range of rotatable positions. The thermostat further includes a mechanical to electrical translator that is laterally offset relative to the support member for translating the mechanical position of the rotatable selector to an electrical signal that is related to the desired parameter value.