Thermostat with display screen and control dial having vertical and horizontal mounting configurations

Abstract

A temperature control apparatus for controlling operation of at least one temperature-modifying device includes a housing, a rotationally symmetrical display disposed within or on the housing, a rotary dial disposed on or partially in the housing and being rotatable with respect to the housing, and a controller configured to control operation of the at least one temperature modifying device in response to a comparison of a measured ambient temperature with a user-selected setpoint temperature, and present a menu on the display, from which the user is able to select, using the rotary dial, one of a plurality of orientations of the display with respect to the housing.

I/we claim: 
     
         1 . A temperature control apparatus for controlling operation of at least one temperature-modifying device, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a housing;   (b) a rotationally symmetrical display disposed within or on the housing;   (c) a rotary dial disposed on or partially in the housing and being rotatable with respect to the housing; and   (d) a controller configured to:
 (i) control operation of the at least one temperature modifying device in response to a comparison of a measured ambient temperature with a user-selected setpoint temperature, and 
 (ii) present a menu on the display, from which the user is able to select, using the rotary dial, one of a plurality of orientations of the display with respect to the housing. 
   
     
     
         2 . The temperature control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the rotary dial is axially movable with respect to the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The temperature control apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the rotary dial includes at least two depressible switch portions. 
     
     
         4 . The temperature control apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the housing includes a button label proximate each of the at least two depressible switch portions. 
     
     
         5 . The temperature control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the menu provided by the controller further allows the user to select, using the rotary dial, at least one of the setpoint temperature, a date, a time, or a time duration. 
     
     
         6 . The temperature control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the display is in the shape of a square. 
     
     
         7 . The temperature control apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor in communication with the controller for detecting the ambient temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The temperature control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes at least one mounting slot configured to allow the housing to be coupled to a surface in one of a plurality of orientations with respect to the surface. 
     
     
         9 . The temperature control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of orientations includes a first orientation and a second orientation, the second orientation being rotated ninety degrees from the first orientation. 
     
     
         10 . The temperature control apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a wireless communication module connected to the controller. 
     
     
         11 . A temperature control apparatus for controlling operation of at least one temperature-modifying device, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a housing selectively orientable on a support surface in a horizontal configuration or a vertical configuration;   (b) a rotationally symmetrical display disposed within or on the housing;   (c) a rotary dial disposed on or partially in the housing and being rotatable with respect to the housing, a center of the rotary dial and a center of the display being vertically aligned when the housing is in the vertical configuration and being horizontally aligned when the housing is in the horizontal configuration; and   (d) a controller configured to:
 (i) control operation of the at least one temperature modifying device in response to a comparison of a measured ambient temperature with a user-selected setpoint temperature, 
 (ii) present a menu on the display, from which the user is able to select, using the rotary dial, one of a horizontal orientation or a vertical orientation of the display with respect to the housing.