Climate Control Panel With Non-Planar Display

Abstract

A control panel includes a current altering device for control of peripheral devices and a display having a first segment, second segment and third segment and the first and second segments are not located in the same plane. The display includes at least one touch sensitive segment to operate a peripheral control function. The display includes alphanumeric display areas adjacent to first and second segments. In an embodiment the display may have an arc shape and the first segment is located at an apex of the arc of the display in a first plane and a second segment is located in a second plane.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A control panel comprising:
 a housing comprising circuitry and electronic components for control of a peripheral device, the housing comprising a face that defines an X-axis and Y-axis defining a first plane, and a Z-axis defining a line extending perpendicularly through the first plane of the housing, whereby the perpendicular line extends upward out of the first plane of the housing and downward through the back of the housing, the circuitry controlling at least one current altering device for control of the peripheral device;   a display panel formed in an arc or other non-planar shape, the display panel having at least one point secured by the housing, the display panel connected to the circuitry via a current carrying bridge member, the display panel moveable in the Z-direction such that the display panel can be fitted into the housing such that discrete surfaces of the display panel will be visible to a user when viewed from the side of the control panel and other surfaces will be out of view of the user, the display panel having a first segment and second segment, the first segment of the display comprising at least a first touch sensitive area connected to the current altering device to adjust a peripheral control function of at least one of heat, cool, fan, temperature, time, ventilation and humidity, the second segment of the display comprising at least one alphanumeric icon;   wherein the first and second segments are oriented out of the first plane and in different locations on the display panel with respect to the X-axis and Y-axis.   
     
     
         2 . The control panel of  claim 1 , wherein the display panel is formed in an arc and each of the first and second segments is substantially arc shaped in cross-section and having a vertex formed by the arc shape. 
     
     
         3 . The control panel of  claim 1 , wherein the first segment comprises function control buttons, the first segment comprising a discrete display area with respect to the second segment, the second segment oriented above the first segment in a substantially different plane along the Z-axis. 
     
     
         4 . The control panel of  claim 1 , wherein the display panel is formed in an arc and the first and second segments are located in different planes. 
     
     
         5 . The control panel of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has an opening formed therein for receiving the display panel, the opening formed in the first plane, at least one of the first and second extending out of the first plane of the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The control panel of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second segments extends to an exterior edge of the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The control panel of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second segments extends internally with respect to the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The control panel of  claim 1 , wherein the current altering device is located externally with respect to the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The control panel of  claim 1 , wherein the current altering device comprises a relay that interrupts the current to the peripheral device. 
     
     
         10 . The control panel of  claim 1 , wherein the first segment comprises a touch sensitive area and the second segment comprises an alphanumeric display area located adjacent the first segment. 
     
     
         11 . The control panel of  claim 1  wherein the peripheral device comprises one of a heat pump, air conditioner, furnace, boiler, humidifier, fan and ventilation damper. 
     
     
         12 . The control panel of  claim 1 , wherein the display is formed in a non-planar shape and forms one of a concave arc, convex arc, cube, octahedron, pentagonal prism, pyramid, tetrahedron, triangular prism, truncated pyramid, stairs, cone, and mushroom shape. 
     
     
         13 . The control panel of  claim 1 , wherein the control panel further comprises a frame member for supporting the display panel, the frame member attached to the circuitry. 
     
     
         14 . A thermostat comprising the control panel of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . The thermostat of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second segments on the display panel are formed in a non-planar shape such that a user's hand can adjust the operation of the control panel at least along the Z-axis, whereby the control functions are adjustable by touching the first and second segments. 
     
     
         16 . The thermostat of  claim 14 , wherein the display panel is a flexible display panel supported by the housing to attain the desired shape. 
     
     
         17 . The thermostat of  claim 14 , wherein the display panel is supported by a frame connected to the circuitry. 
     
     
         18 . A method of assembling a control panel, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a housing having circuitry comprising at least one current altering device;   forming a flexible display panel in a non-planar shape, the flexible display panel comprising a first segment and-a second segment, each segment comprising functionality for adjusting the control panel;   attaching a first end of the flexible display panel to the circuitry via a bridge member;   manipulating the flexible display panel in the Z-direction to orient the flexible display panel in a desired shape such that discrete surfaces of the display panel will be visible to a user when viewed from the side of the control panel and other surfaces will be out of view, and such that the first segment is located substantially in a first plane and the second segment is located substantially in a second plane; and   securing the flexible display panel to the housing in order to maintain the flexible display in the desired shape, wherein the first and second segments are oriented to adjust the control functions by touching the first and second segments.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein each of the first and second segments comprises a touch sensitive pad for operation of the control.