HVAC CONTROLLER WITH THERMISTOR BIASED AGAINST AN OUTER HOUSING
An HVAC controller includes a housing having an outer housing wall, a circuit board within the housing and a flexible circuit electrically coupled to the circuit board. The flexible circuit may provide a bias force toward a non-flexed state when flexed. A temperature sensor may be electrically coupled to the flexible circuit, which is mounted in a flexed configuration within the housing such that the bias force of the flexible circuit biases the temperature sensor against the outer housing wall.
1 . An HVAC controller comprising:
a housing having an outer housing wall;
a circuit board within the housing;
a flexible circuit electrically coupled to the circuit board, the flexible circuit providing a bias force toward a non-flexed state when flexed; and
a temperature sensor electrically coupled to the flexible circuit, wherein the flexible circuit is mounted in a flexed configuration within the housing such that the bias force of the flexible circuit biases the temperature sensor against the outer housing wall.
2 . The HVAC controller of claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate circuit board disposed between the circuit board and the flexible circuit, wherein the intermediate circuit board includes a connector to electrically connect the intermediate circuit board and the circuit board.
3 . The HVAC controller of claim 2 , wherein the flexible circuit is physically connected to the intermediate circuit board.
4 . The HVAC controller of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises a thermistor.
5 . The HVAC controller of claim 1 , wherein the bias force of the flexible circuit biases the temperature sensor into physical contact with an inside surface of the outer housing wall.
6 . The HVAC controller of claim 1 , wherein the housing wall includes a housing front face.
7 . The HVAC controller of claim 1 , wherein the flexible circuit is mounted such that the temperature sensor is positioned within a pocket formed in the housing.
8 . The HVAC controller of claim 7 , wherein the HVAC controller includes a plurality of heat producing components positioned inside of the housing, and wherein the temperature sensor is positioned within a pocket formed in the housing such that the temperature sensor is isolated from the plurality of heat producing components.
9 . The HVAC controller of claim 1 , wherein one or more components of the HVAC controller are configured to engage and retain the flexible circuit in the flexed configuration.
10 . A programmable thermostat comprising:
a temperature sensor mounted on a flexible circuit element;
a daughterboard connected to the flexible circuit element;
a motherboard connected to the daughterboard; and
a thermostat housing for housing the motherboard, the daughterboard and the flexible circuit element.
11 . The programmable thermostat of claim 10 , wherein the flexible circuit element biases the temperature sensor to rest against a portion of the thermostat housing.
12 . The programmable thermostat of claim 11 , wherein the portion of the thermostat housing against which the temperature sensor rests defines flexible circuit biases at least part of a pocket.
13 . An HVAC controller comprising:
a controller housing including a front window;
a window support disposed behind the front window, a pocket formed between the window support and the front window;
a controller circuit board within the controller housing;
a flexible circuit operatively coupled to the controller circuit board; and
a temperature sensor electrically coupled to the flexible circuit and disposed within the pocket.
14 . The HVAC controller of claim 13 , further comprising an intermediate circuit board disposed between the controller circuit board and the flexible circuit, wherein the intermediate circuit board includes a connector to electrically couple the intermediate circuit board to the controller circuit board.
15 . The HVAC controller of claim 14 , wherein the flexible circuit is electrically connected to the intermediate circuit board via a connector.
16 . The HVAC controller of claim 13 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises a thermistor.
17 . The HVAC controller of claim 13 , wherein the flexible circuit is configured to bias the temperature sensor into physical contact with the front window.
18 . The HVAC controller of claim 13 , wherein the window support flexes the flexible circuit.
19 . The HVAC controller of claim 13 , wherein the pocket thermally isolates the temperature sensor from one or more heat producing components within an interior of the controller housing.
20 . The HVAC controller of claim 13 , wherein the temperature sensor is configured to be in thermal contact with the front window without the use of thermal grease.