Temperature control device with automatically adjustable backlighting
A temperature control device (e.g., a thermostat) may be configured to control an internal heat-generating electrical load so as to accurately measure a present temperature in a space around the temperature control device. The temperature control device may comprise a temperature sensing circuit configured to generate a temperature control signal indicating the present temperature in the space, and a control circuit configured to receive the temperature control signal and to control the internal electrical load. The control circuit may be configured to energize the internal electrical load in an awake state and to cause the internal electrical load to consume less power in an idle state. The control circuit may be configured to control the internal electrical load to a first energy level (e.g., a first intensity) during the awake state and to a second energy level (e.g., second intensity) that is less than the first during the idle state.
1. A temperature control device comprising:
a button comprising a translucent body illuminated by one or more light sources located behind the button and a covering over the body, the covering bearing an indicia indicating a function of the device controlled by the button, such that only the indicia is illuminated;
a display; and
a processor configured to:
determine a temperature in a space around the temperature control device; and
operate the display in an awake state where the display is illuminated;
wherein the temperature is not determined when in the awake state.
2. The temperature control device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to operate the display in an idle state where the display is not illuminated.
3. The temperature control device of claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine the temperature during the idle state.
4. The temperature control device of claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
store a setpoint temperature input by a user; and
compare the setpoint temperature to the temperature determined during the idle state, and based on the comparison, control an HVAC system associated with the device.
5. The temperature control device of claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to transition from the idle state to the awake state in response to an actuation of the button.
6. The temperature control device of claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to wait for a period of time after the actuation of the button before returning to the idle state.
7. The temperature control device of claim 1 , wherein the indicia is etched into the covering.
8. The temperature control device of claim 1 , wherein the translucent body is a plastic that is at least one of transparent, clear, or diffusive.
9. The temperature control device of claim 1 , wherein the indicia comprises at least one of text or an icon.
10. The temperature control device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine an ambient light level in the space.
11. The temperature control device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to adjust an illumination intensity of the indicia based on the ambient light level.
12. The temperature control device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to adjust an illumination intensity of the display based on the ambient light level.
13. The temperature control device of claim 1 , wherein processor is further configured to determine at least one of an occupancy or a vacancy condition in the space.
14. The temperature control device of claim 13 , wherein processor is further configured to turn an HVAC system associated with the device on in response to detecting an occupancy condition.
15. The temperature control device of claim 13 , wherein processor is further configured to turn an HVAC system associated with the device off in response to detecting a vacancy condition.
16. The temperature control device of claim 1 , wherein the display displays a mode of an HVAC system associated with the device.
17. The temperature control device of claim 1 , wherein the display displays a status of a fan of an HVAC system associated with the device.
18. The temperature control device of claim 1 , wherein the device is part of a home automation network and is in wireless communication with at least one other device.
19. The temperature control device of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a plurality of buttons, each button comprising a translucent body illuminated by one or more light sources located behind the button and a covering over the body, the respective covering bearing an indicia indicating a function of the device controlled by the respective button, such that only the respective indicia is illuminated, and wherein each button has a different function.
20. The temperature control device of claim 19 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine an ambient light level in the space and to adjust an illumination intensity of the buttons based on the ambient light level.