Patent Publication Number: US-2021184442-A1

Title: Temperature Control Device Mounted to a Sealed Electrical Wall Box

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/153,406, filed on Oct. 5, 2018, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/569,205, filed Oct. 6, 2017, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Home automation systems, which have become increasingly popular, may be used by homeowners to integrate and control multiple electrical and/or electronic devices in their homes. For example, a homeowner may connect appliances, lights, blinds, thermostats, cable or satellite boxes, security systems, telecommunication systems, and the like to each other via a wireless network. The homeowner may control these electrical and/or electronic devices using a system controller, a remote control device (e.g., such as a wall-mounted keypad), a user interface provided via a phone, a tablet, a computer, and/or the like, directly connected to the network or remotely connected via the Internet. These electrical and/or electronic devices may communicate with each other and/or the controller to, for example, improve their efficiency, their convenience, and/or their usability. 
     However, some of these devices may interact with one another and their respective environments in detrimental ways. For example, a thermostat may include a display screen, and the display screen may give off heat when it is operating. The heat given off by the display screen may throw off the measurements provided by the thermostat, such that the thermostat is unable to determine the true temperature in a space, and as such, is unable to properly control the temperature of the space. Moreover, the display screen may operate in a multitude of varying intensities that may each give off a differing amount of heat, further complicating this problem. Hence, there is a need to ensure that devices, like thermostats, properly operate in varying conditions and environments. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure relates in one aspect to a temperature control device being mounted to a sealed electrical wall box. As described herein, a temperature control system may include the temperature control device, the sealed electrical wall box, and one or more glands. The temperature control device may include a temperature sensor. The sealed electrical wall box may be configured to be flush mounted to a wall. The sealed electrical wall box may define a flange configured to engage an outer surface of a wall. The sealed electrical wall box may define a back plate that is distal from the flange. The temperature control device may be configured to be mounted to the sealed electrical wall box such that the temperature sensor is located within the sealed electrical wall box. The sealed electrical wall box may be configured to prevent air within a wall cavity of the wall from entering the sealed electrical wall box. For example, the sealed electrical wall box may be configured to provide a substantially airtight seal between the wall cavity and the sealed electrical wall box. The sealed electrical wall box may be configured to receive one or more electrical cables and/or electrical wires from the wall cavity, for example, for power and/or control of the temperature control device. For example, the back plate may include one or more holes configured to receive the electrical cable(s) and/or the electrical wire(s). The holes may have a first diameter. 
     The glands may be configured to be removably secured within the holes. The glands may be configured to receive electrical cables and/or electrical wires of various thicknesses. For example, the glands may be configured to receive electrical cables and/or electrical wires having varying thicknesses including, for example, cables having diameters ranging from 0.17 inches to 0.325 inches for example, although smaller and larger diameter wires and cables may be used. Each of the glands may define a front portion, an intermediate portion, and a rear portion. The front portion may be tapered from a front surface to an intermediate surface. The front surface may define a second diameter that may be less than the first diameter such that the each of the glands may be configured to be pressed into a respective hole of the holes. The intermediate surface may have a third diameter that may be greater than the first diameter. The intermediate surface may be configured to rest against the back plate. The intermediate portion may have a fourth diameter that may be less than or equal to the first diameter. The intermediate portion may have a length that may be substantially equivalent to a thickness of the back plate. The rear portion may define a first surface that may be configured to rest against the back plate. The rear portion may define a second surface having an area that may be star-shaped. The star shaped area may be configured to receive an electrical cable and/or an electrical wire having varying thicknesses. The second surface may be initially sealed and may be punctured by the electrical cable and/or electrical wire to form an aperture. When the second surface is punctured, the aperture may be configured to form a substantially airtight seal around the electrical cable and/or electrical wire. 
     The above advantages and features are of representative embodiments only. They are not to be considered limitations. Additional features and advantages of embodiments will become apparent in the following description, from the drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example temperature control device (e.g., a wall-mounted thermostat). 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an example temperature control device. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a side cross-section view of an example temperature control device mounted to an electrical wall box. 
         FIG. 4A  is a front perspective view of an example sealed electrical wall box having holes therein. 
         FIG. 4B  is a rear perspective view of the example sealed electrical wall box shown in  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 5A  is a front perspective view of the example sealed electrical wall box shown in  FIG. 4A  with gland seals position in the holes of the wall box. 
         FIG. 5B  is a rear perspective view of the example sealed electrical wall box shown in  FIG. 5A  with gland seals positioned in the holes of the wall box. 
         FIG. 5C  is a partially exploded view of the example sealed electrical wall box shown in  FIG. 5B . 
         FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, and 6E  illustrate different views of an example gland seal. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example temperature control device (e.g., a wall-mounted thermostat  100 ) for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The thermostat  100  may be configured to control the HVAC system to adjust a present temperature T PRES  in a space in which the thermostat is installed towards a setpoint temperature T SET . The thermostat  100  may include an internal temperature sensor (not shown) for measuring the present temperature T PRES  in the space. 
     The thermostat  100  may be configured to communicate (e.g., transmit and/or receive) digital messages with one or more external control devices via a network communication link. The network communication link may include a wired communication link or a wireless communication link, such as a radio-frequency (RF) communication link. The thermostat  100  may be configured to adjust the setpoint temperature T SET  in response to messages, such as digital messages, that are received via the communication link. In addition, the thermostat  100  may be configured to transmit the present temperature T PRES  and/or the setpoint temperature T SET  via one or more messages, such as digital messages, via the communication link. One will recognize that thermostat  100  may transmit and/or receive other messages via the network communication link. The thermostat  100  may be coupled to the HVAC system via a digital communication link for example, such as an Ethernet link, a BACnet® link, or a Modbus link. The HVAC system may include, for example, a building management system (BMS). Alternatively and/or additionally, the communication link with the HVAC system may include a traditional analog control link. Thermostat  100  may communicate control messages through such a communication link in order to control the HVAC system (e.g., for turning the HVAC system on and off, for controlling a fan speed of the HVAC system, for controlling a mode of the HVAC system (e.g., heating or cooling), etc.) and/or to receive messages from the HVAC system, such as status message. Other examples are possible. Examples of load control systems having temperature control devices, such as the thermostat  100 , are described in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0091213, published Apr. 19, 2012, entitled WALL-MOUNTABLE TEMPERATURE CONTROL DEVICE FOR A LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING AN ENERGY SAVINGS MODE, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0001977, published Jan. 2, 2014, entitled LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING INDEPENDENTLY-CONTROLLED UNITS RESPONSIVE TO A BROADCAST CONTROLLER, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     The thermostat  100  may be configured to control the HVAC system in response to occupancy and/or vacancy conditions in the space around (e.g., in the vicinity of) the thermostat  100 . The thermostat  100  may include an internal detector, e.g., a pyroelectric infrared (PIR) detector, for receiving infrared energy from an occupant(s) in the space via a lens  120  to sense the occupancy or vacancy condition in the space. Alternatively or additionally, the internal detector may include an ultrasonic detector, a microwave detector, or any combination of PIR detectors, ultrasonic detectors, and microwave detectors. The thermostat  100  may be configured to turn the HVAC system on in response to detecting an occupancy condition in the space and to turn the HVAC system off in response to detecting a vacancy condition in the space. An example of a wall-mounted control device configured to control an electrical load in response to detecting occupancy and vacancy conditions is described in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0313535, published Dec. 13, 2012, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING AN AMBIENT LIGHT THRESHOLD, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     The thermostat  100  may include a visual display  110  for displaying the present temperature T PRES  and/or the setpoint temperature T SET . In addition, the visual display  110  may display a mode of the HVAC system (e.g., heating or cooling) and/or a status of a fan of the HVAC system (e.g., on or off, speed, etc.). The visual display  110  may include, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen or a light-emitting diode (LED) screen. The visual display  110  may be backlight by one or more lights sources (e.g., white backlight LEDs, although other mechanisms may be used). The thermostat  100  may include a power button  112  for turning on and off the HVAC system. The thermostat  100  may include a fan button  114  for turning on and off the fan (e.g., and for adjusting the speed of the fan) of the HVAC system. The thermostat  100  may also include a units-adjust button  115  for adjusting the units in which the present temperature T PRES  and/or the setpoint temperature T SET  are displayed on the visual display  110  (e.g., Celsius or Fahrenheit). The thermostat  100  may include a raise button  116  and a lower button  118  for respectively raising and lowering the setpoint temperature T SET  of the thermostat. The thermostat  100  may also be configured to adjust the setpoint temperature T SET  in response to the present time of day according to a predetermined timeclock schedule. The thermostat  100  may also include a mode button (not shown) for changing a mode of the HVAC system (e.g., heating or cooling). 
     One or more of the buttons  112 - 118  may include indicia, such as text or icons, indicating the specific function of the button. The buttons  112 - 118  may be backlit to allow the indicia to be read in a wide range of ambient light levels. Each button  112 - 118  may be made of a translucent (e.g., transparent, clear, and/or diffusive) material, such as plastic. The buttons  112 - 118  may be illuminated by one or more light sources (e.g., LEDs, although other mechanisms may be used) located behind each button (e.g., inside of the thermostat  100 ). In addition, the buttons  112 - 118  may each have an opaque surface such as a metallic surface. Specifically, each button  112 - 118  may have a translucent body (not shown) and an opaque material or sheet, e.g., a metallic sheet (not shown), adhered to a front surface of the body. The indicia may be etched into the opaque sheet, for example, of each button. The illumination from the LEDs may shine through the translucent body, but not through the opaque sheet, such that the indicium of each button (that is etched away from the opaque sheet for example) is illuminated. Other configurations of indicia are possible, such as text or icons that are printed on the buttons. 
     When the thermostat  100  is presently being used (e.g., a user is presently actuating one or more of the buttons  112 - 118 ), the thermostat may operate in an awake state in which the visual display  110  may be turned on and backlit and the buttons  112 - 118  may each be illuminated to an awake surface illumination intensity L SUR1  (e.g., a bright level). When the thermostat  100  is not being used (e.g., the buttons  112 - 118  are not presently being actuated), the thermostat may operate in an idle state in which the backlight for the visual display  110  may be dimmed and the buttons  112 - 118  may each be illuminated to an idle surface illumination intensity L SUR2  (e.g., a dim level). The thermostat  100  may be configured to wait for an amount of time after the last button press (e.g., approximately 10 seconds) before dimming the backlight for the visual display  110  and the LEDs, for example, behind the buttons  112 - 118 . The intensity of the visual display  110  when in the idle state may be less than the intensity of the visual display when in the wake state, and similarly the surface illumination intensity L SUR2  of the buttons  112 - 118  when in the idle state may be less than the surface illumination intensity L SUR1  of the buttons when in the awake state. This may provide an energy savings when the thermostat  100  is in the idle state and/or may reduce the heat generated by the backlight LEDs, for example, when the thermostat  100  is in the idle state which may in turn improve the accuracy of the measurements of the present temperature T PRES  by the internal temperature sensor when the thermostat  100  is in the idle state. In addition and/or alternatively, the visual display may be turned off and not backlit in the idle state, and the LEDs behind the buttons  112 - 118  may be turned off in the idle state for similar reasons of energy savings and/or to improve the accuracy of the measurements of the present temperature T PRES  by the internal temperature sensor. 
     The ambient light level in the room in which the thermostat  100  is installed may affect a user&#39;s ability to read the indicia on the buttons  112 - 118 . For example, if the contrast between the brightness of the illuminated indicia and the brightness of the adjacent surface of the button is too low, the illuminated indicia may appear washed out to the user. Accordingly, the thermostat  100  may include an ambient light detection circuit, which may be configured to measure the ambient light level in the room in which the thermostat is installed. For example, the ambient light detection circuit may be located behind the lens  120  and may receive light through the lens to make a determination of the ambient light level in the room. Alternatively, the thermostat  100  may include an opening (not shown) through which the ambient light detection circuit may receive light. The thermostat  100  may also include a light pipe for directing light from outside of the keypad to the ambient light detection circuit. 
     The thermostat  100  may be configured to adjust the awake and idle surface illumination intensities L SUR1 , L SUR2  in response to the measured ambient light level. For example, the thermostat  100  may be configured to increase the awake and idle surface illumination intensities L SUR1 , L SUR2  if the ambient light level increases, and decrease the awake and idle surface illumination intensities L SUR1 , L SUR2  if the ambient light level decreases. Thermostat  100  is one example thermostat and other examples are possible. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an example temperature control device  200  that may be deployed as, for example, the thermostat  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . The temperature control device  200  may include a control circuit  210 , which may include one or more of a processor(s) (e.g., a microprocessor), a microcontroller(s), a programmable logic device(s) (PLD), a field programmable gate array(s) (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit(s) (ASIC), and/or any suitable processing device(s). The temperature control device  200  may include one or more actuators  212  (e.g., mechanical tactile switches), which may be actuated in response to actuations of the buttons  112 - 118 , for example. The control circuit  210  may be coupled to the actuators  212  for receiving user inputs. 
     The temperature control device  200  may include a button backlight circuit  214  for illuminating indicia on one or more buttons (e.g., the buttons  112 - 118  of the thermostat  100 ). For example, the button backlight circuit  214  may include one or more LEDs located behind or to the side of each of the buttons (for description purposes only, temperature control device  200  will be described as using one or more LEDs to illuminate indicia on one or more buttons; nonetheless, other illumination mechanisms may be used). The control circuit  210  may be configured to control an LED current conducted through the LEDs of the button backlight circuit  214  to dim a surface illumination intensity of each button, e.g., by pulse-width modulating the LED current and adjusting a duty cycle DC LED  of the pulse-width modulated LED current. The control circuit  210  may be configured to control the button backlight circuit  214  to illuminate the buttons to the awake surface illumination intensity L SUR1  in the awake state and to the idle surface illumination intensity L SUR2  in the idle state. The awake surface illumination intensity L SUR1  may be brighter than the idle surface illumination intensity L SUR2 . To illuminate the buttons to the awake surface illumination intensity L SUR1 , the control circuit  210  may pulse-width modulate the LED current using a first LED duty cycle DC LED1 . To illuminate the buttons to the idle surface illumination intensity L SUR2 , the control circuit  210  may pulse-width modulate the LED current using a second LED duty cycle DC LED2 , which may be smaller than the first LED duty cycle DC LED1 . 
     The temperature control device  200  may include a memory  215  communicatively coupled to the control circuit  210 . The control circuit  210  may be configured to use the memory  215  for the storage and/or retrieval of, for example, a setpoint temperature T SET  and/or a present temperature T PRES  in the space in which the temperature control device  200  is installed, and the awake surface illumination intensity L SUR1 , and/or to the idle surface illumination intensity L SUR2 . The memory  215  may also store one or more control applications (e.g., software based applications) that may be executed by the control circuit  210  to provide the functionality of the temperature control device  200  (and similarly the temperature control device  300  shown in  FIG. 3 , and the thermostat  100  shown in  FIG. 1 ) as describe herein. The memory  215  may be implemented as an external integrated circuit (IC) or as an internal circuit of the control circuit  210 . 
     The temperature control device  200  may include a visual display  216  (e.g., the visual display  110  of the thermostat  100 ) for displaying status information for a user, e.g., the present temperature T PRES , the setpoint temperature T SET , a mode of the HVAC system (e.g., heating or cooling), and/or a status of a fan of the HVAC system (e.g., on/off, and/or speed). For example, the control circuit  210  may be configured to update the present temperature T PRES  displayed on the visual display  216  every 50 milliseconds. Visual display  216  may be, for example, an LCD screen or an LED screen (for description purposes only, visual display  216  will be described as an LED screen). The temperature control device  200  may also include a display backlight circuit  218  (e.g., having one or more LEDs) for illuminating the visual display  216  (for description purposes only, temperature control device  200  will be described as using one or more LEDs for illuminating the visual display  216 ; nonetheless, other illumination mechanisms may be used). The control circuit  210  may be configured to turn the display backlight circuit  218  on and off and/or adjust the intensity of the display backlight circuit. 
     The temperature control device  200  may include an HVAC interface circuit  220 , which may be coupled to an HVAC system that controls the present temperature T PRES  in the space. The HVAC interface circuit  220  may include a digital communication circuit for communicating with the HVAC system via a digital communication link, such as an Ethernet link, a BACnet® link, or a Modbus link. Alternatively and/or additionally, the HVAC interface circuit  220  may include an analog HVAC control circuit for controlling the HVAC system via a traditional analog control link, e.g., for turning the HVAC system on and off. The control circuit  210  may be configured to use the interface circuit  220  to control the HVAC system to adjust the present temperature T PRES  in the space towards the setpoint temperature T SET , to control a fan speed of the HVAC system, to turn the HVAC system on and off, to control a mode of the HVAC system (e.g., heating or cooling), etc. The control circuit  210  may be further configured to use the interface circuit  220  to receive messages from the HVAC system, such as status messages, etc. Other examples are possible. 
     The temperature control device  200  may include a temperature sensing circuit  222  for measuring the present temperature T PRES  in the space in which the temperature control device  200  is installed. The temperature sensing circuit  222  may include a temperature sensor integrated circuit, for example, from the Si70xx family of temperature sensors manufactured by Silicon Labs. Other examples are possible. The temperature sensing circuit  222  may generate a temperature control signal V TEMP , which may indicate the measured temperature in the space in which the temperature control device  200  is installed. The control circuit  210  may be configured to receive the temperature control signal V TEMP , use the temperature control signal V TEMP  to determine the present temperature T PRES  in the space, and may store the present temperature T PRES  in the memory  215 . For example, the control circuit  210  may be configured to periodically sample the temperature control signal V TEMP  and store the temperature sample in the memory  215  (e.g., every second). The control circuit  210  may be configured to average a predetermined number of temperature samples (e.g., the previous 16 temperature samples) stored in the memory  215  to determine the present temperature T PRES , which may also be stored in the memory  215 . The control circuit  210  may be configured to compare the present temperature T PRES  to the setpoint temperature T SET  and to control the HVAC system to adjust the present temperature T PRES  in the space towards the setpoint temperature T SET  if the present temperature T PRES  is outside of a setpoint temperature range around the setpoint temperature T SET  (e.g., +/−1° F.). Other variations are possible. 
     The temperature control device  200  may also include an occupancy detection circuit  224  for detecting an occupancy or vacancy condition in the vicinity of the temperature control device. The occupancy detection circuit  224  may include a detector, e.g., a pyroelectric infrared (PIR) detector, an ultrasonic detector, and/or a microwave detector, for example, for detecting an occupancy or vacancy condition in the space. For example, a PIR detector may be operable to receive infrared energy from an occupant in the space around the temperature control device  200  through a lens (e.g., the lens  120  of the thermostat  100  shown in  FIG. 1 ) to thus sense the occupancy condition in the space. The control circuit  210  may be configured to determine a vacancy condition in the space after a timeout period expires since the last occupancy condition was detected. The control circuit  210  may be configured to turn the HVAC system on and off in response to the occupancy detection circuit  224  detecting occupancy and/or vacancy conditions. 
     The temperature control device  200  may further include a communication circuit  226 , such as a wired communication circuit and/or a wireless communication circuit (e.g., an RF transmitter/receiver coupled to an antenna for transmitting RF signals) to communicate on a communication network with devices other than an HVAC system (e.g., to communicate via the Internet). The control circuit  210  may be coupled to the communication circuit  226  and may be configured to adjust the setpoint temperature T SET  in response to digital messages, for example, received via the communication circuit  226 . The control circuit  210  may also be configured to transmit the present temperature T PRES  and/or the setpoint temperature T SET  via digital messages via the communication circuit  226 . One will recognize that control circuit  210  may transmit and/or receive other messages via communication circuit  226 . When the communication circuit  226  includes a wireless communication circuit, it may include an RF receiver for receiving RF signals, an RF transmitter for transmitting RF signals, an RF transceiver for transmitting and receiving RF signals, an optical transmitter and/or receiver for transmitting and/or receiving optical messages, and/or an infrared (IR) transmitter and/or receiver for transmitting and/or receiving IR signals. One will recognize that communication circuit  226  may be configured to wirelessly communicate in other manners. 
     The temperature control device  200  may include a power supply  228  for generating a direct-current (DC) supply voltage V CC  for powering the control circuit  210  and the other low-voltage circuitry of the temperature control device for example. The power supply  228  may be coupled to an alternating-current (AC) power source or an external DC power source via electrical connections  229 . Alternatively or additionally, the temperature control device  200  may be configured to include an internal power source (e.g., one or more batteries) for supplying power to the power supply  228 . 
     The temperature control device  200  may further include an ambient light detector  230  (e.g., an ambient light detection circuit) for measuring an ambient light level L AMB  in the room in which the temperature control device  200  is installed. The ambient light detector  230  may generate an ambient light detect signal V AMB , which may indicate the ambient light level L AMB  and may be received by the control circuit  210 . The control circuit  210  may be configured to adjust the awake and idle surface illumination intensities L SUR1 , L SUR2  in response to the measured ambient light level L AMB  as determined from ambient light detect signal V AMB . For example, the control circuit  210  may be configured to increase the awake and idle surface illumination intensities L SUR1 , L SUR2  if the ambient light level increases. The control circuit  210  may be configured to decrease the awake and idle surface illumination intensities L SUR1 , L SUR2  if the ambient light level decreases. 
     The control circuit  210  may be configured to adjust the awake and idle surface illumination intensities L SUR1 , L SUR2  by adjusting the duty cycle DC LED  through each of the LEDs behind the respective buttons. For example, the control circuit  210  may be configured to adjust the first duty cycle DC LED1  of the LED current conducted through the LEDs of the button backlight circuit  214  in response to the measured ambient light level L AMB  according to an awake LED adjustment curve DC AWAKE , and to adjust the second duty cycle DC LED2  of the LED current conducted through the LEDs of the button backlight circuit  214  in response to the measured ambient light level L AMB  according an idle LED adjustment curve DC IDLE . 
     The heat generated by the LEDs of the button backlight circuit  214  may affect the temperature readings measured by the temperature sensing circuit  222 , such that the temperature control signal V TEMP  may not indicate the actual present temperature T PRES  in the space in which the temperature control device  200  is installed. In addition, the heat generated by the visual display  216  and LEDs of the display backlight circuit  218  may also affect the temperature readings measured by the temperature sensing circuit  222 . For example, since the awake surface illumination intensity L SUR1  and the intensity of the display backlight circuit may be greater when the temperature control device  200  is in the active/awake state as compared to the inactive/idle state, the temperature control signal V TEMP  may further deviate from the actual present temperature T PRES  in the space when the temperature control device  200  is in the active state. For example, the heat generated by the button backlight circuit  214 , the visual display  216 , and the display backlight circuit  218  may cause the temperature inside of the temperature control device to be approximately 5° F. greater than the actual present temperature T PRES  in the space when the temperature control device  200  is in the active/awake state. 
     Accordingly, the control circuit  210  may be configured to cease periodically sampling the temperature control signal V TEMP  and storing the present temperature T PRES  in the memory  215  when the temperature control device  200  is in the awake state. The control circuit  210  may be configured to use the last sampled temperature stored in the memory  215  as the present temperature T PRES  during the awake state, where for example, the last sampled temperature stored in the memory  215  may have been sampled during the immediately preceding idle state. During the awake state, the control circuit  210  may be configured to continue to display the present temperature T PRES  on the visual display  216 . The control circuit  210  may also be configured to continue to compare the present temperature T PRES  to the setpoint temperature T SET  and may be configured to control the HVAC system if the present temperature T PRES  is outside of the setpoint temperature range in the awake state (e.g., if the setpoint temperature T SET  is adjusted while in the awake state). 
     The control circuit  210  may be further configured to wait for an idle time period T IDLE-WAIT  after a last button press before changing from the awake state to the idle state. Once in the idle state, the control circuit  210  may once again sample the temperature control signal V TEMP  to determine the present temperature T PRES . For example, the idle time period T IDLE-WAIT  may be long enough to allow the temperature inside of the temperature control device  200  to decrease to an idle steady state temperature that does not significantly affect the temperature readings measured by the temperature sensing circuit  222 . The idle time period T IDLE-WAIT  may be a predetermined amount of time (e.g., approximately 180 seconds) that is stored in the memory  215 . Alternatively, the idle time period T IDLE_WAIT  may be a function of the first duty cycle DC LED1  used during the awake state (e.g., as determined from the awake adjustment curve DC AWAKE ). Other variations are possible. 
     When operating in the idle state, the control circuit  210  may be configured to control the button backlight circuit  214  to ensure that the heat generated by the LEDs of the button backlight circuit may not greatly affect the temperature readings measured by the temperature sensing circuit  222 . For example, the control circuit  210  may limit the intensity to which each of the LEDs of the button backlight circuit  214  are controlled during the idle state. In addition, the control circuit  210  may turn off the LEDs of the button backlight circuit  214  when the ambient light level L AMB  exceeds an ambient light threshold L TH  (e.g., approximately 200 Lux) above which the indicia on the buttons may be easily distinguished by as user. 
     The temperature control device  200  may be configured to measure and/or control other parameters of the space around the temperature control device. For example, the temperature control device may include a humidity sensing circuit (e.g., including a humidity sensing integrated circuit) that may be configured to measure a relative humidity level of the surround space. The temperature control device  200  may be configured to adjust the relative humidity level based on the measurement. The humidity sensing circuit may be configured to measure the present temperature T PRES  in the space. The measured present temperature T PRES  may be used by the temperature control device  200  to determine the relative humidity in the space. In addition and/or alternatively, the temperature sensing circuit  222  may be configured as a temperature and humidity sensing circuit. As similarly described above, the heat generated by the LEDs of the button backlight circuit  214 , the visual display  216 , and/or the LEDs of the display backlight circuit  218  may affect the relative humidity readings output by the humidity sensing circuit. Accordingly, the techniques described herein for mitigating the impact of the heat (and thus the deviation of the readings from the actual parameters) may be applied to the measurement and/or control of the relative humidity level. For example, a last sampled relative humidity level (e.g., sampled during the immediately preceding idle state) may be stored in the memory  215  and used during the awake state. Temperature control device  200  is one example and other examples are possible. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3  there is shown a side cross-section view of an example temperature control device  300  mounted to a typical example electrical wall box  310 . The electrical wall box  310  may include one or more flanges or tabs  312  having rear surfaces  314  that may abut a vertical surface (e.g., the outer vertical surface of a wall  320   a ) to which the electrical wall box may be mounted. The temperature control device  300  may be a wall-mounted thermostat (e.g., such as the wall-mounted thermostat  100  shown in  FIG. 1  and/or the temperature control device  200  shown in  FIG. 2  although other examples are possible). The temperature control device  300  may define a front portion  302  and a rear portion  304 . The front portion  302  may include a user interface and/or display of the temperature control device  300  (e.g., similar to the visual display  110  and buttons  112 - 118  of thermostat  100 , or the visual display  216  of temperature control device  200 ). The rear portion  304  may include one or more sensors and/or circuits configured to operate the temperature control device  300  (e.g., as similarly described for thermostat  100  and/or temperature control device  200 ). The temperature control device  300  may also include a temperature sensor  306  mounted to a printed circuit board  308  (shown by dashed lines in  FIG. 3 ) that is located inside of the temperature control device  300 . The printed circuit board  308  and the temperature sensor  306  may be located between the front portion  302  and the rear portion  304 . The temperature sensor  306  may be used to determine (e.g., measure or calculate) a present temperature T PRES  in the room in which the temperature control device  300  is installed. For example, the temperature sensor may measure T PRES . The rear portion  304  may extend into an interior of the electrical wall box  310  when the temperature control device  300  is mounted to the electrical wall box  310 . In some examples, the temperature sensor  306  may be located within the electrical wall box  310  when the temperature control device  300  is mounted to the electrical wall box  310 . 
     The electrical wall box  310  may include one or more apertures  324  (e.g., such as holes, cracks, unsealed joints, clamping tabs, punch-outs, etc.), one or more of which may be configured to receive one or more electrical cables or electrical wires (represented as line  322 ) to interface with the temperature control device  300 . For purposes of description, a wire may be a single conductor or may be multiple conductors that have no separating insulation (e.g., twisted wires). A cable may be two or more insulated wires wrapped in a single jacket or sheath. As one example, two separate/individual wires may interface temperature control device  300  to provide power to the device (e.g., power wires to interface with a power supply, such as power supply  228 ). These two wires may be wrapped in a single jacket/sheath to form one cable. As another example, two separate/individual wires may interface temperature control device  300  for the device to communicate with an HVAC system (e.g., HVAC wires to interface with an HVAC interface circuit, such as HVAC interface circuit  220 ). These two wires may be wrapped in a single jacket/sheath to form one cable. As another example, two separate/individual wires may interface the temperature control device  300  to provide power to the device and two separate/individual wires may interface the temperature control device  300  for the device to communicate with an HVAC system. These four wires may be wrapped in a single jacket/sheath to form one cable. One will recognize that other variations are possible, including, for example, one or more separate/individual wires (possibly wrapped a single jacket/sheath) for interfacing with a communication circuit (such as a communication circuit  226 ) of temperature control device  300 . 
     According to one specific example, a cable having two 18 AGW (American Wire Gauge) wires, two 22 AWG wires, and one 24 AWG may be used to interface with device  300  (not all of these wires may be used to interface the device). Depending on the type of sheath used for the cable (e.g., plenum sheath, PVC sheath), the cable may have, for example, a diameter of 0.17 inches (or approximately 0.17 inches) (e.g., if a plenum sheath is used), or a diameter of 0.21 inches (or approximately 0.21 inches) (e.g., if a PVC sheath is used). As another example, a cable having two 12 AGW wires, one 18AWG wire, two 22 AWG wires, and one 24 AWG may be used to interface with device  300  (not all of these wires may be used to interface the device). Depending on the type of sheath used for the cable (e.g., plenum sheath, PVC sheath), the cable may have, for example, a diameter of 0.30 inches (or approximately 0.30 inches) (e.g., if a plenum sheath is used), or a diameter of 0.325 inches (or approximately 0.325 inches) (e.g., if a PVC sheath is used). Other types of wires and/or cables may be used. Hence, electrical wires or cables (such as wire/cable  322 ) have varying thicknesses/diameters (e.g., in the range of 0.16 inches to 0.325 inches, or in the approximate range of 0.16 inches to 0.325 inches) may be used to interface with device  300 . 
     Turning again to  FIG. 3 , in some buildings, homes, etc., the air return (represented by arrows  327 ) of the HVAC system may flow through the wall cavities (e.g., shown as space  326  between two walls  320   a  and  320   b ) of the building (e.g., behind the drywall without using ducts). As a result, the air within a wall cavity may be a different temperature than the air within the room. In addition, the air within the wall cavity may be moving at a substantially high airflow rate. Since the temperature sensor  306  may be located within the temperature control device  300 , which may be mounted to the electrical wall box  310 , the air within the wall cavity may affect the temperature readings (e.g., the measurement of the present temperatures T PRES ) measured by the temperature sensor  306 . 
     In particular, a typical electrical wall box (e.g., such as the electrical wall box  310 ) is not airtight because of the apertures therein, including the apertures  324  used to pass one or more wires and/or cables  322  from the wall cavity into the wall box and to the temperature control device  300 . These apertures may allow air to pass from the wall cavity and into the interior of the electrical wall box  310  (and to possibly flow back out). Airflow (e.g., such as return airflow) within the wall cavity may adversely influence the temperature measurements of a temperature sensor  306  located within the temperature control device  300  and/or electrical wall box  310 . When the temperature control device  300  is installed in the electrical wall box  310  and the air return of the HVAC system flows through the wall cavities, air may flow in and/or out of the interior of the electrical wall box  310 , through the temperature control device  300 , and past the temperature sensor  306 , which may cause the measurements of the present temperature T PRES  to fluctuate. The measurement of the present temperature T PRES  determined by the temperature sensor  306  thus may be influenced by the airflow through the temperature control device  300  and may not indicate the actual present temperature T PRES  in the room. As a result, the temperature control device  300  may send unnecessary and/or inaccurate HVAC control signals to the HVAC system, for example, due to fluctuating temperature measurements. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , there is shown an example sealed electrical wall box  400  that may be used to resolve/address the above noted problem.  FIG. 4A  is a front perspective view of the sealed electrical wall box  400  showing a front side  409  of the wall box and  FIG. 4B  is a rear perspective view of the sealed electrical wall box  400  showing a back or rear side  411  of the wall box. The sealed electrical wall box  400  may be made of molded plastic or metal, although other materials may be used. The sealed electrical wall box  400  may be a flush-mounted wall box. A flush-mounted wall box may be true to an outer surface of a wall. For example, the sealed electrical wall box  400  may be configured such that a flange  402  that is integral with the body of the sealed electrical wall box  400  contacts and is substantially level with the outer surface of the wall when the wall box is installed. The sealed electrical wall box  400  may be configured to receive through opening  407  at the front side  409  of the wall box one or more electrical devices (e.g., such as the temperature control device  300  shown in  FIG. 3 , the temperature control device  200  shown in  FIG. 2 , and/or the thermostat  100  shown in  FIG. 1 , although other devices are possible). The sealed electrical wall box  400  may be configured to prevent air within a wall cavity of the wall from entering the interior of the sealed electrical wall box  400  and influencing a temperature measurement made within the sealed electrical wall box, for example, by a temperature sensor  306 . 
     Referring further to flange  402 , the flange may be configured to engage an outer surface of a wall. For example, a backside  403  of the flange  402  may be substantially flush with the outer surface of the wall when the wall box is installed in the wall. As shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  the flange  402  may extend along all sides of the wall box. Nonetheless, the flange  402  may only extend along a portion of one or more sides of the wall box. For example, the flange  402  may extend along sufficient portions of one or more sides of the wall box such that when the wall box is installed in an opening of a wall, the flange prevents the wall box from passing through the opening. Wall box  400  may also include one or more retractable wings  401  and one or more screws  403  that extend through the body of the wall box and through the wings. Once the wall box is inserted into an opening of a wall, the actuation/turning of screws  403  may cause the wings to move towards and engage the inner/back surface of a wall, thereby securing the wall box to the wall by “pinching” the wall between the wings  401  and flange  402 . Similarly, the actuation/turning of screws  403  in an opposite direction may cause wings  401  to move away from and disengage the inner/back surface of the wall. One will recognize that wall box  400  may be secured to a wall in manners other than wings  401  and/or flange  402 . One will also recognize that wall box  400  may take forms other than a flush-mounted box. For example, wall box  400  may be configured to be secured directly to a stud, in which case the wall box may not include wings  401 , for example. Other variations are possible. 
     The sealed electrical wall box  400  may define a back plate  404  that resides within the wall cavity when the wall box is installed in a wall. The back plate  404  may be distal from the flange  402 . The back plate may be substantially parallel to the flange  402 . The back plate  404  may define the depth of the sealed electrical wall box  400 . The back plate  404  may include or define one or more holes or openings or apertures therethrough (e.g., three holes being shown in this example, including holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C, although fewer or additional holes may be defined). The holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C may be configured to allow electrical cables and/or electrical wires (e.g., cable/wire  322 ) to enter the sealed electrical wall box  400  from the wall cavity as further described herein. Each of the holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C may have a diameter D 1 . As an example, D 1  may be 12.5 millimeters (or approximately 12.5 mm). One will recognize that other diameters and tolerances are possible. Holes  406 A,  406 B,  406 C may be formed or molded into the wall box  400 . Alternatively, wall box  400  may be configured such that one or more of the holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C are covered (e.g., molded over) where the covering may be configured to be “punched-out” thereby revealing the respective hole. Wall box  400  may be configured such that when a hole is covered/molded over, no air may pass through the hole from the wall cavity until the covering is punched-out. Wall box  400  may also define a top plate  405   a , a bottom plate  405   b  (not shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B ), a first side plate  405   c , and a second side plate  405   d  (not shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B ). The plates  405   a ,  405   b ,  405   c , and  405   d  may not include any openings or holes. Alternatively, in addition to holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C on back plate  404 , one or more of plates  405   a ,  405   b ,  405   c , and  405   d  may each include one or more holes similar to holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C, which may be covered/molded over and which may be further configured to be “punched-out” thereby revealing a respective hole. Similarly, although the holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C are shown located on the back plate  404  of the wall box, the sealed electrical wall box  400  may not include any holes on the back plate  404  and may only include one or more holes on one or more plates  405   a ,  405   b ,  405   c , and  405   d . One will also recognize that while holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C are shown as being circular in shape, the holes may have other shapes, such as oval, square, rectangular, etc. One will further recognize that while wall box  400  is shown as having a square or cube like shape, the wall box may have other shapes such as a circular or tube like shape, a triangular like shape, an oval type shape, etc. 
     The sealed electrical wall box  400  may be further configured such that other than opening  407  at the front side  409  of the wall box, the only other apertures through which air may enter the interior of the wall box may be holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C. As further described below, respective glands or grommets may be inserted into the holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C of the wall box  400  and wires and/or cables  322  may then be inserted through the glands/grommets from the wall cavity and into the interior of the wall box and connected to a temperature control device (such as the temperature control device  300  shown in  FIG. 3 , the temperature control device  200  shown in  FIG. 2 , and/or the thermostat  100  shown in  FIG. 1 ). In this fashion, wall box  400  in connection with the glands and/or grommets may prevent or substantially hinder air within a wall cavity of the wall from entering the sealed electrical wall box, even when wires and/or cables are inserted into the wall box through the glands or grommets. For example, together with the glands and/or grommets described herein, the sealed electrical wall box  400  may be configured to provide an airtight or substantially airtight seal between the wall cavity and an interior of the sealed electrical wall box  400 . For example, the sealed electrical wall box  400  may prevent air (and also water, dirt, and/or dust for example) from passing between the wall cavity and into the sealed electrical wall box  400  through the back plate  404 , for example, of the wall box. In this fashion, the air return of an HVAC system flowing through a wall cavity may be prevented or hindered from flowing into the interior of the electrical wall box  400 , into/through the temperature control device  300 , and past the temperature sensor  306  and thus affecting the measurements of the present temperature T PRES . Hence, as described herein, the sealed electrical wall box  400  together with the glands/grommets may be airtight and/or substantially/sufficiently airtight to prevent air that may be flowing through a wall cavity from adversely affecting the measurements of the present temperature T PRES  made by a temperature sensor  306 . 
     According to one example, a watertight gland and/or grommet may be inserted into each of holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C of wall box  400  (assuming the holes are not molded over and/or are punched-out. For example, a gland/grommet manufactured by Jacobs having a part number G502-1012-02 (hereafter referred to as the “Jacobs grommet” or “Jacobs gland”) may be inserted into each of holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C of the electrical wall box  400 . Watertight glands/grommets like the Jacobs grommet, once inserted, may prevent/hinder airflow from a wall cavity from entering into the wall box  400  and adversely influencing the temperature measurements of the temperature sensor  306 . A watertight gland/grommet like the Jacobs grommet may also include an opening therein through which may be inserted an electrical wire and/or electrical cable (e.g., wire and/or cable  322 ) intended to interface with the temperature control device, such as device  300 . A watertight gland/grommet like the Jacobs grommet may be further configured to seal gaps between a wire or cable inserted through the opening of the gland/grommet and into the electrical wall box, thereby preventing air within a wall cavity from entering into the wall box and adversely influencing the temperature measurements of the temperature sensor. 
     While a watertight gland/grommet like the Jacobs grommet may be used with the wall box  400 , such glands/grommets have several shortcomings. For example, openings in existing watertight glands and/or grommets may be configured to accept wires or cables having limited thicknesses. The openings in existing watertight glands and/or grommets may not easily accept a wire or cable having thicknesses in the ranges (e.g., 0.17 to 0.325 inches) required for a temperature control device, such as a device  300 . For example, a watertight gland/grommet like the Jacobs grommet may be made of EPDM rubber (ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber) and may not easily stretch or deform when a wire or cable is inserted into the opening of the gland/grommet. For example, a watertight gland/grommet may have a dynamic to static stiffness ratio in a range of approximately 4:1 (4 to 1) to 5:1 (5 to 1). In addition, the opening in existing watertight glands/grommets like the Jacobs grommet may be configured as an extended channel that extends along a length of the gland and/or grommet. As a result, when existing watertight glands and/or grommets are used with wall box  400  and with a temperature control device like device  300 , for example, it has been found that as a wire or cable is pulled from the wall cavity and is inserted through the opening in the gland/grommet and into the interior of the wall box, the wire or cable may experience a high degree of resistance from the gland/grommet both because the opening in the gland/grommet is somewhat non-elastic and because the wire or cable may contact the sides of the opening at multiple points along the extended channel that extends along a length of the gland and/or grommet. As a result, the gland/grommet may be displaced from the hole  406 A,  406 B, or  406 C of the electrical wall box  400  as the wire or cable is inserted into the opening in the gland/grommet. In addition, during installation, a wire or cable may be partially pushed back out through the gland/grommet and into the wall cavity to adjust the wire&#39;s or cable&#39;s length within the wall box. This reverse pushing may also cause the gland and/or grommet to be displaced from the hole  406 A,  406 B, or  406 C of the electrical wall box  400 . Regardless, once a watertight gland/grommet is displaced from the wall box, it may be difficult to re-insert the gland/grommet into the hole of the wall box both because the wall box be may be affixed to the wall and because the glands/grommets can be difficult to install in general because they are made of somewhat in-elastic material. When a gland and/or grommet is displaced from the electrical wall box, the airtight seal between the gland/grommet and the electrical wall box  400  may be compromised and may adversely influence the temperature measurements as described herein. 
     As an alternative to using watertight glands/grommets (e.g., such as the Jacobs grommet), according to another example glands/grommets that may include a star-shaped wire opening may be installed within the holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C of the sealed wall box  400 . Examples of such glands/grommets is a grommet manufactured by Kinglok having a part number PSGR-1316 (hereafter “Kinglok grommet”) and a grommet manufactured by McMaster having a part number 4946A1 (hereafter “McMaster grommet”). As an example, these glands/grommets may be made of hard plastics/polymers. Once such a gland/grommet is installed in a hole  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C of the sealed wall box  400 , an electrical wire and/or electrical cable (e.g., wire and/or cable  322 ) intended to interface with the temperature control device, such as device  300 , may be inserted through the star-shaped wire opening and into the wall box. Advantageously, the star-shaped wire openings in these glands/grommets may flex more easily than the openings in watertight glands/grommets such that wires or cables having different thicknesses may be received therethrough. Accordingly, these glands/grommets may more readily stay affixed within the openings in the wall box  400  as wires and/or cables are inserted into the wall box. However, these glands/grommets may not be watertight and the star-shaped wire openings may not provide an airtight seal around the wires and/or cables once inserted through the openings. Accordingly, these glands/grommets may not prevent airflow from adversely influencing the temperature measurements of the temperature sensor. For example, the star-shaped wire openings of the Kinglok grommet and the McMaster grommet may allow too much airflow from within the wall cavity to enter the electrical wall box  310 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C , there is shown example sealed electrical wall box  400  with example glands or gland seals (either term may be used interchangeably herein)  408 A,  408 B, and  408 C.  FIG. 5A  is a front perspective view of the sealed electrical wall box  400  with gland seals  408 A,  408 B, and  408 C installed/inserted within holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C.  FIG. 5B  is a rear perspective view of the sealed electrical wall box  400  with gland seals  408 A,  408 B, and  408 C installed/inserted within holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C.  FIG. 5C  is a partially exploded view of the sealed electrical wall box  400  with gland seals  408 A,  408 B, and  408 C removed from holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C. As shown, the gland seals  408 A,  408 B, and  408 C may be configured to be installed/inserted within holes  406 A,  406 B,  406 C from the back side  411  of the wall box, for example. Each of the gland seals  408 A,  408 B,  408 C may be further configured to be removably secured within a respective hole. For example, the gland seals  408 A,  408 B, and  408 C may be configured to remain installed within the respective holes (e.g., without fasteners, glue, etc.) unless manipulated such that the shape is deformed and forced out of place. As shown, gland seal  408 A may be configured to be removably secured within hole  406 A, gland seal  408 B may be configured to be removably secured within hole  406 B, and gland seal  408 C may be configured to be removably secured within hole  406 C. 
     Each of the gland seals  408 A,  408 B, and  408 C may be configured to receive an electrical cable and/or an electrical wire having various thicknesses, and/or may be configured to receive multiple electrical cables and/or electrical wires having various thicknesses. For example, as further described below the gland seals  408 A,  408 B, and  408 C may allow the electrical cables and/or wires to enter the sealed electrical wall box  400  from the wall cavity. The gland seals  408 A,  408 B, and  408 C may be configured to prevent/hinder or substantially hinder air from the wall cavity to flow into the sealed electrical wall box  400  via the holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C. The gland seals  408 A,  408 B, and  408 C may be further configured to provide a substantially airtight seal between the sealed electrical wall box  400  and the wall cavity when one or more electrical cables and/or wires enter the sealed electrical wall box  400  from the wall cavity through the glands. 
     Again, one will readily understand that although the sealed electrical wall box  400  is shown in  FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C  as having three holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C and three glands  408 A,  408 B, and  408 C, the sealed electrical wall box  400  may include more or less holes and glands. One or more of the holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C may not be needed to receive a cable or wire. In this case, a gland such as any of glands  408 A,  408 B, and  408 C may be inserted into the hole(s) and not used. Alternatively, one or more plugs (such as airtight plugs and/or watertight grommets such as the Jacobs grommet) may be installed within one or more of the holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C that are not being used. The plugs may be configured to prevent air within the wall cavity of the wall from entering the sealed electrical wall box  400  and/or influencing a temperature measurement made within the sealed electrical wall box  400 . Also, as discussed above, one or more holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C of wall box  400  may be configured/molded to have punch-outs that when not removed, provide an airtight covering over the hole and that may thereafter be removed to receive a gland such as glands  408 A,  408 B, and  408 C. Although the holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C and the gland seals  408 A,  408 B, and  408 C are shown as being circular, the sealed electrical wall box  400  may have holes of any shape therethrough and the gland seals may be configured in any shape to correspond to the holes of the sealed electrical wall box  400 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, and 6E  there is shown an example gland/gland seal  700  (e.g., any of gland seals  408 A,  408 B,  408 C shown in  FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C  may resemble gland seal  700 ).  FIG. 6C  shows a rear view of the gland seal (e.g., as if viewing the gland seal as shown in  FIG. 5B ),  FIG. 6E  shows a front view of the gland seal (e.g., as if viewing the gland seal as shown in  FIG. 5A ),  FIG. 6A  shows a rear perspective view of the gland seal,  FIG. 6B  shows a front perspective view of the gland seal, and  FIG. 6D  shows a side view of the gland seal. The gland seal  700  may be configured to be installed within a hole of a sealed electrical wall box (e.g., such as sealed electrical wall box  400  shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , and  FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C ). The gland seal  700  may be made from an elastic material, for example, such as a flexible rubber-like material, an elastomeric material, and/or the like. For example, the gland seal may be a type of silicone. According to one example, gland seal  700  may have a dynamic to static stiffness ratio of approximately 2:1 (2 to 1). In this fashion, the gland seal may be both easy to deform and therefore easy to insert into the holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C of the wall box  400 , and may also maintain its shape once inserted, thereby staying affixed to the holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C once inserted. One will recognize that gland seal  700  may be made of other materials that have different dynamic to static stiffness ratios. The gland seal  700  may define a front portion  702 , an intermediate portion  704 , and a rear portion  706  where the intermediate portion is situated between the front and rear portions and interconnects the front and rear portions (use of the terms front portion, intermediate portion, and rear portion are used herein for description purposes only. These portions may also be referred to as first, second, and third portions or segments, etc. also, again, for description purposes only). The front portion  702  may be configured to be located within the interior of the electrical wall box when the gland seal  700  is installed (as shown in  FIG. 5A ). The rear portion  706  may be configured to be located outside of or on the rear side  411  of the electrical wall box when the gland seal  700  is installed (as shown in  FIG. 5B ). The intermediate portion  704  may be configured to sit within the holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C of the wall box  400  when the gland seal  700  is installed. As shown in  FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, and 6E , each of front portion  702 , intermediate portion  704 , and rear portion  706  of gland  700  may have a similar circular type shape. According to another example, the various portions may have different shapes. For example, the intermediate portion  704  may have a shape similar to the shape of holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C of the wall box  400  to thereby form an airtight seal (e.g., a circular type shape). The front portion  702  and the rear portion  706 , however, may each have a different shape than the intermediate portion  704 , such as a square or oval type shape. Other examples are possible. 
     Turning to the front portion  702 , as noted it may be configured to be located within an interior of the electrical wall box when the gland seal  700  is installed into the wall box (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 5A ). Front portion  702  may be tapered from a front surface  708  towards an opposing intermediate surface  710  thereby forming a tapered region  711  (use of the terms front and intermediate surfaces and tapered region are used herein for description purposes only. Front and intermediate surfaces may also be referred to as first and second surfaces, for example, again, for description purposes only). For example, the front surface  708  may have a diameter D 2  and the intermediate surface  710  may have a diameter D 3 , with diameter D 2  being less than diameter D 3 . The diameter D 2  may also be less than the diameter of the holes of the electrical wall box  400  (e.g., the diameter D 1  shown in  FIGS. 4B and 5C ), and diameter D 3  may be greater than the diameter of the holes of the electrical wall box such that the gland seal  700  is configured to be pressed into a respective hole. As an example, D 3  may be 0.692 inches (or approximately 0.692 inches, such as 0.692 inches +/−0.005 inches). One will recognize that other diameters are possible including for example, diameter D 2  being less than diameter D 3  but greater than diameter D 1 . As shown in  FIG. 6D  for example, the tapering from the front surface  708  to the intermediate surface  710  (i.e., the tapered region  411 ) may not be continuous, with the tapering stopping at a flat ridge region  703  that may form and terminate at intermediate surface  710  and may thus interface with intermediate portion  704  (i.e., the tapered region  711  may have a cone type shape, and the flat ridge region  703  may have a cylinder/cylindrical type shape) (use of the term flat ridge region is used herein for description purposes only. Tapered region and flat ridge region may also be referred to as first and second regions, for example, again, for description purposes only). Hence, a surface of the tapered region  711  may be configured at an angle (other than 0 and 90 degrees) to front surface  708  and the intermediate surface  710 . A surface of the flat ridge region  703  may be configured at or about a 90 degree angle, for example, to each of the front surface  708  and the intermediate surface  710 . The intermediate surface  710  may be configured to rest against/contact an interior surface of a back plate on an interior of the electrical wall box (e.g., such as an interior surface of back plate  404  as shown in  FIG. 5A ) when the gland seal  700  is installed. Front portion  702  may have a length D 7  of 0.255 inches (or approximately 0.255 inches, such as 0.255+/−0.005 inches). One will recognize that other diameters are possible. 
     The front portion  702  may be configured to be deformed (e.g., as discussed above with respect to stiffness ratio) such that the gland seal  700  may be installed within a hole  406 A,  406 B, or  406 C of the electrical wall box. For example, the diameter D 3  may be greater than the diameter of the hole (e.g., the diameter D 1  shown in  FIGS. 4B and 5C ) of the electrical wall box. Thus, the front portion  702  may be deformed to reduce its circumferential area such that the front portion  702  may be passed through the hole  406 A,  406 B, or  406 C from the rear side  411  of the electrical wall box, for example. In addition, the tapering of the front portion  702  (i.e., the tapered region  711 ) as discussed above may also allow gland  700  to be easily installed into the hole of the wall box. Nonetheless, the shape of the front portion  702  (including, for example, flat ridge region  703 ) in addition to the stiffness ratio as discussed above may also ensure that once gland seal  700  is installed into a hole, it maintains its shape and is not easily displaced from the hole as a wire(s) and/or cable(s) are inserted into the gland seal. 
     The front portion  702  may be open (i.e., define an opening) at front surface  708  and may define a passage  716  that may extend from this opening, through the front portion, through the intermediate portion  704 , and up to and through the rear portion  706  and terminate at a surface  714  of the rear portion (i.e., the front, intermediate, and rear portions may define passage  716 ). The passage  716  may have a uniform diameter D 6  although the passage may also have a non-uniform diameter and in particular, may increase in size from the rear portion  706  towards the opening at surface  708  of the front portion  704 . The diameter D 6  of passage  716  may be configured to allow one or more electrical cables and/or electrical wires to enter the electrical wall box. In particular, the passage  716  may be sized such that electrical wires and/or electrical cables of varying thicknesses may be passed/received through the passage, and may be further sized that an electrical cable and/or electrical wire (e.g., electrical cable/electrical wire  322  of the sizes intended to be used with device  300 , such as cables having diameters from 0.17 inches to 0.325 inches, or approximately from 0.17 inches to 0.325 inches for example), once inserted into the gland seal  700 , does not experience any resistance and/or minimal resistance along the passage  716 . This may help to ensure that gland seal  700  is not displaced from a hole  406 A,  406 B, or  406 C, for example, of the wall box as a cable or wire is inserted into the gland seal and/or removed from the gland seal. As an example, diameter D 6  may be 0.331 inches or approximately 0.331 inches, such as 0.331+/−0.005 inches along the length of passage  716 . Alternatively, passage  716  may broaden (as discussed above) from 0.331 inches (or approximately 0.331 inches) at surface  714  of rear portion  706  to 0.355 inches or approximately 0.335 inches, such as 0.335+/−0.005 inches, at the opening at the surface  708  of front portion  702  One will recognize that other diameters and configurations are possible. 
     Turning now to the intermediate portion  704 , it may be a section with a reduced area/reduced diameter (as compared to the diameter of intermediate surface  710  and the diameter of surface  712 , for example) that is configured to be located within a hole of the electrical wall box (e.g., holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C of the wall box  400 ) when the gland seal  700  is installed into the wall box. The intermediate portion  704  may have a diameter D 4 . The diameter D 4  may be less than or equal to the diameter of the holes of the electrical wall box, for example, such that a surface along length  705  of the intermediate portion  704  rests within a respective hole and possibly touches the interior surface  413  that forms the hole. The intermediate portion  704  may have a length  705  that may be substantially equivalent to a thickness of the back plate of the electrical wall box  400  (e.g., such as back plate  404  shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  and  FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C ) thereby resulting in the intermediate surface  710  and surface  712  of rear portion  706  resting against/contacting opposing first and second sides of the back plate when the gland seal  700  is installed in the wall box. The passage  716  may extend through the intermediate portion  704 . As an example, diameter D 4  may be 0.492 inches (or approximately 0.492 inches, such as 0.492+/−0.005 inches), and length  705  may be 0.040 inches (or approximately 0.040 inches, such as 0.040+/−0.005 inches). One will recognize that other diameters and lengths are possible. As indicated above, the shape of intermediate portion  704  may be configured to have a shape similar to the shape of the hole of the wall box with which it is inserted (in this example, circular). 
     Turning now to the rear portion  706 , as noted it may be configured to be located outside of or on the rear side  411  of the electrical wall box when the gland seal  700  is installed (i.e., on the exterior of the wall box) as shown in  FIG. 5B . Rear portion  706  may have/define a first surface  712  (use of the term first surface is used herein for description purposes only) that may be configured to rest against/contact an exterior surface of the back plate at the rear side  411  of the electrical wall box when the gland seal  700  is installed, as indicated above. The first surface  712  may have a diameter D 5  that may be equal to or larger than the diameter D 3 . As an example, diameter D 5  may be 0.790 inches (or approximately 0.790 inches, such as 0.790+/−0.005 inches). One will recognize that other diameters and possible. The rear portion  706  may have a length D 8  of 0.255 inches (or approximately 0.255 inches, such as 0.255+/−0.005 inches). One will recognize that other diameters are possible. The rear portion  706  may define a second surface  714  that may oppose the first surface  712  (use of the term second surface is used herein for description purposes only) and may also oppose surfaces  710  and  708 . The passage  716  may terminate at an interior side of the second surface  714 . The second surface  714  may be a membrane that defines two (e.g., first and second) areas of different thicknesses including a thin portion or area  720  (e.g., the star shape shown in the Figures) (use of the terms thin portion or area are used herein for description purposes only). For example, the thin portion  720  may have a reduced thickness when compared to the remainder of the second surface  714 . As an example, the thickness of thin portion  720  may be 0.020 inches (or approximately 0.020 inches, such as 0.020+/−0.005 inches) and the remainder of the second surface  714  may have thickness  709  of 0.050 inches (or approximately 0.050 inches, such as 0.050+/−0.005 inches). One will recognize that other diameters and tolerances are possible. The thin portion  720  of the second surface  714  may be configured to receive an electrical cable and/or electrical wire when the cable/wire is inserted into the gland seal  700  and into the electrical wall box  400 . For example, the second surface  714  and in particular thin portion  720  may be initially sealed and may be configured to be punctured by the electrical cable and/or electrical wire when the cable/wire is inserted into gland seal  700  and into the electrical wall box  400 . The thin portion  720  may be configured to create an aperture or opening therethrough when the electrical cable and/or electrical wire is passed through the second surface  714 /punctures the second surface. As a further example, the thin portion  720  may define a perforation configured to be punctured by the electrical cable and/or electrical wire. The thickness of thin portion  720  together with the stiffness ratio of the material from which the gland seal  700  is made may allow thin portion to puncture and not tear as an aperture is formed, and may also allow the formed aperture to increase in size/stretch to conform to the wire or cable inserted therein, thereby forming an airtight seal or a substantially airtight seal around the wire or cable. As another alternative, the thin portion  720  may define a partial aperture/opening (e.g., at the center of the thin portion  720 ) that may be configured to be increased in size (e.g., stretch) when the electrical cable and/or electrical wire is passed therethrough. This partial aperture may have diameter that is equal to or smaller than the diameter of the smallest wire or cable intended to be inserted into gland seal  700  so that the aperture stretches as a wire/cable is inserted therein. In other words, the size of the partial aperture may be based on the thickness of the electrical cable and/or electrical wire that may be inserted therein such that an airtight (e.g., substantially airtight) seal is maintained around the electrical cable and/or electrical wire. The configuration of thin portion  720  as discussed above may also be such that electrical cables and/or electrical wires having various thicknesses can be received therethrough while maintaining the airtight (e.g., substantially airtight) seal. For example, the thin portion  720  may be configured to receive an electrical cable and/or an electrical wire having a thickness/diameter in a range of 0.17 inches to 0.325 inches (or approximately this range) and maintain an airtight seal or substantially airtight seal around the wire or cable regardless of which size/diameter wire/cable is used in this range. Thin portion  720  may be further configured such that multiple wires or multiple cables may be inserted therein while maintaining an airtight (e.g., substantially airtight) seal. While thin portion  720  is described as being configured to receive cables/wires having diameters in the range of 0.17 inches to 0.325 inches, one will recognize that smaller diameter wires/cables may be used, with thin portion  720  maintaining an airtight seal. For example, thin portion  720  may be configured to receive electrical cables and/or electrical wires having a thickness in a range of 24 AWG to 6AWG (which may be a diameter of about 0.02010 inches to 0.16200 inches). Similarly, thin portion  720  may also be configured to receive larger cables/wires (at least sized to pass through passage  716 ) and maintaining an airtight seal around such wires/cables. 
     The configuration of thin portion  720  as discussed above may also be such that as a wire or cable is inserted therein from a wall cavity, an airtight (e.g., substantially airtight) seal may be maintained around the electrical cable and/or electrical wire as indicated above. In addition, this airtight seal may be such that as the wire or cable is pushed and/or pulled through an aperture formed in the thin portion, the wire/cable does not experience substantial resistance such that the gland seal  700  remains secured to the electrical wall box as the electrical cable and/or electrical wire is forcibly passed therethrough. In addition, the passage  716  may be sized such that as the electrical cable and/or electrical wire enters the electrical wall box via the passage  716 , the electrical cable and/or electrical wire again does not experience any resistance and/or little resistance along the passage  716 . Again, this may ensure that the gland seal  700  remains secured to the electrical wall box as the electrical cable and/or electrical wire is passed there through. 
     The configuration of gland seal  700  and in particular the configuration of the second surface  714  and the thin portion  720  may be such that not only air is prevented from entering the electrical wall box and/or influencing a temperature measurement made within the sealed electrical wall box  400  when the electrical cable and/or electrical wire are received therein, but that water, dirt, and/or dust for example are also prevented from entering the electrical wall box 
     The thin portion  720  may be star-shaped as shown herein or cross-shaped, etc. For example, the thin portion  720  may define a centrally located area  721  and one, two or more portions  723  that extend therefrom. The centrally located area may be any shape such as circular, rectangular, triangular, polygonal, etc., and may be configured to receive a wires(s) or cable(s) as described herein. The portion(s)  723  that extend from the centrally located area may be any shape such as circular, oval, rectangular, triangular, polygonal, etc. In general, this configuration (e.g., a star-shape) may ensure that thin portion  720  does not tear and/or minimally tears as a wire or cable is inserted therein and through the centrally located area  721 . Although the thin portion  720  on the second surface  714  of the gland seal  700  is shown as being star-shaped, the thin portion  720  may be another shape such a diamond, a triangle, a circle, a semi-circle, a crescent, a polygon, and/or the like that allows for a substantially airtight seal between the electrical wall box and the wall cavity when a wire(s) or cable(s) is inserted therethrough. Although the gland seal  700  is shown as being one piece, the gland seal  700  may include two or more pieces that are configured to be secured to one another. 
     While gland seal  700  is described herein as having certain dimensions, one will recognize that other dimensions may be used. For example, the gland seal may be made larger or smaller with the sizes described herein being proportionally increased/decreased accordingly. 
     Although the gland seals  408 A,  408 B, and  408 C are shown as being separate gland seals like that of gland seal  700 , the gland seals  408 A,  408 B,  408 C may be formed/molded as one gland seal (e.g., one integral unit) with respective front portions  702  and intermediate portions  704  that may be inserted into respective holes  406 A,  406 B, and  406 C, and with the single gland seal having respective thin portions  720  for each hole. As another example, gland seals  408 A,  408 B, and  408 C may be over molded (e.g., on the exterior or interior surface of back plate  404 ) as a single seal configured to seal the holes  406 A,  406 B,  406 C. Here, the overmolding may have the characteristics of the second surface  714  having a thin portion  720  positioned over each hole. One will recognize that other variations are possible. 
     While wall box  400  and gland seals gland seals  408 A,  408 B,  408 C, and  700  are described herein with respect to temperature control devices, one will recognize that the wall box and gland seals may be used other types of electrical devices. 
     While this disclosure has been described in terms of certain embodiments and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of the embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments does not constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.