Method and Apparatus for Attic Fan Power Controller with Remote Control

• US 20120015597A1
• Filed: 07/15/2011
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Air Vent Incorporated (Gibraltar Steel Corporation of New York)
• Original Assignee: U.S. Sunlight Corp.
• Inventors: Foreman, Geoffrey H., Buckley, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,182,138 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 454/239
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0001 for ventilation F24F11/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/38 Failure diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/49 ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/76 by means responsive to temperature, e.g. bimetal springs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2005/0067 with photovoltaic panels
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/20 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/00 Control inputs relating to system states
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/007 with forced flow using ducting systems F24F7/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/272 Solar heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal

Abstract

A method and apparatus for attic fan power controller with remote control have been disclosed. In one version a solar array and/or a power line source provides energy for a fan determined by a control box which also interfaces with a remote control.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a fan comprising:

a controller having a plurality of signal inputs, a plurality of signal outputs, a plurality of power inputs, and a plurality of power outputs;

a display unit in communication with said controller;

a plurality of switches in communication with said controller; and

a plurality of light indicators in communications with said controller, wherein a first one of said plurality of light indicators indicates a status of said fan.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor connected to said controller through a first set of said signal inputs.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a humidity sensor connected to said controller through a second set of said signal inputs.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein a first set of said plurality of power inputs is connected to a local solar array.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein a second one of said plurality of light indicators indicates a status of said local solar array.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein a first set of said plurality of power outputs is connected to said fan.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a first set of said plurality of switches selects a temperature scale for said display unit.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein a second set of said plurality of switches selects a radio frequency channel.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a second set of said plurality of power inputs is connected to a local power supply, said power supply plugged into an electrical outlet.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein a third one of said plurality of light indicators indicates a status of said local power supply.

11. A method comprising:

receiving power from a local power source;

sensing a local temperature;

displaying said local temperature on a display;

sensing a local humidity;

displaying said local humidity on said display;

controlling a fan based on said local temperature and said local humidity;

lighting a fan indicator to indicate said fan is being controlled; and

lighting one or more indicators to indicate said local power source.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said local power source is a solar panel.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said local power source is an electrical outlet.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said local power source is a solar panel and an electrical outlet.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising checking a speed of said fan, and turning said fan off if said speed of said fan is not within a pre-specified range.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising measuring a power consumed by said fan, and turning said fan off if said power consumed by said fan is not within a pre-specified range.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising communicating to a remote control unit said local temperature and said local humidity when a user presses a status button.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising communicating to said remote control unit said local power source selected from the group consisting of said solar panel, said electrical outlet, said solar panel and said electrical outlet, and not said solar panel and not said electrical outlet.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising communicating to said remote control unit a fan status selected from the group consisting of on, off, intermittent, and failure.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising communicating from said remote control unit when a user activates a switch selected from the group consisting of a status, and a temperature control.