REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION OF A FAN ASSEMBLY

• US 20140131459A1
• Filed: 01/23/2014
• Published: 05/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Essential Technology, LLC
• Original Assignee: Direct Success, LLC
• Inventors: Parkhurst, Greg, Dorendorf, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 9,506,665 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/49.3
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 9/04 Special arrangement or operation of ventilating devices ventilating rooms in general F24F
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0001 for ventilation F24F11/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2007/001 with exhausting air ducts
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/30 Velocity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

A remote control system for controlling operation of a fan assembly is provided. The system includes a first sensor module having a first housing, a first sensor, a first microprocessor, and a first RF transmitter. The first microprocessor is programmed to generate a first control signal to induce the first RF transmitter to transmit a first RF signal in response to a sensor signal from the first sensor. The first RF signal has a first address value and a first command value. The remote control system further includes a fan control module having a second housing, a second microprocessor, an AC power plug, an AC/DC voltage converter, a controllable switch, and an RF receiver. The RF receiver is configured to receive the first RF signal.

Claims

1. A remote control system for controlling operation of a fan assembly, comprising:

a first sensor module having a first housing, a first sensor, a first microprocessor, and a first RF transmitter;

the first sensor, the first microprocessor and the first RF transmitter being disposed within the first housing, the first microprocessor being operably coupled to the first sensor and the first RF transmitter;

the first microprocessor being programmed to generate a first control signal to induce the first RF transmitter to transmit a first RF signal in response to a sensor signal from the first sensor, the first RF signal having a first address value and a first command value;

a fan control module having a second housing, a second microprocessor, an AC power plug, an AC/DC voltage converter, a controllable switch, and an RF receiver;

the second microprocessor, the AC/DC voltage converter, the controllable switch, and the RF receiver being disposed within the second housing;

the AC power plug being coupled to the second housing;

the second microprocessor being operably coupled to the AC/DC voltage converter, the controllable switch, and the RF receiver;

the AC power plug being electrically coupled to the AC/DC voltage converter and to the controllable switch such that an AC voltage is routed from the AC power plug to the AC/DC voltage converter and the controllable switch;

the AC/DC voltage converter configured to output a DC voltage in response to the AC voltage, the DC voltage being received by the second microprocessor and the RF receiver;

the RF receiver configured to receive the first RF signal;

the second microprocessor being programmed to compare the first address value to a first predetermined address value; and

the second microprocessor being further programmed to generate a second control signal to induce the controllable switch to transition to a closed operational position to route the AC voltage to an AC outlet device if the first address value corresponds to the first predetermined address value, and the first command value corresponds to an activation command value;

the AC outlet device configured to be electrically removably coupled to the fan assembly.

2. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein a fan motor in the fan assembly is activated in response to receiving the AC voltage from the AC outlet device.

3. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein the AC outlet device comprises an AC socket configured to receive an AC power plug therein from the fan assembly.

4. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein:

the first sensor module is a toilet occupancy sensor module and the first sensor is an infrared sensor, the infrared sensor being configured to generate the sensor signal having an amplitude based on an amount of sensed human body heat energy; and

the first microprocessor being programmed to generate the first control signal to induce the first RF transmitter to transmit the first RF signal having the first command value corresponding to the activation command value, if the amplitude of the sensor signal is greater than a predetermined amplitude.

5. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein:

the first sensor module is a shower water sensor module and the first sensor is an infrared sensor, the infrared sensor being configured to generate the sensor signal having an amplitude based on an amount of sensed water heat energy; and

the first microprocessor being programmed to generate the first control signal to induce the first RF transmitter to transmit the first RF signal having the first command value corresponding to the activation command value, if the amplitude of the sensor signal is greater than a predetermined amplitude.

6. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein:

the first sensor module is a humidity sensor module and the first sensor is a humidity sensor, the humidity sensor being configured to generate the sensor signal having an amplitude based on an amount of sensed humidity; and

the first microprocessor being programmed to generate the first control signal to induce the first RF transmitter to transmit the first RF signal having the first command value corresponding to the activation command value, if the amplitude of the sensor signal is greater than a predetermined amplitude.

7. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein:

the first microprocessor of the first sensor module being further programmed to generate a third control signal to induce the first RF transmitter to transmit a second RF signal in response to the sensor signal from the first sensor, the second RF signal having a second address value and a second command value;

the RF receiver of the fan control module further configured to receive the second RF signal;

the second microprocessor being programmed to compare the second address value to the first predetermined address value; and

the second microprocessor being further programmed to stop generating the second control signal to induce the controllable switch to transition to an open operational position to stop routing the AC voltage to the AC outlet device, if the second address value corresponds to the first predetermined address value, and the second command value corresponds to a deactivation command value.

8. The remote control system of claim 7, wherein the fan motor in the fan assembly is deactivated in response to not receiving the AC voltage from the AC outlet device.

9. The remote control system of claim 7, wherein:

the first sensor module is a toilet occupancy sensor module and the first sensor is an infrared sensor, the infrared sensor being configured to generate the sensor signal having an amplitude based on an amount of sensed human body heat energy; and

the first microprocessor being programmed to generate the third control signal to induce the first RF transmitter to transmit the second RF signal having the second command value corresponding to the deactivation command value, if the amplitude of the sensor signal is less than a predetermined amplitude.

10. The remote control system of claim 7, wherein:

the first sensor module is a shower water sensor module and the first sensor is an infrared sensor, the infrared sensor being configured to generate the sensor signal having an amplitude based on an amount of sensed water heat energy; and

the first microprocessor being programmed to generate the third control signal to induce the first RF transmitter to transmit the second RF signal having the second command value corresponding to the deactivation command value, if the amplitude of the sensor signal is less than a predetermined amplitude.

11. The remote control system of claim 7, wherein:

the first sensor module is a humidity sensor module and the first sensor is a humidity sensor, the humidity sensor being configured to generate the sensor signal having an amplitude based on an amount of sensed humidity; and

the first microprocessor being programmed to generate the third control signal to induce the first RF transmitter to transmit the second RF signal having the second command value corresponding to the deactivation command value, if the amplitude of the sensor signal is less than a predetermined amplitude.

12. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein the second microprocessor being further programmed to stop generating the second control signal to induce the controllable switch to transition to an open operational position to stop routing the AC voltage to the AC outlet device, if the RF receiver does not receive an RF signal having the first address value and the first command value within a predetermined time after receiving the first RF signal.

13. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor module further comprises a manually-operated switch operably coupled to the first microprocessor;

the first microprocessor being further programmed to detect when the manually-operated switch transitions to a closed operational position;

the first microprocessor being further programmed to generate a third control signal to induce the first RF transmitter to transmit a second RF signal in response to the manually-operated switch having the closed operational position;

the second RF signal having a second address value and a second command value;

the RF receiver of the fan control module configured to receive the second RF signal;

the second microprocessor being further programmed to compare the second address value in the second RF signal to the first predetermined address value; and

the second microprocessor being further programmed to generate a fourth control signal to induce the controllable switch to transition to the closed operational position to route the AC voltage to the AC outlet device, if the second address value corresponds to the first predetermined address value, and the second command value corresponds to the activation command value.

14. The remote control system of claim 13, wherein;

the first microprocessor being further programmed to detect when the manually-operated switch transitions to an open operational position;

the first microprocessor being further programmed to induce the first RF transmitter to transmit a third RF signal in response to the manually-operated switch having the open operational position;

the third RF signal having a third address value and a third command value;

the RF receiver of the fan control module configured to receive the third RF signal;

the second microprocessor being further programmed to compare the third address value in the third RF signal to the first predetermined address value; and

the second microprocessor being further programmed to stop generating the fourth control signal to induce the controllable switch to transition to an open operational position to stop routing the AC voltage to the AC outlet device, if the third address value corresponds to the first predetermined address value, and the third command value corresponds to the deactivation command value.

15. The remote control system of claim 1, further comprising:

a manual transmitter module having a third housing, a third microprocessor, a manually-operated switch, and a second RF transmitter;

the third microprocessor and the second RF transmitter being disposed within the third housing, the third microprocessor being operably coupled to the second RF transmitter and the manually-operated switch;

the third microprocessor being programmed to detect when the manually-operated switch transitions to a closed operational position;

the third microprocessor being further programmed to generate a third control signal to induce the second RF transmitter to transmit a second RF signal in response to the manually-operated switch having the closed operational position;

the second RF signal having a second address value and a second command value;

the RF receiver of the fan control module configured to receive the second RF signal;

the second microprocessor further programmed to compare the second address value in the second RF signal to a second predetermined address value; and

the second microprocessor being further programmed to generate a fourth control signal to induce the controllable switch to transition to the closed operational position to route the AC voltage to the AC outlet device, if the second address value corresponds to the second predetermined address value, and the second command value corresponds to the activation command value.

16. The remote control system of claim 15, further comprising:

the third microprocessor being further programmed to detect when the manually-operated switch transitions to an open operational position;

the third microprocessor being further programmed to induce the first RF transmitter to transmit a third RF signal in response to the manually-operated switch having the open operational position;

the third RF signal having a third address value and a third command value;

the RF receiver of the fan control module configured to receive the third RF signal;

the second microprocessor being further programmed to compare the third address value in the third RF signal to the second predetermined address value; and

the second microprocessor being further programmed to stop generating the fourth control signal to induce the controllable switch to transition to an open operational position to stop routing the AC voltage to the AC outlet device, if the third address value corresponds to the second predetermined address value and the third command value corresponds to a deactivation command value.

17. A remote control system for controlling operation of a fan motor in a fan assembly, comprising:

a first sensor module having a first housing, a first sensor, a first microprocessor, and a first RF transmitter;

the first sensor, the first microprocessor and the first RF transmitter being disposed within the first housing, the first microprocessor being operably coupled to the first sensor and the first RF transmitter;

the first microprocessor being programmed to generate a first control signal to induce the first RF transmitter to transmit a first RF signal in response to a sensor signal from the first sensor, the first RF signal having a first address value and a first command value;

a fan control module being disposed in a housing of the fan assembly, the fan control module having a second microprocessor, an AC/DC voltage converter, a controllable switch, and an RF receiver;

the second microprocessor being operably coupled to the AC/DC voltage converter, the controllable switch, and the RF receiver;

the AC/DC voltage converter and the controllable switch configured to receive an AC voltage;

the AC/DC voltage converter configured to output a DC voltage in response to the AC voltage, the DC voltage being received by the second microprocessor and the RF receiver;

the RF receiver configured to receive the first RF signal;

the second microprocessor being programmed to compare the first address value to a first predetermined address value; and

the second microprocessor being further programmed to generate a second control signal to induce the controllable switch to transition to a closed operational position to route the AC voltage to the fan motor if the first address value corresponds to the first predetermined address value, and the first command value corresponds to an activation command value.