Apparatus, method, and system for controlling flow of a fluid

• US 9,157,645 B1
• Filed: 09/01/2010
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell International Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Goss, Steven, Salvatori, Phillip
• Primary Examiner(s): DUKE, EMMANUEL E
• Application Number:
  US12/873,908
• Time in Patent Office: 1,868 Days
• Field of Search: 236/49.3, 236/51, 622/591, 622/36, 621/86, 623/14, 454/61, 454/256, 454/258
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/12 built up of sliding members
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/0442 with volume control at a constant temperature

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus comprising a power supply, a wireless controller coupled to the power supply, the wireless controller being configured to wirelessly receive a command from a wireless thermostat of a ventilation system, the ventilation system having a vent through which a fluid passes, and a flow controller to automatically control an amount of flow of the fluid through the vent of the ventilation system based at least in part on the command received wirelessly from the wireless thermostat. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a power supply, wherein the power supply comprises a rechargeable battery;

a wireless controller coupled to the power supply, the wireless controller being configured to wirelessly receive a command from a wireless thermostat of a ventilation system, the ventilation system having a vent through which a fluid passes;

a flow controller to automatically control an amount of flow of the fluid through the vent of the ventilation system based at least in part on the command received wirelessly from the wireless thermostat, wherein the flow controller comprises a motor that is coupled to the rechargeable battery, wherein the motor is configured to, irrespective of the command wirelessly received from the wireless thermostat, automatically open the vent to permit the flow of the fluid through the vent if a power level of the rechargeable battery is determined to be below a first pre-determined threshold;

a recharging assembly to recharge the rechargeable battery based on the flow of fluid through the vent; and

a spring mechanism coupled to the vent, wherein the spring mechanism is configured to automatically open the vent if the power level of the rechargeable battery is determined to be below a second pre-determined threshold such that the automatic opening of the vent by the spring mechanism results in flow of the fluid through the vent, thereby resulting in charging of the rechargeable battery by the recharging assembly.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a temperature sensor coupled to the wireless controller, the temperature sensor to measure a local temperature at a first distance from the vent.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the flow controller is configured to automatically control the amount of flow of fluid through the vent based at least in part on a difference between (i) the local temperature and (ii) a set point temperature of the ventilation system.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a flow sensor coupled to the wireless controller, the flow sensor to measure a flow of the fluid through the vent,

wherein circuitry for the flow sensor, the temperature sensor, and the wireless controller is disposed on a single printed circuit board.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flow controller comprises a flow control mechanism having:

the motor;

a first grating coupled to the motor; and

a second grating adjacent to the first grating, wherein the motor is configured to move the first grating relative to the second grating to control the amount of flow of the fluid through the vent.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the spring mechanism is coupled to the first grating; and

the spring mechanism is configured to move the first grating relative to the second grating to provide an open position of the vent.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the recharging assembly comprises:

recharging circuitry coupled to the power supply;

a generator coupled to the recharging circuitry; and

a fan to turn the generator using the flow of fluid through the vent.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a fan shroud coupled to the fan to increase a flow of fluid across the fan.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spring mechanism is configured to automatically open the vent in response to the power level of the rechargeable battery not being sufficient to operate the motor to open the vent.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spring mechanism is configured to store potential energy when the vent is at least partially closed, and wherein the potential energy stored in the spring automatically opens the vent if the power level of the rechargeable battery is below the second predetermined threshold.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spring mechanism is configured to store potential energy when the vent is at least partially closed, and wherein the potential energy stored in the spring automatically opens the vent in response to the power level of the rechargeable battery not being sufficient to operate the motor to maintain the vent at an at least partially closed position.

12. A method comprising:

wirelessly receiving, by a wireless controller disposed adjacent to a vent of a ventilation system, a command;

automatically adjusting, by the wireless controller, an amount of flow of fluid through the vent based at least in part on the received command;

periodically checking a power level of a rechargeable battery coupled to a motor to determine whether the power level is below a first pre-determined threshold;

irrespective of the received command, activating the motor to open the vent if the power level of the rechargeable battery is determined to be below the first pre-determined threshold;

based on the flow of fluid through the vent, recharging, by a recharging assembly, the rechargeable battery; and

automatically opening the vent, by spring mechanism, if the power level of the rechargeable battery is determined to be below a second pre-determined threshold such that the automatic opening of the vent by the spring mechanism results in the flow of the fluid through the vent, thereby resulting in charging of the rechargeable battery by the recharging assembly.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining a local temperature at a first distance from the vent;

wherein the command is a command to adjust the amount of flow of fluid through the vent and is based at least in part on the determined local temperature for the vicinity near the vent.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the command is based at least in part on a difference between the (i) local temperature for the vicinity and (ii) a set point temperature of the ventilation system.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein automatically adjusting the amount of flow of fluid through the vent comprises:

engaging a flow control mechanism to increase or reduce the flow of fluid through the vent.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein engaging the flow control mechanism comprises:

activating the motor to move a first grating positioned over the vent relative to a second grating adjacent to the first grating.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the spring mechanism is coupled to the first grating; and

the second pre-determined threshold is insufficient to activate the motor.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the command is wirelessly received in a periodic manner defining an update rate;

the update rate is dependent at least in part on available power of the rechargeable battery.

19. The method of claim 12,

wherein the command is wirelessly received in a periodic manner defining an update rate;

wherein the update rate is dependent at least in part on a difference between (i) a local temperature at a first distance from the vent and (ii) a set point temperature of the ventilation system.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein:

automatically adjusting the amount of flow of fluid through the vent comprises

automatically adjusting the amount of flow of fluid through the vent in a periodic manner, such that there is at least a pause for a predetermined time period between two consecutive adjustments of the amount of flow of fluid through the vent; and

the method further comprises

in response to the power level of the rechargeable battery being below a threshold power level, setting the predetermined time period of the pause to a first value.