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  Fan controllerUSPTO Application #: 20080096482Title: Fan controller Abstract: A fan control system includes a main fan controller and at least one auxiliary fan controller. The main fan controller has circuitry for running a fan on a preset cycle, the preset cycle having a preset speed for a preset time. The main fan controller is associated with a first space having a first ventilation port in communication with the fan. The at least one auxiliary fan controller is associated with a second space having a second ventilation port in communication with the fan. Each of the main fan controller and at least one auxiliary fan controller has circuitry for activating the fan to run on a temporary cycle having a temporary speed for a preset time. Each of the main fan controller and at least one auxiliary fan controller further includes an indicator for displaying activation status of the temporary cycle. (end of abstract) Agent: Steptoe & Johnson LLP - Washington, DC, US Inventor: Ola Wettergren USPTO Applicaton #: 20080096482 - Class: 454256000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Ventilation, Having Inlet Airway, Including Automatic Control Means The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080096482. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] The benefits of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/862,035 filed Oct. 18, 2006 and entitled "Fan Controller" are claimed under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(e), and the entire contents of this provisional application are expressly incorporated herein by reference thereto. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates to a fan controller for use with a fan such as an inline fan disposed in ductwork. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is a term with which those in the ventilation equipment industry are very familiar. Awareness of IAQ among customers is increasing everyday. Consumers are learning about the importance of IAQ in terms of health and comfort. The market demands that homes are constructed in such a manner that IAQ is optimized to provide a healthful and pleasant living environment--it needs scarcely to be mentioned that the home is the space where we spend most of our lives. [0004] Home building technology has advanced considerably over the past thirty years. Superior construction materials and techniques are now employed making homes much more efficient than they were in the past. Part of this new efficiency is derived from having a tighter building envelope. This means, of course, that exchange between stale inside air and fresh outside air is less likely to occur passively. [0005] Air naturally contains contaminants. Humans tolerate these contaminants when their concentrations are at normal levels. Elevated contaminant concentrations occur when we share our living spaces with pollutant producing sources. The indoor environment becomes less comfortable when organisms (such as ourselves) consume oxygen from the air and add carbon dioxide to it through normal respiration. Activities such as bathing and cooking are detrimental to the quality of the air inside our living environment as well. [0006] The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has recognized the importance of IAQ. ASHRAE Standard 62.2 was written to define the minimum requirements for mechanical and natural ventilation systems intended to provide acceptable IAQ in low-rise residential buildings. In addition to providing guidance for good practice, municipalities across the United States and Canada are adopting ASHRAE Standard 62.2 as the basis for the sections of their building codes that address residential ventilation. ASHRAE defines acceptable IAQ as: "Air toward which a substantial majority of occupants express no dissatisfaction with respect to odor and sensory irritation and in which there are not likely to be contaminants at concentrations that are known to pose a health risk." [0007] AIR EXCHANGE: The best way to improve IAQ in a home is through air exchange--by replacing some of the contaminated inside air with fresh air from outside. ASHRAE Standard 62.2 provides a formula for determining how much air needs to be replaced, as follows: Q.sub.fan=0.01A.sub.floor+7.5(N.sub.bedrooms+1) For example, the continuous ventilation rate for a 3000 square foot, three bedroom house would be: 0.01(3000)+7.5(3+1)=60 cfm If a fan is run intermittently, the daily fractional on-time (f) and ventilation effectiveness () must be considered: Q.sub.f=Qr/(f) [0008] If the ventilation system is run at least once every three hours, its ventilation effectiveness () is 1. [0009] INTERMITTENT VENTILATION: It was determined that a continuous ventilation rate of 60 cfm was required for the house in the previous example. If the same house uses an intermittent fan that is programmed to run once every hour for 15 minutes, the flow rate is found as: 60/(1.0*0.25)=240 cfm [0010] Various fan controls are known. For example, the Tamarack Airetrak.TM. microprocessor based control system provides the following features: preset speed--adjustable from 40% to 100% in 5% increments; auto run time--user selectable in 5 minute increments; manual on at full speed--20 minutes; maximum load--180 watts (1.5 amps); .sub.cUL.sub.us; toggle switch hardware; on site programming required; battery backup required; warranty--1 year; no auxiliary control available. [0011] Nevertheless, there exists a need for improved fan controllers. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0012] An exemplary fan controller for use with a fan such as an inline fan disposed in ductwork is disclosed. The ductwork, for example, may connect ceiling grilles in adjacent but separate bath areas (such as ceiling grilles in a water closet and a master bath area), with the fan operable for example to move hot air and steam to be vented through a roof vent. [0013] With a combination fan control and fan such as an inline fan as disclosed herein, total flexibility is provided to meet ASHRAE Standard 62.2 requirements. The fan control may combine speed control, timing function and high speed override. The fan control may be used with auxiliary control units in different locations, allowing a single fan to provide ventilation of multiple areas. [0014] In some embodiments, the fan control allows a main control and multiple auxiliary controls. This allows a single fan to be controlled from multiple locations. The user settings may be easy to understand slide adjustments, not complex programming operations. Features may not be based on "real time," thus programming an internal clock is not required. The settings of this control may not be affected by power failures and no battery backup may be required. A cover may be used that increases reliability and safety during customer adjustments. Control may be designed to fit Decora.TM. style wall plates. [0015] A fan control system includes a main fan controller and at least one auxiliary fan controller. The main fan controller has circuitry for running a fan on a preset cycle, the preset cycle having a preset speed for a preset time. The main fan controller is associated with a first space having a first ventilation port in communication with the fan. The at least one auxiliary fan controller is associated with a second space having a second ventilation port in communication with the fan. Each of the main fan controller and at least one auxiliary fan controller includes circuitry for activating the fan to run on a temporary cycle having a temporary speed for a preset time. Each of the main fan controller and at least one auxiliary fan controller further includes an indicator for displaying activation status of the temporary cycle. [0016] The main fan controller may further includes a fan timer switch which may permit the preset time to be set between 0 and 60 minutes per hour. The main fan controller may further include a fan speed switch which may permit the fan speed to be set between 0 and 100 percent of a maximum preset speed. Each of the main fan controller and at least one auxiliary fan controller may include a touch pad for activating the fan to run on the temporary cycle. Also, the fan may be an inline fan. [0017] Another fan control system may include a main fan controller and at least one auxiliary fan controller. The main fan controller has circuitry including means for operating a fan on a preset cycle, the preset cycle having a preset speed for a preset time. Each of the main fan controller and at least one auxiliary fan controller has circuitry for operating the fan on a temporary cycle having a temporary speed. Each of the main fan controller and at least one auxiliary fan controller further has an indicator for displaying activation status of the temporary cycle. [0018] A ventilation system includes a fan, a main fan controller, and an auxiliary fan controller. The main fan controller has circuitry for operating the fan on a preset cycle, the preset cycle having a preset speed for a preset time. The main fan controller is associated with a first space having a first ventilation port in communication with the fan. The auxiliary fan controller is associated with a second space having a second ventilation port in communication with the fan. Each of the main fan controller and auxiliary fan controller has circuitry for operating the fan on a temporary cycle having a temporary time. Each of the main fan controller and auxiliary fan controller further includes a push button for activating the temporary cycle and an indicator for displaying activation status of the temporary cycle. The main fan controller may further include a slide adjuster for setting the preset speed. Also, the main fan controller may further include a slide adjuster for setting the preset time. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] Preferred features of the present invention are disclosed in the accompanying figures, wherein: Continue reading... Full patent description for Fan controller Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Fan controller patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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