Custom range hood system and method

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a range hood system including a housing, a ventilation system including an inlet and a fan, an illumination source, and a user interface coupled with a control system. In some embodiments, a fan speed can be varied, and in some further embodiments, the range hood system can include a filter change indicator and fan delay-off feature. In some other embodiments, the illumination intensity can be varied to provide variable illumination intensity to the range top surface. Some embodiments can include a clock, a timer coupled to an audible alarm, and a fan delay-off time coupled to a user interface. In some other embodiments, a heat sensor can be coupled to a component of a range hood system, and a heat sentry mode can display a status on a user interface, and can operate a fan if the temperature exceeds a preset limit.

1 . A range hood system comprising:
 a housing comprising a first surface and a second surface coupled to the first surface; wherein the housing substantially encloses a ventilation assembly including an inlet and at least one fan;   at least one illumination source coupled to the housing;   a ventilation outlet coupled to the housing and configured and arranged to provide fluid flow from the housing to a location outside of the housing; and   a user interface coupled with the second surface wherein the user interface includes at least one switch indicator configured and arranged to be capable of controlling at least one function of the range hood system; and wherein the at least one switch indicator includes at least one light source capable of communicating information to a user using a visible light; and wherein the information communicated to a user further comprises light emitted from the at least one light source and includes light dispersed from at least one icon; and wherein the icon comprises a representation of at least one function of the range hood system capable of being controlled by the at least one switch indicator.   
     
     
         2 . The range hood system of  claim 1  wherein the information communicated by the at least one switch indicator comprises light luminosity. 
     
     
         3 . The range hood system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one switch indicator emits visible light using a light emitting diode. 
     
     
         4 . The range hood system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one switch indicator emits visible light using an electroluminescent source. 
     
     
         5 . The range hood system of  claim 1  wherein the user interface further comprises a liquid crystal display wherein the liquid crystal display comprises at least one bar-graph type display configured and arranged to display a fan status or an illumination source status. 
     
     
         6 . The range hood system of  claim 1  wherein the user interface further comprises a clock. 
     
     
         7 . The range hood system of  claim 6  wherein the clock further comprises a timer. 
     
     
         8 . The range hood system of  claim 6  wherein the clock further comprises a fan delay-off timer. 
     
     
         9 . The range hood system of  claim 2  wherein the information communicated by the at least one switch indicator is represented by a color of light. 
     
     
         10 . The range hood system of  claim 2  wherein the information communicated by the at least one switch indicator is represented by a fluctuating luminosity. 
     
     
         11 . The range hood system of  claim 1  wherein the housing further comprises at least one aperture coupled to the first surface of the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The range hood system of  claim 1  wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of apertures coupled to the second surface of the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The range hood system of  claim 2  wherein the icon is configured and arranged to animate. 
     
     
         14 . The range hood system of  claim 2  wherein the information communicated to the user from at least one switch indicator includes a filter change notification. 
     
     
         15 . The range hood system of  claim 2  wherein the information communicated to the user from at least one switch indicator includes fan operation. 
     
     
         16 . The range hood system of  claim 2  wherein the information communicated to the user from at least one switch indicator includes illumination source status. 
     
     
         17 . The range hood system of  claim 2  wherein the information communicated to the user from at least one switch indicator includes fan delay-off status. 
     
     
         18 . The range hood system of  claim 2  wherein the information communicated to a user further comprises light dispersed at least partially from a periphery of the at least one switch indicator and at least partially encircling the icon. 
     
     
         19 . The range hood system of  claim 2  wherein the range hood system further comprises an overlay fascia substantially coupled with the second surface; and wherein the overlay fascia is coupled with and at least partially covering the user interface. 
     
     
         20 . The range hood system of  claim 19  wherein the overlay fascia comprises a polycarbonate polymer. 
     
     
         21 . A range hood system comprising:
 a housing comprising a first surface and a second surface coupled to the first surface; wherein the housing substantially encloses a ventilation assembly including at least one fan and at least one illumination source coupled to a third surface of the housing;   a ventilation outlet coupled to the housing and configured and arranged to provide fluid flow from the housing to a location substantially outside of the housing;   a plurality of apertures coupled to the second surface of the housing;   a light emitting device coupled with the first surface of the housing, configured and arranged to communicate the status of at least one function of the range hood system wherein the status includes fan status and illumination status and filter change status; and   a fan switch icon and a light switch icon coupled with a surface of the second surface;   a fan switch coupled with the third surface of the housing; and   a light switch coupled with the third surface of the housing.