Vent apparatus and method

Abstract

A smart vent comprises a thermoelectric generator coupled to a power storage. The thermoelectric generator that generates voltage or electrical energy based on a temperature differential between a room temperature and a temperature in a duct where the smart vent is installed. The generator charges the storage using the generated voltage. A radio is coupled to the power storage and receives a wireless command from a device to open a vent so that air flows from the duct to the room. A processor, coupled to the storage and the radio, determines if there is sufficient charge in the power storage to open the vent apparatus; sends a command to a motor to open the vent if there is sufficient charge. A motor, coupled to the storage and processor, opens the vent upon receiving the command, thereby ceasing charging the power storage as the temperature differential decreases.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 charging a power storage using a thermoelectric generator in a vent apparatus based on a temperature differential between a room temperature and a temperature in a duct where the vent apparatus is installed;   receiving a command from a device to open the vent apparatus so that air flows from the duct to the room;   determining if there is sufficient charge in the power storage to open the vent apparatus;   opening the vent apparatus if there is sufficient charge; and   cease charging the power storage when the temperature differential is no longer sufficient for the TEG to generate energy.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising received a command to close the vent apparatus and closing the vent apparatus. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising forcing air through ducts when the vent apparatus is closed. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device sends the wireless command when the device measures a preset temperature. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the charging further comprises conditioning and converting voltage from thermoelectric generator to direct current. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric generator comprises a heat side and a cool side and wherein insulation is placed there between to maximize a heat differential. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the one of the sides is located within an insulated compartment. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein one of the sides has elements with a higher temperature coefficient than the other side. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising placing one side in the room and the other side within the duct. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising measuring air pressure within the duct and ceasing the air flow within the duct or opening the vent if the pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising measuring an air quality within the duct and closing the vent if the air quality measurement indicates a presence of a hazardous substance. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising measuring CO2 within the room and determine the presence of people within the room based on the CO2 measurement. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a presence of people within the room and closing the vent if no people are detected. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a voice command and adjusting opening of the vent apparatus according to the command. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a thermoelectric generator that generates voltage based on a temperature differential between a room temperature and a temperature in a duct where the apparatus is installed;   a power storage coupled to the generator, wherein the generator is configured to charge the storage;   a radio, coupled to the power storage, configured to receive a wireless command from a device to open a vent so that air flows from the duct to the room; and   a processor, coupled to the storage and the radio, configured to
 determine if there is sufficient charge in the power storage to open the vent apparatus; 
 send a command to a motor to open the vent if there is sufficient charge; and 
   a motor, coupled to the storage and processor, configured to open the vent upon receiving the commend, thereby ceasing charging the power storage as the temperature differential decreases.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the radio is further configured to receive a command to close the vent apparatus and the processor is further configured to send a command to the motor to close the vent. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a blower configured to forcing air through the duct when the vent is closed. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the device is configured to send the wireless command when the device measures a preset temperature. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a power management circuit, coupled to the generator and storage, configured to condition and convert voltage from the thermoelectric generator to direct current. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the thermoelectric generator comprises a heat side and a cool side and insulation is located there between to maximize a heat differential. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising an insulated compartment holding one of the sides. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein one of the sides has elements with a higher temperature coefficient than the other side. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein one side located within the room and the other side within the duct. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a pressure sensor within the duct and the processor is further configured to send a command to cease the air flow within the duct or open the vent if the pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising an air quality sensor and the processor is further configured to send to a command to close the vent if an air quality measurement indicates a presence of a hazardous substance. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a CO2 sensor and wherein the processor is configured to determine the presence of people within the room based on a CO2 measurement. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising an optical sensor configured to determine a presence of people within the room and wherein the process is further configured to send a command to close the vent if no people are detected. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a microphone configured to receive voice commands and the processor is further configured to send to a command to adjust opening of the vent based on the received command.