Air pressure controller for air ventilation devices

Abstract

A ventilation management system for a structure includes one or more sensors, disposed in and/or outside the structure, capable determining a pressure differential between the interior and exterior air pressure. A controller coupled to the one or more sensors provides a control signal to one or more ventilation units which signal the ventilation units to bring outside air into the structure to insure that the pressure inside the structure is equal to, or greater than, the pressure outside of the structure.

1 . A ventilation management system for a structure comprising:
 one or more sensors, disposed in and/or outside the structure, capable of measuring at least the pressure inside the structure and the pressure outside the structure;   one or more ventilation units disposed in the structure, wherein the ventilation units communicate with outside air surrounding the structure and provide a pathway for the outside air to enter the structure;   a controller coupled to the one or more sensors and the one or more ventilation units, wherein the controller provides control signals to the one or more ventilation units which signal the ventilation units to bring outside air into the structure;   wherein the controller further comprises a prediction engine configured to insure that the pressure inside the structure is equal to, or greater than, the pressure outside of the structure, by operating one or more of the ventilation units to bring air into the structure, and wherein the prediction engine further determines a near optimum or improved schedule for using the ventilation units to bring outside air into the structure based on pressure differential information collected from the one or more sensors, in combination with monitored occupant's climate control habits.   
     
     
         2 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more sensors measure humidity inside the structure and wherein the actual, measured and/or predictive engine further uses the measured humidity inside the structure, and the humidity of the outside air surrounding the structure, to determine a near optimum or improved schedule for using the ventilation units to bring outside air into the structure. 
     
     
         3 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more sensors measure the indoor air quality and wherein the controller provides control signals to the one or more ventilation units which signal the ventilation units to bring outside air into the structure to assist in the improvement of the indoor air quality in the structure. 
     
     
         4 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more sensors measure the carbon monoxide levels in the air in the structure, and wherein the controller provides control signals to the one or more ventilation units which signal the ventilation units to bring outside air into the structure to assist in the reduction of carbon monoxide in the structure. 
     
     
         5 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more sensors measure the temperature in the structure, and wherein the controller provides control signals to the one or more ventilation units which signal the ventilation units to bring outside air into the structure based on a predicted usage of an HVAC system of the building as determined by the temperature inside the building and the predicted temperature outside the structure. 
     
     
         6 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more sensors include a wireless transmitter in communication with the controller. 
     
     
         7 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more ventilation units bring outside air into the house without the outside air passing through an HVAC system. 
     
     
         8 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more ventilation units comprise a fan to draw outside air into the structure. 
     
     
         9 . The ventilation system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the one or more ventilation units comprise a wireless receiver in communication with the controller. 
     
     
         10 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller provides control signals to the one or more ventilation units which signal the ventilation units to bring outside air into the building at a rate determined by the controller. 
     
     
         11 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors that measure the temperature and/or pressure and/or humidity of outside air surrounding the structure. 
     
     
         12 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is coupleable to other pre-existing structure climate control devices. 
     
     
         13 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the ventilation system is in a single unit designed to fit within a single gang electrical outlet wall box. 
     
     
         14 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises software, and wherein the controller can receive remote updates for the software. 
     
     
         15 . A method of providing ventilation to a structure comprising:
 determining an air pressure differential between air inside the structure and an air outside the structure using one or more sensors disposed in the structure;   determining a preferred temperature for the interior of the structure;   obtaining the temperature of the outside air surrounding the structure;   maintain the pressure inside the structure to be equal to, or greater than, the pressure outside of the structure, by operating one or more ventilation units to bring air into the structure, and   determining a near optimum or improved schedule for using the ventilation units to bring outside air into the structure based on the predicted regular use of devices in the structure that force air out of the structure determined from the preferred temperature and the outside temperature of the air surrounding the structure;   operating one or more ventilation units disposed in the structure to bring outside air into the building based on the near optimum or improved schedule.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: determining a near optimum or improved schedule for using the ventilation units to bring outside air into the structure based on pressure differential information collected from the one or more sensors, in combination with monitored occupant's climate control habits. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising updating the optimum or improved schedule periodically. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the optimum or improved schedule is updated remotely. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising determining the amount of volatile organic compounds in the air and operating the one or more ventilation units to bring outside air into the building to assist in the reduction of the volatile organic compounds in the structure. 
     
     
         21 - 28 . (canceled)