Multi-functional indoor air quality control system

Abstract

A multi-functional air quality control system including an air conditioner system member for regulating air temperature, an exhaust system member for regulating air pollution, a dehumidifier/humidifier system member for regulating humidity in the air, a sensor for monitoring indoor air quality conditions and for sending control inputs to a control unit for controlling the operation of one or more of the system members based on the monitored air quality conditions and one or more user-selectable operating settings, a control unit for controlling the operation of the one or more system members based on control inputs received from one or more sources, and a housing unit having a cavity in which is mounted the air conditioner system member, the exhaust fan system member, the dehumidifier/humidifier system member and the control unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-functional air quality control system comprising:
 an air conditioner system member for regulating air temperature;   an exhaust system member for regulating air pollution;   a dehumidifier/humidifier system member for regulating humidity in the air;   a sensor for monitoring indoor air quality conditions and for sending control inputs to a control unit for controlling the operation of one or more of the system members based on the monitored air quality conditions and one or more user-selectable operating settings;   a control unit for controlling the operation of the one or more system members based on control inputs received from one or more sources; and   a housing unit having a cavity in which is mounted the air conditioner system member, the exhaust fan system member, the dehumidifier/humidifier system member and the control unit.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a computing device to wirelessly transmit and receive signals, wherein a software application is installed on the computing device for controlling the operation of the sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the software application installed on the computing device allows a user to control the system from a remote location. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a remote control for controlling the operation of the system members while a user of the remote control is in close proximity to the system. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user-selectable operating settings represent threshold values for the air quality conditions which trigger a change in operation of the one or more system members. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the sensor includes a plurality of sensing elements for measuring current status values for each air quality condition. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the sensor triggers the change in operation of the one or more system members when the measured current status values for any of the air quality conditions exceed a corresponding threshold value for the air quality condition. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the change in operation of the one or more system members is to turn off the one or more system members to an inactive state. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the change in operation of the one or more system members is to turn on the one or more system members to an active state. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the air quality conditions include air temperature, air humidity and air pollution. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor monitors the indoor air quality conditions in a room. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes a network interface for receiving and sending wireless signals over the Internet. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to be mounted in a ceiling. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit includes a network interface for receiving and sending wireless signals over the Internet. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing unit is configured to be mounted in a window or a partition. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing unit includes one or more control selectors for manually controlling the one or more system members. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system members can be controlled manually, by remote control, or with a software application on a computing device. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the air conditioner system member includes a pair of air conditioning shutters, an air conditioner blower, and an air conditioning compressor. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust system member includes a pair of double exhaust out fans. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dehumidifier/humidifier system member includes a humidifier blowing fan, wherein the dehumidifier/humidifier, when operating as a humidifier, uses condensation water being created by the air conditioner as refill water for the operation of the humidifier.