System and method for ventilation

Abstract

A system including a housing that at least partially defines a cavity therein. The housing includes one or more apertures to permit air to circulate between the cavity and an external volume that is outside the housing. The system includes one or more fans for circulating the air through the cavity via the apertures. The system may also include one or more disinfecting devices for at least partially disinfecting the air moving through the cavity.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a housing at least partially defining a cavity therein, the housing comprising at least one aperture permitting air to circulate between the cavity and an external volume that is outside the housing; and   at least one fan, for circulating the air through the cavity via said at least one aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1  additionally comprising at least one filter, for filtering the air moved through the cavity by the fan. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2  in which said at least one filter is selected from the group consisting of a dust filter, a HEPA filter, a carbon filter, and a graphene-based filter. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1  comprising at least one light source mounted to the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1  additionally comprising at least one disinfecting device, for at least partially disinfecting the air moved through the cavity by the fan. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 5  in which said at least one disinfecting device emits UVC light that is directed toward the air moving through the cavity, for at least partially disinfecting the air moving through the cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 5  in which said at least one disinfecting device causes ionization of the air moving through the cavity, for at least partially disinfecting the air moving through the cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 4  in which:
 the housing is mounted to a ceiling partially defining a room at least partially defining the external volume; 
 said at least one light source comprises:
 a plurality of first lights, positioned to emit light therefrom downwardly into the room, and away from the ceiling; and 
 a plurality of second lights, positioned to emit light therefrom upwardly, toward the ceiling. 
 
 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 4  in which:
 the housing is mounted to a wall partially defining a room at least partially defining the external volume; 
 said at least one light source comprises:
 a plurality of first lights, positioned to emit light therefrom away from the wall; and 
 a plurality of second lights, positioned to emit light therefrom toward the wall. 
 
 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 4  in which:
 the housing is positioned on a floor partially defining a room at least partially defining the external volume; and 
 said at least one light being positioned to emit light into the room. 
 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 1  additionally comprising a controller subsystem comprising:
 switch devices for respectively controlling energization of said at least one light source, said at least one fan, and said at least one disinfecting device; and 
 a controller configured for respectively operating the switch devices. 
 
     
     
         12 . A method of at least partially ventilating a room, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a housing at least partially defining a cavity therein, the housing comprising:
 at least one aperture permitting fluid communication between the cavity and an external volume external to the housing, the external volume being at least partially defined by an enclosure, wherein air is circulatable between the external volume and the cavity; 
   (b) providing at least one fan positioned to move the air through said at least one aperture; and   (c) with said at least one fan, moving the air into the cavity via said at least one aperture, and moving the air from the cavity into the enclosure volume via said at least one aperture.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12  additionally comprising:
 (d) with at least one filter, filtering the air moved through the cavity by said at least one fan. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13  additionally comprising:
 (e) providing at least one light source mounted to the housing. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12  additionally comprising:
 providing at least one disinfecting device, for at least partially disinfecting the air moving through the cavity. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15  in which said at least one disinfecting device emits UVC light at the air moving through the cavity, to at least partially disinfect the air moving through the cavity. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 12  in which said at least one aperture comprises:
 an inlet aperture, to permit the air to flow therethrough from the external volume into the cavity; and 
 an outlet aperture, to permit the air in the cavity to exit from the cavity through the outlet aperture. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14  in which said at least one light source comprises a plurality of light sources and first selected ones of the light sources emit light therefrom in at least one first predetermined direction, and second selected ones of the light sources emit light therefrom in at least one second direction. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 12  additionally comprising:
 switch devices for respectively controlling energization of said at least one light source, said at least one fan, and said at least one disinfecting device; and 
 a controller configured for respectively controlling the switch devices.