Ventilation system

Abstract

A ventilation system having a blower, a light and an auxiliary device configured to perform a function in the room other than ventilation and lighting. A control module is operatively connected to the ventilation fan and has a light switch to activate the light and a blower switch to activate the blower. A communication system including an antenna receives wireless signals and a processor operates the light switch and the blower switch based on the wireless signals. A wall switch has a plurality of device operators to provide one or more inputs to the control module.

1 . A ventilation system comprising:
 a ventilation fan including a fan housing, a blower located in the fan housing and configured to ventilate a room, a light coupled to the fan housing and configured to illuminate the room, and an auxiliary device configured to perform a function in the room other than ventilation and lighting;   a control module fixed to the ventilation fan and including a light switch configured to activate the light, a blower switch configured to activate the blower, and a communication system including an antenna configured to receive wireless signals and a processor configured to operate the light switch and the blower switch based on the wireless signals, and   a wall switch sized to fit within a socket in a wall of a building and connected to a power source, the wall switch including a switch body, a plurality of device operators coupled to the switch body and configured to provide one or more inputs to the control module, and an antenna configured to output signals in response to selection of the device operators.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module further includes an expansion connector configured to removably couple a second auxiliary device to the control module in communication with the processor. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary device is always powered. 
     
     
         4 . A ventilation system configured to ventilate a room in a building structure, the ventilation system comprising:
 a ventilation fan having a blower configured to ventilate the room, a light configured to provide illumination and an auxiliary device;   a control module connected to the ventilation fan, the control module having
 a light switch configured to activate the light, 
 a blower switch configured to activate the blower, 
 an antenna configured to receive wireless signals, and 
 a processor configured to operate the light switch and the blower switch based on the wireless signals, 
   a wall switch sized to fit within a socket in a wall of the building structure and configured to be connected to a power source, the wall switch having   a switch body,   a plurality of device operators coupled to the switch body and configured to provide one or more inputs to the control module, and   an antenna configured to output signals in response to selection of the device operators.   
     
     
         5 . The ventilation system of  claim 4 , wherein the auxiliary device is configured to perform a function in the room other than ventilation. 
     
     
         6 . The ventilation system of  claim 4 , wherein the auxiliary device is configured to perform a function in the room other than illumination. 
     
     
         7 . The ventilation system of  claim 4 , wherein the auxiliary device is configured to perform a function in the room other than ventilation and illumination. 
     
     
         8 . The ventilation system of  claim 4 , wherein the auxiliary device is always powered. 
     
     
         9 . The ventilation system of  claim 4 , wherein the auxiliary device is configured to identify the humidity of the air in the room. 
     
     
         10 . The ventilation system of  claim 4 , wherein the wall switch further comprises an auxiliary device indicator indicating information from the auxiliary device. 
     
     
         11 . The ventilation system of  claim 4 , wherein the auxiliary device is configured to identify the humidity of the air in the room and the wall switch further comprises an auxiliary device indicator configured to indicate a humidity reading from the auxiliary device. 
     
     
         12 . A ventilation system configured to ventilate a room in a building structure, the ventilation system comprising:
 a ventilation fan having a blower configured to ventilate the room, a light configured to provide illumination and an auxiliary device;   a control module connected to the ventilation fan, the control module having a light switch configured to activate the light,   a communication system having
 an antenna configured to receive wireless signals and 
 a processor configured to operate the light switch based on the wireless signals, 
   a wall switch sized to fit within a socket in a wall of the building structure and configured to be connected to a power source, the wall switch having   a switch body,   a plurality of device operators coupled to the switch body and configured to provide one or more inputs to the control module, and   an antenna configured to output signals in response to selection of the device operators.   
     
     
         13 . The ventilation system of  claim 12 , wherein the auxiliary device is configured to perform a function in the room other than ventilation. 
     
     
         14 . The ventilation system of  claim 12 , wherein the auxiliary device is configured to perform a function in the room other than illumination. 
     
     
         15 . The ventilation system of  claim 12 , wherein the auxiliary device is configured to perform a function in the room other than ventilation and illumination. 
     
     
         16 . The ventilation system of  claim 12 , wherein the auxiliary device is always powered. 
     
     
         17 . The ventilation system of  claim 12 , wherein the auxiliary device is configured to identify the humidity of the air in the room. 
     
     
         18 . The ventilation system of  claim 12 , wherein the wall switch further comprises an auxiliary device indicator providing information from the auxiliary device. 
     
     
         19 . The ventilation system of  claim 12 , wherein the auxiliary device is configured to identify the humidity of the air in the room and the wall switch further comprises an auxiliary device indicator configured to provide a humidity reading from the auxiliary device. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the control module further includes an expansion connector configured to removably couple a second auxiliary device to the control module in communication with the processor.