Remote controlled air vent

Abstract

A remote controlled air vent is provided comprising at least one closure member, and a vent control unit. The at least one closure member (e.g., a plurality of louvers) may be configured to control the egress of the air from the air vent and the vent control unit may control displacement of the at least one closure member in response to a wireless control signal. In one exemplary embodiment, the vent control unit may comprise a mechanical component to control displacement of the at least one closure member, and an electrical component including a wireless receiver to receive the wireless control signal. The invention extends to a method and system to control the egress of air from an air duct,

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A remote controlled air vent, comprising: 
 at least one closure member configured to control the egress of air from the air vent; and    a vent control unit to control displacement of the at least one closure member in response to a wireless control signal.    
     
     
         2 . The remote controlled air vent of  claim 1 , wherein the vent control unit comprises: 
 a mechanical component to control displacement of the at least one closure member; and    an electrical component including a wireless receiver to receive the wireless control signal.    
     
     
         3 . The remote controlled air vent of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical component is configured to displace the at least one closure member between a more closed position wherein the egress of air from the air vent is reduced and a more open position wherein the egress of air from the air vent is increased.  
     
     
         4 . The remote controlled air vent of  claim 1 , which comprises a plurality of closure members in the form of louvers.  
     
     
         5 . The remote control air vent of  claim 1 , which comprises a mounting arrangement configured to mount the air vent proximate an outlet of an air duct.  
     
     
         6 . The remote controlled air vent of  claim 5 , wherein the mounting arrangement is shaped and dimensioned to mount the air vent to the outlet of a conventional air duct.  
     
     
         7 . The remote controlled air vent of  claim 5 , wherein the mounting arrangement comprises a concealed portion received within an end portion of the air duct and an exposed portion.  
     
     
         8 . The remote controlled air vent of  claim 7 , wherein the exposed portion comprises a cover plate defining a plurality of apertures through which the air exits the air vent.  
     
     
         9 . The remote controlled air vent of  claim 2 , wherein the electrical component comprises a wireless receiver configured to receive a coded wireless control signal.  
     
     
         10 . The remote controlled air vent of  claim 2 , wherein the electrical component comprises a network interface to interface the remote controlled air vent to a computer network thereby to allow the air vent to be remotely controlled via the computer network.  
     
     
         11 . The remote controlled air vent of  claim 10 , wherein the network interface is a wireless network interface to provide wide area network connectivity.  
     
     
         12 . A system to control the egress of air from an air duct, the system comprising: 
 an air vent mountable proximate an outlet of the air duct, the air vent including a wireless receiver and at least one closure member configured to control the egress of air from the air vent; and    a remote control including a wireless transmitter to communicate a wireless control signal to the wireless receiver, wherein the air vent adjusts the at least one closure member in response to the wireless control signal to regulate the egress of air from the air vent.    
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the remote control comprises: 
 a temperature sensor to sense temperature in a zone serviced by the air vent; and    a computer processor responsive to an input from the temperature sensor and operable to control the wireless control signal thereby to adjust the at least one closure member in response to a sensed temperature.    
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the computer processor is configured to: 
 compare the sensed temperature to a reference temperature; and    modify the wireless control signal so as to adjust the egress of air from the air vent to urge the ambient temperature towards the reference temperature.    
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the remote control comprises a portable housing shaped and dimensioned to be handheld.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the remote control comprises a timer to control the ambient temperature dependent upon one of a time of day and a day of the week.  
     
     
         17 . A method to regulate the egress of air from an air vent including at least one closure member, the method comprising: 
 receiving a wireless control signal; and    controlling displacement of the at least one closure member in response to the wireless control signal thereby to control the egress of air from the air vent.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , which comprises: 
 monitoring an ambient temperature in a zone serviced by the air vent;    comparing the ambient temperature to a reference temperature; and    intermittently communicating the wireless control signal to the air vent to adjust the egress of air from the air vent to urge the ambient temperature towards the reference temperature.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , which comprises: 
 receiving a vent control signal via a computer network; and    controlling the displacement of the at least one closure member in response to the vent control signal.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the ambient temperature is controlled dependent upon one of a time of day and a day of the week.