Damper control in space heating and cooling

Abstract

An amount of time that air has been delivered from an air handler to a space is tracked, and based on the tracked amount of time, at least one turn-on time or one turn-off time of the delivery of air from the air handler to the space is controlled. Other features relate, among other things, to controlling a replacement air vent, and to user interfaces.

1 - 58 . (canceled)  
   
   
       59 . Apparatus comprising 
 a controllable damper to regulate flow of air through an air flow passage between an exterior of a building and an air handler,    a sensor to sense air flow through the passage, and    terminals to connect the sensor and the controllable damper in a control circuit.    
   
   
       60 . The apparatus of  claim 59  in which the sensor comprises a contactless sensor.  
   
   
       61 . The apparatus of  claim 59  in which the sensor comprise magnetic elements.  
   
   
       62 . The apparatus of  claim 59  in which the sensor comprises a fan in the passage to rotate in response to air flowing through the passage.  
   
   
       63 . The apparatus of  claim 62  in which rotation of the fan is sensed as an indicator of the volume per unit time of air flowing through the passage.  
   
   
       64 . The apparatus of  claim 62  in which the fan comprises blades, at least one of the blades bears a magnet, and the sensor senses motion of the magnet.  
   
   
       65 . The apparatus of  claim 59  in which the damper is controllable to be open or closed.  
   
   
       66 . The apparatus of  claim 65  in which the damper is also controllable to be open to a selected position among at least two different open positions.  
   
   
       67 . The apparatus of  claim 59  in which the damper is controllable to be open to a selected position with a range of positions.  
   
   
       68 . The apparatus of  claim 59  in which the damper comprises a rotating flap driven by an electric motor.  
   
   
       69 . The apparatus of  claim 62  in which the fan is free-wheeling.  
   
   
       70 . The apparatus of  claim 59  in which the control circuit controls opening and closing of the damper in response to sensed air flow through the passage.  
   
   
       71 . The apparatus of  claim 59  also including a filter to filter air flowing through the passage.  
   
   
       72 . The apparatus of  claim 59  also including a housing that defines at least a portion of the air flow passage and includes ends to mount the housing between an exterior of a building and an air handler.  
   
   
       73 . The apparatus of  claim 72  in which the housing also supports the damper, the sensor, and the terminals.  
   
   
       74 . The apparatus of  claim 72  in which the housing also supports a filter.  
   
   
       75 . The apparatus of  claim 74  in which the filter is mounted on a second structure that mates with the housing.  
   
   
       76 . The apparatus of  claim 72  in which the housing also supports at least a portion of the control circuit.  
   
   
       77 . The apparatus of  claim 59  in which the controller comprises a circuit that receives signals from the sensor and sends signals to the controllable damper.  
   
   
       78 . The apparatus of  claim 59  in which the control circuit includes a terminal to connect to a thermostat.  
   
   
       79 . The apparatus of  claim 59  in which the control circuit includes an input to receive an indication from a user of how much air is to be permitted to flow through the passage.  
   
   
       80 . The apparatus of  claim 59  in which the control circuit comprises logic to control the damper to allow a predetermined volume per unit time to flow in the passage.  
   
   
       81 . An apparatus comprising 
 a controllable damper to regulate flow of air through an air flow passage between an exterior of a building and an air handler,    a sensor to sense air flow through the passage, 
 a control circuit to receive signals from the sensor and to send signals to cause the controllable damper to allow a predetermined volume per unit time to flow in the passage, and  
 a housing that supports the damper and the sensor and includes features to mount the housing between an exterior of a building and an air handler.