Autonomous Ventilation System

Abstract

An autonomous ventilation system includes a variable-speed exhaust fan, a controller, an exhaust hood, and an infrared radiation (“IR”) sensor. The exhaust fan removes air contaminants from an area. The controller is coupled to the exhaust fan and adjusts the speed of the exhaust fan. The exhaust hood is coupled to the exhaust fan and directs air contaminants to the exhaust fan. The IR sensor is coupled to the controller, detects changes in IR index in a zone below the exhaust hood, and communicates information relating to detected changes in IR index to the controller. The controller adjusts the speed of the exhaust fan in response to information relating to detected changes in IR index. The autonomous ventilation system also includes an alignment laser to indicate a point at which the IR sensor is aimed and a field-of-view (“FOV”) indicator to illuminate the zone in which the IR sensor detects changes in IR index.

1 . An autonomous ventilation system comprising:
 a variable-speed exhaust fan operable to remove an air contaminant from an area;   a controller coupled to the variable-speed exhaust fan and operable to adjust the speed of the exhaust fan;   an exhaust hood coupled to the exhaust fan, the exhaust hood operable to direct the air contaminant to the exhaust fan; and   an infrared radiation (“IR”) sensor coupled to the controller, the IR sensor configured to detect a change in IR index in a zone below the exhaust hood and to communicate information relating to detected changes in IR index to the controller,   wherein the controller is further operable to adjust the speed of the fan in response to information relating to changes in IR index detected by the IR sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust hood is located above one or more pieces of cooking equipment. 
     
     
         3 . The ventilation system of  claim 2 , wherein the IR sensor comprises a thermopile sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the air contaminant comprises one or more of smoke, steam, and fumes. 
     
     
         5 . The ventilation system of  claim 1  further comprising a variable-speed supply fan coupled to the controller, the variable-speed supply fan operable to deliver air to the area. 
     
     
         6 . The ventilation system of  claim 1  further comprising an alignment laser operable to visibly indicate a point at which the IR sensor is aimed. 
     
     
         7 . The ventilation system of  claim 1  further comprising a field-of-view (“FOV”) indicator operable to illuminate the zone below the exhaust hood in which the IR sensor is operable to detect a change in IR index. 
     
     
         8 . The ventilation system of  claim 2 , wherein: the IR sensor is operable to detect a decrease in IR index associated with an introduction of a food product to the zone below the exhaust hood; and
 the controller is operable to adjust the speed of the variable-speed exhaust fan to a predetermined speed for a predetermined period of time associated with cooking of the food product.   
     
     
         9 . The ventilation system of  claim 2 , wherein: the IR sensor is operable to detect a decrease in IR index associated with an air contaminant produced by a food product being cooked in the zone below the exhaust hood; and
 the controller is operable to adjust the speed of the variable-speed exhaust fan to a predetermined speed operable to remove the air contaminant.   
     
     
         10 . The ventilation system of  claim 1  wherein the controller is further operable to:
 monitor an energy level of a piece of equipment below the exhaust hood;   adjust the variable-speed exhaust fan to a predetermined idle speed when the energy level of the piece of equipment below the exhaust hood indicates the equipment has been turned on; and   turn the variable-speed exhaust fan off when the energy level of the piece of equipment below the exhaust fan indicates the equipment has been turned off.   
     
     
         11 . The ventilation system of  claim 1  further comprising an eyeball housing assembly comprising the IR sensor, the eyeball housing assembly being operable to pivot about a socket to adjust where the IR sensor is aimed. 
     
     
         12 . The ventilation system of  claim 11  further comprising a laser calibration assembly, the laser calibration assembly operable to be coupled to the eyeball housing assembly and generate a visible calibration beam to align the IR sensor. 
     
     
         13 . A method of ventilating an area comprising:
 providing a controller coupled to a variable-speed exhaust fan, the variable-speed exhaust fan having an associated exhaust hood and is operable to remove an air contaminant from an area;   providing an infrared radiation (“IR”) sensor coupled to the controller;   sensing an IR index change in a zone below the exhaust hood using the IR sensor; and   adjusting the speed of the variable-speed exhaust fan using the controller based on the IR index change sensed by the IR sensor in the zone below the exhaust fan.   
     
     
         14 . The method of ventilating an area of  claim 13 , wherein the exhaust hood is located above one or more pieces of cooking equipment. 
     
     
         15 . The method of ventilating an area of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the IR index change is a decrease associated with an introduction of a food product to the zone below the exhaust hood; and   the speed of the variable-speed exhaust fan is adjusted to a predetermined speed for a predetermined period of time associated with cooking of the food product.   
     
     
         16 . The method of ventilating an area of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the IR index change is a decrease associated with an air contaminant produced by a food product being cooked in the zone below the exhaust hood; and   the speed of the variable-speed exhaust fan is adjusted to a predetermined speed operable to remove the air contaminant.   
     
     
         17 . The method of ventilating an area of  claim 13  further comprising:
 monitoring an energy level of a piece of equipment below the exhaust hood;   adjusting the variable-speed exhaust fan to a predetermined idle speed when the energy level of the piece of equipment below the exhaust hood indicates the equipment has been turned on; and   turning the variable-speed exhaust fan off when the energy level of the piece of equipment below the exhaust fan indicates the equipment has been turned off.   
     
     
         18 . The method of ventilating an area of  claim 13  further comprising:
 controlling a variable-speed supply fan, the variable-speed supply fan operable to deliver air from an air supply source to the area; and   adjusting the variable-speed supply fan based on the speed of the variable-speed exhaust fan.   
     
     
         19 . The method of ventilating an area of  claim 13 , wherein the air contaminant comprises one or more of smoke, steam, and fumes. 
     
     
         20 . A sensor assembly comprising:
 an infrared radiation (“IR”) sensor operable to detect a change in IR index;   an alignment laser operable to visibly indicate a point at which the sensor assembly is aimed;   a field-of-view (“FOV”) indicator operable to illuminate an area where the IR sensor is operable to detect a change in IR index; and   an aperture assembly having one or more adjustable shunts operable to adjust the size of the area where the IR sensor is operable to detect a change in IR index.   
     
     
         21 . The sensor assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the IR sensor, the alignment laser, and the FOV indicator are positioned in a housing operable to rotate about an axis to allow a user to select either the IR sensor, alignment laser, or FOV indicator. 
     
     
         22 . The sensor assembly of  claim 21  wherein the housing comprises a fixed aperture, the housing further operable to rotate to align the IR sensor, alignment laser, or FOV indicator with the fixed aperture.