Ventilation Control System and Method

Abstract

An air-conditioning system comprises a fan and a ventilation damper for drawing fresh air into a living space. The damper is able to open and close. The air-conditioning system is adapted and configured to store data indicative of air flow output of the fan over time, and to close the damper based on said data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating an air-conditioning system, the air-conditioning system comprising a fan and a ventilation damper for drawing fresh air into a living space, the damper being able to open and close, the method comprising:
 storing data indicative of air flow output of the fan over time;   closing the damper based on said data.   
     
     
         2 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the fan operates at different speeds resulting in different air flow output levels and the data is indicative of a summation of the output levels. 
     
     
         3 . A method in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said data is indicative of a summation of output levels during periods of time while the damper is open as compared to a duration of time during which the damper is closed. 
     
     
         4 . A method in accordance with  claim 2  comprising opening the damper periodically only once every set period of time. 
     
     
         5 . A method in accordance with  claim 4  comprising closing the damper in response to the data being indicative of achieving a minimum required amount of fresh air drawn in through the damper during and for the particular period of time. 
     
     
         6 . A method in accordance with  claim 5  wherein the method further comprises operating the fan at the air flow output levels while the damper is open, and the closing of the damper is indicative of the summation of said output levels. 
     
     
         7 . A method in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the damper remains open for different durations over the course of several of said set periods of time. 
     
     
         8 . A method in accordance with  claim 2  comprising opening the damper based on said data. 
     
     
         9 . A method in accordance with  claim 2  comprising operating the air-conditioning system in a manner that heats or cools air, and opening the damper in response to commencing such heating or cooling. 
     
     
         10 . A method in accordance with  claim 9  comprising closing the damper in response to the data. 
     
     
         11 . A method in accordance with  claim 10  comprising operating the fan during periods of time in which the air-conditioning system is not heating or cooling air, and, based on the data, attempting to minimize the periods of operating the fan during time in which the air-conditioning system is not heating or cooling and the damper is open. 
     
     
         12 . A method in accordance with  claim 10  comprising opening the damper based on said data. 
     
     
         13 . An air-conditioning system comprising a fan and a ventilation damper for drawing fresh air into a living space, the damper being able to open and close, the air-conditioning system being adapted and configured to store data indicative of air flow output of the fan over time, and to close the damper based on said data. 
     
     
         14 . An air-conditioning system in accordance with  claim 13  wherein the air-conditioning system is adapted and configured to close the damper based on the data. 
     
     
         15 . An air-conditioning system in accordance with  claim 13  wherein the fan is configured to operate at different speeds resulting in different air flow output levels and the air-conditioning system is adapted and configured such that the data will be indicative of a summation of a function of said output levels and time intervals.