Calibration and monitoring of a kitchen hood system

Abstract

Systems and methods calibrate and monitor optic sensors associated with a kitchen hood system. Embodiments of the present invention relate to adequately exhausting a gaseous substance while minimizing the devotion of unnecessary energy. A controller calibrates a magnitude of a signal emitted and received between optic sensors by adjusting a gain associated with the signal until the magnitude of the signal is within an optimal threshold. The controller also monitors the magnitude of the calibrated signal for fluctuations in the magnitude of the calibrated signal beyond at least one specified threshold. The controller also initiates at least one graduated action when the magnitude of the calibrated signal fluctuates beyond the at least one specified threshold. The graduated action reduces an overall amount of energy consumed by the at least one kitchen hood system and/or recalibrates the magnitude of the signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer implemented method for calibrating and monitoring at least one optic sensor associated with at least one kitchen hood system, comprising:
 emitting a signal by a first optic sensor;   receiving the signal by the second optic sensor that is in alignment with the first optic sensor;   calibrating, by a controller, a magnitude of the signal by adjusting a gain associated with the signal until the magnitude of the signal is within an optimal threshold;   monitoring, by the controller, the magnitude of the calibrated signal for fluctuations in the magnitude of the calibrated signal beyond at least one specified threshold; and   initiating, by the controller, the at least one graduated action when the magnitude of the calibrated signal fluctuates beyond the at least one specified threshold, wherein the at least one graduated action reduces an overall amount of energy consumed by the at least one kitchen hood system and/or recalibrates the magnitude of the signal.   
     
     
         2 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the calibrating of the magnitude of the signal comprises:
 selecting an initial baseline when the magnitude of the signal is initially calibrated to be within the optimal threshold so that the initial baseline is the magnitude of the signal adjusted when initially calibrated, wherein an at least one graduated action is initiated relative to the initial baseline; and   automatically adjusting the initial baseline to a recalibrated baseline when the magnitude of the signal is adjusted to be within the optimal threshold during a recalibration of the magnitude of the signal after an initial calibration of the signal is completed, wherein the at least one graduated action is initiated relative to the recalibrated baseline.   
     
     
         3 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 recalibrating the magnitude of the signal to the recalibrated baseline when the magnitude of the signal fluctuates beyond the optimal threshold to account for fouling to the at least one optic sensor.   
     
     
         4 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein calibrating the magnitude of the signal comprises:
 automatically adjusting the gain to a first gain setting from a plurality of gain settings when the magnitude of the signal is outside the optimal threshold; and   continuing to automatically adjust the gain to a different gain setting from the plurality of gain settings until the magnitude of the signal is within the optimal threshold.   
     
     
         5 . The computer implemented method of  claim 4 , wherein calibrating the magnitude of the signal further comprises:
 measuring a signal level associated with the magnitude of the signal, wherein the signal level is indicative of a magnitude of light in the signal being transmitted from the first optic sensor to the second optic sensor;   determining whether the signal level is within the optimal threshold, wherein the optimal threshold is a range of signal levels within a first signal level and a second signal level;   automatically adjusting the gain to the first gain setting from the plurality of gain settings when the signal level is outside the range of signal levels associated with the optimal threshold; and   continuing to automatically adjust the gain to the different gain setting from the plurality of gain settings until the signal level is within the range of signal levels associated with the optimal threshold.   
     
     
         6 . The computer implemented method of  claim 4 , wherein calibrating the magnitude of the signal further comprises:
 generating a fault signal when the gain is adjusted to each gain setting included in the plurality of gain settings and the magnitude of the signal is outside the optimal threshold.   
     
     
         7 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein monitoring the calibrated signal comprises:
 monitoring the magnitude of the calibrated signal for a reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal that is greater than an activating threshold before at least one fan associated with the at least one kitchen hood system is in an active mode, wherein the reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal that is greater than the activating threshold indicates a gaseous substance is present in the at least one kitchen hood system.   
     
     
         8 . The computer implemented method of  claim 7 , wherein initiating at least one graduated action comprises:
 initiating an activation graduated action to transition an at least one fan associated with the at least one kitchen hood system into the active mode when the reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal is greater than the activating threshold.   
     
     
         9 . The computer implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein initiating the at least one graduated action further comprises:
 initiating a deactivation graduated action to maintain the at least one fan associated with the at least one kitchen hood system in an inactive mode when the reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal is less than the activating threshold indicating that the gaseous substance is not present in the at least one kitchen hood system.   
     
     
         10 . The computer implemented method of  claim 9 , wherein initiating the at least one graduated action further comprises:
 initiating the deactivation graduated action to maintain the at least one fan associated with the at least one kitchen hood system in the inactive mode when the reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal is greater than a blockage threshold indicating that a blockage is present in the at least one kitchen hood system.   
     
     
         11 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein monitoring the calibrated signal further comprises:
 monitoring the magnitude of the calibrated signal for a reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal that is greater than a permanent blockage threshold with the reduction in the magnitude exceeding a blockage period of time, wherein the reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal that is greater than the permanent blockage threshold and the reduction in the magnitude exceeds the blockage period of time indicates that a blockage is present in the at least one kitchen hood system.   
     
     
         12 . The computer implemented method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 ignoring the calibrated signal when the magnitude of the calibrated signal is greater than the permanent blockage threshold and the reduction in the magnitude exceeds the blockage period of time; and   monitoring a temperature signal generated from at least one temperature sensor when the magnitude of the calibrated signal is greater than the permanent blockage threshold and the reduction in the magnitude exceeds the blockage period of time.   
     
     
         13 . The computer implemented method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 initiating an at least one graduated action when the temperature signal fluctuates beyond a temperature threshold.   
     
     
         14 . The computer implemented method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 reducing the temperature threshold associated with the temperature signal to a reduced temperature threshold when the magnitude of the calibrated signal is greater than the permanent blockage threshold and the reduction in the magnitude exceeds the blockage period of time.   
     
     
         15 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein monitoring the calibrated signal further comprises:
 monitoring the magnitude of the calibrated signal for a reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal that is less than an auxiliary accessory threshold with the reduction in the magnitude exceeding an auxiliary accessory period of time, wherein the reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal is less than the auxiliary accessory threshold and the reduction in the magnitude exceeds the auxiliary accessory period of time is indicative that a gaseous substance is not present in the at least one kitchen hood system.   
     
     
         16 . The computer implemented method of  claim 15 , wherein initiating at least one graduated action further comprises:
 initiating a deactivation graduated action to transition at least one auxiliary accessory associated with the at least one kitchen hood system to an inactive mode when the reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal that is less than the auxiliary accessory threshold and the reduction in the magnitude exceeds the auxiliary accessory period of time, wherein an activation of the at least one auxiliary accessory is not required when the gaseous substance is not present in the at least one kitchen hood system.   
     
     
         17 . The computer implemented method of  claim 16 , wherein monitoring the calibrated signal further comprises:
 monitoring the magnitude of the calibrated signal for the reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal that is greater than an activating auxiliary accessory threshold, wherein the reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal that is greater than the activating auxiliary accessory threshold indicates that the gaseous substance is present in the at least one kitchen hood system.   
     
     
         18 . The computer implemented method of  claim 17 , wherein initiating the at least one graduated action further comprises:
 initiating an activation graduated action to transition the at least one auxiliary accessory associated with the at least one kitchen hood system to an active mode when the reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal that is greater than the activating auxiliary accessory threshold, wherein the activation of the at least one auxiliary accessory is required when the gaseous substance is present in the at least one kitchen hood system.   
     
     
         19 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein monitoring the calibrated signal further comprises:
 monitoring the magnitude of the calibrated signal when at least one fan associated with the at least one kitchen hood system is in an active mode for greater than an active mode period of time; and   recalibrating the magnitude of the signal when the at least one fan is in the active mode for greater than the active mode period of time.   
     
     
         20 . The computer implemented method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 recalibrating the magnitude of the signal when the at least one fan is in the active mode for greater than the active mode period of time and a reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal that is less than a gaseous substance detection threshold, wherein the at least one fan in the active mode for greater than the active mode period of time with a reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal being less than the gaseous substance detection threshold is indicative that the gaseous substance is not present in the at least one kitchen hood system and that the active mode period of time has lapsed without a recalibration of the magnitude of the signal.   
     
     
         21 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein monitoring the calibrated signal further comprises:
 monitoring for when at least one additional kitchen hood system previously in an inactive mode transitions into an active mode.   
     
     
         22 . The computer implemented method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 recalibrating the magnitude of the calibrated signal when the at least one additional kitchen hood system previously in the inactive mode transitions into the active mode.   
     
     
         23 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein monitoring the calibrated signal further comprises:
 monitoring the magnitude of the calibrated signal for an increase in the magnitude of the signal beyond an increase threshold of a current baseline of the signal, wherein the current baseline is the magnitude of the signal as adjusted during a current calibration of the signal.   
     
     
         24 . The computer implemented method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 recalibrating the magnitude of the signal when the magnitude of the signal is beyond the increase threshold of the current baseline of the signal, wherein an increase in the magnitude of the signal beyond the increase threshold of the current baseline of the signal indicates that a gaseous substance is no longer located in the at least one kitchen hood system.   
     
     
         25 . A system for calibrating and monitoring at least one optic sensor associated with at least one kitchen hood system, comprising:
 a first optic sensor configured to emit a signal;   a second optic sensor aligned with the first optic sensor and configured to receive the signal emitted by the first optic sensor; and   a controller configured to:
 calibrate a magnitude of the signal by adjusting a gain associated with the signal until the magnitude of the signal is within an optimal threshold, 
 monitor the magnitude of the calibrated signal for fluctuations in the magnitude of the calibrated signal beyond at least one specified threshold, and 
 initiate at least one graduated action when the magnitude of the calibrated signal fluctuates beyond the at least one specified threshold, wherein the at least one graduated action reduces an overall amount of energy consumed by the at least one kitchen hood system and/or recalibrates the magnitude of the signal. 
   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the controller in calibrating the magnitude of the signal is further configured to:
 select an initial baseline when the magnitude of the signal is initially calibrated to be within the optimal threshold so that the initial baseline is the magnitude of the signal adjusted when initially calibrated, wherein the at least one graduated action is initiated relative to the initial baseline; and   automatically adjust the initial baseline to a recalibrated baseline when the magnitude of the signal is adjusted to be within the optimal threshold during a recalibration of the magnitude of the signal after an initial calibration of the signal is completed, wherein the at least one graduated action is initiated relative to the recalibrated baseline.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 recalibrate the magnitude of the signal to the recalibrated baseline when the magnitude of the signal fluctuates beyond the optimal threshold to account for fouling to the at least one optic sensor.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the controller in calibrating the magnitude of the signal is further configured to:
 automatically adjust the gain to a first gain setting from a plurality of gain settings when the magnitude of the signal is outside the optimal threshold; and   continuing to automatically adjust the gain to a different gain setting from the plurality of gain settings until the magnitude of the signal is within the optimal threshold.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the controller in calibrating the magnitude of the signal is further configured to:
 measure a signal level associated with the magnitude of the signal, wherein the signal level is indicative of a magnitude of light included in the signal being transmitted from the first optic sensor to the second optic sensor;   determine whether the signal level is within the optimal threshold, wherein the optimal threshold is a range of signal levels within a first signal level and a second signal level;   automatically adjusting the gain to the first gain setting from the plurality of gain settings when the signal level is outside the range of signal levels associated with the optimal threshold; and   continuing to automatically adjust the gain to the different gain setting from the plurality of gain settings until the signal level is within the range of signal levels associated with the optimal threshold.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the controller in calibrating the magnitude of the signal is further configured to:
 generate a fault signal when the gain is adjusted to each gain setting included in the plurality of gain settings and the magnitude of the signal is outside the optimal threshold.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the controller in monitoring the calibrated signal is further configured to:
 monitor the magnitude of the calibrated signal for a reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal that is greater than an activating threshold before at least one fan associated with the at least one kitchen hood system is in an active mode, wherein the reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal that is greater than the activating threshold indicates a gaseous substance is present in the at least one kitchen hood system.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the controller is further configured to initiate an activation graduated action to transition an at least one fan associated with the at least one kitchen hood system into the active mode when the reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal is greater than the activating threshold. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the controller is further configured to initiate a deactivation graduated action to maintain the at least one fan associated with the at least one kitchen hood system in an inactive mode when the reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal is less than the activating threshold indicating that the gaseous substance is not present in the at least one kitchen hood system. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the controller is further configured to initiate the deactivation graduated action to maintain the at least one fan associated with the at least one kitchen hood system in the inactive mode when the reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal is greater than a blockage threshold indicating that a blockage is present in the at least one kitchen hood system. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the controller in monitoring the calibrated signal is further configured to:
 monitor the magnitude of the calibrated signal for a reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal that is greater than a permanent blockage threshold with the reduction in the magnitude exceeding a blockage period of time, wherein the reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal that is greater than the permanent blockage threshold and the reduction in the magnitude exceeds the blockage period of time is indicative that a blockage is present in the at least one kitchen hood system.   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 ignore the calibrated signal when the magnitude of the calibrated signal is greater than the permanent blockage threshold and the reduction in the magnitude exceeds the blockage period of time; and   monitor a temperature signal generated from at least one temperature sensor when the magnitude of the calibrated signal is greater than the permanent blockage threshold and the reduction in the magnitude exceeds the blockage period of time.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the controller is further configured to initiate the at least one graduated action when the temperature signal fluctuates beyond a temperature threshold. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the controller is further configured to reduce the temperature threshold associated with the temperature signal to a reduced temperature threshold when the magnitude of the calibrated signal is greater than the permanent blockage threshold and the reduction in the magnitude exceeds the blockage period of time. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the controller in monitoring the calibrated signal is further configured to:
 monitor the magnitude of the calibrated signal for a reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal that is less than an auxiliary accessory threshold with the reduction in the magnitude exceeding an auxiliary accessory period of time, wherein the reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal that is less than the auxiliary accessory threshold and the reduction in the magnitude exceeds the auxiliary accessory period of time is indicative that a gaseous substance is not present in the at least one kitchen hood system.   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the controller is further configured to initiate a deactivation graduated action to transition an at least one auxiliary accessory associated with the at least one kitchen hood system to an inactive mode when the reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal that is less than the auxiliary accessory threshold and the reduction in the magnitude exceeds the auxiliary accessory period of time, wherein an activation of the at least one auxiliary accessory is not required when the gaseous substance is not present in the at least one kitchen hood system. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the controller in monitoring the calibrated signal is further configured to:
 monitor the magnitude of the calibrated signal for the reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal that is greater than an activating auxiliary accessory threshold, wherein the reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal that is greater than the activating auxiliary accessory threshold indicates that the gaseous substance is present in the at least one kitchen hood system.   
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 initiate an activation graduated action to transition the at least one auxiliary accessory associated with the at least one kitchen hood system to an active mode when the reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal that is greater than the activating auxiliary accessory threshold, wherein the activation of the at least one auxiliary accessory is required when the gaseous substance is present in the at least one kitchen hood system.   
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the controller in monitoring the calibrated signal is further configured to:
 monitor the magnitude of the calibrated signal when at least one fan associated with the at least one kitchen hood system is in an active mode for greater than an active mode period of time; and   recalibrate the magnitude of the signal when the at least one fan is in the active mode for greater than the active mode period of time.   
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 recalibrate the magnitude of the signal when the at least one fan is in the active mode for greater than the active mode period of time and a reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal that is less than a gaseous substance detection threshold, wherein the at least one fan is in the active mode for greater than the active mode period of time with a reduction in the magnitude of the calibrated signal being less than the gaseous substance detection threshold is indicative that the gaseous substance is not present in the at least one kitchen hood system and that the active mode period of time has lapsed without a recalibration of the magnitude of the signal.   
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the controller is further configured to monitor for when at least one additional kitchen hood system previously in an inactive mode transitions into an active mode. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 recalibrate the magnitude of the signal when the at least one additional kitchen hood system previously in the inactive mode transitions into the active mode.   
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 monitor the magnitude of the calibrated signal for an increase in the magnitude of the signal beyond an increase threshold of a current baseline of the signal, wherein the current baseline is the magnitude of the signal as adjusted during a current calibration of the signal.   
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 recalibrate the magnitude of the signal when the magnitude of the signal is beyond an increase threshold of the current baseline of the signal, wherein an increase in the magnitude of the signal beyond the increase threshold of the current baseline of the signal indicates that at least one optic sensor is malfunctioning.