Claims
[1] An apparatus for automatically controlling a ventilation fan, the apparatus comprising: a controller which is connected between an electric power cord of the ventilation fan and an electric power socket, measures status information including smell, smoke, humidity, dust, temperature, and gas leakage of a predetermined indoor space, compares measured data with predetermined reference data, and drives the ventilation fan if the measured data is greater than the reference data; and the ventilation fan which is driven under the control of the controller.
[2] The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller includes: a sensor which measures the status information including smell, smoke, humidity, dust, temperature, and gas leakage of the predetermined indoor space; a memory which stores the reference data for driving the ventilation fan; a control unit which compares the measured data received from the sensor with the reference data stored in the memory and generates a control signal for driving the ventilation fan if the measured data is greater than the reference data; and a ventilation fan drive unit which drives the ventilation fan according to the control signal received from the control unit.
[3] The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller generates a control signal for stopping the driving of the ventilation fan if the measured data including smell, smoke, humidity, dust, temperature, and gas leakage of the predetermined indoor space becomes less than the predetermined reference data while the ventilation fan is driven.
[4] An apparatus for automatically controlling a ventilation fan, the apparatus comprising: at least one wireless sensor which is directly connected to an electric power socket, measures status information including smell, smoke, humidity, dust, temperature, and gas leakage of a predetermined indoor space, converts measured data into a radio frequency (RF) signal, and transmits the RF signal; a controller which is connected between an electric power cord of the ventilation fan and an electric power socket, compares the measured data received from the wireless sensor with predetermined reference data, and drives the ventilation fan if the measured data is greater than the reference data; and the ventilation fan which is driven under the control of the controller.
[5] The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the wireless sensor includes: a sensor which measures the status information including smell, smoke, humidity, dust, temperature, and gas leakage of the predetermined indoor space; and a RF signal transmitter which converts the data measured by the sensor into the
RF signal and transmits the RF signal to the controller.
[6] The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the controller includes: a RF signal receiver which receives the measured data from the wireless sensor; a memory which stores the reference data for driving the ventilation fan; a control unit which compares the measured data of the wireless sensor received from the RF signal receiver with the reference data stored in the memory and generates a control signal for driving the ventilation fan if the measured data is greater than the reference data; and a ventilation fan drive unit which drives the ventilation fan according to the control signal received from the control unit.
[7] The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the controller generates a control signal for stopping the driving of the ventilation fan if the measured data including smell, smoke, humidity, dust, temperature, and gas leakage of the predetermined indoor space becomes less than the predetermined reference data while the ventilation fan is driven. |
Description
APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF VENTILATION
FAN
Technical Field
[1] The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically controlling a ventilation fan, and more particularly, to an apparatus for measuring smell, smoke, humidity, dust, temperature or gas leakage using a sensor and automatically controlling the driving of a ventilation fan. Background Art
[2] In general, ventilation fans for discharging and circulating indoor air are provided at places where smell, smoke, humidity or dust is generated, such as restaurants, offices, houses, factories, or industrial sites.
[3] That is, when the ventilation fan is driven, indoor air can be maintained at a predetermined condition.
[4] However, in a conventional method of driving a ventilation fan, since a user should manually drive the ventilation fan, it is inconvenient for the user to immediately check whether an indoor environment is changed. In addition, the user may miss an opportunity to drive the ventilation fan. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem
[5] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for measuring smell, smoke, humidity, dust, temperature or gas leakage using a sensor and automatically controlling the driving of a ventilation fan if it is determined that the ventilation fan needs to be driven, on the basis of measured data.
[6] It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for automatically controlling a ventilation fan, which includes at least one wireless sensor provided in a place having a large indoor space and a controller for receiving data including smell, smoke, humidity, dust, temperature or gas leakage from the wireless sensor and automatically driving the ventilation fan if the ventilation fan needs to be driven. Technical Solution
[7] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of an apparatus for automatically controlling a ventilation fan, the apparatus including: a controller which is connected between an electric power cord of the ventilation fan and an electric power socket, measures status
information including smell, smoke, humidity, dust, temperature, and gas leakage of a predetermined indoor space, compares measured data with predetermined reference data, and drives the ventilation fan if the measured data is greater than the reference data; and the ventilation fan which is driven under the control of the controller.
[8] At this time, the controller may include a sensor which measures the status information including smell, smoke, humidity, dust, temperature, and gas leakage of the predetermined indoor space; a memory which stores the reference data for driving the ventilation fan; a control unit which compares the measured data received from the sensor with the reference data stored in the memory and generates a control signal for driving the ventilation fan if the measured data is greater than the reference data; and a ventilation fan drive unit which drives the ventilation fan according to the control signal received from the control unit.
[9] The controller may generate a control signal for stopping the driving of the ventilation fan if the measured data including smell, smoke, humidity, dust, temperature, and gas leakage of the predetermined indoor space becomes less than the predetermined reference data while the ventilation fan is driven.
[10] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for automatically controlling a ventilation fan, the apparatus including: at least one wireless sensor which is directly connected to an electric power socket, measures status information including smell, smoke, humidity, dust, temperature, and gas leakage of a predetermined indoor space, converts measured data into a radio frequency (RF) signal, and transmits the RF signal; a controller which is connected between an electric power cord of the ventilation fan and an electric power socket, compares the measured data received from the wireless sensor with predetermined reference data, and drives the ventilation fan if the measured data is greater than the reference data; and the ventilation fan which is driven under the control of the controller.
[11] At this time, the wireless sensor may include a sensor which measures the status information including smell, smoke, humidity, dust, temperature, and gas leakage of the predetermined indoor space; and a RF signal transmitter which converts the data measured by the sensor into the RF signal and transmits the RF signal to the controller.
[12] The controller may include a RF signal receiver which receives the measured data from the wireless sensor; a memory which stores the reference data for driving the ventilation fan; a control unit which compares the measured data of the wireless sensor received from the RF signal receiver with the reference data stored in the memory and generates a control signal for driving the ventilation fan if the measured data is greater than the reference data; and a ventilation fan drive unit which drives the ventilation fan according to the control signal received from the control unit.
[13] The controller may generate a control signal for stopping the driving of the ventilation fan if the measured data including smell, smoke, humidity, dust, temperature, and gas leakage of the predetermined indoor space becomes less than the predetermined reference data while the ventilation fan is driven.
Advantageous Effects
[14] In an apparatus for automatically controlling a ventilation fan according to the present invention, since a controller is connected between an electric power cord of the ventilation fan and an electric power socket and automatically controls the driving of the ventilation fan on the basis of data measured by a sensor, such as smell, smoke, humidity, dust, temperature, and gas leakage, a user does not need to manually operate a ventilation fan. Thus, the apparatus according to the present invention can be conveniently used and a comfortable indoor environment can always be maintained.
[15] In addition, in a place having a relatively large indoor space, such as a large restaurant or an industrial site, since at least one wireless sensor is mounted and a controller can automatically control the driving of a ventilation fan on the basis of data received from the wireless sensor, the apparatus according to the present invention can be conveniently used even in the place having the large indoor space. Brief Description of the Drawings
[16] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[17] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an apparatus for automatically controlling a ventilation fan according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[18] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing in detail the configuration of a controller shown in FIG. 1;
[19] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an apparatus for automatically controlling a ventilation fan according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[20] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing in detail the configuration of a wireless sensor shown in FIG. 3; and
[21] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing in detail the configuration of a controller shown in FIG. 3. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[22] Hereinafter, an apparatus for automatically controlling a ventilation fan according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[23] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an apparatus for automatically controlling a ventilation fan according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing in detail the configuration of a controller 10 shown in FIG. 1.
[24] As shown, the apparatus for automatically controlling the ventilation fan according to the present embodiment includes a controller 10 and a ventilation fan 20.
[25] The controller 10 is connected between an electric power cord of the ventilation fan and an electric power socket. The controller 10 measures status information including smell, smoke, humidity, dust, temperature, and gas leakage of a predetermined indoor space (that is, a restaurant, an office, a house, a factory, an industrial site or the like), compares measured data with predetermined reference data, and generates a drive control signal to drive the ventilation fan 20 if the measured data is greater than the reference data. The controller 10 is operated by a battery or an external commercial power source.
[26] The ventilation fan 20 is driven under the control of the controller 10 to perform indoor ventilation.
[27] At this time, the controller 10 includes a sensor 12 for measuring the status information including smell, smoke, humidity, dust, temperature, and gas leakage of the predetermined indoor space, a memory 14 for storing reference data for driving the ventilation fan 20, a control unit 16 for comparing the measured data received from the sensor 12 with the reference data stored in the memory 14 and generating and outputting a control signal for driving the ventilation fan 20 to a ventilation fan drive unit 18 if the measured data is greater than the reference data, and the ventilation fan drive unit 18 for driving the ventilation fan 20 on the basis of the control signal received from the control unit 16.
[28] If the data obtained by measuring the status information including smell, smoke, humidity, dust, temperature, and gas leakage of the predetermined indoor space becomes less than the predetermined reference data while the ventilation fan 20 is driven, the controller 10 generates a control signal for stopping the driving of the ventilation fan 20 and turns off the ventilation fan 20.
[29] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an apparatus for automatically controlling a ventilation fan according to another embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 4 and 5 are respectively block diagrams showing in detail the configurations of a wireless sensor 100 and a controller 200 shown in FIG. 3.
[30] As shown, the apparatus for automatically controlling the ventilation fan according to the present embodiment includes at least one wireless sensor 100, a controller 200, and a ventilation fan 300.
[31] The at least one wireless sensor 100 is directly connected to an electric power
socket mounted in a predetermined indoor space. The wireless sensor 100 measures status information including smell, smoke, humidity, dust, temperature, and gas leakage of the predetermined indoor space, converts measured data into a radio frequency (RF) signal, and transmits the RF signal to the controller 200.
[32] The controller 200 is connected between an electric power cord of the ventilation fan and an electric power socket. The controller 200 compares the measured data received from the wireless sensor 100 with predetermined reference data, and generates a drive control signal to drive the ventilation fan 300 if the measured data is greater than the reference data.
[33] The ventilation fan 300 is driven under the control of the controller 200 to perform indoor ventilation.
[34] The at least one wireless sensor 100 and the controller 200 are operated by a battery or an external commercial power source.
[35] The wireless sensor 100 includes a sensor 110 for measuring the status information including smell, smoke, humidity, dust, temperature, and gas leakage of the predetermined indoor space, and a RF signal transmitter 120 for converting data measured by the sensor 110 into the RF signal and transmitting the RF signal to the controller 200.
[36] The controller 200 includes a RF signal receiver 210 for receiving the measured data from the wireless sensor 100, a memory 220 for storing reference data for driving the ventilation fan 300, a control unit 230 for comparing the measured data of the wireless sensor 100 received from the RF signal receiver 210 with the reference data stored in the memory 220 and generating and outputting a control signal for driving the ventilation fan 300 if the measured data is greater than the reference data, and a ventilation fan drive unit 240 for driving the ventilation fan 300 on the basis of the control signal received from the control unit 230.
[37] If the measured data received from the wireless sensor 100 becomes less than the predetermined reference data while the ventilation fan 300 is driven, the controller 200 generates a control signal for stopping the driving of the ventilation fan 300 and turns off the ventilation fan 300.
[38] Operations of the apparatuses for automatically controlling the ventilation fan according to the present invention will now be described in detail.
[39] First, the apparatus for automatically controlling the ventilation fan according to the embodiment of the present invention, which includes the controller 10 and the ventilation fan 20, will be described. The apparatus according to the present embodiment is used in a restaurant, an office or a house having a relatively small indoor space.
[40] When a user connects the controller 10 between the electric power cord of the
ventilation fan 20 and the electric power socket mounted in the indoor space, power is supplied to the controller 10 by the battery or the external commercial power source such that automatic ventilation control begins.
[41] The sensor 12 mounted in the controller 10 periodically measures the status information including smell, smoke, humidity, dust, temperature, and gas leakage of the indoor space and sends the measured data to the control unit 16.
[42] The control unit 16 compares the measured data received from the sensor 12 with the reference data stored in the memory 14 and generates the control signal for driving the ventilation fan 20 if the data measured by the sensor 12 is greater than the reference data.
[43] The ventilation fan drive unit 18 drives the ventilation fan 20 according to the drive control signal of the ventilation fan 20 received from the control unit 16.
[44] Even while the ventilation fan 20 is driven, the sensor 12 of the controller 10 continuously measures the indoor environment. At this time, if the data measured by the sensor 12 becomes less than the predetermined reference data, the control unit 16 generates the control signal for stopping the driving of the ventilation fan 20, and the ventilation fan drive unit 18 stops the driving of the ventilation fan 20 according to the control signal.
[45] Next, unlike the above-described embodiment including the controller 10 having the sensor and the ventilation fan 20, the apparatus for automatically controlling the ventilation fan according to the embodiment of the present invention, which includes the at least one wireless sensor 100, the controller 200 and the ventilation fan 300, will be described. The apparatus for automatically controlling the ventilation fan according to the present embodiment is used in a place (for example, a large restaurant, a factory or the like) having an indoor space larger than that of the above-described embodiment.
[46] When a user directly connects at least one wireless sensor 100 to the electric power socket and connects the controller 200 between the electric power cord of the ventilation fan 300 and the electric power socket mounted in the indoor space, power is supplied to the at least one wireless sensor 100 and the controller 200 by the battery or the external commercial power source such that automatic ventilation control begins. In general, it is preferable that the wireless sensors 100 are mounted one by one within partitioned indoor spaces.
[47] The sensor 110 mounted in the wireless sensor 100 periodically measures the status information including smell, smoke, humidity, dust, temperature, and gas leakage of the indoor space and sends the measured data to the controller 200 through the RF signal transmitter 120.
[48] The RF signal receiver 210 of the controller 200 receives the measured data from
the wireless sensor 100 and sends the measured data to the control unit 230. The control unit 230 compares the measured data received from the wireless sensor 100 with the reference data stored in the memory 220 and generates the control signal for driving the ventilation fan 300 if the data measured by the wireless sensor 100 is greater than the reference data.
[49] The ventilation fan drive unit 240 drives the ventilation fan 300 according to the drive control signal of the ventilation fan 300 received from the control unit 230.
[50] Even while the ventilation fan 300 is driven, the wireless sensor 100 continuously measures the indoor environment and transmits the measured data to the controller 200. At this time, if the data measured by the wireless sensor 100 becomes less than the predetermined reference data, the control unit 230 of the controller 200 generates the control signal for stopping the driving of the ventilation fan 300, and the ventilation fan drive unit 240 stops the driving of the ventilation fan 300 according to the control signal. Industrial Applicability
[51] According to the present invention, since a user does not need manually operate a ventilation fan, the apparatus according to the present invention can be conveniently used and a comfortable indoor environment can be always maintained. In addition, in a place having a relatively large indoor space, such as a large restaurant or an industrial site, since at least one wireless sensor is mounted and a controller can automatically control the driving of a ventilation fan on the basis of data received from the wireless sensor, the apparatus according to the present invention can be conveniently used even in the place having the large indoor space.
[52] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope an d spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.
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