Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an exhaust ventilation device, apparatus and method for controlling environmental parameters of a room as defined in the preambles of claims 1, 10 and 11 respectively.

Particularly, the present invention relates to an exhaust ventilation device and a coiTesponding method of operation, as well as an apparatus comprising a plurality of exhaust ventilation devices, which dynamically changes the operating threshold of the device.

Background art

Exhaust ventilation devices for controlling environmental parameters of a room are known in the art. These exhaust ventilation devices are of the type that can be mounted to a wall of a room and provide fluid communication between the interior of the room and the outside environment of the room by capturing an airflow in the room and ejecting it out of the room.

For this purpose, these exhaust ventilation devices comprise a container structure in which an exhaust ventilation member, i.e. the exhaust ventilation element proper, is located.

This exhaust ventilation member consists of an electrically powered motor fan unit having impellers, for instance of helico-centrifugal type.

These exhaust ventilation devices are usually controlled by the user for extracting air from the room and exhausting it out of it until the user stops their operation. While this operation is effective, it is not energy-efficient in certain applications.

In order to obviate this problem, the manufacturers of exhaust ventilation devices have integrated a sensor in the frame of the exhaust ventilation device, for detecting an environmental parameter such as temperature or humidity and have set a predetermined threshold value for actuation of the exhaust ventilation device. Particularly, each time that the threshold of the temperature sensor or the humidity sensor is exceeded, the exhaust ventilation device is actuated to extract air and exhaust it and stops its operation as soon as the value detected by the sensor falls below the threshold value.

While these exhaust ventilation devices are more efficient than user-controlled ones, they still suffer from certain drawbacks.

Particularly, since there is only one operating threshold, which is set at the factory or by the user during installation, this causes energy wastes or poor environmental comfort.

Thus, one may consider an exhaust ventilation device with an operating threshold set, for instance, at 21°C, with temperature being lower outside the room in which such device is placed. If the temperature sensor detects a temperature increase above 21 °C in the room, e.g. due to the heat generated by the heating system, then the exhaust ventilation device would exhaust hot air into the environment, which will involve apparent energy costs (gas/gasoil/power consumption), money costs (fuel cost) and environmental costs (pollution caused by combustion or power generation) and a consequent loss of environmental comfort for the user.

Object of the Invention

In view of the above discussed prior art, the object of the present invention is to obviate the above described problems associated with prior art exhaust ventilation devices to provide a user with the best climate comfort by creating an ideal microclimate and ensuring maximized energy savings.

This object is fulfilled by an exhaust ventilation device for controlling environmental parameters of a room as defined in the features of claim 1.

This object is also fulfilled by an exhaust ventilation apparatus for controlling environmental parameters of a building as defined by claim 10.

This object is also fulfilled by an exhaust ventilation method for controlling environmental parameters of a room as defined in claim 11.

The present invention provides an exhaust ventilation device and method for controlling environmental parameters of a room to obtain superior climate comfort and higher energy and money savings as compared with prior art exhaust ventilation devices.

Also, the present invention provides climate comfort not only in a single room but also in an entire building, to achieve energy and money savings that might not be obtained by individual prior art devices.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of one preferred embodiment, which is illustrated without limitation in the annexed drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a partially sectional perspective view of an exhaust ventilation device of the present invention;

- Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the exhaust ventilation device of Figure 1 as taken along line II-II, with such device mounted to a wall of a room, according to the present invention;

- Figure 3 shows a map of a building in which ventilation devices of the present invention are arranged.

DETALIED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the term microclimate is intended to designate those environmental parameters that affect heat exchange between a user and the environment in confined spaces of a room and provide the so-called thermal comfort, i.e. full satisfaction of the user with respect to the environment.

As used herein, the term environmental parameters is intended to designate individual or combined parameters of air temperature, forced- ventilation wet temperature, natural-ventilation wet temperature, relative humidity and air or ventilation speed, presence of polluting VOCs.

As used herein, the term room is intended to designate a room or space of an apartment for residential use, or a public space, such as a public concern (a bar, a restaurant, etc.) or for industrial use.

As used herein, the term building is intended to designate a structure having more rooms as defined above.

As used herein, the term portable electronic device is intended to designate an electronic apparatus that can be held and canied by a hand of a user, such as a smart phone, a tablet, a notepad, a notebook, a radio control or similar electronic apparatus.

Referring to the accompanying figures, numeral 1 designates an exhaust ventilation device for controlling environmental parameters of a room 2.

The exhaust ventilation device 1 is of the type that can be mounted to a wall 3 of the room, such as a perimeter wall or the ceiling of the room, for providing fluid communication between the interior INT of the room 2 and the outside environment EXT of the room 2 by capturing an airflow in said room and ejecting it out of it.

This exhaust ventilation device 1 comprises an exhaust ventilation member 4 and a container structure 5 (i.e. the frame of the device 1) in which the exhaust ventilation member is located.

The exhaust ventilation member 4 consists of an electrically powered motor fan unit, possibly of reversible type, having an impeller, for instance of helico-centrifugal type.

For example, the exhaust ventilation member 4 may be enclosed in a cylinder 5 A formed of one piece with the container stricture 5, and adapted to be entirely held within the thickness of the wall 3 for fluid communication between the interior INT of the room 2 and the outside environment EXT of this room 2.

The container structure 5 of the exhaust ventilation device 1 is made, for instance, of a plastic material of ABS type.

The exhaust ventilation device 1 is characterized by comprising a plurality of sensors 6, each monitoring a physical quantity of air in the room 2.

This plurality of sensors 6 are preferably arranged within the container structure 5 of the exhaust ventilation device 1.

The sensors 5 may be designed to be partially installed remote from the exhaust ventilation device 1. For example, part of these sensors may be installed in a frame of a kitchen hood.

Such installation type is described in patent document MI2013A000689 by the applicant hereof and is entirely incorporated herein.

It shall be noted that the plurality of sensors 6 are selected from the group comprising one or more temperature sensors, a humidity sensor, a pressure sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, an infrared sensor, a VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) sensor, that can detect various carbon compounds (including hydrocarbons).

Preferably, at least two sensors 6 are implemented in the exhaust ventilation device 1 of the present invention, such as the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor, but in other embodiments, three, four or more sensors 6 may be implemented.

The exhaust ventilation device 1 comprises at least one microprocessor 7 disposed within the container structure 5 of the exhaust ventilation device 1.

It shall be noted that the plurality of sensors 6 are operably connected with the microprocessor 7, according to methods laiown in the art, which will not be disclosed herein.

Particularly, in addition to performing normal command, control and communication tasks for the exhaust ventilation device 1, the microprocessor 7 is also designed to define an operating threshold of the exhaust ventilation member 4 according to a program code which is configured to combined the values detected by such plurality of sensors 6.

Advantageously, the value of the operating or actuation threshold of the exhaust ventilation member 4 is dynamically adjusted by the microprocessor 7 as the combination of values detected by said plurality of sensors 6 changes.

Particularly, the microprocessor 7 receives signals from two or more sensors 6 implemented in the exhaust ventilation device 1 , which are appropriately combined by the program code, to identify the appropriate threshold value.

In other words, the operating threshold of the exhaust ventilation device 1 has no constant value and changes according to the combination of the changing readings of the values read by the sensors 6.

It shall be noted that according to the combined signals received from the plurality of sensors 6, the program code defines the value of the operating threshold, which represents the minimum threshold value at which the exhaust ventilation member 4 is actuated.

This minimum threshold value is preferably defined when the exhaust ventilation member 4 is off. This allows the actuation of the ventilation member 4 to be adapted to the particular position of the room 2. This is due to the assumption that, once the exhaust ventilation device 1 has been installed in a room 2, "slow" changes occur in the data detected by the sensors 6, which changes may be indicative of the particular type of installation.

The term "slow" is intended to relate to physical parameters whose values exhibit moderate changes with time.

For example, the particular type of installation may consist in a geographic location, with a distinction between warm or cold climates, or changing seasons and/or the presence of other air conditioning/control devices.

It shall be noted that these "slow" changes in the data detected by the sensors 6, which are appropriately combined by the program code implemented in the microprocessor 7 change the minimum threshold signal that has been set.

For example, the threshold value that has been set by the combined values read by the various implemented sensors 6 might require the exhaust ventilation member 4 to operate at a minimum exhaust ventilation speed.

If a later reading of the data detected by the sensors 6, after a predetermined interval of time, shows that the values read by the sensors have further deviated from the threshold, then a new operating threshold value may be set, such that an appropriate exhaust ventilation speed of the exhaust ventilation member 4 may be set.

When the exhaust ventilation device 1 is actuated, for example, in response to a "fast" change of the data detected by the plurality of sensors 6 (e.g. food cooking fumes, cigarette smoke and/or abrupt temperature changes, etc.) with the operating threshold being suddenly exceeded, then such threshold value is "frozen" to the last set threshold value.

The term "fast" is intended to relate to physical parameters whose values exhibit considerable changes with time.

This condition lasts until the combination of values detected by the sensors 6 becomes equal to or lower than the last set minimum threshold value, i.e. when air extraction is no longer needed in the room 2.

Then, a new data detection may be started by the sensors 6 to deteimine a new minimum threshold value.

For this purpose, the microprocessor 7 comprises:

- sampling means for sampling the signals detected by the plurality of sensors 6, each representing its own physical quantity, to generate sampled data and

- processing means for processing such sampled data by the above mentioned program code.

Particularly, the sampling means in the microprocessor 7 are configured to sample the signals detected during a predetermined sampling time interval, such that the microprocessor 7 can change the value of the operating threshold of the exhaust ventilation member 4 once that such time interval has elapsed.

For this purpose, the microprocessor 7 comprises a memory which stores reference data for each detected physical quantity and such processing means are configured to process the sampled data according to such stored data.

It shall be noted that the program code is also stored in the memory of the microprocessor 7.

In other words, in one aspect the present invention includes the step of sampling the signals generated by each sensor of the plurality of sensors 6 implemented in the exhaust ventilation device 1 for a predetermined sufficient sampling time interval and, according to the sampling results, defining the value of the operating threshold of the exhaust ventilation member 4.

Particularly this may be achieved using the program code, which is configured to combine the sampled values such that the value of the operating threshold may be adjusted as the combination of values detected by the plurality of sensors 6 changes.

It shall be noted that the time interval ranges, for example, from 5 minutes to 12 hours.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, at least one printed- circuit board 8 is provided, having the plurality of sensors 6 and the microprocessor operably arranged thereon.

This printed-circuit board 8 is housed within a container structure 6 and particularly such container structure 5 is designed to comprise a portion 5B that, during use, faces the interior INT of the room 2, and forms a clearance 13 between the portion 5B and the wall 3.

Particularly, this portion 5B extends in a direction transverse, preferably parallel to the direction of extension of the wall 3 of the room 2. This portion 5B defines a first surface 5B', which is opposed to a second surface 5B", with the first surface 5B' being exposed to the view of a user and the second surface 5B" being hidden from the view of such user.

The printed-circuit board 8 is advantageously associated with the second surface 5B", such that the airflow may impinge thereupon during operation of the exhaust ventilation member 4, and the physical quantities being analyzed may be more accurately detected.

In one embodiment, the exhaust ventilation device 1 is designed to comprise a temperature sensor 9 which is located outside EXT the room 2.

This sensor 9 is in signal communication with the microprocessor 7, in wired or wireless mode.

Advantageously, the microprocessor 7 defines the operating conditions of the exhaust ventilation member 4 also according to the values detected by the temperature sensor 9 to thereby determine a threshold value that is even more accurate for climate comfort.

In one embodiment, the exhaust ventilation device 1 comprises one or more wireless transmit/receive modules 12, which may be based on the IEEE 802.11 standard, i.e. Wi-Fi transmit/receive modules or Zigbee modules.

Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown a building 10 composed of a plurality of rooms 2 which may have the exhaust ventilation device 1 mounted to a wall or ceiling 3 thereof.

These exhaust ventilation devices 1 are in signal communication with one another, i.e. networked, through the wireless transmit/receive module 12.

In one aspect of the present invention, each of the exhaust ventilation devices 1 may be controlled by a portable electronic device 11 comprising: - a wireless transmit/receive module compatible with the wireless transmit/receive module 12 and

- a memory that stores a program code.

The program code of the portable electronic device 11 is operably configured to establish signal communication between the portable electronic device 11 and each of the exhaust ventilation devices 1.

Particularly, this program code is configured to:

- acquire the signals detected by the plurality of sensors 6 from each of the exhaust ventilation devices 1 and

- defining, for one or more of said microprocessors 7 of the exhaust ventilation devices 1, an operating threshold value of the ventilation member 4 that may be dynamically adjusted in response to the changes in the values of the signals detected after an interval of time.

Preferably, the program code stored in the memory of the portable electronic device 11 is written in C++/Java or Objective-C.

Those skilled in the art will obviously appreciate that a number of changes and variants may be made to the exhaust ventilation device and method for controlling environmental parameters of a room according to the invention as described hereinbefore to meet specific needs, without departure from the scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims.