Electronically controlled vent damper

A gas oven, comprising:

• an oven cavity including an exhaust vent;
• a carbon dioxide sensor positioned in the exhaust vent and having an output representative of carbon dioxide concentration in the exhaust vent;
• a carbon monoxide sensor positioned in the exhaust vent and having an output representative of carbon monoxide concentration in the exhaust vent;
• a broil gas burner disposed proximate at top of the oven cavity;
• a bake gas burner disposed proximate a bottom of the oven cavity;
• a movable damper in fluid communication with the exhaust vent, the damper capable of being moved to restrict or enhance air flow through the exhaust vent;
• an actuator operatively secured to the movable damper for providing motion thereto;
• and
• a controller having a processor and concomitant data memory, the controller having a plurality of inputs and outputs for receiving and providing electrical signals to a plurality of electrical components of the gas oven, wherein the controller provides an output to the actuator representative of a desired damper position for a desired oven operating characteristic, and wherein the controller is further configured to, during a cycle using one of the broil gas burner and the bake gas burner, actuate the damper responsive to at least one of the output of the carbon dioxide sensor and the output of the carbon monoxide sensor.