# US 2019/0376704 A1 · Damper system control module with radio controller antenna for installation

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- Number: US 2019/0376704 A1
- Document ID: US20190376704A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/006,568
- Filed: 2018-06-12
- Published: 2019-12-12
- Earliest claimed: 2018-06-12
- Assignees: Ademco Inc.
- Applicants: Ademco Inc.
- Inventors: Patrick Gonia; David J. Emmons; Nathan Carlson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190376704A1

## CPC

- F24F 11/0001: {for ventilation (F24F11/30 takes precedence)}
- F24F 11/32: Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
- F24F 11/56: Remote control
- F24F 11/74: for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
- F24F 11/88: Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
- F24F 11/58: using Internet communication
- F24F 13/10: movable, e.g. dampers
- F24F 13/1426: {characterised by actuating means}
- F24F 2013/1473: {with cams or levers}
- F24F 2110/10: Temperature
- F24F 2110/20: Humidity
- F24F 2110/50: Air quality properties
- Y02B 30/70: Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
- F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02)
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

A control module configured to control operation of a damper assembly includes an air damper configured to be disposed within an air duct and movable between an open end position and a closed end position, the air duct providing conditioned air to a register boot proximate the air duct. The control module includes a control module housing that is securable to the register boot. A controller is disposed within the control module housing and is configured to generate damper position control signals, the controller providing the damper position control signals to the damper assembly via a control cable that operably couples the control module with the damper assembly. An antenna extends from the control module housing and is operably coupled to the controller, and is configured to extend through an opening formed within a wall of the register boot to be positioned exterior to the register boot.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A control module configured to control operation of a damper assembly, the damper assembly including an air damper configured to be disposed within an air duct and movable between an open end position and a closed end position, the air duct providing conditioned air to a register boot proximate the air duct, the control module comprising:
a control module housing configured to be secured to the register boot;
a controller disposed within the control module housing and configured to generate damper position control signals, the controller providing the damper position control signals to the damper assembly via a control cable that operably couples the control module with the damper assembly; and
an antenna extending from the control module housing and operably coupled to the controller, the antenna configured to extend through an opening formed within a wall of the register boot to be positioned exterior to the register boot.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The control module of claim 1, wherein the control module housing has a curved outer surface from which the antenna extends to accommodate a curve in the wall of the register boot.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The control module of claim 1, wherein the control module housing is configured to accept a power supply cable for providing power to operate the controller.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The control module of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to receive, via the antenna, wireless communication signals from a remote building controller, and to generate the damper position control signals based at least in part upon the wireless communication signals received from the remote building controller.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The control module of claim 1, further comprising a flexible grommet that extends from the control module housing and is configured to secure the control module housing relative to the opening formed within the wall of the register boot, the antenna extending through the flexible grommet.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The control module of claim 5, wherein the flexible grommet is configured to seal against air flow around the flexible grommet and through the opening formed within the wall of the register boot.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The control module of claim 1, further comprising:
a flexible grommet that is configured to extend through and secure itself to the opening formed within the register boot; and
an anchoring plug coupled to the antenna and configured to engage the flexible grommet to secure the antenna, and thus the control module, relative to the register boot.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The control module of claim 7, wherein the control module can be pulled out of the flexible grommet and subsequently reinserted into the flexible grommet.

### Claim 9

A control module configured to control operation of a damper assembly, the damper assembly including an air damper configured to be disposed within an air duct, the control module comprising:
a control module housing configured to be secured within a register boot downstream of the air duct;
a control jack for receiving a control cable that operably couples the control module with the damper assembly;
a control circuit board disposed within the control module housing and operably coupled with the control jack, the control circuit board including:
a transceiver for receiving instructions communicated from a remote building controller; and
a processor for generating air damper movement commands in response to the received instructions, the air damper movement commands being sent to the damper assembly via the control cable that operably couples the control module with the damper assembly; and
an antenna extending from the control module housing and operably coupled to the transceiver, at least part of the antenna configured to extend through an opening formed within a wall of the register boot to be positioned exterior to the register boot.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The control module of claim 9, further comprising a power jack for receiving a power cable, the control circuit board operably coupled with the power jack.

### Claim 11

A damper system configured for installation in ductwork including a duct supplying conditioned air through a metal register boot to a register vent, the damper system comprising:
a damper assembly configured to be disposed within the duct, the damper assembly including a damper that is movable between a closed end position in which air moving through the duct is at least substantially blocked from flowing past the damper assembly and an open end position in which the air moving through the duct is permitted to flow past the damper assembly and through the metal register boot and the register vent;
a control module configured to be operably coupled to the damper assembly, the control module including a control module housing and a circuit board disposed within the control module housing that regulates operation of the damper assembly, the control module housing configured to be secured remote from the damper assembly at a position downstream of the damper assembly and upstream of the register vent; and
an antenna electrically coupled with the circuit board of the control module, at least part of the antenna configured to extend through an opening formed within a wall of the metal register boot to be positioned exterior to the metal register boot.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The damper system of claim 10, further comprising a magnet secured relative to the control module housing in order to magnetically attach the control module housing relative to the wall of the metal register boot.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The damper system of claim 10, further comprising a magnet secured relative to the antenna in order to magnetically attach the antenna to the wall of the metal register boot, wherein the magnet is arranged concentrically with the antenna.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The damper system of claim 10, wherein the antenna is sufficiently flexible to be able to bend or deflect if encountering an obstacle exterior to the metal register boot.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The damper system of claim 14, wherein the antenna comprises a wire antenna with a polymeric boot disposed over the wire antenna, the polymeric boot electrically insulating the wire antenna from at least the wall of the metal register boot.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The damper system of claim 10, further comprising a spring finger operably coupled to the circuit board and extending outwardly from the control module housing such that the spring finger grounds the circuit board to the metal register boot when the control module housing is secured to the metal register boot.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The damper system of claim 10, further comprising a resilient seal secured to an outer surface of the control module housing proximate an aperture through which the antenna extends from the control module housing, the resilient seal sealing around the antenna and spacing the control module housing from the metal register boot.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The damper system of claim 10, wherein the control module housing is secured relative to the metal register boot by extending a screw through the circuit board and into the metal register boot, thereby grounding the circuit board to the metal register boot.

### Claim 19 (depends on 10)

The damper system of claim 10, further comprising a power jack secured relative to the control module housing for accepting a power cable.

### Claim 20 (depends on 10)

The damper system of claim 10, further comprising a control wire jack secured relative to the control module housing for accepting a control wire operably coupling the circuit board to the damper assembly.