# US 2021/0278101 A1 · Apparatus and methods for controlling a ventilation mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0278101 A1 - Document ID: US20210278101A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/322,990 - Filed: 2021-05-18 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2014-05-28 - Assignees: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. - Applicants: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. - Inventors: Michael OSTROVSKY; Marc GALLO; Paul SOCCOLI; Alfred LOMBARDI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210278101A1 ## CPC - F24F 11/65: for selecting an operating mode - F24F 11/0001: {for ventilation (F24F11/30 takes precedence)} - F24F 11/0008: {for air-humidification (F24F11/30 takes precedence)} - F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring - F24F 11/61: using timers - F24F 11/62: characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values - F24F 2110/20: Humidity - F24F 2221/17: mounted in a wall - 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 The present disclosure generally provides controls, apparatus, systems and methods for controlling a ventilation mechanism to efficiently manage the relative humidity of an area. The controls, apparatus, systems and methods utilize sensed relative humidity information and one or more inputs to provide for efficient automatic and/or manual control a ventilation mechanism in response to high humidity events within the area. The controls, apparatus, systems and methods provided herein efficiently automatically activate a ventilation mechanism through the use of sensed relative humidity information and user input. The controls, apparatus, systems and methods provided herein efficiently automatically deactivate a ventilation mechanism through the use of sensed relative humidity information and user input. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control device for a ventilation mechanism, the control device comprising: a plurality of user selectable input settings; a plurality of different user selectable operational modes; a wireless interface configured to receive wireless communications from a wireless device; an atmospheric sensor; and a controllably conductive switch in electrical connection with the ventilation mechanism, wherein the plurality of user selectable input settings are operable to provide a respective plurality of inputs, and wherein the plurality of input settings allow the user of the wireless device to configure the control device to alter operation of the ventilation mechanism according to one of the differing user selectable operational modes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control device is operable to receive a sensed humidity level from the atmospheric sensor and selectively control the controllably conductive switch to alter operation of the ventilation mechanism according to each of the differing user selectable operational modes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The control device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of user selectable input settings include a first user selectable input setting operable to provide a first input, a second user selectable input setting operable to provide a second input, and a third user selectable input setting operable to provide a third input. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The control device of claim 3, wherein a first user selectable input setting of the plurality of user selectable input settings comprises a time setting, a second user selectable input setting of the plurality of user selectable input settings comprises a humidity setting, and a third user selectable input setting of the plurality of user selectable input settings comprises a humidity sensitivity setting. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The control device of claim 4, wherein: the time setting is user selectable as between a plurality of available time value settings; the humidity setting includes an off setting, a cycle setting, and a humidity value setting; and the humidity sensitivity setting includes an off setting, a low humidity sensitivity value setting, a medium humidity sensitivity value setting, and a high humidity sensitivity value setting. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The control device of claim 5, wherein the differing user selectable operational modes include a first user selectable operational mode when the humidity setting is a humidity value setting and the sensitivity setting is a setting other than the off setting, and wherein the control device is configured in the first user selectable operational mode to turn off the ventilation mechanism, after it was turned on at an activation time, based on: a) a period of time extending from the activation time corresponds to the time setting; b) the sensed humidity level is less than a first threshold humidity level; and c) the sensed humidity level is either: i) less than a second threshold humidity level that is different from the first threshold humidity level; or ii) between the first threshold humidity level and the second threshold humidity level. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The control device of claim 6, wherein the first threshold humidity level has a predetermined relationship to a sensed humidity level that is sensed before the activation time and a maximum sensed humidity level that is sensed after the activation time. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The control device of claim 6, wherein the second threshold humidity level has a predetermined relationship to a sensed humidity level that is sensed before the activation time or a maximum sensed humidity level that is sensed after the activation time. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The control device of claim 6, wherein the control device is configured in the first user-selected operational mode to turn off the ventilation mechanism, after it was turned on at an activation time, based on the sensed humidity level being between the first threshold humidity level and the second threshold humidity level after lapse of an amount of time that starts from the activation time and is equal to a predetermined period of time plus the time setting. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The control device of claim 6, wherein the control device is further configured in the first user selectable operational mode to turn on the ventilation mechanism based on the humidity sensitivity setting and the sensed humidity level. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The control device of claim 10, wherein the control device further comprises a manual command mechanism, and wherein the control device is further configured to, upon activation of the manual command mechanism, turn on the ventilation mechanism for a time corresponding to the time setting or to turn off the ventilation mechanism for a time corresponding to the time setting, and thereafter return operation of the ventilation mechanism according to the to the first user selectable operational mode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The control device of claim 5, wherein the control device is operable in a mode of operation to dynamically set the humidity sensitivity setting regarding a rate of change of humidity, and operable in a mode of operation to automatically turn on the ventilation mechanism based on the dynamically set humidity sensitivity level. ### Claim 13 A method for automatically turning off a ventilation mechanism that was turned on at an activation time to manage humidity in an area, the method comprising: receiving humidity information sensed in the area; receiving run time input; and utilizing the humidity information and the run time input to automatically turn off the ventilation mechanism based on: a) lapse of the run time input after the activation time; b) a sensed humidity level in the area being less than a first threshold humidity level; and c) the sensed humidity level being either: i) less than a second threshold humidity level different from the first threshold humidity level; or ii) between the first threshold humidity level and a second threshold humidity level. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the first threshold humidity level has a predetermined relationship to a humidity level sensed in the area before the activation time and a maximum humidity level sensed in the area after the activation time. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the second threshold humidity level has a predetermined relationship to a sensed humidity level in the area before the activation time or a maximum humidity level in the area after the activation time. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising turning off the ventilation mechanism, after it was turned on at an activation time, based on the sensed humidity level being between the first threshold humidity level and the second threshold humidity level after lapse of an amount of time that stars from the activation time and is equal to a predetermined period of time plus the run time input. ### Claim 17 A control device for a ventilation mechanism, the control device comprising: a plurality of different user selectable input settings each operable to provide a respective input; a wireless interface configured to receive wireless communications from a wireless device; an atmospheric sensor; and a controllably conductive switch in electrical connection with the ventilation mechanism, wherein the plurality of user selectable input settings allow the user of the wireless device to configure the control device to control operation of the ventilation mechanism according to a user selectable operational mode, and wherein the control device is configured, in the user selectable operational mode, to perform: turning on the ventilation mechanism at an activation time based on sensing that a humidity level is equal to or greater than an activation humidity level; and based on the ventilation mechanism remaining turned on for a time setting of the plurality of different user selectable input settings: triggering commencement of a preconfigured amount of time; and automatically turning off the ventilation mechanism at a turn off time that is upon or before lapse of the preconfigured amount of time regardless whether the humidity level reaches, during the preconfigured amount of time, a threshold humidity level at which the control device is configured to turn off the ventilation mechanism, the turn off time being dependent on whether the humidity level reaches the threshold humidity level during the preconfigured amount of time. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The control device of claim 17, wherein the threshold humidity level is a second threshold humidity level, and wherein the triggering occurs when the humidity level drops to, or below, a first threshold humidity level that is greater than the second threshold humidity level. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The control device of claim 18, wherein based on the humidity level remaining higher than the second threshold humidity level during the preconfigured amount of time and until lapse after commencement thereof, the automatically turning off automatically turns off the ventilation mechanism upon lapse of the preconfigured amount of time after commencement thereof. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The control device of claim 18, wherein based on the humidity level dropping to the second threshold humidity level during the preconfigured amount of time prior to lapse thereof, the automatically turning off automatically turns off the ventilation mechanism when the humidity level drops to, or below, the second threshold humidity level.