US20080009237A1

US20080009237A1 - Air vent cover controller & method

Info

Publication number: US20080009237A1
Application number: US11/668,362
Authority: US
Inventors: Mouxiong Wu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-07-05
Filing date: 2007-01-29
Publication date: 2008-01-10

Abstract

An air vent control system. The system has a top plate with a number of vent openings. The vent openings allow ventilated air to exit from an air duct port. An air flow control system which has a first control element arranged with the top plate. The first control element has a user interface which allows the user to operate the controller to regulate air flow out of the air duct port.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 60/806,563 filed Jul. 5, 2006 and U.S. Ser. No. 60/863,938, filed Nov. 1, 2006.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,014,124 discloses an automated airflow system and method, wherein an automated register is coupled to at least one sensor for providing data associated with the structure. The register is configured to automatically provide airflow into the structure in response to the sensor data. As seen in column 2 around line 3, in the Summary section, “an automated register is configured to receive temperature data from at least one temperature sensor and at least one zone and to control the flow of conditioned air into at least one zone in response to the temperature data. The base station in communication with the automated register is adapted to be coupled to an airflow source for providing the conditioned air.”
U.S. Pat. No. 6,945,866 discloses a method and apparatus for delivering conditioned air using pulse modulation, where the method uses short duty cycles during which a damper is fully open for a time and fully closed for the remaining time. As seen in the Summary of the Invention section in column 3 around line 40, “dampers are uniquely constructed to maintain the space at a set point temperature by opening during part of each relatively short duty cycle and closing during the remainder of the cycle. Duty cycles occur intentionally faster than any temperature changes that the thermal sensor can detect.”
US 2004/0209566 discloses a multiple mode damper actuator, for a ventilation damper which serves as both a control device and a fire and smoke rated device. In the Summary of the Invention section in paragraph [0010], “the subject invention . . . [provides] a damper system that incorporates both modulating control and fire and smoke control. [A] duel mode actuator for a damper that disengages modulating control circuitry when a detected temperature exceeds a threshold, and engages a simpler temperature resilient control circuitry for the actuator that moves the damper.”
U.S. Pat. No. 6,692,349 discloses a computer-controlled air vent which, as seen in the Summary of the Invention section in column 2 around line 66, “includes a top plate, a base connected to the top plate, a component housing connected to the top plate and to the base, a plurality of louvers rotatably positioned within the base, a forced generating means connected to the louvers to rotate them between open and closed position, temperature sensor to sense an indoor temperature, a computer processor, memory, wireless transceiver, a bus to connect the processor, wireless transceiver, and memory, and a remote control device to control the opening and closing of louvers.”
U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,677 discloses a vent control system, which controls the opening and closing of vents within a structure. As seen in column 4 around line 33 in the Summary of the Invention section, “the present invention relates generally to vents and more specifically to heating and cooling vents able to be both opened and closed from a central location, thereby controlling the flow of heat and cool to a specific area of the structure and reducing the heating and cooling cost of the structure.” Further down at line 41, “the present invention is to provide a vent control system which is able to be electronically operated from a single main control panel open and close a vent cover. A further object of the present invention is to provide a vent control system wherein the main control panel includes buttons located thereon for controlling respective vents of the system.”
U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,545 discloses a climate control system, that allows independent heating and cooling control of the different rooms in a building by independently controlling the flow of heating fluid in each room in response to a thermostat provided in each individual room. In the Summary of the Invention section around line 32, “in the present invention, the output of the thermostat controls the operation of a three-way valve upstream of a radiator or convector in each room. When the room temperature is at or above the set point for that room during a heating cycle, the valve operates to divert all heating fluid flow through a bypass pipe or shunt extending from the valve to the outlet of the radiator or convector.”
U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,319 discloses dwelling heating and air-conditioning system, which is a retrofitted heating and air-conditioning system for a single-family dwelling, including a heater and air-conditioning furnace system connected to individual zones of the building by a series of output ducts. In the Brief Summary of the Invention section in column 2 around line 41, “[The] present invention . . . includes a heater and air-conditioning furnace system, a series of output ducts extending from the furnace to individual rooms or zones of the dwelling, controllable output register units at each duct opening into a zone, thermostats for each individual zone, and a central controller for controlling the furnace system and the individual zone registers. The system preferably also includes a master controller for selecting temperature conditions for each zone and for sending signals to a central controller.”
U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,966 discloses a powered damper having automatic static duct pressure relief, where as seen in the Disclosure of the Invention section in column 2 around line 14, “according to the present invention a damper controlling the flow of conditioned air supplied through a supply duct to a conditioned space is provided. The damper includes a support housing which defines a flow passage which communicates the supply duct with the conditioned. A plurality of damper plates are mounted within the support housing for pivotal movement about respective spaced apart parallel axis. A blade interconnects the damper plates in a ganged relation so that a common pivoted orientation of the damper blades is determined by the position of the blade link . . . means are provided for selectively exerting a force on the blade link which will either move the link toward the second position to increase the flow of air through the damper or for exerting a force on the blade link to move the link toward the first position to decrease the flow of air through the damper.”
U.S. Pat. No. 3,640,455 discloses an air temperature control system, where as seen in column 1 around line 45, “the present invention there is provided an air temperature control system for individually controlling air temperature in each of a plurality of rooms, which is connected to a mouth of an air duct providing a supply of air at a controlled temperature into each of these rooms respectively, exceeds a first pre-selected temperature level and a second signal when the air temperature drops to the first and second signals to selectively open and close the vents, thereby controlling the flow of the temperature controlled air supply through the ducts into the rooms respectively for maintaining the air temperature in each of the rooms in the range between the first and second temperature levels.”

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of the system components;

FIG. 1A is a schematic plan view of and alternative embodiment of the system;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the user interface;

FIG. 2A is a flow chart of one embodiment of the control application;

FIG. 2B is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the user interface;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the user interface;

FIG. 3A is a flow chart of one embodiment of the control application;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the unit casing;

FIG. 4A is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the top plate and user interface arrangement;

FIG. 4B is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the top plate and user interface arrangement;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the louver system;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the controller, motor and sensors.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Generally speaking, a single unit is provided in the current embodiment to replace a pre-existing vent cover. The single unit consists of one or more vent openings which can be operated by a controller to open and close at different times during the course of for example a 24-hour day. Located at the midpoint of the unit is a casing middle section which holds the controlling unit. The controller tracks the time of the day, the day of the week, and is programmable to control various settings of the one or more openings of the vent unit for different periods of the 24-hour day and seven-day week.
In an alternative embodiment, there is a central controller having a program which can be used to set and download to the local controller, various settings for individual units. The central controller with the main program is connected to the individual units either through a LAN connection or through a wireless type connection. In this embodiment, an LCD interface is not required for the individual units, and the interface LCD unit being placed only on the main controller.
In the current embodiment, and referring to FIG. 1, an operational control schematic with various components is shown for the programmable heating and cooling vent cover unit 10. At the center of the schematic is located a controlling unit 12, which may be provided as a microcontroller unit (MCU), a programmable logic device (PLD), or other digital logic controlling device which enables a user to send and receive digital and analog signals for operating and interfacing with the various hardware. Generally speaking, the user interface can take the form of a liquid crystal display or LCD, keypad, various switches and dials, control knob, or a capacitive touch sensor which acts as the user interface panel.
The MCU 12, in this particular embodiment, stores the user-defined vent close/open settings. The MCU 12, utilizes a ROM, in this particular embodiment, an EEPROM, which holds the control logic embodied in various microcontroller applications or control applications, which will be discussed below.
A description of one embodiment of the present system will now be provided. The micro controlling unit has an internal clock, which tracks the time of day, as well as the day of the week to provide for actuation of the motor 14 operating the vents as will be discussed below. Referring to FIG. 1A, either through the use of the clock component 216 maintained within the control application as a control object 214, or the other control objects 214 such as the input component 226 or the manual component 228, signals are sent to initiate various settings to control the motor 14 as seen in FIG. 1. As seen in FIG. 2, five vent settings in the vent opening setting fields 400 are operable including: a full closed setting 402, a ¼ open setting 404, a ½ open setting 406, a ¾ open setting 408, and a 100% open setting 410.
While the present embodiment utilizes a 25% change in vent opening settings, the overall concept is not limited to such a particular percentage variation. For example, referring to FIG. 2B, the event opening settings 400 can include a full closed setting 420, a ½ open setting 422 and a full open setting 424. Furthermore, the indications for open, closed, and variations in between are represented by various graphical symbols such as a bar, shaded, half shaded, or fully shaded oval or circle, as well as textual indications displayed on an LCD screen or on the previously mentioned touch screen.
Lastly, referring to FIG. 3, in regard to the vent settings 400, a simple open time setting 430 and a close time setting 432 are provided for initializing the open and close events.
The settings themselves are maintained within the digital logic language programming maintained in the ROM of the microcontroller, and in one form are software components for control objects as seen in FIG. 1A, and as initialized in flow charts as seen in FIGS. 2A and 3A.
The time component 218 maintains the various vent open/close settings. During the execution of an open/close time event component 302, or during the execution of an automatic setting component 322 as seen in FIG. 3A, the control application 212 will signal the motor to operate the gears and/or the vents for various periods of rotation or until a break event occurs.
Referring to the first embodiment (FIG. 1) and discussing in detail the hardware of the present embodiment, the controlling unit 12 also holds the LCD driver circuit 20 which interfaces with the liquid crystal display component 22. The unit 10 is driven by a power source which can be external or internal. The internal power source is configured as batteries 24. Furthermore, the controlling unit 12 interfaces with a digital to analog converter to drive the motor driver controller 26. The power supply interfaces with a power management circuit 28 which regulates the power for the controlling unit 12.
In a first embodiment, the user interface is an LCD display unit 22 as previously mentioned in FIG. 1. In a first embodiment of the LCD display, as seen in FIG. 2, there is a day of the week interface 30. This day of the week user interface 30 consists of a plurality of buttons which allow the user to preset the vent close/open setting at different times of the day and at different days of the week. Three operational modes in this particular day of the week interface display 30 include: an auto operational mode 32, a setting operational mode 34, and an off operational mode 36.
In the off operational mode 36, the unit is completely turned off and the gear connected to the motor 14 (FIG. 1) as discussed below, will stay at the position set prior to the unit being switched to the off operational mode 36.
In the setting operational mode 34, the user can control the gear or vent 100 (FIG. 4), to be discussed below, by a simple operation of an open incremental setting button 38, and/or the close incremental setting button 40 to the desired opening parameters of the vents 100.
In the auto operational mode 32, the stored vent settings 400 saved in the control application 212 will take control. A detailed discussion of this setting will now take place. For every day of the week, the user can set up to five event settings 426. In an alternative embodiment, as seen in FIG. 2B, while only one 24-hour period during the current time clock, the user can set up to four event settings 426 during this 24-hour period.
For the user interface, as seen in FIG. 2, these event settings include a full close setting, a ¼ close setting, a ½ close setting, a ¾ close setting, and a full open setting. The settings can be adjusted and programmed for five specific periods of the day from minute No. 00:01 of a 24-hour clock, to minute No. 23:59 of the 24-hour clock.
During the setting operational mode 34, the user can set the system into a programming mode by pushing the programming button 42, on the front of the panel 44 located below the day of the week LCD interface 30. To change the previously set settings, the user can utilize the directional buttons 46, which include a scroll up button 48, a scroll down button 50, a scroll right button 52, and a scroll left button 54.
The user will use the above-mentioned directional buttons to scroll between the various selectable areas. The currently selected area or in other words (the hot area or the highlighted area) can be chosen. The highlighted area would be defined as any of the user interface settings that can be accessed and changed by the user. Once the user moves to the desired highlighted area, the user can use the close increment setting button 40, or the open increment setting button 38 to change the desired setting. To save the change and exit the program, the user simply pushes the program button 42 once again.
An operational process will now be discussed utilizing a control application 212, as seen in FIG. 2A, for either the user interface day of the week 30, as seen in FIG. 2, or the second embodiment, the single 24-hour multifunction user interface 450, as seen in FIG. 2B.
After accessing the control application 212 through the user interface, the user can set the current time component at step 310. This includes various sub steps such as holding the time button down for one second at step 312, then selecting the hours or minutes at step 316 for changing the hour and minute clock, then pressing the time button again at step 320 to save and exit.
The user can set the automatic settings at step 322 by, for example, holding down the program button 42, as seen in FIG. 2, and performed at step turn 24 for one second, then selecting either hours or minutes by utilizing the right scroll arrow button 54 or the left scroll arrow button 52 at step 326, depending on the particular time element chosen (hours or minutes), user can change the value at step 328 by utilizing the up increment setting button 40 or the down increment setting button 38. To scroll between various events settings for 26, the user can choose a next setting at step 330 by utilizing the up scroll button 48 or the down scroll button 50. Once the desired settings are entered, the user can save and exit at step 322 by holding the program button 42 for one second.
The user can manually control the vent by utilizing the manual open or close component at step 324. This includes in one form utilizing the close increment setting button 40 and the open increment setting button 38 to fix the position of the vent opening at step 336 and then if the user desires to maintain this particular fixed position, the user can turn the system off at step 338.
In the third embodiment of the control system (referring to FIG. 3), a 24-hour clock LCD interface 60 is provided. The user controls are provided on a control panel 61 which in this particular embodiment is arranged along the bottom portion of the LCD interface 60, and the right hand portion of the LCD interface. Only two event settings are available, an open event time component 64 and a close event time component 66.
Similar to the first embodiment above, the third embodiment has an auto operational mode 70, a manual operational mode 68, and an off operational mode 66. The user can choose the manual operational mode 68 and utilize an open vent button 72 and a close vent button 74. Optionally, the open and close buttons can incrementally open and close the vent 100 as seen in FIG. 4, and as previously mentioned, either by a full close setting, a ¼ close setting, and ½ close setting, a ¾ close setting, and a full open setting.
The interface 60 includes a current time clock field 62, a vent open time field 64, and a vent close time field 66. In an optional mode for each of the various time settings, incremental setting buttons are provided for the hour and minutes. The hour buttons 76 and the minute buttons 78 both have an incremental up interface button 80 and an incremental down interface button 82.
A discussion of the operational process utilizing the control application 212 as seen in FIG. 3A will now be provided as it relates to the use of the 24-hour clock user interface 60 as seen in FIG. 3.
The user can enter into an editing mode to set the current time component at step 300 by moving the switch to the setting position 67 and then using the incremental up button 80 and the incremental down button 82 to set the current hour and minute as well as am/pm time settings.
Additionally, the user can set the vent open time component 64 by initiating the open/close time event component step 302. In order to do so, the user can move the switch to the setting/edit mode 67 position and use the arrow key to set when the user wants the vent to open.
Similarly, the user can access the vent close time component 66 through the same open/close time event component step 302 and using the arrow keys adjacent to the vent close time component 66, set the desired close time.
To begin the automatic control, the user can initiate a start automatic control component at step 304 by in one form moving the switch 68 to the “on” setting 70. The user can temporarily control the unit as seen in the manual open/close component step 306 by, in one form, using the open button 72 and the close button 74 to override any automatic control settings and turn the vent into an open position or a close position.
If the user wishes to maintain the vent in an open or closed position permanently, the user can initiate an always open/close setting component at step 308. This setting in one form requires the user to move the button 68 to the off position 66.
While the 24-hour clock interface 60 utilizes an LCD display as well as push buttons and sliding switches, a capacitive touch sensor user face can replace these analog controls with digital controls
Referring to FIG. 1A, in an additional alternative embodiment, an airflow control system 200 utilizes the microcontroller unit 12 as previously discussed, which receives power 22 from the power management circuit 28. The microcontroller unit 12 interoperates by sending and receiving signals to a series of control elements 210. These control elements which include hardware components such as a motor 230, a clock 232, a flow monitor 234, a temperature monitor 236, a moisture monitor 238, a filter 240, and user interfaces 242. As previously mentioned, the user interface can include a liquid crystal display device, or in the alternative a manual on/off switch, a knob control, slide actuation controllers, keypads, or connection with remote clients/computers.
The microcontroller unit 12 maintains a memory and resident in the memory is a control application 212 can initialize various control objects 214. These control objects include a clock component 216, a time component 218, an airflow component 220, a temperature component 222, a moisture component 224, an input component 226, and a manual component 228. The time component 218 stores the hour and minutes, days, and week of the various user defined events for regulation of the airflow. The airflow component 220 correlates these events with the amount of discharge area that the vent is set for. The temperature component 222 maintains, stores, and compares the air temperature immediately exiting the air duct with the preset temperature settings the user desires exiting the duct. The moisture component 224 maintains, monitors, and compares the humidity setting in the air to the user's desired humidity levels. The input component 226 maintains the user defined data. The manual component 228 enables the user to digitally turn the application on and off.
Referring to FIG. 4, a discussion of the unit casing and mechanical operation will now be provided. In this present embodiment, the entire unit is powered with batteries stored in a battery compartment 120. In the alternative, an external energy source may be wired in place of the batteries and battery compartment 120. A gearbox 122 holds the gear mechanism which is used to control the opening and closing of the vents 100.
In replacement of a standard vent cover, a top cover 124 is provided which enables the user to have access to the LCD and controller panel 126 through the use of an LCD panel cover 128. The air vents 130 are placed on either side of the vent LCD panel cover 128. The surface area, which is maintained by the LCD panel cover 128, is approximately one quarter of the entire surface area provided by the top cover 124.
While the LCD controller panel 126 in this particular embodiment is maintained within the top cover 124 of the air vent, and maintained within the general path of the airflow exiting the air vent port, other embodiments provided herein, as seen in FIGS. 4A and 4B position the controller panel 126 outside of the drug flow of the air exiting the air vent port, thus reducing or minimizing the obstruction of the airflow exiting the air vent port but also maintaining the controller adjacent to the outer edge of the air vent port and connected to the top cover 124.
Referring to FIG. 4A, a side controller arrangement 500 is shown where the top cover 124 is positioned above the air vent port and the air vents 130 within the top cover 124 are free from obstruction by the user interface or controller panel 126 which is maintained along one of the longitudinal end edges 502.
Referring to FIG. 4B, a bottom controller arrangement 510 is shown where the top cover 124 is positioned above the air vent port and the top cover vents 100 are free from obstruction of the controller panel 126 which is maintained along one of the transverse end edges 512.
While the embodiments discussed herein and described below with regard to the mechanical operation of the air vent cover regulate the airflow through either a sliding louvered two-piece system 150 as seen in FIG. 5, or a pivoting axial vent arrangement 100 as seen in FIG. 4, other designs include control of the air vent within the top cover 124 through a pivoting air vent system as well as maintaining a sliding louvered two-piece system at the top wall.
Furthermore, the current embodiment as seen in FIG. 4 as previously mentioned is approximately one quarter of the entire surface area provided by the top cover 124. While the present embodiment is approximately 25% of the entire surface area of the top cover, it is conceived that the controller panel 126 as well as the LCD panel cover 128 may have surface areas which are as small as 0% maintained within the top cover to as great as nearly 100% of the top cover 124.
Thus air flow is minimally impacted by the insertion of the LCD controller 126 and the unit itself. In one embodiment, the battery cover and battery compartment are placed so that the batteries can be accessed from the top cover 124. In a second alternative embodiment, the battery cover is located along the sidewall 136 of the unit casing 140. The unit casing 140 or main box 140 has a rectilinear configuration which matches the standard rectilinear configuration of the vent and ductwork which is standard in the industry.
Where the bottom wall would normally be to close off the main box 140, gear vents 100 are placed to enable the opening and closing of the bottom wall surface 142 to allow the opening and closing of the unit through the actuation of the gear system and the gear box 122.
In an alternative embodiment to the vents (as shown in FIG. 4), the vent system (as seen in FIG. 5) includes a sliding louver two-piece system 150. This two-piece louver system 150 includes a static frame section 152 and a dynamic moving section 154. The static frame section is permanently attached to the sidewalls 140 of the main box where the bottom wall would be located. A plurality of vent openings 156 are defined by horizontal walls 158 spaced longitudinally at regular intervals. Two gear mechanisms 160 with radially aligned teeth extend a slight vertical distance outwards from the gearbox 162 and provide for mechanization of the dynamic moving section 154.
In this particular embodiment, the gear mechanisms 160 will mate with horizontally aligned downwardly projecting vertical teeth 162 on the bottom face of the dynamic section 154. The dynamic section 154 will be able to move in the longitudinal direction 164 enabling the dynamic section walls 166 to be aligned with the horizontal walls 158 of the static section 152 while also providing for alignment of the dynamic section openings 168 with the static vent openings 156 to provide for air flow.
The dynamic section 154 can be moved incrementally by the radially aligned teeth of the gears 160 to the previously mentioned ¼ close setting, ½ close setting, ¾ close setting, full close setting, or full open setting. During the full close setting, the gears 160 move the dynamic section 154 to align the dynamic section walls 166 with the static section openings 156 to close off the air flow from the vent.
Referring to FIG. 6, a discussion will now be provided of one embodiment of the controller 12 operating the motor 14 which acts to move the vent opening to the desired position based on the control settings.
Power to the system is sent from the battery current lines 264 to the controller which, as previously discussed and seen in FIG. 1, has a power management circuit 28 which regulates the desired amplitude and also manages the power for the motor which is sent through the motor current lines 250 to the motor 14. Furthermore, current is also sent through breaker control lines 266 which will be discussed below.
A number of signal operators send and receive analog current information which is then processed by the controller. The signal operators include an open breaker 256, a close breaker 254, as well as a midpoint breaker 257. When the open event signal is sent to the motor from the controller, the current through the motor current lines 250 moves in the open direction which then enables the motor to actuate the cylindrical gear teeth 262 and rotate along the linear gear track 260 fixedly attached to the dynamic moving section 154 (FIG. 5). Before the cylindrical gear teeth 262 reach the end of the linear gear track 260, a breaker post 252, which is also rigidly attached to the dynamic moving section 154, initiates contact with an open breaker 256. This open breaker closes a circuit and sends a signal to the controller which then interrupts the motor current open direction to disengage the vent opening process.
Similarly, when the controller is operating the motor in the close direction, the breaker post 252 will initiate physical contact with the close breaker 254 which sends a signal to the controller that the dynamic moving section 154 has reached the desired close location for the vents.
In order to maintain a half open or have close position, a midpoint breaker post 258 is arranged to initiate a stop current signal to the controller when the linear gear track 260 initials contact with the midpoint breaker post 258.
While the present embodiment has three breaker sensors, other arrangements can achieve the same desired control. For example, maintaining the open and close currents for a specific period of time which correlates to periods of rotation of the cylindrical gear teeth 262 along the linear gear track 260. Also, providing fewer or additional breakers within the particular system to maintain more or less incremental opening and closing distances.
In operation, the user may set the current time and date for the first time the user uses the unit. Afterwards, the second step includes the user programming the unit to set the opening setting for different time periods of the day and different days of the week. Optionally, in the second alternative embodiment, the user will set the opening and closing settings for different parts of the day only. The unit will is provided with certain factory presets. Lastly in the third step, the user will simply replace the current vent located in the household or building, with the provided vent unit to control the air flow out of the ductwork to the particular space. The unit is thus designed to have the same overall dimension as previously mentioned, and to thus directly replace the current vent cover being used for most of standard ductwork in US households.
While the present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. This invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete and will convey a portion of the intended scope of the invention as discussed in this particular embodiment to those skilled in the art. Indeed, many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to those skilled in the art to which this invention likely pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both this disclosure and the drawings.

Claims

1. An air vent cover comprising:

a. a top plate comprising a surface area defined by an outer edge, said top plate comprising a plurality of vent openings, said vent openings allowing ventilated air to exit from an air duct port;

b. an airflow control system comprising a first control element fixedly arranged with said top plate surface area, said first control element enabling direct user interoperation with said airflow control system.

2. The air vent cover according to claim 1 wherein said first control element further comprises: a first controller surface area comprising at least about 5% of said top plate surface area, said first control element maintained within said top plate surface area.

3. The air vent cover according to claim 1 wherein said first control element further comprises: a first controller surface area comprising at most about 85% of said top plate surface area, said first control element maintained within said top plate surface area.

4. The air vent cover according to claim 1 wherein said air vent cover further comprises said first control element maintained along said outer edge of said top plate.

5. The air vent cover according to claim 1 wherein said air flow control system further comprises: a controller configured to regulate airflow about said discharge port of said air duct by operating a first motor arranged with a first louver arranged to reduce and enlarge said discharge port.

6. The air vent cover according to claim 5 wherein said air flow control system further comprises: said controller further comprising a control application comprising a first set of control objects configured to send and receive signals to and from said first motor and said first control element.

7. The air vent cover according to claim 1 wherein said controller further comprises a first set of vent opening settings comprising a first close setting and a first open setting.

8. The air vent cover according to claim 7 wherein said first set of vent opening settings further comprises a first intermediate setting configured to maintain the vent in an open position between said first close setting and said first open setting.

9. The air vent cover according to claim 8 wherein said first set of vent opening settings further comprises a second intermediate setting, said second intermediate setting configured to maintain the vents in an open position about greater than said first intermediate setting and between said first close setting and said first open setting.

10. The air vent cover according to claim 9 wherein said first set of vent opening settings further comprises a third intermediate setting, said third intermediate setting configured to maintain the vent in an open position about greater than said second intermediate setting and between said first close setting and said first open setting.

11. The air vent cover according to claim 10 wherein said first set of vent opening settings further comprises a fourth intermediate setting, said fourth intermediate setting configured to maintain the vent in an open position about greater than said third intermediate setting and between said first close setting and said first open setting.

12. The air vent cover according to claim 1 wherein said controller further comprises a first set of vent event settings comprising a first set of vent opening settings comprising a first close setting and a first open setting.

13. The air vent cover according to claim 1 wherein said controller further comprises a first set of vent event settings, each of said event settings comprising a first opening setting and a first close setting.

14. The air vent cover according to claim 13 wherein said first set of vent event settings further comprises a first event setting.

15. The air vent cover according to claim 14 wherein said first set of vent event settings further comprises a second event setting.

16. The air vent cover according to claim 15 wherein said first set of vent event settings further comprises a third event setting.

17. The air vent cover according to claim 16 wherein said first set of vent event settings further comprises a fourth vent setting.

18. The air vent cover according to claim 17 wherein said first set of vent event settings further comprises a fifth vent setting.

19. The vents cover according to claim 1 wherein said controller further comprises a first set of multi-day settings comprising a first set of vent event settings comprising a first set of vent opening settings comprising a first close setting and a first open setting.

20. An air vent cover comprising:

a. a top plate comprising a surface area defined by an outer edge, said top plate defining a plurality of vent openings, said vent openings allowing ventilated air to exit from an air duct port;

b. an airflow control system comprising a first control element arranged within said top plate surface area, said first control element enabling user interoperation with said airflow control system;

c. said air flow control system further comprising a controller configured to regulate airflow about said discharge port of said air duct by operating a first motor arranged with a first louver arranged to reduce and enlarge said discharge port;

a. said controller further comprising a control application comprising a first set of control objects configured to send and receive signals to and from said first motor and said first control element.

21. An air flow control system comprising:

a. a controller configured to regulate airflow about a discharge port of an air duct, said controller interoperating with a first set of control elements and a control application;

b. said first set of control elements comprising: a first motor configured to interoperate with a first louver to reduce and enlarge said discharge port, a first user interface configured for a user to operate said control system;

c. said control application comprising a first set of control objects configured to interoperate with said first set of control elements;

d. an air vent cover configured to maintain said controller and said first set of control elements in relation to said discharge port of said air duct.

22. The airflow system according to claim 21 wherein said first set of control elements further comprises a clock element for execution of a user defined event.

23. The airflow system according to claim 21 wherein said first set of control elements further comprises a flow monitor for monitoring the airflow rate out of said air duct port.

24. The airflow system according to claim 21 wherein said first set of control elements further comprises a temperature monitor for monitoring of air temperature exiting said air duct port.

25. The airflow system according to claim 21 wherein said first set of control elements further comprises a moisture monitor for monitoring air moisture content at said air duct port.

26. The airflow system according to claim 21 wherein said first set of control elements further comprises a filter for monitoring particulate at said air duct port.

27. The airflow system according to claim 21 wherein said first user interface further comprises an LCD display for user operation of said controller.

28. The airflow system according to claim 21 wherein said first user interface further comprises a keypad for user operation of said controller.

29. The airflow system according to claim 21 wherein said first user interface further comprises a manual switch for user operation of said controller.

30. The airflow system according to claim 21 wherein said first user interface further comprises a control knob for user operation of said controller.

31. The airflow system according to claim 21 wherein said first user interface further comprises a capacative touch sensor for user operation of said controller.

32. The airflow system according to claim 21 wherein said first user interface further comprises a client for interoperation with said controller.

33. The airflow system according to claim 21 wherein said first control object further comprises a clock component for execution of user defined events.

34. The airflow system according to claim 21 wherein said first control object further comprises a time component to maintain at least one user defined event.

35. The airflow system according to claim 21 wherein said first control object further comprises an airflow component for setting the airflow rate to exit said air duct port.

36. The airflow system according to claim 21 wherein said first control object further comprises a temperature component for setting the desired temperature exiting said air duct port.

37. The airflow system according to claim 21 wherein said first control object further comprises a moisture component for setting the desired air-moisture content exiting said air duct port.

38. The airflow system according to claim 21 wherein said first control object further comprises an input component.

39. The airflow system according to claim 21 wherein said first control object further comprises a manual component.

40. A method for regulating air discharging from an air duct port said method comprising:

a. maintaining an air vent cover at said air duct port, said air vent cover comprising a top plate comprising a surface area defined by an outer edge, said top plate defining a plurality of vent openings,

b. arranging a first control element of an airflow control system within said top plate surface area, said first control element enabling a user to operate said air flow control system by;

c. sending an open or close signal from said first control element to a controller within said air flow control system, said controller operating a first motor arranged with a first louver to reduced or enlarge said air duct port thereby regulating said air discharge.

41. A system for regulating air discharging from an air duct port said system comprising:

a. means for maintaining an air vent cover at said air duct port, said air vent cover comprising a top plate comprising a surface area defined by an outer edge, said top plate defining a plurality of vent openings,

b. means for arranging a first control element of an airflow control system within said top plate surface area, said first control element enabling a user to operate said air flow control system by;

c. means for sending an open or close signal from said first control element to a controller within said air flow control system, said controller operating a first motor arranged with a first louver to reduced or enlarge said air duct port thereby regulating said air discharge.