Patent ID: 7231967

Claim:
A ventilator device for selectively introducing outside air into and exhausting air from an enclosed space, said device comprising: a heat exchanger; an exhaust air conduit and a fresh air conduit for said heat exchanger; an exhaust air mover for moving exhaust air through said exhaust conduit and said heat exchanger; a fresh air mover for moving fresh air through said fresh air conduit and said heat exchanger; a programmed controller; said controller being programmed to direct said exhaust air and said outside air through said heat exchanger to exchange heat between said exhaust air and said outside air in a first mode of operation, and to switch, irrespective of the set or measured temperature of the enclosed space to a second mode of operation in which said exchange of heat is reduced or eliminated, in accordance with a profile, stored in memory, which is a function of the time-varying heating and cooling needs of said enclosed space, in which said profile includes a first outdoor air temperature below which said enclosed space needs heating and an instruction to switch between said modes when said temperature is reached, and including an outdoor air temperature sensor for delivering an outdoor temperature signal to said controller.