Oven exhaust hood methods, devices, and systems

1. A method of controlling exhaust flow, comprising:

receiving at a controller at least one signal responsive to, and indicative of, an operating state of an oven, the at least one signal including an indication of whether a door of the oven is open or closed;

using the controller, controlling an exhaust flow to increase the exhaust flow responsive to the at least one signal at a first time, when the at least one signal indicates the door has been opened;

controlling the exhaust flow to decrease at a second time, subsequent to the first time, when the at least one signal indicates the door has been closed; and

controlling the exhaust flow to increase responsive to the at least one signal at a third time, prior to the first time, when the at least one signal indicates the operating state of the oven has changed from an idle state where a thermostat setpoint temperature is maintained in the oven, to a cooking state where food is heated in the oven.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one signal includes a data signal from the oven.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the data signal from the oven indicates the operating state of the oven.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one signal includes a signal from a power sensor indicating power consumption by the oven.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one signal at the first time includes a signal from a proximity sensor configured for and positioned to detect a person approaching the oven such that, responsively to the proximity sensor, a person is detected about to open the oven door.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one signal at the first time or the second time includes a signal from an imaging device configured to, and located to, detect the presence of a person approaching the oven.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling includes regulating a fan speed and a damper in a coordinated manner.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling includes regulating at least one of a fan speed and a damper.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one signal includes a data signal from the oven indicating the operating state of the oven.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the oven is a convection oven, and the at least one signal includes a signal from a current sensor that detects when a circulation fan of the convection oven is turned on.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one signal includes a signal from a humidity sensor located in an exhaust tract of the oven.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one signal includes a signal from a thermostat associated with the oven.

13. A system comprising:

an exhaust system for exhausting fumes generated by operation of an oven; and

a controller for receiving at least one signal responsive to, and indicative of, an operating state of the oven, the at least one signal including an indication of whether a door of the oven is open or closed,

wherein the controller is configured to control an exhaust flow in the exhaust system to increase the exhaust flow responsive to the at least one signal at a first time, when the at least one signal indicates the door has been opened,

wherein the controller is configured to control the exhaust flow to decrease at a second time, subsequent to the first time, when the at least one signal indicates the door has been closed, and

wherein the controller is configured to control the exhaust flow to increase responsive to the at least one signal at a third time, prior to the first time, when the at least one signal indicates the operating state of the oven has changed from an idle state where a thermostat setpoint temperature is maintained in the oven, to a cooking state where food is heated in the oven.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one signal includes a data signal from the oven.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the data signal from the oven indicates the operating state of the oven.

16. The system of claim 13 , comprising a power sensor for indicating power consumption by the oven, wherein the at least one signal includes a signal from the power sensor.

17. The system of claim 13 , comprising a proximity sensor configured for and positioned to detect a person approaching the oven such that, responsively to the proximity sensor, a person is detected about to open the oven door;

wherein the at least one signal at the first time includes a signal from the proximity sensor.

18. The system of claim 13 , comprising an imaging device configured to, and located to, detect the presence of a person approaching the oven;

wherein the at least one signal at the first time or the second time includes a signal from the imaging device.

19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the exhaust system comprises a fan and a damper; and

wherein the controller is for regulating a speed of the fan and for regulating a position of the damper in a coordinated manner.

20. The system of claim 13 , wherein the exhaust system comprises a fan and a damper; and

wherein the controlling includes regulating at least one of a speed of the fan and a position of the damper.

21. The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one signal includes a data signal from the oven indicating the operating state of the oven.

22. The system of claim 13 , wherein the oven is a convection oven having a circulation fan;

wherein the system comprises a current sensor for detecting when the circulation fan of the convection oven is turned on; and

wherein the at least one signal includes a signal from the current sensor.

23. The system of claim 13 , comprising a humidity sensor located in the exhaust system;

wherein the at least one signal includes a signal from the humidity sensor.

24. The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one signal includes a signal from a thermostat associated with the oven.