Zone sensor or thermostat with forced air

Claim 1

A sensor adapted to sense an ambient condition in a zone and to control an air conditioning system to affect the temperature or airflow in the zone as a function of the sensed ambient condition, the zone including at least one planar location comprising: a cover adapted for operable mounting to the planar location, said cover including a cover face projecting into said zone and at least one side faces extending between said cover face and the planar location; an ambient condition sensor mounted within said cover; and fan means positioned within said cover proximate the ambient condition sensor for delivering a flow of air to the ambient condition sensor; said cover including structure defining an air intake oriented to divert air to said fan means along an intake path of travel through said cover face, said fan means being oriented to divert air across said sensor along an exhaust path of travel in a direction transverse to said intake path of travel; said intake path of travel being oriented generally perpendicular to said planar location, and said exhaust path of travel being oriented generally parallel to said planar location; wherein the cover face includes structure defining first louvers adapted for directing ambient air to the intake port to the fan means in a path generally perpendicular to the face of the wall and wherein at least one of said side faces includes structure defining second louvers adapted for exhausting the outlet air from the exhaust port of the fan means in a direction generally parallel to the face of the wall; whereby said sensor is provided with a continuous flow of ambient air taken from within said zone.