System and method for dispensing substances into an environment

Abstract

A system for dispensing substances into a room of a building comprises at least one reservoirs, at least one nozzle, at least one pump, and logic. The reservoir contains a substance to be dispensed into the room, and the pump is coupled to the nozzle and the reservoir. The logic is configured to enable a user to select, for dispensing through the nozzle, the substances from the reservoir, and the nozzle is positioned within the building such that the substance dispensed from the nozzle passes into the room. In some embodiments, the nozzle is positioned within a duct of a heating, ventilated and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/632,471, entitled “System and Method for Dispensing Substances into an Environment,” and filed on Dec. 2, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference.

RELATED ART

There are known air freshener dispensers, such as wall plug-in's and aerosol cans, that can be used to dispense fragrances and/or deodorants directly into one or more rooms of a building. However, such dispensing devices typically contain a limited amount of fragrances and/or deodorants and often must be replaced frequently. Further, the environmental effects of each such air freshener dispensers is often limited to the room or within a close vicinity of the area in which the dispenser is placed.

To alleviate some of the problems plaguing conventional air freshener dispensers, attempts have been made to incorporate air freshener dispensers into conventional heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. In this regard, air freshener dispensers have been used to inject fragrance and/or deodorizers into the ducts of an HVAC system. The fan of the HVAC system then blows the injected substance through the ducts and into various rooms of a building. Thus, a single air freshener dispenser can be efficiently used to simultaneously inject a substance into several different rooms thereby facilitating the dispensing process.

Unfortunately, installing and controlling an air freshener dispenser within an HVAC system can be difficult and problematic, as well as expensive. For example, it is generally desirable to synchronize the operation of the air freshener dispenser with the fan of the HVAC system such that the air freshener dispenser dispenses a substance, such as a fragrance or deodorizer, only when the fan of the HVAC is actively blowing air through the ducts. Providing such synchronization can be problematic, particularly for existing HVAC systems that have already been installed without incorporating an air freshener dispenser within the design of the HVAC system.

Further, when air freshener is dispensed through the duct of an HVAC system, access to some components of the air freshener dispenser may be inconvenient. Moreover, enabling a user to dynamically control which type of air freshener is dispensed into a particular room may be problematic.

Moreover, despite the improvements introduced by using conventional HVAC systems to dispense fragrances and deodorizers, further improvements are generally desirable to enable more optimal control of the dispensing operations at a reduced cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Furthermore, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system for dispensing substances in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a control unit, such as is depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating another exemplary embodiment of a control unit, such as is depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating yet another exemplary embodiment of a control unit, such as is depicted in FIG. 1, that can be used in conjunction with a remote interface.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a remote control unit, such as is depicted in FIG. 4, coupled to a key chain.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a system for dispensing substances in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a system for dispensing substances in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a system for dispensing substances in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a system for dispensing substances in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a system for dispensing substances in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary computer system that can be used to interact with a user for enabling the user to control operation of a dispensing system, such as is depicted in FIGS. 1 and 6-10.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart depicting an exemplary method for controlling a dispensing system, such as is depicted in FIGS. 1 and 6-10.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary graphical user interface (GUI) that may be displayed to a user to facilitate user control of a dispensing system, such as is depicted in FIGS. 1 and 6-10.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the GUI of FIG. 13 once a user has provided exemplary inputs for defining a dispensing schedule.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary nozzle that may be used in a dispensing system, such as is depicted in FIGS. 1 and 6-10.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a system for dispensing substances in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary reservoir, such as is depicted in FIG. 1, comprising a bag that is situated in a box.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating the reservoir of FIG. 17 once an outlet of the bag has been mated with an inlet of a tubular connection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for dispensing substances, such as aromas and/or disinfectants, at various locations, such as in one or more ducts of a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a dispensing system 100 for injecting liquids, as colloidal suspensions, into rooms of a building. The injected liquids may be aromas, fragrances, disinfectants, and/or other substances that are desirable for inserting and modifying an environment, such as one or more rooms of a building. In the embodiment depicted by FIG. 1, the system 100 comprises an air conditioner 101 that blows heated or cooled air through a duct 102 to at least one room within a building. The air conditioner 101 can be any known or future-developed air conditioning apparatus or system. In one exemplary embodiment, the air conditioner 101 comprises a duct 102, an HVAC unit 104, a thermostat controller 105, and a fan 106. In this regard, the HVAC unit 104, when activated, heats or cools air, and the fan 106 then blows the heated or cooled air through the duct 102 to one or more rooms of a building. Activation of the HVAC unit 104 and fan 106 is generally controlled by the HVAC thermostat controller 105, which measures a temperature within the building and activates the HVAC unit 104 and fan 106 as appropriate in an effort to keep the measured temperature within a desired range.

The thermostat controller 105 may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination thereof. When implemented in software, the controller 105 may be stored on a computer-readable medium to be used in conjunction with an instruction execution apparatus, such as a digital signal processor (DSP) or central processing unit (CPU). Thermostat controllers are generally known devices, and a more detailed description of the thermostat controller 105 will, therefore, not be provided herein.

The dispensing system 100 of FIG. 1 pulls a desired liquid from a reservoir 112 and injects the liquid from a nozzle 103 into the duct 102. The reservoir 112, in one embodiment, comprises at least one bag that may collapse as fluid is removed and is constructed of material, such a plastic, that is suitable for holding the liquid that is contained therein. In another embodiment, the reservoir 112 may comprise at least one metallic or non-metallic drum, such as is typically used to transport oil and other substances in large quantities. In yet other embodiments, the reservoir 112 may comprise other types of containers for holding liquids. Such containers can come in a variety of sizes and shapes and can be made from a diversity of materials.

The reservoir 112 of FIG. 1 has an outlet that is coupled to a tubular connection 107, such as a hose or pipe, that extends to a pump 114. When the pump 114 is activated by a control unit 110, the pump 114 pulls fluid from the reservoir 112 and pushes the fluid through a tubular connection 108 to a valve 115. Any known or future-developed valve, such as a solenoid valve, may be used to implement the valve 115. When dispensing of the fluid in the reservoir 112 is desired, the valve 115 is opened by the control unit 110 to allow liquid to pass through a tubular connection 109 to a filter 113 and through a tubular connection 111 to the nozzle 103. The nozzle 103 then injects (e.g., sprays) the liquid into the duct 102 through which the fan 106 blows. The output of the nozzle 103 is preferably a mist-like spray that is easily carried through the duct 102 to vents going into rooms or areas within a building. By blowing air through the duct 102, the fan 106 causes air to flow over the nozzle 103 and carry the injected mist-like spray through the duct 102. Indeed, the duct 102 extends to one or more rooms of a building, and the suspended liquid dispensed from the nozzle 103 exits the duct 102 from vents into the rooms that are serviced by the HVAC unit 104. FIG. 1 shows the duct 102 extending to two rooms, referred to as “Room 1” and “Room 3,” but the duct 102 may extend to other numbers of rooms in other embodiments.

The control unit 110 can be powered by the electrical supply in the building, typically a 110 Volt (V) alternating current (AC) source, where the control unit 110 is installed. In other embodiments, the power source may be a battery or the control unit 110 may have battery backup for the building electrical supply. The control unit 110 is coupled to the fan 106 and may activate the fan 106 independently from the thermostat controller 105. Thus, if desired, the control unit 110 may activate the fan 106 and dispensing of fluid from the nozzle 103 regardless of the operational state of the HVAC unit 104 or the temperatures detected by the thermostat controller 105. Therefore, the substance in reservoir 112 may be dispensed through the duct 102 to one or more rooms of the building even if the HVAC unit 104 is not currently heating or cooling air. The control unit 110 in other embodiments may also monitor the status of the fan 106 and use fan status as an input for controlling when liquid from the reservoir 112 is dispensed into the duct 103. For example, the control unit 110 may activate dispensing of liquid from the nozzle 103 in response to activation of the fan 106 by the HVAC controller.

Since the control unit 110 can independently control the fan 106 or detect when the fan 106 is activated by the thermostat controller 105, it is possible to install and operate the dispensing system 100 without modifying the design of a conventional air conditioner. Thus, the nozzle 103, filter 113, valve 115, pump 114, reservoir 112, control unit 110, and tubular connections 107-109 and 111 may be installed in a building having a pre-existing air conditioner 101 without modifying the design of the air conditioner 101 and, in particular, the thermostat controller 105.

As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 110 is coupled to the pump 114 and the valve 115 and supplies these components with control signals. In general, the control unit 110 activates dispensing of liquid from the nozzle 103 by ensuring that the pump 114 is activated (i.e., providing pressure to draw liquid from the reservoir 112) and then activating the valve 115. To activate the valve 115, the control unit 110 provides a control signal to place the valve 115 in an open state to allow the liquid from the reservoir 112 to pass to the nozzle 103. In one embodiment, the pump 114 is a diaphragm pump that provides a pressure of around 100 pounds per square inch (psi). Other types of pumps are possible in other embodiments, and other pressures may be provided by the pump 114.

It is unnecessary, however, for the control unit 110 to control or track operation of the pump 114. For example, the control unit 110 may assume that the pump 114 is constantly activated and control dispensing of fluid from reservoir 112 via valve 115. In another example, the control unit 110 may control dispensing of fluid by controlling the activation state of the pump 114. In such an example, the valve 115 is unnecessary and may be removed from the system 100.

Note that the dispensing of fluid is “automatic” in the sense that logic 126, not a user, directly controls the state of the apparatus (e.g., valve 115 or pump 114) that selectively permits dispensing to occur, although the logic 126 may automatically control such apparatus based on a user input. In this regard, for embodiments that provide automatic dispensing and that control such dispensing via valve 115, a user does not manually change the states of the valve 115. However, a user can provide an input that is read by the logic 126 and used as a basis for determining whether the state of the valve 115 is to be automatically changed by the logic 126.

A filter 113 is shown between the valve 115 and the nozzle 103. The filter 113 is provided to reduce the chance of partially or fully blocking output flow from the nozzle 103 for circumstances when particle size of materials in a liquid may cause clogging in the nozzle 103 or when reservoir residue may collect on the nozzle's openings. The filter 113 or nozzle 103 can be replaced if performance is degraded or can be replaced on a periodic basis. In addition, there may be some conditions where it may also be desirable to back-flush the supply tubular connections 107, 108, 109, and 111 in order to maintain system performance. Techniques for back-flushing are generally well-known, and the frequency of a filter change generally depends on well understood factors.

In one embodiment, the control unit 110, as shown by FIG. 2, comprises a housing 116 and three user switches: a fan switch 117, an interval switch 118, and a duration switch 119. The housing 116 houses various components, such as electrical circuits, of the control unit 110, as will be described in more detail hereinbelow. Each switch 117-119 can be manually turned or otherwise moved to a desired setting by a user, as will be described in more detail hereinbelow.

The fan switch 117 can be used to activate or deactivate the fan 106 independent of the thermostat controller 105. In one embodiment, the fan switch 117 has three settings: an ON setting, an OFF setting, and an AUTOMATIC setting, although other numbers and types of settings are possible in other embodiments. When the switch 117 is placed in the OFF setting, the control unit 110 supplies no signal for activating the fan 106. Moreover, when the fan switch 117 is placed in the OFF setting, the fan 106 is activated only when a signal from the thermostat controller 105 (FIG. 1) causes power to be supplied to the fan 106. When the fan switch 117 of the control unit 110 is placed in the ON setting, the control unit 110 provides a control signal for activating the fan 106, regardless of the operational state of the HVAC unit 104 and the thermostat controller 105. In response, the fan 106 is activated and forces air through the duct 102 regardless of the control provided by the thermostat controller 105. Note that other embodiments for controlling the fan 106 and/or dispensing of liquid from the nozzle 103 are possible. For example, the control unit 110 can be configured to detect when the fan 106 is active and control the dispensing of liquid from nozzle 103 when the control unit 110 determines that the fan 106 is active.

When the fan switch 117 is placed in the AUTOMATIC setting, the fan 106 is automatically activated by the control unit 110 at preselected times. Various techniques may be used to control activation of the fan 106 when the switch 117 is in the AUTOMATIC setting, and exemplary techniques will be described in more detail below.

In this regard, the frequency of dispensing can be set by turning the interval switch 118 to a desired setting. In the example depicted by FIG. 2, the possible desired settings for frequency of dispensing are fifteen minutes, thirty minutes, forty-five minutes, and one hour. Other possible setting are possible in other embodiments. By turning the interval switch 118 to the desired setting when the switch 117 is set to the AUTOMATIC setting, the frequency of dispensing is set such that the dispensing of the fluid from the reservoir 112 is initiated at a frequency corresponding to the selected setting. For example, if the interval switch 118 is turned to a fifteen minute setting when the fan switch 117 is set to the AUTOMATIC setting, as shown by FIG. 2, then the control unit 110 is configured to trigger activation of the fan 106 every fifteen minutes.

For each initiation of the fan 106, the control unit 110 allows activation of the fan 106 to continue for an amount of time corresponding to the duration value selected by the duration switch 119. In the exemplary embodiment depicted by FIG. 2, the duration may vary up to a minute, and the user may select a desired duration by turning the duration switch 119 to the desired setting. For example, if the duration switch 118 is turned to a fifteen second setting, as shown by FIG. 2, then the control unit 110 keeps the fan activated for fifteen seconds each time that it is activated by the control unit 110, unless the settings of the control unit 110 are later changed. Note that during periods that the control unit 110 is not activating the fan 106, the fan 106 may be instead activated by the thermostat controller 105, such as when the controller 105 determines that the air conditioner 101 is to perform heating or cooling operations. Note that durations other than exemplary ones shown by FIG. 2 are possible in other embodiments.

Further, when the fan 106 is activated by the control unit 110, the control unit 110 activates the pump 114 and the valve 115 such that fluid is dispensed from the nozzle 103 while the fan 106 remains activated. Once the fan 106 is deactivated by the control unit 110, the control unit 110 places the valve 115 in a closed state such that fluid is no longer dispensed from the nozzle 103. Thus, when the fan switch 117 is turned to the AUTOMATIC setting, the control unit 110 periodically activates dispensing of fluid from the nozzle 103 based on the settings of the switches 118 and 119.

Note that it is unnecessary for the activation times of the fan 106 and dispensing to be the same. For example, it is possible for the duration of the fan 106 for each activation to continue longer than dispensing to help ensure that a greater amount of the dispensed substance is blown out of the duct 102. If desired, an additional switch (not shown) may be used, similar to the switch 119, to set the duration of dispensing separate from that of the fan 106.

When the fan switch 117 is in the ON position, the control unit 110 activates the fan 106 and activates dispensing of the liquid from the nozzle 103. However, when the fan switch 117 is in the OFF position, the fan 106 is only activated, when appropriate, by the HVAC controller 105. In such a state, the control unit 110 is configured to ensure that dispensing of liquid from the nozzle 103 is deactivated. Thus, by selectively turning the fan switch 117 between the ON and OFF settings, a user can manually control when liquid is dispensed from the nozzle 103 and blown through the duct 102 by the fan 106. However, it should be noted that other techniques for controlling activation and deactivation of the fan 106 and the dispensing of liquid are possible in other embodiments.

An exemplary embodiment of the control unit 110 is shown in FIG. 3. The control unit 110 of FIG. 3 has an input interface 120, which may comprise the switches 117-119 depicted by FIG. 2 in some embodiments. However, the input interface 120 may comprise other types of devices in addition to or in lieu of the switches 117-119. For example, the input interface 120 may comprise a keypad, keyboard, mouse, pushbuttons, or other interface devices that can be used to provide input to logic 126 within the unit 110. The logic 126 may be implemented in software, hardware or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the logic 126 is implemented in software and stored within memory of the control unit 110. In such an embodiment, the control unit 110 may comprise an instruction execution apparatus (not shown), such as a digital signal processor, for executing instructions defined by the logic 126. In other embodiments, at least a portion of the logic 126 may be implemented in hardware, such as logic gates, for example. When implemented in software, the logic 126 may be stored on any computer-readable medium. In the context of this document, a “computer-readable medium” can be any means that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution apparatus. The computer readable-medium can be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor apparatus or propagation medium.

The control unit 110 further has an output interface 122, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or other type of display device, that provides status information associated with the dispensing system 100. For example, a user may initiate a request for the status of the pump 114, the amount of liquid in the reservoir 112, or other useful information about the dispensing system 100, and the requested information may be displayed by the logic 126 via the output interface 122.

In this regard, in the embodiment depicted by FIG. 1, a level sensor 127 is positioned within the reservoir 112. The level sensor 127 is configured to detect an amount of fluid within the reservoir 112. Various types of sensors, such as sensors similar to those conventionally used to detect the amount of gas within an automobile gas tank, may be used to implement sensor 127. The level sensor 127 is coupled to the control unit 110 and transmits data indicative of the amount of fluid detected within the reservoir 112. The control unit 110 may then report, to the user, the amount of fluid in the reservoir 112. For example, the control unit 110, via output interface 122, may display information indicative of the amount of fluid detected within the reservoir 112 by sensor 127. Also, if the amount of detected fluid falls below a specified threshold, the control unit 110 may generate an audible or visual alarm. For example, the output interface 122 may comprise a speaker, and the logic 126 may cause the speaker to emit a beeping sound or other type of sound in response to a determination that the liquid in reservoir 127 has fallen below the specified threshold level. In another example, the output interface 122 may comprise a light emitting diode (LED), and the logic 126 may illuminate the LED in response to such a determination. In another example, the logic 126 may cause the output interface 122 to display a warning message if the fluid in the reservoir 112 falls below the specified threshold level. Various other techniques for generating a warning based on the measured fluid level within the reservoir 112 are possible. Moreover, based on the warning, a user may take corrective action such as, for example, by refilling the reservoir 112 with fluid or replacing the reservoir 112 entirely.

The logic 126 in the control unit 110 is configured to control the elements of the dispensing system 100 according to the techniques described herein (e.g., providing control signals to the fan 106 and the valve 115). Input interface circuits 129 may be used to place input information signals in a form that is readable by the logic unit 126. For example, the level sensor 127 for monitoring the amount of fluid in the reservoir 112 (FIG. 1) may send a signal to the control unit 110 via at least one input line 132. In order for the logic 126 to read the output of the level sensor 127, the input interface circuits 129 may use a signal conversion unit (not shown), such as an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter, that converts the input analog signal to a digital value. Other input interface devices within the input interface circuits 129 may be level shifters, buffers, etc. Signals from the logic 126 to the output interface circuits 128 may be directed to the fan 106, the pump 114, or the valve 115. The output interface circuits 128 convert the instructions from the logic 126 into signals that are in a form that would cause the intended unit to respond appropriately. The control unit 110 may receive power from a local power source 134 such as a 110 AC source or from a battery, for example. In the embodiment depicted by FIG. 3, the input interface 120 and the output interface 122 are mounted on a housing 116, and the logic 126 and circuits 128 and 129 are housed by the housing 116. It should be emphasized that other configurations of the control unit 110 are possible in other embodiments.

The input interface 120, alone or in combination with the output interface 122, may be used to select various control options, such as setting activation times for dispensing fluid from the reservoir 112 and for activating the fan 106. For example, a user may use input interface 120 to select dispensing frequency and duration times, as described above. Also, the control unit 110 may comprise a clock 133, and, rather than selecting an activation frequency, the user may select specific activation times. For example, a user may provide inputs for configuring the control unit 110 to activate the fan 106 and the dispensing of fluid from the nozzle 103 at one or more specified times on one or more specified days. The logic 126 may be configured to track time, based on the clock 133, and to automatically activate the fan 106 and dispensing of fluid from the nozzle 103 at the preselected times. Further, the clock 133 may be used to control the dispensing frequency when the dispensing is periodic, such as in the embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a remote interface 143 that may be used to facilitate control of the system 100. The control unit 110 of FIG. 4, in addition to the components of FIG. 3, comprises a local transceiver 142 that may be used to communicate with a remote transceiver 140 of the remote interface 143. Similar to control unit 110, the remote interface 143 has a user input interface 144 and output interface 145 to enable a user remote from the control unit 110 to provide inputs and receive outputs, respectively. The input interface 144 may comprise a keypad, keyboard, mouse, one or more pushbuttons, or other interface devices that can be used to provide user inputs. The output interface 145 may comprise a LCD or other type of display device.

In an exemplary embodiment, the remote transceiver 140 transmits a wireless signal (e.g., a wireless radio frequency (RF) signal) to the local transceiver 142. Further, it is possible for the remote transceiver 140 to be physically coupled to the local transceiver 142 and to communicate with the local transceiver 142 via non-wireless signals. The local transceiver 142 receives signals from the remote transceiver 140, and these signals may be used by the logic 126 to select the desired time periods for dispensing fluid from the nozzle 103 and/or activating the fan 106, as described herein.

For example, a user of the remote interface 143 may submit an input via input interface 144 requesting dispensing of a fluid immediately or at some particular time in the future. The remote transceiver 140 transmits the request to the local transceiver 142, which provides the request to the logic 126. In response, the logic 126 activates dispensing of fluid from the nozzle 103 and possibly the fan 106 at the desired time according to the request. Thus, the user is able to activate the dispensing system 100 to dispense fluid from the reservoir 112 even though the user is not necessarily in close proximity to the control unit 110. Technologies that may be used to provide a secure communication session between the remote transceiver 140 and local transceiver 142 are generally well known and may be employed by the transceivers 140 and 142 to communicate with one another. Note that the transceivers 140 and 142 may provide two-way communication to furnish a user of the remote interface 143 with an interactive communication link.

If desired, the remote interface 143 may be coupled to a key chain. In such an embodiment, the remote interface 143 is readily available to a user who may be using a key on the key chain to enter the building containing the dispensing system 100. In such an embodiment, the user may activate the dispensing system 100 using the remote interface 143 immediately before or after entering the building. For example, just prior to entering a room of a building, the user, using the remote interface 143, may activate dispensing of fluid from the reservoir 112 just before entering the room. Thus, when the user enters the room, the fluid may have just been dispensed into the room thereby providing the user with a pleasant aroma upon entering the room. Coupling the remote interface 143 to the key used to open a door into the building or room in which the substance of reservoir 112 is dispensed provides the user with convenient access to the remote interface 143 as he or she is entering or preparing to enter the building or room.

An exemplary embodiment showing the remote interface 143 coupled to a key, as described above, is depicted by FIG. 5. In this regard, the remote interface 143 comprises a housing 146 that houses various components, such as the transceiver 140. In the embodiment depicted by FIG. 5, the interface 144 comprises a button that may be pressed by a user to initiate activation of dispensing of fluid by the system 100. A spiraled ring 147 of the type commonly used on conventional key chains passes through a hole in a key 148 and a hole in the housing 146 such that the key 148 and housing 146 are interconnected via the ring 147.

Note that the interface 144 may comprise other input devices to enable a user to program activation of the dispensing system 100 at any desired time. The length of time that dispensing of fluid remains activated may be set by inputs provided by the remote interface 143 or provided directly to the control unit 110 via interface 120. Alternatively, the logic 126 may be configured to keep the dispensing activated for a predefined time period. For example, upon entering a room, a user may request dispensing of fluid into the room by pressing the button 149, as described above. In response, remote interface 143 may transmit data indicative of the user input to the logic 126 via transceivers 140 and 142. Based on this data, the logic 126 may activate dispensing of fluid from the nozzle 103 and possibly the fan 106, if the nozzle 103 is within a duct 102 serviced by the fan 106, for a predefined amount of time. Once the predefined amount of time lapses, the logic 126 may automatically deactivate the dispensing and possibly the fan 106. However, in another embodiment, the dispensing may remain activated until the user provides another input for requesting the dispensing to be deactivated or otherwise specifies that the dispensing is to be deactivated.

It should be noted that various other configurations of the remote interface 143 are possible in other embodiments. For example, it is possible for either the remote interface 143 or the control unit 110 to be mounted on a wall similar to conventional thermostat controllers 105 for conventional HVAC units 104. In such an embodiment, the remote interface 143 or the control unit 110 may be mounted next to or in close proximity to the remote thermostat controller 105 so that the user can simultaneously reach and/or view the controller 105 along with the interface 143 or unit 119. Indeed, the thermostat controller 105 and either the interface 143 or unit 110 may be incorporated into a single unitary device such that a user can program control of the dispensing system 100 at the same time that he or she programs control of the HVAC unit 104. In another example, as will be described in more detail hereafter, the remote interface 143 may be implemented by a computer, such as a personal computer (PC). Such a computer may communicate with the control unit 110 via transceivers 140 and 142, as described above.

In addition, as previously noted above, the remote interface 143 may be portable. In such an embodiment, the remote interface 143 may be temporarily mounted on a wall or other structure. For example, a hooking apparatus, such as Velcro™ or a hook and loop arrangement, or a magnet may be used to mount the remote interface 143 on a wall or other structure. Alternatively, a holding apparatus (not shown) configured to hold the interface 143 may be mounted on a wall or other structure, and the user may place the interface 143 within or on such a holding apparatus to hold the interface 143 on the wall or other structure. However, if desired, the user may remove the interface 143 from the holding apparatus and carry the interface 143 to another location. Various configurations of the control unit 110 and the remote interface 143 are possible without departing from the principles of the present disclosure.

Further, any user input described herein may be input to the control unit 110 directly via input interface 120 or indirectly using the remote interface 143. Thus, either the remote interface 143 or the input interface 120 of the control unit 110 may be used to program or otherwise control operation of the system 100, as described herein. In addition, if the control unit 110 is configured to control dispensing via wireless signals, such as wireless control signals transmitted to the valves that are used to control dispensing, then the control unit 110 may be portable, as described above with respect to remote interface 143. Thus, any of the temporary mounting arrangements described above for remote interface 143 may be used to temporarily mount the control unit 110.

In various embodiments, various types of liquids may be selectively dispensed into the duct 102. For example, the system 100 of FIG. 1 may comprise a plurality of reservoirs, each of which contains a different liquid. During a first time period, the control unit 110 may control the system 100 such that liquid from one of the reservoirs is dispensed into the duct 102, and during a second time period, the control unit 110 may control the system 100 such that different liquid from another of the reservoirs is dispensed into the duct 102. In another example, liquids from multiple ones of the reservoirs may be concurrently dispensed into the duct 102. Note that a single nozzle 103 and a single pump 114 may be used to dispense liquid from all of the reservoirs. In other embodiments, different nozzles and/or pumps may be used to dispense different liquids from different reservoirs.

For example, FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment in which an additional pump, valve, and nozzle arrangement, similar to the one shown by FIG. 1, is used to dispense a liquid from an additional reservoir into the duct 102. In particular, in addition to the reservoir 112, pump 114, valve 115, and filter 113, the system 100 comprises an additional nozzle 203, reservoir 212, pump 214, valve 215, and filter 213. The reservoir 212 is coupled to the pump 214 by a supply tubular connection 207, and the pump 214 is coupled to the valve 215 by a tubular connection 208. Further, the valve 215 is coupled to the filter 213 by a tubular connection 209, and the filter 213 is coupled to the nozzle 203 by a tubular connection 211. Further, the control unit 110 is coupled to and controls the operation of the valve 215 and the pump 214. Moreover, fluid may be dispensed from the reservoir 212 through the nozzle 203 in the same or similar manner that fluid is dispensed from the reservoir 112 through the nozzle 103.

Note that the reservoir 212, like reservoir 112 of FIG. 1, may have a level sensor (not shown) for detecting the amount of fluid contained by the reservoir 212 in the same or similar way that the level sensor 127 of FIG. 1 detects the amount of fluid in reservoir 112. Further, the control unit 110 may be similarly used to report fluid level in reservoir 212 and/or to provide a warning when the fluid level of reservoir 212 falls below a specified threshold. In FIG. 6 and the subsequent figures, level sensors will not be shown in either reservoir 112 or 212 for simplicity. However, it is to be understood that a level sensor may be included in any reservoir described herein and used in a similar manner as described above for the reservoir of FIG. 1.

Moreover, a first type of fluid in reservoir 112 may be dispensed into the duct 102, and a different type of fluid in reservoir 212 may be dispensed into the duct 102 at the same or different times. For example, a user may prefer the fragrance of the substance in reservoir 112 in the morning and the fragrance of the substance in reservoir 212 in the afternoon. Thus, the user may program or otherwise cause the control unit 110 to automatically dispense the substance in reservoir 112 in the morning hours and to automatically dispense the substance in reservoir 212 in the afternoon hours. In another example, substances can be simultaneously dispensed through both nozzles 103 and 203 such that a mixture of the substances in reservoirs 112 and 212 is effectively dispensed into the duct 102 by the system 100.

Note that it is unnecessary for the nozzles 103 and 203 to be within the same duct 102 as shown by FIG. 6. For example, it is possible for the nozzle 103 to be in a first duct and for the nozzle 203 to be in a different duct. Thus, the substance in reservoir 112 may be dispensed into a different room or rooms as compared to the substance in reservoir 212. In another example, the nozzle 103 or 203 may be positioned within a room instead of a duct 102. For example, the nozzle 103 may be positioned within a first room such that the substance in reservoir 112 is injected directly into the first room, and the nozzle 203 may be positioned within a second room such that the substance in reservoir 212 is injected directly into the second room. Thus, by filling the reservoirs 112 and 212 with different substances, a different substance can be injected by the system 100 into the first room as compared to the second room. In yet another example, the nozzles 103 and 203 may be positioned within the same room such that the substances in reservoirs 112 and 212 are dispensed directly into this room concurrently or at different times.

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary embodiment in which substances in different reservoirs 112 and 212 can be dispensed through the same nozzle 103. In this regard, the reservoir 112 is coupled to a valve 222 by a tubular connection 224, and the reservoir 212 is coupled to a valve 232 by a tubular connection 234. Further, the pump 114 is coupled to the valves 222 and 232 by a tubular connection 237. The control unit 110 is coupled to and controls the operation of the valves 222 and 232. If the substance in reservoir 112 is to be dispensed through the nozzle 103, the control unit 110 controls the valves 222 and 232 such that the valve 222 is in an open state and the valve 232 is in a closed state. Thus, the pump 114 draws the substance from reservoir 112 and not reservoir 212. However, if the substance in reservoir 212 is to be dispensed through the nozzle 103, the control unit 110 controls the valves 222 and 232 such that the valve 222 is in a closed state and the valve 232 is in an open state. Thus, the pump 114 draws the substance from reservoir 212 and not reservoir 112.

It is possible for both valves 222 and 232 to be placed in an open state such that the pump 114 draws the substances in both reservoirs 112 and 212. In such an example, the substance in reservoir 112 is drawn by the pump 114 and dispensed through the nozzle 103, and the substance in reservoir 212 is also drawn by the pump 114 and dispensed through the nozzle 103. Thus, a mixture of the substances in reservoirs 112 and 212 is dispensed through the nozzle 103 in such an embodiment. Note that, by partially opening at least one of the nozzles 222 or 232, the composition of the mixture can be controlled. For example, an extent to which at least one of the valves 222 or 232 is opened can be controlled such that a desired ratio of the substance in the reservoir 112 to the substance in the reservoir 212 is obtained for the mixture being dispensed through the nozzle 103.

FIG. 8 shows an exemplary embodiment in which a substance from a single reservoir 112 can be dispensed through multiple nozzles 103 and 203. The nozzles 103 and 203 may be used to service different rooms such that, by independently controlling the valves 115 and 215, the control unit 110 can selectively dispense the substance into different rooms. For example, the nozzle 103 may be placed in a first room or in a duct 102 servicing the first room, and the nozzle 203 may be placed in a second room or in a duct 102 servicing the second room. Thus, by controlling the valve 115, the control unit 110 can control whether the substance in reservoir 112 is dispensed by the system 100 into the first room. Further, by controlling the valve 215, the control unit 110 can control whether the substance in reservoir 212 is dispensed by the system 100 into the second room.

FIG. 9 depicts an exemplary embodiment in which valves 222 and 232 may be used to selectively draw substances from multiple reservoirs 112 and 212, as described above with reference to FIG. 7. Further, valves 115 and 215 are coupled to the pump 114 by a tubular connection 245 and may be used to control whether the substance being drawn by the pump 114 is dispensed by nozzles 103 and 203, respectively, similar to the embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 6. In particular, the valve 215, when open, allows the substance drawn by pump 114 to be dispensed through nozzle 203 and, when closed, prevents such substance from being dispensed through nozzle 203. Note that the substance may be from reservoir 112 when the valve 222 is open and the valve 232 is closed or may be from reservoir 212 when the valve 222 is closed and the valve 232 is open. Further, the substance may be a mixture of those in reservoirs 112 and 212 when both valves 222 and 232 are open. In addition, the valve 115, when open, allows the substance drawn by pump 114 to be dispensed through nozzle 103 and, when closed, prevents such substance from being dispensed through nozzle 103.

FIG. 10 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 9 except that multiple pumps 114 and 214 are used instead of a single pump. In FIG. 10, a tubular connection 248 couples both pumps 114 and 214 to both valves 222 and 232 such that either pump 114 or 214 may draw a substance from either reservoir 112 and 212 depending on the states of the valves 222 and 232.

FIG. 11 shows an exemplary embodiment of a computer system 263, such as a personal computer (PC), that may be used to implement the remote interface 143. In this regard, the system 263 comprises control logic 266 that may be implemented in software, hardware, or a combination thereof. In the embodiment depicted by FIG. 11, the control logic 266 is implemented in software and stored within memory 271 of the system 263.

The exemplary embodiment of the computer system 263 depicted by FIG. 11 comprises at least one conventional processing element 275, such as a digital signal processor (DSP) or a central processing unit (CPU), that communicates to and drives the other elements within the system 263 via a local interface 277, which can include at least one bus.

In one exemplary embodiment, the control logic 266 allows a user to define a schedule 291 of when substances are to be dispensed by the dispensing system 100. If multiple reservoirs are employed, then the schedule 291 may indicate when a substance is to be dispensed from each reservoir. Further, if multiple nozzles are employed, such as when nozzles are positioned in different locations to service different rooms, then the schedule 291 may indicate when each nozzle is to dispense a substance.

For example, using input interface 144, a user may submit inputs requesting that a particular substance be dispensed in a particular room at a particular time. In response to the inputs, the schedule 291 is updated to reflect the user's request. The user may also specify that other substances are to be dispensed in other rooms at other times. After defining the schedule 291, based on the requests of the user, the system 263 communicates the schedule 291 to the control unit 110 (FIG. 4) thereby enabling the logic 126 to control the system 100 according to the requests of the user.

To facilitate the scheduling process, the control logic 266 may display, via output interface 145, a graphical user interface (GUI) that graphically displays a schedule to be defined by the user. For example, the GUI may display a table having various entries. Each entry may correspond to a particular time of day and to a particular room or set of rooms. The user may input, into the entry, data indicative of the type of substance to be dispensed into the corresponding room at the corresponding time of day. For example, if the entry corresponds to 2:00 p.m. on a particular day, then the logic 126 is configured to cause the substance of the type indicated by the user's data to be dispensed into the room that corresponds to the entry.

To better illustrate the foregoing, an exemplary use of the dispensing system 100 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 12.

In this regard, assume that the system 100 is configured according to the embodiment depicted by FIG. 9. Further assume that nozzle 103 is positioned within a duct 102 (FIG. 1) that extends to a first room, referred to as “Room 1.” Also assume that the nozzle 203 is positioned directly in a second room, referred to as “Room 2” that is not serviced by the duct 102 in which the nozzle 103 is positioned.

Initially, a dispensing schedule 291 is defined, as indicated by block 303 of FIG. 12. In this regard, the control logic 266 (FIG. 11) displays, via output interface 145, the GUI 311 shown by FIG. 13. The exemplary GUI 311 shown by FIG. 13 represents a table having a plurality of entries, each of which is correlated with a particular time and room. In this regard, each row of the GUI 311 is correlated with a different time of day, and each column is correlated with a different room. For illustrative purposes, assume that a user desires to have a first fluid, referred to as “Fluid 1,” within the reservoir 112 to be dispensed in Room 1 at 2:00 p.m. Also assume that the user desires to have a second fluid, referred to as “Fluid 2,” within the reservoir 212 to be dispensed in Room 2 at 4:00 p.m. Further assume that the user desires to have a mixture of Fluid 1 and Fluid 2 to be dispensed in Room 1 at 7:00 p.m.

In such an embodiment, the user enters data indicative of these desires and the control logic 266, based on these inputs, updates the GUI 311 to reflect the user's desires, as shown by FIG. 14. The control logic 266 also updates the schedule 291 stored in memory 271 to reflect the user's requests. Once the user has finished defining the schedule 291, the logic 266 transmits the schedule 291 to the control unit 110 via transceivers 140 and 142. Based on this data, the logic 126 controls the dispensing system 100 such that the user's requests are accommodated.

In particular, referring to FIG. 9, the logic 126 initially closes each valve 112, 115, 212, and 215. At 2:00 p.m., the logic 126 determines, in block 326 of FIG. 12, that fluid dispensing is to be activated for Room 1. Thus, in block 329, the logic 126 opens valves 222 and 115 such that Fluid 1 is automatically drawn from the reservoir 112 and dispensed through the nozzle 103. Since this nozzle is positioned within the duct 102, the logic 126 also activates the fan 106 such that the dispensed fluid is blown into at least Room 1. The logic 126 may be configured to continue dispensing the fluid for the entire duration of time corresponding to the GUI entry on which the activation is based. In the instant example, the logic 126 may continue dispensing Fluid 1 in Room 1 from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. In other embodiments, the logic 126 may continue dispensing the fluid for only a predefined portion of the corresponding time period (e.g., the first fifteen minutes or from 1:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.). If desired, the logic 126 may allow the user to specify the time period that the dispensing is to remain active once triggered. For example, the user may submit inputs via system 263 (FIG. 11) or input interface 120 (FIG. 4) to control the duration of dispensing.

When the logic 126 determines that dispensing of Fluid 1 in Room 1 is to stop, the logic 126 makes a “yes” determination in block 333 of FIG. 12 and closes valves 115 and 222 in block 336. Further, the logic 126 stops activation of the fan 106 at this time such that the fan 106 will only remain active due to control by the thermostat controller 105. At 4:00 p.m., the logic 126 determines, in block 326 of FIG. 12, that fluid dispensing is to be activated for Room 2. Thus, the logic 126 opens valves 232 and 215 in block 329 such that Fluid 2 is automatically drawn from reservoir 212 and dispensed through nozzle 203 into Room 2. When the logic 126 determines that dispensing of Fluid 2 in Room 2 is to stop, the logic 126 makes a “yes” determination in block 333 and closes valves 215 and 232 in block 336.

At 7:00 p.m., the logic 126 determines, in block 326 of FIG. 12, that fluid dispensing is to be activated again for Room 1. Thus, the logic 126 opens valves 115, 222, and 232 in block 329 and activates fan 106. Accordingly, a mixture of Fluid 1 and Fluid 2 is automatically dispensed through the nozzle 103 and is blown by the fan 106 into Room 1. When the logic 126 determines that dispensing of this mixture into Room 1 is to stop, the logic 126 makes a “yes” determination in block 333. The logic 126 then closes switches 115, 222, and 232, in block 336 and stops activation of the fan 106.

It should be noted that different schedules may be defined for different time periods. For example, different schedules could be defined for different days of the week, or different schedules could be defined for different months. Moreover, once the time period applicable to the schedule defined in block 303 expires, the process depicted by FIG. 12 ends, as indicated by block 342.

In addition, it is possible for the computer system 263 be used to implement the control unit 110 in at least some embodiments. For example, it is possible for the logic 126 to be stored in memory 271 such that the computer system 263 controls the operation of the dispensing system 100. In such an embodiment, the system 263 comprises interface devices coupled to the valves and pumps as appropriate to enable control of the system 100 as described herein. Further, the transceivers 140 and 142 would be unnecessary in such an embodiment as the logic 126 would have access to any inputs submitted via input interface 144 without such inputs being communicated via transceivers 140 and 142.

There are a variety of fragrant fluids, disinfectants, and other fluids that could be dispensed by the dispensing system 100. U.S. Pat. No. 6,214,299, which is incorporated by reference, describes an exemplary solution that may be dispensed by dispensing system 100.

Note that, as described above for some embodiments, it is unnecessary for the dispensing system 100 to dispense fluid into a duct 102. For example, the nozzle 103 may be placed in a particular room and dispense fluid directly into the room without having the dispensed fluid travel through a duct 102. In fact, the HVAC unit 104, fan 106, and the duct 102 can be removed from the system 100, and the system 100 can be configured to be portable so that the system 100 can be carried into different rooms to dispense fluid. For example, the system 100 can be dimensioned to fit on a movable cart to easily transport the system 100 to different rooms. Such an embodiment of the system 100 may further have a fan positioned close to the nozzle 103 for blowing the dispensed fluid in order to facilitate its distribution.

Although the dispensing system 100 has generally been described above as a system for distributing liquids, it is possible for the dispensing system to be configured to dispense other types of substances, such as a gas, for example. In such embodiments, it may be desirable to have a pressure regulator control the pressure at the intake of a nozzle 103 being used to dispense the gas.

It should be noted that, in at least some embodiments, it may be desirable to mount the nozzle 103 such that liquid is generally dispensed from the nozzle 103 in a direction parallel to the flow of air. For example, FIG. 15 depicts an exemplary nozzle 103 mounted within a duct 102 through which heated or cooled air is blown via a fan 106. As shown by FIG. 15, the nozzle 103 is positioned such that liquid is dispensed in a direction that is downstream relative to the flow of air through the duct 102. Indeed, as shown by FIG. 15, the nozzle 103 dispenses liquid in substantially the same direction as the flow of air through the duct 102. By spraying the liquid in a downstream direction rather than an upstream direction, the sprayed liquid does not generally accumulate on the nozzle 103 but is instead carried away from the nozzle 103 by the moving air. Further, spraying the liquid in the downstream direction helps to prevent the liquid from accumulating on the inner walls of the duct 102. For example, if the liquid is dispensed from the nozzle 103 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the flow of air, then it is likely (depending on the output velocity of the spray from the nozzle 103) that a substantial portion of the spray may reach an inner wall of the duct 102 before it is carried downstream by the movement of the air through the duct 102. Such an effect can significantly limit the amount of the sprayed liquid that reaches the rooms serviced by the dispensing system 100.

In addition, some conventional HVAC units have been implemented with ultraviolet (UV) systems that use UV radiation to kill bacteria in the air blown by the HVAC unit. Further, conventional HVAC units have also been used with humidifiers and/or dehumidifiers to control the humidity of the air blown by the HVAC unit. Any such UV system, humidifier, and/or dehumidifier may be similarly used with the HVAC unit 104 described herein to enable further treatment of the air being blown by the HVAC unit 104.

Various embodiments described above use a plurality of valves to control which substance is dispensed by the system 100. It is generally well-known that a multiple input or output selector valve may be used in lieu of separate valves. For example, FIG. 9 shows two valves 222 and 232 for respectively controlling dispensing from reservoirs 112 and 212 and two valves 115 and 215 for respectively controlling whether a substance is dispensed via nozzles 103 and 203. However, as shown by FIG. 16, a multiple input selector valve 492 may be used in lieu of valves 222 and 232, and a multiple output selector valve 495 may be used in lieu of valves 115 and 215. The valve 492 can be controlled to allow a substance from reservoir 112 and/or 212 to pass to tubular connection 237, and the valve 295 can be controlled to allow a substance from the pump 114 to pass to nozzle 103 and/or 203. Further, it is possible for the valve 492 to be controllable to allow a mixture output by the valve 492 to have a selected concentration of the substance from reservoir 112 and a selected concentration of the substance from reservoir 212. Thus, via inputs to the control unit 110, a user may not only control when substances are dispensed from the reservoirs 112 and 212 but also the relative concentration of the substances in any mixture being dispensed.

As indicated above, various configurations of the reservoir 112 are possible. In one exemplary embodiment, the reservoir 112 comprises a bag 511 situated in a box 515, as depicted by FIG. 17. The bag 511 can be composed of any suitable material, such as plastic, and the box 515 can be composed of a somewhat rigid material, such as cardboard, to facilitate transportation of the bag 511. For example, several boxes 515, each of which contains a bag 511 as shown by FIG. 17, can be stacked on each other or stacked side by side for easy shipment. Further, the box 515 may have at least one slit 518 of sufficient size to enable a user to slide one or more fingers through the slit 518 for easily grasping the box 511.

The bag 511 preferably contains a substance to be dispensed through the nozzle 103 and has an outlet 517 for allowing the substance to pass out of the bag 511. During shipping, this outlet 517 can be sealed to prevent the substance from exiting the bag 511. Once the bag 511 and box 515 arrive at the premises of the system 100, the seal can be broken, and the outlet 517 can be interfaced with an end of the tubular connection 107, as shown by FIG. 18. In this regard, the end of the tubular connection 107 may have an inlet 522 that is configured to mate with the outlet 517 so that the substance in the bag 511 can flow through the outlet 517 and into the tubular connection 107.

Note that, if desired, the outlet 517 can be positioned within the box 515. For example, the box 515 may have a perforated section that can be easily removed or punctured to form a hole 525 through which the outlet 517 or inlet 522 can pass thereby enabling mating of the outlet 517 and inlet 522. Such a section of the box 515 may be removed or punctured to form the hole 525 prior to, during, or after shipping. In addition, if desired, the box 515 can be opened after shipping and the bag 511 can be removed from the box 515 to enable mating of the outlet 517 and inlet 522. In such a case, forming the hole 525 is unnecessary. After dispensing, a substance can be added to the bag 511 to replenish the substance dispensed from the bag 511, or the bag 511 can be effectively replaced by mating the inlet 522 with a new bag 511 filled with the same or different substance.

Claims

1. A system for dispensing substances into a room of a building, comprising:

a plurality of reservoirs, each of the reservoirs containing a different substance relative to the other reservoirs;

at least one nozzle positioned within the building such that a substance dispensed from the at least one nozzle passes into the room;

at least one pump coupled to the at least one nozzle and the reservoirs; and

logic configured to control dispensing of substances from each of the reservoirs, the logic further configured to enable a user to select, for dispensing through the at least one nozzle, substances from any of the reservoirs.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of valves, wherein the logic, by controlling the valves, is configured to control from which of the reservoirs a substance dispensed through the at least one nozzle is drawn.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic is configured to enable the user to define a schedule for dispensing substances through the at least one nozzle, the logic further configured to cause substances from different ones of the reservoirs to be automatically dispensed through the at least one nozzle at different times based on the schedule.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one nozzle is positioned within a duct of an air conditioner, wherein the air conditioner has a fan, and wherein the logic is configured to activate the fan based on the schedule.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic is configured to enable a user to select, for dispensing through the at least one nozzle, a mixture of substances from each of the reservoirs.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a user input interface; and

a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit, to the logic, data indicative of a user input received via the user input interface,

wherein the logic is configured to activate dispensing of a substance from at least one of the reservoirs through the at least one nozzle based on the data.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the user input interface and the wireless transmitter are coupled to a key chain.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one nozzle is positioned within a duct of an air conditioner.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the air conditioner has a fan, and wherein the logic is configured activate the fan in response to a determination that a substance is to be dispensed through the at least one nozzle.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the air conditioner has a thermostat controller configured to sense a temperature within the building and to activate the fan based on the sensed temperature, and wherein the logic is configured to activate the fan in response to the determination during a time period that the thermostat controller determines that the fan is not to be activated based on the sensed temperature.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the air conditioner has a thermostat controller configured to sense a temperature within the building and to activate the fan based on the sensed temperature, and wherein the logic is configured to activate the fan in response to the determination independent of the thermostat controller.

12. A dispensing system, comprising:

a plurality of reservoirs, each of the reservoirs containing a different substance relative to the other reservoirs;

a plurality of nozzles positioned within a building;

at least one pump coupled to the nozzles and the reservoirs; and

logic configured to enable a user to select, for dispensing through any of the nozzles, substances from any of the reservoirs.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of nozzles includes a first nozzle, and wherein the logic is configured to enable substances from each of the plurality of reservoirs to be simultaneously dispensed through the first nozzle.

14. A dispensing system, comprising:

at least one reservoir;

an air conditioner having a fan and a duct;

at least one nozzle positioned within a duct of the air conditioner;

at least one pump coupled to the at least one nozzle;

a clock; and

logic configured to enable a user to define a schedule for dispensing at least one substance from the at least one reservoir through the at least one nozzle, the logic further configured automatically activate dispensing of the at least one substance from the at least one reservoir through the at least one nozzle based on the schedule and the clock, the logic further configured to automatically activate the fan based on the schedule and the clock.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a user input interface; and

a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit, to the logic, data indicative of a user input received by the user input interface,

wherein the logic is configured to activate dispensing of a substance from the at least one reservoir through the at least one nozzle based on the data.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the user input interface and the wireless transmitter are coupled to a key chain.

17. A method for dispensing substances into a room of a building, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of reservoirs, each of the reservoirs containing a different substance relative to the other reservoirs;

positioning at least one nozzle within the building such that a substance dispensed from the at least one nozzle passes into the room; and

enabling a user to select, for automatic dispensing through the at least one nozzle, substances from any of the reservoirs.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

enabling the user to define a schedule for dispensing substances through the at least one nozzle; and

automatically dispensing through the at least one nozzle at different times based on the schedule.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one nozzle is positioned within a duct of an air conditioner having a fan, further comprising the step of automatically activating the fan and dispensing of a substance from at least one of the reservoirs based on the schedule.

20. A dispensing method, comprising the steps of:

providing at least one reservoir and a clock;

positioning at least one nozzle within a duct of an air conditioner;

enabling a user to define a schedule for dispensing at least one substance from the at least one reservoir through the at least one nozzle;

automatically dispensing the at least one substance from the at least one reservoir through the at least one nozzle based on the schedule and the clock; and

automatically activating the fan based on the schedule and the clock.