Abstract: A programmable controller circuit that can be connected directly to the fan switch of any thermostat with a forced air heating and/or cooling system that includes a blower fan for circulating air throughout the home. The controller can be installed with minimal modifications to the existing wiring. The present invention increases the efficiency of the cooling system by evaporating condensate and extracting residual coolness from the thermal mass of the evaporator coils. The present invention can be programmed with a single button. A method of adapting additional fan run time based on compressor run time.

Abstract: An intelligent thermostatic method for an air conditioner blowing cold and hot air has steps of calculating an estimated thermal load according to an indoor temperature, an outdoor temperature, a configured temperature, a sunlight intensity, and a cooling/heating capacity corresponding to the estimated thermal load; adjusting the air conditioner according to the estimated thermal load and providing an estimated cooling/heating capacity; and determining a difference value between an actual cooling/heating capacity and the estimated cooling/heating capacity and adjusting the air conditioner according to the difference value for thermostatic control. Accordingly, the air conditioner of the present invention has enhanced power utilization efficiency of the air conditioner without having to repeatedly turn on and off the electric compressor of the air conditioner.

Abstract: A method for control a temperature of a computing device detects a first CPU temperature TN1 using a thermal sensor, controls the fan to swivel from an angle corresponding to the initial cooling location to an angle corresponding to a new cooling location according to a preset swiveling angle of the fan to cool the CPU according to a preset initial rotational speed if the TN1 is not less than a preset maximum temperature Tmax of the CPU, detects a second CPU temperature TN2 using the thermal sensor if the cooling time of the fan at the initial rotational speed is equal to the preset cooling time. The method controls the fan to swivel from the angle corresponding to the new cooling location to the angle corresponding to the initial cooling location according to the swiveling angle of the fan if the TN2 is less than the Tmax.

Abstract: A thermostat may transmit a configuration parameter package in a computer readable form over a network to a remote device. The configuration parameter data package may include a listing of available configuration parameters for the wireless thermostat, as well as information regarding available parameter values for each of the configuration parameter. The thermostat may subsequently receive selection of one or more available parameter values from the remote device, and in some cases, may in response transmit a second configuration parameter package that is dependent, at least in part, on the received selected parameter value(s).

Abstract: Provided are energy management systems which are configured to receive real-time outside temperature at the location of a building, receive initial temperature control set points for each of one or more zones inside the building and adjust the temperature control set points for each zone of the plurality, taking the outside temperature and the initial temperature control set points for the zone as parameters. The adjusted set points can then be used to guide heating and/or cooling in the respective zone. Methods of setting up and using the systems are also provided.

Abstract: An air conditioning system for cooling an enclosure includes an air conditioner and a control system for triggering an economizer cycle of the air conditioner. The control system determines an electrical load of equipment in the enclosure, calculates a maximum acceptable outdoor temperature at which the economizer cycle may be operated based at least partially on the electrical load, receives data representative of an actual outdoor temperature, and initiates the economizer cycle if the actual outdoor temperature is equal to or below the maximum acceptable outdoor temperature.

Abstract: The disclosure provides systems and methods of use of an HVAC graphical interface dashboard. In various embodiments, the dashboard includes a weather tab, wherein invoking the weather tab advances to a weather screen. The dashboard also includes an indoor humidity tab. A programs tab and a home tab are also provided. The indoor humidity tab can further be used to set current indoor humidity setpoints.

Abstract: The invention comprises systems and methods for estimating the rate of change in temperature inside a structure. At least one thermostat located is inside the structure and is used to control an climate control system in the structure. At least one remote processor is in communication with said thermostat and at least one database stores data reported by the thermostat. At least one processor compares the outside temperature at at least one location and at least one point in time to information reported to the remote processor from the thermostat. The processor uses the relationship between the inside temperature and the outside temperature to determine whether the climate control system is “on” or “off”.

Abstract: A new system and associated methods are disclosed for minimize a thermostat hardware to reduce its cost, while allowing the user to regulate temperature based on information from one or more external door/window sensors, motion sensors and temperature sensors coupled indirectly to the thermostat through an Internet service. From anywhere with Internet access, the user can specify various types of algorithms to be carried out on the Internet service through a scripting language, including turning off HVAC function when a door or window sensor detects opening, turning on HVAC when a motion sensor detects motion, and controlling the thermostat based on temperature reading from the same motion sensor that last detected motion or human presence. With a prior art thermostat, user often has to press the temperature setting button multiple times until the temperature setting is raised above or lowered below current temperature to turn on heat or cooling HVAC functions.

Abstract: Optimum temperature in a room is controlled by directly and dynamically sensing the body temperatures of one or more people in the room and storing a set of parameters to be correlated with the sensed body temperatures in determining a selected optimum room temperature. The sensed body temperatures are wirelessly transmitted to be correlated with the set of parameters wherein optimum room temperature is determined based on those parameters. In response to this correlation, a selected optimum room temperature may be provided by appropriate heating or cooling.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention describe thermostats that are configured to precondition an enclosure and methods for performing the same. According to one embodiment, a method of preconditioning an enclosure includes providing a thermostat and computing a set of preconditioning criteria information (PCI) with said thermostat. The computed PCI is typically representative of time and ambient temperature conditions for which preconditioning should be performed. The PCI may be stored in memory and used to compare against a current time and current ambient temperature condition of the enclosure to determine whether to enter the thermostat into a preconditioning state. If a determination is made that the PCI criteria are satisfied, the thermostat may be entered into the preconditioning state to heat or cool the enclosure. One or more of these processes may be performed while a processor of the thermostat is in a relatively high power mode or relatively low power mode.

Abstract: A system is provided for remote control of at least one operating condition of a site. The system includes a proximity detection module at a residential site, which is configured to receive a communication regarding a location of a location reporting device or a mobile device. The proximity detection module is configured to alter or adjust a current temperature setting for the site based on a distance or location of the location reporting device or mobile device relative to the site.

Abstract: A control system for governing temperature and humidity levels within a confined space including a controller communicatively coupled to a cooling system, a heating system, a duct system, a plurality of environmental sensors for detecting temperature and humidity levels within the confined space and external to the confined space, and an external air intake for introducing air external to the confined space to within the confined space. The control system may further include predictive heating and predictive cooling configurations having a computing device communicatively connected to the controller and to an environmental forecast source.

Abstract: Thermostatic HVAC and other energy management controls that are connected to a computer network. For instance, remotely managed load switches incorporating thermostatic controllers inform an energy management system, to provide enhanced efficiency, and to verify demand response with plug-in air conditioners and heaters. At least one load control device at a first location comprises a temperature sensor and a microprocessor. The load control device is configured to connect or disconnect electrical power to the an attached air conditioner or heater, and the microprocessor is configured to communicate over a network. In addition, the load control device is physically separate from an air conditioner or heater but located inside the space conditioned by the air conditioner or heater.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for restricting access to a control unit in an environmental system based on a lock level. The control unit (e.g., a thermostat) is configured with a selected lock level, where each lock level is mapped to an associated set of features. A user is able to access any of the features from the associated set of features without entering a security sequence. Also, a feature parameter may be restricted in accordance with the activated lock level. The control unit may be reconfigured with a different lock level by an administrator only when a security sequence is entered. Also, features may be mapped by an administrator to a set of features when the control unit is operating in the locked state. When the control unit is operating in the unlocked state, all supported features can be accessed by a user.

Abstract: A device stores control settings for an air conditioning unit for a space that houses power-consuming equipment. The air conditioning unit includes an economizer configured to supply outside cooling air when the economizer is in an active state. The device receives an inside temperature value associated with the space, and receives a real-time or near-real-time operating load value for the power-consuming equipment. The device determines, based on the inside temperature value, the operating load value, and the control settings, an outside temperature threshold for starting the economizer. The device determines if an outside temperature reading associated with the space is below the outside temperature threshold, and activates the economizer when the outside air temperature reading is below the outside temperature threshold.

Abstract: The disclosure includes systems and methods of use of an HVAC graphical interface dashboard. In various embodiments the dashboard includes a weather tab, wherein invoking the weather tab advances to a weather screen. The dashboard also includes an indoor humidity tab, wherein invoking the indoor humidity tab advances to a humidity screen which displays at least a current indoor humidity. The dashboard further includes an alerts tab, wherein invoking the alerts tab advances to an alerts screen. The dashboard still further includes a help tab, wherein invoking the help tab advances to a help screen that provides context sensitive help that presents at least one dialog box related to a function of a current screen. A programs tab and a home tab are also provided, and a subnet controller informs said dashboard to display a specific screen and instructs it how to fill in data.

Abstract: There is described herein the extension of the application of the Laplace Test Statistic for trend analysis and prediction of incipient faults for power systems. The extensions consider the situation where two parameters believed to contribute explicitly to the eventual failure are monitored. The developed extensions applied to actual incipient failure events provide promising results for prediction of the impending failure. It is demonstrated that by incorporating two parameters in the trend analysis, the robustness to outliers is increased and the flexibility is augmented by increasing the degrees of freedom in the generation of the alarm signal.

Abstract: A setting value controlling device comprises: a setting value information collecting and storing portion for collecting and storing temperature setting values from an air-conditioner controlling device; a setting value reset evaluating portion for resetting the temperature setting value to a reference setting value if the temperature setting value is not a more energy-conserving setting than the reference setting value when a specific reset time has been reached; and a reference setting value updating portion for updating the reference setting value to the updated temperature setting value if, when the temperature setting value has been updated by a user, the updated temperature setting value is a more energy-conserving setting than the reference setting value and a specific time interval has elapsed since updating of the temperature setting value.

Abstract: An integrated attic ventilation, air conditioning and heating system electronic controller, with a system and method for use of the same, is disclosed. In one embodiment, the integrated electronic controller includes a housing configured to be secured within an attic space in a building structure having a living area. A temperature input and humidity input receive ambient temperature and humidity readings, respectively. The ambient measurements are compared to pre-determined temperature and humidity thresholds. If a threshold is exceeded, signals are send to actuate, in a coordinated fashion, a powered air intake and powered attic exhaust assembly. The powered air intake and powered attic exhaust assembly are operated intermittently, in coordination with the HVAC system, initially at a first set of extreme thresholds and operated constantly at a second set of more extreme thresholds.

Abstract: A load processing balance setting apparatus includes first and second air-conditioners for targeted first and second areas, a calculating unit, a determining unit and an adjusting unit. The first area is included within the second area. The calculating unit calculates a sum of an air-conditioning load for the first and second air-conditioners. Preferably, the determining unit determines a first and second processing throughputs for the first and second air-conditioners so that a COP (Coefficient of Performance) for the sum of the air-conditioning loads calculated by the calculating unit is maximized or is equal to or greater than a predetermined level, or so that a power consumption level for the sum of the air-conditioning loads calculated by the calculating unit is minimized or is equal to or less than a predetermined level. The adjusting unit controls the first and second air-conditioners based on the first and second processing throughputs.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of methods and apparatuses to provide a cooling arrangement for a system are described. The system includes a component coupled to a heat sink. A signal associated with a temperature control of the component is asserted. A target temperature of the heat sink is adjusted based on the signal. In one embodiment, a temperature control loop of the heat sink is operated. The temperature of the heat sink may be monitored using one or more sensors placed on the heat sink. An operation of the component, a cooling unit coupled to the heat sink, or both, may be adjusted based on a relationship between the temperature of the heat sink and an adjusted target temperature. Adjusting the target temperature of the heat sink based on the asserted signal increases efficiency of the system while decreasing cooling.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hot water circulation system associated with a heat pump and a method for controlling the same. The present invention allows the system to be defrosted while hot water supply or a heating operation is performed, making it possible to improve a phenomenon that heating efficiency is deteriorated.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed for operating, managing or controlling one or more network computing devices housed in a chassis capable of being mounting in a ceiling space or a floor space for a room. Operating, managing or controlling may include adjusting one or more fans to direct airflow either away or towards the room or powering a light emitting diode array attached with the chassis to provide lighting to the room. Examples are also disclosed for using an aggregator to operate, manage or control an array of network computing devices separately housed in chassis capable of being mounted in a ceiling space or floor space for one or more rooms.

Abstract: A control device that controls a plurality of air conditioners includes a data memory section for storing performance model data representing the relationship between air conditioning capability and power consumption for each of the plurality of air conditioners. An overall air conditioning load calculating section calculates an overall load that is the sum of air conditioning loads of the plurality of air-conditioning apparatuses. An air conditioning capability allocation calculating section an air conditioning capability for each of the plurality of air conditioners on the basis of the performance model data and the overall load so that the sum of the air conditioning capability of the plurality of air conditioners is the overall load and the sum of the power consumption of the plurality of air conditioners is minimum. A control signal section sends a control signal related to the air conditioning capability to each of the plurality of air conditioners.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed technology comprise a computer with at least one fan which may change orientation based on anticipated or actual heat of a device within the computer. The fan, in an embodiment of the disclosed technology, may point towards a central processing unit, a graphics card, or any other device generating heat, and, based on various thresholds, the fan may change direction to remove hot air from a more urgently needed device or section of the interior of a computer.

Abstract: Automatic adjustment of the control and operation of pool or spa equipment is made based upon a time of year, a geographic location, or both. A controller receives input of the time of year or the geographic location of the pool or spa equipment, or both. The controller then automatically adjusts one or more functions of the pool or spa equipment based upon operational information associated with the time of year and/or geographic location. A user interface connected with the controller may be also used to select a mode of operation, input time or geographic location information, and/or adjust various parameters affecting the automatic seasonal or geographic adjustment of the pool or spa equipment.

Abstract: An electrical equipment management system includes: a total electrical energy information acquiring unit disposed in a building having a plurality of sections, the unit to acquire total electrical energy information indicative of total electrical energy consumed in a whole of the sections; an individual electrical energy acquiring unit to acquire individual electrical energy information indicative of electrical energy consumption in each section depending on the total electrical energy; and a control information output unit to output control information for controlling operation of electrical equipment disposed in the sections so that electrical energy consumption thereof does not exceed an upper limit, in accordance with difference between the individual electrical energy information and upper limit information indicative of an upper limit of electrical energy consumption for each predetermined period for each of the sections as well as remaining period information indicative of a remaining period before a l

Abstract: A programmable thermostat may be configured to control one or more pieces of HVAC equipment in accordance with a programmable schedule. The HVAC equipment may be capable of modifying a temperature of an inside space with at least a primary stage and an auxiliary stage. The programmable thermostat may include a memory for storing operating parameters of the programmable thermostat, a user interface configured to accept modification of operating parameters, including one or more droop values, and a controller coupled to the memory and the user interface. The controller attempts to control the temperature of the inside space with the primary stage of the HVAC equipment, but if the temperature of the inside space deviates from a desired setpoint temperature value by more than or equal to a programmed droop value, the controller may activate the auxiliary stage.

Abstract: Methods and system for facilitating multi-dimensional personal heating and cooling. User information is used as a mean to configure the temperature in a surrounding environment, thereby facilitating comfort for a user and, in the case wherein multiple users are accessing an area, classifying the area into a number of regions and maintaining each region at a different temperature and guiding the users to desired regions.

Abstract: Property-management or lock-setting thermostats have maximum and minimum set points locked in to prevent abuse of management-provided heating and/or air conditioning. An ePROM or similar internal memory device stores heating and cooling limit parameters that are set in by a technician at the time of installation. A plug-in flash memory module contains an unlock code to match the unlock code stored in said ePROM, to unlock the thermostat and allow the settings to be adjusted; when said flash memory module is removed the thermostat reverts to its lock condition. The thermostat can also respond to unusual rates of change of temperature to block furnace or A/C operation temporarily.

Abstract: A method of controlling a controllable device related to a building aperture, whereby a climate related characteristic for the aperture is adjusted by the device, and whereby the device is controlled in accordance with a climate and comfort program which is dependent on a control parameter, whereby the device is controlled in accordance with a time schedule provided by the climate and comfort program.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for cooling a data center. The apparatus comprises an air conditioning unit for supplying cooled air to a cold portion of a data center, an airflow measurement device for measuring a rate of bypass airflow through a segregation between the cold portion and hot portion of the data center, and outputting a bypass airflow signal indicative of the rate of bypass airflow between the cold portion and the hot portion, and a control unit arranged to receive the bypass airflow signal from the airflow measurement device and to output a control signal to a means for controlling a rate of the bypass airflow to maintain a predetermined rate of bypass airflow.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention describe thermostats that are configured to precondition an enclosure and methods for performing the same. According to one embodiment, a method of preconditioning an enclosure includes providing a thermostat and computing a set of preconditioning criteria information (PCI) with said thermostat. The computed PCI is typically representative of time and ambient temperature conditions for which preconditioning should be performed. The PCI may be stored in memory and used to compare against a current time and current ambient temperature condition of the enclosure to determine whether to enter the thermostat into a preconditioning state. If a determination is made that the PCI criteria are satisfied, the thermostat may be entered into the preconditioning state to heat or cool the enclosure. One or more of these processes may be performed while a processor of the thermostat is in a relatively high power mode or relatively low power mode.

Abstract: A dynamically adjustable floor tile for a data center including a plurality of perforations; and a dynamically adjustable aperture, wherein opening the aperture exposes one or more of the perforations to airflow through the floor tile and closing the aperture blocks one or more of the apertures to airflow through the floor tile.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling climate within a building. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a smart climate unit for (i) obtaining distributed generator (DG) information pertaining to operation of a DG that generates power for the building, and (ii) controlling at least one climate condition within the building based on at least one of the DG information, local input, or remote input.

Abstract: A humidity estimation device connected with an air-conditioner includes a charge airflow rate estimation (CARE) unit, a charge air absolute humidity estimation (CAAHE) unit, an indoor generated vapor amount estimation (IGVAE) unit, and an indoor absolute humidity estimation (IAHE) unit. The CARE unit calculates an estimated charge airflow rate (ECAR) of the air-conditioner based on operation control information of the charge fan and a preset fan differential pressure. The CAAHE unit calculates an estimated charge air absolute humidity (ECAAH) of the air-conditioner based on a charge air temperature and a preset charge air relative humidity. The IGVAE unit calculates an estimated indoor generated vapor amount (EIGVA) based on an indoor temperature, the number of persons in the room and activity index values of the persons. The IAHE unit calculates an estimated absolute humidity in the room based on the ECAR, the ECAAH and the EIGVA.

Abstract: Systems are disclosed for allocating the cost of operating an HVAC system of a multiunit structure. The HVAC system comprises at least a first component that consumes energy based on thermostatic settings in a particular unit of the multiunit structure. In addition, associated with the multiunit structure, is a second component such as a central heating and air conditioning unit. The run time associated with the first component as reported by the thermostatic controller is used as a determinant of the cost of operation of the second component.

Abstract: The invention provides for a controller such as a thermostat for an HVAC System comprising a housing having a circuit board and a display screen, the display screen having at least one alpha-numeric icon and a group of input control areas. A microprocessor is provided for control on the display screen. Buttons are pressed in order to program set-points of the thermostat so that seven days may be programmed simultaneously. The display includes a seven-day icon so that the user can program the thermostat set-points rapidly (e.g. setting time and temperature settings with minimal steps). The user may activate a first programming mode wherein the activating occurs by depressing a programming-mode button for a first pre-selected duration in order to select a first day for setting the conditioning mode.

Abstract: The current application is directed to an intelligent-thermostat-controlled environmental-conditioning system in which computational tasks and subcomponents with associated intelligent-thermostat functionalities are distributed to one or more of concealed and visible portions of one or more intelligent thermostats and, in certain implementations, to one or more intermediate boxes. The intelligent thermostats are interconnected to intermediate boxes by wired and/or wireless interfaces and intelligent thermostats intercommunicate with one another by wireless communications. Wireless communications include communications through a local router and an ISP, 3G and 4G wireless communications through a mobile service provider. Components of the intelligent-thermostat-controlled thermostat-controlled environmental-conditioning system may also be connected by wireless communications to remote computing facilities.

Abstract: An environmental control systems (ECS) for an aircraft in which bleed air is cooled with ram air, the ECS may include a ram air controller configured to control a rate of ram air flow responsively to a desired temperature of bleed air at a bleed air outlet and a bleed air controller configured to control a rate of bleed air flow responsively to a temperature lower than the desired temperature of the bleed air at the bleed air outlet. Collectively the two controllers may provide a minimizing of ram air usage for cooling the bleed air.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for facilitating installation and configuration of a programmable HVAC controller. In one example, a guided programming routine can be activated by a user, which then guides a user through two or more screens that are designed to collect sufficient information from the user to generate and/or update at least some of the installation parameters of the HVAC controller for a particular HVAC installation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for modeling the behavior of an enclosure for use by a control system of an HVAC system are described. A model for the enclosure that describes the behavior of the enclosure for use by the control system is updated based on a weather forecast data. The weather forecast data can include predictions more than 24 hours in the future, and can include predictions such as temperature, humidity and/or dew point, solar output, precipitation. The model for the enclosure can also be updated based on additional information and data such as historical weather data such as temperature, humidity, wind, solar output and precipitation, occupancy data, such as predicted and/or detected occupancy data, calendar data, and data from the one or more weather condition sensors that sense current parameters such as temperature, humidity, wind, precipitation, and/or solar output.

Abstract: A safety control method for a fan includes: capturing an image of an object next to the fan and gathering distances between a plurality of points on the object and a depth-sensing camera, obtaining the distance between the object in the scene and the fan, comparing the distance between the object and the fan against a first preset value, and cutting off power to the fan when the distance between the object and the fan is less than the first preset value.

Abstract: A hybrid heating system and method including: (a) a heat pump water heating system; (b) a conventional heating system including a conventional heater having a surface heat exchanger, and a primary circulation arrangement fluidly communicating with the surface exchanger, the primary circulation arrangement adapted to effect an exchange of heat between the surface heat exchanger and a flow of liquid to produce a heated flow of liquid; (c) a plurality of sensors associated with the heat exchange system; (d) an input arrangement adapted to provide cost data pertaining to a first power cost for supplying power to the heat pump system, and to cost information pertaining to a second power cost for operating the conventional system, and (e) a processor including a memory storing criteria specifying when to operate the heat pump water heating system, and when to operate the conventional heating system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for incorporating manual changes to the setpoint for a thermostatic controller into long-term programming of the thermostatic controller. For example, one or more of the exemplary systems compares the actual setpoint at a given time for the thermostatic controller to an expected setpoint for the thermostatic controller in light of the scheduled programming. A determination is then made as to whether the actual setpoint and the expected setpoint are the same or different. Furthermore, a manual change to the actual setpoint for the thermostatic controller is compared to previously recorded setpoint data for the thermostatic controller. At least one rule is then applied for the interpretation of the manual change in light of the previously recorded setpoint data.

Abstract: There are provided a refrigerator and a method of controlling the same. When a difference between a temperature of an inside of a freezer compartment and a set temperature is referred to as a first error temperature and when a difference between a temperature of an inside of a refrigerator compartment and the set temperature is referred to as a second error temperature, the method of controlling a refrigerator includes varying stroke of an inverter linear compressor to operate the inverter linear compressor by a maximum output when the first or second error temperature is higher than a maximum output temperature and varying the stroke of the inverter linear compressor at least once in a freezer or refrigerator cycle one period to operate the inverter linear compressor when the first or second error temperature is no more than the maximum output temperature.

Abstract: A method of managing a site includes monitoring an activation of a proximity detection function of a plurality of sites, with each site having a first zone as a home zone and a second zone having a boundary that is away from the first zone. The method proceeds by displaying an indicator within a web-based GUI enabling each user of each site to activate and deactivate use of the proximity detection function. Each site can include multiple users associated with each respective site. The method proceeds by detecting the multiple users as being home or away using the proximity detection function and then altering an operating condition of a network device located at at least one of the plurality of sites in response to a last user of the multiple users leaving the first zone.

Abstract: A household energy management system uses measurements of the household electricity supply to identify and to determine the energy consumption of individual household appliances. From these measurements, models can be built of the behavior of the occupants of the house, the thermal properties of the house and the efficiency of the appliances. Using the models, the household appliances—in particular heating and cooling appliances—can be controlled to optimize energy efficiency; and maintenance programs for the appliances and for the house itself can be recommended to the householder or arranged with a service company.

Abstract: A system for regulating gas flow for a computer room containing computer components includes vents configured to direct gas from a gas supply toward the computer components, sensors disposed and configured to provide information regarding at least a first property associated with the computer components, and a controller coupled to the sensors and the vents and configured to effect a change in gas flow through a second one of the vents in accordance with a first value of the first property associated with a first of the computer components.