Abstract: Occupancy detection is an increasingly important part of building control logic, as new systems and control logic greatly benefit from human-in-the-loop sensing. Current approaches such as CO2 monitoring, acoustic detection, and PIR based motion detection are limited in scope, as these variables are a proxy for occupancy, and at best can be roughly correlated to occupancy, and cannot reliably provide a count of the number of occupants. The disclosed sensor uses thermal information that is continually being emitted by human occupants and optical processing to count and spatially resolve the location of occupants in a room, allowing ventilation flow rates to be properly controlled and directed, if enabled. Occupant detection and counting cheaply and reliably without moving parts is the holy grail of building controls at the moment, which are the basic design principles behind the disclosed inexpensive, static, and stable thermographic occupancy detection sensor.

Abstract: A mean radiant temperature sensor is used to measure radiant heat exchange to determine comfort. Disclosed herein are a spherical-motion average radiant temperature sensor (SMART Sensor) device or system, and an associated method, for taking an average overall global reading while also being able to record weighting for different directions easily in spherical coordinates.

Abstract: A roll-diaphragm compressor and a roll-diaphragm compressors system, including methods for manufacturing and using same. The roll-diaphragm compressor includes a compressor body having a concave portion that defines a rounded interface wall and an apex portion adjacent to the concave portion that comprises an inlet and outlet port. The roll-diaphragm compressor also includes a flexible roll-diaphragm coupled to the compressor body about a compressor body edge and a compression chamber defined by the concave portion, apex portion and roll-diaphragm. The roll-diaphragm compressor further includes a piston head rigidly coupled to a central portion of the roll-diaphragm and configured to drive the roll-diaphragm to a first configuration where the roll-diaphragm engages the interface wall as part of a compression cycle.

Abstract: A roll-diaphragm compressor and a roll-diaphragm compressors system, including methods for manufacturing and using same. The roll-diaphragm compressor includes a compressor body having a concave portion that defines a rounded interface wall and an apex portion adjacent to the concave portion that comprises an inlet and outlet port. The roll-diaphragm compressor also includes a flexible roll-diaphragm coupled to the compressor body about a compressor body edge and a compression chamber defined by the concave portion, apex portion and roll-diaphragm. The roll-diaphragm compressor further includes a piston head rigidly coupled to a central portion of the roll-diaphragm and configured to drive the roll-diaphragm to a first configuration where the roll-diaphragm engages the interface wall as part of a compression cycle.

Abstract: A roll-diaphragm compressor and a roll-diaphragm compressors system, including methods for manufacturing and using same. The roll-diaphragm compressor includes a compressor body having a concave portion that defines a rounded interface wall and an apex portion adjacent to the concave portion that comprises an inlet and outlet port. The roll-diaphragm compressor also includes a flexible roll-diaphragm coupled to the compressor body about a compressor body edge and a compression chamber defined by the concave portion, apex portion and roll-diaphragm. The roll-diaphragm compressor further includes a piston head rigidly coupled to a central portion of the roll-diaphragm and configured to drive the roll-diaphragm to a first configuration where the roll-diaphragm engages the interface wall as part of a compression cycle.

Abstract: A mean radiant temperature sensor is used to measure radiant heat exchange to determine comfort. Disclosed herein are a spherical-motion average radiant temperature sensor (SMART Sensor) device or system, and an associated method, for taking an average overall global reading while also being able to record weighting for different directions easily in spherical coordinates.

Abstract: A roll-diaphragm compressor and a roll-diaphragm compressors system, including methods for manufacturing and using same. The roll-diaphragm compressor includes a compressor body having a concave portion that defines a rounded interface wall and an apex portion adjacent to the concave portion that comprises an inlet and outlet port. The roll-diaphragm compressor also includes a flexible roll-diaphragm coupled to the compressor body about a compressor body edge and a compression chamber defined by the concave portion, apex portion and roll-diaphragm. The roll-diaphragm compressor further includes a piston head rigidly coupled to a central portion of the roll-diaphragm and configured to drive the roll-diaphragm to a first configuration where the roll-diaphragm engages the interface wall as part of a compression cycle.