Abstract: A smart HVAC system adapted for selectively regulating fluid flow into a space generally includes an HVAC system including at least one active vent, a preferably variable blower fluidly coupled thereto, and at least one sensor associated with each vent, wherein the sensor is operable to cause the associated vent to shift between opened and closed conditions, and/or preferably the blower output to change, when an occupant is autonomously detected within at least a portion of the space.

Abstract: A central air-conditioning system conditions a house having a plurality of rooms. When a person is not present in any of the rooms, each room is conditioned in energy-saving conditioning mode having a low load. On the other hand, when the person is detected in any of the rooms, a controller switches an operating mode for conditioning the room, in which the person is detected, from the energy-saving conditioning to rapid conditioning. Air-conditioner ducts respectively connected to the remaining rooms are closed. Therefore, cold air or warm air from an air-conditioning unit is supplied to the room in which the person is detected, while the cold air or warm air is not supplied to the rooms in which the person is not present. As a result, the room that has been switched from energy-saving conditioning to rapid conditioning is conditioned in a concentrated manner.

Abstract: An auxiliary controller for an HVAC system includes a thermostat interface for receiving control signals by wire from a thermostat; an HVAC system interface for providing control signals by wire to an HVAC system; a security system interface for receiving armed status signals by wire from a security system; and processing structure configured to, while the security system is disarmed, permit routing of all control signals received from a thermostat to an HVAC system and, upon arming of the security system, invoke a setback mode including controlling the routing to reduce energy consumption.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a programmable thermostat are described herein. One or more system embodiments include a programmable thermostat having a first management profile; a data acquisition subsystem; and a data analysis subsystem. The data acquisition subsystem is configured to receive thermostat data from the programmable thermostat, and the data analysis subsystem is configured to receive the thermostat data from the data acquisition subsystem, and determine a second management profile for the programmable thermostat based, at least in part, on the thermostat data.

Abstract: An environment control system for controlling the temperature in a room, the system comprises a heating and cooling system; a thermostat for monitoring the temperature within a room and controlling the heating and cooling system; a motion sensor for detecting whether a door or window to the room has been opened; a presence detector for detecting whether the room is currently occupied; and a control system in communication with the thermostat, the motion sensor, and the presence detector, the control system being configured to control the room's temperature via the thermostat based at least in part on signals received from the thermostat, the motion detector and the presence detector.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting low levels of humidity (i.e. less than 10%) inside an automotive vehicle is provided whereby the total absolute humidity inside the vehicle is determined by multiplying the number of occupants in the vehicle by an absolute humidity factor to obtain a total absolute humidity expelled by the vehicle occupants. The absolute humidity outside the vehicle is added to the total absolute humidity expelled by the vehicle occupants to arrive at a total vehicle cabin absolute humidity.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting low levels of humidity (i.e. less than 10%) inside an automotive vehicle is provided whereby the total absolute humidity inside the vehicle is determined by multiplying the number of occupants in the vehicle by an absolute humidity factor to obtain a total absolute humidity expelled by the vehicle occupants. The absolute humidity outside the vehicle is added to the total absolute humidity expelled by the vehicle occupants to arrive at a total vehicle cabin absolute humidity.

Abstract: A refrigeration unit and a respective control and management assembly, comprising a refrigeration assembly and at least one power input for its electrical power supply. The refrigeration unit comprising at least one signal input and at least one control switch, which is arranged along a power line which corresponds to the power input. The control switch controlling the power line and the data that arrive from the respective signal input being suitable for driving the control switch for consequently determining the presence/absence of electrical power supply for said refrigeration assembly.

Abstract: In an air-conditioning control system, a ventilating device performs ventilation between an indoor space and an outdoor space, and an absence detecting unit for detecting absence of a human within the indoor space. An air conditioning controller adapted to operated, when the absence of the human is detected by the absence detecting unit, the ventilating device during at least a part of an absence period to control a thermal environment within the indoor space.

Abstract: Control units for three indoor units of air conditioners installed in a same indoor space are connected by a communication line. Each of the control units can grasp the detection information of the human detection sensor, preset temperature information of the remote controller, inlet temperature information of the inlet temperature sensor of all of the other air conditioners in the same space. On the basis of the above-mentioned information, each of the control units calculates an air-conditioning load of each of the air-conditioning target spaces and the air-conditioning load of an entire air-conditioning space on the basis of these air-conditioning target spaces in the same manner. A compressor is driven and controlled on the basis of a calculation result thereof to perform a power-saving operation of the entire air-conditioning space.

Abstract: Disclosed is an air conditioner, in which, when a temperature sensor is rotated, the rotating speed of the temperature sensor is increased or the temperature sensing cycle is elongated in a rotating section where an object does not exist rather than in a rotating section where the object exists. Further, the rotating speed of the temperature sensor is increased or the temperature sensing cycle is elongated if the object is located at a short distance from the air conditioner rather than if the object is located at a normal distance from the air conditioner, and the rotating speed of the temperature sensor is decreased or the temperature sensing cycle is shortened if the object is located at a long distance from the air conditioner rather than if the object is located at a normal distance from the air conditioner.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically operating an HVAC fan for an automotive vehicle is provided where the vehicle includes an occupant detection system and an HVAC system including an HVAC computer. The user sets the heating/cooling temperature of the HVAC system to maximum and then sets the HVAC system to an automatic mode. The occupant detection system determines if there is at least one occupant inside the vehicle. The HVAC computer then automatically operates the HVAC fan based on a response from the occupant detection system.

Abstract: A control system for electrical appliances associated with an enclosure comprising a wireless occupancy sensor for monitoring the presence of a human occupant within the enclosure, a wireless receiver for receiving information from the sensor, electricity flow means capable of establishing or interrupting the flow of electricity to an electrical appliance associated with the enclosure in response to a signal from a controller, and a controller in communication with said receiver and said electricity flow means, the controller capable of monitoring environmental conditions in the enclosure and being programmable to drive the operation of the flow means in response to the information obtained by the receiver from the sensor according to a set of pre-established instructions.

Abstract: Provided are an air conditioner and a method for controlling the air conditioner. The air conditioner includes an input unit receiving an input air-conditioning temperature for an indoor space, an air-conditioning unit generating a cool or hot wind having the input air-conditioning temperature, and a location detecting unit for detecting a user s location in the indoor space. A direction and temperature of the cool or hot wind generated by the air-conditioning unit are adjusted in accordance with whether a user is detected in the indoor space by the location detecting unit.

Abstract: An air-conditioning system includes an air-conditioning unit that is switchable between local air-conditioning and overall air-conditioning, a data acquisition unit configured to acquire state quantity data of a requester, and a control unit. The control unit calculates comfort assessment values for both the requester and a neighbor, and controls the air-conditioning unit so that the local air-conditioning is performed to an extent whereby the comfort assessment value of the neighbor is kept in a comfort range and the comfort assessment value of the requester can be within the comfort range.

Abstract: A regulation control system of air conditioning equipment is provided according to the present invention; the regulation control system mainly interconnects an entrance guarding device and/or a human body movement detecting device with an air conditioning control device, by this way, data of air conditioning usage surroundings condition are generated by the entrance guarding device and/or the human body movement detecting device, and then an air conditioning control device executes regulation and control over the air conditioning equipment based on the data of air conditioning usage surroundings condition with referring to a set of preset regulation parameters; thereby providing the air conditioning equipment with proper regulation and control to operate in preset conditions, and further achieving objective of energy management of the air conditioning equipment.

Abstract: In a multi-zone control system for central forced air HVAC systems where the minimum conditioned airflow produced by the HVAC equipment significantly exceeds the airflow capacity to many of the zones, the invention is an energy saving method for choosing non-calling zones to receive excess airflow in. When satisfying calls for conditioning from one or a few zones, excess conditioned airflow is directed to non-calling zones. The method chooses occupied non-calling zones using a priority that provides comfort, and chooses unoccupied non-calling zones using a different priority that provides energy savings. Limits are provided for each zone to prevent excessive over conditioning in non-calling zones.

Abstract: An air conditioner in which a Carrier Sensing Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) algorithm is provided on a bidirectional RS-485 communication line, and a communication method thereof. The air conditioner includes an RS-485 communication module to transmit and receive data in an RS-485 communication mode, and a microcomputer to determine presence or absence of data on a communication line when data to be transmitted is generated, occupy the communication line if no data is present on the communication line, and then transmit the generated data to the communication line.

Abstract: A thermostat system with a thermostat control program is disclosed for controlling a Heating Ventilation and/or Air Conditioning (HVAC) system which incorporates a mechanism for detecting activity or occupancy in a room, area or conditioned space served by the HVAC system. The thermostat control program analyzes levels, counts or other aspects of activity detected in the conditioned space, with an operating sequence which may include pattern recognition techniques. The operating sequence of the thermostat control program may further depend upon time of day, and upon periods of time identified as being periods for special handling of occupancy, or the recognition of occupancy. These factors may then be utilized by the thermostat control program to influence determination of the temperature setpoint, or to select from alternative programming provided either by the user of the thermostat, or by factory programming, with purpose of balancing energy savings and comfort.

Abstract: Method for controlling a HVAC system in a vehicular compartment includes monitoring temperature of an occupant in the compartment from a location apart from the occupant, and controlling the HVAC system based on the monitored temperature. Occupant temperature may be monitored by infrared sensors, each arranged in an orientation to receive electromagnetic radiation from one or more seating locations in which occupants are likely to be situated. The temperature in each seating location is independently monitored. The HVAC system is controllable for each seating location based on the monitored temperature in that area. When monitoring of temperature in an area in which a driver of the vehicle is likely to be situated indicates presence of the driver, and no other areas indicate presence of a human occupant, the HVAC system is controllable such that all heat or air-conditioning provided by the HVAC system is directed to the driver.

Abstract: A thermostat apparatus for controlling a heat pump with supplemental resistive heating as typically contained in a Packaged Terminal Air Conditioning (PTAC) unit is disclosed which provides improvements in energy management by reducing energy usage as much as possible within user guidelines when the conditioned space served by the PTAC is not occupied. A reduced setpoint temperature determination is based upon measurements of thermal response within the conditioned space to application of supplemental or resistive heat, and utilizes supplemental or resistive heat in achieving a quick recovery when people enter the conditioned space, thus enabling a more reduced setpoint temperature when the space is not occupied.

Abstract: Methods of providing dehumidification control in unoccupied spaces are disclosed. An illustrative method can include the steps of providing a controller having an away mode of operation adapted to provide dehumidification within the interior space of a building or room, providing one or more system components adapted to control the humidity and/or temperature within the interior space, initiating the away mode of operation within the controller, and operating the one or more system components for at least one cycle to reduce the humidity within the interior space.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting low levels of humidity (i.e. less than 10%) inside an automotive vehicle is provided whereby the total absolute humidity inside the vehicle is determined by multiplying the number of occupants in the vehicle by an absolute humidity factor to obtain a total absolute humidity expelled by the vehicle occupants. The absolute humidity outside the vehicle is added to the total absolute humidity expelled by the vehicle occupants to arrive at a total vehicle cabin absolute humidity.

Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus including a heater or furnace includes a controller for receiving control signals from a thermostat and from a user interface for initiating a contingency mode of operation when a signal from the thermostat is not available. The user interface includes a visual display and multiple keys for entering the contingency mode which includes selecting a capacity of heat output of the apparatus and a duty cycle. The user interface may be disposed in the apparatus cabinet and connected directly to a microprocessor based controller for the apparatus. The contingency mode is automatically aborted if a fault signal is received by the controller, a signal is received from a thermostat or power to the apparatus is interrupted.

Abstract: A system is provided for use in a multi-unit building by which an occupant of a unit of the multi-unit building controls an appliance associated with the unit and includes an actuator which is accessible to the occupant, a processing unit to control the appliance, operative in the first mode, based on occupant instructions, to change the mode of the appliance based on an actuation of the actuator and to control the appliance, operative in the second mode, according to a preselected schedule, and a networking unit to inform, via communications, a monitor of the multi-unit building as to when the appliance operates in the second mode.

Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner, a cooling heat exchanger for cooling air is arranged in the air conditioning case, and a cooling/heating switching heat exchanger is arranged at a downstream air side of the cooling heat exchanger in the air conditioning case. A first bypass passage is provided at one side of the cooling heat exchanger in the air conditioning case, so that air flows through the first bypass passage while bypassing the cooling heat exchanger. A second bypass passage is provided at one side of the cooling/heating switching heat exchanger in the air conditioning case on an opposite side of the first bypass passage with respect to the first heat exchanger, so that air flows through the second bypass passage while bypassing the cooling/heating switching heat exchanger. Accordingly, a size of the air conditioner can be effectively decreased while a maximum cooling capacity can be sufficiently obtained.

Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning system includes an air-conditioner and an air outlet for opening and closing an opening formed in a rear part of a vehicle body. A control unit causes the air outlet to open and close the opening in accordance with changes in air conditions in a passenger compartment, so as to keep the passenger compartment environmentally good condition.

Abstract: When a front-passenger seat occupant detecting sensor indicates absence of an occupant in a front-passenger seat, an air conditioning control ECU adjusts a temperature measurement measured with a non-contacting temperature sensor for measuring a surface temperature of the occupant in the front-passenger seat and controls air conditioning state around the front-passenger seat based on the adjusted temperature measurement associated with the front-passenger seat.

Abstract: A space conditioning system for a building including production and occupied spaces provides precise control of exhaust and space conditioning equipment by taking into account multiple conditions and by using predictive control. The control method and system are illustrated by a commercial kitchen ventilation application.

Abstract: A ventilation and deodorization system includes a door lock switching unit for performing a locking and an unlocking of a vehicle door, an air conditioner which introduces outside air of a passenger compartment of the vehicle and blows the introduced outside air into the passenger compartment in a ventilation operation, and a control device for controlling its operation. When a door unlocking request signal is received as a remote operation signal by a receiving unit, the door lock switching unit performs the unlocking of the vehicle door, and the air conditioner performs the ventilation operation. Alternatively, an air cleaning operation is performed instead of the ventilation operation, while inside air of the passenger compartment is cleaned and circulated by an air cleaning device. Thus, the ventilation operation or the air cleaning operation can be performed while a battery consumption amount can be reduced.

Abstract: A smart, adaptive control system that monitors and influences physical conditions of an architectural setting. The architectural setting in which the system is deployed typically includes a plurality of private spaces and at least one community space. The individual private spaces, and the community spaces, may include an environmental control device that affects one or more physical conditions of the individual private space. Each private space may also include an environmental sensor that measures a particular physical condition of the private space. The private spaces may also include one or more occupant sensors, which measure either behavioral or physiological parameters of an occupant. The environmental control devices, environmental sensors, and occupant sensors are in communication with a computer. The computer is also in communication with a database, which houses a data set that describes how to best modify the physical conditions of the architectural setting.

Abstract: An air conditioning control system for controlling the air conditioning system of a vehicle. The air conditioning control system is capable of determining the occupancy status of various locations in the vehicle interior. The air conditioning control system alters the flow rate of conditioned air to various portions of the vehicle interior based at least partially upon the occupancy of those areas of the vehicle interior. The air conditioning control system delivers increased amounts of conditioned air to the occupied portions of the vehicle interior when the conditioned air is of a comfortable temperature. The air conditioning control system delivers decreased amounts of conditioned air to the occupied portions of the vehicle interior when the conditioned air is most likely to be of an uncomfortable temperature.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a seat such as a vehicle seat are disclosed. The apparatus includes an electrical heater disposed in the seat, a cooling unit such as a cooling element and a fan, a detector for detecting the temperature associated with the electrical heater, and a controller for controlling the electrical heater and the cooler based upon the detected temperature and upon the humidity algorithm comprising a predetermined set of calculations of the humidity of air at different temperatures.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for using humidity level to adjust the temperature set point of an HVAC system for increased occupant comfort. In one illustrative embodiment, the temperature set point for the inside space is moved downward when the humidity of the inside space rises above a predetermined humidity set point threshold value. In warm climates, this causes the air conditioner of the HVAC system to be activated, which lowers the temperature of the inside space to a new lower temperature set point. In some embodiments, the HVAC system retains the new lower temperature set point for a predetermined time period. The predetermined time period may be dependent on a number of factors, including whether the space is expected to occupied or unoccupied.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner controls the air-conditioning automatically based on a control characteristic. The control characteristic, such as a blower voltage calculation map, is selected from plural control characteristics, or obtained by a calculation based on the personal information of the passenger or the manual operation for the air conditioner by the passenger. The control characteristic is selected or calculated as the one which is supposed to be suitable for the passenger's preference. The control characteristic can be used as a basis, or a specific characteristic for learning the passenger's preference after the control characteristic is determined.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner is controlled to directly lower the temperature of the interior equipment before a driver enters a vehicle, using an airflow from an air outlet. The air outlet can be placed on and/or against the interior equipment. The interior equipment can be an instrument panel, a steering wheel or a seat.

Abstract: A multi-zone climate control system and method for a vehicle. The system comprises a passenger seat occupancy detector at each of a plurality of passenger seats for generating a respective seat occupancy signal indicative of an occupancy condition of a respective seat. The system also includes a plurality of control units, wherein each of the control units is associated with a respective passenger seat location. The control units are used for selecting desired climate settings for each passenger location. A controller is in operative communication with each control unit and each passenger seat occupancy detector. The controller is operative to control the climate at each occupied passenger location according to the desired climate settings for the respective passenger location and modify the climate at each unoccupied passenger location to optimize the comfort at each occupied passenger location.

Abstract: A device for controlling an HVAC system in which opening a door or window for more than a shutdown delay period causes the fan and compressor to be deactivated, but opening and closing the door or window for less than the shutdown delay period does not affect the fan and compressor. Reactivation of the compressor is delayed for a startup delay, in order to avoid overcycling of the compressor and the additional wear and tear and maintenance that would be caused thereby. Preferably, the door/window sensors are wireless for ease of installation and maintenance. Optionally, an occupancy sensor and occupancy timer are provided to turn off the system if the room is unoccupied for an unoccupied delay time. Optionally, a secondary thermostat with energy saving settings is provided so that if the room is unoccupied for the occupancy delay, then instead of being shut off, the HVAC system will be operated at energy saving settings.

Abstract: To obtain an electricity storage type air conditioning apparatus which is capable of coping with the improvement in performance of the air conditioner or the needs for increase in cooling load and additional equipment to be installed afterward, by which it becomes possible to easily reduce the power consumption in the daytime even for an existing apparatus in which peak power cut is not considered, and which is suitable to reduce the noise and decrease the size.

Abstract: A combination bath fan, register box, air conditioning and heating boot requires one opening on the wall or the ceiling of the bathroom, thus reducing the installation and maintenance costs associated with the ventilation of the bathroom. The combination includes a trim kit or assembly which is adapted to be fitted into a rough-in kit or assembly. The rough-in kit or assembly, typically mounted onto a building stud during the early phases of the building construction, has an air outlet which is connected to the outside air and an inlet for receiving conditioned air to be distributed within a confined space. The trim assembly or kit is installed in the rough-in assembly. Louvers are provided around the perimeter of the face plate of the trim assembly to dispense conditioned air from the air inlet to the confined space with the appropriate air gradient. Air flow through the louvers is controlled using one or more slidable dampers mounted above the louvers.

Abstract: The electric lock system combines an electric lock with an energy control unit such that when a guest key is used in the lock, the lock communicates with the energy control unit to move from an unsold state to a sold state. Optionally, the guest key has information which tells the lock when the guest will leave and the lock communicates to the energy control unit to move from the sold state to an unsold state. Another option, includes a motion detector and door switch which allows the lock to detect the presence of the guest in the room and allows the lock to further employ an occupied and unoccupied state. The combination of the electric lock system and the energy control unit provides energy savings in the heating and cooling of the room.

Abstract: An energy saving controller for an air conditioning system comprising a temperature sensor or sensing and measuring the temperature in an area to be controlled, a memory device for storing a first set and a second set of reference temperatures, each set of reference temperatures including a heating reference temperature and a cooling reference temperature, and a controller in communication with the memory device for selecting one of the first and second sets of reference temperatures in the memory and for comparing the selected set of reference temperatures to the measured temperature of the area. The controller is adapted to select one set of reference temperatures when the area is unoccupied by a person and to select the other set of reference temperatures when the area is occupied by a person. The occupancy information is provided to the controller by an occupancy detector. A system switch is provided that communicates with the controller and selects between a heating mode, a cooling mode, and an off mode.

Abstract: An apparatus for activating climate control systems in response to the entry and/or presence of person(s) in a dwelling. An interior sensor apparatus includes a motion or thermal energy detection unit which emits a signal in response to the presence of person(s) within a room. A door entry sensor emits a signal upon entry of person(s) into the dwelling. A climate control unit, such as an air conditioner, has a default temperature setting which is activated upon the expiration of a timing sequence maintained by a timing circuit. The timing circuit is reset upon detection of persons by the motion/thermal detection unit or the door entry sensor.

Abstract: This document describes an energy management system in which microprocessor based thermostats are used to control individual room temperatures in a multiple room building in accordance with the known occupancy status of the room. The occupancy status information, as well as other control parameters, are transmitted to the thermostats from a central computer program. The control of a heating and cooling appliances is performed by an algorithm running on the electronic thermostat, which performs this function in accordance with these downloaded parameters. The system, allows room occupants to control the temperature of an occupied room within preset limits, automatically limits energy usage in unoccupied rooms, and provides additional facilities for energy management and general building management.

Abstract: An infrared object detector, especially for an air conditioner is provided with a light receiving unit including a light block between a pair of hemispherical Fresnel lenses arranged in parallel on a printed circuit board, so that light receiving views intersect each other to thereby define three detection areas. From a signal output from the light receiving unit, the distance to a detected object is determined through a signal processing circuit and a program built in a microcomputer. The rotational speed of a fan in the air conditioner is classified into three stages according to the determined distance, and a command is issued for controlling the operation of an air conditioner according to the number, movements, movement degrees to persons. Therefore, the airflow of the air conditioner is controlled based on the command, thereby performing an optimum air conditioning. Further, the infrared object detector can be applied to a camcorder or a camera, to determine the distance to an object more accurately.

Abstract: An object detector for an air conditioner has a signal detection input unit in which a light block is provided between a pair of Fresnel lenses spaced in parallel by a predetermined distance on a printed circuit board, thereby defining substantially three detection areas. The signal detection input unit detects the number, locations and movement distance of persons present indoor from a received signal, and outputs a signal representative of the information. Then, a command for the operation of an air conditioner is issued according to the information signal, thereby enabling the optimum operation of the air conditioner under circumstances.