Abstract: The object of the present invention is to supply air to passengers in an automobile so that they will feel more comfortable in the presence of solar radiation by suppressing a rise in temperature in a vehicle passenger compartment caused by solar radiation. There is provided a cold air damper which feeds cold air immediately after an evaporator to a face blow port and mixes it with the conditioned air that has passed through an air mixing damper, with the amount of blown air is changed by a blower fan. A control means detects the amount of solar radiation present by using a solar radiation sensor. This invention calculates the temperature of air blown out in the absence of solar radiation, calculates the temperature of air blown out in the presence of solar radiation, calculates a corrected blowing rate according to a thermal equilibrium equation in the presence of solar radiation, and calculates a blowing rate in the presence of solar radiation.

Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus for a vehicle having separate units for a driver's seat and an assistant driver's seat. Each of the units has first and second vent outlets opened to a cabin near the lateral side of the cabin and the center side of cabin. A sensor is provided for detecting an amount of the solar radiation. The sensor also can detect an azimuth angle and elevation angle of the sun with respect to the direction of movement. An increase in the thermal load due to the solar radiation is determined, and the calculated increase is allocated to the first and second vent outlets by changing the temperature and/or the amount of the air discharged from the respective outlets, so that the passenger can feel a uniform temperature irrespective of the position of the sun with respect to the direction of movement of the vehicle.

Abstract: A radiation detector comprises a thermopile and a thermocouple connected in series. The cold junction of the thermocouple is connected to a remote temperature reference. A calibrator in the thermopile/thermocouple circuit weights the output signals of the two devices to provide a combined output signal which changes with both sensed radiation and ambient temperature. The device may be calibrated for an environmental control system to control heating or cooling based on both air temperature and radiant temperature of surrounding surfaces. In another application, the thermocouple and calibrator provide a simple signal adjustment to provide an internal temperature reading from a sensed surface temperature. For example, the circuit can provide a core temperature reading from detected ear temperature.

Abstract: An air conditioner for railway vehicles controlled in accordance with the air temperature in the car and data on at least one selected from the group consisting of underfoot temperature, radiant heat, air flow, humidity, outside air temperature, number of passengers and door opening operation. In this way, environment conditions which momentarily change are detected so as to prevent excessive cooling or heating in the car.

Abstract: An environmental control system comprises room temperature measurement apparatus, a plurality of thermal sensors fixed on a mattress over abed, a plurality of humidity sensors fixed on the mattress over the bed, an air conditioning unit for varying the room temperature, and a control circuit. The control circuit determines a thermal sensation of a sleeper from measured values by a plurality of thermal sensors , determines a perspiratory sensation of the sleeper from the measured values by a plurality of humidity sensors, and controls the air conditioning unit so as to let the temperature of the air in the vicinity of the bed be different from the room temperature by an amount prescribed by the combination of the room temperature value and the thermal and perspiratory sensation values, thus maintaining a comfortable condition in the bedroom and on the mattress.

Abstract: An air heating apparatus such as a fan heater, a forced circulation type ware air heater, and, an air conditioner and heater, is operated while the amount of radiation is taken into consideration. Moreover, after a PMV value of the room to be heated is generated from the temperature, amount of radiation, etc. of the room to be heated, the burning amount, air flow and the like are controlled to make the PMV value 0.

Abstract: The sensor unit consists of a scale model of the vehicle mounted on the roof of the vehicle itself. The sensor unit measures the amount of energy exchange necessary to obtain the desired air-conditioning in its interior environment and generates a signal, which is of a predictive nature, indicating the amount of energy exchange necessary to obtain the corresponding air-conditioning in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Abstract: An air conditioner is provided for a motor vehicle which controls the division of the blow-out air by individually adjusting the blow-out air temperature of the center vent, right side vent and left side vent over a broad temperature range. The blow-out air temperature is controlled from the upper and lower and right and left blow-out parts by the passengers of the motor vehicle to place the cabin of the motor vehicle into a comfortable temperature range. The conditioned air within the conditioned air passages is responsive to load conditions both inside and outside of the passenger compartment to individually adjust the temperature of the conditioned air. A first and second auxiliary duct which introduces cool air from the upstream side of the air mix door and warm air from the downstream side of the heater unit into the conditioned air flows through the right side vent duct, and left side vent duct, respectively.

Abstract: The temperature and velocity of a wind blown from an air-conditioner are controlled in such a manner that a temperature sensation value TS expressed by the following formula becomes a targeted temperature sensation value by using facial skin temperature t.sub.SK and a rate of change in the facial skin temperature, t'.sub.SK : TS=A(t.sub.SK -B)+Ct'.sub.SK, where A is a coefficient in the range of 0.4-1.0; B is a coefficient in the range of 32.8-35.0; and C is a coefficient in the range of 10.0-85.0.

Abstract: In a vehicular air conditioning system, an air-distribution ratio control range is determined in accordance with a set rotational speed of a blower and the air distribution ratio is controlled in accordance with a solar radiation direction within the control range, whereby more comfortable air conditioning can be realized. The system may be arranged in such a way that the correction amount of air discharge in the case where the direction of the solar radiation is not within the a prescribed range is less than that in the case where the direction is within the perscribed range, in order to prevent unnecessarily large amount of air discharge.

Abstract: An air conditioner for use with a car employing a sunshine sensor having three light receiving elements. A first light receiving element faces upward and a second light receiving element and a third light receiving element are inclined toward a front side by an identical angle along an advancing direction of the car and are symmetrically inclined with respect the car advancing direction along a horizontal direction vertical to the car advancing direction. The inclination is determined such that a vector obtained by adding normal vectors respectively of light receiving surfaces of the light receiving elements has a direction substantially identical to a direction of sunshine which maximizes a quantity of heat supplied from the sunshine to the car. Outputs from the first, second, and third light receiving elements are added to each other to obtain a sunshine intensity.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an air-conditioner provided with a flow controlling means which controls the amount of air blown into a room, a temperature control means to which controls the temperature of air blown, a skin temperature detecting means which detects the actual skin temperature of persons in the room, a temperature sensation determining means which determines the actual temperature sensation of persons in the room in accordance with the skin temperature detected above and the rate of change of this detected skin temperature, and an electrical control means which makes the flow control means bring the temperature sensation determined above into line with the target temperature sensation and which makes the temperature control means perform temperature control.

Abstract: A system for providing adaptable control of an HVAC system which regulates environmental conditions within an enclosed area. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus and method of the present invention measures selected environmental variables in the enclosed area, calculates a value of a comfort index which is a function of the values of the selected environmental variables and a plurality of parameters that predicts a thermal sensation rating of an occupant. The system receives an actual thermal sensation rating from the occupant and compares the predicted thermal sensation rating with the actual thermal sensation rating to determine a difference between the predicted thermal sensation rating and the actual thermal sensation rating.

Abstract: A sensor for an air-conditioning system in a vehicle has a measuring head with a number of solar cells arranged in a defined pattern for determining the intensity of the solar radiation and the position of the sun relative to the sensor. Attachment elements on the sensor permit assembly of the sensor only in one way in the vehicle. A dome over the solar cells is transparent only to solar radiation.

Abstract: A comfort control system and method which determines the operating temperature set point for the environment to be controlled, in part by indirectly measuring the mean radiant temperature of the environment. A temperature sensor and relative humidity sensor sense the environment to be controlled and provide electrical signals indicating the sensed values to a microprocessor. A building load monitor either monitors the duty cycle of the heating/cooling system for the environment or senses the difference between the environment temperature and the outside temperature to generate a value indicative of the heating or cooling load on the building. A calculation formula to be stored in the microprocessor factors the selected operating temperature, the building load, the relative humidity, and selected constance. The microprocessor determines the operating set point, compares the set point to the temperature of the environment, and generates a control signal for the heating/cooling system.

Abstract: An automobile air-conditioner wherein a direction of the sunlight coming into the passanger compartment of an automobile is detected, and if a deviated solar radiation is present, air-distribution is controlled to increase and decrease the quantity of air discharged from upper air outlets according to the detected solar radiating direction, while at the same time, louvers disposed in the respective air outlets are directed to an occupant to force conditioned air directly against the occupant. In the absence of the deviated solar radiation, the louvers are not directed to the occupant.

Abstract: An automatic venting system for a vehicle having a plurality of motor operated vents in which the interior of the vehicle is monitored for the temperature as well as the presence of a living being, and a separate sensor is included for sensing precipitation outside the vehicle. When the interior of the vehicle is above a preselected threshold temperature, at least one of the vehicle vents is at least partially opened to cool the vehicle. Then, if precipitation is sensed, the open vent or vents are automatically closed unless a living being is sensed within the interior of the car, in which case one or more of the vents remains at least partially open even during the precipitation to provide sufficient ventilation and safety for the being in the car.

Abstract: This invention concerns an apparatus for computing a recognized value as one of the control elements for an automobile air-conditioning system, which apparatus performs the computation of the recognized value by a procedure which comprises detecting an amount of solar radiation with the aid of solar radiation amount detection means, forming a decision as to the trend of variation of the amount of solar radiation with the aid of comparison means, and performing an operation of integration of a recognized value of the amount of solar radiation with the aid of arithmetic operation means by using a relatively small time constant when the decision is that the amount of solar radiation is on the upward trend or a relatively large time constant when the decision is the opposite. The air conditioning, therefore, is controlled so as to follow the variation in the amount of solar radiation when this amount is on the upward trend or to remain in the present status when the amount is on the downward trend.

Abstract: A control system for an air conditioner for a vehicle effects the switching between a heat mode and a heat/defrost mode on the basis of the ambient temperature and the amount of solar radiation present.

Abstract: An air conditioner system for automotive vehicles includes a blower control unit for adjusting discharge amount of conditioning air into the vehicular cabin depending upon the difference between the set cabin temperature and the cabin temperature, and for causing the discharge amount of fluctuate so as to increase and decrease when the difference between the temperatures is less than a predetermined value. The periods through which the discharge amount is greater than and less than predetermined values, respectively, are controlled depending upon the monitored insolation. The air conditioner system also includes an air flow direction setting unit for adjusting direction of the conditioning air discharge from a vent nozzle.

Abstract: An automobile air-conditioner wherein a total signal corresponding to a thermal load in the passenger compartment of an automobile and a head part total signal corresponding to a thermal load in the vicinity of the head of an occupant of the passenger compartment, then the thus obtained two total signals are used to determine two corresponding states of operation of a component involved in air-conditioning operation, and operation of the air-conditioning component is controlled based on one of the two total signals which is capable of providing an enhanced coolness to the occupant. According to a preferred embodiment, all the components involved in the air-conditioning operation are controlled based on the head part total signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an automobile air-conditioner wherein the direction of solar radiation is determined based on a signal which is obtained by retarding the leading edge of a solar radiation signal and the position of an air-distributing door is controlled according to the thus obtained signal. A signal whose leading and trailing edges are progressively increasing and decreasing, respectively, is used for the calculation of a signal corresponding to the thermal load in the vehicle passenger compartment. The operation of various components of the air-conditioner including a blower is controlled by the result of calculation of the thermal load signal.

Abstract: An air conditioning system for use with an automotive vehicle is disclosed. The air conditioning system includes a duct through which tempered air is directed into a compartment for passengers. A control device is associated with the duct for operating in a first mode discharging the tempered air in the form of concentrated currents toward the respective passengers, in a second mode discharging the tempered air in the form of diffused currents toward the respective passengers, and in a third mode changing the first and second modes at variable time intervals. One of the first, second and third modes is selected according to sensed values of compartment temperature and insolation intensity. The ratio of a first time period during which the first mode is continued in the third mode to a second time period during which the second mode is continued in the third mode is increased with increasing insolation intensity.

Abstract: An air conditioning system for an automotive vehicle includes a duct through which conditioned air is directed into a compartment for passengers. A control device is associated with the duct for operating in a first mode discharging the conditioned air in the form of concentrated currents toward the passengers, in a second mode discharging the conditioned air in the form of diffused currents toward the passengers, and in a third mode in which switching is performed between the first and second modes at variable time intervals. One of the first, second and third modes is selected according to sensed values of compartment temperature and insolation intensity.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning system is provided with various sensors such as inside and outside temperature sensors, engine coolant temperature sensor, solar radiation sensor and throttle opening sensor, and a control unit for producing one or more control signals to control the position of an air mix door, the speed of a blower and/or a clutch of a compressor, by performing fuzzy inference in response to input signals derived from the sensors.

Abstract: A dual air conditioner having a pair of air conditioning units for front and rear seats within the compartment of a vehicle adjusts the temperatures of air output to the front and rear seats in accordance with the difference between the temperature desired at one of the front and rear seats and a typical temperature sensed within the compartment corrected by a function of the difference between desired temperatures in order to condition the front and rear seats to the respective desired temperatures.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling environmental conditions in an animal house, and particularly in a poultry house, for producing maximum economic return. The static parameters of the house are determined, and thereafter continuous measurements are made of current inside and outside temperatures. The operator makes periodic assessments of litter condition in the house, and adjusts the target 24-hour average relative humidity to produce the desired litter condition. The system controls the heating and ventilation system to obtain the desired 24-hour average relative humidity while maintaining the optimum temperature conditions in the house for maximum economic return.

Abstract: An air conditioner with a radiant temperature control comprises a refrigeration cycle for air-conditioning a room to be air conditioned at a desired temperature, a temperature setting section for generating set data for setting the desired temperature as a target value, a first temperature sensor section for detecting a room temperature of the room to be air-conditioned, a second temperature sensor section for detecting a radiant temperature of the room to be air-conditioned, a control section for receiving the set data from the temperature setting section and detection data from the first temperature sensor section and for generating an operation control signal to the refrigeration cycle in accordance with the difference therebetween, and a correcting section for receiving the set data from the temperature setting section and detection data from the second temperature sensor section and, when the difference therebetween deviates from a predetermined value, correcting the set data from the temperature setting

Abstract: The temperature of the air discharged into the upper region of an enclosed space such as an automotive vehicle cabin and the temperature of the air discharged separately into the lower region thereof, is individually controlled in response to a manually inputted command signal (or signals) and in response to at least one (sensed) parameter which affects the environment of said enclosed space whereby the temperature of each region can be varied according to personal taste.

Abstract: A multiple-RF channel wireless security system has expanded monitoring and control capacity without a concomitant increase in the number of available RF channels. At least one primary condition-responsive monitoring and RF signaling device having a first range of values for the parameter being monitored has an associated secondary condition-responsive monitoring device having a second range of values for the same parameter connected in series with the primary device. The secondary device may operate in conjunction with or independently of the primary device. When operating in conjunction with the primary device, the secondary device supplements the primary device by providing a second range of parameter values, and may, for example, provide back-up or "fail safe" operation of the primary device. When operating independently of the primary device, the secondary device provides expanded monitoring and control capabilities of the security system while preserving the number of RF channels.

Abstract: An incubator for laboratory use which includes a housing defining a thermally insulated inner chamber having a controlled gas atmosphere. Devices for sensing characteristics of the incubator chamber atmosphere, and for conditioning the atmosphere, are positioned in a gas recirculation path outside the incubator chamber. The gas atmosphere of the incubator chamber circulates from a chamber outlet in an upper portion of the chamber, through the recirculation path, returning to the incubator chamber through a chamber inlet in a lower portion of the chamber. Included in the recirculation path are a blower for recirculating the chamber atmosphere, a filter, a CO.sub.2 sensor, and a humidifier. A microprocessor-based controller is responsive to the output of the CO.sub.2 sensor to effect the addition of CO.sub.2 to the recirculating gas to maintain a selected CO.sub.2 level in the chamber atmosphere. Upper and lower diffuser plates in the incubator chamber define upper and lower plenums, respectively.

Abstract: The interface according to the invention is intended to receive temperature SRT and hygrometry SRH regulation signals from the temperature and hygrometry regulators. It sends heating SCC and ventilation SCV control signals to heating and ventilation devices of variable output. The interface has two positions, summer and winter. In summer, it regulates ventilation as a function of temperature (or possibly of hygrometry). In winter, it regulates the heating as a function of temperature; ventilation is then regulated by the application of a variable restriction on the extraction flow.

Abstract: A variable volume multizone unit is disclosed for simultaneously supplying variable amounts of cool, warm or neutral air to each zone, as required. The unit is under the overall control of a computer and controls dampers located at the unit to regulate the flow of cool and neutral or warm air to each zone individually and to control the total amount of air supplied to all of the zone.

Abstract: A variable volume multizone unit is disclosed for simultaneously supplying variable amounts of cool, warm or neutral air to each zone, as required. The unit is under the overall control of a computer and controls dampers located at the unit to regulate the flow of cool and neutral or warm air to each zone individually and to control the total amount of air supplied to all of the zone.

Abstract: A water heating system comprising an outdoor heat exchanger including a heat collection chamber, solar collector panels, collector fins, an evaporator for passing refrigerant therethrough to perform the heat exchange between the refrigerant and the heat transferred from the panels and fins to evaporate the refrigerant. The panels, fins and evaporator are incorporated integrally in the heat collection chamber. A variable rotational speed compressor is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger for compressing the vaporized refrigerant from the evaporator. A heat exchanger disposed on the bottom side in the water storage tank passes the refrigerant vapor from the compressor to perform the heat exchange between the water in the tank and the refrigerant vapor to condense the refrigerant vapor.

Abstract: An air-conditioner control system for vehicles which is responsive to a condition in the compartment of a vehicle to move an air-flow controlling damper in an air duct. When the supply mode of conditioned air is a heater supply mode and when it is detected that the level of insolation in the vehicle compartment is higher than a predetermined level, the control system alters the supply mode of conditioned air to a bi-level supply mode.

Abstract: A sensor (27) is provided to sense the humidity at the inner surface of a window of a vehicle interior. When the sensed surface humidity is above a certain value, the possibility of the window being fogged arises and the proportion of outside air to recirculated air is increased to 100% to reduce the interior humidity. When the surface humidity is above a higher value, the interior air control system (5) is operated to reduce the interior humidity by increasing the amount of inlet air, the inlet air temperature, etc.

Abstract: In control of an air conditioner, a first deviation corresponding to the rate of change of the actual air temperature in a compartment is detected such that an expected value of the actual air temperature to be obtained as a stable value under the control of the air conditioner is detected to detect a second deviation in relation to a desired temperature. When the second deviation is larger than a predetermined value, a third deviation is also detected in relation to the second deviation to adjust the temperature of air flow supplied from the air conditioner and to eliminate undesired temperature deviation caused by fluctuation of the heat load in the compartment.

Abstract: In control of an air conditioner, the rate of change of the actual temperature of air in a compartment is detected to detect a deviation between the actual temperature of air and a desired temperature of air. When the detected deviation is larger than a predetermined value, another deviation is also detected to adjust the temperature of air flow supplied from the air conditioner and to eliminate undesired temperature deviation caused by fluctuation of the heat load in the compartment.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatic control of environmental conditions in building interiors, particularly in greenhouses where exacting conditions of temperature must be met. The apparatus consists of electronic circuitry for sensing and providing output indication of temperature, incident solar radiation, daily solar radiation accumulation and nocturnal temperature modification, an executive set-point and an insecticide control set-point, all of which outputs are applied to a summation device whereupon level detection actuates control circuitry to activate heating and/or cooling apparatus, insecticide control apparatus and other attendant equipment.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling environmental conditions in an animal house, and particularly in a poultry house, for producing maximum economic return. The static parameters of the house are determined, and thereafter continuous measurements are made of current inside and outside temperatures. The operator makes periodic assessments of litter condition in the house, and adjusts the target 24-hour average relative humidity to produce the desired litter condition. The system controls the heating and ventilation system to obtain the desired 24-hour average relative humidity while maintaining the optimum temperature conditions in the house for maximum economic return.