An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes a controller that controls a refrigeration cycle, an up/down air flow direction plate, and a left/right air flow direction plate, based on information of a person whose image is captured by an imaging device. When the refrigeration cycle is stopped, in a case where the face of the person detected by the imaging device remains stationarily facing the imaging device for a preset recognition time, the controller recognizes the person as one wishing the refrigeration cycle to be activated, and activates the refrigeration cycle.

A sensor mounting device (100) of the present disclosure includes: a power supply unit (110) configured to generate power that is to be supplied to the device; a sensor (120) configured to acquire information of the environment around of the device; a first control unit (130) configured to give an instruction based on the information acquired by the sensor (120); and a second control unit (150) configured to control the device in accordance with the instruction of the first control unit (130). Power to the sensor (120) and the first control unit (130) is directly supplied from the power supply unit (110). Power to the second control unit (150) is supplied from the power supply unit (110) via a switching unit (140) whose ON/OFF state is controlled by the first control unit (130).

This invention relates to methods and systems for limiting consumption, particularly power consumption, more particularly by appliances in a building, and is generally suitable for integration with building management systems. Embodiments of the invention provide arrangements in which the aggregated power load of a plurality of appliances is capped to a selected value (which may be arbitrary, or may be dictated by conditions) while seeking to minimize the deviation from target environmental conditions within the building through a combination of distributed decision making by the appliances themselves and centralized orchestration, which may be informed by real-time sensor readings and/or known properties of the building. The distributed decision-making by individual devices may be based on projected deviation from the target conditions after a period of activity or inactivity but with a central controller which determines which devices should be switched on.

A disclosed air conditioning control system includes: a flow path through which cooling air discharged from an exhaust surface of an electronic apparatus is returned to an intake surface thereof, a damper provided in the flow path, a temperature measuring unit for measuring the real temperature of the cooling air, a humidity measuring unit for measuring the real humidity of the cooling air, a target value changing unit for changing target temperature and humidity in accordance with the real temperature and humidity, and a controlling unit for predicting future predicted values of the real temperature and humidity, and controlling the opening extent of the damper such that the predicted temperature and humidity become close to the target temperature and humidity, respectively. The target value changing unit sets the target temperature and humidity such that the real temperature and humidity are raised and lowered in the opposite directions.

A method for providing personalized comfort to occupants of an environmentally conditioned space includes sensing a pre-adjustment pressure within a variable air volume diffuser, remotely adjusting a position an individually-adjustable directional outlet of the variable air volume diffuser, sensing a post-adjustment pressure within the variable air volume diffuser, and modifying the airflow through the variable air volume diffuser such that the post-adjustment pressure is equal to the pre-adjustment pressure. The variable air volume diffuser includes individually-adjustable directional outlets and a controller configured to regulate air pressure within the variable air volume diffuser when an individually adjustable directional outlet is adjusted. A user device in operative communication with the variable air volume diffuser includes a user interface to remotely adjust an adjustable directional outlet of the variable air volume diffuser to provide personalized comfort for the user. In embodiments, the variable air volume diffuser responds to spoken commands.

There is provided a heat exchanger system comprising a housing defining a heat exchange compartment in which are extending a plurality of circular flexible pipes including radially extending fins, the fins defining a helical pattern along the length of each of the circular flexible pipes. There is also provided a circular flexible pipe having radially extending fins, the fins defining a helical pattern along the length of the circular flexible pipe. There is further provided a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a circular flexible pipe having radially extending fins, the fins defining a helical pattern along the length of the circular flexible pipe.

A controller for use in a climate control system includes a power stealing circuit connectible with a control of the climate control system and configured for stealing power via a signal from a power source through the control. An overcurrent limiting circuit is configured to limit a first portion of the signal to prevent a false call for operation of the control. The overcurrent limiting circuit is further configured not to limit a second portion of the signal to prevent a false call, where the control is configured to recognize only the first portion as determinative of whether the signal is a call for operation.

Systems and methods of using active infrared (AIR) sensors to map a room of a home or building and determine whether an external portal (e.g., window and/or door) of the room is open or closed are provided. In particular, the systems and methods include outputting infrared (IR) light from an IR light source of an active infrared (AIR) sensor, receiving reflected IR light with a light sensor, and determining, with a processor coupled to the light sensor, whether a window of a room is open according to the received reflected IR light.

The smart HVAC manifold system for servicing air conditioning systems is designed to dynamically manage the data acquisition process and to measure and calculate the performance indicators and output as the load conditions and or equipment operation change taking into account variables in the installation that can impact performance. Both visually and by a very specific data set the performance of the equipment and the installation can quickly be assessed and specific problems identified along with suggestions of typical faults or problems that may need addressed by the technician.

The smart HVAC manifold system provides a means of quickly and electronically handling the manual data acquisition process which would include component and or system model and serial numbers, equipment location (GPS tagging), customer name, environmental conditions that effect performance and performance measurement (weather data and elevation), and supports photo, voice and text documentation. These features streamline data acquisition, allow remote support, and minimizing transcription errors and preventing data-gaming when servicing equipment, commissioning or retro commissioning the system.

An arrangement (1) for air management of a room (100) comprises ventilating means (10) for enabling exchange of air between the inside environment (102) of the room (100) and the outside environment (103) of the room (100); a stand-alone air purifier (20), which is arranged separately from the ventilating means (10), and which is adapted to remove pollutants from the air in the inside environment (102) of the room (100); and a control system (30, 31, 32), which is in communication with both the ventilating means (10) and the air purifier (20), and which is adapted to control operation of the ventilating means (10) and the air purifier (20) in dependence of air quality data relating to the inside environment (102) of the room and the outside environment (103) of the room, the control system (30,31,32) being configured to control the ventilating means (10) and the air purifier (20) differently depending on whether the air quality data relating to the outside environment of the room (100) is above or below a predetermined reference. Operation of the arrangement (1) is aimed at optimizing indoor air quality and minimizing energy consumption.