An oscillator circuit includes: a first temperature detector, detecting an internal temperature of the oscillator circuit; a current generator, generating a heater current so that the internal temperature matches a target temperature; a first and second heater, heating the resonator and the integrated circuit, respectively, based on the heater current; a second temperature detector, detecting a temperature of the integrated circuit; a first compensation voltage generation circuit, generating a first compensation voltage for compensating for a frequency variation due to a temperature change in the integrated circuit, based on a detection result of the second temperature detector; a second compensation voltage generation circuit, generating a second compensation voltage for compensating for a frequency variation due to a temperature change in the resonator, based on a detection result of the first temperature detector; and an oscillator, generating an oscillation signal based on the first and second compensation voltages.

A thermostat for a building zone includes at least one of a model predictive controller and an equipment controller. The model predictive controller is configured to obtain a cost function that accounts for a cost of operating HVAC equipment during each of a plurality of time steps, use a predictive model to predict a temperature of the building zone during each of the plurality of time steps, and generate temperature setpoints for the building zone for each of the plurality of time steps by optimizing the cost function subject to a constraint on the predicted temperature. The equipment controller is configured to receive the temperature setpoints generated by the model predictive controller and drive the temperature of the building zone toward the temperature setpoints during each of the plurality of time steps by operating the HVAC equipment to provide heating or cooling to the building zone.

One variation of a method for monitoring occupancy in a work area includes, at a sensor block: transitioning from an inactive state into an active state when an output of a motion sensor indicates motion in a work area; during a scan cycle in the active state, recording an image through an optical sensor at a time, detecting a set of humans in the image, detecting a second set of human effects in the image, predicting a second set of humans occupying but absent the work area based on the second set of human effects, and estimating a total occupancy in the work area at the time based on the set of humans and the second set of humans; and transmitting the total occupancy to a remote computer system for update of a scheduler for the work area.

In an electric water heater having adjustable set point and differential temperatures, upper and lower heating elements, and associated temperature sensors respectively operative to sense upper and lower tank water temperatures, a specially designed control system is provided for controlling the heating elements. The control system is operative to prevent dry firing of the heating elements by measuring temperatures over time with the temperature sensors.

A thermal regulation system includes a sensor, one or more temperature adjusting devices, and a filler provided in a space between the sensor and at least one of the one or more temperature adjusting devices. The one or more temperature adjusting devices are (1) in thermal communication with the sensor, and (2) configured to adjust a temperature of the sensor from an initial temperature to a predetermined temperature at a rate of temperature change that meets or exceeds a threshold value.

A thermal regulation system includes a sensor, one or more temperature adjusting devices, and a filler provided in a space between the sensor and at least one of the one or more temperature adjusting devices. The one or more temperature adjusting devices are (1) in thermal communication with the sensor, and (2) configured to adjust a temperature of the sensor from an initial temperature to a predetermined temperature at a rate of temperature change that meets or exceeds a threshold value.

An apparatus and method to deter mold growth on the interior surfaces of buildings. The apparatus is a corded and plugged power supply with adjustable temperature and humidity sensors, logic circuitry, and split duplex receptacles. The method employs the apparatus, a portable heater, an array of portable fans, and catchments containing a hygroscopic substance such as calcium chloride. One receptacle controls the heater. The other receptacle controls the fans. There are three operative states: a heat-on/fans-on state at low temperature, a heat-off/fans-on state at high temperature and high humidity, and an idle state at high temperature and low humidity. The catchments capture water vapor circulated by the fans.

A control valve (2) for regulating a fluid flow in an HVAC comprises a valve body (21) and a temperature sensor (25) configured to measure the temperature of a fluid (24) flowing within the control valve (2). The temperature sensor (25) is arranged such that the temperature sensor (25) is essentially thermally decoupled from the valve body (21).

A computing device includes a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) card and a heater apparatus. The heater apparatus is located proximate to the PCI card and configured to heat the PCI card.

A temperature control system is used for controlling a temperature of a control target. The system includes: a first circulation circuit through which a first heat transfer medium circulates; a second circulation circuit that is independent of the first circulation circuit and through which a second heat transfer medium circulates; and a third circulation circuit that is independent of the first circulation circuit and the second circulation circuit and through which a third heat transfer medium circulates. The third heat transfer medium has a usable temperature range wider than usable temperature ranges of the first heat transfer medium and the second heat transfer medium.