Methods for controlling temperature in a conditioned enclosure such as a dwelling are described that include an “auto-away” and/or “auto-arrival” feature for detecting unexpected absences which provide opportunities for significant energy savings through automatic adjustment of the setpoint temperature. According to some preferred embodiments, when no occupancy has been detected for a minimum time interval, an “auto-away” feature triggers a changes of the state of the enclosure, and the actual operating setpoint temperature is changed to a predetermined energy-saving away-state temperature, regardless of the setpoint temperature indicated by the normal thermostat schedule. The purpose of the “auto away” feature is to avoid unnecessary heating or cooling when there are no occupants present to actually experience or enjoy the comfort settings of the schedule, thereby saving energy.

A heating system includes a plurality of heater elements, a plurality of switches connected to the plurality of heater elements, a set of predetermined performance information including heater information specific for each heater element, at least one temperature sensor measuring temperature of at least one heater element from among the plurality of heater elements, and a heater control unit in communication with the temperature sensor(s). The heater control unit controls the heater elements differently, via the switches, based on the heater information and the measured temperature from the temperature sensor(s).

A heating system includes a plurality of heater elements, a plurality of switches connected to the plurality of heater elements, a set of predetermined performance information including heater information specific for each heater element, at least one temperature sensor measuring temperature of at least one heater element from among the plurality of heater elements, and a heater control unit in communication with the temperature sensor(s). The heater control unit controls the heater elements differently, via the switches, based on the heater information and the measured temperature from the temperature sensor(s).

A water quality monitoring system is provided, including several sensors, several actuators, and an embedded system. The sensors sense environmental parameters and separately output a plurality of sensing signals including the environmental parameters. The actuators change the environmental parameters. The embedded system includes a storage module, a data collection module, a data analysis module, and a control module. The storage module stores a plurality of normal parameter ranges that correspond to the respective environmental parameters. The data collection module is connected to the sensors for receiving the sensing signals. The data analysis module is connected to the storage module and the data collection module to determine whether the sensing signals are abnormal according to the normal parameter ranges and output a determination result. The control module is connected to the data analysis module to control the actuators or output a warning signal according to the determination result.

A water quality monitoring system is provided, including several sensors, several actuators, and an embedded system. The sensors sense environmental parameters and separately output a plurality of sensing signals including the environmental parameters. The actuators change the environmental parameters. The embedded system includes a storage module, a data collection module, a data analysis module, and a control module. The storage module stores a plurality of normal parameter ranges that correspond to the respective environmental parameters. The data collection module is connected to the sensors for receiving the sensing signals. The data analysis module is connected to the storage module and the data collection module to determine whether the sensing signals are abnormal according to the normal parameter ranges and output a determination result. The control module is connected to the data analysis module to control the actuators or output a warning signal according to the determination result.

An HVAC controller controlled in response to a natural language audio message that is not recognizable by the HVAC controller as a command, where the natural language audio message is translated into a command recognizable by the HVAC controller. The HVAC controller may be a thermostat and may include a housing that at least partially houses a control module, a microphone, a speaker, a display, and a voice recognition module. The voice recognition module recognizes a predetermined audible trigger from a recorded voice message or streamed voice message, and in response, provide one or more audio clips via the speaker and/or video clips via the display to assist users in operating the thermostat. A user may communicate with the thermostat via the thermostat and/or a remote device.

An electric heating module structure, an installation method, a forming method, and a wind turbine are provided. The electric heating module structure is configured for melting ice on a blade, and includes an electric heating module, a positive conductive wire and a negative conductive wire. The positive conductive wire and the negative conductive wire are integrally formed with the electric heating module, to supply power to the electric heating module. The integrally formed electric heating module, the positive conductive wire and the negative conductive wire are laid in an outer layer of the blade.

An electric heating module structure, an installation method, a forming method, and a wind turbine are provided. The electric heating module structure is configured for melting ice on a blade, and includes an electric heating module, a positive conductive wire and a negative conductive wire. The positive conductive wire and the negative conductive wire are integrally formed with the electric heating module, to supply power to the electric heating module. The integrally formed electric heating module, the positive conductive wire and the negative conductive wire are laid in an outer layer of the blade.

A system and method of heating a workpiece to a desired temperature is disclosed. This system and method consider the physical limitations of the temperature device, such as time lag, temperature offset, and calibration, in creating a hybrid approach that heats the workpiece more efficiently. First, the workpiece is heated using open loop control to heat the workpiece to a threshold temperature. After the threshold temperature is reach, a closed loop maintenance mode is utilized. In certain embodiments, an open loop maintenance mode is employed between the open loop warmup mode and the closed loop maintenance mode. Additionally, a method of calibrating a pyrometer using a contact thermocouple is also disclosed.

A system for heating up water for a consumer unit in an aircraft, having a water reservoir and a control unit. The water reservoir has a heating device to heat water held in the water reservoir to a consumer temperature. The control unit controls the heating device so water in the water reservoir is automatically heated to or above a disinfection temperature at which germ formation in the water reservoir is eliminated or suppressed, and a temperature of the water in the water reservoir is maintained at or above the disinfection temperature for a disinfection period, the heating to the disinfection temperature being effected only during flight phases or portions of flight phases of the aircraft during which use of the consumer unit by a user is not to be expected. A corresponding method and an aircraft having such a system are disclosed.