U.S. patent application number 11/292811 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-08 for system and method for dispensing substances into an environment.
Invention is credited to John II Sparks.
Application Number | 20060121844 11/292811 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36574955 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060121844 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sparks; John II |
June 8, 2006 |
System and method for dispensing substances into an environment
Abstract
A system for dispensing substances into a room of a building
comprises at least one reservoirs, at least one nozzle, at least
one pump, and logic. The reservoir contains a substance to be
dispensed into the room, and the pump is coupled to the nozzle and
the reservoir. The logic is configured to enable a user to select,
for dispensing through the nozzle, the substances from the
reservoir, and the nozzle is positioned within the building such
that the substance dispensed from the nozzle passes into the room.
In some embodiments, the nozzle is positioned within a duct of a
heating, ventilated and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
Inventors: |
Sparks; John II;
(Tuscaloosa, AL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THOMAS, KAYDEN, HORSTEMEYER & RISLEY, LLP
100 GALLERIA PARKWAY, NW
STE 1750
ATLANTA
GA
30339-5948
US
|
Family ID: |
36574955 |
Appl. No.: |
11/292811 |
Filed: |
December 2, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60632471 |
Dec 2, 2004 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
454/337 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 8/50 20210101; A61L
9/14 20130101; F24F 3/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/337 |
International
Class: |
F24F 6/00 20060101
F24F006/00; F24F 7/00 20060101 F24F007/00 |
Claims
1. A system for dispensing substances into a room of a building,
comprising: a plurality of reservoirs, each of the reservoirs
containing a different substance relative to the other reservoirs;
at least one nozzle positioned within the building such that a
substance dispensed from the at least one nozzle passes into the
room; at least one pump coupled to the at least one nozzle and the
reservoirs; and logic configured to control dispensing of
substances from each of the reservoirs, the logic further
configured to enable a user to select, for dispensing through the
at least one nozzle, substances from any of the reservoirs.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of valves,
wherein the logic, by controlling the valves, is configured to
control from which of the reservoirs a substance dispensed through
the at least one nozzle is drawn.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic is configured to enable
the user to define a schedule for dispensing substances through the
at least one nozzle, the logic further configured to cause
substances from different ones of the reservoirs to be
automatically dispensed through the at least one nozzle at
different times based on the schedule.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one nozzle is
positioned within a duct of an air conditioner, wherein the air
conditioner has a fan, and wherein the logic is configured to
activate the fan based on the schedule.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic is configured to enable
a user to select, for dispensing through the at least one nozzle, a
mixture of substances from each of the reservoirs.
6. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a user input
interface; and a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly
transmit, to the logic, data indicative of a user input received
via the user input interface, wherein the logic is configured to
activate dispensing of a substance from at least one of the
reservoirs through the at least one nozzle based on the data.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the user input interface and the
wireless transmitter are coupled to a key chain.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one nozzle is
positioned within a duct of an air conditioner.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the air conditioner has a fan,
and wherein the logic is configured activate the fan in response to
a determination that a substance is to be dispensed through the at
least one nozzle.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the air conditioner has a
thermostat controller configured to sense a temperature within the
building and to activate the fan based on the sensed temperature,
and wherein the logic is configured to activate the fan in response
to the determination during a time period that the thermostat
controller determines that the fan is not to be activated based on
the sensed temperature.
11. The system of claim 9, wherein the air conditioner has a
thermostat controller configured to sense a temperature within the
building and to activate the fan based on the sensed temperature,
and wherein the logic is configured to activate the fan in response
to the determination independent of the thermostat controller.
12. A dispensing system, comprising: a plurality of reservoirs,
each of the reservoirs containing a different substance relative to
the other reservoirs; a plurality of nozzles positioned within a
building; at least one pump coupled to the nozzles and the
reservoirs; and logic configured to enable a user to select, for
dispensing through any of the nozzles, substances from any of the
reservoirs.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of nozzles
includes a first nozzle, and wherein the logic is configured to
enable substances from each of the plurality of reservoirs to be
simultaneously dispensed through the first nozzle.
14. A dispensing system, comprising: at least one reservoir; an air
conditioner having a fan and a duct; at least one nozzle positioned
within a duct of the air conditioner; at least one pump coupled to
the at least one nozzle; a clock; and logic configured to enable a
user to define a schedule for dispensing at least one substance
from the at least one reservoir through the at least one nozzle,
the logic further configured automatically activate dispensing of
the at least one substance from the at least one reservoir through
the at least one nozzle based on the schedule and the clock, the
logic further configured to automatically activate the fan based on
the schedule and the clock.
15. The system of claim 14, further comprising: a user input
interface; and a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly
transmit, to the logic, data indicative of a user input received by
the user input interface, wherein the logic is configured to
activate dispensing of a substance from the at least one reservoir
through the at least one nozzle based on the data.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the user input interface and
the wireless transmitter are coupled to a key chain.
17. A method for dispensing substances into a room of a building,
comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of reservoirs, each
of the reservoirs containing a different substance relative to the
other reservoirs; positioning at least one nozzle within the
building such that a substance dispensed from the at least one
nozzle passes into the room; and enabling a user to select, for
automatic dispensing through the at least one nozzle, substances
from any of the reservoirs.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: enabling the user
to define a schedule for dispensing substances through the at least
one nozzle; and automatically dispensing through the at least one
nozzle at different times based on the schedule.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one nozzle is
positioned within a duct of an air conditioner having a fan,
further comprising the step of automatically activating the fan and
dispensing of a substance from at least one of the reservoirs based
on the schedule.
20. A dispensing method, comprising the steps of: providing at
least one reservoir and a clock; positioning at least one nozzle
within a duct of an air conditioner; enabling a user to define a
schedule for dispensing at least one substance from the at least
one reservoir through the at least one nozzle; automatically
dispensing the at least one substance from the at least one
reservoir through the at least one nozzle based on the schedule and
the clock; and automatically activating the fan based on the
schedule and the clock.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/632,471, entitled "System and Method for
Dispensing Substances into an Environment," and filed on Dec. 2,
2004, which is incorporated herein by reference.
RELATED ART
[0002] There are known air freshener dispensers, such as wall
plug-in's and aerosol cans, that can be used to dispense fragrances
and/or deodorants directly into one or more rooms of a building.
However, such dispensing devices typically contain a limited amount
of fragrances and/or deodorants and often must be replaced
frequently. Further, the environmental effects of each such air
freshener dispensers is often limited to the room or within a close
vicinity of the area in which the dispenser is placed.
[0003] To alleviate some of the problems plaguing conventional air
freshener dispensers, attempts have been made to incorporate air
freshener dispensers into conventional heating, ventilating and air
conditioning (HVAC) systems. In this regard, air freshener
dispensers have been used to inject fragrance and/or deodorizers
into the ducts of an HVAC system. The fan of the HVAC system then
blows the injected substance through the ducts and into various
rooms of a building. Thus, a single air freshener dispenser can be
efficiently used to simultaneously inject a substance into several
different rooms thereby facilitating the dispensing process.
[0004] Unfortunately, installing and controlling an air freshener
dispenser within an HVAC system can be difficult and problematic,
as well as expensive. For example, it is generally desirable to
synchronize the operation of the air freshener dispenser with the
fan of the HVAC system such that the air freshener dispenser
dispenses a substance, such as a fragrance or deodorizer, only when
the fan of the HVAC is actively blowing air through the ducts.
Providing such synchronization can be problematic, particularly for
existing HVAC systems that have already been installed without
incorporating an air freshener dispenser within the design of the
HVAC system.
[0005] Further, when air freshener is dispensed through the duct of
an HVAC system, access to some components of the air freshener
dispenser may be inconvenient. Moreover, enabling a user to
dynamically control which type of air freshener is dispensed into a
particular room may be problematic.
[0006] Moreover, despite the improvements introduced by using
conventional HVAC systems to dispense fragrances and deodorizers,
further improvements are generally desirable to enable more optimal
control of the dispensing operations at a reduced cost.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The disclosure can be better understood with reference to
the following drawings. The elements of the drawings are not
necessarily to scale relative to each other, emphasis instead being
placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure.
Furthermore, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts
throughout the several views.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system for dispensing
substances in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of
a control unit, such as is depicted in FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating another exemplary
embodiment of a control unit, such as is depicted in FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating yet another exemplary
embodiment of a control unit, such as is depicted in FIG. 1, that
can be used in conjunction with a remote interface.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a remote control unit, such
as is depicted in FIG. 4, coupled to a key chain.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a system for dispensing
substances in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a system for dispensing
substances in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a system for dispensing
substances in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a system for dispensing
substances in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a system for dispensing
substances in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary
computer system that can be used to interact with a user for
enabling the user to control operation of a dispensing system, such
as is depicted in FIGS. 1 and 6-10.
[0019] FIG. 12 is a flow chart depicting an exemplary method for
controlling a dispensing system, such as is depicted in FIGS. 1 and
6-10.
[0020] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary graphical
user interface (GUI) that may be displayed to a user to facilitate
user control of a dispensing system, such as is depicted in FIGS. 1
and 6-10.
[0021] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the GUI of FIG. 13 once a
user has provided exemplary inputs for defining a dispensing
schedule.
[0022] FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary nozzle that
may be used in a dispensing system, such as is depicted in FIGS. 1
and 6-10.
[0023] FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a system for dispensing
substances in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0024] FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary reservoir,
such as is depicted in FIG. 1, comprising a bag that is situated in
a box.
[0025] FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating the reservoir of FIG. 17
once an outlet of the bag has been mated with an inlet of a tubular
connection.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] The present disclosure generally pertains to systems and
methods for dispensing substances, such as aromas and/or
disinfectants, at various locations, such as in one or more ducts
of a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a dispensing system 100 for injecting
liquids, as colloidal suspensions, into rooms of a building. The
injected liquids may be aromas, fragrances, disinfectants, and/or
other substances that are desirable for inserting and modifying an
environment, such as one or more rooms of a building. In the
embodiment depicted by FIG. 1, the system 100 comprises an air
conditioner 101 that blows heated or cooled air through a duct 102
to at least one room within a building. The air conditioner 101 can
be any known or future-developed air conditioning apparatus or
system. In one exemplary embodiment, the air conditioner 101
comprises a duct 102, an HVAC unit 104, a thermostat controller
105, and a fan 106. In this regard, the HVAC unit 104, when
activated, heats or cools air, and the fan 106 then blows the
heated or cooled air through the duct 102 to one or more rooms of a
building. Activation of the HVAC unit 104 and fan 106 is generally
controlled by the HVAC thermostat controller 105, which measures a
temperature within the building and activates the HVAC unit 104 and
fan 106 as appropriate in an effort to keep the measured
temperature within a desired range.
[0028] The thermostat controller 105 may be implemented in
hardware, software, or a combination thereof. When implemented in
software, the controller 105 may be stored on a computer-readable
medium to be used in conjunction with an instruction execution
apparatus, such as a digital signal processor (DSP) or central
processing unit (CPU). Thermostat controllers are generally known
devices, and a more detailed description of the thermostat
controller 105 will, therefore, not be provided herein.
[0029] The dispensing system 100 of FIG. 1 pulls a desired liquid
from a reservoir 112 and injects the liquid from a nozzle 103 into
the duct 102. The reservoir 112, in one embodiment, comprises at
least one bag that may collapse as fluid is removed and is
constructed of material, such a plastic, that is suitable for
holding the liquid that is contained therein. In another
embodiment, the reservoir 112 may comprise at least one metallic or
non-metallic drum, such as is typically used to transport oil and
other substances in large quantities. In yet other embodiments, the
reservoir 112 may comprise other types of containers for holding
liquids. Such containers can come in a variety of sizes and shapes
and can be made from a diversity of materials.
[0030] The reservoir 112 of FIG. 1 has an outlet that is coupled to
a tubular connection 107, such as a hose or pipe, that extends to a
pump 114. When the pump 114 is activated by a control unit 110, the
pump 114 pulls fluid from the reservoir 112 and pushes the fluid
through a tubular connection 108 to a valve 115. Any known or
future-developed valve, such as a solenoid valve, may be used to
implement the valve 115. When dispensing of the fluid in the
reservoir 112 is desired, the valve 115 is opened by the control
unit 110 to allow liquid to pass through a tubular connection 109
to a filter 113 and through a tubular connection 111 to the nozzle
103. The nozzle 103 then injects (e.g., sprays) the liquid into the
duct 102 through which the fan 106 blows. The output of the nozzle
103 is preferably a mist-like spray that is easily carried through
the duct 102 to vents going into rooms or areas within a building.
By blowing air through the duct 102, the fan 106 causes air to flow
over the nozzle 103 and carry the injected mist-like spray through
the duct 102. Indeed, the duct 102 extends to one or more rooms of
a building, and the suspended liquid dispensed from the nozzle 103
exits the duct 102 from vents into the rooms that are serviced by
the HVAC unit 104. FIG. 1 shows the duct 102 extending to two
rooms, referred to as "Room 1" and "Room 3," but the duct 102 may
extend to other numbers of rooms in other embodiments.
[0031] The control unit 110 can be powered by the electrical supply
in the building, typically a 110 Volt (V) alternating current (AC)
source, where the control unit 110 is installed. In other
embodiments, the power source may be a battery or the control unit
110 may have battery backup for the building electrical supply. The
control unit 110 is coupled to the fan 106 and may activate the fan
106 independently from the thermostat controller 105. Thus, if
desired, the control unit 110 may activate the fan 106 and
dispensing of fluid from the nozzle 103 regardless of the
operational state of the HVAC unit 104 or the temperatures detected
by the thermostat controller 105. Therefore, the substance in
reservoir 112 may be dispensed through the duct 102 to one or more
rooms of the building even if the HVAC unit 104 is not currently
heating or cooling air. The control unit 110 in other embodiments
may also monitor the status of the fan 106 and use fan status as an
input for controlling when liquid from the reservoir 112 is
dispensed into the duct 103. For example, the control unit 110 may
activate dispensing of liquid from the nozzle 103 in response to
activation of the fan 106 by the HVAC controller.
[0032] Since the control unit 110 can independently control the fan
106 or detect when the fan 106 is activated by the thermostat
controller 105, it is possible to install and operate the
dispensing system 100 without modifying the design of a
conventional air conditioner. Thus, the nozzle 103, filter 113,
valve 115, pump 114, reservoir 112, control unit 110, and tubular
connections 107-109 and 111 may be installed in a building having a
pre-existing air conditioner 101 without modifying the design of
the air conditioner 101 and, in particular, the thermostat
controller 105.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 110 is coupled to the
pump 114 and the valve 115 and supplies these components with
control signals. In general, the control unit 110 activates
dispensing of liquid from the nozzle 103 by ensuring that the pump
114 is activated (i.e., providing pressure to draw liquid from the
reservoir 112) and then activating the valve 115. To activate the
valve 115, the control unit 110 provides a control signal to place
the valve 115 in an open state to allow the liquid from the
reservoir 112 to pass to the nozzle 103. In one embodiment, the
pump 114 is a diaphragm pump that provides a pressure of around 100
pounds per square inch (psi). Other types of pumps are possible in
other embodiments, and other pressures may be provided by the pump
114.
[0034] It is unnecessary, however, for the control unit 110 to
control or track operation of the pump 114. For example, the
control unit 110 may assume that the pump 114 is constantly
activated and control dispensing of fluid from reservoir 112 via
valve 115. In another example, the control unit 110 may control
dispensing of fluid by controlling the activation state of the pump
114. In such an example, the valve 115 is unnecessary and may be
removed from the system 100.
[0035] Note that the dispensing of fluid is "automatic" in the
sense that logic 126, not a user, directly controls the state of
the apparatus (e.g., valve 115 or pump 114) that selectively
permits dispensing to occur, although the logic 126 may
automatically control such apparatus based on a user input. In this
regard, for embodiments that provide automatic dispensing and that
control such dispensing via valve 115, a user does not manually
change the states of the valve 115. However, a user can provide an
input that is read by the logic 126 and used as a basis for
determining whether the state of the valve 115 is to be
automatically changed by the logic 126.
[0036] A filter 113 is shown between the valve 115 and the nozzle
103. The filter 113 is provided to reduce the chance of partially
or fully blocking output flow from the nozzle 103 for circumstances
when particle size of materials in a liquid may cause clogging in
the nozzle 103 or when reservoir residue may collect on the
nozzle's openings. The filter 113 or nozzle 103 can be replaced if
performance is degraded or can be replaced on a periodic basis. In
addition, there may be some conditions where it may also be
desirable to back-flush the supply tubular connections 107, 108,
109, and 111 in order to maintain system performance. Techniques
for back-flushing are generally well-known, and the frequency of a
filter change generally depends on well understood factors.
[0037] In one embodiment, the control unit 110, as shown by FIG. 2,
comprises a housing 116 and three user switches: a fan switch 117,
an interval switch 118, and a duration switch 119. The housing 116
houses various components, such as electrical circuits, of the
control unit 110, as will be described in more detail hereinbelow.
Each switch 117-119 can be manually turned or otherwise moved to a
desired setting by a user, as will be described in more detail
hereinbelow.
[0038] The fan switch 117 can be used to activate or deactivate the
fan 106 independent of the thermostat controller 105. In one
embodiment, the fan switch 117 has three settings: an ON setting,
an OFF setting, and an AUTOMATIC setting, although other numbers
and types of settings are possible in other embodiments. When the
switch 117 is placed in the OFF setting, the control unit 110
supplies no signal for activating the fan 106. Moreover, when the
fan switch 117 is placed in the OFF setting, the fan 106 is
activated only when a signal from the thermostat controller 105
(FIG. 1) causes power to be supplied to the fan 106. When the fan
switch 117 of the control unit 110 is placed in the ON setting, the
control unit 110 provides a control signal for activating the fan
106, regardless of the operational state of the HVAC unit 104 and
the thermostat controller 105. In response, the fan 106 is
activated and forces air through the duct 102 regardless of the
control provided by the thermostat controller 105. Note that other
embodiments for controlling the fan 106 and/or dispensing of liquid
from the nozzle 103 are possible. For example, the control unit 110
can be configured to detect when the fan 106 is active and control
the dispensing of liquid from nozzle 103 when the control unit 110
determines that the fan 106 is active.
[0039] When the fan switch 117 is placed in the AUTOMATIC setting,
the fan 106 is automatically activated by the control unit 110 at
preselected times. Various techniques may be used to control
activation of the fan 106 when the switch 117 is in the AUTOMATIC
setting, and exemplary techniques will be described in more detail
below.
[0040] In this regard, the frequency of dispensing can be set by
turning the interval switch 118 to a desired setting. In the
example depicted by FIG. 2, the possible desired settings for
frequency of dispensing are fifteen minutes, thirty minutes,
forty-five minutes, and one hour. Other possible setting are
possible in other embodiments. By turning the interval switch 118
to the desired setting when the switch 117 is set to the AUTOMATIC
setting, the frequency of dispensing is set such that the
dispensing of the fluid from the reservoir 112 is initiated at a
frequency corresponding to the selected setting. For example, if
the interval switch 118 is turned to a fifteen minute setting when
the fan switch 117 is set to the AUTOMATIC setting, as shown by
FIG. 2, then the control unit 110 is configured to trigger
activation of the fan 106 every fifteen minutes.
[0041] For each initiation of the fan 106, the control unit 110
allows activation of the fan 106 to continue for an amount of time
corresponding to the duration value selected by the duration switch
119. In the exemplary embodiment depicted by FIG. 2, the duration
may vary up to a minute, and the user may select a desired duration
by turning the duration switch 119 to the desired setting. For
example, if the duration switch 118 is turned to a fifteen second
setting, as shown by FIG. 2, then the control unit 110 keeps the
fan activated for fifteen seconds each time that it is activated by
the control unit 110, unless the settings of the control unit 110
are later changed. Note that during periods that the control unit
110 is not activating the fan 106, the fan 106 may be instead
activated by the thermostat controller 105, such as when the
controller 105 determines that the air conditioner 101 is to
perform heating or cooling operations. Note that durations other
than exemplary ones shown by FIG. 2 are possible in other
embodiments.
[0042] Further, when the fan 106 is activated by the control unit
110, the control unit 110 activates the pump 114 and the valve 115
such that fluid is dispensed from the nozzle 103 while the fan 106
remains activated. Once the fan 106 is deactivated by the control
unit 110, the control unit 110 places the valve 115 in a closed
state such that fluid is no longer dispensed from the nozzle 103.
Thus, when the fan switch 117 is turned to the AUTOMATIC setting,
the control unit 110 periodically activates dispensing of fluid
from the nozzle 103 based on the settings of the switches 118 and
119.
[0043] Note that it is unnecessary for the activation times of the
fan 106 and dispensing to be the same. For example, it is possible
for the duration of the fan 106 for each activation to continue
longer than dispensing to help ensure that a greater amount of the
dispensed substance is blown out of the duct 102. If desired, an
additional switch (not shown) may be used, similar to the switch
119, to set the duration of dispensing separate from that of the
fan 106.
[0044] When the fan switch 117 is in the ON position, the control
unit 110 activates the fan 106 and activates dispensing of the
liquid from the nozzle 103. However, when the fan switch 117 is in
the OFF position, the fan 106 is only activated, when appropriate,
by the HVAC controller 105. In such a state, the control unit 110
is configured to ensure that dispensing of liquid from the nozzle
103 is deactivated. Thus, by selectively turning the fan switch 117
between the ON and OFF settings, a user can manually control when
liquid is dispensed from the nozzle 103 and blown through the duct
102 by the fan 106. However, it should be noted that other
techniques for controlling activation and deactivation of the fan
106 and the dispensing of liquid are possible in other
embodiments.
[0045] An exemplary embodiment of the control unit 110 is shown in
FIG. 3. The control unit 110 of FIG. 3 has an input interface 120,
which may comprise the switches 117-119 depicted by FIG. 2 in some
embodiments. However, the input interface 120 may comprise other
types of devices in addition to or in lieu of the switches 117-119.
For example, the input interface 120 may comprise a keypad,
keyboard, mouse, pushbuttons, or other interface devices that can
be used to provide input to logic 126 within the unit 110. The
logic 126 may be implemented in software, hardware or a combination
thereof. In one embodiment, the logic 126 is implemented in
software and stored within memory of the control unit 110. In such
an embodiment, the control unit 110 may comprise an instruction
execution apparatus (not shown), such as a digital signal
processor, for executing instructions defined by the logic 126. In
other embodiments, at least a portion of the logic 126 may be
implemented in hardware, such as logic gates, for example. When
implemented in software, the logic 126 may be stored on any
computer-readable medium. In the context of this document, a
"computer-readable medium" can be any means that can contain,
store, communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or
in connection with the instruction execution apparatus. The
computer readable-medium can be, for example but not limited to, an
electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or
semiconductor apparatus or propagation medium.
[0046] The control unit 110 further has an output interface 122,
such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or other type of display
device, that provides status information associated with the
dispensing system 100. For example, a user may initiate a request
for the status of the pump 114, the amount of liquid in the
reservoir 112, or other useful information about the dispensing
system 100, and the requested information may be displayed by the
logic 126 via the output interface 122.
[0047] In this regard, in the embodiment depicted by FIG. 1, a
level sensor 127 is positioned within the reservoir 112. The level
sensor 127 is configured to detect an amount of fluid within the
reservoir 112. Various types of sensors, such as sensors similar to
those conventionally used to detect the amount of gas within an
automobile gas tank, may be used to implement sensor 127. The level
sensor 127 is coupled to the control unit 110 and transmits data
indicative of the amount of fluid detected within the reservoir
112. The control unit 110 may then report, to the user, the amount
of fluid in the reservoir 112. For example, the control unit 110,
via output interface 122, may display information indicative of the
amount of fluid detected within the reservoir 112 by sensor 127.
Also, if the amount of detected fluid falls below a specified
threshold, the control unit 110 may generate an audible or visual
alarm. For example, the output interface 122 may comprise a
speaker, and the logic 126 may cause the speaker to emit a beeping
sound or other type of sound in response to a determination that
the liquid in reservoir 127 has fallen below the specified
threshold level. In another example, the output interface 122 may
comprise a light emitting diode (LED), and the logic 126 may
illuminate the LED in response to such a determination. In another
example, the logic 126 may cause the output interface 122 to
display a warning message if the fluid in the reservoir 112 falls
below the specified threshold level. Various other techniques for
generating a warning based on the measured fluid level within the
reservoir 112 are possible. Moreover, based on the warning, a user
may take corrective action such as, for example, by refilling the
reservoir 112 with fluid or replacing the reservoir 112
entirely.
[0048] The logic 126 in the control unit 110 is configured to
control the elements of the dispensing system 100 according to the
techniques described herein (e.g., providing control signals to the
fan 106 and the valve 115). Input interface circuits 129 may be
used to place input information signals in a form that is readable
by the logic unit 126. For example, the level sensor 127 for
monitoring the amount of fluid in the reservoir 112 (FIG. 1) may
send a signal to the control unit 110 via at least one input line
132. In order for the logic 126 to read the output of the level
sensor 127, the input interface circuits 129 may use a signal
conversion unit (not shown), such as an analog-to-digital (A/D)
converter, that converts the input analog signal to a digital
value. Other input interface devices within the input interface
circuits 129 may be level shifters, buffers, etc. Signals from the
logic 126 to the output interface circuits 128 may be directed to
the fan 106, the pump 114, or the valve 115. The output interface
circuits 128 convert the instructions from the logic 126 into
signals that are in a form that would cause the intended unit to
respond appropriately. The control unit 110 may receive power from
a local power source 134 such as a 110 AC source or from a battery,
for example. In the embodiment depicted by FIG. 3, the input
interface 120 and the output interface 122 are mounted on a housing
116, and the logic 126 and circuits 128 and 129 are housed by the
housing 116. It should be emphasized that other configurations of
the control unit 110 are possible in other embodiments.
[0049] The input interface 120, alone or in combination with the
output interface 122, may be used to select various control
options, such as setting activation times for dispensing fluid from
the reservoir 112 and for activating the fan 106. For example, a
user may use input interface 120 to select dispensing frequency and
duration times, as described above. Also, the control unit 110 may
comprise a clock 133, and, rather than selecting an activation
frequency, the user may select specific activation times. For
example, a user may provide inputs for configuring the control unit
110 to activate the fan 106 and the dispensing of fluid from the
nozzle 103 at one or more specified times on one or more specified
days. The logic 126 may be configured to track time, based on the
clock 133, and to automatically activate the fan 106 and dispensing
of fluid from the nozzle 103 at the preselected times. Further, the
clock 133 may be used to control the dispensing frequency when the
dispensing is periodic, such as in the embodiment described above
with reference to FIG. 2.
[0050] FIG. 4 illustrates a remote interface 143 that may be used
to facilitate control of the system 100. The control unit 110 of
FIG. 4, in addition to the components of FIG. 3, comprises a local
transceiver 142 that may be used to communicate with a remote
transceiver 140 of the remote interface 143. Similar to control
unit 110, the remote interface 143 has a user input interface 144
and output interface 145 to enable a user remote from the control
unit 110 to provide inputs and receive outputs, respectively. The
input interface 144 may comprise a keypad, keyboard, mouse, one or
more pushbuttons, or other interface devices that can be used to
provide user inputs. The output interface 145 may comprise a LCD or
other type of display device.
[0051] In an exemplary embodiment, the remote transceiver 140
transmits a wireless signal (e.g., a wireless radio frequency (RF)
signal) to the local transceiver 142. Further, it is possible for
the remote transceiver 140 to be physically coupled to the local
transceiver 142 and to communicate with the local transceiver 142
via non-wireless signals. The local transceiver 142 receives
signals from the remote transceiver 140, and these signals may be
used by the logic 126 to select the desired time periods for
dispensing fluid from the nozzle 103 and/or activating the fan 106,
as described herein.
[0052] For example, a user of the remote interface 143 may submit
an input via input interface 144 requesting dispensing of a fluid
immediately or at some particular time in the future. The remote
transceiver 140 transmits the request to the local transceiver 142,
which provides the request to the logic 126. In response, the logic
126 activates dispensing of fluid from the nozzle 103 and possibly
the fan 106 at the desired time according to the request. Thus, the
user is able to activate the dispensing system 100 to dispense
fluid from the reservoir 112 even though the user is not
necessarily in close proximity to the control unit 110.
Technologies that may be used to provide a secure communication
session between the remote transceiver 140 and local transceiver
142 are generally well known and may be employed by the
transceivers 140 and 142 to communicate with one another. Note that
the transceivers 140 and 142 may provide two-way communication to
furnish a user of the remote interface 143 with an interactive
communication link.
[0053] If desired, the remote interface 143 may be coupled to a key
chain. In such an embodiment, the remote interface 143 is readily
available to a user who may be using a key on the key chain to
enter the building containing the dispensing system 100. In such an
embodiment, the user may activate the dispensing system 100 using
the remote interface 143 immediately before or after entering the
building. For example, just prior to entering a room of a building,
the user, using the remote interface 143, may activate dispensing
of fluid from the reservoir 112 just before entering the room.
Thus, when the user enters the room, the fluid may have just been
dispensed into the room thereby providing the user with a pleasant
aroma upon entering the room. Coupling the remote interface 143 to
the key used to open a door into the building or room in which the
substance of reservoir 112 is dispensed provides the user with
convenient access to the remote interface 143 as he or she is
entering or preparing to enter the building or room.
[0054] An exemplary embodiment showing the remote interface 143
coupled to a key, as described above, is depicted by FIG. 5. In
this regard, the remote interface 143 comprises a housing 146 that
houses various components, such as the transceiver 140. In the
embodiment depicted by FIG. 5, the interface 144 comprises a button
that may be pressed by a user to initiate activation of dispensing
of fluid by the system 100. A spiraled ring 147 of the type
commonly used on conventional key chains passes through a hole in a
key 148 and a hole in the housing 146 such that the key 148 and
housing 146 are interconnected via the ring 147.
[0055] Note that the interface 144 may comprise other input devices
to enable a user to program activation of the dispensing system 100
at any desired time. The length of time that dispensing of fluid
remains activated may be set by inputs provided by the remote
interface 143 or provided directly to the control unit 110 via
interface 120. Alternatively, the logic 126 may be configured to
keep the dispensing activated for a predefined time period. For
example, upon entering a room, a user may request dispensing of
fluid into the room by pressing the button 149, as described above.
In response, remote interface 143 may transmit data indicative of
the user input to the logic 126 via transceivers 140 and 142. Based
on this data, the logic 126 may activate dispensing of fluid from
the nozzle 103 and possibly the fan 106, if the nozzle 103 is
within a duct 102 serviced by the fan 106, for a predefined amount
of time. Once the predefined amount of time lapses, the logic 126
may automatically deactivate the dispensing and possibly the fan
106. However, in another embodiment, the dispensing may remain
activated until the user provides another input for requesting the
dispensing to be deactivated or otherwise specifies that the
dispensing is to be deactivated.
[0056] It should be noted that various other configurations of the
remote interface 143 are possible in other embodiments. For
example, it is possible for either the remote interface 143 or the
control unit 110 to be mounted on a wall similar to conventional
thermostat controllers 105 for conventional HVAC units 104. In such
an embodiment, the remote interface 143 or the control unit 110 may
be mounted next to or in close proximity to the remote thermostat
controller 105 so that the user can simultaneously reach and/or
view the controller 105 along with the interface 143 or unit 119.
Indeed, the thermostat controller 105 and either the interface 143
or unit 110 may be incorporated into a single unitary device such
that a user can program control of the dispensing system 100 at the
same time that he or she programs control of the HVAC unit 104. In
another example, as will be described in more detail hereafter, the
remote interface 143 may be implemented by a computer, such as a
personal computer (PC). Such a computer may communicate with the
control unit 110 via transceivers 140 and 142, as described
above.
[0057] In addition, as previously noted above, the remote interface
143 may be portable. In such an embodiment, the remote interface
143 may be temporarily mounted on a wall or other structure. For
example, a hooking apparatus, such as Velcro.TM. or a hook and loop
arrangement, or a magnet may be used to mount the remote interface
143 on a wall or other structure. Alternatively, a holding
apparatus (not shown) configured to hold the interface 143 may be
mounted on a wall or other structure, and the user may place the
interface 143 within or on such a holding apparatus to hold the
interface 143 on the wall or other structure. However, if desired,
the user may remove the interface 143 from the holding apparatus
and carry the interface 143 to another location. Various
configurations of the control unit 110 and the remote interface 143
are possible without departing from the principles of the present
disclosure.
[0058] Further, any user input described herein may be input to the
control unit 110 directly via input interface 120 or indirectly
using the remote interface 143. Thus, either the remote interface
143 or the input interface 120 of the control unit 110 may be used
to program or otherwise control operation of the system 100, as
described herein. In addition, if the control unit 110 is
configured to control dispensing via wireless signals, such as
wireless control signals transmitted to the valves that are used to
control dispensing, then the control unit 110 may be portable, as
described above with respect to remote interface 143. Thus, any of
the temporary mounting arrangements described above for remote
interface 143 may be used to temporarily mount the control unit
110.
[0059] In various embodiments, various types of liquids may be
selectively dispensed into the duct 102. For example, the system
100 of FIG. 1 may comprise a plurality of reservoirs, each of which
contains a different liquid. During a first time period, the
control unit 110 may control the system 100 such that liquid from
one of the reservoirs is dispensed into the duct 102, and during a
second time period, the control unit 110 may control the system 100
such that different liquid from another of the reservoirs is
dispensed into the duct 102. In another example, liquids from
multiple ones of the reservoirs may be concurrently dispensed into
the duct 102. Note that a single nozzle 103 and a single pump 114
may be used to dispense liquid from all of the reservoirs. In other
embodiments, different nozzles and/or pumps may be used to dispense
different liquids from different reservoirs.
[0060] For example, FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment in which
an additional pump, valve, and nozzle arrangement, similar to the
one shown by FIG. 1, is used to dispense a liquid from an
additional reservoir into the duct 102. In particular, in addition
to the reservoir 112, pump 114, valve 115, and filter 113, the
system 100 comprises an additional nozzle 203, reservoir 212, pump
214, valve 215, and filter 213. The reservoir 212 is coupled to the
pump 214 by a supply tubular connection 207, and the pump 214 is
coupled to the valve 215 by a tubular connection 208. Further, the
valve 215 is coupled to the filter 213 by a tubular connection 209,
and the filter 213 is coupled to the nozzle 203 by a tubular
connection 211. Further, the control unit 110 is coupled to and
controls the operation of the valve 215 and the pump 214. Moreover,
fluid may be dispensed from the reservoir 212 through the nozzle
203 in the same or similar manner that fluid is dispensed from the
reservoir 112 through the nozzle 103.
[0061] Note that the reservoir 212, like reservoir 112 of FIG. 1,
may have a level sensor (not shown) for detecting the amount of
fluid contained by the reservoir 212 in the same or similar way
that the level sensor 127 of FIG. 1 detects the amount of fluid in
reservoir 112. Further, the control unit 110 may be similarly used
to report fluid level in reservoir 212 and/or to provide a warning
when the fluid level of reservoir 212 falls below a specified
threshold. In FIG. 6 and the subsequent figures, level sensors will
not be shown in either reservoir 112 or 212 for simplicity.
However, it is to be understood that a level sensor may be included
in any reservoir described herein and used in a similar manner as
described above for the reservoir of FIG. 1.
[0062] Moreover, a first type of fluid in reservoir 112 may be
dispensed into the duct 102, and a different type of fluid in
reservoir 212 may be dispensed into the duct 102 at the same or
different times. For example, a user may prefer the fragrance of
the substance in reservoir 112 in the morning and the fragrance of
the substance in reservoir 212 in the afternoon. Thus, the user may
program or otherwise cause the control unit 110 to automatically
dispense the substance in reservoir 112 in the morning hours and to
automatically dispense the substance in reservoir 212 in the
afternoon hours. In another example, substances can be
simultaneously dispensed through both nozzles 103 and 203 such that
a mixture of the substances in reservoirs 112 and 212 is
effectively dispensed into the duct 102 by the system 100.
[0063] Note that it is unnecessary for the nozzles 103 and 203 to
be within the same duct 102 as shown by FIG. 6. For example, it is
possible for the nozzle 103 to be in a first duct and for the
nozzle 203 to be in a different duct. Thus, the substance in
reservoir 112 may be dispensed into a different room or rooms as
compared to the substance in reservoir 212. In another example, the
nozzle 103 or 203 may be positioned within a room instead of a duct
102. For example, the nozzle 103 may be positioned within a first
room such that the substance in reservoir 112 is injected directly
into the first room, and the nozzle 203 may be positioned within a
second room such that the substance in reservoir 212 is injected
directly into the second room. Thus, by filling the reservoirs 112
and 212 with different substances, a different substance can be
injected by the system 100 into the first room as compared to the
second room. In yet another example, the nozzles 103 and 203 may be
positioned within the same room such that the substances in
reservoirs 112 and 212 are dispensed directly into this room
concurrently or at different times.
[0064] FIG. 7 shows an exemplary embodiment in which substances in
different reservoirs 112 and 212 can be dispensed through the same
nozzle 103. In this regard, the reservoir 112 is coupled to a valve
222 by a tubular connection 224, and the reservoir 212 is coupled
to a valve 232 by a tubular connection 234. Further, the pump 114
is coupled to the valves 222 and 232 by a tubular connection 237.
The control unit 110 is coupled to and controls the operation of
the valves 222 and 232. If the substance in reservoir 112 is to be
dispensed through the nozzle 103, the control unit 110 controls the
valves 222 and 232 such that the valve 222 is in an open state and
the valve 232 is in a closed state. Thus, the pump 114 draws the
substance from reservoir 112 and not reservoir 212. However, if the
substance in reservoir 212 is to be dispensed through the nozzle
103, the control unit 110 controls the valves 222 and 232 such that
the valve 222 is in a closed state and the valve 232 is in an open
state. Thus, the pump 114 draws the substance from reservoir 212
and not reservoir 112.
[0065] It is possible for both valves 222 and 232 to be placed in
an open state such that the pump 114 draws the substances in both
reservoirs 112 and 212. In such an example, the substance in
reservoir 112 is drawn by the pump 114 and dispensed through the
nozzle 103, and the substance in reservoir 212 is also drawn by the
pump 114 and dispensed through the nozzle 103. Thus, a mixture of
the substances in reservoirs 112 and 212 is dispensed through the
nozzle 103 in such an embodiment. Note that, by partially opening
at least one of the nozzles 222 or 232, the composition of the
mixture can be controlled. For example, an extent to which at least
one of the valves 222 or 232 is opened can be controlled such that
a desired ratio of the substance in the reservoir 112 to the
substance in the reservoir 212 is obtained for the mixture being
dispensed through the nozzle 103.
[0066] FIG. 8 shows an exemplary embodiment in which a substance
from a single reservoir 112 can be dispensed through multiple
nozzles 103 and 203. The nozzles 103 and 203 may be used to service
different rooms such that, by independently controlling the valves
115 and 215, the control unit 110 can selectively dispense the
substance into different rooms. For example, the nozzle 103 may be
placed in a first room or in a duct 102 servicing the first room,
and the nozzle 203 may be placed in a second room or in a duct 102
servicing the second room. Thus, by controlling the valve 115, the
control unit 110 can control whether the substance in reservoir 112
is dispensed by the system 100 into the first room. Further, by
controlling the valve 215, the control unit 110 can control whether
the substance in reservoir 212 is dispensed by the system 100 into
the second room.
[0067] FIG. 9 depicts an exemplary embodiment in which valves 222
and 232 may be used to selectively draw substances from multiple
reservoirs 112 and 212, as described above with reference to FIG.
7. Further, valves 115 and 215 are coupled to the pump 114 by a
tubular connection 245 and may be used to control whether the
substance being drawn by the pump 114 is dispensed by nozzles 103
and 203, respectively, similar to the embodiment described above
with reference to FIG. 6. In particular, the valve 215, when open,
allows the substance drawn by pump 114 to be dispensed through
nozzle 203 and, when closed, prevents such substance from being
dispensed through nozzle 203. Note that the substance may be from
reservoir 112 when the valve 222 is open and the valve 232 is
closed or may be from reservoir 212 when the valve 222 is closed
and the valve 232 is open. Further, the substance may be a mixture
of those in reservoirs 112 and 212 when both valves 222 and 232 are
open. In addition, the valve 115, when open, allows the substance
drawn by pump 114 to be dispensed through nozzle 103 and, when
closed, prevents such substance from being dispensed through nozzle
103.
[0068] FIG. 10 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 9 except that
multiple pumps 114 and 214 are used instead of a single pump. In
FIG. 10, a tubular connection 248 couples both pumps 114 and 214 to
both valves 222 and 232 such that either pump 114 or 214 may draw a
substance from either reservoir 112 and 212 depending on the states
of the valves 222 and 232.
[0069] FIG. 11 shows an exemplary embodiment of a computer system
263, such as a personal computer (PC), that may be used to
implement the remote interface 143. In this regard, the system 263
comprises control logic 266 that may be implemented in software,
hardware, or a combination thereof. In the embodiment depicted by
FIG. 11, the control logic 266 is implemented in software and
stored within memory 271 of the system 263.
[0070] The exemplary embodiment of the computer system 263 depicted
by FIG. 11 comprises at least one conventional processing element
275, such as a digital signal processor (DSP) or a central
processing unit (CPU), that communicates to and drives the other
elements within the system 263 via a local interface 277, which can
include at least one bus.
[0071] In one exemplary embodiment, the control logic 266 allows a
user to define a schedule 291 of when substances are to be
dispensed by the dispensing system 100. If multiple reservoirs are
employed, then the schedule 291 may indicate when a substance is to
be dispensed from each reservoir. Further, if multiple nozzles are
employed, such as when nozzles are positioned in different
locations to service different rooms, then the schedule 291 may
indicate when each nozzle is to dispense a substance.
[0072] For example, using input interface 144, a user may submit
inputs requesting that a particular substance be dispensed in a
particular room at a particular time. In response to the inputs,
the schedule 291 is updated to reflect the user's request. The user
may also specify that other substances are to be dispensed in other
rooms at other times. After defining the schedule 291, based on the
requests of the user, the system 263 communicates the schedule 291
to the control unit 110 (FIG. 4) thereby enabling the logic 126 to
control the system 100 according to the requests of the user.
[0073] To facilitate the scheduling process, the control logic 266
may display, via output interface 145, a graphical user interface
(GUI) that graphically displays a schedule to be defined by the
user. For example, the GUI may display a table having various
entries. Each entry may correspond to a particular time of day and
to a particular room or set of rooms. The user may input, into the
entry, data indicative of the type of substance to be dispensed
into the corresponding room at the corresponding time of day. For
example, if the entry corresponds to 2:00 p.m. on a particular day,
then the logic 126 is configured to cause the substance of the type
indicated by the user's data to be dispensed into the room that
corresponds to the entry.
[0074] To better illustrate the foregoing, an exemplary use of the
dispensing system 100 will be described in more detail with
reference to FIG. 12.
[0075] In this regard, assume that the system 100 is configured
according to the embodiment depicted by FIG. 9. Further assume that
nozzle 103 is positioned within a duct 102 (FIG. 1) that extends to
a first room, referred to as "Room 1." Also assume that the nozzle
203 is positioned directly in a second room, referred to as "Room
2" that is not serviced by the duct 102 in which the nozzle 103 is
positioned.
[0076] Initially, a dispensing schedule 291 is defined, as
indicated by block 303 of FIG. 12. In this regard, the control
logic 266 (FIG. 11) displays, via output interface 145, the GUI 311
shown by FIG. 13. The exemplary GUI 311 shown by FIG. 13 represents
a table having a plurality of entries, each of which is correlated
with a particular time and room. In this regard, each row of the
GUI 311 is correlated with a different time of day, and each column
is correlated with a different room. For illustrative purposes,
assume that a user desires to have a first fluid, referred to as
"Fluid 1," within the reservoir 112 to be dispensed in Room 1 at
2:00 p.m. Also assume that the user desires to have a second fluid,
referred to as "Fluid 2," within the reservoir 212 to be dispensed
in Room 2 at 4:00 p.m. Further assume that the user desires to have
a mixture of Fluid 1 and Fluid 2 to be dispensed in Room 1 at 7:00
p.m.
[0077] In such an embodiment, the user enters data indicative of
these desires and the control logic 266, based on these inputs,
updates the GUI 311 to reflect the user's desires, as shown by FIG.
14. The control logic 266 also updates the schedule 291 stored in
memory 271 to reflect the user's requests. Once the user has
finished defining the schedule 291, the logic 266 transmits the
schedule 291 to the control unit 110 via transceivers 140 and 142.
Based on this data, the logic 126 controls the dispensing system
100 such that the user's requests are accommodated.
[0078] In particular, referring to FIG. 9, the logic 126 initially
closes each valve 112, 115, 212, and 215. At 2:00 p.m., the logic
126 determines, in block 326 of FIG. 12, that fluid dispensing is
to be activated for Room 1. Thus, in block 329, the logic 126 opens
valves 222 and 115 such that Fluid 1 is automatically drawn from
the reservoir 112 and dispensed through the nozzle 103. Since this
nozzle is positioned within the duct 102, the logic 126 also
activates the fan 106 such that the dispensed fluid is blown into
at least Room 1. The logic 126 may be configured to continue
dispensing the fluid for the entire duration of time corresponding
to the GUI entry on which the activation is based. In the instant
example, the logic 126 may continue dispensing Fluid 1 in Room 1
from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. In other embodiments, the logic 126
may continue dispensing the fluid for only a predefined portion of
the corresponding time period (e.g., the first fifteen minutes or
from 1:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.). If desired, the logic 126 may allow
the user to specify the time period that the dispensing is to
remain active once triggered. For example, the user may submit
inputs via system 263 (FIG. 11) or input interface 120 (FIG. 4) to
control the duration of dispensing.
[0079] When the logic 126 determines that dispensing of Fluid 1 in
Room 1 is to stop, the logic 126 makes a "yes" determination in
block 333 of FIG. 12 and closes valves 115 and 222 in block 336.
Further, the logic 126 stops activation of the fan 106 at this time
such that the fan 106 will only remain active due to control by the
thermostat controller 105. At 4:00 p.m., the logic 126 determines,
in block 326 of FIG. 12, that fluid dispensing is to be activated
for Room 2. Thus, the logic 126 opens valves 232 and 215 in block
329 such that Fluid 2 is automatically drawn from reservoir 212 and
dispensed through nozzle 203 into Room 2. When the logic 126
determines that dispensing of Fluid 2 in Room 2 is to stop, the
logic 126 makes a "yes" determination in block 333 and closes
valves 215 and 232 in block 336.
[0080] At 7:00 p.m., the logic 126 determines, in block 326 of FIG.
12, that fluid dispensing is to be activated again for Room 1.
Thus, the logic 126 opens valves 115, 222, and 232 in block 329 and
activates fan 106. Accordingly, a mixture of Fluid 1 and Fluid 2 is
automatically dispensed through the nozzle 103 and is blown by the
fan 106 into Room 1. When the logic 126 determines that dispensing
of this mixture into Room 1 is to stop, the logic 126 makes a "yes"
determination in block 333. The logic 126 then closes switches 115,
222, and 232, in block 336 and stops activation of the fan 106.
[0081] It should be noted that different schedules may be defined
for different time periods. For example, different schedules could
be defined for different days of the week, or different schedules
could be defined for different months. Moreover, once the time
period applicable to the schedule defined in block 303 expires, the
process depicted by FIG. 12 ends, as indicated by block 342.
[0082] In addition, it is possible for the computer system 263 be
used to implement the control unit 110 in at least some
embodiments. For example, it is possible for the logic 126 to be
stored in memory 271 such that the computer system 263 controls the
operation of the dispensing system 100. In such an embodiment, the
system 263 comprises interface devices coupled to the valves and
pumps as appropriate to enable control of the system 100 as
described herein. Further, the transceivers 140 and 142 would be
unnecessary in such an embodiment as the logic 126 would have
access to any inputs submitted via input interface 144 without such
inputs being communicated via transceivers 140 and 142.
[0083] There are a variety of fragrant fluids, disinfectants, and
other fluids that could be dispensed by the dispensing system 100.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,214,299, which is incorporated by reference,
describes an exemplary solution that may be dispensed by dispensing
system 100.
[0084] Note that, as described above for some embodiments, it is
unnecessary for the dispensing system 100 to dispense fluid into a
duct 102. For example, the nozzle 103 may be placed in a particular
room and dispense fluid directly into the room without having the
dispensed fluid travel through a duct 102. In fact, the HVAC unit
104, fan 106, and the duct 102 can be removed from the system 100,
and the system 100 can be configured to be portable so that the
system 100 can be carried into different rooms to dispense fluid.
For example, the system 100 can be dimensioned to fit on a movable
cart to easily transport the system 100 to different rooms. Such an
embodiment of the system 100 may further have a fan positioned
close to the nozzle 103 for blowing the dispensed fluid in order to
facilitate its distribution.
[0085] Although the dispensing system 100 has generally been
described above as a system for distributing liquids, it is
possible for the dispensing system to be configured to dispense
other types of substances, such as a gas, for example. In such
embodiments, it may be desirable to have a pressure regulator
control the pressure at the intake of a nozzle 103 being used to
dispense the gas.
[0086] It should be noted that, in at least some embodiments, it
may be desirable to mount the nozzle 103 such that liquid is
generally dispensed from the nozzle 103 in a direction parallel to
the flow of air. For example, FIG. 15 depicts an exemplary nozzle
103 mounted within a duct 102 through which heated or cooled air is
blown via a fan 106. As shown by FIG. 15, the nozzle 103 is
positioned such that liquid is dispensed in a direction that is
downstream relative to the flow of air through the duct 102.
Indeed, as shown by FIG. 15, the nozzle 103 dispenses liquid in
substantially the same direction as the flow of air through the
duct 102. By spraying the liquid in a downstream direction rather
than an upstream direction, the sprayed liquid does not generally
accumulate on the nozzle 103 but is instead carried away from the
nozzle 103 by the moving air. Further, spraying the liquid in the
downstream direction helps to prevent the liquid from accumulating
on the inner walls of the duct 102. For example, if the liquid is
dispensed from the nozzle 103 in a direction substantially
perpendicular to the flow of air, then it is likely (depending on
the output velocity of the spray from the nozzle 103) that a
substantial portion of the spray may reach an inner wall of the
duct 102 before it is carried downstream by the movement of the air
through the duct 102. Such an effect can significantly limit the
amount of the sprayed liquid that reaches the rooms serviced by the
dispensing system 100.
[0087] In addition, some conventional HVAC units have been
implemented with ultraviolet (UV) systems that use UV radiation to
kill bacteria in the air blown by the HVAC unit. Further,
conventional HVAC units have also been used with humidifiers and/or
dehumidifiers to control the humidity of the air blown by the HVAC
unit. Any such UV system, humidifier, and/or dehumidifier may be
similarly used with the HVAC unit 104 described herein to enable
further treatment of the air being blown by the HVAC unit 104.
[0088] Various embodiments described above use a plurality of
valves to control which substance is dispensed by the system 100.
It is generally well-known that a multiple input or output selector
valve may be used in lieu of separate valves. For example, FIG. 9
shows two valves 222 and 232 for respectively controlling
dispensing from reservoirs 112 and 212 and two valves 115 and 215
for respectively controlling whether a substance is dispensed via
nozzles 103 and 203. However, as shown by FIG. 16, a multiple input
selector valve 492 may be used in lieu of valves 222 and 232, and a
multiple output selector valve 495 may be used in lieu of valves
115 and 215. The valve 492 can be controlled to allow a substance
from reservoir 112 and/or 212 to pass to tubular connection 237,
and the valve 295 can be controlled to allow a substance from the
pump 114 to pass to nozzle 103 and/or 203. Further, it is possible
for the valve 492 to be controllable to allow a mixture output by
the valve 492 to have a selected concentration of the substance
from reservoir 112 and a selected concentration of the substance
from reservoir 212. Thus, via inputs to the control unit 110, a
user may not only control when substances are dispensed from the
reservoirs 112 and 212 but also the relative concentration of the
substances in any mixture being dispensed.
[0089] As indicated above, various configurations of the reservoir
112 are possible. In one exemplary embodiment, the reservoir 112
comprises a bag 511 situated in a box 515, as depicted by FIG. 17.
The bag 511 can be composed of any suitable material, such as
plastic, and the box 515 can be composed of a somewhat rigid
material, such as cardboard, to facilitate transportation of the
bag 511. For example, several boxes 515, each of which contains a
bag 511 as shown by FIG. 17, can be stacked on each other or
stacked side by side for easy shipment. Further, the box 515 may
have at least one slit 518 of sufficient size to enable a user to
slide one or more fingers through the slit 518 for easily grasping
the box 511.
[0090] The bag 511 preferably contains a substance to be dispensed
through the nozzle 103 and has an outlet 517 for allowing the
substance to pass out of the bag 511. During shipping, this outlet
517 can be sealed to prevent the substance from exiting the bag
511. Once the bag 511 and box 515 arrive at the premises of the
system 100, the seal can be broken, and the outlet 517 can be
interfaced with an end of the tubular connection 107, as shown by
FIG. 18. In this regard, the end of the tubular connection 107 may
have an inlet 522 that is configured to mate with the outlet 517 so
that the substance in the bag 511 can flow through the outlet 517
and into the tubular connection 107.
[0091] Note that, if desired, the outlet 517 can be positioned
within the box 515. For example, the box 515 may have a perforated
section that can be easily removed or punctured to form a hole 525
through which the outlet 517 or inlet 522 can pass thereby enabling
mating of the outlet 517 and inlet 522. Such a section of the box
515 may be removed or punctured to form the hole 525 prior to,
during, or after shipping. In addition, if desired, the box 515 can
be opened after shipping and the bag 511 can be removed from the
box 515 to enable mating of the outlet 517 and inlet 522. In such a
case, forming the hole 525 is unnecessary. After dispensing, a
substance can be added to the bag 511 to replenish the substance
dispensed from the bag 511, or the bag 511 can be effectively
replaced by mating the inlet 522 with a new bag 511 filled with the
same or different substance.
* * * * *