Occupancy driven patient room environmental control

Abstract

Using a real-time location system, the hospital environment is controlled locally. By categorizing individuals detected at different locations, the proper control may be provided to enhance energy savings and maintain a comfortable patient environment without sacrificing safety. By altering the environment within a room for patients and not staff and/or based on the type of patient, more optimized and localized control may be provided, such as implementing a number of air changes per hour appropriate for detected patients within rooms.

Description

[0001] priority claim [0002] This patent document is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13 / 398,593 filed February 16, 2012, asserting under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) a U.S. Provisional Patent Application filed September 30, 2011 Priority of Serial No. 61 / 541,653 (2011P01756US), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. technical field [0003] This patent document relates generally to environmental control systems, and more particularly to patient room environmental control. Background technique [0004] In general, medical facilities (eg, hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient facilities) and especially patient rooms are designed and configured to strike a balance between medical care, patient comfort, and efficient operation. For example, ASHRAE Advanced Engineering Guide for Small Hospitals and Health Care Institutions, LEED2009 Health Care EQ Credit6.1, System Controllability: Lighting and EQ Credit6.2, System Controllability: Thermal...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, such manual execution leads to inefficiency

Hospitals may not receive energy savings otherwise available

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