Toroidal vortices for temperature-related and non-temperature-related functions
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving air into a device that includes an actuator for generating one or more toroidal vortices and determining whether to generate a toroidal vortex for conditioning air in an environment of the device or whether to generate a toroidal vortex for a non-temperature-related functionality. The method further includes generating, based on the determination and by the actuator, one or more toroidal vortices and transmitting, by the device, the one or more toroidal vortices into the environment.
1 . A method comprising:
receiving air into a device comprising an actuator for generating one or more toroidal vortices;
sensing, by a sensor associated with the device, one or more objects in the environment of the device;
determining whether to generate a toroidal vortex for dusting at least one of the objects in the environment of the device;
generating, based on the determination and by the actuator, one or more toroidal vortices; and
transmitting, by the device, the one or more toroidal vortices to the at least one of the objects in the environment of the device.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises one or more of a rack-and-pinion mechanism or a slider-crank mechanism.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising conditioning the received air by at least one of (1) heating the received air or (2) cooling the received air.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising
transmitting a reminder by generating one or more second toroidal vortices and transmitting, by the device, the one or more second toroidal vortices towards a person.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting an aroma by scenting the received air according to the aroma, generating one or more second toroidal vortices using the scented received air, and transmitting the one or more toroidal vortices into the environment.
6 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising determining, based on one or more preferences associated with a person, one or more parameters for heating or cooling the received air.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one of the one or more objects comprises a surface; and
the method further comprises determining, based on a detected dust on the surface, to dust the surface using the one or more toroidal vortices.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining,
based on the at least one of the one or more objects, a transmission direction for the one or more toroidal vortices.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
predicting a future location of a person in the environment the device; and
determining, based on the predicted future location, a particular location in the environment to direct one or more second toroidal vortices to.
10 . An apparatus comprising:
an intake for receiving air into the apparatus;
an outlet for transmitting one or more toroidal vortices from the apparatus;
a sensor configured to detect one or more objects in the environment of the apparatus;
one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media storing instructions; and one or more processors coupled to the non-transitory computer readable storage media, the one or more processors operable to execute the instructions to determine whether to generate a toroidal vortex for dusting at least one of the objects in the environment of the device; and
an actuator configured to generate the or more toroidal vortices through the outlet of the apparatus to the at least one of the objects in the environment of the device.
11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the actuator comprises one or more of a rack-and-pinion mechanism or a slider-crank mechanism.
12 . One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media storing instructions and coupled to one or more processors that are operable to execute the instructions to:
sense, by a sensor associated with the device, one or more objects in the environment of a device for generating toroidal vortices;
determine whether to generate a toroidal vortex for dusting at least one of the objects in the environment of the device;
transmitting, based on the determination, an instruction to an actuator of the device to generate one or more toroidal vortices and transmit the one or more toroidal vortices to the at least one of the objects in the environment of the device.
13 . The media of claim 12 , wherein the actuator comprises one or more of a rack-and-pinion mechanism or a slider-crank mechanism.
14 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are further operable to execute the instructions to determine whether to condition the received air by at least one of (1) heating the received air or (2) cooling the received air.
15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the one or more processors are further operable to execute the instructions to determine, based on one or more preferences associated with a person, one or more parameters for heating or cooling the received air.
16 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are further operable to execute the instructions to transmit a reminder by instructing the actuator to generate one or more second toroidal vortices and transmit the one or more second toroidal vortices towards a person.
17 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein:
the at least one of the one or more objects comprises a surface; and
the one or more processors are further operable to execute the instructions to determine, based on a detected dust on the surface, to dust the surface using the one or more toroidal vortices.
18 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are further operable to execute the instructions to determine, based on the at least one of the one or more objects, a transmission direction for the one or more toroidal vortices.
19 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are further operable to execute the instructions to:
predict a future location a person in the environment the device; and
determine, based on the predicted future location, a particular location in the environment to direct one or more second toroidal vortices to.