US Patent 9592666 Material dispensing system and methods

A system and method for dispensing a fluid within an environment. The method includes the steps of: providing a dispensing system within an environment; discharging fluid from the dispensing system at a first, non-zero rate; detecting a change in the environment; and discharging fluid at a second rate after detecting the environmental change. The system comprises: a MEMS element coupled to a fluid reservoir and adapted to dispense fluid at a plurality of non-zero rates; at least one sensor; and a controller in communication with the MEMS element and at least one sensor and adapted to receive an output from the sensor and to alter the dispensing rate of the MEMS element according to the sensor output.