Fragrance delivery for multimedia systems
Apparatus and methods for emitting fragrance connected to an electromechanical device such as a robotic vacuum cleaner are disclosed. In preferred embodiments, a fragrance generator processes information generates a control signal and a controlled airflow. In turn, a fragrance delivery system in communication with the controlled airflow selectively volatilizes fragrance chemicals that are then selectively delivered by the device. In certain embodiments, the fragrance delivery system comprises an indexing turret containing a plurality of ports, each port containing one of said plurality of fragrance chemicals. In other preferred embodiment, a multiport micro-valve or array of such valves contains an absorbent material impregnated with a fragrance in each port.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/950,903 filed on Sep. 27, 2004, now pending, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/791,923 filed on Mar. 3, 2004, now pending; the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to fragrance delivery systems, and more particularly to fragrance delivery systems that are synchronized with an electromechanical device such as a robotic vacuum cleaner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe “experience” of audiovisual entertainment has progressed from silent films and monaural recordings to today's visually stunning digital images and advances in sound reproduction such as the “surround sound” found in both commercial theatres and homes. Moreover, current computer-based games and games played on gaming platform employ the same advanced graphics and sound qualities found in film or video. These technologies create an audiovisual “experience” that immerses the user in a film or game like never before, stimulating sight, sound and even tactile sensations through deep bass vibrations provided by subwoofers and tactile feedback provided by some game controllers. There remains, however, one form of sensory perception that is not stimulated—the sense of smell.
Numerous prior art systems have attempted to provide a scent to the environment that compliments or correlates to an audiovisual stimulus. Examples would be the smell of burning rubber coordinating with the screech of tires, or the scent of flowers when a corresponding image appears. Prior art systems have primarily been directed to introducing fragrances to large environments, such as an entire theater. These systems have by and large suffered from the problem that a fragrance will linger long after the coordinating audiovisual input has changed, and may in fact be difficult to replace with another scent as the scenes change, the typical result being a mixture of several fragrances that become an indistinct muddle.
None of these prior art devices, however, provides a useful and commercially viable system for fragrance delivery to enhance an audiovisual presentation. Therefore, there remains a long-felt yet unmet need for providing it would therefore be desirable to provide. It would further be desirable to provide such improvements in a manner that permitted their application across a variety of situations and that permitted their implementation in a cost-effective manner.
Additionally, self-propelled, self-navigating sweeper-vacuum cleaners known as “robot” vacuum systems are currently in market. U.S. Pat. No. 6,809,490 discloses a control system for a mobile robot vacuum cleaner to effectively cover a given area by operating in a plurality of modes, including an obstacle following mode and a random bounce mode, as well as spot coverage, such as spiraling or other modes to increase effectiveness and ensure full coverage. U.S. Pat. No. 6,594,844 discloses a robot obstacle detection system including a robot housing which navigates with respect to a surface and a sensor subsystem having a defined relationship with respect to the housing and aimed at the surface for detecting the surface. Both of these patents herein incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth herein, and both are assigned to iRobot Corporation that markets a robotic vacuum system under the tradename “Roomba™.” In a manner similar to enhancing the experience of an audiovisual presentation, it would be similarly desirable to enhance the automated cleaning process by adding a scent or other material emitted to the room being cleaned.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, it has now been found that these and other shortcomings of the prior art can be overcome by providing an apparatus for fragrance sensory stimulation comprising at least one signal connected to a robotic vacuum cleaner and fragrance information synchronized with the signal, along with a fragrance generator for processing the fragrance information into a fragrance signal. At least one fragrance control systems that accepts the fragrance signal as an input, and generates a control signal and a controlled airflow and in turn a fragrance delivery system comprising one or more of fragrance chemicals in communication with the controlled airflow volatilizes the fragrance chemicals. Preferably, the fragrance delivery system comprises an indexing turret containing a plurality of ports, each port containing one of a plurality of fragrance chemicals, and most preferably the multiport valve contains an absorbent material impregnated with a fragrance in each port. In certain embodiments a transmitter connected to the fragrance generator and a receiver connected to the fragrance creation system control the fragrance generator. In certain embodiments the controlled airflow comprises a short burst of pressurized air having a duration of less than five seconds. The fragrance delivery system is disposed within the robotic vacuum cleaner in certain preferred embodiments, while in others it is mounted on an outside surface of the robotic vacuum cleaner. In accordance with the present invention, the fragrance chemical may comprise a fragrance and/or a deodorizing chemical.
In certain embodiments the present invention comprises a fragrance producing system synchronized to an electromechanical device comprising a fragrance delivery system for providing a short burst of air containing one or more fragrance chemicals coordinated by receiving and processing a signal contained within the an electromechanical device that has been transmitted to a fragrance creation system in which the signal activates a compressor that selectively volatilizes the fragrance chemical, wherein said one or more fragrance chemicals are disposed within an apparatus that selectively mixes at least one fragrance chemical with pressurized air generated by said compressor. The signal contained within the electromechanical device is preferably transmitted via an RF transmitter to an RF receiver connected to the fragrance creation system. In certain embodiments the apparatus that selectively mixes a fragrance chemical with pressurized air generated by said compressor comprises a turret with a plurality of ports, and each of said ports includes an absorbent material and a fragrance chemical.
The present invention also discloses methods of diffusing a fragrance by providing a device having one or more ports containing a sufficient variety and quantity of fragrance to correspond to a sequence of fragrances, loading the device with the fragrance, and providing a signal that is processed to activate a compressor and connect the device with an airflow so that the correct fragrance chemical is volatilized when a burst of air reaches the fragrance chemical.
Preferably, the step of providing a signal comprises programmatic methods that direct the system to generate a scent for a pre-determined period of time and the step of connecting the device with an airflow comprises indexing a turret. The step of connecting the device with an airflow preferably comprises actuating one of an array of valves.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The implementation of the present invention is in several preferred embodiments, discussed below, along with several illustrative examples. The embodiments of the invention described below are provided for the purpose of understanding the invention and are not meant to be limiting.
Referring now to
The fragrance generator 100 is comprised of a medium 110 and a media player 112. As known in the art, the medium 110 and media player 112 can be any one of a number of systems, either digital, analog or some combination of such systems, that contains information and converts the information into a signal that can be use for display. Thus, the medium 10 will comprise one or more “tracks” such as a video track, a sound track and, in accordance with the present invention, a fragrance track. The media player 112 will read or process the medium 100 and create signals that can be displayed by devices such as a visual display 114 and an audio display 116. However, in accordance with the present invention, the scent track described above is transmitted to and processed by a fragrance control system 212 that may or may not be integral with the media player 112. As discussed in further detail below and well known in the art, there are a number of systems that contain a scent “medium” 210 (not illustrated in
As illustrated in
As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, the system described with relation to
Referring now to
Still referring to
Thus, in operation, those of skill in the art will appreciate that a fundamental requirement of the present invention is that the medium contain an additional “track” that is designed to provide a coded signal that correlates to the type of scent desired to be released at the particular temporal point in the audio or visual presentation. Alternatively, programmatic methods could be employed, e.g., a short algorithm that directs the system to generate a scent upon intervals, e.g., generating short bursts (for example, less than tree seconds) of pine scent every thirty seconds during prolonged scenes in an evergreen forest. Such signals, whether part of a “track” or programmed are easily integrated into various forms of media, such as digital discs (CDs, DVDs, etc.), game cartridges, the magnetic tracks found on commercial theatre film, videotape and audiotape, and various other forms of magnetic media. Typically, the numbers of scenes or similar divisions within the medium in which fragrance will make an impact or otherwise be appropriate are identified and a sequence of fragrances is created. A turret or array of valves having the requisite number of ports containing a sufficient variety and quantity of fragrance to correspond to the sequence of fragrances is designed and provided. In operation, the system is loaded with the correct turret or valve array and the user is positioned so the nosepiece described above will transmit fragrance to the wearer in a synchronized fashion. The “fragrance track” provides a signal that is processed to activate the compressor and indexes the turret so that the correct fragrance chemical is volatilized when the burst of air reaches the fragrance chemical.
Referring now to
In the preferred embodiment shown in
Referring now to
Thus, in the robotic vacuum cleaner embodiment illustrated in
Although the preferred embodiment has been described with reference to “scented air” and air freshening chemicals, those of skill in the art will appreciate that the system described herein will have applicability to a wide variety of chemical compounds that provide one or more of the following functions: cleaning, waxing, disinfecting, antibacterial, odor control, odor masking, or fragrance. In certain embodiments it will be preferable to replace the single fragrance with a cartridge or turret as described above that contains a number of different chemicals that can be dispensed for various purposes. The cartridge can contain different scents for different rooms, or different chemicals for different purposes. For example, a cleaning chemical can be applied and then this application followed later by the application of a fragrance. In particular, using the existing programming features of robot vacuum cleaners, in certain embodiments the system disclosed herein can be “trained” to selectively deposit cleaning and/or stain inhibiting chemicals on a high traffic area, such as a doorway, since robotic vacuum cleaners have the inherent capability to “learn” the layout of a room and sense transitions between types of flooring surfaces.
Upon review of the foregoing, numerous adaptations, modifications, and alterations will occur to the reviewer. These will all be, however, within the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims in order to ascertain the true scope of the present invention. All US patents and patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference as if incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety.
Claims
1. An apparatus for fragrance sensory stimulation comprising:
- at least one signal connected to a robotic vacuum cleaner, and fragrance information synchronized with the signal;
- a fragrance generator for processing said fragrance information into a fragrance signal;
- at least one fragrance control system that accepts a fragrance signal as an input, and generates a control signal and a controlled airflow; and
- a fragrance delivery system comprising one or more of fragrance chemicals in communication with the controlled airflow, whereby at least one of said fragrance chemicals is volatilized.
2. The apparatus for fragrance sensory stimulation according to claim 1, wherein the fragrance delivery system comprises an indexing turret containing a plurality of ports, each port containing one of a plurality of fragrance chemicals.
3. The apparatus for fragrance sensory stimulation according to claim 2, wherein the multiport valve contains an absorbent material impregnated with a fragrance in each port.
4. The apparatus for fragrance sensory stimulation according to claim 1, wherein the delivery system comprises a miniature multiport valve.
5. The apparatus for fragrance sensory stimulation according to claim 1, further comprising a transmitter connected to the fragrance generator and a receiver connected to the fragrance creation system, whereby the transmitter sends the fragrance signals to the receiver.
6. The apparatus for fragrance sensory stimulation according to claim 1, wherein the fragrance generator comprises a compressor regulated by a microprocessor.
7. The apparatus for fragrance sensory stimulation according to claim 6, further comprising a high-pressure cutoff sensor.
8. The apparatus for fragrance sensory stimulation according to claim 1 wherein the controlled airflow comprises a short burst of pressurized air having a duration of less than five seconds.
9. The apparatus for fragrance sensory stimulation according to claim 1 wherein the fragrance delivery system is disposed within the robotic vacuum cleaner.
10. The apparatus for fragrance sensory stimulation according to claim 1 wherein the fragrance delivery system is mounted on an outside surface of the robotic vacuum cleaner.
11. The apparatus for fragrance sensory stimulation according to claim 1 wherein the fragrance chemical comprises a fragrance.
12. The apparatus for fragrance sensory stimulation according to claim 1 wherein the fragrance chemical comprises a deodorizing chemical.
13. A fragrance producing system synchronized to an electromechanical device comprising: a fragrance delivery system for providing a short burst of air containing one or more fragrance chemicals coordinated by receiving and processing a signal contained within the an electromechanical device that has been transmitted to a fragrance creation system in which the signal activates a compressor that selectively volatilizes the fragrance chemical, wherein said one or more fragrance chemicals are disposed within an apparatus that selectively mixes at least one fragrance chemical with pressurized air generated by said compressor.
14. The fragrance producing system according to claim 13, wherein the signal contained within the electromechanical device is transmitted via an RF transmitter to an RF receiver connected to the fragrance creation system.
15. The fragrance producing system according to claim 13, wherein the apparatus that selectively mixes a fragrance chemical with pressurized air generated by said compressor comprises a turret with a plurality of ports, and each of said ports includes an absorbent material and a fragrance chemical.
16. The fragrance producing system according to claim 13, wherein the apparatus that selectively mixes a fragrance chemical with pressurized air generated by said compressor comprises one or more of micro-valves, and each of said micro-valves includes an absorbent material and a fragrance chemical.
17. A method of diffusing a fragrance comprising the steps of:
- providing a device having one or more ports containing a sufficient variety and quantity of fragrance to correspond to a sequence of fragrances;
- loading the device with the fragrance;
- providing a signal that is processed to activate a compressor and connect the device with an airflow so that the correct fragrance chemical is volatilized when a burst of air reaches the fragrance chemical.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the step of providing a signal comprises programmatic methods that direct the system to generate a scent for a pre-determined period of time.
19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the step of connecting the device with an airflow comprises indexing a turret.
20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the step of connecting the device with an airflow comprises actuating one of an array of valves.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 1, 2005
Publication Date: Sep 8, 2005
Inventor: Raymond Selander (Hopewell Junction, NY)
Application Number: 11/069,097