Intelligent odor diffuser

Abstract

Intelligent scent diffuser. The invention relates to a scent diffuser for dispensing an adaptable scent, the scent diffuser comprising: a plurality of reservoirs (30) for storing a fragrance liquid; a plurality of atomizers (40) for dispersing the fragrance liquid stored in the reservoirs (30) in a controlled manner to the outside of the scent diffuser, wherein at least one atomizer (40) is associated with each of the reservoirs (30); a control unit (26) operatively coupled to the plurality of atomizers (40), wherein the control unit is adapted to control the operation of the atomizers (40) in a coordinated manner; and a power supply (18) for powering the control unit (26) and the plurality of atomizers (40). The invention also relates to a cartridge containing a fragrance liquid for use with such a scent diffuser, and a method of operating such a scent diffuser.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the Chinese national phase patent application with application number 201980053916.4, which was filed on July 15, 2019, with international application number PCT / EP2019 / 069017 and invention title "Intelligent Odor Diffuser" and entered the Chinese national phase on February 8, 2021. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to an odor diffuser for dispensing an adjustable odor, a box containing an aromatic liquid for use with such an odor diffuser, and a method for operating such an odor diffuser. Background Technology

[0003] The dispensing of aromatic liquids, such as perfumes or air-purifier liquids, in the context of cosmetics and other lifestyle products has long been known. For this purpose, manually operated dispensers and diffusers for aromatic liquids are known, which users can use to spray or atomize the liquid when manually actuated. Additionally, electrically operated scent diffusers are available on the market, in which the atomizer dispenses aromatic liquid, for example, at regular intervals.

[0004] The aromatic liquids to be dispensed are typically complex mixtures of dozens or hundreds of aromatic molecules dissolved in a carrier or solvent liquid. These are mixed in predetermined proportions to construct so-called "accords," which are inspired by music theory: covering multiple tonal frequencies in predetermined proportions results in different feelings of harmony or tension. Based on the concept of accords, perfumers categorize their perfumes according to family, subfamily, and classifier accords, where the strongest olfactory signature is identified as a family, weaker signatures as subfamilies, and the weakest as a classifier accord. In the realm of perfume composition, the accord itself consists of numerous aromatic molecules and is often categorized according to their true origin or prototype, such as citric acid, leather, wood, etc.

[0005] It is evident that, given the abundance of aromatic liquids found in nature and their availability to perfume makers, virtually countless possibilities exist for combining these liquids. While this has led to a growing number of perfumes and air purifiers with unique scents on the market, personalized fragrances remain in demand. For example, this has resulted in perfume makers offering bespoke scents tailored to their clients, who are willing to pay five figures to create their own personalized fragrances. However, all scents and perfumes currently on the market are static, meaning the mixing ratios of various aromatic molecules are determined by the perfume maker and cannot be dynamically changed or adjusted according to the user's real-time preferences. Because the human sense of smell tends to quickly adapt to scents, and due to the static nature of all available perfumes, a phenomenon known as "olfactory fatigue" occurs, according to which perfumes and air purifiers tend to wear down subjectively, even faster than the evaporation of aromatic molecules. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an odor diffuser for dispensing an adjustable odor, which can be personalized for any individual user, and the adjustable odor can be adjusted in real time during operation of the odor diffuser, and the adjustable odor can prevent olfactory fatigue. To this end, the odor diffuser for dispensing an adjustable odor according to the present invention comprises: a plurality of reservoirs for storing aromatic liquids; a plurality of atomizers for dispersing the aromatic liquids stored in the reservoirs in a controlled manner to the exterior of the odor diffuser, wherein at least one atomizer is associated with each of the reservoirs; a control unit operatively coupled to the plurality of atomizers, wherein the control unit is adapted to control the operation of the atomizers in a coordinated manner; and a power supply for supplying power to the control unit and the plurality of atomizers.

[0007] By providing multiple reservoirs, each storing a different aromatic liquid, and an array of atomizers individually controlled by a common control unit to disperse the aromatic liquids stored in the reservoirs, not only can the aroma diffuser disperse increasingly larger mixed aromas according to the number of reservoirs used, but the aroma can also be adjusted and changed in real time according to any desired input variable. In this document, the term "coordinated control of the atomizer operation" refers to the amount of each aromatic liquid dispersed per unit time, or in other words, the mass flow rate of each individual aromatic liquid, which directly results in the proportion of aromatic liquids, and thus directly in the overall composition of the mixed dispersed aroma.

[0008] Although the number of reservoirs can be as low as two, it is preferable to provide at least five reservoirs for the odor diffuser according to the invention, wherein preferably at least two of them are arranged to store different amounts of aromatic liquid. It is well known that the human sense of smell has different perception thresholds for different aromatic molecules, necessitating that the concentration of said molecules in ambient air must vary to elicit similar sensory stimulation as a specific user of the odor diffuser of the invention. Even though this phenomenon can be addressed by providing different aromatic liquids at different relative concentrations in the individual reservoirs, it is advantageous, according to the shape factor and in order to minimize the odor diffuser, to use an aromatic liquid with the highest possible concentration of aromatic molecules, thereby minimizing the dispensing rate of said high-concentration liquid per unit time and the volume of the reservoir containing the liquid.

[0009] Similarly, based on the shape factor and specific use case of the odor diffuser according to the invention, its power source may include a rechargeable battery and / or a power adapter. When a rechargeable battery is provided, a dedicated external power source, such as a charging dock, may also be provided along with the odor diffuser. Regarding the type of rechargeable battery, the shape factor of the odor diffuser must again be considered, such that for particularly compact devices, lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries with high energy density may be preferred, despite their slightly higher cost.

[0010] To ensure a constant supply of aromatic liquid stored in the reservoir to the atomizer, at least one reservoir may include a capillary sponge. When the reservoir is loaded, the capillary sponge is soaked in the corresponding aromatic liquid, and when the corresponding reservoir begins to empty, the capillary sponge ensures a constant flow of liquid to the atomizer due to the capillary effect. In an alternative embodiment, the atomizer may also be positioned below the reservoir, allowing the flow of aromatic liquid to the atomizer to be gravity-driven.

[0011] Depending on the intended use of the odor diffuser according to the invention and therefore also on its shape, the reservoirs may be replaceable and / or refillable. Replaceable reservoirs may be particularly advantageous for very small odor diffusers, as the individual reservoirs, when used with the entire device, will also be very small and therefore difficult to handle during refilling operations. For larger units, these reservoirs may be refillable while still located in their operating positions within the odor diffuser, or these reservoirs may be removed from the odor diffuser and refilled manually or in a dedicated refilling unit.

[0012] To further modularize the odor diffuser according to the invention, the atomizer and reservoir can be integrated to form a replaceable component. This replaceable component can again be particularly advantageous in the case of very small odor diffusers, while in larger units, larger reservoirs and larger atomizers can be used, which are easier for the user of the device to handle and disassemble.

[0013] To provide feedback on the amount and concentration of the aromatic liquid dispersed into the odor diffuser environment, the odor diffuser may also include a detection unit for detecting the concentration of at least one type of substance in the vicinity of the diffuser. Therefore, the device can automatically detect errors in the dispersion process, or can adjust the mass flow rate of the aromatic liquid based on the detection results, such that, for example, in an air purifier unit placed in an apartment or car, the mass flow rate may increase accordingly when the aromatic liquid, dispersed due to ventilation, is rapidly distributed throughout the room to be freshened.

[0014] Although the control unit of the scent diffuser according to the invention may have a fixed profile based on which its operation regarding the dispersion of aromatic liquids and their relative mass flow ratios is controlled, the diffuser may also include: an input device for receiving instructions regarding the operation of the scent diffuser, the input device being communicatively coupled to the control unit, and particularly including a communication unit for receiving instructions from an external device. Thus, by providing a suitable interface to the scent diffuser, such as a Bluetooth transceiver, a user of the scent diffuser according to the invention can adjust the operating parameters of the scent diffuser based on input data from an external Bluetooth device (e.g., his / her mobile phone). In other embodiments, different wireless communication standards, such as WIFI or ZigBee, may be used, and wired information exchange is also conceivable after an external device is plugged into a dedicated port of the diffuser. In other embodiments, the scent diffuser itself may provide a user interface, such as a touchscreen and / or hard buttons.

[0015] Although the atomizer used in the odor diffuser according to the invention can be of any type capable of dispersing liquids with suitable mass flow rate and precision, in a preferred embodiment, at least one atomizer may comprise a microporous membrane and an ultrasonic transducer, preferably a piezoelectric transducer, for oscillating the membrane. Such atomizers are durable and have shown particular suitability for applications requiring the dispersion of small amounts of liquid with high precision.

[0016] In one embodiment, the odor diffuser according to the invention may further include: a diffuser housing that at least completely surrounds the reservoir and is provided with at least one outlet through which the dispersion of the aromatic liquid can be achieved, wherein the housing is preferably shaped and sized as a standalone unit or for integration into a higher-level structure, such as that of an automobile. By providing at least the reservoir within the housing, and preferably also providing a control unit and a power supply, as well as possible additional components, the odor diffuser can become sufficiently robust and reliable for many applications and uses, and by appropriately selecting the shape of the housing, the housing can be integrated into any type of container, such as a cup holder in an automobile.

[0017] To ensure satisfactory distribution of the dispersed aromatic liquid, the odor diffuser may further include: at least one inlet and a ventilation device for allowing airflow from at least one inlet through the housing to at least one outlet, such that the dispersed aromatic liquid is carried to the outside of the housing and further distributed in the environment of the odor diffuser by a constant or variable airflow.

[0018] To further enhance the sensory experience of the user of the odor diffuser and provide optical feedback on its operating status, the housing may be made of a transparent material, and preferably, at least one LED powered by a power source and controlled by a control unit may be provided inside the housing. Thus, the dispersion of the aromatic liquid and the operation of the LED can be controlled in a coordinated manner, such that, for example, the color and / or intensity of the LED can be adjusted according to the current mixture of aromatic liquids and therefore the overall odor dispersed over a certain period of time.

[0019] According to another embodiment of the scent diffuser according to the invention, it may include: a strap, particularly a wristband, adapted for wear by a user, wherein a reservoir is individually embedded in a groove formed in the strap. By providing a wearable strap for the scent diffuser, the device becomes a mobile wearable unit capable of periodically reapplying perfume to the part of the user's body on which it is worn (particularly his or her wrist). Perfume is typically applied to the wrist because the aromatic molecules of the perfume will evaporate effectively due to the high blood circulation of the skin near the wrist. However, due to evaporation, it may be necessary to frequently reapply the perfume to the wrist. The described embodiment of the scent diffuser according to the invention precisely achieves this: that is, periodically refreshing the perfume applied to his or her wrist. By individually embedding the reservoir in a groove formed in the strap, the overall size of the scent diffuser can be reduced, and the flexibility of the strap can be maintained, allowing the scent diffuser to be worn comfortably for extended periods.

[0020] To disperse the aromatic liquid toward the user's skin, at least one atomizer in the atomizer can preferably be arranged toward the inner circumference of the band. However, if it is not desired that the aromatic liquid be in direct contact with the wearer's skin, then at least one atomizer in the atomizer can of course be pointed toward the outside of the band, thereby dispersing the aromatic liquid into the band and the wearer's environment.

[0021] The odor diffuser just described may also include a display device, preferably a touchscreen, operatively coupled to the control unit. Therefore, the device can be used for many other purposes, such as having smartwatch functionality, or the touchscreen can be used as an input device for the odor diffuser.

[0022] According to a second aspect of the invention, a case is provided containing an aromatic liquid and providing at least one atomizer for dispersing the aromatic liquid into the environment and an interface for receiving electricity to operate the atomizer, wherein the case is shaped and sized to serve as a reservoir for an odor diffuser, the odor diffuser including a strap to be worn by a user as discussed above. Such a case, integrated with the atomizer and capable of receiving electricity to operate it, can be provided as an interchangeable unit and is easily replaceable by the user of the odor diffuser once emptied or replaced with a different scent. The case can also be provided with a robust shell, because depending on the shape of the strap and the groove formed therein for receiving the case, the shell can be exposed to the outside since the case is not completely enclosed by a housing or sleeve.

[0023] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of operating an aroma diffuser according to the invention, wherein a control unit operates atomizers such that the mass flow rate of the aromatic liquid dispersed by each atomizer per unit time is controlled to a desired ratio. Here, the desired ratio can be set or adjusted based on user input, suggestions, or principles derived from artificial intelligence based on various input variables.

[0024] To avoid the olfactory fatigue discussed above, the proportion of the mass flow of the dispersed aromatic liquid per unit time can be temporally modulated within a predefined boundary, in a predetermined or random manner. By temporally modulating the composition of the overall odor dispersed by the odor diffuser according to the predefined boundary, the "tonality" of the obtained overall odor can be preserved or changed to a desired degree, while the total intensity of the odor can also be changed to a degree that is perceptible or imperceptible to the user, depending on the desired operating mode.

[0025] Although the dispersion of aromatic liquids can be performed continuously, it may be beneficial to perform the dispersion intermittently at predetermined intervals in order to ensure the safety of resources such as aromatic liquids stored in a reservoir, the power of the atomizer, and its lifespan. The interval can, of course, be set to a fixed value or adjusted according to different parameters (e.g., time of day, detection results from the sensor unit as described above, user input, or similar parameters).

[0026] Finally, the method according to the invention may include: detecting the concentration of at least one type of substance near the diffuser, and adjusting the mass flow rate per unit time of at least one aromatic liquid in the dispersed aromatic liquid based on the detection. Although dependent on the compound used as the aromatic molecule and the effectiveness of the sensor used to detect the molecule, any compound used in the aromatic liquid supplied in the reservoir can be used to detect its concentration. It is particularly advantageous to add one or more odorless and harmless compounds as chemical markers to the aromatic liquid supplied in the reservoir so that they can be detected as a measure of the mass flow rate from the respective reservoir. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Additional features and benefits of the invention will become clearer when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate:

[0028] Figure 1A and Figure 1B Individual embodiments of the odor diffuser according to the invention are shown in perspective and cross-sectional views.

[0029] Figure 2 An alternative embodiment of the odor diffuser according to the invention is shown in cross-sectional view; and

[0030] Figure 3 As shown by Figures 1A to 2 The embodiment provides a time-intensity graph of the mass flow rate of the aromatic liquid. Detailed Implementation

[0031] exist Figure 1A The figure illustrates an embodiment of an odor diffuser according to the invention, and the odor diffuser is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The odor diffuser 10 includes a cylindrical housing 12 with a top cover 14 and can be used as a stand-alone unit, for example, as an air purifier for an apartment. The housing 12 can have various other shapes, for example, it can be cup-shaped to be placed in a cup holder in a car.

[0032] Five outlets 14a are provided in the top cover 14, through which various aromatic liquids are dispersed to the outside of the odor diffuser 10 during operation. Furthermore, in Figure 1AThe image shows a charging station 16, to which the odor diffuser 10 is currently positioned to charge its battery pack 18. Figure 1B In the sectional view.

[0033] The rechargeable battery 18 is held in place by a battery holder 20, which is fixed to the sleeve 12 and has suitable through-holes for holding the battery and for allowing airflow within the housing 12. To generate this airflow, a plurality of inlet holes 22a are provided in the base plate 22 of the odor diffuser 10, and airflow entering the housing 12 through the inlet holes 22a is generated by the operation of a low-noise ventilation fan 24 powered by the battery 18 and controlled by a control device 26, which is provided in the form of a circuit board within the housing 12 above the battery 18.

[0034] A ventilation fan 24 is mounted to a lower retainer 28, which is located in the lower part of the housing 12, and the battery 18 is also placed on the lower retainer. The lower retainer 28 is also provided with a through-hole to allow the airflow from the inlet 22a through the housing 12 to the outlet 14a. Five reservoirs 30 are also located on the lower retainer 28. Figure 1B Only three of them are shown in the sectional view. The reservoirs 30 are provided in the form of glass bottles, each containing a capillary sponge 32 soaked in aromatic liquid 31. In the upper part of the reservoirs 30, the glass bottles are provided with external threads, allowing them to be screwed into corresponding retainers 34 using reverse threads. Figure 1A and Figure 1B In one embodiment, the base plate 22 can be removed from the housing 12 to allow the user access to the interior of the housing 12 to replace the reservoir 30.

[0035] Furthermore, an upper retainer 36 is provided on top of the reservoir retainer 34 to hold the reservoir from above, and membrane retainers 38 are provided in corresponding channels above each reservoir 30. The membrane retainers 38 are made of soft rubber and hold a microporous membrane 40, which functions as an ultrasonic transducer to disperse the aromatic liquid 31 contained in the reservoir 30. During operation of the membrane 40, the aromatic liquid 31 is continuously drawn toward the membrane 40 by the capillary effect of a capillary sponge 32 provided inside the reservoir 30.

[0036] For this purpose, the membrane 40 is piezoelectrically driven and powered by a voltage supplied from the battery 18, and controlled by the control device 26 to continuously or intermittently disperse a small amount of aromatic liquid contained in the reservoir 30 per unit time. The voltage supplied by the battery 18 may be further converted by a boost converter (not shown) depending on the type of membrane 40 used, for example up to about 50V. As indicated by arrow A, an airflow caused by the ventilation fan 24 atomizes the liquid toward the top cover 14 inside the housing 12 and dispenses it through the outlet 14a.

[0037] By controlling the operation of the five membranes 40 individually and in a time-related manner, the control device 26 can adjust the proportion of the mass flow of the aromatic liquid contained in the five reservoirs 30 so as to produce the desired odor as a mixture of the various odor protocols provided by the five reservoirs 30 in the environment of the odor diffuser 10.

[0038] To enhance the sensory experience of the user of the odor diffuser 10, the housing 12 is made of a translucent plastic material and provides multiple LEDs 42 to the printed circuit board. These LEDs are controlled by the control unit 26 in conjunction with the operation of the membrane 40. Furthermore, the control unit 26 is equipped with a wireless communication module, such as a Bluetooth module, for wireless communication with external devices, such as a remote control or a mobile phone running a dedicated software application, to control the operation of the odor diffuser 10. Through this module, all parameters of the odor diffuser 10's operation can be set and adjusted, such as the composition of the odor, the mass flow rate of the dispersion of various aromatic liquids, start and stop times, and the intervals for the device's operation.

[0039] Figure 2 An alternative embodiment of an odor diffuser according to the invention is shown, generally designated by reference numeral 100. The odor diffuser 100 is provided with a strap 112 for use as a wristband, allowing it to be worn similarly to a bracelet or watch. Figure 2 Odor diffuser 100. Figure 2 The basic operating principle of the embodiment is similar to Figure 1A and Figure 1B The embodiments are described such that, in the following description, the differences between the embodiments will be primarily pointed out, and for all additional aspects, reference will be made to the above description of the first embodiment.

[0040] The odor diffuser 100 also includes a main panel 114 in which a touchscreen 116 is integrated. The touchscreen 116 serves as an input device for operating the odor diffuser 100 and can also perform additional tasks commonly known from available smartwatches or similar devices. The main panel 114 also houses other components such as a control unit, a communication module, and the battery of the odor diffuser 100. Figure 2 Not shown in the view.

[0041] and Figure 1A and Figure 1B The odor diffuser 10, on the contrary, according to Figure 2 In this embodiment, the reservoir containing the aromatic liquid is not enclosed in a housing, but rather embedded in a slot 112a formed in the belt 112 and secured to the slot by a releasable snap-fit ​​connection. Furthermore, the reservoir 130 is directly connected to the membrane 140, forming an inseparable box that can be assembled into and removed entirely from the belt 112. A connection for powering the membrane 140 is created by snap-fitting the reservoir 130 into the belt 112, and corresponding wiring is integrated into the belt 112, allowing the control unit integrated in the mainboard 114 to control each membrane 140 by applying voltage to each membrane 140.

[0042] Since the containers are partially exposed, they are provided with a robust outer shell that in turn houses a capillary sponge 132 soaked in the respective aromatic liquid. It can also be seen that the reservoirs 130 are not all the same size; in particular, the reservoir 130' opposite the main panel 140 is larger and thus can hold a larger volume of aromatic liquid. Because the membranes 140 are oriented towards the inner circumference of the band 112, they will disperse the aromatic liquid contained in the respective reservoirs 130 toward the wearer's wrist, where the various aromatic liquids will collectively act as his or her perfume.

[0043] It is a well-known fact that the human sense of smell tends to quickly adapt to odors, a phenomenon commonly known as "olfactory fatigue." To avoid olfactory fatigue, in situations such as... Figures 1A to 2 During operation of the odor diffuser according to the invention shown, the operation of various membranes for dispersing aromatic liquids can be performed, such as... Figure 3 The diagram shows a time-intensity graph, with time in minutes represented on the X-axis and the relative mass flow rates of the five aromatic liquids dispersed by membranes 40 and 140 represented on the Y-axis. Here, all five different aromatic liquids are dispersed at their respective mass flow rates, which together constitute the total intensity. The mass flow rates of each of the five aromatic liquids vary over time within a suitable 20% deviation range, such that the overall intensity varies only within a suitable 6% range, and also remain constant over time in the relative order of the mass flow rates (i.e., the flow lines never intersect). By operating the five membranes in this way, the user's sense of smell will not become weary of the odor over time; however, the overall composition and overall intensity of the mixed odor of the five aromatic liquids will hardly change to his or her perception.

Claims

1. An odor diffuser for distributing adjustable odors, comprising: Multiple reservoirs (30; 130) are used to store aromatic liquids; Multiple atomizers (40; 140), for dispersing the aromatic liquid stored in the reservoirs (30; 130) to the outside of the odor diffuser in a controlled manner, wherein at least one atomizer (40; 140) is associated with each of the reservoirs (30; 130); A control unit (26) is operatively coupled to the plurality of atomizers (40; 140), wherein the control unit is adapted to control the operation of the atomizers (40; 140) in a coordinated manner; and A power supply (18) is provided for supplying power to the control unit (26) and the plurality of atomizers (40; 140).

2. The odor diffuser according to claim 1, wherein, At least five reservoirs (30; 130) are provided, wherein preferably, at least two of the reservoirs (30; 130) are arranged to store different amounts of aromatic liquid.

3. The odor diffuser according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, The power source (18) includes a rechargeable battery (18) and / or a power adapter.

4. The odor diffuser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, At least one of the reservoirs (30; 130) comprises a capillary sponge (32; 132).

5. The odor diffuser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The reservoirs (30; 130) are replaceable and / or refillable.

6. The odor diffuser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The atomizer (40; 140) is integrated with the reservoir (30; 130) to form a replaceable component.

7. The odor diffuser according to any one of the preceding claims further comprises: A detection unit for detecting the concentration of at least one type of substance in the vicinity of the diffuser.

8. The odor diffuser according to any one of the preceding claims further includes an input device (26; 116) for receiving instructions regarding the operation of the odor diffuser, communicatively coupled to the control unit (26), and particularly includes a communication unit for receiving instructions from an external device.

9. The odor diffuser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, At least one of the atomizers (40; 140) includes a microporous membrane and an ultrasonic transducer for oscillating the membrane, preferably a piezoelectric transducer.

10. The odor diffuser according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a diffuser housing (12) that at least completely surrounds the reservoir (30) and is provided with at least one outlet (14a) through which the dispersion of the aromatic liquid occurs, wherein, The housing (12) is preferably shaped as a separate unit and sized for integration into a higher-level structure, such as a car.

11. The odor diffuser according to the preceding claim further comprises: At least one inlet (22a) and a ventilation device (24) for allowing airflow from the at least one inlet (22a) through the housing (12) to the at least one outlet (14a).

12. The odor diffuser according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein, The housing (12) is made of a transparent material, wherein, preferably, at least one LED (42) is provided inside the housing (12), the at least one LED being powered by the power supply (18) and controlled by the control unit (26).

13. The odor diffuser according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a strap (112), particularly a wristband, adapted for wear by a user, wherein, The reservoir (130) is individually embedded in a groove (112a) formed in the belt (112).

14. The odor diffuser according to the preceding claim, wherein, At least one atomizer in the atomizer (140), preferably all atomizers in the atomizer (140), is arranged toward the inner circumference of the band (112).

15. The odor diffuser according to claim 13 or 14 further includes a display device (116), preferably a touch screen, operatively coupled to the control unit.

16. A cartridge containing an aromatic liquid and provided with at least one atomizer (140) for dispersing the aromatic liquid into the environment and an interface for receiving electricity to operate the atomizer (140), wherein, The box is shaped and sized to serve as a reservoir (130) for use as an odor diffuser according to claims 13 to 15.

17. A method for operating an odor diffuser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The control unit (26) operates the atomizers (40; 140) such that the mass flow of the aromatic liquid dispersed by the individual atomizers (40; 140) per unit time is controlled to a desired proportion.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein, The proportion of the mass flow of the dispersed aromatic liquid per unit time is time-modulated within predefined boundaries in a predetermined or random manner.

19. The method according to claim 17 or 18, wherein, The dispersion of the aromatic liquid is performed intermittently at predetermined intervals.

20. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 19, further comprising: The concentration of at least one type of substance near the diffuser is detected, and the mass flow of at least one aromatic liquid in the dispersed aromatic liquid is adjusted per unit time based on the detection.

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