A scent switching mechanism for fragrance diffuser which is capable for multiple fragrance cartridges
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023708387
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-01-31
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-10
- Estimated Expiration
- Not applicable · inactive patent
Smart Images
Figure CN2023074003_08082024_PF_FP
Abstract
Description
A SCENT SWITCHING MECHANISM FOR FRAGRANCE DIFFUSER WHICH IS CAPABLE FOR MULTIPLE FRAGRANCE CARTRIDGESBACKGROUND
[0001] Conventional aroma diffuser / machine technologies are simple in structure. For example, a conventional aroma diffuser contains a cabin for storing perfume. The perfume cannot be removed. The perfume can only be a single scent and is not replaceable. As another example, a conventional aromatherapy machine contains a detachable cartridge, which is a singular scent and cannot be adj usted for different scenarios or user habits. Further, to replace the detachable cartridge, the conventional aromatherapy machine must first be completely shut down to remove any device enclosure or shell therein, which is extremely inconvenient. A solution is needed.
[0002] SUMMARY
[0003] According to one or more embodiments, a scent switching mechanism is provided. The scent switching mechanism includes an outer barrel and an inner barrel rotatable within the outer barrel. The scent switching mechanism includes an angle disc fixed to the inner barrel and one or more air guides. The inner and outer barrels include one or more sets of air inlets and one or more sets of air outlets that align with the one or more air guides to form one or more air circuits based on a position of the inner barrel and the angle disc with respect to the outer barrel.
[0004] According to one or more embodiments, an aroma device is provided. The aroma device includes one or more fragrance cartridges and one or more cartridge readers configured to identify the one or more fragrance cartridges. The aroma device includes a scent switching mechanism configured to select one cartridge of the one or more fragrance cartridges and an air outlet coupled to an air-conditioning system and configured to provide scented air based on the one cartridge selected by the scent switching mechanism.
[0005] According to one or more embodiments, a fragrance cartridge includes a case. The case includes a cavity and one or more ventilation holes. The fragrance cartridge includes a gasket on an exterior of the case and surrounding the one or more ventilation holes. The fragrance cartridge includes a solid state fragrance contained with the cavity of the case. The fragrance cartridge includes a cover configured to close the case and secure the solid state fragrance within the cavity.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] A more detailed understanding can be had from the following description, given by way of example in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0007] FIGS. 1A-H show views of a scent switching mechanism according to one or more embodiments;
[0008] FIGS. 2A-2E show example installations of the scent switching mechanism of FIGS. 1A-H according to one or more embodiments.
[0009] FIG. 3 shows a system according to one or more embodiments;
[0010] FIG. 4A shows an exploded view of a portion of the scent switching mechanism of FIGS. 1A-H and the system of FIG. 3 according to one or more embodiments;
[0011] FIG. 4B shows a schematic of selecting cartridges by the scent switching mechanism of FIGS. 1A-H and the system of FIG. 3 according to one or more embodiments according to one or more embodiments;
[0012] FIG. 5 shows a diagram of an operation of the scent switching mechanism of FIGS. 1A-H and the system of FIG. 3 according to one or more embodiments;
[0013] FIGS. 6A-6B show exploded views of a cartridge according to one or more embodiments; and
[0014] FIGS. 7A-G show views of a cartridge according to one or more embodiments.
[0015] For brevity and ease of understanding, like elements and items across the drawings are provided with the same or similar numerical identifications.DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] According to one or more embodiments, described herein is a scent switching mechanism and system for fragrance diffusing that leverages multiple fragrance cartridges. As described herein, and according to one or more embodiments, the scent switching mechanism and system may include at least an inner barrel, an outer barrel, an air guide, an angle disc, and an angle sensor. Further, according to one or more embodiments, the scent switching mechanism and system may include an aroma device box with remote and / or voice control that houses a scent switching mechanism, one or more replaceable fragrance cartridges, and an independent memory chip for each fragrance cartridge. The aroma device box may be embedded into a vehicle, such as a glove or a storage box installation, and include a piping design integrated with a vehicle air-conditioning system. According to one or more embodiments, the multiple fragrance cartridges can engage the scent switching mechanism and system as independent fragrance cartridges with individual smart memory chips and solid state fragrances. Each independent fragrance cartridge can have a sealable protective caps, .
[0017] FIGS. 1A-H show views of a scent switching mechanism 101 according to one or more embodiments. FIG. 1A shows an exploded view of the scent switching mechanism 101. The scent switching mechanism 101 includes an inner barrel 110, an outer barrel 120, one or more air guides 130, an angle disc 140, an angle sensor 150, a centrifugal fan 160, a step motor 170, and one or more cartridges 180. Note that the one or more air guide 130 can be connected to the one or more cartridges 180.
[0018] FIG. 1B shows a perspective view of the scent switching mechanism 101. FIG. 1C shows a back view. FIG. 1D shows a front view. FIG. 1E shows a bottom view. FIG. 1F shows a top view. FIG. 1G shows a side view. FIG. 1H shows another side view. All views shown an interior of a housing or a main casing, which is shown in subsequent figures.
[0019] The inner barrel 110 may be a hollow cylinder or a hollow cone with an outer surface that fits within the outer barrel 120. The inner barrel 110 can freely rotate within the outer barrel 120. The inner barrel 110 may include a wall to divide the inner barrel 110 into two parts, such as a front part and a rear part. According to one or more embodiments, the wall can generally be in a middle thereof and divide the inner barrel 110 into two equal parts.
[0020] The outer barrel 120 may be a hollow cylinder or a hollow cone with an inner surface that fits around the inner barrel 110. The outer barrel 120 can be nested outside of the inner barrel 110. According to one or more embodiments, the outer barrel 120 can be fixed on a housing or a main casing (shown in subsequent figures) . The outer barrel 120 may connect to the one or more air guide 130 and include air holes 185, thereby leading an air to / from the one or more cartridges 180.
[0021] Note that scent switching mechanism 101 includes multiple groups of air inlets and air outlets (generally represented by the air holes 185) distributed therein. Based on a position of the inner barrel 110 with respect to the outer barrel 120, different air inlets and air outlets may be aligned to form different air ways. By way of example, the inner barrel 110 may include one or more sets of air inlets and one or more sets of air outlets, and the outer barrel 120 may include one or more sets of air inlets and one or more sets of air outlets. For instance, the inner barrel 110 can include one or more air holes, each of any size and / or shape, such as round, square, or other shapes. The one or more air holes may be of a same shape and / or a same size. Further, the rear part of the inner barrel 110 may include an air hole, and the front part of the inner barrel 110 may also include an air hole so that, as the inner barrel 110 rotates, different airways or air paths can be configured by the scent switching mechanism 101.
[0022] The one or more air guides 130 can be fixed structures on an exterior of the outer barrel 120 that lead air to and from the one or more cartridges 180. Each air guide 130 can correspond to a particular loaded position of one of the one or more cartridges 180. As shown in FIG. 1A, a first air guide 130A corresponds to a cartridge 180A, and a second air guide 130C corresponds to a cartridge 180C. As shown in FIG. 1B, the air holes 185B correspond to a cartridge 180B. Each air guide 130 can include two channels, such as an inlet channel and an outlet channel. Each of the channels can align with the ventilation holes of the cartridges 180.
[0023] The angle disc 140 may be a thin disc. The angle disc 140 may be located on an end of the inner barrel 110, such as fixed thereto. The angle disc 140 may include holes on edges thereof, with the holes having different sizes. The holes of the angle disc 140 allow for an optical signal to pass through the angle disc 140. The angle disc 140 may be embedded with the angle sensor 150. The angle sensor 150 may be any transducer, such as a U-shaped photoelectric transceiver. The angle disc 140 tracks or marks angles, which correspond to one or more positions of the inner barrel 110. That is, as the inner barrel 110 and the angle disc 140 rotate, the angle sensor 150 detects changes to the optical signal passing through the holes and identifies an angle corresponding to a position of the inner barrel 110. The angle can be defined by degrees, such that zero (0) degrees is an off position, ninety (90) degrees is a position aligned with the first air guide 130A, one-hundred eighty (180) degrees is a position aligned with the air holes 185B, and two-hundred seventy (270) degrees is a position aligned with the second air guide 130C.
[0024] The centrifugal fan 160 can include a fan or blower to create wind pressure within the scent switching mechanism 101, such as any of the different airways or air paths configured by the scent switching mechanism 101.
[0025] The step motor 170 is representative of any rotating device or motor. The step motor 170 can drive the angle disc 140 and the inner barrel 110 into the one or more positions to configure the different airways or air paths within the scent switching mechanism 101. According to one or more embodiments, the inner barrel 110 is driven by the step motor 170 within the outer barrel 120, which is fixed with respect to the inner barrel 110. That is, the inner barrel 110 can rotate (e.g., to a specified angle) after the step motor 170 receives instructions to select one of the one or more cartridges 180. The step motor 170 may, simultaneously, drive or rotate the angle disc 140 and the inner barrel 110 together. When the angle disc 140 passes through the angle sensor 150, the angle sensor 150 obtains the angle corresponding to a position of the inner barrel 110. The step motor 170 can stop when an angle corresponding to a desired position of the inner barrel 110 is detected by the angle sensor 150 (e.g., as determined by a central control unit as further described herein) .
[0026] The one or more cartridges 180 are removable containers, which can also be disassembled to remove or replace a fragrance therein. The one or more cartridges 180 can be installed separately from the scent switching mechanism 101 or in a same location. The one or more cartridges 180 can be arranged on a single plane, such that the one or more cartridges 180 are parallel to each other (e.g., in contrast to conventional circular drum arrangement technologies) , which provides one or more technical effects, advantages, or benefits of compact arrangement and stationary cartridges. As shown, the one or more cartridges 180 are arranged on a plane under the scent switching mechanism 101, so as to couple with a bottom of the scent switching mechanism 101 (shown in FIG. 1E) .
[0027] According to one or more embodiments, the scent switching mechanism 101 provides a choice of fragrance from the one or more cartridges 180 (i.e., multiple cartridges 180 are leveraged by the scent switching mechanism 101 to deliver a mood) . For example, the scent switching mechanism 101 may provide a smart connected dry diffusion, where a user (e.g., a driver of a car) can personalize a scent experience via the scent switching mechanism 101. In this regard, the scent switching mechanism 101 can be programed to release a choice of the fragrance at a desired intensity. For instance, with respect to the car, one or more scent switching mechanisms 101 may be located therein. Further, the driver can create a unified mood within the car or configure each of the scent switching mechanisms 101 to provide a different scent (e.g., a unique ‘wellness rides') . Other moods or scent experiences include, but are not limited to, a scent experience to stay alert and mindful, a scent experience to unwind in a traffic jam, and a scent experience to remove odor and refresh interior air.
[0028] According to one or more embodiments, the scent switching mechanism 101 includes the inner barrel 110 driven by the step motor 170 and covered with the outer barrel 120. The outer barrel 120 can be a fixed outer shield cover with several air ducts and each connect to one of the one or more cartridges 180. The inner barrel 110 can include an axial inlet hole connected to a radial hole. In turn, when a scent is selected, the inner barrel 110 rotates to the specific angle where an inner hole is aligned with an external air duct so that a specific cartridge is connected to the scent switching mechanism 101. Further, the centrifugal fan 160 draws air into the selected cartridge, where the air is mixed with a corresponding fragrance and flows out through the air outlet to realize an active distribution of a desired fragrance / scent.
[0029] FIGS. 2A-2E show example installations of the scent switching mechanism 101 of FIGS. 1A-H according to one or more embodiments. The example installations of the scent switching mechanism 101 may be multi-cartridge scent dispensing systems, such as, for automotive use. The multi-cartridge scent dispensing systems provide active air volatilization, where concentrations and diffusing times are adjustable manually and / or automatically via remote and / or voice control.
[0030] According to one or more embodiments, the one or more cartridges 180 can be installed separately from the scent switching mechanism 101 or in a same location. According to one or more embodiments, the one or more cartridges 180 and / or the scent switching mechanism 101 can be installed in an aroma device box. The one or more cartridges 180 are replaceable within the aroma device box. For example, according to a user preference (e.g., preference of a driver or passenger of a vehicle) , the one or more cartridges 180, the scent switching mechanism 101, and / or the aroma device box can be installed throughout a vehicle 200.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 2A, the vehicle 200 can include a plurality of installation locations 201, 202, 203, and 204. The installation locations 201 and 202 can be in a rear of the vehicle 200. The installation location 203 can be in a center console 208 of the vehicle 200. The installation location 204 can be in a glove box 209 (a.k.a., a storage box) of the vehicle 200. Other locations of the plurality of installation locations 201, 202, 203, and 204 include, but are not limited to, an interior place of the vehicle 200, a backside of knee-board, an inside of console rear board, and under a rear deck.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 2B, the scent switching mechanism 101 can be located at the installation location 204 (i.e., in the glove box 209) and in a housing 210 (e.g., a main casing or the aroma device box) that is connected to a hose 230 and air-conditioning pipe 240. The housing 210 and / or the scent switching mechanism 101 can be installed or embedded in a glove box 250, or any location of the vehicle 200. FIGS. 2C-2E show one or more example car glove or storage box installations. As shown in FIGS. 2C-E, the housing 210 containing at least the one or more cartridges 180, and in some embodiments the scent switching mechanism 101, can be installed on a side surface (FIGS. 2C-2D) or a bottom surface (FIG. 2E) of the glove box 209 in the vehicle 200, such as via attachment accessories 260.
[0033] Returning to FIG. 2B, a piping design integrated with a vehicle air-conditioning system is shown according to one or more embodiments. For example, air is piped by the hose 230 from the housing 210 located at the installation location 204 in the glove box 209 to the air-conditioning pipe 240 of an air-conditioning system of the vehicle 200. In turn, a fragrance / scent output from the housing 210 is led to the air-conditioning system and distributed into the vehicle 200. Further, the hose 230 and the air-conditioning pipe 240 can be connected by a joint located behind an air-conditioning regulating valve that is upstream from an air outlet of the air-conditioning pipe 240. In this regard, the piping design does not affect an opening and closing of the air outlet of the air-conditioning pipe 240 and avoids a driver or passengers from seeing the joint through the opened air outlet. According to one or more embodiments, the hose 230 can terminate at an independent nozzle located in any portion of the vehicle 200 to directly distribute the fragrance / scent into the vehicle 200.
[0034] FIG. 3 shows a system 300 according to one or more embodiments. The system 300 can communicate to an external device 305, such as a mobile device or an infotainment system of the vehicle 200.
[0035] The system 300 includes one or more of a power supply 311, an over current protection circuit 312, an over voltage protection circuit 313, one or more low-dropout regulators 314 and 315, each of which can work independently or collectively to provide power to the system 300. According to one or more embodiments, the power supply 311 can include a twelve (12) volt power supply. According to one or more embodiments, the low-dropout regulator 314 can be configured for five (5) volts. According to one or more embodiments, the low-dropout regulator 315 can be three point three (3.3) volts.
[0036] The system 300 includes a switch 320, such as an optoelectronic switch. The system 300 includes one or more of a central control unit 330 that includes an antenna 331 and / or a device memory 332. The central control unit 330 can be representative of any controller, microcontroller, a processor, or the like. The antenna 331 can be representative of any wireless communication module. The device memory 332 can include software and / or firmware executable by the central control unit 330 for providing active air volatilization by controlling and adj ustable concentrations and diffusing times automatically and / or through remote or voice control. Example operations of the central control unit 330 include, but are not limited to, sending commands to operate the scent switching mechani sm 101.
[0037] The system 300 includes an ionizer module 350. The ionizer module 350 is represented in FIG. 3 with dashed lines to present this element as optional. The ionizer module 350 can operate to purify air and eliminate malodor. The ionizer module 350 can be fixed with respect to the scent switching mechanism 101.
[0038] The system 300 includes one or more cartridge readers 361, 362, and 363. Each of the one or more cartridge readers 361, 362, and 363 can be associated with one of the one or more cartridges 180. Further, the one or more cartridge readers 361, 362, and 363 (e.g., electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) or radio-frequency identification (RFID) readers) can be positioned with respect to each site of each cartridge 180 and provide cartridge detection. The one or more cartridge readers 361, 362, and 363 can read corresponding independent memory chips (e.g., smart memory chips) for each of the one or more cartridges 180, so as to provide identification operations, lifetime tracking, and anti-copy protection. Note that each independent memory chip can store fragrance information, such as cartridge identification information, remaining fragrance life information, and intensity information, as described herein. Note also that each independent memory chip can be located on a top or a bottom of each cartridge 180, as described herein.
[0039] The system 300 includes a fan 360 (e.g., the centrifugal fan 160) and one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) 382 and 383. The LEDs 382 and 383 can indicate operational statuses, such as one LED 382 can indicate power while another LED 383 can indicate a connection to the external device 305. The system 300 also includes a speech recognition controller 391. The speech recognition controller 391 can also include memory, like the device memory 332, though not shown for brevity. The memory of the speech recognition controller 391 can include software and / or firmware executable to provide remote or voice control. Example operations of the central control unit 330 include, but are not limited to, sending commands to operate the scent switching mechanism 101. The speech recognition controller 391 can be connected to a microphone 392 and a speaker 393. All elements and components of the system 300 are electrically communicated to provided power and / or communication signals by wires, twisted pair cables, shielded cables, and / or wireless connections, which are not shown in FIG. 3 for brevity.
[0040] According to one or more embodiments, the system 300 can be implemented in the aroma device box with an air outlet to the vehicle air-conditioning system. In turn, the aroma device box can include the system 300 (with the central control unit 330 and the one or more cartridge readers 361, 362, and 363) , the scent switching mechanism 101 (with the centrifugal fan 160 or the fan 360) , and the one or more cartridges 180. The aroma device box may also be provided with a wireless communication module (e.g., the antenna 331) that is electrically connected with the central control unit 330 and in communication connection with a mobile device or an infotainment system of the vehicle 200 (e.g., the external device 305) . The aroma device box may also be equipped with an external voice control module (e.g., the speech recognition controller 391, the microphone 392, and / or the speaker 393) , which can be installed in a (hidden or unobvious) position near a seat of the driver or passenger to convert voice commands into control signals. The external voice control module can utilize one or more voice control protocols (e.g., Ali Genie voice control protocol) stored in the memory thereof to achieve automatic diffusing during driving and ensuring driving safety. According to one or more embodiments, using the external device 305 (e.g., a mobile device or a touch screen of the vehicle 200) , scent switching and / or on-off operations may be implemented through, for example, a remote control, application control, or a voice control. Further, the fragrance information can be displayed on the external device 305.
[0041] FIG. 4A shows an exploded view of a portion 400 of the scent switching mechanism 101 and the system 300 in relation to the one or more cartridges 180 according to one or more embodiments. FIG. 4B shows a schematic 401 of selecting one of the one or more cartridges 180 by the scent switching mechanism 101 and the system 300 according to one or more embodiments.
[0042] As shown in FIGS. 4A-4B, according to one or more embodiments, the scent switching mechanism 101 and the system 300 may include independent fragrance cartridges 411, 412, and 413 and smart memory chips 421, 422, and 423. Note also that each smart memory chip 421, 422, and 423 can be located on a top or a bottom of each of the fragrance cartridges 411, 412, and 413. Operationally, the central control unit 330 receives a command 430 from the external device 305, such as a voice or remote command. The command 430 can identify a fragrance / scent. In turn, the central control unit 330 corresponds the fragrance / scent of the command 430 to a corresponding one of the fragrance cartridges 411, 412, and 413. The central control unit 330 knows which fragrance cartridges 411, 412, and 413 have which fragrances / scents by reading the smart memory chips 421, 422, and 423. That is, the fragrance information (e.g., a remaining fragrance volume) is read from the smart memory chips 421, 422, and 423 by the corresponding reader and sent to the central control unit 330. Next, the central control unit 330 selects the corresponding one of the fragrance cartridges 411, 412, and 413 and sends rotation commands to the step motor 170.
[0043] The step motor 170 rotates components of the scent switching mechanism 101. The angle sensor 150 detects changes to the optical signal passing through the holes of the angle disc 140. For example, on an end of the inner barrel 110, the angle disc 140 includes holes 450, such as on an edge thereof. The holes 450 may have different sizes. When the inner barrel 110 and the angle disc 140 rotate, the angle sensor 150 detects / identifies / recognizes a changing optical signal passing through the holes 450 and determines a corresponding angle signal with respect to a position of the inner barrel 110. When the position of the inner barrel 110 is consistent with the position of the command 430, the step motor 170 stops as the inner barrel 110 is aligned with air channels and ventilation holes of the selected one of the fragrance cartridges 411, 412, and 413 to form an air circuit. Thus, the selected one of the fragrance cartridges 411, 412, and 413 is activated.
[0044] The central control unit 330 causes a dispensing operation. Air flow can then be created by the centrifugal fan 170 or the fan 360 to emit the fragrance / scent, as controlled by the central control unit 330. After the dispensing operation, the central control unit 330 can utilize the corresponding reader and chip to determine and record a consumed fragrance volume and / or a working time, which can be recorded in the device memory 332 or on the corresponding chip (such as before another one of the fragrance cartridges 411, 412, and 413 is selected) .
[0045] According to one or more embodiments, when any cartridge 180 is inserted and / or after a designated time period, the smart memory chips 421, 422, and 423 are read by the system to determine the fragrance information (e.g., a remaining amount of fragrance that corresponds to an air duct at each angle) . According to one or more embodiments, when any cartridge 180 is removed or the fragrance / scent is exhausted, a selection of that cartridge 180 can cause a signal through the wireless communication module to the external device 305 and / or one of the LEDs 382 and 383. According to one or more embodiments, the scent switching mechanism 101 and the system 300 may provide remote and voice control, a rotary scent switching mechanism, photoelectric position signal recognition, a glove or storage box installation, air-conditioning system integration, independent fragrance cartridges, and smart fragrance memory chips.
[0046] FIG. 5 shows a diagram 500 of an operation of the scent switching mechanism 101 and the system 300 according to one or more embodiments. By way of example, air flow 505 enters from a rear part of the inner barrel 110 near the step motor 170, passes through the air hole 506, and flows to the outer barrel 120. When the outer barrel 120 has an air hole 515 aligned with the air hole 506, the air flow 505 passes through the air hole 515 of the outer barrel 120 and through a connected guide 530 of the one or more air guide 130. After passing into a ventilation hole 535 (an inlet) of a corresponding fragrance cartridge 411 (i.e., the selected one of the fragrance cartridges 411, 412, and 413) , an air flow 540 is mixed with a fragrance of the corresponding fragrance cartridge 411 to provide scented air 545 out of a ventilation hole 550 (an outlet) . Note that the fragrance cartridges 412 and 413 are not selected in this example.
[0047] After exiting out of the ventilation hole 550 of the corresponding fragrance cartridge 411, the scented air 545 proceeds through an air hole 555 of the outer barrel 120 and, then, an air hole 556 of a front end of the inner barrel 110. As shown, the front end of the inner and outer barrels 110 and 120 are aligned. Further, an inlet of the centrifugal fan 160 receives the scented air 545 so that the scented air 545 can be disbursed by the centrifugal fan 160 as the fragrance / scent 560.
[0048] For example, under a negative pressure of the centrifugal fan 160, the scented air 545 is drawn out and emitted out through a system air channel. When the position of the inner barrel 110 is consistent with the position of the command 430, the step motor 170 stops as the inner barrel 110 is aligned with air channels and ventilation holes of the selected one of the fragrance cartridges 411, 412, and 413 to form an air circuit. The inner barrel 110, the outer barrel 120, the air guide 130, and the selected one of the one or more cartridges 180 are linked and form an air circuit, such that the air flows 505, 540, 545, and 560 created by the centrifugal fan 160 are emitted out as the fragrance / scent 560.
[0049] FIGS. 6A-6B show views of a cartridge 600 according to one or more embodiments. FIG. 6A shows a view of the cartridge 600 with a cap 611 off, and FIG. 6B shows the exploded view of the cartridge 600 according to one or more embodiments. Further, FIGS. 7A-G show views of a cartridge 701 according to one or more embodiments. FIG. 7A shows a perspective view. FIG. 7B shows a back view. FIG. 7C shows a front view. FIG. 7D shows a bottom view. FIG. 7E shows a top view. FIG. 7F shows a side view. FIG. 7G shows another side view. All views show an interior of a housing or a main casing, which is shown in subsequent figures. While cartridges 600 and 701 can vary in design, the cartridges described herein include at least one or more of a sealable protective cap, fragrances, a smart chip, and a sealing gasket. Further, the cartridges 600 and 701 provide independent structures, each including different scents that can be installed within the aroma device box, such as at the same time or in parallel. The fragrances of the cartridges 600 and 701 can be solid fragrances that do not overflow when shaken and will not pollute surrounding objects.
[0050] By way of example, the cartridge 600 of FIG. 6A includes a cap 611 (e.g., a sealable protective cap) , a gasket 612 (e.g., a sealing gasket) , and a chip 613 (e.g., a smart chip) . The cartridge 600 contains a fragrance (e.g., solid state fragrances) . The gasket 612 can include a rubber material for providing a seal. According to one or more embodiments, when the cartridge 600 is removed from the aroma device box, the cap 611 can be placed on the cartridge 600 to seal the cartridge 600 for independent storage and prevent fragrance leakage (e.g., a sealing cover of a cartridge) . The chip 613 can be configured to record fragrance information and anti -counterfeiting.
[0051] By way of another example, the cartridge 600 of FIG. 6B includes the cap 611 (e.g., a sealable protective cap) , the gasket 612 (e.g., a sealing gasket) , a case 623, a fragrance 624 (e.g., solid state fragrances) , a cover 625, and the chip 613. The cartridge 600 includes the cover 625, which is detachable, so that fragrances 624 are exchangeable. The case 623 includes ventilation holes 667 and the chip 613 on the surface. According to one or more embodiments, the ventilation holes 667 (i.e., inlets and outlets) are on a same side of the cartridge 600, such as on a same plane (e.g., in contrast to conventional technologies) , which provides one or more technical effects, advantages, or benefits of compact arrangement and stationary cartridges. The chip 613 contains fragrance information, such as cartridge identification, a remaining fragrance life, information about the fragrance 624, etc. The fragrance 624 can include a solid-state fragrance body, which is provided inside a cavity of the case 623 for providing a specific scent. To implement a cartridge seal, an outer surface of the case 623 includes or is inlaid with the gasket 612, which can be a soft rubber gasket around the ventilation holes 667. When the cartridge 600 is installed in the system 300, the gasket 612 fits to the scent switching mechanism 101 with an amount of compression to seal the cartridge 600 from air leakage. Whether the system 300 is operating or halted, there is no fragrance loss due to the gasket 612. When the cartridge 600 is removed from the system 300, the cap 611 can be used to cover the ventilation holes 667 (e.g., fit and compress the gasket 612 to prevent the fragrance leakage) .
[0052] According to one or more embodiments, each of the cartridges 600 and 701 (which show examples of the cartridges 180, 411, 412, and 413) can be independently sealable small fragrance cartridges that are characterized by a high-strength resin shell (e.g., the case 623) , with air inlet and outlet windows (e.g., the ventilation holes 667) , and a sealing gasket (e.g., the gasket 612) made of soft materials around the air inlet and outlet windows.
[0053] According to one or more embodiments, when any cartridge is not in use, a specially designed protective cap (e.g., the cap 611) can be used to cover air vent holes (e.g., the ventilation holes 667) and a memory chip (e.g., the chip 613) to protect the cartridge and prevent the fragrance (e.g., the fragrance 624) from leakage. In contrast to conventional technologies, a fragrance material (e.g., the fragrance 624) is in solid state. An inner surface of a protective cap (e.g., the cap 611) can be consistent with a cartridge body (e.g., the case 623) , such that both can be fitted together. The protective cap (e.g., the cap 611) and the cartridge body (e.g., the case 623) can be fitted via a groove or a hook, which further compresses the sealing gasket (e.g., the gasket 612) and closes air inlets and outlets (e.g., the ventilation holes 667) to prevent the fragrance (e.g., the fragrance 624) from leakage. The protective cap (e.g., the cap 611) can have vertical end covers that protect the memory chip (e.g., the chip 613) to prevent the memory chip (e.g., the chip 613) from being scratched or corroded when the cartridge is not engaged with the scent switching mechanism 101 and / or the system 300.
[0054] According to one or more embodiments, air inlet and air outlet (e.g., the ventilation holes 667) can be sized and positioned so that the fragrance (e.g., the fragrance 624) in the cartridge (e.g., the case 623) can fully contact and mix with air passing therethrough, which maximizes an efficiency of fragrance / scent emission. The fragrance (e.g., the fragrance 624) can be a porous particle or block carrier. The fragrance (e.g., the fragrance 624) can be a solid state during daily storage and distribution to avoid shaking and spilling during transportation and avoid contaminating clothing or car interiors. The fragrance (e.g., the fragrance 624) can have molecular-level particles when diffusing, which are not contaminated with dust and do not cause respiratory discomfort.
[0055] According to one or more embodiments, a material of a sealing gasket (e.g., the gasket 612) can be silicone rubber of specific density or highly elastic foaming material that can maintain dimensional stability after long-term use. In this way, the sealing gasket (e.g., the gasket 612) can ensure consistent sealing performance in a product life cycle.
[0056] According to one or more embodiments, a smart memory chip (e.g., the chip 613) can be a contact chip, such as an EEPROM chip, or a non-contact chip, such as an RFID chip. According to one or more embodiments, a smart memory chip (e.g., the chip 613) can include anti-mis-erase and encryption functions. Accordingly, during daily use, such as under driving circumstances that cause vibrations, high-temperatures, and / or high-humidity, a stability of reading and writing of the smart memory chip (e.g., the chip 613) can be guaranteed. According to one or more embodiments, a smart memory chip (e.g., the chip 613) can include encryption so that only compatible scent switching mechanisms 101 and / or systems 300 can utilize the cartridge. In other cases, such as illegal reading, the smart memory chip (e.g., the chip 613) can automatically lock to protect information and product security.
[0057] According to one or more embodiments, the scent switching mechanism 101 and / or the system 300 can be utilized in automobiles. That is, due to a popularity of cars, people use cars more and more in daily life. The more time spent in the car, the more people (i.e., a driver or passengers) can feel claustrophobic, bored, irritable, fatigue, physical discomfort, and / or mental discomfort due to the closed and vibrating nature of the car (which may even endanger driving safety) . The scent switching mechanism 101 and / or the system 300 can release specific fragrances in the air to freshen the air, adjust the atmosphere in the car, and improve the mood of the driver and the passengers. In some cases, the fragrances can be used to kill viruses. Thus, one or more technical effects and benefits of the scent switching mechanism 101 and / or the system 300 include providing an alternative to conventional technologies (e.g., passive systems with oil based scent dispensers that produce droplets containing a solvent that can react with materials in the car and cause interior corrosion) , such as a dry diffusion technology that can provide a single scent option from multiple choses based on one or more factors (e.g., intensity, mode of use, nature of the scent ingredients, avoid nose blindness, etc. ) .
[0058] According to one or more embodiments, the scent switching mechanism 101 and / or the system 300 can provide smart resumable fragrance cartridges for automotive or home use. It is estimated that people remember 15%of what is seen and 35%of what is smelt. The memory of a smell is a most enduring of memory. That is, memories, imagination, old sentiments, and associations are more readily reached through the sense of smell than through any other channel. That is, because a scent can tell a story (i.e., scent associations trigger memories, like mentally transporting a person to a Grandmother′s garden) , one or more technical effects and benefits of the scent switching mechanism 101 and / or the system 300 include combining neuro-science and mechanical engineering to provide a smart aroma solution that makes every scent molecule a memorable experience. Thus, the scent switching mechanism 101 and / or the system 300 overcomes problems and / or disadvantages of conventional technologies like liquid perfume oil (i.e., particles emitted by the liquid perfume oil are very large, easily stick to a car interior, and easily stick to a surface of the clothes, cause respiratory discomfort like coughing and sneezing, and float in the air while absorbing bacteria and pollutants that endanger the health of people) . The problems and / or disadvantages of conventional technologies include structures that contain liquid perfume oil, conventional technologies cannot be removed, fragrances of the conventional technologies cannot be replaced by different scents, and / or the conventional technologies leak during use and storage as there is no sealing function.
[0059] According to one or more embodiments, the scent switching mechanism 101 and / or the system 300 can provide a unique scent release that prevents nose blindness for ‘always-on' enjoyment and benefits. According to one or more embodiments, the scent switching mechanism 101 and / or the system 300 can provide scent switching between multiple fragrance cartridges installed at the same time. According to one or more embodiments, the scent switching mechanism 101 and / or the system 300 can provide phone or voice control, so that users can conveniently change scents at any time without touching the scent switching mechanism 101 and / or the system 300, which delivers a convenient and comfortable experience to users.
[0060] According to one or more embodiments, the scent switching mechanism 101 and / or the system 300 may be implemented in an automotive freshening device application (e.g., car air freshening device or truck cockpit air freshening device) , handheld fragrance diffuser application, a desktop fragrance diffuser application, and / or a remote control pet freshener application.
[0061] According to one or more embodiments, a scent switching mechanism is provided. The scent switching mechanism includes an outer barrel and an inner barrel rotatable within the outer barrel. The scent switching mechanism includes an angle disc fixed to the inner barrel and one or more air guides. The inner and outer barrels include one or more sets of air inlets and one or more sets of air outlets that align with the one or more air guides to form one or more air circuits based on a position of the inner barrel and the angle disc with respect to the outer barrel.
[0062] According to one or more embodiments or any of the scent switching mechanisms herein, the scent switching mechanism can include a housing that contains the outer barrel, the inner barrel, and the angle disc.
[0063] According to one or more embodiments or any of the scent switching mechanisms herein, the each of the one or more air guides can correspond to a separate position for the inner barrel and the angle disc with respect to the outer barrel.
[0064] According to one or more embodiments or any of the scent switching mechanisms herein, the scent switching mechanism can include an angle sensor configured to track one or more holes of the angle disc.
[0065] According to one or more embodiments or any of the scent switching mechanisms herein, the scent switching mechanism can include a centrifugal fan configured to generate wind pressure within the scent switching mechanism.
[0066] According to one or more embodiments or any of the scent switching mechanisms herein, the scent switching mechanism can include a step motor configured to drive the angle disc and the inner barrel to rotate.
[0067] According to one or more embodiments or any of the scent switching mechanisms herein, the scent switching mechanism can be configured to connect to one or more cartridges, each of the one or more cartridges comprising a fragrance in a solid state.
[0068] According to one or more embodiments or any of the scent switching mechanisms herein, the one or more cartridges can be arranged on a same plane in parallel.
[0069] According to one or more embodiments or any of the scent switching mechanisms herein, each of the one or more cartridges can include inlet and outlet ventilation holes arranged on a same surface.
[0070] According to one or more embodiments or any of the scent switching mechanisms herein, each of the one or more cartridges comprises a cap configured to seal a corresponding cartridge.
[0071] According to one or more embodiments or any of the scent switching mechanisms herein, each of the one or more cartridges can include a memory chip for storing fragrance information.
[0072] According to one or more embodiments or any of the scent switching mechanisms herein, each memory chip can be located on a top or a bottom surface of a corresponding cartridge.
[0073] According to one or more embodiments or any of the scent switching mechanisms herein, the inner barrel can include a hollow cylinder or cone with an outer surface that fits within the outer barrel.
[0074] According to one or more embodiments or any of the scent switching mechanisms herein, a hollow cylinder or cone with an inner surface that can fit around the inner barrel.
[0075] According to one or more embodiments or any of the scent switching mechanisms herein, the angle disc can be embedded with an angle sensor that detects the position of the inner barrel and the angle disc with respect to the outer barrel.
[0076] According to one or more embodiments or any of the scent switching mechanisms herein, the scent switching mechanism can provide a choice of fragrance from one or more cartridges.
[0077] According to one or more embodiments or any of the scent switching mechanisms herein, the scent switching mechanism can include a central control unit configured to command a step motor to drive the inner barrel based on comparing a detected angle of the angle disc with a specified angle.
[0078] According to one or more embodiments or any of the scent switching mechanisms herein, the scent switching mechanism can be within a housing positioned in a vehicle.
[0079] According to one or more embodiments or any of the scent switching mechanisms herein, the scent switching mechanism can include one or more cartridge readers configured to identify one or more cartridges.
[0080] According to one or more embodiments or any of the scent switching mechanisms herein, the scent switching mechanism can include one or more cartridge readers configured to read fragrance information from a chip of one or more cartridges.
[0081] According to one or more embodiments, an aroma device is provided. The aroma device includes one or more fragrance cartridges and one or more cartridge readers configured to identify the one or more fragrance cartridges. The aroma device includes a scent switching mechanism configured to select one cartridge of the one or more fragrance cartridges and an air outlet coupled to an air-conditioning system and configured to provide scented air based on the one cartridge selected by the scent switching mechanism.
[0082] According to one or more embodiments or any of the aroma devices herein, each of the one or more cartridge readers can include an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) or radio-frequency identification (RFID) readers positioned with respect to each site of one or more fragrance cartridges.
[0083] According to one or more embodiments or any of the aroma devices herein, each of the one or more fragrance cartridges can include a memory chip for storing fragrance information.
[0084] According to one or more embodiments or any of the aroma devices herein, each memory chip can be located on a top or a bottom surface of a corresponding cartridge.
[0085] According to one or more embodiments or any of the aroma devices herein, the aroma device can include a central control unit and a communication module that are communicatively connected to an external device.
[0086] According to one or more embodiments or any of the aroma devices herein, the aroma device can include a voice control module utilizing one or more voice control protocols for operating the aroma device.
[0087] According to one or more embodiments or any of the aroma devices herein, the one or more fragrance cartridges can be arranged on a same plane in parallel.
[0088] According to one or more embodiments or any of the aroma devices herein, each of the one or more fragrance cartridges can include inlet and outlet ventilation holes arranged on a same surface.
[0089] According to one or more embodiments or any of the aroma devices herein, each of the one or more fragrance cartridges can include a cap configured to seal a corresponding cartridge.
[0090] According to one or more embodiments or any of the aroma devices herein, the scent switching mechanism can include an outer barrel, an inner barrel rotatable within the outer barrel, an angle disc fixed to the inner barrel, and one or more air guides. The inner and outer barrels include one or more sets of air inlets and one or more sets of air outlets that align with the one or more air guides to form one or more air circuits with the select one cartridge of the one or more fragrance cartridges and the air outlet based on a position of the inner barrel and the angle disc with respect to the outer barrel.
[0091] According to one or more embodiments, a fragrance cartridge includes a case. The case includes a cavity and one or more ventilation holes. The fragrance cartridge includes a gasket on an exterior of the case and surrounding the one or more ventilation holes. The fragrance cartridge includes a solid state fragrance contained within the cavity of the case. The fragrance cartridge includes a cover configured to close the case and secure the solid state fragrance within the cavity.
[0092] According to one or more embodiments or any of the fragrance cartridges herein, the fragrance cartridge can include a cap configured to seal the case by compressing the gasket.
[0093] According to one or more embodiments or any of the fragrance cartridges herein, the cover can be detachable to enable an exchanging of the solid state fragrance.
[0094] According to one or more embodiments or any of the fragrance cartridges herein, the fragrance cartridge can include a chip on the exterior of the case and storing fragrance information.
[0095] According to one or more embodiments or any of the fragrance cartridges herein, the chip can be located on a top or a bottom surface of a corresponding cartridge.
[0096] According to one or more embodiments or any of the fragrance cartridges herein, the gasket can include a rubber gasket.
[0097] According to one or more embodiments or any of the fragrance cartridges herein, the fragrance cartridge can be arranged on a same plane, in parallel, with at least one other fragrance cartridge.
[0098] According to one or more embodiments or any of the fragrance cartridges herein, the one or more ventilation holes can include inlet and outlet ventilation holes that are arranged on a same surface of the fragrance cartridge.
[0099] According to one or more embodiments or any of the fragrance cartridge herein, the exterior of the case can be configured to couple with an air guide or air hole of a scent switching mechanism.
[0100] According to one or more embodiments or any of the fragrance cartridges herein, the cover can be detachable to enable loading or replacing of the solid state fragrance within the cavity.
[0101] As would be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art, based on the description herein, embodiments of the present invention can be designed in software using a hardware description language (HDL) such as, for example, Verilog or VHDL. The HDL-design can model the behavior of an electronic system, where the design can be synthesized and ultimately fabricated into a hardware device. In addition, the HDL-design can be stored in a computer product and loaded into a computer system prior to hardware manufacture.
[0102] Having described the embodiments in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that, given the present description, modifications may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit of the concept herein. Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific embodiments illustrated and described.
[0103] It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element may be termed a second element and a second element may be termed a first element without departing from the scope of the present invention. As used herein, the term "and / or" may include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
[0104] It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, region, or substrate is referred to as being "on" or extending "onto" another element, it may be directly on or extend directly onto the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on" or extending "directly onto" another element, there may be no intervening elements present. It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it may be directly connected or coupled to the other element and / or connected or coupled to the other element via one or more intervening elements. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another element, there are no intervening elements present between the element and the other element. It will be understood that these terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the element in addition to any orientation depicted in the figures.
[0105] Relative terms such as "below, " "above, " "upper, ", "lower, " "horizontal" or "vertical" may be used herein to describe a relationship of one element, layer, or region to another element, layer, or region as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that these terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures.
Claims
1.A scent switching mechanism comprising:an outer barrel;an inner barrel rotatable within the outer barrel;an angle disc fixed to the inner barrel; andone or more air guides,wherein the inner and outer barrels comprise one or more sets of air inlets and one or more sets of air outlets that align with the one or more air guides to form one or more air circuits based on a position of the inner barrel and the angle disc with respect to the outer barrel.2.The scent switching mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a housing that contains the outer barrel, the inner barrel, and the angle disc.3.The scent switching mechanism of claim 1, wherein the each of the one or more air guides corresponds to a separate position for the inner barrel and the angle disc with respect to the outer barrel.4.The scent switching mechanism of claim 1, further comprising an angle sensor configured to track one or more holes of the angle disc.5.The scent switching mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a centrifugal fan configured to generate wind pressure within the scent switching mechanism.6.The scent switching mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a step motor configured to drive the angle disc and the inner barrel to rotate.7.The scent switching mechanism of claim 1, wherein the scent switching mechanism is configured to connect to one or more cartridges, each of the one or more cartridges comprising a fragrance in a solid state.8.The scent switching mechanism of claim 7, wherein the one or more cartridges are arranged on a same plane in parallel.9.The scent switching mechanism of claim 7, wherein each of the one or more cartridges comprises inlet and outlet ventilation holes arranged on a same surface.10.The scent switching mechanism of claim 7, wherein each of the one or more cartridges comprises a cap configured to seal a corresponding cartridge.11.The scent switching mechanism of claim 7, wherein each of the one or more cartridges comprises a memory chip for storing fragrance information.12.The scent switching mechanism of claim 11, wherein each memory chip is located on a top or a bottom surface of a corresponding cartridge.13.The scent switching mechanism of claim 1, wherein the inner barrel comprises a hollow cylinder or cone with an outer surface that fits within the outer barrel.14.The scent switching mechanism of claim 1, wherein the outer barrel comprises a hollow cylinder or cone with an inner surface that fits around the inner barrel.15.The scent switching mechanism of claim 1, wherein the angle disc is embedded with an angle sensor that detects the position of the inner barrel and the angle disc with respect to the outer barrel.16.The scent switching mechanism of claim 1, wherein the scent switching mechanism provides a choice of fragrance from one or more cartridges.17.The scent switching mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a central control unit configured to command a step motor to drive the inner barrel based on comparing a detected angle of the angle disc with a specified angle.18.The scent switching mechanism of claim 1, wherein the scent switching mechanism is within a housing positioned in a vehicle.19.The scent switching mechanism of claim 1, further comprising one or more cartridge readers configured to identify one or more cartridges.20.The scent switching mechanism of claim 1, further comprising one or more cartridge readers configured to read fragrance information from a chip of one or more cartridges.21.An aroma device comprising:one or more fragrance cartridges;one or more cartridge readers configured to identify the one or more fragrance cartridges;a scent switching mechanism configured to select one cartridge of the one or more fragrance cartridges; andan air outlet coupled to an air-conditioning system and configured to provide scented air based on the one cartridge selected by the scent switching mechanism.22.The aroma device of claim 21, wherein each of the one or more cartridge readers comprises an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) or radio-frequency identification (RFID) readers positioned with respect to each site of one or more fragrance cartridges.23.The aroma device of claim 21, wherein each of the one or more fragrance cartridges comprises a memory chip configured for storing fragrance information.24.The aroma device of claim 23, wherein each memory chip is located on a top or a bottom surface of a corresponding cartridge.25.The aroma device of claim 21, wherein the aroma device comprises a central control unit and a communication module that are communicatively connected to an external device.26.The aroma device of claim 21, wherein the aroma device comprises a voice control module utilizing one or more voice control protocols for operating the aroma device.27.The aroma device of claim 21, wherein the one or more fragrance cartridges are arranged on a same plane in parallel.28.The aroma device of claim 21, wherein each of the one or more fragrance cartridges comprises inlet and outlet ventilation holes arranged on a same surface.29.The aroma device of claim 21, wherein each of the one or more fragrance cartridges comprises a cap configured to seal a corresponding cartridge.30.The aroma device of claim 21, wherein the scent switching mechanism comprises:an outer barrel;an inner barrel rotatable within the outer barrel;an angle disc fixed to the inner barrel; andone or more air guides,wherein the inner and outer barrels comprise one or more sets of air inlets and one or more sets of air outlets that align with the one or more air guides to form one or more air circuits with the select one cartridge of the one or more fragrance cartridges and the air outlet based on a position of the inner barrel and the angle disc with respect to the outer barrel.