Emission profile

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for emanating a volatile substance from a volatile substance emanator, the volatile substance emanator comprising a reservoir, a liquid transport member and a heater;

Description

Heater based emanation devices vapourise liquid fragrance compositions to freshen the air. Heater based emanation devices may be in the form of a liquid electrical that has a liquid transport member that transports liquid from a reservoir of the device to a heater. The heater heats the volatile substance to emanate the liquid fragrance. Current heater-based emanation devices may not provide a consistent user experience over time. For example, as the volume of liquid in the reservoir changes the emanation of the volatile substance may change. The present disclosure aims to provide a more consistent performance over time. The change in the configuration of the device provides an improved user experience over time. According to the present invention, there is provided a device according to the claims. According to a further aspect of the invention there is a method according to the claims. The emanating device described is a volatile substance comprising a reservoir, a liquid transport member and a heater. The liquid transport member extends from within the liquid reservoir and the liquid transport member is configured to transport liquid from the reservoir to a location proximate the heater. The device applies power to the heater to heat the liquid transport member to emanate the volatile substance. The change in the volume of liquid in the reservoir may lead to a change in the performance of the emanation device. For example, the drop in the liquid volume reduces the hydrostatic pressure in the reservoir, a greater proportion of liquid transport member is in contact with the liquid when the volume in the reservoir is greater. The wick performance may change over time. There may also be uneven weight loss of various components of the fragrance. For example, certain parts of the fragrance may evaporate at a faster rate than other parts of the fragrance. This may lead to changes to the fragrance in the reservoir as the fragrance is emanated, for example if certain parts of the fragrance evaporate more quickly less of these parts will remain in the liquid overtime. The emanation rate may change over time and may differ depending on the external environment. For example, the emanation rate may be faster initially and reduce as the volume in the reservoir decreases. The emanation rate may also depend on the humidity and / or temperature of the environment in which the device is placed. In an example, the device measures the volume of the volatile substance in the reservoir and the power applied to the heater to heat the liquid transport member to emanate the volatile substance is based upon the volume of the volatile substance. The change in power applied to the heater allows the emanation of the volatile substance to be controlled as the level of liquid changes in the reservoir. For example, the heater power may be different when the reservoir is full of liquid compared to the heater power when the liquid level in the reservoir is reduced. In an example, the device is configured to determine volume of the volatile substance in the reservoir. For example, the device is configured to measure the volume of volatile substance in the reservoir and determine the proportion of the volatile substance remaining in the reservoir. The device may be configured to measure the volume of the liquid using a noncontact volume measurement. For example, a capacitive sensor, a weight sensor and / or light-based sensor. The device may also measure the volume of the liquid using a contact-based sensor. For example, a float or electrical measurement of the liquid transport member. In an example, the power applied to the heater is based on the proportion of the liquid remaining in the reservoir. For example, the percentage of the maximum power of the heater is proportional to the proportion of the liquid remaining in the reservoir. In an example, the power applied to the heater is based on two or more power levels and the two or more power levels selected based on the liquid level in the reservoir. For example, the power applied to the heater is based on three, four, five 2 or six power levels. In an example, the power level may be a percentage the maximum heater power. For example, the power level may be 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and / or 100% of the maximum heater power. In an example, the power may be changed in intervals of 0.25% of the maximum power. 5 In an example, the heater power level is varied using pulse width modulation. In an example, the power is not applied to the heater when the volume of the volatile substance is below a predetermined level. In an example, an indication is provided to the user based upon the volume of the volatile substance. 10 In the examples described, the device dispenses a fragrance. In other examples, the device may dispense a pest control material or a deodorising fluid. Further modifications and developments can be made without departing from the scope of the invention described herein.

Claims

1. A method for emanating a volatile substance from a volatile substance emanator;the volatile substance emanator comprising a reservoir, a liquid transport member and a heater;the method comprising:the liquid transport member transporting liquid from the reservoir to a location proximate the heater;measuring the volume of the volatile substance in the reservoir;applying a power to the heater to heat the liquid transport member to emanate the volatile substance;wherein the power applied to the heater is based upon the volume of the volatile substance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the power applied to the heater is based on two or more power levels.

3. The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein the power is not applied to the heater when the volume of the volatile substance is below a predetermined level.

4. The method of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein an indication is provided to the user based upon the volume of the volatile substance.

5. The method of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the power applied to the heater is increased as the volume of the volatile substance decreases.

6. An emanation device for emanating a volatile substance;the volatile substance emanator comprising a reservoir, a liquid transport member and a heater;the liquid transport member configured to transport liquid from thereservoir to a location proximate the heater;the device configured to:measure the volume of the volatile substance in the reservoir;apply a power to the heater to heat the liquid transport member toemanate the volatile substance;wherein the power applied to the heater is based upon the volume of thevolatile substance.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the power applied to the heater is based on two or more power levels.

8. The device of claims 6 or 7, wherein the power is not applied to the heater when the volume of the volatile substance is below a predetermined level.

9. The device of any of claims 6 to 8, wherein an indication is provided to the user based upon the volume of the volatile substance.

10. The device of any of claims 6 to 9, wherein the power applied to the heater is increased as the volume of the volatile substance decreases.