Emotion-Inducing Device Using Biometric Feedback and Odor Emission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies do not effectively describe how odor components influence emotions or induce desired emotional states, as seen in Patent Document 1, which only discusses the relationship between an odor component and arousal levels without providing methods for emotion induction.

Innovation Solution

An emotion-inducing device and method that utilize an inference system to determine current emotions and an analysis system to select appropriate odor information from a database, which associates odor components with induced emotions, to emit specific odors that align current emotions with desired emotional states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If odor components are emitted to influence emotions, then emotional alignment with situational needs is improved, but lack of systematic methodology prevents effective emotion induction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemotional alignmentVSAvoidsystematic methodology

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the emotion induction process into distinct functional modules: an inference unit that analyzes current emotional states through biometric data, a database that stores odor-emotion relationships, and an emission control unit that selects and releases appropriate odor components. This segmentation transforms a complex undefined process into manageable systematic components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring biometric information (heart rate, skin conductance, temperature) to infer current emotional states, comparing them with target emotions, and adjusting odor component emission accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables dynamic adaptation to changing emotional states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If biometric information is analyzed to infer current emotions, then emotion induction accuracy is improved, but measurement and detection complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemotion detection accuracyVSAvoidbiometric analysis complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs multiple biometric sensors (heart rate monitor, skin conductance sensor, temperature sensor) that serve dual purposes: monitoring physiological health parameters and inferring emotional states. This multi-functionality approach enables emotion detection without requiring separate specialized measurement systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses biometric information as an intermediary variable that indirectly reflects emotional states. Rather than directly measuring abstract emotions, the system measures tangible physiological parameters (heart rate, skin conductance) that correlate with emotional arousal, thereby simplifying the detection process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If odor components are selected based on database analysis, then emotion induction effectiveness is improved, but information processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemotion induction effectivenessVSAvoiddata processing load

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-establishes a comprehensive database containing relationships between odor components and induced emotions, organized by emotional categories and intensity levels. This preliminary organization of information allows the system to quickly retrieve appropriate odor components during real-time operation without requiring complex on-the-fly analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system retrieves and analyzes only the essential biometric parameters and corresponding odor component information needed for emotion induction, rather than processing all available data. This selective partial processing approach maintains reliability while reducing information processing burden.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS20250144363A1Emotion-inducing device, emotion-inducing method, and database and odor classification indicators used for said emotion-inducing device and said emotion-inducing method

Publication Date: 2025.05.08 KK TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO

AI summary

An emotion-inducing device includes an inference means that infers a current emotion and an analysis means that obtains, based on a database, odor information bringing the current emotion closer to an expected emotion. The database associates an odor component with an induced emotion that can occur due to the odor component. The emotion-inducing device may further include an emission means that emits at least one type of odor component based on the odor information. The database is configured such that odor components are arranged in association with respective induced emotions. In this case, two or more index values (axes) that can compartmentalize emotions may be used. The emotion-inducing device is realized so that a computer that executes programs is made to cooperate with measurement equipment and odor emission equipment.