Odor Sensor Diffusion Device for Volatile Substance Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing diffusion devices lack control over the dispensing of volatile materials, often dispersing them uncontrolled and may use complex odor sensors to detect a wide range of chemicals, leading to size, cost, and implementation issues, as well as the risk of using inappropriate volatile materials.

Innovation Solution

A diffusion device equipped with a specific odor sensor to detect the presence and quantity of a specific chemical component in a volatile substance, controlling the dispenser to only release the substance when the component is present and at a specified level, preventing the use of inappropriate materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If complex odor sensors are used to detect a wide range of chemicals, then the ability to detect various malodors is improved, but the device complexity, size, and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection rangeVSAvoidsensor complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and focuses on detecting only one specific chemical component (the key component) that is characteristic of the intended volatile material, rather than using complex sensors to detect all possible malodors. This selective detection approach simplifies the sensor design while maintaining effective control over the diffusion device operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The odor sensor is designed with localized sensitivity to detect specifically the key component of the volatile material at a particular location within the device. This targeted detection approach allows the sensor to be simpler in structure while still providing effective monitoring of the volatile material presence and composition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If complex odor sensors are used to detect a wide range of chemicals, then the ability to detect various malodors is improved, but the device size and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection rangeVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If complex odor sensors are used to detect a wide range of chemicals, then the ability to detect various malodors is improved, but the implementation difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection rangeVSAvoidimplementation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Device complexity

If no verification mechanism is used, then the device operation is simpler, but the risk of using inappropriate volatile materials increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidmaterial compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary verification by detecting the key component of the volatile material before the diffusion device operates. This advance checking ensures that only appropriate volatile materials are used, preventing incompatibility issues and ensuring safe operation without significantly complicating the overall device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

5Ease of operation

If diffusion devices disperse volatile material uncontrolled, then the device operation is simpler, but the loss of volatile material increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidvolatile material waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs feedback control by continuously detecting the key component of the volatile material and using this information to control the diffusion device operation. This ensures that the volatile material is dispersed only when present and at appropriate levels, preventing waste while maintaining simple operation through automated control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution simplifies the design and operation of diffusion devices by ensuring only compatible volatile materials are used and optimizing dispensing based on specific chemical levels, reducing waste and user dissatisfaction.

Implementation Method 1

means for detecting the presence of a specific component in a volatile substance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical sensing:

Implementation Method 2

heating a volatile material to promote vaporization thereof

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVaporization:

Implementation Method 3

passive diffusion devices that require only ambient air flow to disperse the volatile material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentUS8955765B2Diffusion device with odor sensor

Publication Date: 2015.02.17 SC JOHNSON & SON INC

AI summary

An apparatus for treating an airspace with a volatile substance includes means for detecting the presence of a specific component in a volatile substance and means for controlling a volatile substance dispenser to dispense the volatile substance only if the volatile substance contains the specific component.