Miniaturized Olfactory Device with Flow Restrictors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aroma substance delivery systems for media presentations face challenges in miniaturization, uniformity of aroma distribution, and efficiency in auditorium settings, requiring large volumes and complex ventilation systems, and suffer from fractionation effects due to long tubing lengths.
Innovation Solution
A miniaturized aroma substance delivery device with a source of carrier gas flow, regulating means, aroma substance-containing cartridges, and disseminating means positioned close to nasal cavities, utilizing flow restrictors to ensure pressure drop and precise aroma delivery, allowing for small, wearable, and programmable olfactory experiences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a conduit is used to deliver aroma substance to nasal cavities, then the device can be miniaturized, but fractionation effect occurs when tubing is too long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the flow restrictor function from the main device body and positions it at the origin of each channel, close to the aroma substance source. This separation allows the conduit to be minimized in length while maintaining precise flow control, thereby preventing fractionation effect while preserving device miniaturization benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow restrictor is positioned upstream at the channel origin to pre-regulate the carrier gas flow before it travels through the conduit. This preliminary flow control ensures that aroma components are uniformly mixed and transported without fractionation, even in miniaturized device configurations with short conduits.
2Reliability
If flow restrictors are positioned upstream close to channel origin, then pressure drop is optimized and fractionation is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the flow restrictor function with the channel structure itself, positioning the restrictor at the channel origin where it becomes an integrated part of the aroma delivery pathway. This integration minimizes additional components while achieving precise flow control and preventing fractionation effect.
3Volume of moving object
If aroma substance cartridges are placed close to disseminating means, then miniaturization is achieved, but precise flow regulation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the aroma delivery system into distinct functional zones: the flow restrictor zone upstream at channel origin for precise flow regulation, and the cartridge-disseminating means zone downstream for miniaturized aroma delivery. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized independently, maintaining flow regulation precision while achieving device miniaturization.
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
Enables efficient, uniform, and miniaturized aroma delivery to individual nasal cavities, reducing substance requirements and eliminating fractionation, facilitating integration into seats or wearability, and synchronized aroma release with audiovisual events.
Implementation Method 1
the flow restrictor being configured such that the pressure drop across the flow restrictor is higher than the pressure drop across the rest of the device
Implementation Method 2
aroma substance-containing cartridges, one being associated with each channel, and (iv) disseminating means located in close proximity to the cartridges and adapted to deliver the individual aroma substances from the cartridges to nasal cavities by means of a conduit
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
An aroma substance delivery device adapted to deliver an aroma substance exclusively to the nasal cavities of an individual, comprising the following elements: (i) a source of carrier gas flow; (ii) regulating means which receives the carrier gas flow and regulates its passage through a plurality of channels; (iii) downstream of the regulating means a plurality of aroma substance-containing cartridges, one being associated with each channel, and (iv) disseminating means located in close proximity to the cartridges and adapted to deliver the individual aroma substances from the cartridges to nasal cavities by means of a conduit; there being positioned in each channel on the upstream side and in close proximity to the origin of the channel a flow restrictor, the flow restrictor being configured such that the pressure drop across the flow restrictor is higher than the pressure drop across the rest of the device. The device is particularly useful as an element in conjunction with an audiovisual display, to provide a complete sensory experience.