U.S. patent application number 14/326492 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-30 for air freshening network.
The applicant listed for this patent is The Procter & Gamble Company. Invention is credited to Dana Paul GRUENBACHER, Erik John HASENOEHRL.
Application Number | 20140322082 14/326492 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47991411 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140322082 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HASENOEHRL; Erik John ; et
al. |
October 30, 2014 |
AIR FRESHENING NETWORK
Abstract
An air freshening network in a home or office environment is
more energy efficient and intelligent than conventional
devices.
Inventors: |
HASENOEHRL; Erik John;
(Loveland, OH) ; GRUENBACHER; Dana Paul;
(Fairfield, OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
The Procter & Gamble Company |
Cincinnati |
OH |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
47991411 |
Appl. No.: |
14/326492 |
Filed: |
July 9, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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13593769 |
Aug 24, 2012 |
|
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14326492 |
|
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|
61542312 |
Oct 3, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
422/108 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61L 9/125 20130101;
A61L 2209/111 20130101; A61L 2209/133 20130101; H05B 47/19
20200101; A61L 2209/14 20130101; G05B 15/02 20130101; A61L 2209/11
20130101; G05F 1/66 20130101; Y02D 70/162 20180101; Y02D 30/70
20200801; A61L 9/037 20130101; Y02D 70/142 20180101; A61L 9/035
20130101; A61L 9/14 20130101; A61L 9/12 20130101; F24F 11/30
20180101; Y02D 70/166 20180101; A61L 9/127 20130101; H04W 4/70
20180201; Y02D 70/144 20180101; Y02D 70/146 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
422/108 |
International
Class: |
A61L 9/12 20060101
A61L009/12 |
Claims
1. An air freshening system comprising: (a) a plurality of scent
emitters displaced relative to each other in the freshening system,
wherein each of the plurality of scent emitters is configured to
emit an air freshening composition; (b) at least one sensor
responsive to a stimulus the sensor is capable of sensing; (c) a
communication interface configured to communicate with the
plurality of scent emitters; and (d) wherein each of the plurality
of scent emitters comprises an emission processor, wherein the
emission processor is: (i) responsive to the sensor; (ii)
configured to controlling scent emission from the respective scent
emitter; and (iii) configured to make scent emission decisions
through distributed processing across the system based on
information exchange among the scent emitters through the
communication interface.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a radio-frequency
gateway allowing scent emitters of the system to communicate with
each other.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the sensor is selected from an
odor sensor or a motion sensor.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the system comprises a plurality
of sensors wherein at least one sensor is a malodor sensor and
another sensor is a motion sensor.
5. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one sensor is
integral to at least one scent emitter of the system.
6. The system of clam 5, wherein the scent emitter further
comprises an energizable dispenser component configured to dispense
an air freshening composition from a refill vial, and wherein the
scent emitter is pluggable into a wall socket.
7. The system of claim 5, wherein the emission processor comprises
using one or more of the following: a clock to control the timing
of scent emission decisions across the network; a polling algorithm
to make scent emission decisions across the network; and learning
reactions to stimuli according to a training set.
8. The system of claim 5, further comprising an air filtering
device configured to filter air, wherein the air filter device
comprises: (a) an air filtering component configured to move air
through an air filter; (b) the air filter functionally attached to
the air filter device; (c) an air filtering processor, wherein the
air filtering processor is configured: to have the air filtering
component control air flow through the air filter; and to make air
filtering decisions based on information received through the
distributed processing across the system based on information
exchanged among the scent emitters through the communication
interface.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the filtering process of the air
filter device is further configured to be response to the
sensor.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the sensor further comprises an
air quality sensor.
11. A scent emitter configured to emit an air freshening
composition comprising: (a) an energizable dispenser component
configured to dispense an air freshening composition from a refill
vial; (b) a communication interface; (c) an emission processor,
wherein the emission processor is configured: to control scent
emission for the scent emitter; and to make scent emission
decisions based on information received wirelessly.
12. The scent emitter of claim 11, wherein the communication
interface is configured to send or receive information by infrared
radiation, ultrasound wave, radio-frequency wave, or combinations
thereof.
13. The scent emitter of claim 12, further comprising a sensor
wherein the sensor is configured to be responsive to a stimulus the
sensor is capable of sensing; and wherein the emission process is
response to the sensor.
14. The scent emitter of claim 13, wherein the sensor is selected
from an odor sensor, an air quality sensor, a motion sensor, or a
combination thereof.
15. The scent emitter of claim 14, wherein the scent emitter is
configured to be pluggable into a wall socket.
16. The scent emitter of claim 14, wherein the scent emitter
further comprises a radio-frequency gateway.
17. The scent emitter of claim 14, wherein the scent emitter is
configured to be pluggable into a wall socket, wherein the scent
emitter further comprises a radio-frequency gateway, and wherein
the energizable dispenser component is configured to dispense an
air freshening composition from a plurality of refill vials.
18. An air filtering device configured to filter air comprising:
(a) an air filtering component configured to move air through an
air filter; (b) optionally having the air filter functionally
attached; (c) a communication interface; (d) an air filtering
processor, wherein the air filtering processor is configured: to
control air flow through the air filter; and to make air filtering
decisions based on information received wirelessly by the
communication interface.
19. The air filter device of claim 18, wherein the communication
interface is configured to send or receive information by infrared
radiation, ultrasound wave, radio-frequency wave, or combinations
thereof.
20. The air filtering device claim 19, further comprising a sensor
wherein the sensor is configured to be responsive to a stimulus the
sensor is capable of sensing; and wherein the emission process is
response to the sensor.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is directed to providing air
freshening in a manner that is energy efficient and intelligent. In
particular, the present invention uses distributed processing
across a network of air fresheners to control the odor level for a
given environment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Devices that contain both a sensor and scent emitter have
been described. For example if the sensor is an odor sensor, and
the odor senses a malodor, the sensor will cause the scent emitter
to emit a diffusible air freshening composition into the air to
mask and/or eliminate the offending malodor. However, these devices
typically work as a stand-alone device that can only affect a
relatively small environment that is immediately surrounding the
device and without regard to other air fresheners that may be
elsewhere in the home or office. Furthermore, the sensor and the
scent emitter are integrated into a single device (i.e., the scent
emitter and sensor are not remote to each other).
[0003] Many homes or offices (i.e., macro environments) typically
have multiple rooms or micro environments that cannot be readily
addressed by a single scent emitting device. Often, there is an
unbalance in scent level as the user travels from one space to
another. The use of a plurality of scent emitting devices fails to
provide an optimized air freshening experience throughout the macro
environment. For example, a small room may have an over abundance
of scent where a larger room may have a scent level that is too
low. Some devices will have a manual scent intensity control but
the user's preferred level is typically obtained by trial and
error. Or the manual scent intensity control simply lacks
precision. Further, a collection of single isolated devices often
fail to anticipate the effect of a malodor event that may happen at
a single location in the home or office that leads to an
undesirable olfactory experience elsewhere in the macro
environment. For example, frying a fish in a kitchen may lead to
malodor not only in the kitchen but also in adjoining rooms (as the
malodor diffuses). In such an example, there is a need to
proactively address the malodor event elsewhere in the home besides
the kitchen. Current devices fail to address such an event.
[0004] There is a need for a system of devices that addresses the
challenges of micro environments in a home or office that cannot be
addressed by a single air freshening device. A plurality of devices
can be utilized to address each micro environment but such an
approach fails to leverage the potential advantages of a system,
i.e., the devices working in concert together. There is a need to
detect odors in a home or office and provide a user's desired air
freshening experience throughout a macro environment. There is a
need to provide this experience according to a user's preference,
that is simple to operate, and optimizes energy consumption and/or
consumables (e.g., scent refill).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention attempts to meet these and other needs
by providing an air freshening system comprising: (a) a plurality
of scent emitters displaced relative to each other in the
freshening system, wherein each of the plurality of scent emitters
is configured to emit an air freshening composition; (b) at least
one sensor responsive to a stimulus the sensor is capable of
sensing; (c) a communication interface configured to communicate
with the plurality of scent emitters; and(d) wherein each of the
plurality of scent emitters comprises an emission processor,
wherein the emission processor is: responsive to the sensor;
configured to controlling scent emission from the respective scent
emitter; and configured to make scent emission decisions through
distributed processing across the system based on information
exchange among the scent emitters through the communication
interface.
[0006] Another aspect of the invention provides a scent emitter
configured to emit an air freshening composition comprising: an
energizable dispenser component configured to dispense an air
freshening composition from a refill vial; a communication
interface; an emission processor, wherein the emission processor is
configured: to control scent emission for the scent emitter; and to
make scent emission decisions based on information received
wirelessly.
[0007] Yet another aspect of the invention provides for an air
filtering device configured to filter air comprising: (a) an air
filtering component configured to move air through an air filter;
(b) optionally having the air filter functionally attached; (c) a
communication interface; and (d) an air filtering processor,
wherein the air filtering processor is configured: to control air
flow through the air filter; and to make air filtering decisions
based on information received wirelessly by the communication
interface.
[0008] Other aspects of the invention provide for methods of
eliminating odor or freshening the air comprising the use of the
systems and products described herein. Another method is directed
to improving air quality in a home or office by the use of the
systems or products described herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 shows the system of architecture of a basic Scent
Emission Control Network (SECN) application.
[0010] FIG. 2 shows additional system components that can be
integrated with the basic application shown in FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 3 shows applicability of SECN control techniques to
other types of device.
[0012] FIG. 4 shows the elements of an SECN controller.
[0013] FIG. 5 shows components internal to a full-function
director.
[0014] FIG. 6 shows the structure of software components in a
typical controller implementation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The present invention integrates a control microprocessor
with each scent emitter and/or sensors and enabling the control
microprocessors to communicate with each other to provide
coordinated behaviors across a collection of scent emitters. Such
coordination is particularly valuable for scent emitters within a
single macro environment (e.g., home or office), where it is
desirable for multiple scent emitters (and optionally multiple
sensors) to operate together to provide odor control and/or air
freshening that is perceived by users as being uniform and
effective. Still further, such a system would allow for coordinated
responses not only to a malodor event but also to mitigate against
scent habituation. Approaches to mitigate scent habituation include
turning scent emitters "off" for a period of time (before turning
back on again) and/or alternating scents. Although these approaches
may have been suggested for single devices, a system approach as
described by the present invention provides an advantage by
coordinating the behavior of scent emitters across a macro
environment. For example, a first scent emitter can be turned off
while a second scent emitter can be turned on. Of course there
could be overlap between the emitters, and different or
complementary scents can be used. All the scent emitters could be
turned "off" at night or when occupants are away or asleep to
conserve power and/or air freshening composition.
[0016] Integrating a control microprocessor with each scent emitter
and/or sensor allows the controlled units to be programmed with
different behaviors. Behaviors (for example, the ability to learn
and replay scent emission patterns) can be delivered to the control
microprocessors as independent software modules. Such modules
could, for example, be provided as separately purchased software
upgrades for existing hardware, enabling scent emitters to provide
more sophisticated functions with no change, modification, or
alteration to the sources themselves.
[0017] In one aspect, the present invention describes an
architecture for controlling the operation of scent emitters and/or
sensors. The architecture provides for self-organizing autonomous
control: a system in which elements such as scent emitters/sensors
communicate and interact with each other to provide behaviors
appropriate to the environment in which they operate, based on
minimal human interaction and configuration. The system learns the
desired behavior by responding to human requests and modifying its
behavior in response to those requests. One aspect of the invention
is that behaviors can be defined by independently loadable software
modules that are installed on a within the system elements so that
an individual element can exhibit a wide variety of behaviors.
[0018] One goal of the Scent Emission Control Network (SECN)
architecture is to combine the many advantages multiple scent
emitters in a macro environment (and optionally one or more
sensors) with the additional capabilities provided by integrating
local digital microprocessor control into each scent emitter. The
combination of these scent emitters and/or sensor(s) with
autonomous distributed control can further reduce energy costs
and/or perfume composition refills by ensuring that perfume
compositions are emitted only when actually needed. In addition,
once such a control mechanism is present, the same control, sensor,
and communication facilities can enable a wide variety of other
functions for behavior customization, system control, and
integration with building management. In addition, since the
control platform is built around a general-purpose microprocessor
running an arbitrary set of software modules, the system's control,
sensor, and communication functions of the system can also be used
to control arbitrary other types of devices, and to provide
transport for other types of data. In one embodiment, the system of
the present invention comprises non-scent emitting devices.
Non-limiting examples include light emitting devices or air
filtration devices. See e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 8,035,320.
Architectural Components
[0019] FIG. 1 shows an example SECN implementation comprising
plural scent emitters 111, a fixed-function director 122, a
flexible director 123, and a configurator 141. All these elements
are installed and/or operated within a home or office 201. These
elements communicate with each other by sending messages with
infrared communication signals 524.
[0020] There are many possible designs for scent emitter 111,
depending on the amount and/or speed of scent emission, power
sources (e.g., AC line, DC, battery), malodor considerations, and
control requirements. A non-limiting example includes pluggable
devices sold under the FEBREZE brand (manufactured by The Procter
& Gamble Company). One such device is FEBREZE NOTICEABLES.
[0021] In one embodiment, the scent emitter comprises an
energizable dispenser component configured to dispense an air
freshening composition from a refill vial. The vial is releasably
attached to the dispenser component. The dispensing component may
comprise a wick heater or vibrator (e.g., piezoelectric).
"Energizable" as used herein refers to a system that operates by
using an electrical energy source to emit a targeted active. One
example of an energized vapor phase system is a liquid electric air
freshening device. Non-limiting examples of an energized system
include a wick system (preferably heating the wick or composition
per U.S. Pat. No. 7,223,361), vibration (e.g., ultrasonic or
piezoelectric per US 2011/0266359 A1), or combinations thereof.
[0022] The air freshening composition may be contained in a vial
for dispensing. A non-limiting example of a vial includes a scented
oil refills for FEBREZE NOTICEABLES (P&G). In one embodiment,
the vial contains from about 5 ml to about 250 ml, alternatively
from 25 ml to about 125 ml, alternatively from about 50 ml to about
150 ml, alternatively combinations thereof. The vial may be plastic
or glass or combination thereof. The vial may be a consumable,
i.e., replaceable by the user as it becomes depleted.
[0023] The air freshening composition may include perfume
ingredients to provide a desirable scent in the air. In one
embodiment, the air freshening composition includes a mixture of
volatile aldehydes that are designed to deliver genuine malodor
neutralization (and not function merely by covering up or masking
odors). A genuine malodor neutralization provides a sensory and
analytically measurable (e.g. gas chromatograph) malodor reduction.
Thus, if the air freshening composition delivers genuine malodor
neutralization, the composition will reduce malodors in the vapor
and/or liquid phase. In another embodiment, the air freshening
composition comprises a mixture of volatile aldehydes that
neutralize malodors in vapor and/or liquid phase via chemical
reactions. Such volatile aldehydes are also called reactive
aldehydes. Volatile aldehydes may react with amine-based odors,
following the path of Schiff-base formation. Volatiles aldehydes
may also react with sulfur-based odors, forming thiol acetals, hemi
thiolacetals, and thiol esters in vapor and/or liquid phase. It may
be desirable for these vapor and/or liquid phase volatile aldehydes
to have virtually no negative impact on the desired perfume
character of the air freshening composition. In one embodiment, the
sensor (e.g., odor sensor) is integrated as part of the scent
emitter device. See e.g., US 2010/0044453 A1.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows a more complex example SECN implementation
consisting of plural rooms 201 in a macro environment (e.g., home
or office), optically isolated from each other by opaque room
walls, each containing plural scent emitters 111. In FIG. 2,
combined configurator/director 151 takes the place of configurator
141 and flexible director 123. Fixed-function directors 122 are
present in each of rooms 201. Gateway 161 enables communication
between different rooms 201, which would otherwise block infrared
control messages 524 with their opaque walls. Gateway 161 can also
incorporate other communication interfaces, such as wireless signal
551 or Ethernet interface 561.
[0025] As is evident from the description herein, FIGS. 1 and 2 are
only examples of potentially arbitrary combinations of elements in
a SECN implementation. Because scent emitters 111 provide an
easily-understood target for SECN control capabilities, they are
used in most examples here. However, scent emitter 111 is simply
one type of appliance 101 that can be controlled with SECN control
capabilities. As shown in FIG. 3, flexible director 123 can be used
to control arbitrary entities, such as scent emitter 111;
controlled power source 102 which supplies power to an arbitrary
electrical device through conventional power plug 103; controlled
appliance 101, which in this case is shown as an air filtering
device; light source 104; and/or other devices incorporating the
SECN control mechanisms, all of which can receive instructions
through control messages 524. Directors 122 and 123 are examples of
the collective class director (not shown in the figures). Combined
configurator/director 151 combines the functions of configurator
141 and director 123 in a single component.
[0026] Directors 123 are primarily responsible for delivering
requests to controllers. A director can also deliver new behavior
modules 801 to controllers and receive reports back about
controller operation and about the device(s) it manages. Directors
123 can range from very simple (e.g., fixed-function director 122,
which may be a wall-mounted switch that only requests scent
emitters to turn on and off) to relatively sophisticated (e.g.,
flexible director 123 which is a handheld remote control that can
control, configure, and interrogate arbitrary controllers 301).
Examples of "behaviors" may include responding to specific odors
and/or specific odor levels; on/off sequences; and/or alternating
scents (i.e., alternating between different air freshening
compositions). The alteration of scents may happen within a single
scent emitting device that is capable of emitting at least two
different air freshening compositions (i.e., having different
scents) or from two different scent emitting devices emitting air
freshening compositions different each other.
[0027] Configurator 141 is typically a graphical software interface
run on a commodity computing platform (e.g., desktop PC, laptop, or
handheld computer) for designing and configuring behaviors. Such an
interface allows a person to use familiar tools and imagery to
specify device behavior in a user-friendly manner, and then load
the behavior into director 123, which can configure controllers 301
to exhibit that behavior.
[0028] Functions of configurator 141 and director 123 are logically
distinct: configurator 141 designs--a relatively rare activity--and
director 123 controls--something done as a natural part of daily
activities. Often, they will be physically distinct: a common
implementation would have configurator 141 as software on a desktop
or laptop PC, where it would communicate with a director over USB
cable interface 142. The functions of director 123 and configurator
141 can also be combined as combined configurator/director 151, for
instance in a hand-held computer such as PDA that also includes an
interface that can communicate with controllers 301. A set of
controllers 301 forms a local area network that may be inherently
limited in scope by the type of communication interfaces used by
controllers 301. Such networks may be connected to each other, or
to the internet, through additional communication interfaces and/or
gateway elements that transfer data among multiple such networks,
and/or between SECN networks and other networks.
[0029] Part of every controlled appliance 101 in the SECN
architecture is controller 301. Most types of appliance 101 also
incorporate some actual function to be controlled, such as scent
emitter 111 which comprises both controller 301 and an air
freshening composition (e.g., refill). In the limiting case,
appliance 101 may simply control power delivery to some other
entity, as in the case of controlled power source 102.
[0030] As shown by the example configuration in FIG. 4, controller
301 comprises control microprocessor 401, optionally in combination
with some and/or all of power supplies 411, analog-to-digital
converters 421, odor sensor 43, motion sensor 441, light sensor
451, communication interfaces 501, and/or other interfaces,
sensors, actuators, or mechanisms that enable controller 301 to
interact with its environment, of any of which plural instances may
be included in controller 301. Although an odor sensor, motion
sensor, and light sensor are illustrated in FIG. 4, many other
sensors can be incorporated/substituted including but not limited
to a light sensor, air quality sensor, sound sensor, and the like.
A single sensor may have multiple functions (i.e., capable of
sensing more than one stimulus), alternatively multiple sensors can
be used each with their own specific function. Controller 301 and
controlled device 321 are supplied with electrical power from
external power supplies 331. Power supplies 331 may be distinct for
controller 301 and controlled device 321 as shown in the example,
or may be identical. Power supply 411 serves the conventional
function of transforming externally-supplied power from power
supply 331 into the form (a) required by the internal components of
controller 301. A non-limiting example of an odor sensor is
described in US 2010/0044453 A1, paragraphs 28-29; and U.S. Pat.
No. 6,093,308.
[0031] Control microprocessor 401 runs software modules called
behaviors (section 3 describes a variety of examples) that are
loaded into internal memory of controller 401 and that may be
subsequently replaced, updated, and/or adjusted. Behavior modules
801 that are running in a controller determine both how it responds
to requests and what functions it performs autonomously, for
example in response to time-based or sensor input triggers.
Controller 301 includes communication interfaces 501 that allow it
to communicate with directors 123 and with other controllers 301
(in other appliances 101 such as scent emitters 111).
[0032] Controller 301 typically interacts with controlled device
321 through control signals 351, which provide control inputs to
the device. Controller 301 typically monitors status and operation
of controlled device 321 through status signals 341, which
typically are analog voltages or currents that are converted to
digital form through analog-to-digital converter(s) 421, although
other sensors or interfaces may be used, including digital
interfaces of control microprocessor 401. It will be recognized by
those skilled in the art that analog-to-digital converter(s) 421
may be integrated with control microprocessor 401, as may other
interfaces and sensors.
[0033] Although controller 301 can be used in a stand-alone manner,
simply controlling power for an arbitrary electrical device, more
typically controller 301 is integrated into another electrical
device (e.g., lighting device or air filtering device). A scent
emitter device 111 is the integration of controller 301, optionally
including a sensor, with a refillable air freshening
composition.
[0034] Controller 301 typically requires a small amount of power to
operate, distinct from the power consumed by the device(s) that it
controls. It is often desirable for this power supply to be
continuously available, even though external power may be
completely disconnected from the controlled device. In such cases,
controller 301 can incorporate battery power. Power supply 411 is
responsible for converting external AC or DC power input, and for
managing battery power, to voltage levels more suitable for control
microprocessor 401 and other controller components. In one
embodiment, the scent emitter is portable and battery operated.
[0035] Controller 301 is fundamentally a software-controlled
device. Control microprocessor 401 controls and monitors the
operation of controlled devices based on the behavior software
modules 801 that have been loaded into it, and also performs
communication, power management, and device management functions.
It will be evident that the function of control microprocessor 401
could be performed by multiple microprocessors, possibly of
different types, for example to allow use of simpler and less
microprocessors to perform some simpler but time-critical functions
and using a more powerful microprocessor for the more complex
behaviors. Control microprocessor 401 incorporates processing
capabilities, temporary (operational) storage, and non-volatile
storage; it will be evident these elements of control
microprocessor 401 may be integrated in a single semiconductor
component (which typically is the most cost-effective approach) or
may be implemented as separate components.
[0036] Controller 301 typically incorporates one or more
communication interfaces 501 for communicating with directors 123
and controllers 301 in other system elements. The SECN
communication protocols can be carried over a wide variety of
physical interfaces, including infrared, ultrasonic, radio, power
line modulation, light modulation, etc. Communication interface 501
typically supports two-way and symmetric communication, but a
one-way communication such as X10 power-line modulation, voice
recognition, or simple infrared remote control can be used for
simple control functions.
[0037] Controller 301, particularly when used for controlling a
scent emitting device, typically incorporates one or more sensors
431 for measuring, for example, an odor or an odor level (via an
odor sensor). The "odor" may be either a malodor (i.e., generally
an unpleasant scent); or absence or low level of freshness (i.e., a
perfume scent). These sensors can be used for feedback control of
freshness intensity based on external factors such a person's use
of an aerosol air freshener or scent cleaning product as well as
for compensation for a malodor event (e.g., cooking fish and
accompanying unpleasant fish scent or bathroom odors). Multiple
odor sensors 431 may be used for different purposes, such as
measurement of ambient odor or air quality, measurement of malodor
from a room or location within the macro environment, and/or direct
measurement of air freshening composition output. Odor sensors 431
may incorporate technology to allow for the measurement specific
chemicals in the air. Scent emitters may emit customized air
freshening compositions based upon the specific malodor chemical
detected in the air. For example, a sulfur based malodor may be
treated by the emission of an air freshening composition that works
particularly well or is designed to treat sulfur-based malodors. In
another embodiment, the odor sensor may be connected remotely to an
alarm in the event, for example, smoke or carbon monoxide is
detected.
[0038] Controller 301 may incorporate one or more sound sensors
(e.g., microphones)--not shown. These sensors may be used to enable
voice or sound-activated control of the sent emitter device, as an
input to be considered in occupancy sensing control, and/or as part
of an ultrasonic communication and/or location-mapping
function.
[0039] Controller 301 may incorporate several voltage-measurement
sensors (analog-to-digital converters 421) that allow control
microprocessor 401 to monitor relevant aspects of the operation of
appliance 101, such as power consumption and/or LED junction
voltage drop. Junction voltage drop can provide a measurement of
junction temperature, which in turn can be used for feedback
control and lifetime monitoring.
[0040] Controller 301 may incorporate one or more infrared or other
types of motion sensors 461 (shown in FIG. 5), in order to support
control behaviors such as occupancy sensing and response. Such
sensors can generate an electrical signal that it is interpreted by
the control microprocessor to identify potential motion.
[0041] Controller 301 may incorporate one or more video/image
sensors (connected similarly to motion sensors 461) that can be
used to support behaviors such as occupancy sensing and response.
Such sensors can generate pixel image that is processed and
interpreted by control microprocessor 401 to identify potential
motion. An image sensor could include optics such as a fish-eye
lens to allow coverage of the full field visible from the
device.
[0042] Director 123 is used to send requests to one or more
controllers 301, deliver behavior modules 801 to controllers 301,
and/or to receive status reports from controllers 301. Director
123, in one embodiment, is similar to a conventional infrared
remote control such as might be used with a television set.
However, unlike such controls, which only transmit signals and do
not receive them, director 123 typically uses a two-way
communication protocol to interact with controllers 301 and other
directors 123, just as controllers 301 do to interact with each
other. This two-way protocol uses acknowledgments and
retransmission to allow the director to perform more reliably, and
to perform more sophisticated functions, than a conventional remote
control.
[0043] Typically, director 123 includes a control microprocessor,
at least one communication interface (e.g., infrared, ultrasonic),
and one or more human operator interfaces (e.g., buttons, knobs,
switches). Director 123 may also include a display to allow the
operator to view the response to a request and/or to review and/or
observe details of a request. The examples described herein are
based around two types of director, the simple fixed-function
director 122 and the more powerful and sophisticated flexible
director 123 shown in FIG. 5. It will be evident to one skilled in
the art that these distinctions are arbitrary, and that the
functions that might be performed by director 123 can be packaged
in a virtually limitless variety of packages and configurations
(including the combined configuration of configurator/director.
[0044] Fixed-function director 122 is very simple, typically used
as a "light-switch replacement". A flexible director 123 is shown
in FIG. 5. This device is physically similar to a sophisticated
handheld remote control: it may include multiple buttons and/or
knobs for its operator interface shown as keypad 124. It typically
also includes display 125 to allow the operator to see responses
send in return to requests by flexible director 123. Its
communication interface is typically capable of operating
directionally so that the operator can point it at a specific scent
emitter 111 to direct requests to that scent emitter alone (which,
of course, may forward the request to other scent emitters in a
group or groups). Control microprocessor 131 in flexible director
123 typically has sufficient memory both for the director's own
software and for storing behavior modules to be delivered to scent
emitters 111. Flexible director 123 typically also includes USB
interface 139 or other computer-oriented interface to allow it to
be updated by configurator 141. Other components in flexible
director 123 (infrared transmitter 133, infrared receiver 134,
battery 135) serve the same purpose as in fixed-function director
122. An alternative embodiment of flexible director 123 employs a
handheld computer equipped with appropriate infrared transmitter
133 and infrared receiver 134 peripherals and appropriate operating
software.
[0045] Configurator 141 is a software application, running on some
hardware platform that is used to design behaviors. It provides a
user-focused graphical interface that allows the user to describe
the desired behavior of a set of controllers 301 (e.g., those
contained in scent emitters 111 and/or sensor(s) 431, 441,
451).
[0046] After designing the behaviors with configurator 141, the
user then typically transfers the resulting behavior modules 801
into some flexible director 123. Flexible director 123 can then be
used to deliver the specified behaviors to some controller 301,
which would then, as appropriate, use its communication interface
to ensure that the behavior modules 801 are delivered to all
controllers 301 that require them.
[0047] The SECN architecture explicitly allows the functions of
configurator 141 and director 123 to be implemented independently,
because that corresponds to a common usage model: an operator could
use the powerful graphical interface of configurator 141 running on
a personal computer to design or adjust scent emitting behaviors
for a space (i.e., macro- or micro-environments).
[0048] In some applications, it is more appropriate to combine the
functions of director 123 and configurator 141. For example, an
operator managing an entire building's freshness profile, or
obtaining sensor(s) information for a large area, may use a
combined configurator/director 151 unit, which could be portable
(such as a iPAD or iPHONE or Tablet PC device) or in a fixed
location. In such applications, additional communication gateway
components might be employed, for example using standard network,
wired, or wireless communication from the operator's computer
system to reach a communication gateway component 161 in the areas
where targeted controllers 301 are present. Such gateway components
could be particularly helpful when an existing building management
system (e.g., based on the ZigBee or LONWorks or 6lowpan protocols)
is present; alternatively, it is possible to build controllers that
incorporate those communication interfaces directly and to use them
the communication among SECN components.
[0049] Although not shown in the figures, in one embodiment of the
invention, the system may comprise at least one sensor that is not
integrated with any of the scent emitters (or other appliances) of
the system. Valuable information about the environment (e.g.,
malodor event) may be transmitted by the sensor but where the user
does not care for the emission of an air freshening composition.
For example, an odor sensor may be placed near a stove where food
is being prepared. The odor sensor may sense a malodor emitted from
cooking food (e.g., unpleasant fish smell) but the user does not
care to have an air freshening composition emitted near where food
is being prepared. However, having the sensor in such close
proximity to a stove or where food is being prepared provides
valuable information (e.g., early warning) about a malodor event to
the system. Of course the sensor may even communicate information
about the type of malodor and potential quantitative information
(e.g., how much malodor). In this embodiment, the non-integrated
sensor may comprise a second communications interface configured to
communicate with the scent emitters in the network. Alternatively,
the sensor has a communication interface capable of transmitting
sensor information wirelessly, preferably where the transmission is
by way of infrared radiation, ultrasound wave, radio-frequency
wave, or combinations thereof.
[0050] An air filtering device may be part of the system of the
present invention. A non-limiting example of such a device includes
those described by US 2009/0038480 A1. In the most basic aspect,
the air filtering device is configured to functionally receive a
filter (typically a replaceable filter) for removing particles or
contaminants from air. The device will also have an air filtering
component configured to move air through the air filter. The device
may have an air filter functionally attached. The air filter may be
replaceable. Typically the air is moved by way of a motorized fan.
Generally, the more power or speed of the fan, the greater the air
flow through the air filter and thus air filtering. The air
filtering device may comprise an air filtering processor. This
processor is configured: to have the air filtering component
control air flow through the air filter; and to make air filtering
decisions based on information received wirelessly, alternatively
through the disturbed processing across the system based on
information exchanged among the scent emitters (or appliances of
the system) through the communication interface. These filtering
decisions include turning the air filtering device "on/off" or rate
of air flow (e.g., fan speed) or other related functions. In one
embodiment, the filtering decision is response to one or more
sensors. The sensor may or may not be part of the system. In yet
another embodiment, the sensor is configured to sense air quality
(e.g., sensing particles or contaminants in the air). In yet still
another embodiment, the scent emitter and the air filtering device
are integrated into a single device. The filter may also filter
bacteria, viruses, and even offending chemical agents and the like.
The sensor may be one that detects whether the filter needs to be
replaced (e.g., by sensing the quality of the air immediately after
flowing through the filter).
Scent Emitter Behaviors
[0051] Because it is a software-controlled device, scent emitter
111 can be programmed to perform a wide variety of functions. A
variety of such functions is described below, using scent emitter
111 as the example embodiment. It is understood that activities
attributed to scent emitter 111 are in fact carried out by the
controller 301 component of scent emitter 111, employing software
running on control microprocessor 401 component of controller
301.
[0052] Scent emitter 111 may respond to requests (e.g., from
director 123) that instruct it to perform specific functions. A
typical set of direct requests accepted by scent emitter 111 could
include: on/off; scent intensity; scent selection; malodor
detection; and the like.
[0053] Scent emitter 111 may be part of a group of scent emitters
that all are intended to respond similarly. To accomplish this,
communication interface 501 can be used to pass on the requests
from one scent emitter to others, until all members of the group
have been informed of the request. To ensure reliable transfer,
positive acknowledgement would typically be part of such a
communication protocol.
[0054] The simplest application of group control is to have all the
scent emitters in a group respond to direct control requests.
However, group control assists in providing many of the other
behavior functions when multiple scent emitters are involved, as it
allows scent emitters to cooperate in exhibiting similar
behaviors.
[0055] Scent emitter 111 can be manually assigned to groups using
director 123. The director can instruct a given scent emitter 111
that it is to belong to a designated group or groups or,
alternatively, that it no longer belongs to a designated group or
groups.
[0056] Preferably, scent emitters 111 can associate into groups
autonomously, based on the ability to communicate with each other,
using conventional distributed processing algorithms. Since the
preferred mechanisms (e.g., infrared, ultrasound) for communication
interface 501 are generally localized to a single open (that is,
they are blocked by walls and doors), the scent emitters in such an
area can identify themselves to each other and form a group based
on reachability.
[0057] Scent emitter 111 can adjust the intensity or strength of
its communication transmissions, and/or the sensitivity of its
communication receiver, to dynamically adjust the distance over
which group detection takes place. Each scent emitter 111 can
belong to multiple groups, allowing requests received by a
particular scent emitter to have different scope depending on the
group or groups to which they are addressed.
[0058] Scent emitters 111 can keep track of the date and time of
day and exhibit behaviors triggered at specific times. For example,
an scent emitter (or group of scent emitters) can be requested to
turn on during waking hours and off at night. Scent emitters 111
can be informed of the current date and time by director 123.
Director 123 can similarly be informed of the time by configurator
141, which can obtain accurate highly accurate time from network
time references, for example by using the Network Time Protocol
(NTP) or the Simple Network Time Protocol (SNTP). Alternatively,
the time can be programmed into the scent emitter by the user.
[0059] Scent emitter 111 can record the requests it has been given
and repeat them at a later time, for example allowing it to learn
desired on/off times on one day and repeating them on subsequent
days. Such learning could, for example, be adjusted by knowledge of
specific days, weekends, and holidays, allowing repetition of
desired behavior on appropriate days, for example Mimicking a
week's use of air freshening.
[0060] Scent emitter 111 can incorporate sensors to detect presence
of human occupants, enabling it to reduce the consumption of energy
consumption and/or air freshening composition by providing
freshness only when needed. If the sensor(s) detect(s) no
indication of occupancy for an extended period, the scent output
can be turned off or decreased in intensity. For example, motion
sensor 461 can be a conventional long-wave infrared motion sensor
can be used for detecting motion of warm bodies. Control
microprocessor 401 can monitor and integrate the output of motion
sensor 461 over a relatively long period to avoid accidentally
turning off lights while someone is present. The motion sensor 461
can be a video image sensor. Sound sensor 451 (e.g., a microphone)
can also be used for occupancy detection. Typically, if multiple
sensors are present (e.g., sound sensor 451 and motion sensor 461),
the scent emitter device 111 would combine signals and
signal-derived conclusions from the different sensors to provide a
more reliable overall detection of occupancy.
[0061] Scent emitter 111 can incorporate sound sensor 451 (e.g., a
microphone) and voice recognition software in control
microprocessor 401 to allow it to respond to voice requests.
Limited-vocabulary voice recognition software is widely available
commercially, and is used in applications such as interactive toys
and hands-free telephones.
[0062] Scent emitter 111 can measure and/or calculate a variety of
characteristics about its operation including air freshening
composition consumption, refill life remaining, power consumption,
malodor events, total operating hours. Such status information can
be accumulated by control microprocessor 401 and reported back to
configurator 141 or other destination through director 123 or
gateway 161. Such status information can also be communicated
directly to a director 123. Such reporting is to allow such
information to be tracked and predicted. For example, air
freshening composition refills can be ordered/delivered (even
automatically)--before the refill is empty.
[0063] In combination with location identification and awareness, a
set of scent emitters 111 can cooperate to provide a balanced
adjustment of scent intensities and/or malodor control in response
to a request directed at a single scent emitter or sensor or
combination scent emitter/sensor. Similarly, autonomous control
behaviors may, through communication among scent emitters, provide
a pre-programmed experience.
[0064] Parameters governing behavior response may be selected from
a set of template behaviors, or may be explicitly programmed,
through the interface provided by configurator 141 and director
123. For example, in an occupancy response behavior, parameters
could govern the length of time required without an indication of
occupancy after which a scent emitter 111 would conclude that there
are no humans present. Similarly, parameters could govern the
amount and/or type of signal required from motion detection sensor
461 used for occupancy detection that should considered as a
positive indication of occupancy.
Communication
[0065] Every controlled appliance 101 (e.g., scent emitter 111,
controlled power source 102; that is, any element that incorporates
controller 301), as well as every director 123, gateway 161, and
combined configurator/director 151 incorporates at least one
communication interface 501. Typically, communication interface 501
is bi-directional and can both send and receive messages (not
necessarily simultaneously); however, in some cases (e.g., fixed
function director 122), only a one-way interface is required.
[0066] Controllers 301 and directors 123 communicate with each
other to receive and acknowledge requests, to deliver reports, and
to forward requests throughout a constellation of controlled
appliances 101. Controllers 301 communicate with each other to
forward and deliver messages of all types and to ensure, through
use of acknowledgments, that messages are delivered to all
controllers that are intended to receive them.
[0067] Communication can be viewed as three logical layers: the
physical layer used to transmit bits from one component to another;
the network layer used to manage communication among the
components; and the application layer, used to coordinate the
activities of multiple components. The physical layer is
implemented in part by communication interface 501, which is a
hardware component that sends and receives data. Software running
in control microprocessor 401 may implement part of the physical
communication layer as well, performing modulation and demodulation
to transform between raw electromagnetic signals used by
communication interface 501 and digital data comprising messages.
Common physical communication techniques are infrared and
ultrasound, although radio, hardwired, power line modulation,
and/or other techniques can also be used if appropriate. The
network layer provides for transport of data between senders and
recipients, and also may provide either a direct or emulated
multicast capability. In the SECN architecture, the data transfers
are almost always short, so communication can be optimized for such
traffic. Lastly, the application layer manages message exchanges
between software modules 801 running in different controllers 301,
enabling them to coordinate their activities and providing a
reliable transmission service to store and forward messages.
[0068] Gateway 161 elements can be used to integrate the SECN
communication mechanisms with other networks, allowing information
(such as requests and reports) to be delivered over the Internet
and/or private networks. Conventional network security mechanisms
(e.g., authentication, encryption, firewalls) can be used to
protect an SECN network from unauthorized use or access. An SECN
network can also be used as transport for information from other
networks, e.g., by mechanisms such as IP tunneling. Integration
with the Internet and private IP networks allows SECN elements to
be controlled and interrogated from arbitrary locations,
facilitating remote control and building management.
Controller Software
[0069] Software running in control microprocessor 401 is
responsible for implementing all the control, communication,
monitoring, and behavior functions performed by controller 301.
Because cost is typically an important consideration for the
implementation technology of controller 301, the software is
typically optimized to minimize resource requirements and runtime
cost. Activities typically occur within control microprocessor 401
on plural distinct timescales. In the example embodiment of scent
emitter 111, those timescales include high-rate, medium-rate, and
low-rate activities. Mid-rate activities are timer-driven and
typically occur at a "housekeeping interval" at about 480 times per
second. They activities include management of the high-resolution
software clock, adjusting power control parameters, scheduling
high-rate activities, and monitoring sensor inputs. High-rate
activities are both event-driven and timer-driven, and can occur at
rates up to 25,000 times/second. High-rate activities include LED
power control setting, IR transmitter bit generation, and IR
receiver bit recognition. Low-rate activities occur at much lower
time scales than the housekeeping interval: typically seconds or
minutes. These include various types of status monitoring and
communication.
[0070] In the example embodiment of scent emitter 111, control
microprocessor 401 in controlled 301 would typically run control
software 402 consisting of the following elements, as shown in FIG.
6: Operating system supervisor 811; Housekeeping interrupt handler
821; Power control interrupt handler 822; Communication receive
interrupt handler 823; Communication transmit interrupt handler
824; Communication message layer 831; Communication network layer
832; Module manager 841; Security library 842; Plural behavior
modules 801; Plural external parameter blocks 802; and Plural
internal data blocks 803.
[0071] Operating system supervisor 811 is a tiny real-time
operating system kernel that supplies services for task
dispatching, inter-task communication, and memory management.
[0072] Housekeeping interrupt handler 821 is a timer-driven
interrupt-handling module that performs the mid-rate housekeeping
tasks. It keeps track of real time and ensures that high-rate and
low-rate activities are scheduled appropriately.
[0073] Communication receive interrupt handler 823 processes
interrupts from communication interface 751, which typically
indicate receipt of one or more bits of a network message, and
which are deposited into a message input buffer, but may also be
noise that can be recognized and rejected by communication receive
interrupt handler 823. Communication receive interrupt handler 823
is typically invoked only in response to external events and is not
timer-driven.
[0074] Communication transmit interrupt handler 824 is a
timer-driven module that controls the output (transmit) aspect of
communication interface.
[0075] Communication message layer 831 is responsible for
formatting and addressing network messages, managing input and
output buffers. It sets up the parameters and buffers that drive
communication interrupt handlers 823 and 824, and performs other
typical tasks associated with the Open Systems Interconnection
(OSI) layered network model.
[0076] Communication network layer 832 is responsible for managing
application communication in the overall network of controllers
301, ensuring that messages are delivered to required recipients,
processing acknowledgments, and performing other typical
communication tasks associated with the Network and Session layers
of the OSI network model, managing input and output buffers. It
sets up the parameters and buffers that drive communication
interrupt handlers 823 and 824.
[0077] Module manager 841 loads and unloads behavior modules 801
and associated data blocks 802 and 803. It is responsible for
validating modules, managing memory, maintaining associations
between modules and data blocks, associating modules with network
message types delivered by network layer 832, managing dependencies
among modules, assembling modules from fragments during module
download and delivery, and other tasks associated with behavior
modules 801. Module manager 841 is also responsible for managing
dynamic updates to other software components of control software
402, and for updating and accessing external parameter data blocks
802 and internal data blocks 803.
[0078] Security library 842 provides cryptographic functions for
authentication, encryption, decryption, key management, and other
purposes. Cryptographic functions can used by module manager 841 to
validate modules, by communication message layer 831 or network
layer 832 to protect network messages, and/or for any purpose
required in some behavior module(s) 801.
[0079] Behavior module(s) 801 are executable modules that can be
loaded in arbitrary combinations into control microprocessor 402.
They can implement above-described behaviors and/or arbitrary other
functions. A behavior module 801 typically has an associated
external parameter data block 802 that specifies parameters to
control the behavior, and may also have an associated internal data
block 803 that maintains, internally to control microprocessor 401,
non-volatile storage for information relevant to that behavior
module 801. Behavior modules 801 can have metadata that identifies
dependencies and allows for version management.
[0080] The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be
understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values
recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension
is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally
equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension
disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm."
[0081] Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced
or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise
limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it
is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed
herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other
reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such
invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of
a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of
the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning
or definition assigned to that term in this document shall
govern.
[0082] While particular embodiments of the present invention have
been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those
skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can
be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims
all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of
this invention.
* * * * *