Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02222838 2006-04-25
1
Device And Process For Delivering
Substances For Dispersal In The Air
The present invention relates to a device and a method of
supplying substances to be dispensed into air or air
mixtures. These substances to be dispensed are different
scents in particular. Such presentation of scents would
preferably be done for visual and/or acoustic stimuli and
other events. In addition to scents, with another
presentation, this could also be micro quantities of other
substance=s which must be in aerosol form. The substances may
also be in gaseous form. When "air" is mentioned below, it
may also refer to air mixtures.
The invention thus also relates in particular to a method and
a device for increasing the sensorial perception of visual
and/or acoustic presentations, especially for decentralized
media, e.g., in presenting television movies, video movies,
radio broadcasts or musical performances, etc., wherein
suitable scents are supplied to the viewers or listeners in
synchronization with the presentation of certain visual
and/or acoustic events (e. g., motion picture scenes).
Such a method and the respective equipment are described in
the present applicant's patent application PCT/EP92/02446,
here in particular in the description of Figures 16 and 17.
US-A-5273690 discloses an air freshener device which can be
used together with an air conditioning system, for example,
to improve the air in rooms. This air freshener device has a
carrier with multiple scents which are arranged in separate
cells or compartments in rows or columns. The carrier
comprises walls that can be ruptured for each cell or each
compartment and are designed so that scents released can be
CA 02222838 2006-02-15
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2
dispensed in an oncoming stream of air. The carrier can be
attached to a supporting structure with fastening elements
so that the scents released can be distributed in an entire
room by means of a steam of air.
One aspect of the present invention is to provide a device
and a method of supplying substances to be dispensed into
air, where the device has small, handy dimensions and
contains the substance to be dispensed in an easily
activated form. According to one aspect of the present
invention there is provided a device for supplying
substances to be dispensed into air or air mixtures with a
flat disk-shaped or plate-shaped base body that has multiple
separate channels running through it essentially parallel to
its top or bottom sides, with the channels serving to
accommodate the substances to be dispensed and containing an
inlet port and an outlet port, respectively, so a stream of
gas supplied to the inlet port can flow through, with the
inlet and outlet ports of at least one channel being sealed
in a gastight manner until the substance is dispensed or the
substance being placed under gastight seal in at least one
channel in a reservoir that releases the substance only at
the time when it is dispensed. In another aspect, there is
provided a device for supplying substances to be dispensed
in the form of a gas, characterized by at least one hollow
body which is provided with at least one air exchange port
and whose interior can be purged by a gas flow; at least one
reservoir arranged in the hollow body for the substance
which is to be dispensed into the environment and which is
enclosed by a carrier material so that the substance can be
released by destroying at least part of the carrier
material. In yet another aspect of the present invention
there is provided a method of releasing substances to be
CA 02222838 2006-02-15
2a
dispensed in the form of a gas, where the substances are
microencapsulated and embedded in a carrier material,
characterized in that the micro scent capsules embedded in
the carrier material are ruptured by the kinetic energy of a
gas. Preferred embodiments and aspects of the invention are
derived from the dependent patent claims as well as the
description and drawings.
According to this invention, a device for supplying
substances to be dispensed into air, especially scents with
a flat disk-shaped or plate-shaped base body having multiple
separate channels running essentially parallel to its top
and/or bottom sides to accommodate substances to be
dispensed into air, with each channel having one inlet port
and one outlet port, and wherein a stream of gas supplied to
the inlet port can flow through the channels, wherein the
inlet and outlet ports of at least one channel are sealed
gastight until the substance is released and/or the
substance is accommodated in a gastight manner in a
reservoir in at least one channel that does not release the
substance until the time for release of it.
In addition, the invention relates to a device for supplying
substances to be dispensed in air, especially scents
characterized by
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- at least one hollow body provided with at least one air
exchange port, where a stream of gas can flow through
the interior;
- at least one reservoir which is arranged in the hollow
body for the substance to be released to the ambient air
and is enclosed by a carrier material so that the
substance can be released by destruction of the carrier
material.
Destruction of the carrier material is understood to refer to
the fact that the integrity of the carrier material is
altered so that the substances to be dispensed are exposed.
This can be accomplished by tearing off a part of a laminate,
breaking a device and other methods of division.
According to another feature, the present invention relates
to a reservoir with scent capsules that is self-activated by
automatic detachment of a separation film on influx of air.
Another feature of the invention relates to a micro scent
reservoir that can be played in decentralized scent
dispensers, with the micro scent reservoirs optionally being
designed in the form of a disk.
The device according to this invention for supplying
substances to be dispensed into air has the advantages of
being very small, handy and easy to package and ship.
Additional advantages include the fact that the device can
accommodate multiple substances that do not evaporate and
cannot become mixed. The substances released can also be
activated easily and can be protected well in transport.
The present invention, among other things, provides methods
and a device where the various scent supplies (scent sets)
belonging to an individual motion picture are fabricated and
stored in a manner which ensures both storage of these scents
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10
(preferably 20-50 different scents per motion picture) in an
extremely small space (compact disk) as well as perfect
preservation and rapid, trouble-free shippability at low
manufacturing costs.
Another feature of the invention is that a hard material
reservoir consisting of easily separated halves is provided
for substances that can be dispensed into air, especially
scents.
According to another feature of the invention, a flat hard
material protection is claimed, that protects stored
substances such as scents that are to be dispensed into air
from external environmental influences, such as pressure,
impact, heat and damage.
25
Another feature concerns a flat scent reservoir with sealed
scents that can be played, where the seals are not removed
until immediately before playing.
In general terms, the invention presents a flat preservation
system for multiple scent sets, especially a flat or disk-
shaped hard material to protect pressure-sensitive and/or
light- or heat-sensitive scent sets.
Another feature is a flat, hard material transport reservoir
with protective tubes arranged in it to protect pressure-
sensitive aromas.
Another feature of the present invention relates to a disk-
shaped scent reservoir that is suitable for transport of
encapsulated scents in a manner that protects them from
pressure, temperature, moisture and light.
Furthermore, a method of releasing substances, especially
aromas, to be dispensed into air, where the substances are
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
microencapsulated and embedded in a carrier material which is
characterized in that the scent microcapsules embedded in the
carrier material can be broken open by the kinetic energy of
a gas.
5
The invention thus creates a micro scent reservoirs system
(scent disks) for automatic playing of event-based scent sets
in decentralized scent dispensers (scent players), thus
permitting a decentralized and yet synchronized scent
accompaniment with motion pictures, music and other events.
According to a preferred embodiment of the method according
to this invention for minimized storage and decentralized
synchronized presentation of scents with visual and/or
acoustic stimuli, the micro scent reservoirs equipped with
the required aromas are manufactured in the form of very flat
compact disks 1, such as those known for music CDs, for
example.
This very small and flat embodiment of the scent carrier has
the fundamental advantage that despite the relatively large
scent contact areas, it nevertheless takes up very little
space and thus permits mass distribution of the scent sets
belonging to a certain motion picture to a large public.
Thus it is possible with scent set carriers of this form and
type to glue them as inserts into a daily newspaper or
television schedule or a product such as a package of coffee,
etc. In this way, all the scents (scent sets) belonging with
a television movie can be available to all interested viewers
at the time of the broadcast without each individual
television viewer having to purchase a scent CD for a motion
picture he would like to see in the scented version.
By means of rapid, decentralized distribution of scent sets
formulated precisely for a given motion picture and perfectly
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
6
protected, and then added as an insert to a daily newspaper
or television schedule or a postal mailing in the form of a
flat scent compact disk, it is feasible for the scents (scent
sets) belonging to a television movie or other media event to
5 be in a perfectly preserved form at the time when they are
dispersed to all interested viewers, without each individual
television viewer having to go into a shop to purchase a new
appropriate scent set for a motion picture that viewer would
like to see in the scented version.
This permits for the first time rapid distribution, long-term
storage and finally decentralized, synchronized playing of
many different scent sets that fit precisely with a motion
picture for a mass public to be distributed in a
decentralized manner.
Here for the first time, a technique by which the carrier
substance (e.g., air) automatically opens the sealed and
preserved aroma out of the sealed state, gradually dissolves
it and entrains it.
Thus with this technique, the aromas remain hermetically
sealed off from air until the immediate time of presentation,
so that premature aging processes are reliably prevented
despite the fact that the substances are accommodated in an
extremely small space.
Another application of these disks could also be in medical
technology for administration of very small controlled doses
of medication.
In contrast with computer diskettes and music CDs, which are
flat binary information carriers, storage and distribution of
scents is linked to the physical form of the scents.
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
7
, ,
The different supplies of micro scents are preferably applied
to the inside of one of the two halves of such a disk in the
form of a certain type of scent tracks (scent track
arrangement).
Such scent track arrangements may also be stored in multiple
layers one above the other in such a disk, because the
individual layers are extremely thin and thus take up very
little space. The individual tracks of such a scent track
arrangement are partitioned off from one another by certain
patterns of separating cuts. These separating cuts can be
pressed as patterns into the respective half of the disk, or
finally, they may be in the form indentations and elevations
on the counterpart of the other half of the disk, where the
individual tracks giving off the scent are ultimately formed
by the manufacturing process, while the disk halves are
joined in a certain manner.
To prevent mixing of the individual scents and aromas from
the scent tracks during storage of the disk, these tracks are
preferably designed in such a way that small, individually
separated protective channels are formed in production of the
disk and demarcate the individual scent tracks from one
another.
3C
Within the separate scent channels, the scents are preferably
sealed once again in scent carrying slotted channels to
protect them from the action of oxidation processes in
addition to outside scents.
A third sealing of the scents can also be achieved by
encapsulation, by sealing the scents another time in very
small microcapsules inside the scent carrying slotted
channels, so that the microcapsules rupture simultaneously
with the opening of the slotted channels.
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
8
y
The diameter of the separating channels and the elevation due
to the second sealing of the scents are preferably designed
so that the total thickness of the scent CD is only on the
order of that of commercial music CDs and CD ROMs, or at
least it is so slightly greater that these scent CDs can
still be glued to a newspaper as an insert with no problem.
If a motion picture is to be played back over TV or a video
player, the signals assigned to a scent can be played through
the respective television transmitter or over the storage
medium together with the video and audio signals of the
motion picture, as already described in the present patent
applicant's patent PCT/EP92/02446 (Figures 16 and 17).
These signals act directly or indirectly on a playback
apparatus, the so-called scent player, into which the scent
disks described above are placed before starting the motion
picture.
If one of these scent tracks is activated by a scent signal,
a carrier medium, which may be air or a certain air mixture,
is driven by a small pump and pumped into the respective
scent channel on the scent disk through a micro filling
connection. Certain very thin scent carrying layers are then
activated within the scent channel by the pressure provided
by the carrier medium.
The signals for triggering the scents may also influence
additional features of a scented motion picture presentation,
such as the quantity of air flowing through a scent carrier,
the temperature of the scent-air mixture dispensed, the
length of the scent interval, optionally any intended mixing
of scents due to their simultaneous activation or overlaying
one scent over another.
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9
If, in a modification of the intended equipment, the intent
is to also present theater, music or motion picture
presentations accompanied by scents in public theaters, etc.,
the invention also makes it easy to minimize the cost of
renovating such buildings (as described in PCT/EP92/02446) by
omitting the scent line installations normally required for
this purpose. Instead of the central scent playing device and
the complete line system, a small playback apparatus is
mounted at any desired location. This is important in
particular when there are plans to accompany only certain
presentations with scents over a limited period of time, when
then would not justify the cost of a complete renovation of
the theater under some circumstances. This device can also
permit scents to accompany open air presentations.
With the creation of a novel multiple-scent reservoir system
that can be played back automatically and can easily be
distributed through mass media such as newspapers due to
extensive miniaturization, the invention also makes it
possible to use this system for any desired decentralized
application.
In addition to using this system for motion pictures, it is
thus also possible to use this system for other media, such
as advertising, or for automatic food and beverage
dispensers, computer games or on-line purchasing accompanied
by scents, music CDs, product information units (e. g.,
information computer at the point of sale) and any type of
presentation that can be enhanced by the addition of scents
either centrally or from decentralized sites.
Like the other decentralized applications already mentioned,
the recently available data helmets, VR helmets and equipment
for experiencing virtual reality, cyberspace adventures, etc.
also offer a possibility for using these rapidly dispersable
and optimally preserved micro scents.
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
This invention is further explained below with reference to
the figures, which show the following:
5 Figure l: a scent compact disk or a scent CD;
Figure 2a: a partial section through the scent compact
disk/scent CD from Figure 1 with slotted
channels in the unactivated state;
Figure 2b: a partial section through the scent compact
disk/scent CD from Figure 1 with slotted
channels in the activated state;
Figure 3: a cross section through various variations of
the scent CD from Figure l;
Figure 4a: a half cross section through the scent compact
disk/scent CD from Figure 1 in the unactivated
state;
Figure 4b: a half cross section through the scent compact
disk/scent CD from Figure l in the partially
activated state;
Figure 4c: a partial cross section through the scent
compact disk/scent CD from Figure 1 in the
fully activated state;
Figure 5: an exploded diagram of the scent CD from
Figure 1 with different function layers;
Figure 6: another embodiment of a scent compact disk
with playback demarcation and nation-specific
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
11
,
filter codes, and a partial diagram of a
playback device;
Figure 7: another embodiment of the scent CD;
Figure 7a: a variation of the embodiment according to
Figure 7;
Figure 8: a partial cross section through another
embodiment of a scent compact disk;
Figure 9: a lower disk frame of another embodiment of
the scent CD;
Figure 10: another embodiment of the scent CD with manual
preparation of the possibility of activation;
Figure 11: a longitudinal section through the embodiment
from Figure 10;
Figure 12a: another embodiment of the scent CD with
minimization for transport
Figure 12b: the embodiment of the scent CD from Figure 12a
in the unfolded and ready-to-play state;
Figure 13a: another embodiment of the scent CD with
transport minimization for in the transport
state;
Figure 13b: the embodiment of the scent CD from Figure 13a
in the activated state;
Figure 14: another one-piece embodiment of the scent CD
as a folding disk;
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
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~ ,
Figure 15: a schematic cross section through a playback
apparatus 24.
The embodiment of this invention illustrated in Figure 1 and
in Figures 2a through 5 shows a flat scent compact disk/scent
CD (1) in which a large number (i.e., preferably between 5
and 50) different scents are stored in an extremely small
space within a very small flat disk where they are also
preserved perfectly.
Such scent CDs serve fundamentally to permit playback in
small playback apparatuses (Figure 15) independently of large
machines, as already described in Figures 16 and 17 of
PCT/EP92/02446 (for a scent medium to be played back
vertically by the scent carrier, although this is not yet
practically feasible). The extremely flat scent CDs which are
proposed in the present invention and can be played in small
decentralized playback apparatuses make it possible here for
the first time to play back event-based (e. g., motion
picture) sets of many different scents in a synchronized
manner at any desired location, in perfect quality and at the
same time individually adapted to the personal perception of
the consumer or observer.
These multiple scent sets, each precisely adapted to a
certain event or motion picture, which can also be preserved
for long periods of time, also permit for the first time a
very rapid and inexpensive distribution, e.g., by mail, to a
mass public with a decentralized distribution due to their
small and preferably flat construction.
With such a scent compact disk/scent CD (1), each individual
scent of the various scents is first stored in a separate,
extremely flat slotted channel 3a, 3b, 3c, etc. (Figures 1,
2a and 4a), where each of these slotted channels is in turn
accommodated in another very flat protective tube 21a, 21b,
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
13
etc., which hermetically seal the different scents with
respect to each other in the slotted channels 3a, 3b, 3c,
etc. (Figure 2a). In the present embodiment, these tubes are
accommodated radially on the scent CD 1 (Figure 1).
The numerous protective tubes 21a, 21b, etc. which are
arranged around the scent carrying slotted channels 3a, b, c,
etc. are formed by an upper disk half 8, a lower disk half 9
and lateral channel separations 6 in the form of elongated
dividing webs 7 on both sides in the scent compact disk 1
(Figures 1 and 2a).
The protective tubes 21 thus form small, flat, radially
arranged tunnels in which the slotted channels 2 running
across the scent CD are also protected from external
environmental influences such as heat, pressure and damage
(Figure 2a). This protective function becomes especially
important due to the fact that the slotted channels 3 are
preferably designed so they are sensitive to pressure
(Figures 2a and 4a), which is explained in greater detail
below.
To optimally utilize the small amount of space available on
the scent CD, the slotted channels 3 in the present
embodiment preferably run in a conical form from the edge of
the disk, where the inlet 2 of each slotted channel 3 is
located, to an outlet panel 4 toward the inside.
The inlet 2 and outlet 25 of the slotted channels 3 may be
provided with seals 10 and 22 (Figure 4a) to additionally
preserve the scents, with these seals being opened as soon as
the disk is placed in a playback apparatus or not until it is
actually played back by the playback apparatus (Figure 4b).
In the preferred manner of storage of the scents within the
slotted channels 3, these seals may be eliminated under some
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
14
circumstances because long-lasting preservation is ensured by
the present embodiment of the disk, as explained in greater
detail below.
The scents are preferably applied to the insides of slotted
channels 3 in the form of microscopically small, so-called
micro scent capsules 19 (Figures 2a and 4a), with the scents
being completely enclosed by the microencapsulation, which
guarantees very good preservation in an extremely small space
due to the exclusion of oxygen. (Microencapsulation of
extremely small quantities of substances in liquid form and
in other forms is a method that has long been known in the
printing industry.)
In addition, there is additional preservation of the scents
due to the fact that the slotted channels 3 wherein the
encapsulated scents are stored are enclosed yet again by a
protective and sealing tube, protective sheathing 21.
Protective sheathing 21 also has the function of protecting
the micro scent capsules 19 in the slotted channels 3 from
the effects of mechanical pressure and other pressure as well
as light, heat, moisture and other influences, because the
micro scent capsules can be opened prematurely relatively
easily if a slotted channel 3 is compressed, for example.
This also plays an important role in transport of these scent
disks with the various resulting mechanical stresses, etc.,
because if the micro scent capsules 19 were opened
prematurely, the scent would also begin to be released, age
and oxidize prematurely, which could result in a considerable
impairment of the scent impression.
Each individual scent is thus sealed and preserved in three
ways in the present embodiment:
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
1) in the protective sheathing 21 (protection from
mechanical pressure, oxygen and mixing),
2) in the slotted channels 3 (protection from mixing and
oxidation),
5 3) in the micro scent capsules 19 (protection from
oxidation),
thus making it possible to achieve a very reliable
preservation and storage of many different scents (e.g., 40)
10 in an extremely small space (scent CD).
For scene-specific scent accompaniment of a TV motion picture
or other event, the scent CD is placed in an appropriate
playback apparatus, wherein the functioning of such a
15 playback apparatus is already substantially described in
patent application PCT/EP92/02446 by the present applicant.
The flow paths here are many times longer due to the fact
that, in contrast with said previous patent application, the
transport medium, e.g., air in the present embodiment, does
not flow by the shortest path - namely across the scent
carrier - but instead it flows longitudinally through the
slotted channels 3 arranged in the disk in a flat manner.
Thus, the surface of the individual scents is enlarged
significantly while the space required by the playback medium
is very small, thus permitting a more accurate presentation
of scents as well as permitting playback in various
intensities.
On the other hand, with the longer flow paths in the
extremely flat construction of the scent CD, the pressure
required for playback is much higher, which is why no
tangential blower is provided as the pump drive of such a
playback apparatus for scent compact disks, as described in
the previous application, but instead one of the known types
of pumps for air and gaseous media such as a normal aquarium
pump or diaphragm pump 66 is used (Figure 15). Apart from
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
16
further suitable pump types such as compressor pumps, also
very small, compressor-like or turbine-like pumps can be used
for this purpose.
In a presentation of these scents to accompany a motion
picture or music, a technique is implemented for the first
time whereby the carrier substance (e. g., air) automatically
opens the sealed and preserved scent out of the sealed state,
gradually releasing it from the hermetic seal in which it is
preserved, and then entraining the scent and transporting it
to the consumer.
The carrier medium here opens the scent bottle itself, so to
speak, and then automatically becomes enriched with the
scents belonging to a certain scene in the motion picture.
With this technique, the scents remain sealed off from air
until the immediate time of presentation, so that despite the
fact that they are accommodated in an extremely small space,
premature aging processes are reliably prevented.
For scene-specific development and release of scents desired
for a motion picture, first a scent CD 1 produced to fit
precisely with the events in that motion picture is placed in
a suitable playback apparatus.
Within the playback apparatus 24, a small inlet nozzle 23 is
automatically inserted into the slotted channel inlet 2 of
the scent to be played back first, while another outlet
nozzle 27 is inserted into the outlet 25 of the slotted
channel 3 which is placed on the inside of scent CD 1 (Figure
4b) .
As soon as the corresponding scent which is desired for a
certain scene is to be played back while a motion picture is
running, a corresponding signal which can be identified by
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17
the playback apparatus, e.g., by a suitable signal receiver
67 (Figure 15), is played or transmitted together with the
motion picture.
In this way, the proposed gaseous transport medium,
preferably air, is activated within the playback apparatus 24
by means of a pump (not shown) and pumped through inlet
nozzle 23 into the inlet 2 of the slotted channel 3a
belonging to the first desired scene scent A.
Due to the pressure which then builds up, first the walls at
inlet 2 of slotted channel 3a, preferably made of a scent
carrying film top side 11 and a scent carrying separating
film 12a (Figure 5) for the purpose of simple fabrication,
are pressed apart radially to the axis of flow (Figure 4b).
In order for the air stream to continue to the end of the
slotted channel 3 and not be able to escape at the sides,
preferably certain parts of the film sides 11 and 12 of the
slotted channel 3 are connected to each other and also in
part to the disk halves 8 and 9.
Thus, films 11 and 12 can each be connected on both sides to
a lateral film joint 30 next to each slotted channel 3, so
they are separated shortly after the scent carrying parts of
the films.
In a modified form of slotted channel 3k (Figure 3), these
lateral joints 30 also remain between films 11 and 12, and on
activation of this modified slotted channel 3k, there
preferably results a small, flat, scent carrying channel 33
which persists as a scent channel during playback operation,
without connections 30 being released (see the three right
channels in Figure 3).
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Such a lateral connection 30 next to slotted channels 3 may
come about as a glued joint, a hot glue joint, a grooved
seam, a folded seam or a punched joint, or due to the fact
that the dividing webs 7 of the bottom half 9 of the disk
come in contact with the top half 8 of the disk in such a way
that in this way the lateral connections 30 between films 11
and 12 are created (as in Figure 3, for example).
Likewise, on the top half 8 of the disk there may be upper
dividing webs 46 which work together with the bottom half 9
of the disk or its dividing webs 7 to establish the
separations for the individual scent channels.
In a slight modification of the slotted channel 3k shown in
Figure 3 (second protective tube 21 from the left), it may
also be provided with an additional material, optionally
slightly folded (Figure 8), so that slotted channel 3k is
completely in contact with the walls of the protective
channel 21 when air flows through, thus yielding a greater
flow-through volume (Figure 8) than in the design of a flat
channel 33 (as in the two right protective tubes 21 in Figure
3) .
In another modification of the slotted channel 3k shown in
Figure 3, it is made of one piece instead of two films 11 and
12, with the scents applied to the walls of this one-piece
flat channel during the manufacturing process. Thereafter,
however, the channel can likewise be folded flat, pressed or
bent and then accommodated in a protective tube 21.
Such flat channels can also be provided with seals 10 and 22
at the ends or with closing perforations, gluings, folds,
etc., which are opened when the carrier material first flows
through them.
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19
It is also possible here to set up such flat channels during
the manufacturing process in such a way that the walls of
these channels are under an internal tension, either
partially or completely or only at the ends. If air flows
into such channels and builds up a certain pressure there,
then the areas of these channels that are under a slight
pressure will rupture, thus completely allowing air and
scents, etc. to flow through.
To stabilize the air stream, preferably the scent carrying
top side 11 of the film is joined to the top half 8 of the
disk in Figures 4a-c, and at least the front end of the
bottom separating films 12 is joined to a connection 45 and
the rear end is linked by another connection 47 to the bottom
half 9 of the disk (Figure 4b).
The pressure that then builds up further at slotted channel
inlet 2 (Figure 4b) is propagated finally toward the interior
of the slotted channel 3a (Figure 4c), with the top side 11
of the film and the scent carrying separating film 12a being
separated from each other along their length as far as outlet
25, and with the separating film 12a being pressed into the
displacement cavity 13 (Figures 4a-c and 2b).
Inasmuch as the top side 11 of the film and the separating
film 12 are each connected to a connection 30 at the edge of
a slotted channel 3k (as in Figure 3), the separating film 12
becomes detached from the top side of the film only in the
middle area, then forming flat channel 33 (the three right
channels in Figure 3).
Then the micro scent capsules 19 that are connected to films
11 and 12 are torn apart and opened, thus releasing the
scents that had been sealed until then, so they are then
entrained by the additional air forced in (Figures 4c and
2b). If the films 11 and 12 of a slotted channel 3 have
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
become detached from one another and the scents previously
sealed in the micro scent capsules have been released from
their preserved form, the air stream 29 which is then
enriched with scents is next sent through protective tubes
5 21a-x and conveyed further through outlet 14 to the outlet
nozzle 27 (Figure 4c).
The air 29, which is then enriched with the scents belonging
with a certain scene, is conveyed further out of the playback
10 apparatus and to the viewer after leaving the slotted channel
3a of scent CD l, so that, for example, in a scene of a
motion picture where an orange is scene, the scent of an
orange can also be perceived (Figure 15).
15 Playback of the next scent belonging with another scene then
takes place by triggering and moving the scent CD 1 inside
the playback apparatus 24 by means of additional appropriate
signals in such a way that the proper scent can also be
played, with the two inlet and outlet nozzles 23 and 27 being
20 lifted briefly away from the scent CD and then inserted into
the slotted channel 3b and the protective tube 21b of the
next scent.
In a variation of the present embodiment, the flow of air
inside the scent CD can also take place in the opposite
direction, from the inside to the outside instead of from the
outside to the inside, with the inlet nozzle 23 being
reversed to function as the outlet nozzle 27 and vice versa.
The enriched air is then also directed from the respective
other scent outlet to the viewer accordingly.
To be able to actually accommodate all 30, 50 or more scents
required for a motion picture, a piece of music, etc., on a
single scent CD, it is also advantageous to keep the
respective area needed for a scent as small as possible
through certain design measures.
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
21
1
The area needed to be able to accommodate an encapsulated
scent on a scent CD on the whole can first of all be
influenced by how tightly the scent capsules are applied in
the scent carrying layers of the scent CD and how large the
individual capsules are.
In addition, the intensity of the scent mixture which is
selected as the basis of the encapsulation process may also
influence the required scent area.
Therefore, in order to be able to accommodate as many scents
as possible on a scent CD with the present scent CDs,
especially intense mixtures of the scents to be encapsulated
and at the same time as many scent capsules as possible are
preferably applied per unit of area so that only a small
amount of area is required per scent.
To maintain maximum scene accuracy and avoid any
superimposing of scents, the measures proposed for central
playback equipment in a previous patent application
PCT/EP92/02446 (Figures 16 and 17) (measures which function
here for the first time in contrast with all previous
proposals), i.e., extreme minimization of the amount of air
used, specification of the scent path and minimization of the
lines used, can also be used in the present playback
apparatus.
The scent quantities retrieved from the scent CD by the
playback apparatus are therefore on an extremely low level,
i.e., amounting preferably to one thousandth to one ten
thousandth of the volume capacity of an air conditioning
system and are also conveyed in a relatively bundled form to
the viewer, as also proposed in PCT/EP92/02446. The scents
can therefore be perceived only in a very small area around
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
22
the nose of the viewer, which makes it possible to work with
especially small quantities of scent.
In addition to the measures proposed previously, this also
makes it possible to accommodate the scents in a very small
space inside the scent CD.
In one embodiment of the playback apparatus with
decentralized control (not shown here) preferably only
between 0.0001 and 0.5 liter of scented air per second is
used. In another preferred embodiment of the decentralized
playback apparatus, between 0.003 and 0.3 liter per second is
used, and in an especially preferred embodiment of the
invention, between 0.01 and 0.2 liter per second is used.
20
This also makes it possible to design very accurately the
course of a scent presentation, because such small quantities
of scent are volatilized very rapidly, thus permitting an
accurate scene-specific presentation.
Due to the scent impressions that can be perceived
essentially only in the area of an individual viewer's nose,
it is likewise possible to make these small quantities of
scent adjustable individually for this viewer or for each
viewer otherwise.
This adjustability of the quantities of scent dispensed is
important in particular due to the fact that the sensitivity
of consumers' noses to odors often varies greatly.
With a preferred playback apparatus, the intensity of the
scent presentations can be adjusted accordingly, so that each
consumer can enjoy the intensity of the presentation he would
prefer. In addition, with more expensive embodiments of the
playback apparatus, it would also be possible to influence
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
23
individually the temperature, quantity and scent cycle
duration of the scents presented.
If a consumer enjoys motion picture presentations accompanied
by scents but has a specific aversion to certain scents, it
is also possible with the present playback apparatus to
classify these scents in classes, with the user being able to
more or less "vote against" any scent classes he does not
want. The control signals for these unwanted scents are then
simply ignored by the playback apparatus and these scents are
then skipped.
The corresponding individual set-up of a scent presentation
is explained further below in the description of Figure 6.
For the purpose of easy manufacturing, scent CD 1 is
preferably composed of four function layers during the
manufacturing process, namely of the top half 8 of the disk,
the scent carrying film top side 11, the scent carrying
separating film 12 and the bottom half 9 of the disk which is
usually provided with dividing webs 7 (Figure 5). During
manufacture, the individual function layers 8, 9, 11 and 12
are then pressed together and welded in part (e.g., by
ultrasonic welding), resulting in the individual function
features of the scent CD, as provided and described above,
due to the shape and properties of the individual layers
(Figures 1 and 5). Slotted channels 3 are preferably formed
by pressing and, in part, gluing layers 11 and 12 together,
with the segmentation of slotted channels 3a, 3b, etc., and
of separating films 12a, 12b, etc., formed by the contact of
dividing webs 7, which are preferably provided on the bottom
half 9 of the disk, with the top half 8 of the disk.
In order to achieve a tight connection between the bottom
half 9 of the disk or the dividing webs 7 on it and the top
half 8 of the disk to produce small, air-pressure-resistant
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
24
protective tubes 21a-x, the tips of the dividing webs 7 can
be joined to the top half 8 of the disk by various methods
(for example, with ultrasonic welded joints 39, as shown in
Figure 2a, or with plug or glued connections).
In this way, the different scent tracks of films 11 and 12
(Figure 5) applied to at least one of the films by a type of
printing method can also be segmented. Such a segmentation,
preferably air-pressure-resistant, is advantageous to this
extent because this prevents the air stream from flowing into
an adjacent channel during activation of one slotted channel
3, which could thus result in an unwanted mixed scent.
The joints of the dividing webs 7 and the other half of the
disk can also be formed through the scent carrying films 11
and 12, e.g., as plug connections or glued joints.
With a plug connection, the films are pinched at the edge,
whereas the films, which are made of plastic in an ultrasonic
welded joint 39, for example, are heated briefly in the area
of the contacting dividing webs 7 and are welded together in
the process. A glued joint with films made of cellulose, for
example, can be formed, e.g., by the adhesive penetrating
through capillaries or through small perforation holes
through the films to the other half of the disk, thus
segmenting the scent tracks.
In another modification of the process of manufacturing the
scent CDs, scent carrying separating films 12a-x are
initially also left as a cohesive film 12 after applying the
scents (Figure 5), where the individual scents here are also
applied or printed onto the total film 12 without dividing it
into individual separating films 12a, 12b, etc.
Individual scent lamellas are then preferably predesignated
by means of small cuts in the film surface (a type of
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
predetermined breaking points). In addition, scent carrying
top side 11 of the film is omitted here, and the separating
film 12 together with the various micro scent capsules 19 of
the individual scent tracks is glued to the top half 8 of the
5 disk.
When the bottom half 9 and top half 8 of the disk to which
the presegmented separating film 12 with all the required
scents has already been glued are joined or pressed together,
10 the dividing webs 7 of the bottom half of the disk thus come
in contact with the top half, so that the scent carrying
separating films 12 are divided into individual films 12a,
12b, etc. Finally, the scent carrying slotted channels 3a-3x
are formed between the separating films 12 and the top half 8
15 of the disk and are hermetically sealed from each other by
the dividing webs 7.
In additional embodiments (not shown) of the invention,
various combinations of the components of individual
20 embodiments of the scent CDs plus variations and
modifications of the manufacturing processes described here
for production of similarly functioning scent disks are also
conceivable.
25 The scents which are ultimately presented by the present
playback apparatus can also be modified in their form of
presentation to perfect the scent impression.
An important improvement in the scent impression can be
achieved in certain cases, e.g., if they are also warmed or
heated by a small heating element (not shown) before or at
the time of dispensation to the viewer, in order to present
the typical scent impression of hot coffee, for example, even
more accurately.
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
26
Such heating can preferably also be achieved by the fact that
the scents to be heated are diverted by a deflecting valve
into another channel leading to a suitable, preheated micro
heating element before reaching the viewer. Such a method is
advantageous in particular when the heating elements used in
the playback apparatus are too slow to be heated very rapidly
in a film showing and then be cooled again briefly with the
next scent.
Conversely, with the present playback apparatus (not shown),
it may also be possible to cool the scents flowing toward the
viewer in order to thereby imitate the scent impression,
e.g., of ice cream or a cool autumn breeze.
In a somewhat more complicated playback apparatus (not
shown), a further improvement in the scents retrieved from
the disk by the playback apparatus can also be achieved in
certain aromas and scents if they are enriched with some
moisture before being dispensed to the viewer.
Thus, for example, the scent impression of a rain-moistened
meadow can be perfected if the meadow scent, which is stored
in a relatively dry condition and is retrieved by normal air,
is subsequently passed through a moisturizer (not shown).
Accordingly, the retrieved medium itself, such as air, can
also be enriched with moisture before passing through the
disk.
Such a moisturizer may also be provided on the disk itself,
so that the carrier medium can be passed through a suitable
moisture micro chamber (not shown), e.g., through a type of
permeable moisturizing pad, before or after penetrating into
the diffusing channels.
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
27
Such moisturizing of the scented air may also be achieved on
the disk by means of microencapsulated moisture which is then
released by a method similar to that used with the release of
scents from microcapsules described above.
If a sharp, vertical alignment of the exiting air enriched
with scents is desired with the present playback apparatus,
the carrier medium, such as air, with a decentralized
playback apparatus can also be mixed with certain quantities
of helium (which is absolutely harmless for humans, because
divers and even asthmatics can breathe better in this way).
The helium can be accommodated in small cartridges resembling
C02 cartridges in syphon bottles inside the playback apparatus
(not shown) .
For example, it is also possible for the scents to be first
retrieved by a microcurrent of helium from the cartridge. As
described above, the area or space in which the scents are
accommodated in the disk is preferably minimized by various
measures, e.g., intensification of the scent output base, so
it is possible to use only very small quantities of helium
for the actual retrieval of the scent.
This mixture of extremely small quantities of helium and
intense scent is then mixed with a somewhat larger stream of
air to dilute it to the normal scent intensity and then
finally it is transported to the viewer.
This diluted stream of air can also be provided with moisture
in advance, as described above, or it may also be heated.
Cartridges that are used only for retrieving scents can also
be filled with substances other than helium.
In another embodiment of the scent compact disk l, which is
shown in the first channel on the left in Figure 3, no micro
scent capsules 19 are accommodated in the slotted channels 3,
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
28
but instead other scent carrying materials 26, which are also
arranged in an extremely flat manner, are accommodated there,
where in this case films 11 and 12 do not completely move
apart with an influx of air mass under pressure, but instead
they remain as a sleeve or modified flat channel 44 around
the respective material 26. The air then flows through the
permeable or semipermeable scent carrying material 26.
The protective tubes 21a, 21b, etc. which are around the
modified flat channels 44 and hermetically seal them from
each other (Figure 2a) are, however, preferably provided with
seals 10 and 22 at inlet 2 and outlet 25 in this case,
because the possibilities for preservation of these other
materials 26 would not extend as far as with micro scent
capsules. In this case, very thin and flat nonwovens can also
be used as the scent carrying materials 26.
These nonwovens are preferably attached to the edge of the
modified flat channels 44.
In a variation of this embodiment of a scent CD various forms
of micro storage for scents can also be combined within one
scent CD, as shown in Figure 3. Thus, the scents here can be
stored and preserved over scent carrying materials 26 in the
left channel and over micro scent capsules 19 in other
channels.
This embodiment is recommended in particular if one of the
few scents with which microencapsulation is difficult to
implement, such as the aroma of coffee, is to be used with
the movie that is to be accompanied. Thus, both encapsulated
scents and other scents in different forms of storage can be
stored in the optimum possible manner on such a scent CD.
Due to the great variability in composition of scents, very
different encapsulation methods are partly also necessary for
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
29
storage in some cases. Therefore, each scent is preferably
produced and applied with the optimum encapsulation method
for it for use in a scent CD.
If other methods that yield an optimum result for storage of
specific scents are considered, they are used on other scent
tracks accordingly, so that the optimum scent storage method
is used on each scent track.
Thus, for example, sensitive scents can be stored in the form
of a scent resin, scent gels or other combinations of scents
and carrier materials. If the corresponding forms of storage
are not combined with a method of encapsulation of the
scents, for better conservation, these scent tracks are
usually provided with seals 10 and 22 at the inlet and
outlet, e.g., as illustrated in Figure 4a.
To further reduce the differences in stability of scents
which are encapsulated and also stored with other methods,
other methods of preservation can also be used in addition to
the seals 10 and 22.
The scent carrying tracks of the scents on the disk that have
not been encapsulated are also filled with small quantities
of substances that prevent premature aging and oxidation.
Thus, for example, the modified flat channels 44 (Figure 3)
can be filled therewith or, if scent carrying nonwovens are
used, for example, and are applied directly to the wall of a
slotted channel 3 (for example, like the open tracks shown in
Figures 2a or 4a), then the slotted channels 3 themselves may
also be filled with them.
These are preferably gaseous substances which are retained
within the respective scent track after filling by means of
seals 10 and 22. Such oxidation inhibitors 62 may be, for
example, very small quantities of helium or carbon dioxide
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
which are placed in the corresponding scent tracks on the
disk. Other gaseous substances such as those also used in
preserving foods and beverages can also conceivably be used.
5 As another method, it is also possible to produce a more or
less strong vacuum in the disk after filling with scents,
before applying the seals 10 and 22. If the seals 10 and 22
are sealed, a vacuum remains in the sealed scent tracks, so
that no oxygen or other substances that would accelerate the
10 aging process can reach the sensitive scents which are not
encapsulated.
As soon as seals 10 and 22 are opened in playback, the vacuum
is finally eliminated, whereupon the presentation of the
15 corresponding scent can begin. If small quantities of
oxidation inhibitors are used instead, they are forced
automatically out of the scent track by the scent carrying
substances, such as air, in playing disk.
20 In another embodiment of such mixed disks (not shown here)
which have scent tracks with encapsulated scents as well as
scents that are not encapsulated, disks can be manufactured
where all scent tracks are stored in the form of the types of
unencapsulated storage described above.
25 Although such disks, despite the various preservation methods
described above, probably do not have the stability of disks
in which all the scents are encapsulated, they can be used
for short-term demand under some circumstances.
30 The additional preferred embodiment of a scent CD 5 shown in
Figure 6 completely avoids the sometimes complicated rotation
of the S-CD for playback of each following scent and the
associated lifting and re-engagement of the inlet and outlet
nozzles 23 and 27 into the inlet 2 and outlet 25 of the
corresponding new scent.
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
31
For this purpose, after insertion of the scent CD, which is
rectangular here, for example, into the playback apparatus,
an inlet nozzle panel 28 is inserted into the slotted channel
inlets 2 of the scents, where there is a separate inlet
nozzle 23 for each individual scent with its own control
valve 48. Seals 10 optionally provided at the inlets 2 of the
scent carrying slotted channels 3a, b, etc. are opened when
the scent CD is connected to the playback apparatus 24
through the inlet nozzles 23. For the intended exchange of
one scent with another, in this embodiment it is necessary
only to switch to the new line to the other inlet nozzle 23.
Such a method of controlling the scent disk should greatly
simplify the manufacture and functioning of the playback
apparatus because no there are almost no moving parts or
susceptible mechanical parts (Figure 15).
Here again, as described above, micro scent capsules 19 are
preferably used, and they automatically rupture due to the
separation of separating films 12, etc. when air 18 flows
into the respective slotted channel 3 and thus are
automatically released to the air stream.
The air 29 enriched with scents is advanced further by the
air coming after and flows to an aligning device 51 which
collects the various air streams of the individual activated
scent channels 21 and directs them to a focusing outlet
nozzle 54. Finally, in the operating mode, the focusing
outlet nozzle 54 has a connection to the playback apparatus,
from which the activated scents are finally transported to
the viewer and/or listener by means of another short piece of
line (Figure 6) .
The aligning device 51 that collects the air streams and the
focusing outlet nozzle 54 are preferably part of the scent
disk 5 itself. If deposits of different scents develop in
these scent lines with prolonged operation, which could
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
32
result in unwanted superimposition of scents from previous
presentations over a period of time, this has the advantage
that these scent lines are replaced each time a scent CD is
changed (Figure 6).
In a preferred modification of the embodiment described here,
the scent stream exiting from the focusing outlet nozzle 54
of the scent CD 5 is sent directly from the scent CD to the
viewer without an additional piece of line in the playback
apparatus (Figures 6 and 15).
Finally, it is thus possible for the scents presented by the
playback apparatus not to come in contact with the playback
apparatus in any way. This has the advantage that even with
very extensive use of such a playback apparatus for scent
CDs, deposits of scents cannot develop anywhere in the
apparatus over a period of time. This can be a user-friendly
simplification in the sense of maintenance-free handling
(Figure 15).
In this variant of the presentation arrangement, the scent CD
is preferably not stored flat inside the playback apparatus
but instead is arranged at an inclination, e.g., at an angle
of 30°, so that the scents in the scent CD can also flow out
to the viewer at a slightly inclined angle (Figure 15).
If, in other embodiments of the playback apparatus 24 (not
shown here), the scents nevertheless pass through a long
piece of lines and possibly devices within the playback
apparatus after leaving the scent CD 5, this could over a
period of time result in rather unpleasant odors of scents
deposited from previous presentations. In this case, a
special cleaning disk (not shown) is prepared for such a
playback apparatus, where a nonwoven or similar material with
a cleaning fluid is provided in the protective tubes 21
instead of scent carrying slotted channels and can then flow
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
33
through the corresponding contaminated lines of the playback
apparatus in operation and then can finally be collected.
Then when a scent in the scent CD is played in a presentation
(which is indicated schematically in Figure 6), only the
valve 48 of the corresponding slotted channel 3 is opened.
The tendency toward a back-up to possibly develop through the
aligning device 51 into other scent carrying protective
channels 21 or slotted channels 3 is largely suppressed by
the fact that the valves 48 for the other scents remain
closed, and thus no reverse air flow with possible mixing of
scents can take place.
Additional protection from such a back-up can be ensured by
the fact that small outlet valves 56 that allow air flow
essentially only in the direction of the aligning device 51
are provided at the end of the scent carrying protective
tubes 21 just before the point of transfer into the air
stream aligning device 51.
Since the scents already come in contact with oxygen and
other materials after the first playback, they already begin
to age after the first playback of the scents, which is still
perfect.
To prevent scents from being played back in a very aged and
possible less pleasant form (which would not give this new
medium a good reputation) at a second playback of this scent
disk, possibly at a much later time, the scent CDs of all the
embodiments described here are preferably designed so that
they can be played back only once or only to a limited
extent.
This limited playback capability can be achieved with the
embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, for example, by providing
inside the scent CD 5 a small marking tab 40 that is
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
34
accessible from the outside only through a small sampling
port 41 (Figure 6).
If the playback apparatus is then instructed to start
operation of the playback mode, first a pin 42 (Figure 6)
which is in the playback apparatus 24 and fits exactly
through the sampling port 41 is inserted into the scent CD 5.
If the sampling pin 42 detects that the marking tab 40 is
still present, the scent CD is then released for playback
operation.
After the start of playback operation, the sampling pin 42 is
finally inserted a certain distance further into the scent CD
5, whereupon the marking tab 40 is bent over or destroyed.
This ultimately documents the fact that the scent CD has
already been played once (Figures 6 and 15). If, however, the
sampling pin detects before the playback operation the fact
that the scent CD 5 has already been played once and that the
scents have already been affected negatively by a possibly
advanced aging process, then the playback operation is not
started.
The destruction of marking tab 40 need not take place after
the first scent is retrieved but instead may preferably be
initiated only after a later scent in the motion picture,
e.g., the next-to-last scent, to make it possible for a movie
that has been viewed incompletely to be watched to the end
later with the scent accompaniment.
If a scent CD is to be made so that it can be played back
more than once, the release of an additional playback may
also be linked to a playback twice or more previously. For
example, multiple marking tabs 40 may then be provided in
succession or side by side, and they may then be located by
suitably modified sampling pins.
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
Detection and control of the frequency of playback of a disk
may also be performed by electronic or other means instead of
by mechanical means. Thus, for example, it is feasible to
implement this information on a magnetic strip 50 (Figure 6)
5 on the disk which can be read by the playback apparatus 24 by
means of a corresponding magnetic strip reader 70 (Figure
15) .
Since an important aging factor with a scent disk is also due
10 to how much time has elapsed since it was played the first
time, the playback limit can also be defined in advance by a
certain period of time which is stored as information on the
disk and/or the playback apparatus (Figure 15).
15 Thus, for example, it is possible to have the playback
apparatus impart the time of playback to the disk on the
initial playback, e.g., in the form of a mechanical code 53
(Figure 6), such as a punched card, etc., or a magnetic strip
50 on the disk (Figure 6) or other equally suitable measures.
The playback time could be relayed by an internal clock or by
a signal transmitted together with the scent motion picture.
After this point in time, the disk can still be played for a
defined period of time, e.g., for a week. After this period
of time has elapsed, the apparatus will refuse to play the
disk again. This makes it possible to ensure that despite
multiple playing of a disk, the scents used in it are still
definitely in a satisfactory condition when the respective
motion picture is played.
The length of the possible playback interval may be the same
for all disks or it may be associated with the most sensitive
of the scents used in the disk.
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
36
Such a time limit to playback can also be linked to the
minimum stability of the scents used on the disk without any
prior playback. Thus, for example, a disk that was sold in
March 1997 and whose stored scents would be perfectly stable
until approximately December 1999 could be provided with a
suitable time code at the time of manufacture, e.g., a
mechanical, optical or magnetic time code.
Then if this disk remains unused for a very long period of
time and the user does not attempt to play it back until June
1999, when the scents might no longer play back with
satisfactory results, the playback apparatus will refuse to
play the disk accordingly.
In addition, as an alternative or additionally, it is also
possible for the playback apparatus to give the user the
information that the disk is already too old instead of just
refusing the service.
If it is possible some day to manufacture scent sensors in
sufficient quality at reasonable prices, it would also be
possible to install such a scent quality sensor directly in
the playback apparatus.
Quality assurance of the scents could also be established
here simply through quality control of such sensors instead
of through a time playback limit of the scent disks.
Since the individual perception of scents has a much greater
range of variation than with other sensory stimuli, it has
been made possible with the present embodiment in Figure 6
(in addition to the possibilities of individually influencing
the scents through the general scent intensity, temperature,
etc. on the playback apparatus as described above) to modify
a movie presentation accompanied by scent according to
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
37
additional particulars of the individual user's presentation
(Figure 15).
First, scents to which a certain number of users could have a
specific aversion are classified in scent classes. Then if a
user wants to exclude one or more of the scent classes
provided from a movie or music presentation, etc.,
accompanied by scents, he can do this by selecting not to
play these scent classes on the playback apparatus or by
means of filter codes 55, which may be set on the disk
itself. The unwanted scents are then ignored by the playback
apparatus and the respective scents are skipped.
If there are users who have a very low opinion of the scent
of a perfume, for example, they will set this first with a
suitable precode that can be selected on their playback
apparatus (e. g., "perf.not" etc.) or by preselectable grids
or filter codes 55 on the disk (Figure 6).
Then when a movie in which a perfume occasionally occurs
(,e.g., "Pretty Woman," F. Zeffirelli's "Romeo and Juliet"
from 1968 or "Gone with the Wind"), the presentation of a
perfume will be either omitted entirely or will be presented
only in a very attenuated form when the playback apparatus is
set accordingly.
For the second form of attenuated scents, a suitable
automatic scent attenuator is built into the apparatus and is
linked to the incoming signals of the scents that have been
rejected.
Such attenuation of scents may be accomplished, for example,
by reducing the air flow in the playback apparatus or by an
additional admixture of fresh air.
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
38
Finally, if another user with different preferences decides
to view a movie accompanied by scents, he will set a
different personal precode on the playback apparatus
accordingly, so that in addition to the above-mentioned
individual control of the general scent intensity, a scent
movie experience perfectly adapted to the individual user can
also be presented.
Precodes that are linked to other properties of the
presentation and may also be provided on the scent CD 5
itself are also conceivable.
Thus, for example, it is possible to set the scent CDs
themselves for certain characteristics, e.g., nation-specific
preferences in scent perception. For example, it is known
that the scent of jasmine is much less beloved by Europeans
than Asians, and conversely the aroma of pizza is much more
appreciated in Europe than it is in Japan, for example.
With a suitable (e.g., nation-specific) precode 53 (Figure 5)
which can be set on the scent CD 5 itself (e.g., by means of
a mechanical precode 53 or by a magnetic strip 50, Figure 6),
it is possible, for example, to first produce an
internationally standardized CD and then adapt it to specific
requirements (e.g., of the distribution region) without any
change in production.
A suitable (e. g., nation-specific) specification of the scent
presentation can also be accomplished through the signals
which are also transmitted with the movie. Thus, for example,
transmitter signals originally associated with a scent that
is not especially appreciated in a certain country can be
either suppressed or attenuated for that country in a
suitable signal modification in the transmitter.
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
39
In addition, means may also be provided for setting the
intensity of an entire scent presentation or other general
properties of a presentation (e.g., thermal values or
interval profiles) with suitable precodes on the scent disk
itself, as proposed above as a setting option for the
playback apparatus.
Finally, it is possible by combining the various setting
options and precodes to create an individual user profile for
each individual user which is then stored on the playback
apparatus and can then be retrieved by the user.
Then by operating a single pushbutton, etc., it is possible
to retrieve and preset, for example, five different user-
oriented precodes, a preferred intensity control, a heat
profile, an interval profile and a quantity profile at the
same time.
Such a user profile can also be based on additional
conditions, e.g., the user's current moods or other
characteristics, the seasons of the year, etc.
Certain scents are known, for example, to be able to have a
positive influence on moods and thus the presentation of one
and the same movie could turn out differently for a user who
is depressed than one who is elated, for example.
On the whole, this yields at least four types of modification
of a movie, music or other presentation accompanied by
scents: in general by modification of the transmitter signals
or on the disk and individually by settings on the playback
apparatus or on the disk.
In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 7,
the very thin function layers are accommodated in a double
scent CD arrangement, if more scents are needed, e.g., for
playback of an especially long movie, than can be
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
accommodated on a single disk. In this case, the bottom half
9 of the disk of the top scent CD simultaneously serves as
the top half 8 of the bottom disk of the scent CD.
5 In an especially space-saving modification of this embodiment
according to Figure 7a, no intermediate layers are provided
between the two scent layers, but instead the individual
scent carrying layers are arranged so that the volumes of the
next layer come to lie in the gaps of the preceding layer.
15
Instead of the two scent carrying layers, it is also possible
to use a middle scent carrying layer which is printed with
scent strips on both sides, with separating films 12 applied
to both scent carrying sides of the middle layer.
The total area needed to accommodate a scent on the scent CD
can also be influenced by the intensity of the scent mixture
selected as the basis of the encapsulation process.
I f especially intense mixtures that can be accommodated in a
very small space are used, it is also possible with another
modification of the embodiment according to Figure 7 to
accommodate the scent carrying slotted channels 3s, which are
very narrow in this case, on edge within protective tubes 21s
which are likewise very narrow.
30
The narrow protective tubes 21s here are arranged on edge
side by side in the scent CD, which is still very flat,
approximately as illustrated in the right portion of the
scent CD in Figure 7.
With the embodiment illustrated in Figure 8 and possibly
other embodiments of the invention (not shown), the scent
carrying films and separating films 12 are likewise designed
through additional forms and arrangements so that the scents
encapsulated between them automatically rupture when air
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
41
flows through, thus releasing the previously enclosed and
preserved scent.
Thus, for example, it is possible to provide the two films 11
and 12, which are glued together along with the scent during
the manufacturing process, with various folds and turns
(Figure 8) which are ultimately unfolded and unwounded by the
air flowing through, where the scent carrying film 11 and the
separating film 12 are also separated from one another and
automatically release their scent.
Small scent strips or fibers may also be combined or glued
together in a spiral during the manufacturing process in such
a way that these small scent carrying spirals unwind and
release the scent in presentation of the scent by the carrier
medium such as air flowing into the protective tubes 21. In
many cases, these may also be scents not enclosed in scent
capsules.
With another preferred embodiment of the scent CD shown in
Figure 9, rotation of the S-CD is also avoided for the
playback of a respective following new scent. The individual
scent tracks 31 are simply arranged side by side here and are
played later during playback through separate inlet nozzles.
If it is necessary to apply another scent, although
attenuated, of a scent already present, or a scent already
used with another scent CD, to a scent track 31 during the
manufacturing process, it is possible here to provide only a
short length of the scent track with scent tracings,
resulting in a modified scent track 32. This avoids having to
mix this scent again anew, which can reduce costs during the
manufacturing process.
To avoid new mixing work and to reduce the quantity of scents
that must be stocked up by the manufacturer of the disks on
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
42
the whole, it is likewise possible here in the manufacture of
a scent CD for a new movie to apply multiple different scents
at the same time on a further modified multiple-scent track
36, to produce a newly composed mixed scent from this, if
this new mixed scent corresponds to movie director's ideas.
Thus, for example, it is possible to apply a floral scent in
the first part 37a of the new multiple-scent track 36 from
existing fresh scent ingredients of previously manufactured
scent CDs, and to apply a meadow scent in the second part
37b, so that then the impression of the scent of a meadow of
flowers is formed from the interaction of the two scents.
With another modified scent track 34 in this embodiment, the
scents are applied in such a way that they develop only
partially at normal atmospheric pressure. The remaining
portions of the scent carrying separating films 12 do not
separate until the air pressure increases (e.g., as shown in
Figures 2b and 4b). Something like that can also be achieved
by angling the films in various ways.
In another modification (shown in Figures 10 and 11) of the
scent compact disk 1 from Figure 9, the micro scent capsules
19 applied in the slotted channels 3 are activated manually
rather than being automatically activated by the detachment
of the separating films 12 caused by the penetration of air.
The separating films here are connected to each other in a
handle-like outside part, the so-called activator 61, in the
area of the inlet ports 2.
If a user intends to view a scent-accompanied presentation of
a motion picture, he will pull on the activator 61 of the
separating films (Figure 11), with them all being pulled away
together from the other scent carrying film, which thus
activates them. Next, this activated disk is inserted into
the playback apparatus (Figure 15), whereupon the scents that
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
43
are activated at the same time do not become mixed or escape
to the outside due to the fact that they remain accommodated
in the protective tubes.
With this modification of the disk, it is possible to greatly
reduce the required air pressure of the playback apparatus
because now the air pressure need not be so high that the
separating films 12 are automatically detached from the top
side 11 of the film, and the scents also remain activated in
the scent capsules 19 until shortly before use.
With another modification (not shown) of this embodiment,
novel scent carrying applications, so-called scent carrying
touch coatings 58 are used on the scent carrying top side 11
of the film, for example. The scent carrying touch coatings
58 are not activated by separating the two films 11 and 12
from each other but instead are activated merely by touching
the surface of the touch coatings 58 or by touching an object
to it.
In this case the touch coatings 58 are preferably applied to
one side within the disk, e.g., directly to one or both
halves 8 or 9 of the disk, or to one of the scent carrying
films 11 or 12. Then an activator 61 is installed in front of
the scent carrying parts 11/i2/8/9 and is removed manually or
automatically before playback by the playback apparatus. The
scent carrying parts 11/12/8/9 and the activator 61 together
form the scent matrix 60.
By removing the activator 61, the touch coatings 58 in the
scent matrix 60 are touched in such a way that the scents in
the coating are activated. Immediately thereafter, the
activated scents in the scent CD are then retrieved by
certain signals and presented by a method essentially similar
to that in the embodiments described above.
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
44
With other variations of the invention, scent carrying
coatings are provided with microencapsulated scents that can
be activated by vacuum, light, heat or other triggering
means.
Before the scents of such a disk can be played back, the
inherent scents are first activated by an appropriate
triggering means and prepared for the playback operation.
Thus, for example, light-sensitive scents or light-sensitive
seals can be activated by guiding a light source such as a
laser beam into the scent tracks before playback.
If such scent tracks are also sealed by inlet and outlet
seals 10 and 22, these seals are removed or rendered
ineffective before the triggering means such as the laser
beam penetrates through them.
With another variation of this embodiment, the disks are
shaped in the form of round flat storage media, as
illustrated in Figure 1. In this case, the two halves 8 and 9
of the disk are essentially only partially joined together.
The connection of the disk halves is preferably such that the
disk halves are not separated from each other but can be
rotated against each other about the center axis.
If such a disk is to be activated, the top and bottom halves
8 and 9 of the disk are rotated against each other about the
axis for a short distance, whereupon the scent carrying touch
coatings 58 inside are activated by the touch of an internal
or external triggering means and the disk is thus ready for
playback.
In another embodiment of the invention (illustrated in
Figures 12a and b), for transport, shipping and storage, the
scent CD is manufactured to be even flatter than in the
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
previous embodiments by entirely eliminating the possibility
of through-flow of air, etc. The displacement cavity 13 shown
in Figures 2a, b and 4a, b or other cavities that allow air
flow past the inherent scents are thus not present to any an
5 extent during transport (Figure 12a) in this embodiment, so
that such a scent CD also approximates more closely the
diameter of a music CD or CD-ROM.
If this embodiment of the scent CD is to be played, it is
10 first enlarged by the user before the actual playback or is
automatically enlarged by the playback apparatus to a
slightly larger volume than its transport volume.
This increase in volume can be accomplished, for example, by
15 providing the top and bottom halves 8 and 9 of the disk with
a small catch 35 on the side, so that the user can insert a
coin, for example, into this side catch 35 and turn it, so
that the scent CD halves 8 and 9 move a small distance away
from each other. Due to a small spacer 38, this distance
20 between the halves of the CD is maintained during the
playback operation, but the scent CD can also be opened
automatically by the playback apparatus.
Only after this opening process is the required space for air
25 or other media to pass over the scents stored on the slotted
channels 3 of the scent CD or on other inherent scent contact
surfaces (Figure 12b).
To ensure that airtight tubes are still formed with the
30 definite alignment of the air stream around the slotted
channels 3 or other scent carrying surfaces, the previous
dividing webs are replaced in this embodiment by modified
flexible dividing webs 17 which become aligned without
rupturing during the volume-increasing step.
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
46
The ends of the flexible dividing webs 17 can be connected to
the disk halves 8 and 9, e.g., by plastic hinges 64.
In another modification (shown in Figures 13a and 13b) of the
embodiment according to Figures 12a and 12b, micro scent
capsules 19 in the disks are activated simultaneously with
the process of opening the top and bottom disk halves 8 and
9, as described with regard to Figures 12a and b, by
separating the scent carrying films 8 and 9 from each other,
at least in the middle area, by the operation of opening the
disk.
The oncoming air or other medium need no longer apply the
force to separate the scent carrying films 8 ~ and 9 from each
other, but instead it can flow unhindered past the scent
capsules 19, which have already ruptured.
In this case, the micro scent capsules 19 can also preferably
be applied in such a way that there is no slotted channel 3,
or not a complete slotted channel, or scent carrying films 11
and/or 12 in the protective tube 21 (Figure 13a).
Finally, the micro scent capsules 19 are applied or glued
directly to the top half 8 and/or the bottom half 9 of the
disk, with disk halves 8 and 9 ultimately being connected by
flexible dividing webs 17 and folded up so that the scent
capsules 19 mostly come to lie directly between disk halves 8
and 9 (Figure 13a).
When disk halves 8 and 9 are opened, the flexible dividing
webs 17 lying flatly between them become aligned, with the
micro scent capsules 19 glued between them being ruptured,
forming ruptured capsules 20, while on the other hand the
volume required for the flow of air, etc., in the disk is
created with the volume increase achieved simultaneously by
opening the disk (Figure 13b).
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
47
With another variation of this embodiment of a disk (not
shown), a displacement cavity 13 or other cavities that
permit air flow past the scents inside are not yet present as
an extent in the transport state or the sealed state. At the
same time, this disk variation does not have
microencapsulated scents, but instead in this case the scents
are applied to the disk by other methods described above to
permit a rapid and very short-term production of disks for a
certain event by omitting the time-consuming encapsulation
procedure.
The greatly inferior preservation options for such disks with
unencapsulated scents are partially compensated in this
variation of a scent disk by the fact that the cavity 13,
which is not yet present in the sealed state, is placed over
the scent tracks so closely that this yields a preservation
effect (similar to that in the embodiments in Figures 12a and
b or 13a/b). By largely excluding any type of cavity above
the scent tracks, this yields a type of sealing of the
scents, so that penetration of oxygen and other substances
that would accelerate the aging process is prevented.
If these disks which are intended for short-term use are
opened just before playback, the cavities 13 that are
necessary to allow sufficient air flow are also formed
(approximately as in the modification of the previous
embodiment of Figure 13a according to Figure 13b).
In another modification (not shown) of the embodiment, little
or no internal volume is provided for the flow of air, etc.
However, first at least the slotted channels 3 are designed
to be entirely or partially elastic, so that first the walls
of the slotted channel are expanded in activating of a scent
carrying slotted channel 3 to the extent that volume is
provided around the channel, in which case the air pumped up
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
48
to it can flow past scent carrying materials 26, micro scent
capsules 19 or other scent reservoirs provided in the disk.
The pressure resulting here in an activated slotted channel 3
is also transmitted to the protective layers (e. g.,
protective tubes 21) around the slotted channel, so the
latter are designed to yield~briefly during the activation
and thus permit air flow to the required extent. Such an
elastic slotted channel may also be used in other embodiments
described here.
Finally, with the embodiments described last, it is possible
to keep the scents, which require almost no volume, extremely
small for transport, whereas in their presentation, the cross
sections of air volumes flowing past the scent can be kept
large at the same time.
25
Another embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 14
concerns a variation of the embodiment according to Figure 6.
For reasons of simpler recycling of the disks that have been
played and also to simplify manufacturing, first a plastic
hinge 52 is inserted between the ends of the top half 8 and
the bottom half 9 of the disk (Figure 14).
In the manufacture of such a one-piece folding disk 49, the
disk halves 8 and 9 need no longer be joined together in an
accurate fit, but instead they are already joined and secured
to each other by the plastic hinge 52.
The scent carrying films 11 and 12 need only be inserted
between disk halves 8 and 9 of folding disk 49 after they
have been manufactured and joined, whereupon the disk halves
are folded together, securing the scent carrying film layers
11 and 12 inside.
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
49
To avoid welding the disk halves 8 and 9 at the upper end of
folding disk 49, which welding might be difficult to release,
one or more catch projections 57 are provided there to engage
when disk halves 8 and 9 are folded together and thus fixedly
secure the folding disk in the folded condition. Catch
projections 57 are preferably provided on folding disk 49 in
such a way that they cannot be opened by the user but instead
can be opened only with special equipment.
Since the outer seal of a folding disk 49 or its protective
tubes 21 is not as great as that with a scent CD that has
been welded together, the internal scent carrying films 11
and l2 here are preferably designed to be maintained as scent
carrying flat channel 33, in which case the air masses
flowing past them are carried only through the flat channel
and do not require any further sealing by protective tubes
21.
If the disk has finally been played and the internal scent
carrying layers 11 and 12 and channels 33 are to be separated
from the disk halves as part of recycling, folding disk 49 is
then opened by a special device, layers 11 and 12 or 33 or
the like are removed and the disk is fitted with new scent
carrying films. If, for the purpose of disposal, the
protective sheathing or disk halves 8 and 9 are to be
disposed of, they can also be recycled after separating the
scent carrying films. Accordingly, materials that fulfill the
function while also being biodegradable and/or recyclable can
be used for disk halves 8 and 9 or for folding disk 49.
In another variation of the embodiment of the invention
according to Figure 14, the connections between the top half
8 of the disk and the bottom half 9 are designed as permanent
glued joints, welded joints, etc., despite the folding form.
These connections are preferably designed so that they can
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
rupture to remove the scent carrying layers for the purpose
of disposal of a disk.
In another embodiment of the invention (not shown), the
5 individual scent carrying films are joined together in
succession rather than side by side, thus resulting on the
whole in a scent carrying tape on which are located all the
scents of an intended presentation. The scent carrying tape
likewise consists of a top film and a bottom film between
10 which the scents are stored, preferably in the form of
microcapsules.
The length of the scent carrying strips on this tape is
standardized, so that a new scent can be located precisely by
15 advancing the two-film tape by a defined length.
If playback of a scent is intended, the two-film tape will
advance, controlled by appropriate signals, exactly so far
that the strip with the intended scent comes to lie in front
20 of a protective channel.
The scent carrying films of the tape are separated here from
each other, so that they are now exposed in the area of the
protective channel and the scent capsules are opened.
The protective channel guides the scented air dispensed from
the opened microcapsules to an outlet. A protective channel
for the transport of multiple scents or for the scent being
played back at the time is provided here.
This modification of storage in the manner of a scent tape is
especially suitable if repeated playback of one and the same
scent or only a few different scents is provided.
In this form, it is thus preferably a method of preservation
for the presentation of a single scent or only a few scents
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
51
that are to be presented over a longer period of time, each
always in a satisfactory form.
With other modifications of this invention (not shown) the
scent CD is played, for example, in combination with a music
CD player or while a computer game is running.
Other applications are derived inasmuch as the scent CD is to
be played by an automatic food or beverage dispenser for
passing interested customers, either automatically or in
response to a pushbutton. It is possible in this case for the
scent CD not to contain different scents but instead 50
applications of the same scent, where the scent CD is used
here mainly instead of a large liquid scent container to
ensure that the scents presented will be kept fresh
optimally, which is not usually possible in the long run with
liquid scent supplies that are in constant contact with air
(see preceding paragraph).
Finally, such scent CDs, which make it possible for the first
time to automatically play back scents of perfect quality and
even sets of very different scents at any desired location to
accompany certain events and to adjust this individually as
needed to conform to the personal perceptions of the consumer
or viewer, can be used for a wide variety of different
applications.
This is true in particular if the use of scent impressions
previously had to be omitted with these applications because
scents could in general only be blown into a space, if at
all. Thus many consumers who do not particularly appreciate
said scent or to whom this scent impression would appear too
strong or too weak could be disturbed by this.
A decentralized multiple scent reservoir as proposed in the
present invention, which plays back scents in the desired
Yr
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
52
type and quality, can avoid this problem of measuring
everything by the same yardstick and permit a pleasant scent
experience for each consumer at the location and time and in
the manner and intensity personally desired by that consumer.
Various combinations of the embodiments or parts thereof
described here are combined in other embodiments of the
invention that are not discussed in greater detail here.
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
53
List of reference numbers
l.) Scent compact disk, scent CD
2.) Inlet port
3.) Slotted channel
3a.) Slotted channel, scent A
3b.) Slotted channel, scent B
3c.) Slotted channel, scent C
3d.) Slotted channel, scent D
3k.) Modified slotted channel
3s.) Narrow slotted channel
4.) Outlet panel
5.) Scent CD
6.) Channel separation
7.) Dividing webs
8.) Top half of disk
9.) Bottom half of disk
10.) Inlet seal
11.) Scent carrying top side of film
12.) Scent carrying separating films
12a.) Separating film, scent A
12b.) Separating film, scent B
12c.) Separating film, scent C
12d.) Separating film, scent D
13.) Displacement cavity
14.) Outlet
15.) Scent carrying part of film
16.) Scent-free part of film
17.) Flexible dividing webs
18.) Scent-free air
19.) Micro scent capsules
20.) Ruptured scent capsules
21.) Protective tube
21a.) Protective tube, scent A
21b.) Protective tube, scent B
21s.) Narrow protective tube
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
54
22.) Outlet seal
23.) Inlet nozzle
24.) Playback apparatus
25.) Slotted channel outlet
26.) Scent carrying materials
27.) Outlet nozzle
28.) Inlet nozzle panel
29.) Scent-enriched air
30.) Film connection
31.) Scent tracks
32.) Modified scent track
33.) Scent carrying flat channel
34.) Modified scent track
35.) Lateral catch
36.) Modified multiple-scent track
37a.) Partial scent track
37b.) Partial scent track
38.) Spacer
39.) Welded joint
40.) Marking tab
41.) Scanning port
42.) Scanning pin
43.) Plug or glued connection
44.) Modified flat channel
45.) Connection
46.) Top dividing webs
47.) Connection
48 . ) Valve
49.) Folding disk
50.) Magnetic strip
51.) Air flow aligning device
52.) Plastic hinge
53.) National code
54.) Focusing outlet nozzle
55.) Individual filter code
56.) Outlet valve
CA 02222838 1997-12-23
57.) Catch projections
58.) Scent carrying touch coating
59.) Activator film
60.) Scent matrix
5 61.) Activator
62.) Oxidation inhibitor
63.) Vacuum
64.) Plastic hinge
65.) Nonwoven
10 66.) Diaphragm pump
67.) Signal receiver
68.) Heat regulator
69.) Flow regulator
70.) Magnetic strip reader
