WO2015195548A1

WO2015195548A1 - Docking station systems, methods and articles to provide olfactory sensations

Info

Publication number: WO2015195548A1
Application number: PCT/US2015/035805
Authority: WO
Inventors: David A. Edwards; Rachel Diane FIELD
Original assignee: Vapor Communications, Inc.
Priority date: 2014-06-16
Filing date: 2015-06-15
Publication date: 2015-12-23

Abstract

A docking station allows removable docking of a plurality of scent dispensing devices, preferably portable or handheld scent dispensing devices. Each scent dispensing devices includes a scent cartridge containing scent media capable of emitting a plurality of discrete scents. The docking station determines which scents are available, and coordinates the operation of the scent dispensing devices to render a scent composition comprising various scents released or emitted in a pattern. Scents may be released sequentially, and/or concurrently.

Description

DOCKING STATION SYSTEMS, METHODS AND ARTICLES TO PROVIDE

OLFACTORY SENSATIONS

BACKGROUND Field

This disclosure generally relates to providing olfactory sensations to one or more users via a controlled system.

Description of the Related Art

All of our five senses act as messengers that deliver information to the brain, which then processes this information, causing us to respond in relatively predictable ways. Within the context of our sense of smell, all odors present themselves in specific chemical configurations, allowing humans to perceive a wide variety of distinct odors. Odor perception initiates in the nose, where the respective molecules are detected by a large family of olfactory receptors. Olfactory receptors have diverse protein sequences, and are assigned to subfamilies on the basis of sequence relationships. These observations formed the basis for research into the mechanisms underlying human odor perception, leading to the 2004 grant of the Nobel Prize in

Physiology and Medicine to Linda B. Buck and Richard Axel.

However, even given the significant importance of our sense of smell, relatively little has been done to develop the apparent physiological value of this sense or to more thoroughly incorporate it into how humans experience the world around them on a daily basis. Although some systems and devices have been proposed for attempting to provide olfactory sensations to users, such systems and devices have proven inadequate as mobile, personal, targeted and effective delivery systems that may be used to alter behavior. Some of these systems and devices are intended for personal use, while other systems and devices are intended to provide olfactory sensations simultaneously to groups of people, for example people located in a common area such as a movie theater.

New approaches that selectively automate, including more precisely control and remotely deliver, desired scents, as well as coordinate audio and/or visual stimuli with olfactory sensations in order to deliver a physiological response, for personal and/or group use are desirable.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Various systems, methods, and articles are described which provide a scent sensory experience to end users. In some implementations, the system may allow the discrete delivery of olfactory stimuli with audio and/or visual signals, enhancing the impact on human and animal behavior.

Advantageously, such systems may include a docking station to which one or more portable scent dispensing devices may be removably docked, allowing a larger variety of scents to be delivered, for example as part of a rendition of a scent composition.

Each of the portable scent dispensing devices may, for example, take the form of a personal device, which may include a dedicated power source {e.g., secondary battery), and which may have a form factor which allows the portable scent dispensing device to be carried {e.g., handheld) by a user. The portable scent dispensing devices may, for example, take a form similar or even identical to those illustrated and described in U.S. patent applications Serial Nos.: 14/213,608 filed March 14, 2014; 14/213,683 filed March 14, 2014; and 61/944,870 filed February 26, 2014.

The docking station may include a plurality of positions to allow docking of the portable scent dispensing devices. These positions may include structures, for instance apertures, to physically receive the portable scent dispensing devices, and removably secure the portable scent dispensing devices to the docking station. The docking station may include one or more physical connectors {e.g., USB, Apple Lightning, Apple 30 pin) which selectively provide communicative coupling with the portable scent dispensing devices. The docking station may optionally include one or more radios (e.g., WIFI, BLUETOOTH, radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogator or reader, and/or cellular transceiver) which selectively provide communicative coupling with the portable scent dispensing devices.

The communicative coupling allows the docking station to send control signals to control operation of the portable scent dispensing devices. The communicative coupling may also allow the docking station to provide electrical power to the portable scent dispensing devices, for instance 5V or 10V direct current (DC) electrical power. The communicative coupling may also allow the docking station further to interrogate the portable scent dispensing devices. The communicative coupling may additionally or alternatively allow the docking station to directly interrogate transponders carried by scent cartridges which scent cartridges hold scent media and are in turn held by the portable scent dispensing devices.

Interrogation allows circuitry in the docking station to assess scents which are available via the currently docked portable scent dispensing devices. The docking station may confirm whether sufficient scents are available to render a scent composition. The docking station may determine or otherwise generate control signals and provide the control signals to cause two or more of the currently docked portable scent dispensing devices to render a scent composition. This may include causing a first one of the currently docked portable scent dispensing devices to render a first scent and to cause a second one of the currently docked portable scent dispensing devices to render a second scent, the second scent different from the first scent. The docking station thus provides a larger pallet of scents from which to render a scent composition.

The docking station may cause the currently docked portable scent dispensing devices to render a scent composition to render a scent composition in synchronization with other media experiences, for instance audio (e.g., music), images (e.g., video), multimedia (e.g., audiovisual). The scent cartridges may each include a plurality of scent media, each of which emits a respective distinct scent, for example 4, 6, or 8 scents. The scent cartridges may include machine-readable information {e.g., RFID transponder, machine-readable symbols) which identifies, or which can be used to identify, the specific scents carried by the respective scent cartridge. The scent media is typically consumable, hence the scent cartridges are removably replaceable from the portable scent dispensing devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify similar elements or acts. The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of various elements and angles are not drawn to scale, and some of these elements are arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility. Further, the particular shapes of the elements as drawn, are not intended to convey any information regarding the actual shape of the particular elements, and have been solely selected for ease of recognition in the drawings.

Figure 1 is a top isometric view of a docking station for portable scent delivery devices, showing two portable scent delivery devices docked, and a third portable scent delivery device undocked to illustrate a rear thereof with a scent cartridge removed, according to one embodiment.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the docking station showing connectors, a control subsystem, user input/output elements, and radios, according to one illustrated embodiment.

Figure 3A is an exploded perspective view showing electronic and/or electrical components of a scent delivery device implemented as a smart phone case, according to one illustrated embodiment.

Figure 3B is a pictorial perspective view of the underside of the scent delivery device shown in Figure 3A. Figure 3C is a pictorial perspective view of a mobile electronic device received in a scent delivery device which is implemented as a resilient smart phone case.

Figure 4 is an isometric view showing a four scent cartridges, one of which is partially exploded, along with a spindle on which a scent cartridge is mountable, according to one illustrated embodiment.

Figure 5A an isometric partially exploded view of a portion of a scent delivery device with a number of scent cartridges, according to one illustrated embodiment.

Figure 5B an isometric partially exploded view of the portion of the scent delivery device of Figure 5A with the scent cartridges mounted.

Figure 5C an isometric view of the portion of the scent delivery device of Figure 5A with the scent cartridges mounted and cover open.

Figure 5D a partially broken isometric view of the portion of the scent delivery device of Figure 5A with the scent cartridges mounted and cover closed, and including arrows illustrating a flow of air and scent therethrough.

Figure 5E an isometric view of the portion of the scent delivery device of Figure 5A with the scent cartridges mounted and cover closed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosed embodiments. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures associated with microcontrollers, power supplies such as DC/DC converters, wireless radios (i.e., transmitters, receivers or transceivers), computing systems including client and server computing systems, and networks (e.g., cellular, packet switched), as well as other communications channels, have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the embodiments. Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the

specification and claims which follow, the word "comprise" and variations thereof, such as, "comprises" and "comprising" are to be construed in an open, inclusive sense, that is, as "including, but not limited to."

Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or

"an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. It should also be noted that the term "or" is generally employed in its sense including "and/or" unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

The headings and Abstract of the Disclosure provided herein are for convenience only and do not interpret the scope or meaning of the embodiments.

Figure 1 illustrates a docking station 100, along with a plurality of portable scent delivery devices 102a-102c (three shown, collectively 102), and a scent cartridge 104 removed from one of the portable scent delivery devices 102a for sake of illustration.

The docking station 100 includes a base 106. The base 106 has a plurality of docking positions 108a-108c (three shown, collectively 1 10) at which respective portable scent dispensing devices 102 are at least one of removably physically dockable or selectively communicatively dockable. For example, the base 106 may include a number or apertures or recesses 1 10 (only one called out for clarity of illustration) which are sized and dimension to at least partially to receive a portion of a respective one of the portable scent dispensing devices 102 therein. The apertures or recesses 1 10 may, for instance, be sized and dimensions to securely receive an outer bottom portion of a respective one of the portable scent dispensing devices 102 therein.

The base 106 may optionally include a respective connector 1 12 (only one visible in Figure 1 ) at each of the docking positions. The connectors 1 12 may be sized and dimensioned to mate with a complimentary connector 1 14 (only one visible in Figure 1 ) of a respective one of the portable scent dispensing devices 102. The respective connectors 1 12 may, for example each take the form of male connectors, and the respective complimentary connectors 1 14 may each take the form of female connectors accessible from an exterior of the respective portable scent dispensing devices. The connectors 1 12 may have a plurality of electrical contacts 1 16a (only one called out for sake of clarity of illustration), the connectors 1 12 sized and dimensioned to

communicatively mate with a respective set of electrical contacts 1 16b (only one called out for sake of clarity of illustration)of each of a complimentary connector 1 14 of a respective one of the portable scent dispensing devices 102.

An electrical power cord 120 may extend from the base 106, which allows the docking station 100 to receive electrical power {e.g., alternative current (AC) electrical power), for example for a standard or conventional wall receptacle.

The docking station 100 may include a number of user input/output (I/O) elements or mechanisms. For example, the docking station 100 may include a number of user operable switches, buttons or keys, selectively operable by a user to control operation of the docking station.

Switches, buttons or keys may include a power or ON/OFF switch, button or key 1 12a. Switches, buttons or keys may include a volume or sound decrease switch, button or key 122b and a volume or sound increase switch, button or key 122c. Switches, buttons or keys may include a stop switch, button or key 122d, a pause switch, button or key 122e, a rewind switch, button or key 122f and/or a fast forward switch, button or key 122g. Also for example, the docking station 100 may include one or more speakers 124a, 124b for providing audio. The docking station 100 may also include one or more visual indicators {e.g., LED) 126 to indicate when the docking station 100 is in an ON state or an OFF state. While not illustrated, the docking station 100 may include one or more display screens (e.g., LCD panel, touch panel). The display screen may be used to provide user output, user input, and/or to present visual media.

The docking station 100 may optional include one or more media card slots 126 to allow media cards 128 to be communicatively coupled. Media cards 128 may take any of a large variety of forms, including Flash, Secure Digital (SD), microSD, Smart Media, Memory Sticks, Multimedia, and other media cards.

As illustrated in Figure 1 , the portable scent dispensing devices 102 include vents or ports 130 for emitting scents. The portable scent dispensing devices 102 may otherwise resemble smartphones or personal digital assistants. The portable scent dispensing devices 102 may include display screens, for instance touch sensitive display panels 132 (two visible in Figure 1 ), speakers, microphones, cameras, and/or flash illumination sources.

Each of the portable scent dispensing devices 102 may have a scent cartridge receiver or receptacle 134 sized and dimensioned to removably receive a scent cartridge 104. The scent cartridges 104 each include two or more pieces of scent media 136 (only one called out for clarity of illustration), each piece of scent media 136 capable of releasing a respective distinct scent. The scent media 136 may, for example, take the form of a powder or a wax {e.g., paraffin wax substrate impregnated with at least one volatile scent material) bearing fragrance. The scent media 136 is typically consumable, so the scent cartridges 104 are replaceable in the portable scent dispensing devices 102. Various scent media 136 are discussed in U.S. patent

applications Serial Nos.: 14/213,608 filed March 14, 2014; 14/213,683 filed March 14, 2014; and 61/944,870 filed February 26, 2014.

The scent cartridges 104 carry identifying information media 138, which may be in the form of a radio frequency identification (RFID) or other wireless transponder, a machine-readable symbol (e.g., barcode symbol, matrix code symbol), magnetic strip, or touch memory. The identifying information media 138 stores or encodes identifying information which may specify the specific scents of the particular scent cartridge 104, the type of scent cartridge 104, and/or uniquely identify the specific scent cartridge 104 from all other scent cartridge. The identifying information should be sufficient to allow the docking station 100 to identify the scents available from any particular portable scent dispensing device 102 which is currently docked to the docking station 100 and which contains a scent cartridge 104.

The machine-readable information identifies or allows identification of each of the respective scents of the scent media cartridge. Such information can include a scent cartridge type identifier that identifies scent cartridges 104, the respective scent cartridge type {e.g., manufacturer and/or model). All scent cartridges 104 that release a same combination of scents would be identified with a common scent cartridge type identifier. For example, a vendor may mass produce scent cartridges 104 to advertise a new line of coffee flavors, wherein the scent cartridges 104 for the new line all bear the same information {e.g., in machine-readable symbol or RFID tags). Such information can differentiate a current type of scent cartridges 104 from those issued during a previous advertising campaign. Such information can differentiate scent cartridges 104 bearing coffee related scents from those bearing chocolate or wine related scents. Such information can differentiate scent cartridges 104 bearing a first combination of perfume related scents from those bearing a second combination of perfume related scents, the second combination different from the first combination. Additionally or alternatively, the machine-readable information can specify individual scents for each of the temperature activated scent media 136 contained in the scent cartridge 104. Or, the machine-readable information can uniquely identify a particular scent cartridge 104 from all other scent cartridges 104, including those of its same type. Various forms of media that store or encode identifying

information are discussed in U.S. patent applications Serial Nos.: 14/213,608 filed March 14, 2014; 14/213,683 filed March 14, 2014; and 61/944,870 filed February 26, 2014.

Figure 2 shows the docking station 100, according to one illustrated embodiment. The docking station 100 illustrated in Figure 2 may be identical or similar to that illustrated in Figure 1 . Identical or similar structures share the same reference numbers, and discussion of many components will not be repeated in the interest of conciseness.

The docking station 100 includes a control subsystem 200, a user input/output subsystem 202, and a power subsystem 204.

The control subsystem 200 includes one or more controllers, microcontrollers, processors, microprocessors, digital signal processor (DSPs), graphical processing units (GPUs), and/or application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) (collectively 206). The control subsystem 200 includes one or more nontransitory computer- or processor-readable medium. The

nontransitory computer- or processor-readable medium may, for example include one or more nonvolatile memory {e.g., read only memory (ROM) 208 , Flash memory), spinning disc memory {e.g., magnetic disk, optical disk). The nontransitory computer- or processor-readable medium may, for example include one or more volatile memory {e.g., random access memory (RAM) 210). The nontransitory computer- or processor-readable medium 208, 210 stores at least one of processor executable instructions and/or data, which when executed by the at least one processor 206 causes the at least one processor 206 to control the docked portable scent dispensing devices 102, for example as discussed elsewhere herein.

A suitable microcontroller may take the form of an 8-bit microcontroller with in-system programmable flash memory, such as the microcontroller commercially available from Atmel Corporation under designation ATMEGA48/88/168-AU. The microcontroller executes a program stored in its memory, and sends signals to control the various other components, for instance the activation elements, the fans, valves, user interface, radios, etc. Control signals may, for instance be pulse width modulated (PWM) control signal, particularly where controlling an active power supply device {e.g., DC/DC power converters). Otherwise, control signals may take on any of a large variety of forms. For instance, the microcontroller may control a fan simply by completing a circuit that powers the fan. For instance, the microcontroller may control valves simply by completing a circuit that powers the valve(s).

The I/O subsystem 202 may include various switches, buttons or keys 122a-122g (collectively 122), speakers 124, and visual indicator 126. The I/O subsystem 202 detects user entry of commands and/or settings, and provides output to the user.

The power subsystem 204 includes one or more power supplies 212 and one or more power storage devices or cells 214. The power supply 212 converts electrical power to a useful form, for example rectifying AC electrical power to DC electrical power and stepping down a voltage of the same. The power supply 212 may additionally condition the electrical power. The power supply 212 may include circuitry for recharging one or more power storage devices or cells 214. The power storage devices or cells 214 may take any of a variety of forms, for example one or more chemical battery cells {e.g., lithium ion), super- or ultra-capacitor cells and/or fuel cells. The power storage devices or cells 214 may be a rechargeable power source, for instance a secondary battery cell {e.g., nickel-cadmium, nickel-zinc, nickel metal hydride, lithium-ion) or a super- or ultra-capacitor. In such cases, the electronics may include conventional recharging circuitry. Alternatively, the power storage devices or cells 214 may be a consumable power sources such as a primary batteries (e.g., zinc-carbon, alkaline), requiring eventual replacement.

The docking station 100 may additionally optionally include a reader 216 to read nontransitory media {e.g., media cards 128).

The docking station 100 may additionally optionally include one or more radios {i.e., wireless transmitter, receiver, transceiver). For example, docking station 100 may include a WI-FI® radio or transceiver 218a and associated antenna 220a to provide wireless communications according to WI- FI® protocol. For example, docking station 100 may include a BLUETOOTH® radio or transceiver 218b and associated antenna 220b to provide wireless communications according to BLUETOOTH® protocol. For example, docking station 100 may include a RFID radio or transceiver 218c and associated antenna 220c to provide wireless communications with RFID transponders according to various RFID protocols protocol. In some implementations, the RFID radio 218c may allow the docking station 100 to directly interrogate wireless transponders 138 (Figure 1 ) carried by scent media 104 (Figure 1 ) to identify the available scents . In other implementations, one or more radios (collectively 218) may allow the docking station 100 to exchange wireless communications with one or more of the portable scent delivery devices 102. This wireless communications may, for example, allow the docking station 100 to indirectly identify the available scents from information previously read by the portable scent delivery device 102 from the scent cartridge 104. The docking station 100 may include other radios, for example radios that provide cellular communications.

Figures 3A -3C illustrate scent delivery devices 102 implemented as various embodiments of a scent delivery mobile device case 300a-300c,. Figures 3A and 3B show a hard shell embodiment of a scent delivery mobile device case 300a.

In particular, circuit board 302, normally encapsulated in a hard shell housing 304 of the scent delivery mobile device case 300a, is shown in Figure 3A as having been removed from underneath an inside face plate 306 leaving the inside face plate 306 in the scent delivery device 300a.

The inside face plate 306 of scent delivery mobile device case 300a includes openings, e.g., 308, 310, that form at least part of a scent cartridge receiver 134 (Figure 1 ). The openings 308, 310 accommodate external attachment of the scent cartridge 104. The openings 308 and 310 extend through both the back of the scent delivery mobile device case 300a and through the circuit board 302 so as to couple the externally-mounted scent cartridge 104 to scent activation elements, if any, mounted to the circuit board 302. When in use, the circuit board 302 is desirably held in a slightly elevated position, suspended above the inside face plate 306 by a circumferential ridge formed in the wall of the hard shell housing 304. Such a suspension creates a scent generation chamber between the underside of the circuit board 302 and the inside face plate 306 to receive scented air. A low-power micro-fan 322 can be flush-mounted to the inside face plate 306. The micro-fan 322 can move scented air toward the vents 336 and/or can create positive pressure within the scent generation chamber to force scented air out through the scent port 320.

The hard shell housing 304 of the scent delivery mobile device case 300a can encapsulate an antenna to support wireless communication between the scent delivery mobile device case 300a and a mobile device (not shown in Figure 3A) disposed or received at last partially in the scent delivery mobile device case 300. The antenna may take any of a variety of forms of, for example, a strip line radio frequency (RF) antenna 313. The strip line RF antenna 313, which is shown in Figure 3A as a straight conducting element aligned with a case edge 315, can generally assume any shape suitable for wireless communications.

The circuit board 302 may carry various electronic and/or electrical or electrical components. For example, the circuit board 302 may carry a control subsystem 328 and a reader or other transducer 318 to read machine-readable identifiers 138 (Figure 1 ) from the scent cartridges 104. The circuit board 302 may additionally, or alternatively, carry an integrated circuit module 314 and an integrated circuit module connector 316. The integrated circuit module 314 can include integrated circuit chips such as, for example, various types of processors (e.g., microcontrollers, microprocessors, digital signal processors), drive circuits, nontransitory processor-readable storage media {e.g., one or more nontransitory storage media for instance nonvolatile memory (e.g., ROM, FLASH) and volatile memory (e.g., RAM)), a

communications subsystem including wireless receiver (e.g., radio) signal processing hardware, and decryption hardware as described below in more detail. The integrated circuit module 314 can be electrically coupled to the control subsystem via wiring mounted on the underside of the circuit board 302. The integrated circuit module 314 can be a custom system-on-chip (SOC) device that serves as a platform for, and provides interconnects between, these various integrated circuits. The integrated circuit module connector 316 provides selectable electrical coupling between the strip line RF antenna 313 and the integrated circuit module 314.

Figure 3B shows a back side 330 of the scent delivery mobile device case 300a. The back side 330 includes a scent cartridge opening 134 that provides access to mount the scent cartridge 104, and a camera lens opening 334 so as not to obstruct the cell phone camera lens. The scent delivery mobile device case 300a also provides scent vents or ports 130 through which scented air may escape the scent generation chamber. The scent delivery mobile device case 300a also optionally provides a sliding vent adjustment device 338 that opens and closes the vents or ports 130. The sliding vent adjustment device 338 is desirably flush or recessed slightly below the surface of the back side 330. Also shown in Figure 3B is an optional scent delivery conduit 340 coupled to another scent jack 320. Thus, the scent delivery mobile device case 300a allows for scented air to escape the scent generation chamber located behind the circuit board 302 by either of two paths - through the scent vents or ports 130 or through the scent jack 320.

Figure 3C shows a soft shell resilient embodiment of a scent delivery mobile device case 300b in which a smart phone 352 or other portable electronic device is placed and resiliently releasably retained. A soft case housing 351 can be made of a pliable and/or resilient material. The soft case housing 351 may, for example, take the form of a resilient silicone sleeve 354. The resilient silicone sleeve 354 serves generally to protect the smart phone 352 from damage, for example, to cushion shocks from falls and/or prevent breakage of a standard planar display screen 353 (e.g., touch screen). The resilient silicone sleeve 354 may be dimensioned such that the interior dimensions of the resilient silicone sleeve 354 are slightly smaller than the outer dimension of the smart phone 352. Thus, the resilient silicone sleeve 354 is stretched and retained under elastic force when the resilient silicone sleeve 354 is attached to the smart phone 352. While described as silicone, other elastomer or resilient materials may be used to form a suitable sleeve.

A number of methods or processes for operation of a docking station for scent delivery devices are described below. These methods or processes may employ the various structures shown and described with respect to Figures 1 , 2 and 3. Alternatively, these methods and processes may employ other structures.

A control subsystem of a docking station includes a control subsystem with at least one processor and at least one nontransitory processor readable medium that stores at least one of processor-executable instructions or data, which when executed by the at least one processor causes that at least one processor to perform one or more of the below methods or processes.

The control subsystem identifies a respective set of scents available via each of the portable scent dispensing devices which are currently docked at the respective docking positions. As previously noted, the control subsystem may query the various portable scent dispensing devices which are currently docked at the respective docking positions to identify the respective set of scents available via each of the portable scent dispensing devices. The control subsystem may query the portable scent dispensing devices via a wired or physical interface {e.g., connector and complimentary connectors) or via a wireless interface {e.g., BLUETOOTH® radios). Alternatively, the control subsystem may directly query respective wireless transponders physically associated with the scent cartridges, for instance via a wireless interface {e.g., BLUETOOTH® radios, RFID radios).

The control subsystem may optionally determine whether the set of scents available via each of the portable scent dispensing devices which are currently docked at the respective docking positions are sufficient for rendering a scent composition, the scent composition comprising a plurality of instances of two or more scents to be delivered over a period of time. The control subsystem may provide a notification if the set of scents available via each of the portable scent dispensing devices which are currently docked at the respective docking positions are insufficient for rendering the scent

composition.

The control subsystem may determine a first respective set of control signals for each of the portable scent dispensing devices which are currently docked at the respective docking positions based on a scent composition, the scent composition comprising a plurality of instances of two or more scents to be delivered over a period of time. For example, a scent composition may be stored or received by the control subsystem, the scent composition indicating a number of scents to be delivered overtime in a defined pattern. For instance, the scent composition may be received as a scent track via a text message or in an electronic mail (email) message. The scent composition or track may be logically associated with an audio track, visual track or audiovisual or video track. The pattern may consist of single distinct scents being emitted or dispensed or delivered sequentially at given times or periods, and/or may include portions during which two or more scents are emitted, dispensed or delivered concurrently during at a given time or given period. For example, it may be desirable to build up a complex scent from two or more simple scents. The control subsystem determines the respect set of control signals or directions for the respective portable scent dispensing devices based on the particular scents currently available via the respective portable scent dispensing device. For instance, a first portable scent dispensing devices may have various coffee scents identified as 1 -6, while a second portable scent dispensing device may have various chocolate scents identified as A-F, while a third scent dispensing device has various floral scents identified as a-f. A simple exemplary scent composition may, for instance, consists following scents delivered during times To- T₉ illustrated in Table 1 : Table 1

The control subsystem generates a first set of control signals that cause the first portable scent dispensing device to emit scents 1 , 3, 4 and 2 at times To, T₃, T₄, and T₈, respectively. The control subsystem generates a second set of control signals that cause the second portable scent dispensing device to emit scents A, B, C, A with F, and D at times Ti , T₂, T , T₇, and T₉, respectively. The control subsystem generates a third set of control signals that cause the third portable scent dispensing device to emit scents f and f, at times T₅ and T₆, respectively.

Operation depends on synchronization between the operation of the various portable scent dispensing devices. Synchronization may be obtained in a variety of manners.

For example, the control subsystem of the docking station may provide control signals to the respective portable scent dispensing devices on an "as needed basis." For instance, the control subsystem may at a first time To send signals to the first portable scent dispensing device to cause the first portable scent dispensing device to emit a scent 1 . The control subsystem may at a second time Ti send signals to the second portable scent dispensing device to cause the second portable scent dispensing device to emit a scent A. The control subsystem may at a third time T₂ send signals to the second portable scent dispensing device to cause the second portable scent

dispensing device to emit a scent B. The control subsystem may at a fourth time T₃ send signals to the first portable scent dispensing device to cause the first portable scent dispensing device to emit a scent 3. The control subsystem may at a fifth time T₄ send signals to the first portable scent dispensing device to cause the first portable scent dispensing device to emit a scent 4 and concurrently send signals to the second portable scent dispensing device to cause the second portable scent dispensing device to emit a scent C. The control subsystem may at a sixth time T₅ send signals to the third portable scent dispensing device to cause the third portable scent dispensing device to emit a scent f. The control subsystem may follow a similar pattern for producing the remainder of the scent composition specified I Table 1 .

Also for example, the control subsystem of the docking station may provide a clocking signal to each of the docked portable scent dispensing devices.

As another example, the control subsystem of the docking station may cause each of the docked portable scent dispensing devices to

synchronize a respective clock of each of the portable scent dispensing devices to one another, and/or with some other clock external to the portable scent dispensing devices.

The control subsystem sends the control signals to the portable scent dispensing devices which are currently docked at the respective docking positions to cause the portable scent dispensing devices to dispense a plurality of scents in a defined pattern.

The control subsystem may detect an undocking of one of the portable scent dispensing devices from a respective position. In response, the control subsystem may determine a new respective set of control signals for each of the portable scent dispensing devices which are then currently docked at the respective docking positions based on a scent composition.

The control subsystem may detect an undocking of one of the portable scent dispensing devices from a respective position. In response, the control subsystem may determine whether the set of scents available via each of remaining one of the portable scent dispensing devices are sufficient for rendering the scent composition. The control subsystem may provide a notification if the set of scents available via each of remaining one of the portable scent dispensing devices are insufficient for rendering the scent composition. Figure 4 shows four scent cartridges 404a-404d (collectively 404), one of which is partially exploded, along with a spindle 405 on which a scent cartridge 404 is mountable, according to one illustrated embodiment.

The scent cartridges include a body 407, a top 409, and a bottom 41 1 with an integral central pillar 413. The body 407 may, for example take the form of cylindrical tube, for example formed of a plastic {e.g., ABS plastic). The body 407 has a main longitudinal passage 415 sized and dimensioned to receive the central pillar 413. The body 407 has a plurality of longitudinally extending passages 417 (six shown for body 407, one called out), which extend along the entire length of the body 407. The plurality of longitudinally extending passages 417 are spaced radially outward to the main longitudinal passage 415. The top 409 has a plurality of apertures 419 (six shown for each top 409, only one called out) sized and oriented to align or mate with respective ones of the plurality of longitudinally extending passages 417. The bottom 1 1 1 has a plurality of apertures 421 (six shown for each bottom 41 1 , only one called out) sized and oriented to align or mate with respective ones of the plurality of longitudinally extending passages 417. The longitudinally extending passages 417 and corresponding pair of apertures 419, 421 form a plurality of fluidly conductive paths through each of the scent cartridges 404.

The spindle 405 is sized and dimensioned to receive the based and pillar thereon, the pillar 413 having a central passage (not visible in Figure 4) to allow mounting to a respective spindle 405. The spindle 405 may have a distinctive alignment geometric feature 423 {e.g.. D-shaped profile) mate with a complimentary geometric feature of the pillar 413 to ensure proper orientation of the scent cartridge 404 when mounted to the spindle 405.

Figures 5A-5E show a portion of a scent delivery device 500 with a number of scent cartridges 404a-404f (collectively 404, one ), according to one illustrated embodiment.

The scent delivery device 500 has a base 502 to hold the scent cartridges 404 on respective spindles 405, a mixing chamber 504, and a fan 506. The base 502 has a plurality of passages 508 (only one called out for clarity) that provide fluidly communicatively coupling of air from an exterior of the scent delivery device 500, through selected passages (e.g., 417, Figure 4) of the scent cartridges 404. The base 502 may, for example be formed of metal (e.g., aluminum, stainless steel). The base 502 has a plurality of receptacles 510 (six shown, only one called out) sized and dimensioned to receive respective ones of the scent cartridges 404, mounted on respective ones of the spindles 405.

Spindles 405 may optionally be color coded to facilitate mounting of an appropriate scent cartridge 404. For example, scent cartridges 404 may be sold or distributed in packages or sets, each scent cartridge 404 in a set color coded with a respective color (e.g., six scent cartridges, six colors). A first set may have six scent cartridges 404, each marked with a respective color (e.g., red, yellow, blue, green, brown, pink). A second set may have six scent cartridges 404, having different scents than the scent cartridges 404 of the first set, each marked with a respective color (e.g., red, yellow, blue, green, brown, pink). Thus, even though a first scent cartridge 404 may carry different scents than a second scent cartridge 404, they may be denominated with the same color, for instance due to some relationship between the scents. For instances, floral based scent cartridges 404 may each be denominated with a common color, even where they carry scent media which emits different floral scents from one another.

The mixing chamber 504 is formed by a chamber cover 512, chamber peripheral wall 514, and chamber floor 516. The chamber cover 512 may be removably mounted to the chamber peripheral wall 514 for allowing physical access to an interior 518 of the mixing chamber 504. For example, the chamber cover 512 may be pivotally mounted, for movement between an open position (e.g., Figures 5A and 5C) and a closed position (Figures 5B, 5D and 5E). The chamber floor 516 has a plurality of openings 520, one for each of the scent cartridges 404. The openings 520 in the chamber floor 516 provide a fluidly communicative path from selected passages 417 (Figure 4) of respective ones of the scent cartridges 404 into a cavity or interior volume 518 of the mixing chamber 504. This allows one or more scents to be drawn into the mixing chamber 504 at a time or during a time period. If more than one scent is drawn into the mixing chamber 504, the mixing chamber 504 allows the two or more scents to mix. In some implementation, scents may be drawn into the mixing chamber 504 at two or more successive intervals and allowed to mix before venting or releasing from the mixing chamber 504. Otherwise, the mixing chamber 504 is vented or scents released without a holding period.

The chamber cover 512 may be transparent, or translucent, and may be formed of a plastic, glass, laminated glass, or crystal (e.g., artificial sapphire). The chamber peripheral wall 514 may be silicone or a plastic or metal member with a silicon overmold. The chamber floor 516 may be visually reflective, for example having a mirrored surface. The chamber floor 516 may be metallic, or may be plastic with a reflective coating [e.g., aluminum hot stamped).

The fan 506 is controlled by a control subsystem. The fan 506 is operable to draw air through vents or passages 508 of the base 502, to pass through selected passages 417 (Figure 4) of the scent cartridges 404, and into the mixing chamber 504, from which one or more scents are vented or released. Two fluidly communicative paths 522a, 522b (collectively 522) are illustrated in Figure 5D, one fluidly communicative path 522a passing through a passage of one of the scent cartridges 404d and another fluidly communicative path 522b passing through a passage of another one of the scent cartridges 404f. As noted, each passage 417 of the each scent cartridge 404 may contain scent material or media which releases scent into air flowing through the passage 417.

Various methods and processes for specifying scent compositions and for operating multiple scent dispensing devices are described in U.S.

patent applications Serial Nos.: 61 /792,716; 61 /817,180; 61 /944,862 filed February 26, 2014; 61 /944,866 filed February 26, 2014 and 61/944,870 filed February 26, 2014. The above description of illustrated embodiments, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. Although specific embodiments of and examples are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, as will be recognized by those skilled in the relevant art. The teachings provided herein of the various embodiments can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the exemplary systems generally described above.

For instance, network and even non-networked topologies other than those illustrated and/or described may be employed.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments of the devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, schematics, and examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, schematics, and examples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that each function and/or operation within such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the present subject matter may be implemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) or

programmable gate arrays. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments disclosed herein, in whole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in standard integrated circuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or more computers {e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computer systems), as one or more programs running on one or more controllers {e.g., microcontrollers) as one or more programs running on one or more processors {e.g., microprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designing the circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and or firmware would be well within the skill of one of ordinary skill in the art in light of this disclosure.

Various methods and /or algorithms have been described. Some or all of those methods and/or algorithms may omit some of the described acts or steps, include additional acts or steps, combine acts or steps, and/or may perform some acts or steps in a different order than described. Some of the method or algorithms may be implemented in software routines. Some of the software routines may be called from other software routines. Software routines may execute sequentially or concurrently, and may employ a multithreaded approach.

The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. U.S. patent application Serial Nos. 61/792,716, filed March 15, 2013; 61/817,180, filed April 29, 2013; 61/822,270, filed May 10, 2013; 14/213,608 filed March 14, 2014; 14/213,683 filed March 14, 2014;

61/944,862 filed February 26, 2014; 61/944,866 filed February 26, 2014, 61/944,870 filed February 26, 2014 and 62/012,863 filed June 16, 2014, are each incorporated herein by reference, in their entireties. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary, to employ systems, circuits and concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further embodiments.

These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific

embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.

Claims

1 . A docking station, comprising:

a base having a plurality of docking positions at which respective portable scent dispensing devices are at least one of removably physically dockable or selectively communicatively dockable, and where the portable scent dispensing devices each include respective replaceable consumable scent media cartridges with at least two or more distinct scents; and

a control subsystem including at least one processor and at least one nontransitory processor readable medium that stores at least one of processor-executable instructions or data, which when executed by the at least one processor causes that at least one processor to:

identify a respective set of scents available via each of the portable scent dispensing devices which are currently docked at the respective docking positions; and

send control signals to the portable scent dispensing devices which are currently docked at the respective docking positions to cause the portable scent dispensing devices to dispense a plurality of scents in a defined pattern.

2. The docking station of claim 1 wherein the base has a respective aperture at each of the docking positions, the apertures sized and dimensions to receive a portion of a respective one of the portable scent dispensing devices therein.

3. The docking station of claim 1 wherein the base has a respective aperture at each of the docking positions, the apertures sized and dimensions to securely receive a portion of a respective one of the portable scent dispensing devices therein.

4. The docking station of claim 1 wherein the base has a respective connector at each of the docking positions, the connectors sized and dimensioned to mate with a complimentary connector of a respective one of the portable scent dispensing devices therein.

5. The docking station of claim 1 wherein the respective connectors are each male connectors and the respective complimentary connectors are each female connectors accessible from an exterior of the respective portable scent dispensing devices.

6. The docking station of claim 1 wherein the base has a respective connector at each of the docking positions, the connectors sized and dimensioned to physically mate with a complimentary connector of a respective one of the portable scent dispensing devices therein.

7. The docking station of claim 1 wherein the base has a respective connector at each of the docking positions, the connectors having a plurality of electrical contacts, the connectors sized and dimensioned to communicatively mate with a respective set of electrical contacts of each of a complimentary connector of a respective one of the portable scent dispensing devices therein.

8. The docking station of claim 1 wherein the at least one of processor-executable instructions or data, when executed by the at least one processor causes that at least one processor further to:

query each of the portable scent dispensing devices which are currently docked at the respective docking positions to identify the respective set of scents available via each of the portable scent dispensing devices.

9. The docking station of claim 1 wherein the at least one of processor-executable instructions or data, when executed by the at least one processor causes that at least one processor further to:

query each of the replaceable consumable scent media cartridges of the portable scent dispensing devices which are currently docked at the respective docking positions to identify the respective set of scents available via each of the portable scent dispensing devices.

10. The docking station of claim 1 wherein the at least one of processor-executable instructions or data, when executed by the at least one processor causes that at least one processor further to:

determine whether the set of scents available via each of the portable scent dispensing devices which are currently docked at the respective docking positions are sufficient for rendering a scent composition, the scent composition comprising a plurality of instances of two or more scents to be delivered over a period of time; and

provide a notification if the set of scents available via each of the portable scent dispensing devices which are currently docked at the respective docking positions are insufficient for rendering the scent composition.

1 1 . The docking station of claim 1 wherein the at least one of processor-executable instructions or data, when executed by the at least one processor causes that at least one processor further to:

determine a first respective set of control signals for each of the portable scent dispensing devices which are currently docked at the respective docking positions based on a scent composition, the scent composition comprising a plurality of instances of two or more scents to be delivered over a period of time.

12. The docking station of claim 1 1 wherein the at least one of processor-executable instructions or data, when executed by the at least one processor causes that at least one processor further to:

detect an undocking of one of the portable scent dispensing devices from a respective position; and

determine a second respective set of control signals for each of the portable scent dispensing devices which are then currently docked at the respective docking positions based on a scent composition, the scent composition comprising a plurality of instances of two or more scents to be delivered over a period of time.

13. The docking station of claim 1 1 wherein the at least one of processor-executable instructions or data, when executed by the at least one processor causes that at least one processor further to:

determine whether the set of scents available via each of remaining one of the portable scent dispensing devices are sufficient for rendering the scent composition; and

provide a notification if the set of scents available via each of remaining one of the portable scent dispensing devices are insufficient for rendering the scent composition.

14. A method of operation in a docking station having control subsystem, the docking station having a plurality of positions at which respective portable scent dispensing devices are at least one of removably physically dockable or selectively communicatively dockable, and where the portable scent dispensing devices each include respective replaceable consumable scent media cartridges with at least two or more distinct scents, the method comprising:

identifying via a control subsystem of the docking station a respective set of scents available via each of the portable scent dispensing devices which are currently docked at the respective docking positions; and sending control signals to the portable scent dispensing devices which are currently docked at the respective docking positions to cause the portable scent dispensing devices to dispense a plurality of scents in a defined pattern.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: querying each of the portable scent dispensing devices which are currently docked at the respective docking positions to identify the respective set of scents available via each of the portable scent dispensing devices.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising: querying each of the replaceable consumable scent media cartridges of the portable scent dispensing devices which are currently docked at the respective docking positions to identify the respective set of scents available via each of the portable scent dispensing devices.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising: determining whether the set of scents available via each of the portable scent dispensing devices which are currently docked at the respective docking positions are sufficient for rendering a scent composition, the scent composition comprising a plurality of instances of two or more scents to be delivered over a period of time; and

providing a notification if the set of scents available via each of the portable scent dispensing devices which are currently docked at the respective docking positions are insufficient for rendering the scent composition.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising: determining a first respective set of control signals for each of the portable scent dispensing devices which are currently docked at the respective docking positions based on a scent composition, the scent composition comprising a plurality of instances of two or more scents to be delivered over a period of time.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: detecting an undocking of one of the portable scent dispensing devices from a respective position; and

determining a second respective set of control signals for each of the portable scent dispensing devices which are then currently docked at the respective docking positions based on a scent composition, the scent composition comprising a plurality of instances of two or more scents to be delivered over a period of time.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising: detecting an undocking of one of the portable scent dispensing devices from a respective position; and

determining whether the set of scents available via each of remaining one of the portable scent dispensing devices are sufficient for rendering the scent composition; and

providing a notification if the set of scents available via each of remaining one of the portable scent dispensing devices are insufficient for rendering the scent composition.