JP2741749B2 - Pseudo-odor generation method and apparatus, and pseudo-odor generation medium - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the realization of a simulated odor experience, and more particularly, to an information providing apparatus using a mass media such as a TV having an odor generating function in an advanced information and communication society, and an image / picture providing apparatus. The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for generating a pseudo-odor for realizing a sound / playback apparatus, a personal computer system, a home and business game apparatus, and a pseudo-experience apparatus using a communication apparatus such as a telephone and a facsimile, and a pseudo-odor generation medium. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, this type of device has not existed as including the concept of communication. For this reason, it was impossible to reproduce the odor in a remote place by communication. Therefore, regarding the odor generating device which is an element technology, conventionally, the odor container which has already been mixed is gasified by bubbling or spraying and presented. In addition, although it is possible to mix and present a single odor with these devices, there is a drawback that the device becomes large when the types of mixing increase, and there is no example realized. As an easy-to-carry device, there has been a device that allows a specific odor to be generated by sticking an odor container or a microcapsule containing gas therein to a card and rubbing the card to crush the capsule. However, this cannot generate the desired odor similar to the above-mentioned odor generating device, and the odor cannot be automatically generated.

[0003]

Heretofore, information presentation has mainly been based on visual or auditory sense and a combination thereof. Recently, some of tactile senses (system sense) and sense of balance have been realized by simulators and game machines. It has become. However, in the case of multimedia, odor information communication / presentation technology capable of providing olfactory stimulation necessary for obtaining a sense of reality closer to the actual experience has been left untouched. This is because audio and other auditory stimuli are transmitted and presented by a microphone as an input device, an analog-to-digital converter when using a digital communication channel, and a digital-to-analog converter at a receiver through a speaker as an information presentation device. Complete. These are established techniques.
However, in order to transmit and present the olfactory stimulus, (a) a device for inputting and encoding the odor, (b) a device for transmission through a digital communication channel, (c) a decoding device, and (d) ) An output and presentation device is required, but there was no method and device for realizing the above (a) and (d). Therefore, it was impossible to reproduce the odor in a remote place by communication. (D)
In the past, it was also possible to mix and present a single odor for a device that generates any odor.However, there is a disadvantage that the device becomes large-scale as the type of mixing increases, and it is possible to generate any odor. could not.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and it is possible to use a coded odor information to enable a communication receiver to experience a common or desired odor sensation with a sender. It is an object of the present invention to obtain a pseudo-smell generating method and a device therefor, and a pseudo-smell generating medium.

[0005]

The present invention is directed to the sense of smell of a living body, and uses the number of elements of the odor information that is close to the realization in the sense of smell of the living body in order to artificially present any odor or sensation. Things. For this purpose, the type and concentration of the basic components of odor are detected using an odor sensor that conforms to the odor identification method of the living body, and this is converted into digital information so that it can be used in communication or a storage medium. For example, a disc coated with tens to hundreds of microcapsules enclosing an odor element is selectively destroyed by laser irradiation according to the digital information using an access method similar to a CD or LD. , A relatively compact method and apparatus capable of generating the required amount of the required odor species in a short time, which is capable of providing the information receiver with a pseudo-odor sensation. is there.

According to the method for generating a pseudo odor according to the present invention, a target odor is converted into digital information of a type and concentration for each basic component and associated, and the odor storage for each basic component prepared in advance based on the digital information is performed. A part is selectively opened to generate a pseudo odor corresponding to the digital information.

Further, after converting the odor of interest into digital information of the type and concentration for each basic component and associating the digital information with the digital odor, the digital information is further converted into a digital signal, which is an electric signal, and then transmitted. Based on the digital signal, the odor storage unit for each basic component prepared in advance is selectively opened to generate a pseudo odor corresponding to the digital information.

[0008] Transmission of a digital signal is carried out by wire or wireless from a transmitting side to a receiving side, or once a digital signal is recorded on a recording medium, and then the recording medium is transported to the receiving side. It is.

Further, when the odor storage unit for each basic component is opened, the concentration of the pseudo odor component is controlled by controlling the amount of odorless gas sent to the odor storage unit.

Further, the basic component odor storage section is composed of microcapsules in which the basic component odor substance is sealed, and the basic component odor storage section is opened by selectively irradiating a laser beam to the microcapsules. Perform by bursting.

The pseudo-smell generator according to the present invention comprises: an odor component sensor array for detecting the type and concentration of the generated odor for each predetermined basic component;
A signal processing unit for generating a digital signal corresponding to the type and concentration of the basic odor component detected by the odor component sensor array, and a digital signal output from the signal processing unit are input, and the density is determined for each odor component. And a pseudo-smell generating section for generating an amount corresponding to.

Further, the apparatus is provided with an odor gas delivery section for purging generated pseudo odor components with odorless gas.

[0013] The odor gas delivery section is configured to control the amount of odorless gas to be blown in accordance with the concentration of the basic component of the pseudo odor to be generated.

[0014] The pseudo odor generating section is composed of a pseudo odor generating medium in which a number of microcapsules each containing a different kind of basic component odor substance are arranged on a plurality of tracks formed on a disk, and a signal processing section. And a laser for selectively irradiating the microcapsules corresponding to the output digital signal with laser light to rupture the microcapsules.

Further, the pseudo odor generating medium according to the present invention, in which different kinds of odor substances are respectively encapsulated, has microcapsules which can be ruptured by irradiation of laser light, and is provided on a plurality of tracks formed on a disk by laser. It is configured by arranging a large number so that selective irradiation with light is possible.

In the pseudo odor generation method according to the present invention, the target mixed odor is converted into digital information for each type and associated with each other, and a pre-synthesized mixed odor storage unit is stored based on the digital information. To selectively release them to generate a pseudo-odor corresponding to digital information.

Further, a mixed odor that needs to be generated is synthesized in advance, encapsulated in microcapsules, and these microcapsules are collectively arranged for each type and disposed on a disk to form an odor storage section, and the disk is rotated. While heating and destroying the required microcapsules with laser light controlled in terms of time and intensity, gasification of the odor inside,
This is sent to a required place using odorless gas.

Further, in the pseudo odor generating medium according to the present invention, mixed odors that need to be generated are synthesized in advance for each type and encapsulated in microcapsules, and the microcapsules are selectively irradiated by laser light. The microcapsules are breakable, and a large number of the microcapsules are arranged on the tracks of the disk.

[0019]

In the pseudo odor generation method according to the present invention, a pseudo odor of a target odor is generated by opening one or more of the odor storage units based on input digital information.

Since the digital information is converted into digital information of an electric signal, the digital information is transmitted to a remote place by wire or wirelessly, where a pseudo odor is generated.

Further, after a digital signal is once recorded on a recording medium, a pseudo odor is generated later.

Further, the concentration of the pseudo-odor component is adjusted by controlling the number of microcapsules to be burst and the amount of odorless gas sent.

Then, the microcapsules enclosing the odor substance are irradiated with laser light to rupture the microcapsules, thereby generating pseudo odors.

In the pseudo odor generating apparatus according to the present invention, analog signals of the type and density detected for each basic component by the odor component sensor array are input, and converted into digital signals by a signal processing section, which is used to generate the pseudo odor. Then, an amount corresponding to the concentration of each basic component of the odor is generated to obtain a target pseudo odor.

Further, an odorless gas is emitted from the odor gas delivery portion to purge generated pseudo odor components and discharge them into the atmosphere. After that, the amount of blowing of the odorless gas is adjusted according to the concentration of the pseudo odor to be generated.

The pseudo-smell generating medium according to the present invention selectively irradiates the microcapsules with laser light to rupture the microcapsules and release the internal pseudo-smell basic components.

In the method for generating pseudo odor according to the present invention, the required mixed odor is synthesized in advance and stored in the odor storage unit, and the odor is determined by using digital information determined for each type of mixed odor. By selectively opening the storage unit, a target pseudo odor is generated.

Further, microcapsules containing a mixed odor are placed and applied on a disk, and a required capsule is irradiated with laser light while rotating the disk to gasify the odor inside, and this is converted into an odorless gas. Use and transport to the required location.

Furthermore, since the mixed odor synthesized in advance is encapsulated in the microcapsules in the pseudo odor generating medium according to the present invention, the target mixed odor can be easily irradiated by selectively irradiating the mixed odor with laser light. Is obtained.

[0030]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the concept of an embodiment for realizing a mechanism for identifying odors in an ecosystem and an artificial system, that is, a method and apparatus for generating a pseudo-odor according to the present invention. (S1)-(S3), (S11)-
(S14) shows each step.

In the biological system I (for example, a human body), a certain odor 1 is inhaled (S1). The odor 1 is biological system I
, A signal based on the structural characteristics of the concentrations a, b, c, d... With respect to the odor components, that is, the components A, B, C, D. ). The central system 3 receives this signal, performs biological information processing there, and induces and perceives comprehensive odor 1 identification, pleasure, and discomfort emotions (S3).

On the other hand, in the artificial system II, it is considered that odor similar to the biological system I is identified. The generated odor 1 is detected by the odor component sensor array 11 (S11), and the odor 1 detected by the signal processing unit 12 is detected.
Is evaluated (S12). Here, the type and concentration of each odor 1 component are estimated and identified (S13).
Here, the component species range from tens to thousands. This output is represented by a set of a component and a density, and can be processed as digital information. The processing up to this point is the technique of the chemical / physical quantity discrimination method and the apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application No. 5-354237 by the present applicant, that is, various techniques while increasing the speed and preventing the deterioration of the evaluation ability due to sensor output saturation. It is performed by analysis and evaluation of chemical / physical quantities.

Here, the gist of the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 5-354237 "Chemical / physical quantity identification method and apparatus" will be described.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a chemical / physical quantity discriminating apparatus. Reference numeral 110 denotes a chemical / physical quantity discriminating apparatus, which is roughly classified into a measuring space (or measuring vessel) 120 in which a chemical / physical quantity to be evaluated exists. The arranged sensor array 111
And an identification circuit unit 130 that processes the output signal group from the sensor array 111. The identification circuit unit 130 includes function circuit units 133, 134, 135, and 13 that respectively control necessary functions as described below in order.
7 and a memory 136 for storing various data described later. These circuit sections 133, 134, 135, 1
A part or all of the 37 can of course be constituted by dedicated hardware, but in general, a computer system can be used to realize required functions in each functional circuit unit as software. The memory 136 may, of course, be internal to the computer or an external one if there is a problem in capacity.

First, the whole chemical / physical quantity to be identified is divided into a plurality of n different ranges. n
Is a positive integer of 2 or more. Each range may have a slightly overlapping portion, or adjacent regions may be completely independent regions. The chemical / physical quantity components in each of the divided ranges are each referred to as a “stimulus unit”. Call.
Next, corresponding to such division, as shown in FIG. 3A, a plurality of n kinds of sensor units having different sensitivities for each stimulus unit i (1 ≦ i ≦ n), for a total of n sensor units Si (i =
, N) are prepared, and these are arranged in an appropriate geometric arrangement, for example, in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns as shown in FIG. The array 111 is configured. FIG. 3B shows a case where each of the first to n-th individual i-th sensor units Si is further composed of a plurality of sensors Ssi of the same type. This will be described later. Here, first, it is considered that each i-type sensor unit Si is constituted by a single sensor element.

The output of each sensor section Si is
11 through an output terminal 112 provided in the input circuit 132 of the identification circuit unit 130 shown in FIG.
Given to. In the middle of the signal transmission path, an interface 116 suitable for the sensor actually used in each used sensor unit Si is inserted. For example, an amplifier that amplifies a weak sensor output with low noise or a buffer that matches input / output impedance is used. While each sensor unit Si outputs an analog signal, the identification circuit unit 130 processes a digital signal,
In the case where an analog-to-digital (A / D) converter is not built in, the external A / D converter or the like can be incorporated in the interface 116. If each sensor Si does not output wired electric signals such as current and voltage, but uses antenna transmission, or also emits a magnetic signal or an optical signal, the interface 116 also includes its receiver. May be included. In any case, a signal is sent from the sensor section Si or the sensor array 111 to the identification circuit section 130 which is a processing section of the signal, and the transmission signal is processed in the identification circuit section 130 by an appropriate type and an appropriate type. Any of the known circuits required to provide a large signal can optionally be used as the interface 116 shown in FIG. In addition, as can be seen in each electret condenser microphone, for example,
When power supply is required, the components shown as output terminals 112 in FIGS. 2 and 3A are also provided with such power supply input terminals, and power supply wiring is provided for each sensor. The power is supplied from a power supply device (not shown).

Here, in order to understand the principle of chemical / physical quantity discrimination, a sensor output will be considered as a general and basic discussion irrespective of the type of sensor. In both the case of the chemical stimulus and the case of the physical stimulus, the stimulus intensity acting on the sensing surface of the sensor (the former is equal to the amount of chemical adsorption and the latter is equal to the stimulus intensity itself) and the sensor output are shown in FIG. As shown in (), there is a proportional relationship in the non-saturation region of the sensor output. When approaching the output saturation range, the relationship may deviate from a linear relationship as schematically shown by a virtual line in FIG. In particular, in the case of a chemical stimulus, the information desired to be obtained via the sensor output is not the chemical adsorption amount but generally the stimulus substance concentration. In this case, the relationship between the amount of adsorption and the concentration can be divided into two cases: the case where the interaction between the stimulating substance and the sensing surface is due to specific adsorption and the case where it is due to non-specific adsorption.

In the case of non-specific adsorption, the relationship between the stimulus concentration and the amount of adsorption is Gibbs unless saturated.
A proportional relationship according to the adsorption equation holds. Therefore, in this case, the characteristic of FIG. 4A can be grasped as the relationship between the stimulus concentration and the sensor output. In any case, when such a linear relationship holds, the linear equation or its proportional coefficient can be easily obtained by a preliminary experiment for each of the sensor units Si actually used in the sensor array 111. The corresponding algorithm and proportionality coefficient are stored in an appropriate nonvolatile memory 136 such as a ROM in the identification circuit unit 130 shown in FIG.
To be stored. In general, as the simplest case, storing only the proportionality coefficient can be implemented by hardware as an arithmetic expression or can be executed by a program when a computer is used.

As described above, when the identification circuit unit 130 is constituted by a computer, a memory for storing the program itself is necessary. However, since this is a matter of course as a computer system, it is not shown in the figure. do not do. In other words, how to utilize the means normally possessed by a computer system to implement the embodiments of the present invention described below is inherently a matter of design for those skilled in the art.

Unlike the above, in the case of the specific adsorption, the relationship between the stimulus concentration C and the adsorption amount B (C) is shown in FIG.
As shown in (B), when it becomes Michaelis-Menten type non-linear type, and the dissociation constant is K and the proportionality constant is α,
The following equation (1) holds.

[0041]

B (C) = α × (C / K) / {1+ (C / K)} (1) However, even in this case, the stimulus concentration is lower by one digit or more than the dissociation constant K. That is, if the density is as low as about C <(K / 10), the denominator of the above equation (1) can be approximated to 1, and the equation (1) can be rewritten as the following equation (2). .

[0042]

B (C) = {α × (C / K)｝ ∝C (2) Therefore, when the stimulus intensity is small, the stimulus may be of a chemical or physical type. The stimulus intensity can be calculated simply by multiplying the output level corresponding to the stimulus intensity obtained from each sensor unit Si by a proportional coefficient. Therefore, if this proportionality coefficient is stored in the memory 136 in the identification circuit unit 130 shown in FIG. 2 as described above for the linear relationship, each sensor obtained through the input port 132 It is easy to calculate the stimulus intensity by multiplying the output level information from Si by the stimulus intensity evaluation unit 134 by the proportionality coefficient. However,
If necessary, the stimulus intensity evaluation unit 134 may be configured to calculate the stimulus intensity based on the above equation (1) that shows the specific adsorption relationship more accurately.

On the other hand, considering the relationship between the intensity f of each presented unit stimulus i and the initial response characteristic of each sensor unit Si, that is, the transient dynamic characteristic from when the stimulus was presented, the following is obtained. Can discuss. Here, first, in the sensor unit that increases the output level in response to the presentation of the stimulus, the output level is a value sufficiently close to the value corresponding to the stimulus intensity f (for example, 70% or more of the stimulus intensity corresponding value). It is assumed that the presented stimulus intensity f does not fluctuate during the time up to. In the case of physical stimulation, the response speed of the sensor is generally sufficiently fast, so that this condition is almost automatically satisfied almost without any special measures. In contrast,
In the case of chemical stimulation, this condition is not always satisfied automatically. If the response speed of the sensor is unacceptably slow, for example, a certain amount of chemical / physical quantity to be identified is sampled, and this is sampled into a sensor array. During the measurement by
What is necessary is just to be confined in the enclosed space containing the said sensor array. In any case, if this condition is met,
As shown in FIG. 4C, in the case of a physical stimulus,
The output of the sensor section rises from zero at a certain constant speed. Since the sensor output at the beginning of the response is proportional to the integral value of the stimulus intensity and the stimulus presentation time (action time), the rising speed increases in proportion to the stimulus intensity f. Also, in the case of chemical stimulation, it is sufficient to consider the increase in the amount of adsorption at a constant concentration, so that the sensor output is zero immediately before the stimulus is presented and rises at a speed proportional to the final amount of adsorption after the stimulus is presented. Can be

Therefore, in both the case of the physical stimulus and the case of the chemical stimulus, the sensor output immediately after the stimulus is presented has a linear relationship as shown in FIG. 4C, and the presented unit stimulus i
Of the sensor unit S (i, 1) having the highest sensitivity (the slope of the linear relation linear expression) is larger than the sensor unit S (i, 2) having the second highest sensitivity, and After the sensor unit S (i, 3) which shows high sensitivity, the size gradually decreases.

However, let us consider a case where a certain unit stimulus i among the chemical / physical quantities to be evaluated is presented to the sensor array 111 in the chemical / physical quantity discriminating apparatus 110 shown in FIG. Physical quantity is a single unit stimulus i
It may be considered that it consists only of). Assuming that the stimulus intensity of the presented unit stimulus i is f, before the detection output level of each sensor Si reaches an output level corresponding to the presented stimulus intensity f from zero, the description has been made with reference to each of FIGS. For a reason, it takes a finite amount of time, which is generally quite long. However, in view of the output of each sensor unit Si at the initial stage of response, as described above, the integral value of the stimulus intensity at the initial stage of response is monotonically increasing with respect to time. , Identifiable and significant output level O
The sensor unit S (i, 1) having the highest sensitivity with respect to the presented unit stimulus i first reaches d (significant minimum output level). As shown in FIG. 4 (C), this time point is the starting point “0” on the time axis for the identification processing in the embodiment described here. Emitting a possible output signal level Od is the sensor unit S (i, 2) having the second highest sensitivity for the unit stimulus i.

Then, the sensor unit S (i, 1) and the sensor unit S (i, 2) each have a significant identifiable output level Od (the corresponding stimulus intensity is the intensity component fm in FIG. 4C).
The difference in the time required until the unit stimulus i) is specific to the presented unit stimulus i. However, since it is not possible to know the moment when the unit stimulus i is presented to the sensor array 111, the above-mentioned response time difference is obtained as data from the above-mentioned time starting point by deforming as follows. be able to.

That is, it is apparent from FIG. 4C that any one of the sensor units S (i, 1) in the sensor array 111 (which ultimately has the highest sensitivity to the presented unit stimulus i) ) At which a significant output level Od that can be distinguished from the noise level is emitted is set as the time starting point “0” as described above, and from this point on, another sensor unit S (i, 2) The time difference t (i, 1,) until (the sensor unit having the second highest sensitivity to the presented unit stimulus i) emits the output value Od of the same value.
2) and the highest sensitivity sensor unit S (i, 1) that responded first
The time t (i, 1, 1 ＠ 2) required to generate an output level having a value (2 × Od) twice the output level Od,

[0048]

Rt (i, 1,2) = t (i, 1,2) / t (i, 1,1 ＠ 2) (3) 2) indicates a unique value for the presented unit stimulus i. Note that “i” k ”indicates a point in time at which the i-th most sensitive sensor outputs k times the output of Od (audio). However,
In the case of “i ＠ l”, “＠l” is omitted.

Therefore, the presented unit stimulus i is composed of n kinds of n
Output level O in consideration of the output of each sensor unit Si.
The order of issuing d {S (i, j); j = 1, 2,.
n} and standardized response delay time data {Rt (i, 1, j) for each sensor; j = 1,2,.
, N}, it is possible to determine uniquely based on such information. Of course, since no significant output is generated from a sensor unit having little sensitivity with respect to a given stimulus component i, the number of responding sensors varies for each stimulus unit i, and may be only one.

Referring to FIG. 2, the mechanism of the present invention will be described in more detail.
The stimulus X presented to the sensor array 111 arranged within 0 includes only a single unit stimulus i (= X), and has a significant and identifiable output level Od within a certain time. If only one sensor fired,
The presented stimulus X can be determined as a specific one from a set of stimulus units that give the highest sensitivity to the sensor S (X, 1). In particular, it is determined that S (X, 1) is a "specific" sensor that responds only to the stimulus i as one of the standard response pattern information known in advance.
If it is stored in the memory 136 that constitutes one circuit element, the stimulus component identification circuit unit 135 reads the stored data and confirms the correspondence relationship, so that the given chemical / physical quantity is equal to the unit stimulus i = X is immediately identified as being of type X, and each stimulus component type identification output section 138 is provided.
Can be output as a component type identification output.

In other words, only one “specific” sensor unit having the highest sensitivity is provided for each of the n divided stimulus unit groups i.
By using these and comparing their responses, the stimulus component identification circuit 135 can immediately and easily determine the given stimulus unit i by knowing S (X, 1). In addition,
The above-mentioned “specific” means that a stimulus unit group can be identified at the highest sensitivity, that is, at the lowest detectable stimulus intensity. When the stimulus intensity is high, there may be a response from a plurality of sensor units. Of course, the wider the stimulus intensity range that maintains the specificity, the easier it is to identify the unit stimuli that make up the stimulus. Further, in the present invention, since the sensor output state at the initial stage of the response is used as described above, a certain fixed value is used to confirm that only the single sensor unit S (X, 1) has responded as described above. Even though it takes time, such time is much shorter than in the case of the conventional example in which the capture of the sensor output is stopped until the sensor output is completely stabilized.

On the other hand, if not only the single sensor S (X, 1) responds to the unit stimulus i but also one or more other sensor units Si, first,
By reading, from the memory 136, the basic data associated with the sensor S (X, 1) responding first among the standard response patterns stored in the memory 136, a set of candidates for the unit stimulus i to be obtained is obtained. Obtainable. Then, the sensor unit S (i, 2) responding secondly
Is detected by the stimulus component identification circuit unit 135, and the response delay time measurement circuit unit 133 performs an operation according to the above equation (3) to obtain the calculated response delay time data Rt. Once (i, 1, 2) is obtained, the number of candidates for the stimulus unit group to be obtained is reduced to a smaller number. As a result of the comparison with the corresponding basic data group in the standard response pattern stored in the memory 136 in advance, if still a single stimulus unit cannot be identified, the sensor unit S ( i, 3) is detected, and t (i, 1,
Rt (i, 1,3) using t (i, 1,3) instead of 2)
1, 3) can be obtained, and the unit stimulus i = X can be determined by repeating this procedure.

On the other hand, the calculation or estimation of the stimulus intensity of the obtained stimulus X can be explained as follows.
When the stimulus intensity is low, a proportional relationship should be established between the stimulus intensity f and the sensor unit output, as described above. Further, the rising speed in the transition period from when the output level is zero immediately before the stimulus is presented to each sensor unit Si to the maximum output level corresponding to the presented stimulus intensity, particularly that in the initial stage of the response, is shown in FIG. As described in connection with C), it can be assumed that there is a linear relationship with the intensity of the presented stimulus. The apparatus 110 according to the present embodiment regards this as such, and data relating to the corresponding proportional coefficient is stored in the memory 136 of various basic data in advance. Therefore, the stimulus intensity f is calculated based on time data (rise speed data) t (t,
(1, 1 ＠ 2) and the proportional coefficient data stored in the memory 136, the stimulus intensity evaluator 134 can easily calculate it. For more accuracy, the output of the corresponding sensor unit is the time t required to reach 4 × Od.
Using (i, 1,1 ＠ 4), calculate based on these two values, or add the time t (i, 1,1 ＠ 8) required until the output level becomes 8 × Od. If the calculation is performed based on these three values, higher precision measurement can be performed.

Next, as the most commonly seen form,
The identification of the stimulus Y in which the stimulus elements are composed of m (m> 1) stimulus unit groups will be described. As described above, when each sensor unit Si has a “specific” high-sensitivity region in the range of one or more digits with respect to the stimulus intensity of a specific stimulus unit i, this is also due to the reason described above. The identification of the stimulus unit group is relatively easy. Main component y of stimulus Y
1 is S (Y,
It can be identified by 1). In particular, it is determined that the output of S (Y, 1) monotonically increases or maintains a substantially constant value.
If such a situation is detected, the stimulus intensity evaluation circuit unit 134 knows that the stimulus intensity is f, and can output this to the stimulus intensity output unit 139. If the stimulus component y1 is captured together with the output of the unit 138, information indicating that the stimulus component y1 exists at the intensity f can be obtained.

As described above, when odor is taken as the detection target, it is necessary to make the sensor unit correspond to all the components of the odor of the detection target existing in the tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of species. Although it is impossible to realize this because it is too large, the sensor array can be configured as long as the number of basic components can be detected, and odor can be simulated.
In Table 1, it was shown that the odor can be reproduced by directly transmitting each density as a digital value obtained for each basic component or by transmitting the density once into a storage medium.

Referring again to FIG. 1, in the apparatus according to the present invention, the set of the obtained component and the density information is converted into a substitute odor component for performing advanced processing in the pseudo odor generating section 16, and a control signal (information ), And performs signal processing such as information compression (S14). Thus, conversion to multimedia information is performed. Since the obtained information can be digitally processed, a conventional recording medium (hereinafter, also referred to as a disk) 1 such as a storage device 13 and a disk of the related art.
3A, the same information can be transmitted across a temporal and spatial difference without losing information at a remote location through the playback device 15 or through a communication medium such as a general network. Using this information, the pseudo-smell generating section 16 uses the L to which the odor component is applied as the odor disk.
Disk 1 such as D or CD as shown in FIG.
4, a pseudo odor 1A closest to the odor processed / converted as multimedia information is generated. Note that the difference between LD and CD used here is L
D odor disk is coated with capsules of 200 to 300 types of component types, and it is possible to generate any odor. CD odor disk has several tens to 100 types of odor component types as a simplified version. , Plants and flowers, animals,
It is assumed that it is used only for applications such as cooking.

In this way, the odor 1 which is said to have thousands or tens of thousands of species is reconstructed using several thousand to one hundred kinds of basic odor species to obtain a pseudo odor 1A. For this reason, it is necessary to detect odors for reproduction with high discrimination ability. The present invention relates to Japanese Patent Application No. 5-3 filed by the present applicant as described above.
Utilizing a sensor array close to the olfactory receptor discriminating ability of a living body described in Japanese Patent No. 54237, the odor is discriminated and detected as a component. At this time, the component discriminating ability must be capable of discriminating a basic odor substance from which tens to hundreds of arbitrary odors are synthesized. Therefore, it is necessary to be a multi-submodal sensor using at least several tens of sensors having different characteristics as constituent elements. The type and concentration of the component odor identified by the odor sensor are used for information communication and a disc 13A as a storage medium such as a CD.
Encoding information into a form suitable for
The odor 1 is reproduced or read out from the disk 13A using an appropriate reading device and odor reproducing device, and is used for reproducing the odor 1 at a place separated in time and space. The encoding / communication method required for this can be realized on a conventional digitally encoded method and a communication medium.

The vaporized odorant is disc 14
Gas sending unit 2 for sending to odorant information recipients from
FIG. 5 shows an example of the zero.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a pseudo odor gas delivery device. In this figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a gas source comprising an air spray, which has a spray valve 22 and is mounted on a gas source holder 23. The spray valve 22 is connected to a flow regulator 25 via a pipe section 24, and further connected to a gas pipe section 2.
6 is connected to a motor shaft (described later) at the center of the disk 14 mounted in the disk reproducing device 27.

A laser irradiation prevention signal generating unit 28 for stopping irradiation of laser light (described later) when gas is not supplied from the gas source 21 is provided in the disc mounting unit 27, and a gas source holder is connected via a cable 29. Control board 3 in 23
Connected to 0. The illustration of the laser is omitted. The odor generated from the disk 14 is sent to the odor information receiver from the odor presenting conduit 31 communicating with the inside of the disk mounting section 27. Reference numeral 32 denotes a disk insertion unit for inserting and removing the disk 14.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the structure of the disk 14 for generating a pseudo odor gas, and FIGS.
7 (A) is a schematic perspective view showing the disk divided vertically, FIG. 7 (B) is a side view of FIG. 7 (A), and FIG. It is a top view which shows a principal part. In these figures, 41 is an upper disk which is a substrate forming the upper part of the disk 14, 42 is a lower disk which is a cover which forms a lower part of the disk 14,
Reference numeral 43 denotes a hollow motor shaft which is closely inserted halfway into the upper disk 41, and an air flow 44 from the gas source 21 shown in FIG. Numeral 45 is a magneto-optical (MO) recording part, the lower part of which is covered with a coating layer 46.
The upper disk 41 and the lower disk 42 are adhered by the adhesive 47.
Are integrally formed as shown in FIG.
The lower disk 42 has a concave portion 49 at its center 48 for introducing gas into the branch, and a gas branch 50 radially branched from the center 48 of the concave 49. In addition to leaving a slight gap from the outer periphery of the magneto-optical recording section 45, a wall 51 is provided on the radiation of each radial gas branch 50, and a plurality of partitions 52 are formed by the wall 51. I have. In the partition 52, microcapsules 53 enclosing odorous gas are arranged. Reference numeral 54 denotes a space between the upper surface of the microcapsule 53 and the wall 51. Reference numeral 61 denotes a laser, 62 denotes a lens, and 63 denotes a laser beam. Then, in FIG. 7C, one partition 5
Although the microcapsules 53 are arranged only in 2, it goes without saying that the microcapsules 53 are also arranged in other partitions 52.

In the above, the upper disk 41 is optically uniform with respect to the wavelength of the laser beam 63 to be used, and
Any transparent material may be used. Also, the magneto-optical recording unit 45
Are the microcapsules 53 arranged on the disk 14.
It is used to record data on the odor component species and the concentration in and the spatial position information where they exist. This information is read, and it is confirmed that a necessary amount of the odor component to be gasified is present on the disk 14 so that the broken microcapsule 53 is not erroneously irradiated with the laser beam again. Therefore, when the odor is generated, the information on the existing region of the microcapsules 53 corresponding to the used components is newly rewritten.

The pseudo odor generator used for reproducing the odor 1 must be small and easy to operate so that it can be easily used at home. Also, some odorants can cause discomfort even in very small amounts,
Usually, it is indispensable to have a performance that the odorant does not leak to the surroundings. Assuming that this condition is satisfied,
There is one in which an odorant is encapsulated in microcapsules 53. With the microcapsules 53, the problem that unintended odors leak or mix at all times or at the time of odor presentation is cleared. Furthermore, CDs and Ls used in digital audio and the like for generating several hundred kinds of odors by mixing several tens to one hundred kinds of basic odor substances.
The irradiation technology of the high-speed access type laser beam 63 by the disk 14 such as D or MO is used. Such a disk 14
A plurality of tens to hundreds of microcapsules 53 are collectively adhered and arranged for each type of odor, and the type, concentration, and position information are stored in a directory. The pseudo odor generating unit 16 processes the transmitted or read information at a high speed, reads directory information in advance so that the necessary microcapsules 53 can be accessed, identifies the sequence, and receives the sequence information. Alternatively, after calculating the number and positions of the microcapsules 53 containing the required odor species from the read information and identifying them all, the required microcapsules 53 are irradiated with laser light 63 in descending order of molecular weight, and the encapsulated solution (odor) is heated. The microcapsules 53 are ruptured by the expansion of the substance), and at the same time, the solution inside is vaporized.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when the gas source (spray) 21 is attached, the spray valve 22 is always opened, and the gas outlet is connected to the pipe serving as the gas conduit section 24 by crimping. I do. The gas discharged from the gas source (spray) 21 passes through a pipe section 24 and is supplied to a flow controller (Mass Flow).
Controller) 25. The flow controller 25 controls the supply flow rate of the non-flammable (or odorless) gas supplied to the disk 14. It is appropriate that the flow rate for sending out the generated odor gas is such that the gas is supplied in an amount of twice to several times the space capacity above the microcapsules 53 in the disk 14 per second. The flow rate at the time of irradiation of the laser beam 63 for generating the odor gas is set at the upper portion of the microcapsule 53 in the disk 14 in order to continuously send the same or different odor gas to the information receiver in a mixed state. The gas flow rate is reduced so that a fraction of the space capacity is supplied per second. Only at the initial stage of turning on the power, the gas flow rate can be set to a value larger than the steady flow rate during the generation of the odor gas, and the time required for replacing the atmosphere around the microcapsules 53 with the nonflammable gas can be shortened. . The flow rate regulator 25 is controlled by a control board 30 incorporating a CPU so that the flow rate becomes a set value. Further, in order to prevent the heating of the laser beam 63 in a state where the non-combustible gas is not sufficiently supplied around the microcapsules 53, when the flow rate becomes lower than the set value, a display indicating that the flow rate is insufficient is performed, and the emergency control signal is transmitted to the gas source. From 21, the laser beam is sent to the disk reproducing device 27 to stop the irradiation of the laser beam 63.

From the outlet side of the flow regulator 25 to the gas inlet of the odor generator, the gas pipes in the apparatus, such as a tube made of fluororesin, have a low gas adsorption, are hardly crushed, and should be piped with a somewhat flexible material. good. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, gas source 21 → pipe section 24 → flow rate controller 2
5 → gas conduit 26 → motor shaft 43 → disk center 4
The non-flammable gas flows through a flow path of 8 → radial gas branch path 50 → partition (application portion of microcapsule 53) 52 in disk 14 → odor presenting conduit 31. The action of this forced gas flow not only keeps the surroundings of the macrocapsule 53 in a non-flammable condition at all times, but also conveys the vaporized odor substance from the disk 14 to the information receiver by using a tube to present the odor gas. By keeping the inside of the door of the disc insertion portion 32 at a positive pressure, the invasion of external air is prevented, and the airtightness is also improved by pressing the door against the housing from the inside. Furthermore, even if the odor solution that did not vaporize instantaneously remains in the broken matter of the microcapsules 53, the effect of promoting the vaporization and reducing the effect of the residual solution on the next odor to be generated is obtained. Has both. The inner diameters of the tubes used for the pipe section 24, the gas conduit section 26 and the odor presenting conduit 31 are such that the arrival time from the generation of the odor gas in the disk to the information receiver is about 0.5 to 1 second, and The space volume above the microcapsules 53 is set to be replaced with a fresh atmosphere gas within one second.
For example, the space volume above the microcapsules in the disk is 0.3 cc, and the supply gas amount per second is
If set to twice, the gas flow rate in the steady state is 36 cc / mi
n and a tube with a 1 mm inner diameter, 40 cm to 70 mm to guide the odorous gas from the disc to the information supplier.
Tubes up to about cm in length can be used. In order to increase the transmission efficiency of the odor gas, it is important to minimize the volume of the disk insertion portion 32.
Since some odorants are acidic, it is necessary to make the gas contact portion non-corrosive.

As shown in FIG. 7, the disk 14 is basically formed by bonding an upper disk 41 and a lower disk 42 with an adhesive. The upper half of the disk 14 is a part coated on the inside with a magneto-optical recording material 45 to enable it to function as an MO disk. The lower half of the disk 14 is a portion having a partition 52 for coating a plurality of types of microcapsules 53. When the upper and lower two disks 41, 42 are bonded together, the partition of the partition 52 of the lower disk 42 and the central gas branch path. It is necessary to set the depth of the partition 52 and the height of the partition so that the 50 and the upper disk 41 are bonded well and a space having a depth of about 100 μm is formed above the microcapsule 53. For this reason, the material of the disk 14 that can be pressed can lead to a reduction in the production cost.

The microcapsules 53 are colored black so as to easily absorb the laser beam 63 shown in FIG. 6, and somewhere in the upper third of the microcapsules 53 are located within the focal plane of the focusing lens 62 for laser irradiation. Glue on the disc 14 as it is. The thickness of the microcapsules 53 greatly affects the fragility of the microcapsules 53. The film thickness of the capsule is adjusted according to the capsule material so as to satisfy the two conditions that the disk 14 is relatively hard to break at the time of production and is easily broken at the time of irradiation with the laser beam 63. As a typical example, it is possible to use a film thickness in which the volume of the film material occupies about 10 to 15% of the volume of the microcapsules 53. The irradiated laser light 63 is absorbed by the material of the microcapsule 53,
The microcapsules 53 are destroyed by the increase in the vapor pressure of the heated odorant solution, thereby generating odor gas. Alternatively, by using a capsule material having a thermal decomposition or photodecomposition action, the material itself of the microcapsules 53 can be decomposed by heating or irradiation of light with high intensity, and also have a function of promoting the destruction of the microcapsules 53. Thus, the desired odor gas can be generated.

In general, the odor intensity increases in accordance with the concentration of the generated odor gas. Therefore, by adjusting the number of microcapsules 53 to be broken, the odor intensity can be adjusted. Further, when a plurality of odorant species necessary for perceiving a target odor are required, or when a high-concentration odorous gas is generated, the corresponding microcapsules 53 are destroyed in a short time of about 1 second or less. During that time, the flow rate of the atmospheric gas is reduced as described above, and thereafter, the flow rate is returned to the steady gas flow rate, whereby the desired odor gas can be generated.

The physical position information of the used microcapsules 53 is deleted from the directory. In addition, labels are provided for any odor substances that are missing. When the odor of the deficient odorant is possible by mixing other odorants, this is substituted. Since the odor disk is chemically and physically stable, it can be used not only for generating any odor, but also for a long time using a microcapsule 53 coated with one to several types of odors. . Array of microcapsule 53 disks
The application can be performed using a mask having an appropriate opening. During reproduction, the disk 14 is rotated at an appropriate speed.

Further, when the odorant is vaporized, some of the odorant is liable to be ignited or decomposed or denatured by oxidation.
The surroundings of the microcapsules 53 to be irradiated with the laser light 63 need to be purged with an odorless gas that is nonflammable and harmless to the human body, such as at all times. In order to make this possible, the odor gas delivery section 20 of FIG.
Use non-combustible gas generated from 1. As a non-combustible gas source, a commercially available hand-held air spray (for example, E series Ultrajet type manufactured by Chemtronics, USA) can be used by adhering it to the gas source holder 23 with the capacity of a cassette stove. In addition, depending on the type of the odorant, it is effective to mix an antioxidant with the odorant and enclose the mixture in the microcapsules 53.

Further, the present odor generating section can also be used for the purpose of simply presenting a known odor. In other words, if pre-synthesized odors (mixed odors) are packed in microcapsules and multiple types are grouped for each type and placed and applied on a disk, they can be controlled and temporally and quantitatively gasified and presented. Desired order,
It is possible to automatically generate odors intermittently with strength.

[0072]

As described above, the method for generating a pseudo-odor according to the present invention converts the odor of the test object into digital information of the type and concentration for each component and associates them with each other. By selectively opening the odor storage unit for each prepared basic component or each mixed odor to generate a pseudo odor corresponding to the digital information, a simulated odor sensation that was impossible in the past was realized can do.

Further, since the digital information is converted into a digital signal of an electric signal, transmission to a remote place is easy.

Further, by recording the digital signal of a specific odor on a conventional recording medium, long-term storage and communication to a remote place using the conventional communication medium are made possible. . Further, since the odor-generating substance is chemically stable, there is an effect that physical preservation and transport can be realized.

In addition, the pseudo-smell generating device includes a microcapsule in which an odorant is sealed, a disk in which the microcapsules are partitioned and adhered for each odor component, and a laser beam is applied to the microcapsules on the disk. Because it consists of a laser that generates odors in the microcapsules by sequentially irradiating and bursting,
By using a conventionally used disc such as a CD or an LD, for example, it is possible to convey the odor to the reproducing side in a cooking program such as a TV or a video, thereby increasing the sense of reality. Also, using a communication medium such as a telephone,
A specific scent can be sent to the odor generator at home.

Further, TV, LD, CD, telephone, FA
X, audio equipment, personal computers, game machines, etc. require new information processing, and at the same time promote the demand for microcomputers, memories, pulse motors, lasers, etc. necessary for the manufacture of new devices or new interfaces, There is an effect that the development of a communication network using a more realistic advanced information device can be promoted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the concept of a method and apparatus for generating a pseudo-odor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a previously proposed chemical / physical quantity identification device used in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a sensor array illustrated in FIG. 2 and a configuration of each sensor unit in the sensor array.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a pseudo odor gas delivery device.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a configuration of a disk that generates pseudo odor gas.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing details of the disc shown in FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 odor 1A pseudo odor 11 odor component sensor array 12 signal processing device 13A recording medium 13 storage device 14 disk 15 reproduction device 16 pseudo odor generation unit 20 odor gas sending unit 41 upper disk 42 lower disk 43 motor shaft 44 airflow 45 magneto-optical Recording part 46 Coating layer 50 Gas flow path 51 Wall part 52 Partition 53 Microcapsule 61 Laser 63 Laser light

Claims (14)

(57) [Claims] 1. An object odor is converted into digital information of a type and concentration for each basic component and associated therewith, and based on the digital information, an odor storage unit for each basic component prepared in advance is selectively opened. A pseudo odor generating method, comprising generating a pseudo odor corresponding to the digital information. 2. An odor of interest is converted into digital information of a type and density for each basic component and associated, and this digital information is converted into a digital signal which is an electric signal, and then transmitted from the transmitting side to the receiving side. Transmitting an odor odor corresponding to the digital information by opening a selectively controlled amount of the odor storage unit for each basic component prepared in advance based on the digital signal on the receiving side. Pseudo odor generation method. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the transmission of the digital signal is performed by wire or wireless from the transmitting side to the receiving side. 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the transmission of the digital signal is performed after the digital signal is once recorded on a recording medium, and the recording medium is transferred to a receiving side. 5. When the odor storage unit for each basic component is opened,
The pseudo-odor generation method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the concentration of the odor component is controlled by controlling the amount of the odorless gas sent to the odor storage unit. 6. The odor reservoir of the basic component comprises microcapsules in which the odor substance of the basic component is sealed, and the opening of the odor reservoir of the basic component is performed by selectively irradiating a laser beam to the microcapsules. The method for generating pseudo-smell according to claim 1, wherein the method is performed by rupture. 7. An odor component sensor array for detecting the type and concentration of the generated odor for each predetermined basic component, and a digital signal corresponding to the type and concentration of the odor basic component detected by the odor component sensor array. A signal processing unit that generates a signal; and a pseudo odor generating unit that receives a digital signal output from the signal processing unit and generates an amount corresponding to the concentration of each basic component of the odor. Pseudo odor generator. 8. The pseudo odor generating device according to claim 7, further comprising an odor gas sending section for purging generated pseudo odor components with an odorless gas. 9. The pseudo odor generating device according to claim 8, wherein the odor gas sending section controls a blowing amount of the odorless gas according to a concentration of a basic component of the pseudo odor to be generated. 10. A pseudo odor generating section, wherein a pseudo odor generating medium in which a plurality of microcapsules each containing a different basic component odor substance are disposed on a track formed on a disk is output from a signal processing section. 8. The pseudo odor generator according to claim 7, further comprising: a laser for selectively irradiating the microcapsules corresponding to the digital signals with a laser beam to rupture the microcapsules. 11. A microcapsule in which different kinds of odor substances are encapsulated, and a large number of microcapsules which can be ruptured by irradiation with laser light are arranged on tracks formed on a disc so as to be selectively irradiated with laser light. Pseudo-odor generation medium. 12. A target mixed odor is converted into digital information for each type and associated with each other, and a pre-synthesized mixed odor storage unit is selectively opened based on the digital information to obtain the digital information. A pseudo-smell generation method, characterized by generating a pseudo-smell corresponding to (1). 13. An odor storage unit in which mixed odors that need to be generated are synthesized in advance, encapsulated and encapsulated microcapsules for each type, disposed on a disk, and applied in time and intensity while rotating the disk. A pseudo odor generation method characterized by selecting a required microcapsule with a controlled laser beam, irradiating and heating to destroy the microcapsule, gasifying the internal odor, and sending it to a required location using an odorless gas. . 14. A mixed odor that needs to be generated is previously synthesized and encapsulated for each type, and microcapsules that can be destroyed by irradiation with laser light are selectively placed on tracks formed on a disk by laser light. A pseudo odor generating medium characterized by being arranged in a large number so that irradiation is possible.