US6090344A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and system for generating scent from independently releasable sources of scent causing agents
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1998-07-07
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Granted: 2000-07-18
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Expires: 2018-07-07
Abstract
Abstract The system for and a method of generating a scent and an image based upon a coded signal transmitted from a remote location, and the scent is generated from a dry scent carrying medium which contains a plurality of independent sources of scent causing agents. The coded signal is indicative of simultaneously activating the independent sources of scent causing agents so as to generated a complex mixture of the scents on the fly.
Inventors
- 👤 Satoshi Yamauchi
- 👤 Noboru Murayama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:06
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00127
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 57
Claim 1
Independent Claim
47 words
An image-carrying medium having a first side, a second side and edges, comprising: an image-carrying area for carrying an image reproduced based upon digital data; and a plurality of independent sources of scent-causing agents, each of said independent sources being independently activated for generating a predetermined scent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
47 words
An image-carrying medium having a first side, a second side and edges, comprising: an image-carrying area for carrying an image reproduced based upon digital data; and a plurality of independent sources of scent-causing agents, each of said independent sources being independently activated for generating a predetermined scent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The image-carrying medium according to claim 1 wherein said independent sources are located in said image-carrying area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The image-carrying medium according to claim 1 wherein said independent sources are located outside said image-carrying area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The image-carrying medium according to claim 3 wherein said independent sources are located near the edges.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The image-carrying medium according to claim 1 wherein said independent sources and said image-carrying area are located on the first side.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The image-carrying medium according to claim 1 wherein said independent sources are located on the first side while said image-carrying area is located on the second side.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The image-carrying medium according to claim 1 wherein said independent sources are simultaneously activated for causing a mixture of predetermined scents.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The image-carrying medium according to claim 1 wherein each of said independent sources further comprises micro-capsules containing said scent-causing agents.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The image-carrying medium according to claim 1 wherein colorant is to be deposited on said image-carrying area so as to form said image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The image-carrying medium according to claim 1 wherein said image carrying medium includes at least one layer of colorant capable of forming an image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The image-carrying medium according to claim 1 wherein said scent-causing agents are each pressure sensitive for generating said predetermined scent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The image-carrying medium according to claim 1 wherein said scent-causing agents are each heat sensitive for generating said predetermined scent.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
101 words
A system for generating a scent, comprising: a scent control unit for generating a scent signal which specifies a scent to be generated; a dry scent-carrying medium carrying an image reproduced according to digital data on its surface and said dry scent-carrying medium containing a plurality of independently releasable sources of scent-causing agents, each of said sources causing a predetermined scent; and a scent causing unit located near said dry scent-carrying medium and in response to said scent signal from said scent control unit for selectively releasing said scent-causing agents from said dry scent-carrying medium so as to generate said scent.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
101 words
A system for generating a scent, comprising: a scent control unit for generating a scent signal which specifies a scent to be generated; a dry scent-carrying medium carrying an image reproduced according to digital data on its surface and said dry scent-carrying medium containing a plurality of independently releasable sources of scent-causing agents, each of said sources causing a predetermined scent; and a scent causing unit located near said dry scent-carrying medium and in response to said scent signal from said scent control unit for selectively releasing said scent-causing agents from said dry scent-carrying medium so as to generate said scent.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system for generating a scent according to claim 13 wherein said dry scent-carrying medium further includes a colorant.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system for generating a scent according to claim 13 wherein said scent signal is indicative of simultaneously releasing a combination of said sources of said scent-causing agents.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system for generating a s cent according to claim 13 wherein said scent-causing agents are each pressure sensitive for generating said predetermined scent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system for generating a scent according to claim 13 wherein said scent-causing agents are each heat sensitive for generating said predetermined scent.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system for generating a scent according to claim 13 wherein said scent control unit is remotely located from said scent causing unit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
114 words
A facsimile for transmitting an image and a scent, comprising: an image control unit for generating an image signal which specifies the image to be transmitted; a scent control unit for generating a scent signal which specifies the scent to be transmitted; an output-carrying medium capable of carrying an image and containing a plurality of independently releasable sources of scent-causing agents, each of said sources causing a predetermined scent; and an output unit located near said output-carrying medium and in response to said scent signal and said image signal for generating said image on said output-carrying medium and for selectively releasing said scent-causing agents from said output-carrying medium so as to generate said scent.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
114 words
A facsimile for transmitting an image and a scent, comprising: an image control unit for generating an image signal which specifies the image to be transmitted; a scent control unit for generating a scent signal which specifies the scent to be transmitted; an output-carrying medium capable of carrying an image and containing a plurality of independently releasable sources of scent-causing agents, each of said sources causing a predetermined scent; and an output unit located near said output-carrying medium and in response to said scent signal and said image signal for generating said image on said output-carrying medium and for selectively releasing said scent-causing agents from said output-carrying medium so as to generate said scent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The facsimile according to claim 19 wherein said scent signal is indicative of simultaneously releasing a combination of said sources of said scent-causing agents.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The facsimile according to claim 19 wherein said scent-causing agents are each pressure sensitive for generating said predetermined scent.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The facsimile according to claim 19 wherein said scent-causing agents are each heat sensitive for generating said predetermined scent.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The facsimile according to claim 19 wherein said scent control unit further comprises an scent specifying input unit for inputting a scent input.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The facsimile according to claim 19 wherein said image signal and said scent signal are combined as an output signal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
The facsimile according to claim 19 wherein said output-carrying medium is heat sensitive to generate said image and said scent, said output unit generating heat based upon said image signal and said scent signal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
The facsimile according to claim 19 wherein said output-carrying medium is pressure sensitive to generate said image and said scent, said output unit generating pressure based upon said image signal and said scent signal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The facsimile according to claim 19 wherein said output unit generates said image by depositing colorant on said output-carrying medium based upon said image signal.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of generating a scent from an image-carrying medium, the image-carrying medium having a first side, a second side and edges, the first side further including an image-carrying area, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of independent sources of scent-causing agents on the image-carrying medium, each of said independent sources being independently activated for generating a predetermined scent; rendering an image on the first side of said image-carrying medium; and selectively releasing said scent-causing agents from said image-carrying medium so as to generate the scent.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of generating a scent from an image-carrying medium, the image-carrying medium having a first side, a second side and edges, the first side further including an image-carrying area, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of independent sources of scent-causing agents on the image-carrying medium, each of said independent sources being independently activated for generating a predetermined scent; rendering an image on the first side of said image-carrying medium; and selectively releasing said scent-causing agents from said image-carrying medium so as to generate the scent.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of generating a scent according to claim 28 wherein said independent sources are provided in said image-carrying area.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of generating a scent according to claim 28 wherein said independent sources are provided outside said image-carrying area.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of generating a scent according to claim 28 wherein said independent sources are provided near the edges.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of generating a scent according to claim 28 wherein said independent sources are provided on the first side.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of generating a scent according to claim 28 wherein said independent sources are provided on the second side.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of generating a scent according to claim 28 wherein said independent sources are simultaneously activated for causing a mixture of predetermined scents.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of generating a scent according to claim 28 wherein said scent-causing agents are simultaneously released as said image is rendered.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of generating a scent according to claim 28 wherein said scent-causing agents are later released after said image is rendered.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of generating a scent according to claim 28 wherein said rendering step further comprising a step of depositing colorant on said image-carrying area so as to form said image.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of generating a scent according to claim 28 wherein said rendering step further comprising a step of generating heat so as to form said image.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of generating a scent according to claim 28 wherein said selectively releasing step further comprising a step of generating pressure so as to generate said predetermined scent.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of generating a scent according to claim 28 wherein said selectively releasing step further comprising a step of generating heat so as to generate said predetermined scent.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of generating a scent, comprising the steps of: generating a scent signal which specifies the scent to be generated; providing at least one colorant and a plurality of independently releasable sources of scent-causing agents on a dry scent-carrying medium, each of said sources causing a predetermined scent; selectively releasing said scent-causing agents from the dry scent-carrying medium based upon said scent signal so as to generate said scent and transferring said colorant from the dry scent-carrying medium so as to generate an image.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of generating a scent, comprising the steps of: generating a scent signal which specifies the scent to be generated; providing at least one colorant and a plurality of independently releasable sources of scent-causing agents on a dry scent-carrying medium, each of said sources causing a predetermined scent; selectively releasing said scent-causing agents from the dry scent-carrying medium based upon said scent signal so as to generate said scent and transferring said colorant from the dry scent-carrying medium so as to generate an image.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of generating a scent according to claim 41 further comprising a step of generating an image on the dry scent-carrying medium.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of generating a scent according to claim 41 wherein said selectively releasing step simultaneously releases a combination of said sources of said scent-causing agents.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of generating a scent according to claim 41 wherein said selectively releasing step generates pressure for generating said predetermined scent.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of generating a scent according to claim 41 wherein said selectively releasing step generates heat for generating said predetermined scent.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of generating a scent according to claim 41 wherein said scent signal is remotely generated.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of transmitting an image and a scent, comprising: generating an image signal which specifies the image to be transmitted; generating a scent signal which specifies the scent to be transmitted; providing an output-carrying medium which is capable of carrying an image and contains a plurality of independently releasable sources of scent-causing agents, each of said sources causing a predetermined scent; generating said image on said output-carrying medium in response to said image signal; and selectively releasing said scent-causing agents from said output-carrying medium so as to generate said scent in response to said scent signal.
Claim 53
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of transmitting an image and a scent, comprising: generating an image signal which specifies the image to be transmitted; generating a scent signal which specifies the scent to be transmitted; providing an output-carrying medium which is capable of carrying an image and contains a plurality of independently releasable sources of scent-causing agents, each of said sources causing a predetermined scent; generating said image on said output-carrying medium in response to said image signal; and selectively releasing said scent-causing agents from said output-carrying medium so as to generate said scent in response to said scent signal.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of transmitting an image and a scent according to claim 47 wherein said selectively releasing step simultaneously releases a combination of said sources of said scent-causing agents.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of transmitting an image and a scent according to claim 47 wherein said selectively releasing step further includes a step of generating pressure for generating said predetermined scent.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of transmitting an image and a scent according to claim 47 wherein said selectively releasing step further includes a step of generating heat for generating said predetermined scent.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of transmitting an image and a scent according to claim 47 further comprises an additional step of inputting a scent-specifying input.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-07-18 | 2004-01-17 | 2004-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-07-18 | 2008-01-17 | 2008-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-07-18 | 2012-01-17 | 2012-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |