US6282458B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and systems for controlling olfactory stimuli
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1999-07-30
•
Granted: 2001-08-28
•
Expires: 2019-07-30
Abstract
Abstract The system and method of controlling the olfactory stimuli release a specified aroma-causing agent from a first specified location in environment. In order to simulate the movement of the released aroma-causing agent in space, the same aroma-causing agent is released from a second specified location in the environment.
Inventors
- 👤 Noboru Murayama
- 👤 Satoshi Yamauchi
- 👤 Koichi Suzuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:34
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D21/00; G05D21/02; A; A61; A61L; A61L9/00; A61L9/015; A61L9/04; A61L9/12; A61L9/122
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of controlling olfactory stimuli in a limited space, comprising the steps of: a′) providing a plurality of aromas; a″) placing a network of olfactory releasing stations at predetermined locations; a) selecting a first releasing location among the predetermined locations based upon an input signal which is at least indicative of a location and one of the plurality of the aromas from which an aroma-causing agent is selected; b) releasing the aroma-causing agent based upon the input signal from the first releasing location; c) selecting at least a second releasing location; and d) releasing the aroma-causing agent based upon the input signal from the second releasing location to simulate a movement of the aroma in space.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of controlling olfactory stimuli in a limited space, comprising the steps of: a′) providing a plurality of aromas; a″) placing a network of olfactory releasing stations at predetermined locations; a) selecting a first releasing location among the predetermined locations based upon an input signal which is at least indicative of a location and one of the plurality of the aromas from which an aroma-causing agent is selected; b) releasing the aroma-causing agent based upon the input signal from the first releasing location; c) selecting at least a second releasing location; and d) releasing the aroma-causing agent based upon the input signal from the second releasing location to simulate a movement of the aroma in space.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of controlling the olfactory stimuli according to claim 1 wherein said input signal includes information on a directionality and a delay time and further comprises additional steps of c) selecting a second releasing location based upon the input signal and d) releasing the aroma-causing agent from the second releasing location after a certain time specified in the input signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of controlling the olfactory stimuli according to claim 1 further comprising an additional step of e) of releasing a first aroma-removing agent near the first releasing location.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of controlling olfactory stimuli according to claim 3 wherein said input signal also indicates strength of the aroma-causing agent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of controlling olfactory stimuli according to claim 1 wherein the aroma-causing agent is stored in a liquid form.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of controlling olfactory stimuli according to claim 1 wherein the aroma-causing agent is stored in a solid form.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of controlling olfactory stimuli according to claim 1 wherein the aroma-causing agent is a mixture of a plurality of aroma-causing elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of controlling olfactory stimuli according to claim 1 wherein said steps a) and b) are performed in the environment where audio-visual stimuli are provided to complement the olfactory stimuli.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of controlling olfactory stimuli according to claim 2 wherein the first releasing location and the second releasing location are in a network environment.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
253 words
A system for controlling olfactory stimuli, comprising: an input signal unit for inputting an input signal indicative of a first location, a second location and an aroma-causing agent; a plurality of aromas and non-aroma stimuli; a control unit connected to said input signal unit for generating a first location signal and a second location signal based upon the input signal; a network of aroma releasing units each connected to said control unit, each of said aroma releasing units having access to said aromas further comprising: a storage unit for storing an aroma-causing agent; a first releasing unit located near the first location and connected to said storage unit and said control unit for releasing said aroma-causing agent in environment based upon the first location signal wherein the input signal indicative of a first location signal for activating a first one of said aroma releasing units that is located near the first location, the input signal also indicating which one of said aromas that contains said aroma-causing agent; and a second releasing unit located near the second location and connected to said storage unit and said control unit for releasing said aroma-causing agent in environment based upon the second location signal wherein the input signal indicative of a second location signal for activating a first one of said aroma releasing units that is located near the second location, the input signal also indicating which one of said aromas that contains said aroma-causing agent, wherein the system stimulates a movement of the aroma in space.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
253 words
A system for controlling olfactory stimuli, comprising: an input signal unit for inputting an input signal indicative of a first location, a second location and an aroma-causing agent; a plurality of aromas and non-aroma stimuli; a control unit connected to said input signal unit for generating a first location signal and a second location signal based upon the input signal; a network of aroma releasing units each connected to said control unit, each of said aroma releasing units having access to said aromas further comprising: a storage unit for storing an aroma-causing agent; a first releasing unit located near the first location and connected to said storage unit and said control unit for releasing said aroma-causing agent in environment based upon the first location signal wherein the input signal indicative of a first location signal for activating a first one of said aroma releasing units that is located near the first location, the input signal also indicating which one of said aromas that contains said aroma-causing agent; and a second releasing unit located near the second location and connected to said storage unit and said control unit for releasing said aroma-causing agent in environment based upon the second location signal wherein the input signal indicative of a second location signal for activating a first one of said aroma releasing units that is located near the second location, the input signal also indicating which one of said aromas that contains said aroma-causing agent, wherein the system stimulates a movement of the aroma in space.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
76 words
The system for controlling the olfactory stimuli according to claim 10 further comprising a second releasing unit, said input signal unit further inputs information on a directionality and a delay time via the input signal, said control unit generating a second location signal for a second location based upon the input signal, said second releasing unit located substantially near the second location for releasing the aroma-causing agent after a certain time specified in the input signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system for controlling the olfactory stimuli according to claim 10 wherein said first releasing unit releases a first aroma-removing agent near the first location for removing the aroma-causing agent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system for controlling olfactory stimuli according to claim 10 wherein the input signal also indicates strength of the aroma-causing agent.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system for controlling olfactory stimuli according to claim 10 wherein the aroma-causing agent is stored in a liquid form.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system for controlling olfactory stimuli according to claim 10 wherein the aroma-causing agent is stored in a solid form.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system for controlling olfactory stimuli according to claim 10 wherein the aroma-causing agent is a mixture of a plurality of aroma-causing elements.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system for controlling olfactory stimuli according to claim 10 further comprising an audio-visual unit for providing audio-visual stimuli in the environment to complement the olfactory stimuli.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system for controlling olfactory stimuli according to claim 12 wherein the first location and the second location are in a network environment.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2813452A
Cited
US2905049A
Cited
US3050870A
Cited
US3661323A
Cited
US3795438A
Cited
US4102656A
Cited
US4402856A
Cited
US4444720A
Cited
US4556539A
Cited
US4629604A
Cited
US5023020A
Cited
US5071621A
Cited
US4952400A
Cited
EP0398687A2
Cited
DE4018020A1
Cited
US5018974A
Cited
US5105133A
Cited
US5356458A
Cited
US5178839A
Cited
DE4135796A1
Cited
JPH05146499A
Cited
US5648046A
Cited
US5398070A
Cited
WO1994009493A1
Cited
EP0616175A2
Cited
US5788569A
Cited
JPH08336576A
Cited
US5591409A
Cited
US5724256A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-08-27 | 2005-02-26 | 2005-08-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-08-27 | 2009-02-26 | 2009-08-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-08-27 | 2013-02-26 | 2013-08-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |