Optics: motion pictures – Special effects
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-17
2003-04-29
Adams, Russell (Department: 2851)
Optics: motion pictures
Special effects
Reexamination Certificate
active
06556272
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to multimedia systems having scent-dispersing capability, and more particularly to a multimedia and scent storage medium for use in conjunction with an integrated multimedia playback and scent recovery system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Multimedia sources heretofore usually have been limited to audio or visual media. For example, the public is widely familiar with television, high fidelity audio, FM radio, and more recently, the Internet (which typically is audio-visual in format). As a result, the public has been limited to audio or visual stimulation. There has not been widespread media available for providing an olfactory (“scent”) stimulation, particularly scent media that are intended to operate in synchronism with audio or visual sources. Thus users are prevented from experiencing a complete multi-sensory experience that would provide an authentic virtual reality experience.
Known prior art is deficient for many reasons. For example, the prior art shows little or no appreciation for the need to identify scent sources stored on media so that multiple scents stored in them may be recovered in a pre-programmed sequence. Other prior art is designed for use in large auditoriums or movie theaters and comprise multiple, separate and expensive components that are impractical for personal or home use. The prior art also shows no appreciation of the desirability to provide user-specifiable scent sequences for use in combination with audio or visual multimedia sources.
More specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,118 to Huffmnan et al. teaches an olfactory card including a scent producing member. Although the olfactory card of Huffman can be used for personal applications, it suffers from several limitations that prevent it from being of widespread use. The most noticeable limitation is that it is intended for use with PCMCIA slots in portable computers. PCMCIA cards are noticeably small and provide little room for storing the volume of scents that would be required for use in home multimedia applications. Further, in order to properly operate with the PCMCIA interface, the olfactory card requires a separate interface and on-board processing hardware and, as a result, represents an expensive and complex solution.
In addition, the PCMCIA card of U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,118 includes both the scent and the scent recovery apparatus in a single housing. Since the scent-recovery scent apparatus and associated electronics are relatively expensive, a user is presented with a dilemma. After the scent has been exhausted, the user either has to dispose of the PCMCIA card and purchase a new one with fresh scent, or send the PCMCIA card to a commercial entity for refilling. Either of these are less acceptable than an inexpensive disposable alternative. Further, Huffman et al. does not teach any means for editing pre-programmed scent recovery sequences so that a user may “customize” scent recovery sequences for use with known multimedia sources.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,516 to Rasouli et al. discloses a scent-bearing disk and associated playback apparatus. The system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,516 shows no appreciation of scent recovery and sequencing problems. For instance, there is no teaching of how separate scents on the disk are tagged so that they can be rapidly and accurately accessed during playback of multimedia content so that the scent recovery sequence coincides with the multimedia content.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,604 describes a player for a multi-aroma cartridge with individual electric heaters. The player disclosed therein provides no scent identification information for various replacement cartridges, nor is it an Internet-compatible device. Not having any tag or scent identification information limits the flexibility of the player disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,604.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,949,522 describes a device that can deliver various combinations of scent in rapid succession to a user's nose in conjunction with videographic images or sounds. Through proper control of valves and compressed air, the system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,949,522 can use liquid fragrance without heating. U.S. Pat. No. 5,949,522 shows no appreciation of the need for tag or fragrance identification information to control the sequential recovery of fragrances from the fragrance containers. This limits the modes of operation and in turn the flexibility of the system. Furthermore, the whole system requires an uncomfortable and unsanitary nose tube.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,409 describes a method and apparatus for “metered spray” aroma delivery system for use with an entertainment system. The method and apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,409 uses liquid fragrance without heating, and a limited number of fragrance containers without tag or scent identification information. This again limits the flexibility of operation of the device.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,738 describes an apparatus for reproducing smells and flavors using a cylindrical housing containing smell and flavor cartridges. U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,738 provides no tag information for future smell and taste replacements.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,148 describes a multiple aroma delivery apparatus with a plurality of separate cylindrically-shaped chambers. Limiting the arrangement of chambers and valves also decreases the variety of scents deliverable by the system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,734,590 describes a device comprising a plurality of stimulus generators including a scent generator, with a micro-encapsulated scent carrier or a block of spray tubes. The utility signal source is from a separate recording medium. The system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,734,590 provides no tag or scent identification information for the scent carrier and lacks the ability to be re-programmed.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,025,902 describes a process for increasing the sensual perception of visual, acoustic, and odor stimulation in a theatre. U.S. Pat. No. 5,963,302 also describes a process for increasing the sensual perception of visual, acoustic, and scent stimulation in a theatre, as well as various scent storing and releasing arrangements.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,783 describes a multimedia-linked apparatus for delivery of real-time or stored aroma. The aroma-producing system is a multi-chamber mechanism. The aroma emitting material is individually placed above each heater in each releasing chamber, and each chamber has it own air exhausting unit and a controlled opening door.
However, the system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,783 is based on scent or aroma carriers (i.e., card, disk, cartridge, container, or cylinder) that do not carry any tag or scent identification information within or on the scent or aroma carriers. Without any tag or scent identification information, the control device of the prior art cannot receive the tag information of scents or aroma. Thus the scents cannot be recovered in a preprogrammed sequence.
Providing tag or scent identification information for the scent or aroma carriers with a controller would generate more variety and precision with respect to scent or aroma recovery in a very cost-efficient way. In addition, the multimedia information recovered from the multimedia medium of the scent or aroma carriers would create another option for users, as a stand-alone multimedia playback and scent recovery device. The prior art shows no appreciation of these modes of operation.
There are different methods and apparatus for impregnating scent medium on a disk or a card to make a Scent Disk or a Scent Card or a Scent Cartridge. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,939,033 describes a method and apparatus for impregnating solid materials (e.g. hydrogen peroxide) on a disk allowing conductive foil to conduct heat. U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,290 describes a process and apparatus for programmed scent delivery by piercing capsules of scented substrates and compounds embedded on a disk. U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,727 discloses a strip dispenser that is manually generated. U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,787 presents a method and apparatus for an insertable scented card. U.
Alverson Karl
Chiao Dah-Shiarim
Du Howard
Adams Russell
MultiSen Technology, Inc.
Nguyen Michelle
O'Neill David M.
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