Optics: motion pictures – Special effects
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-30
2001-05-29
Perkey, W. B. (Department: 2851)
Optics: motion pictures
Special effects
C422S125000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06239857
ABSTRACT:
DESCRIPTION
The invention relates to a process and a device for adding odours or scents synchronously to visual and/or acoustic stimuli.
The invention relates to a process and a device for intensifying the sensorial perception of visual and/or acoustic presentations, in particular in cinemas, theaters, concert and conference halls, as well as during slide and video shows, television and radio broadcasts and the like, the audience being provided with scents corresponding to, and synchronous with, specific visual and/or acoustic events or scenes. A process and pertinent devices of this kind have been described in the applicant's German Patent Application No. P 41 35 796.5.
The present invention is primarily based on the object of improving a process and a device of this kind such that the characteristics of the scents used in the process can be perceived even better and are altered as little as possible.
This object is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of patent claims
1
to
16
. Preferred developments, aspects and details of the invention can be seen from the dependent claims, the specification and the drawings.
Thanks to scent-specific thermal treatment, scents can be realized perfectly and true to nature for the first time.
Besides, it is possible by way of the invention to maintain the quality of the scents or odours used without any alteration and to avoid unwanted ageing and changes caused by the conduit system.
The invention provides a scent or aroma heating system as well as a conduit system for aroma cinemas and for projection apparatus used for cinematographic or other performances, which make it possible to provide scents exactly in correspondence with specific scenes.
According to a preferred embodiment of the process of the invention intended to intensify the sensorial perception of visual and/or acoustic presentations, the scents conveyed to the audience via a stream of carrier gas are heated to scent-specific temperatures before the carrier gas is released into the ambient air in the auditorium; said scent-specific temperatures are required in order that the perfumes and aromas may come to bear. Hence, certain scent s which, after being produced, were impossible to realize because temperatures were too low can now be presented publicly for the first time.
In this process, the carrier gas is preferably heated to the scent-specific temperature, suitably before it gets into contact with the respective scent or aromatic substance. Alternatively, the carrier gas may be heated after contacting the aroma, which is preferably effected in the conduit system.
A temperature drop in the conduit system can be reliably prevented by heating the carrier gas to the scent-specific temperature just before it is released into the ambient air in the auditorium.
In order to prevent scents from adhering to the conduits and superimposing some other scent desired at that moment, the conduits are regularly purged, preferably by intermittently conveying the aroma-laden carrier gas and a purging gas through the ducts to the auditorium. The carrier gas charged with the aroma and the purging gas are suitably conveyed in pulse-like successive intervals so that a quasi permanent purging process is effected.
In a particularly favourable embodiment, the carrier gas contains helium or consists of helium. In this case, a film scent system is obtained in which helium heated to a temperature appropriate for the respective scent is used to develop the characteristics of said scent and in which the scent can also be quickly removed from the spectator's seat. In order to save helium, empty chairs in the aroma cinema are automatically cut off from the scent stream.
For reasons of cost, air—preferably compressed air—which may be additionally heated is used as purging gas.
It is important, particularly in a film scent system, to delay ageing of the aromatic substances in order to ensure the quality of the scent perceived by the audience. For this purpose, it is suggested that, in order to prevent ageing, the scents or aromas be cooled until they come into contact with the carrier gas. Such cooling may be effected in a deep cooling process.
So as to prevent the aromatic substances from adhering to the conduit walls during the passage through the conduit system, the carrier gas and/or the purging gas is/are suitably subjected to a constant rotary whirling motion, preferably a constant spiral rotary motion, in the conduit system leading to the audience.
According to another preferred aspect of the invention, a device is provided, particularly for carrying out the afore-described process, which comprises multiple conduits leading to the audience, at least one of said conduits being available, in alternating manner, for the supply of scent and another for the purging operation. Thus a purging system for scent supply conduits is achieved, which can also operate during the showing of a motion picture. This arrangement is preferably realized in the form of a twin system in which one system conveys scents to, and evacuates unwanted scents from, the spectator whereas the other system carries out the purging operation and can be used again as soon as aromatic substances settle in the first system.
This objective can also be achieved on the basis of multiple systems in which the conduits last used are purged and operation is switched to the other, available conduits. Alternatively, a purging system can be provided in which air (optionally heated) is passed through the conduits when no scents are supplied to the audience.
It has also proved useful for the device to contain a cooling means which cools the at least one scent or aroma reservoir.
The heating system for the aromatic substances preferably used in so-called aroma cinemas has to be designed such that the individual scents can be heated differently, i.e. according to their nature and the scent-related technical requirements. For such scent-specific heating, at least one controllable heating means for heating the carrier gas is preferably used.
A heating means is preferably provided such that the carrier gas is heated before it comes into contact with the at least one aroma. Alternatively, or additionally, a heating means may be provided adjacent each of the at least one scent discharge opening(s) located in the auditorium, which can preferably be adjusted individually. Heat loss in the transport system is thus reliably prevented.
Furthermore, a heating means can be provided between the at least one scent or aroma reservoir and the at least one scent discharge opening.
So as to reduce scent deposits in the conduit system, the conduits used for the transport of scents comprise at least at the inside a layer of inert material, preferably of glass or ceramics. In an advantageous embodiment, the conduits used for the transport of scents are designed completely as glass or ceramic conduits.
Aroma deposits at the conduit walls are also counteracted by means of spiral projections or projections having a similar effect at the inner walls of the conduits used for the transport of scents, or by designing said conduits in the form of spirals.
Further details regarding the design of the device and the process can be seen from the applicant's PCT application PCT/EP92/02446 (copy enclosed), the entire content of which is incorporated in the disclosure of the present application.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2540144 (1951-02-01), Stern
patent: 3628829 (1971-12-01), Heilig
patent: 4629604 (1986-12-01), Spector
patent: 6025902 (2000-02-01), Wittek
Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis L.L.P.
Perkey W. B.
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