中文版本

Opportunity

Existing olfactory devices face significant limitations in terms of portability, flexibility, and precision in odor delivery. Traditional devices are often bulky, rigid, and limited to emitting simple or single odors, making them unsuitable for applications requiring nuanced or dynamic olfactory feedback. For individuals with sensory impairments, such as those who are deaf or blind, conventional tactile or auditory communication methods can be slow or indirect. There is a pressing need for a compact, flexible, and programmable wearable device capable of delivering diverse and controlled odor profiles to convey information effectively. This patent addresses these challenges by introducing a wearable electronic device that can generate and modulate odors with high spatial and temporal precision, offering a novel communication medium for sensory-impaired users and enhancing immersive experiences in virtual or augmented reality.  

Technology

The patent describes a wearable electronic device comprising one or more odor-processing units, each capable of independently generating or influencing odors perceptible to the user. The device features a flexible substrate, enabling comfortable skin adhesion, and integrates control circuitry to operate the odor-processing units. Key innovations include:  

1. Modular Odor Processing: Each unit contains multiple odor processors (e.g., chemical chambers with phase-change materials like wax) that release specific scents upon heating. The device can independently control these processors to create complex odor profiles (e.g., sequential or stereo smells).  
2. Active Cooling System: A magnetic or electromagnetic actuation mechanism moves heating elements away from odor sources to rapidly stop scent release, ensuring precise temporal control. 
3. Programmable Control: The device uses embedded processors and wireless communication to synchronize odor delivery with external inputs (e.g., alerts or VR stimuli), enabling customizable odor-based messaging.  

Advantages

• Compact and Flexible: The device is lightweight, skin-adhesive, and suitable for prolonged wear.  
• High Precision: Spatiotemporal control over odor release (e.g., <0.6 sec="" response="" time)="" supports="" dynamic="" applications.="">
• Energy-Efficient: Low-power heating and cooling mechanisms extend battery life.  
• Multifunctional: Supports up to eight distinct odors (e.g., floral, herbal) with adjustable intensity and duration.  
• Accessibility: Enables real-time communication for sensory-impaired users via odor-coded information.  

Application

• Assistive Technology: Conveys alerts or messages to deaf/blind individuals through programmable scents.  
• Virtual Reality: Enhances immersion in AR/VR environments with synchronized olfactory feedback.  
• Medical Therapy: Aids in smell training for anosmia patients or stress relief via aromatherapy.  
• Consumer Electronics: Wearable perfumeries or gaming accessories.