TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention concerns in general the technical field of solutions for providing at least one sensory stimulus. Especially the invention concerns scent emission solutions for providing a sensory stimulus.

BACKGROUND

A scent or a fragrance may be applied as an environmental stimulus that has an effect to a person subjected to the scent or fragrance. Suitable selection of scent may be applied to invoke a desired effect in the person subjected to it. As an example, a suitable scent may be applied to create an energizing or calming effect or any other similar functionality.

Furthermore, a visual stimulus and/or an audible stimulus may be applied to a scent stimulus in order to provide a multisensory stimulus. The multisensory stimulus may improve the desired effect in the person subjected to it. In order to provide a combined multisensory stimulus of scent stimulus, visual stimulus and/or audible stimulus an arrangement comprising at least one device to produce the said stimuluses is required. Typically separate devices may be used to provide each of the stimuluses. In order to provide a scent stimulus a device for emitting a scent is required. Alternatively or in addition, the scent stimulus may be provided by multiple devices.

There exists some prior art solutions for emitting a scent, wherein the operation of the device for emitting the scent is controlled manually by the user, for example by pressing a button to activate the emission of the scent. Typically, only one scent may be emitted by one device. Thus, for emitting several scents also several devices are required.

According to one prior art solution, the scent may be emitted by means of a device comprising a housing that accommodates a chamber having a scent source inside it. Furthermore, an air supply source is used to supply air into the chamber in order to provide a desired scent. At least one drawback of this prior art solution may be that only one scent may be emitted.

According to another prior art solution, the scent may be emitted by means of a device comprising a housing that accommodates a plurality of chambers or cartridges having a scent source inside them. Furthermore, a plurality of air supply sources is used to supply air into the plurality of chambers in order to provide a desired scent so that one of the air supply sources supplies air into one of the chambers. One drawback of this solution is a large number of components. Another drawback of the prior art solution may be that the scent may be emitted into a narrow or small area, because the scent is flown out from the device from small scent outlet(s).

Thus, there is need for develop further solutions for emitting scent.

SUMMARY An objective of the invention is to present a scent diffuser device and an ambient emission arrangement for emitting a desired scent composition. Another objective of the invention is that the scent diffuser device and the ambient emission arrangement for emitting a desired scent composition improve the controllability of emitting a plurality of different scent composition. Another further objective of the invention is to provide s scent diffuser device having a simple structure and ability to emit a plurality of different scent compositions.

The objectives of the invention are reached by a scent diffuser device and an ambient emission arrangement as defined by the respective independent claims.

According to a first aspect, a scent diffuser device for emitting a desired scent composition is provided, wherein the scent diffuser device comprises: a center unit, and a plurality of cartridges that are removably attachable to the center unit, wherein at least one scent source is arranged inside at least one of the plurality of cartridges, wherein the center unit comprises: an air supply unit arranged to supply air into the plurality of cartridges, wherein the air supply unit comprises a single blower arranged to supply air to each of the plurality of cartridges individually; a control unit arranged to receive at least one control signal and to control at least the operation of the air supply unit in response to the received at least one control signal, the at least one control signal comprises an instruction to supply air from the blower to at least one of the plurality of cartridges in order to form a desired scent composition to be emitted; and a housing for accommodating at least the air supply unit and the control unit, wherein the housing comprises a scent outlet, wherein the scent composition is arranged to flow from the at least one of the plurality of cartridges, to which the air is supplied, into the housing of the center unit, and the scent composition is further arranged to flow out from the housing of the center unit through the scent outlet of the housing. The air supply unit may further comprise: a rotator housing arranged to accommodate at least the blower; a distributor platform comprising a plurality of channels for guiding air supplied from the blower to the plurality of cartridges; and a stepper motor arranged to rotate the rotator housing around a center axis of the housing of the center unit so that the blower is alignable with the plurality of channels in order to supply air from the blower individually to each of the plurality of cartridges via the corresponding channel.

The blower may be arranged to supply air in a direction parallel to the center axis of the housing of the center unit. Alternatively, the blower may be arranged to supply air in a direction perpendicular to the center axis of the housing of the center unit.

The center unit may further comprise a fan arranged to enhance the outflow of the scent composition through the scent outlet of the housing of the center unit.

Furthermore, the control unit may be further arranged to control the operation of the fan in response to the received at least one control signal.

Moreover, the at least one control signal received by the control unit may further comprise an instruction to adjust the volume of the air flow of the fan.

Moreover, each of the plurality of cartridges may comprise an air inlet and a scent outlet. Furthermore, the air inlet and/or the scent outlet may comprise at least one of the following: filter, grating, grid. Alternatively or in addition, the air inlet and/or the scent outlet may comprise a valve.

In addition, the center unit may further comprise a plurality of air outlets and a plurality of scent inlets. Furthermore, the plurality of air outlets and/or the plurality of scent inlets may comprise a valve. The desired scent composition may be formed by the supplied air enriched with a scent from the at least one scent source. Furthermore, the plurality of cartridges may comprise fastening means for removably attaching the plurality of cartridges to the center unit and the housing of the center unit may comprise a corresponding counterpart for the fastening means the plurality of cartridges. Moreover, the blower may be a piezoelectric device.

In addition, the at least one control signal is received from an external device.

According to a second aspect, an ambient emission arrangement for providing multisensory stimulus is provided, wherein the arrangement comprising an audio production system for provision of an audio signal, a lighting arrangement for illuminating, and at least one scent diffuser device described above.

The exemplary embodiments of the invention presented in this patent application are not to be interpreted to pose limitations to the applicability of the appended claims. The verb "to comprise" is used in this patent application as an open limitation that does not exclude the existence of also un-recited features. The features recited in depending claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 A illustrates schematically an example of a scent diffuser device according to the present invention.

Figure 1 B illustrates schematically another example of a scent diffuser device according to the present invention. Figure 2 illustrates schematically an example of a center unit of a scent diffuser device according to the present invention.

Figure 3 illustrates schematically an example of a cartridge of a scent diffuser device according to the present invention. Figure 4 illustrates schematically another example of a scent diffuser device according to the present invention.

Figure 5 illustrates schematically a more detailed example of a scent diffuser device according to the present invention.

Figure 6 illustrates schematically an example of an air supply unit of a scent diffuser device according to the present invention.

Figure 7 illustrates schematically an example of the air supply unit of the Figure 6 from another view angle.

Figure 8 illustrates schematically another example of an air supply unit of a scent diffuser device according to the present invention. Figure 9 illustrates schematically an example of the air supply unit of the Figure 8 from another view angle.

Figure 10 illustrates schematically an example of a control unit of a scent diffuser device according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS Figure 1 A illustrates schematically an example of a scent diffuser device 100 according to the present invention. The scent diffuser device 100 may be used for emitting a desired scent composition into the environment. The scent diffuser device 100 comprises a center unit 102 and a plurality of cartridges 104. The center unit 102 comprises a housing 106, an air supply unit 108, and a control unit 1 10. The housing 106 of the center unit 102 has a center axis 1 12 in a longitudinal direction of the housing 106 and first and a second end perpendicular to the center axis 1 12. Additionally, the housing 106 of the center unit 102 comprises sidewall(s) parallel to the center axis 1 12 of the housing 106 and a cover at least in one end of the housing 106. The cover may comprise one or more layers. In the example illustrated in Figure 1 A, the cover further comprises two layers 106a, 106b. The layers may be arranged a distance from each other in order to form a space between the layers. Furthermore, the one or more layers 106a, 106b may be attached to each other by means of at least one support structure 124, such as bar, pin or similar, as shown in Figure 1 A. Alternatively, the one or more layers 106a, 106b may be arranged in contact with each other. Figure 1 B illustrates another example of the scent diffuser device according to the present invention, wherein the scent diffuser device 100 comprises a first cover in the first end of the housing 106 and a second cover in the second end of the housing 106. The first cover comprises two layers 106a, 106b and the second cover 106c comprises one layer. Also the second cover 106c may comprise one or more layers. The cover or at least one layer of the cover may be arranged in contact with the housing 106 of the center unit 102, as one layer 106a of the first cover shown in Figure 1 B. Alternatively or in addition, the cover or at least one layer of the cover may be arranged a distance from the housing 106 of the center unit 102 by means of at least one support structure 126, such as bar, pin or similar, as the second cover 106c illustrated in Figure 1 B. The housing 106 of the center unit 102 is arranged to accommodate at least the air supply unit 108 and the control unit 1 10. Figure 2 illustrates schematically an example of the center unit 102 according to the present invention. The different parts of the center unit 102 will be described more in detail later in this application. The size and the shape of the center unit 102 may vary. For example, the size and the shape of the center unit 102 may depend on the size and the shape of the air supply unit 108 and/or the size and the shape of the control unit 1 10. The shape of the center unit 102 may be cube, rectangular cuboid, cylinder or prism, for example.

Furthermore, the center unit 102 of the scent diffuser device 100 according to the present invention may further comprise a fan 506, although it is not illustrated in Figures 1 A, 1 B, and 2. The fan 506 may be accommodated in the housing 106 of the center unit 102. The operation of the fan 506 in context of the present invention will be discussed later in this application.

Figure 3 illustrates schematically an example of at least one cartridge 104 according to the present invention. The number of cartridges 104 may vary depending on the requirements, such as number of scents, for example. Furthermore, the size and also the shape of the plurality of cartridges 104 may vary depending on the requirements, such as number of cartridges 104, scent capacity, for example. Alternatively or in addition, the shape and the size of the plurality of cartridges 104 may depend on shape of the central unit 102. The plurality of cartridges 104 may comprise sidewall(s) and a cover in both ends of the cartridge 104. Furthermore, the plurality of cartridges 104 may comprise an air inlet 304 and a scent outlet 1 16, which will be described more in detail later in this application. The plurality of cartridges 104 may be removably attached to the center unit 102 of the housing 106 of the center unit 102. Preferably, the plurality of cartridges 104 may be attached to the center unit 102 so that the plurality of cartridges 104 surrounds the center unit 102 as illustrated in Figure 4. Figure 4 illustrates an example of the scent diffuser device 100 according to the present invention from another view angle than illustrated in Figures 1 A and 1 B, wherein housing 1 06 of the center unit 102 has a shape of cylinder. The example scent diffuser device 100 illustrated in Figure 4 comprises 8 cartridges 104. The cartridges 104 in Figure 4 have same size. Alternatively, the cartridges 104 may have different sizes. For example, each of the cartridges 104 may have different size.

The removably attaching of the plurality of cartridges 104 to the center unit 102 means that the plurality of cartridges 104 may be attached to the center unit 102 so that the plurality of cartridges 104 may be removed from the center unit 102 and attached to the center unit 102 repeatedly. Preferably, each of the plurality of cartridges 104 may be attached to the center unit 102 and removed from the center unit 102 independently. In order to removably attach the plurality of cartridges 104 to the center unit 102 the housing 106 of the center unit 102 comprises fastening means 302 for attaching the plurality of cartridges 104. An example of the fastening means 302 for one cartridge is illustrated in Figure 3. Alternatively or in addition, the housing 106 of the center unit 102 may comprise at least one counterpart 202 for the fastening means 302 of the plurality of cartridges. An example of the counterpart 202 for the fastening means 302 is illustrated in Figure 2. In other words the center unit 102 may comprise a counterpart 202 for fastening means 302 of each of the plurality of cartridges 104. The removable attaching of the plurality of cartridges 104 enables that the at least one of the plurality of cartridges 104 may be for example replaced or filled easily and quickly. Alternatively or in addition, removable attaching enables that the capacity of the scent diffuser device 100 may be adjusted, such as increased or decreased, by increasing/decreasing the dimensions of the cartridges without having a need to get a new device.

The fastening means 302 of the plurality of cartridges 104 may be, such as a screw, bolt or similar, or a notch, a protrusion, pin, bar, or pole, for example. Alternatively or in addition, the corresponding counterpart 202 of the center unit 102 may be such that it is attachable to the respective fastening means 302 of the plurality of cartridges 104. In other words the counterpart 202 arranged to the center unit 102 is compatible to the fastening means 302 arranged to the plurality of cartridges 104. The counterpart 202 may be a notch, hole, protrusion, pin, bar, or pole, for example. In Figure 3 an example of the fastening means 302 arranged to the plurality of cartridges 104 is illustrated, wherein the fastening means 302 is implemented as a bar. In Figure 2, in turn, an example of a corresponding counterpart 202 arranged to the housing 106 of the center unit 102 is illustrated, wherein the counterpart 202 is implemented as a hole. Alternatively or in addition, the fastening means 302 of the plurality of cartridges may be a combination of one or more above presented fastening means. Figures 2-4 illustrate non-limiting examples of fastening means 302 and counterpart 202.

Furthermore, at least one scent source 1 18 may be arranged inside at least one of the plurality of cartridges 104. Preferably, each of the plurality of cartridges 104 accommodate at least one scent source 1 18. Most preferably, each of the plurality of cartridges 104 may accommodate different at least one scent source 1 18. This enables that the scent diffuser device 100 may emit several different scent compositions. The scent composition may be formed by the air supplied inside the plurality of cartridges 104 and enriched with a scent from the at least one scent source 1 18 accommodated inside the plurality of cartridges 104. The scent composition may comprise one or more scents. Moreover, the at least one scent source 1 18 comprises fragrance molecules. The at least one scent source 1 18 may be solid-like. Alternatively or in addition, originally a liquid-like scent source, such as fragrance oil may, be soaked into solid-like material. Alternatively, a mixture of molecules having different scent may be soaked into solid-like material.

Furthermore, the at least one scent source 1 18 may have at least one of the following properties: porosity, light, non-reactive, cheap. Moreover, the adsorption capacity of the at least one scent source 1 18 may preferably be high in order to adsorb scent molecules as much as possible. Alternatively or in addition, a combination of different kind of solid-like scent sources 1 18 may be used. The solid-like scent source 1 18 may bind non-polar and polar molecules. The material of the at least one scent source 1 18 may be at least one of the following: silicate, silica, diatomaceous earth, carbon, zeolite, clay, cyclodextrin, cellulose, plastics, for example. The shape and the particle size of the at least one scent source 1 18 may vary. The shape and the particle size of the at least one scent source 1 18 may be defined by the purpose of the scent diffuser device 100, for example. The solid-like scent source 1 18 may be provided by granulating or tableting. Alternatively or in addition, the at least one scent source 1 18 may be encapsulated or coated in order to at least partly prevent too fast evaporation from a solid-like scent source material.

Moreover, each of the at least one cartridges 104 may comprise a hatch for arranging the at least one scent source 1 18 inside the at least one of the plurality of cartridges 1 18, wherein the hatch may be re-closeable. Alternatively or in addition, at least one of the sidewalls or the covers of the at least one cartridges 104 may be arranged to be removable so that the at least one scent source 1 18 may be arranged inside the at least one cartridge 104.

The air supply unit 108 of the center unit 102 is arranged to supply air to plurality of cartridges 104 individually. The air may be supplied to each of the plurality of cartridges 104 one at a time. Figure 5 schematically illustrates a cross sectional view of an example of a scent diffuser device 100 according to the present invention, wherein the air supply unit 108 comprises a single blower 202, a rotator housing 204, a stepper motor 502, and a distributor platform 208. The blower 202 may be arranged to produce the air to be supplied inside the plurality of cartridges 104. The blower 202 may be a piezoelectric device, for example. The blower 202 may comprise a piezoelectric element, diaphragm, and nozzle for guiding the air out of the blower 202. The ultrasonic vibration of the piezoelectric material enables that the blower 202 operates as an air pump discharging high pressure air from the blower 202 via the nozzle.

The rotator housing 204 may be arranged to accommodate at least the blower 202. The rotator housing 204 may have a rectangular shape, for example, and the blower 202 may be accommodated substantially in one end of the rotator housing504, as illustrated, for example, in Figure 2. The shape of the rotator housing 204 is not limited to rectangular shape and it may also have any other shape. Furthermore, the blower 202 may be accommodated anywhere in the rotator housing 204. The blower 202 may be arranged to supply air in a direction parallel to the center axis 1 12 of the housing 106 of the center unit 102 as shown in Figure 5. In other words the blower 202 may be arranged to be positioned on the rotator housing 204 so that the air comes out from the nozzle of the blower in a direction parallel to the center axis 1 12 of the housing 106 of the center unit 102. Alternatively or in addition, the blower 202 may be arranged to supply air in a direction perpendicular to the center axis 1 12 of the housing 106 of the center unit 102 as will be described later in the context of Figures 8 and 9. The rotator housing 204 may be concentric with the housing 106 of the center unit 102 and the rotator housing 204 may be rotated concentrically, i.e., the rotating point of the rotator housing 204 locates in the center axis of the housing 106 of the center unit 102, wherein the rotating point is the center point of the rotator housing 204, which is the point where the center axis of the length of the rotator housing 204 and the center axis of the width of the rotator housing 204 intersect. Alternatively, the rotator housing 204 may be rotated eccentrically, i.e., the rotating point of the rotator housing 204 locates offset from the center point of the rotator housing 204. The single blower 202 may be arranged to supply air to each of the plurality of cartridges 104 individually. This is enabled by the stepper motor 502 that is arranged to rotate the rotator housing 204 from the rotating point of the rotator housing 204 causing that the blower 202 is rotated around the center axis of the housing 106. The distributor platform 208 comprises a plurality of channels 504 for guiding the air supplied from the blower 204 to the plurality of cartridges 104. One channel 504 may be arranged for each of the plurality of cartridges 104. In other words the distributor platform 208 of the air supply unit comprises one channel 504 for each of plurality of cartridges 104 that may be attached to the center unit 102. Hence, the number of the channels 504 of the distributor platform 208 may define the maximum number of cartridges 104 that may be attached to the center unit 102. This enables that a different number of cartridges and/or cartridges having different size may be used with the same center unit 102. Figure 6 schematically illustrates a closer view of an example air supply unit 108 according to the present invention, wherein the air supply unit 108 comprises the distributor platform 208 comprising a plurality of channels 504, the stepper motor 502, and the rotator platform 204 comprising the blower 202. The stepper motor 502 is arranged to rotate the rotator housing 204 around the center axis 1 12 of the housing 106 of the center unit 102 so that the blower 202 is alignable with each of the plurality of channels 504 in order to supply air from the blower 202 individually to each of the plurality of cartridges 104 via the plurality of channels 504. Each of the plurality of channels 504 has a first 602 end and a second end 604. The blower 202 may be aligned with the first end 602 of each of the channels 504. The second end 604 of each of the channels 504 is facing the corresponding cartridge 104. The blower 202 is alignable with a channel 504, if the nozzle of the blower 202, from which the air comes out from the blower 202, is aligned with the first end 602 of said channel 504.

In the example air supply unit 108 shown in Figures 5 and 6 the blower 202 may be arranged in the rotator platform 204 so that the air is arranged to be supplied from the blower 202 in the direction parallel to the center axis 1 12 of the housing 106 of the center unit 102. Therefore, each channel 504 has a bend between the first end 602 and the second end 604. Figure 7, in turn, schematically illustrates the air supply unit of the Figure 6 viewed from the direction along the center axis 1 12 of the housing 106 of the center unit 102. The example distributor platform 208 illustrated in Figure 7 has 8 channels 504 for 8 cartridges 104. The blower 202 is aligned with the first end 602 of one of the channels 504 in order to supply air to the cartridge 104 corresponding to that channel 504. As illustrated in Figure 7 the rotator housing 204 accommodating the blower 202 may be rotated around the center axis 1 12 of the housing 106 of the center unit 102 clockwise. Alternatively or in addition, the rotation direction of the rotator housing 204 may also be counterclockwise. Figure 8 schematically illustrates a cross sectional view of another example of a scent diffuser device 100 according to the present invention. In this example the scent diffuser device 100 is otherwise similar to the scent diffuser device 100 described above, but the blower 202 is arranged to supply air in a direction perpendicular to the center axis 1 12 of the housing 106 of the center unit 102. In other words the blower 202 is arranged to be positioned on the rotator housing 204 so that the air comes out from the nozzle of the blower in a direction perpendicular to the center axis 1 12 of the housing 106 of the center unit 102. Therefore, the plurality of channels 504 is substantially straight between the first end 602 and the second end 604 of the plurality of channels 504. Figure 9, in turn, schematically illustrates the air supply unit 108 of Figure 8 viewed from the direction along the center axis 1 12 of the housing 106 of the center unit 102. In the example distributor platform 208 illustrated in Figure 9 is 4 channels for 4 cartridges 104 and the blower 202 is aligned with one of the channels 504 in order to supply air to the cartridge 104 corresponding to that channel 504. The use of the stepper motor 502 to rotate one blower 202 to supply air for a plurality of cartridges 104 as described examples presented above decreases the number of blowers needed, because only one blower is used to supply air for a plurality of cartridges 104, which in turn enables a simple structure for the scent diffuser device and decreases the manufacturing costs of the center unit 102 of the scent diffuser device 100. Furthermore, the use of the stepper motor to rotate one blower 202 to supply air for a plurality of cartridges 104 as described examples presented above improves the controllability of the scent diffuser device 100, which further improves the ability to emit a plurality of different scent compositions by means of one scent diffuser device 100. The control unit 1 10 of the center unit 102 is arranged to receive at least one control signal. In response to the received at least one control signal the control unit 1 10 is arranged to control at least the operation of the air supply unit 108. In other words the control unit 1 10 is arranged to control at least the operation of the blower 202 and the stepper motor 502. The at least one control signal may be received from an external device, for example. Some non-limiting examples of the external device may e.g. be a server, mobile phone, tablet computer, personal computer, laptop computer, computing circuit, a network of computing devices. The at least one control signal may comprise information on the at least one of the plurality of cartridges 104 to which the air is arranged to be supplied in order to emit the desired scent composition formed by the supplied air enriched with scent from the at least one scent source 1 18. In other words the control signal received by the control unit 1 10 may comprise at least an instruction to rotate the blower 202 to supply air to at least one of the plurality of cartridges 104 in order to form the desired scent composition to be emitted. The control signal may comprise an instruction to supply air into one of the plurality of cartridges 104. Alternatively or in addition, the control signal may comprise an instruction to supply air into all of the plurality of the cartridges 104 sequentially. Alternatively, the control signal may comprise an instruction to supply air into some of the plurality of the cartridges 104 sequentially. In other words the control unit 1 10 is arranged to receive at least one control signal indicating at least one of the plurality of cartridges 104 to which the air is to be supplied and in response to the received control signal the control unit 1 10 is arranged to control at least the operation of the stepper motor 502 in order to rotate the blower 202 to the position of said at least one cartridge 104 and to control the operation of the blower to supply air into said at least one cartridge 104 to form the desired scent composition as described above. The blower 202 may be arranged to stay at the position of the cartridge 104 and to supply air to the cartridge 104 until the control unit receives another control signal comprising an instruction to stop supplying the air. Alternatively or in addition, the blower 202 may be instructed to supply air for a predetermined time to the cartridge 104. Furthermore, the blower 202 may be arranged to stay at the position, where it is when the control unit 102 receives the stop instruction or the predetermined time has passed, and wait for the next control signal. Alternatively, in response to receiving the stop instruction or when the predetermined time has passed the rotator housing 204 may be arranged to be rotated back to its initial position, where the rotation housing 204 may be arranged to wait for the next control signal. Alternatively or in addition, if the at least one control signal comprises an instruction to supply air to plurality of the cartridges 104 sequentially, the blower may be instructed to supply air for a predetermined time to each of the plurality of cartridges that the air is instructed to be supplied.

Each of the plurality of cartridges 104 may comprise an air inlet 304 in order to allow air to enter inside each of the plurality of cartridges 104. The second end 604 of each of the channels 504 may be arranged in a position corresponding to the air inlet 304 of each of the plurality of cartridges 104. The air inlet 304 may be an opening arranged on a wall of the cartridge facing the center unit 102 when the at least one cartridge is attached to the center unit 102 as illustrated in Figure 3. Alternatively, the air inlet 304 may be a pipe extending outside the cartridge 104 and/or inside the cartridge 104. In addition, each of the plurality of cartridge 104 may comprise a scent outlet 1 16 to allow the scent composition formed inside each of the plurality of cartridges 104 to flow out from each of the plurality of cartridges 104. The scent outlet 1 16 may be an opening arranged on a wall of the cartridge 104. Alternatively, the scent outlet 1 16 may be a pipe extending outside the cartridge 104 as shown in Figure 3 or a pipe extending inside the cartridge 104. Furthermore, the air inlets 304 of the plurality of cartridges 104 and/or the scent outlet 1 16 of the plurality of cartridges 104 may comprise a filter, grating, grid, or similar in order to at least partly prevent the at least one scent source 1 18 to drift out from the plurality of cartridges 1 04, when the air is not supplied to the said cartridge 104. Alternatively or in addition, the air inlet 304 and/or the scent outlet 1 16 may comprise a valve, which may keep the plurality of cartridges 104 airtight, when the air is not supplied to the said cartridge 104. Furthermore, the valve may at least partly prevent unwanted evaporation of the scent composition from the plurality of cartridges 104. Especially the valve enables preventing at least partly the evaporation of the light compositions, when the air is not supplied to the said cartridge 104. The valve may be adjustable and the control unit 1 10 may be configured to control the adjustment of the valve.

In addition, the center unit 102 may comprise a plurality of air outlets 120. For each of the plurality of cartridges 104 may be arranged one air outlet 120 in position corresponding to the air inlet 304 of the each of the plurality of cartridges 104, when the plurality of cartridges 104 is attached to the center unit 102. In other words the center unit 102 may comprise one air outlet 120 for each of the plurality of cartridges 104. Hence, the number of air outlets 120 of the center unit 102 may define the maximum number of cartridges 104 that may be attached to the center unit 102. The air outlet 120 of the center unit 102 may be a pipe extending outside the housing 106 of the center unit 102 as illustrated in Figure 2. Alternatively, the air outlet 120 of the center unit 102 may be an opening arranged to a wall of the housing 106 of the center unit 102 and/or to the distributor platform 208. If the air outlet 120 is a pipe extending outside the housing 106 of the center unit 102, the pipe extends also inside the cartridge 104 through the air inlet opening 304 of the cartridge 104, when the cartridge 104 is attached to the center unit 102 as illustrated in Figure 5. The air may be supplied from the at least one air supply unit 108 to the plurality of cartridges 104 via the air inlets 304 of the plurality of cartridges 104 and the corresponding air outlet 120 of the housing 106 of the center unit 102. Furthermore, the housing 106 of the center unit 102 may comprise a plurality of scent inlets 206. For each of the plurality of cartridges 104 may be arranged one scent inlet 206 of the housing 106 of the center unit 102 in a position corresponding to the scent outlet 1 16 of the each of the plurality of cartridges 104, when attached to the center unit 102. In other words the housing 106 of the center unit 102 may comprise one scent inlet 206 for each of the plurality of cartridges 104. Hence, the number of scent inlets 206 of the housing 106 of the center unit 102 may be defined by the number of cartridges 104. The scent inlet 206 may be a pipe extending outside the housing 106 of the center unit 102. Alternatively, the scent inlet 206 may be an opening arranged to a wall of the housing 106 of the center unit 102 as illustrated in Figure 2. If the scent outlet 1 16 of the cartridge 104 is a pipe extending outside the cartridge 104, the pipe extends also inside the housing 106 of the center unit 102 through the scent inlet 206 opening of the housing 106, when the cartridge 104 is attached to the center unit 102 as illustrated in Figure 5.

Alternatively or in addition, the plurality of air outlets 120 of the center unit 102 and/or the plurality of scent inlets 206 of the center unit 102 may comprise a valve. When the valve is implemented in the plurality of air outlets 120 of the center unit 102 and/or the plurality of scent inlets 206 of the center unit 102 instead of implementing said valve in the air inlets 304 and/or the scent outlets 1 16 of the plurality cartridges 104, it enables that the plurality of cartridges 104 may be kept more simple and cheaper to manufacture.

The use of a pipe as an inlet/outlet at least partly prevents the leakage of the air and/or scent composition when flowing from the center unit 102 to the plurality of cartridges 104 or from the plurality of cartridges 104 to the center unit 102. Moreover, the use of a pipe as an inlet/outlet improves the efficiency of the flow of the scent composition, because the flow may be concentrated, which in turn may increase the flow of the scent composition further out from the scent diffuser device 100. The scent composition is arranged to flow out from the at least one of the plurality of cartridges 104, to which the air is supplied, into the housing 106 of the center unit 102 via the scent outlet 1 16 of the at least one cartridge 104 and the corresponding scent inlet 206 of the housing 106 of the center unit 102. Furthermore, the housing 106 of the center unit 102 comprises a scent outlet 122 to allow the scent composition to flow out from the scent diffuser device 100. The scent outlet 122 of the center unit 102 may be arranged to the second end of the housing 106. The scent composition flown inside the housing 106 of the center unit 102 is arranged to flow out from the scent diffuser device 100 through the scent outlet 122 of the housing 106 of the center unit 102.

The scent outlet 122 of the housing 106 of the center unit 102 may be covered with a grating, grid, or similar as illustrated in Figure 4. Alternatively, the scent outlet 122 of the housing 106 of the center unit 102 may be an uncovered opening. The grating of the scent outlet 122 may be such a grating that enables the scent composition to flow out freely from the scent diffuser device 100. The cell size of the grating of the scent outlet 122 may vary depending on the requirements. Furthermore, the size of the scent outlet 122 of the housing 106 of the center unit 102 may also vary depending on the requirements. Preferably, the size, i.e. the diameter, of the scent outlet 122 of the housing 106 of the center unit 102 may be equal to the size, i.e. diameter, of the housing 106 of the center unit 102 in order to emit the scent composition into as large area as possible. In other words the scent outlet 122 may be limited by the sidewalls of the housing 106 of the center unit 102. Alternatively, the size, i.e. diameter, of the scent outlet 122 may be smaller than the size, i.e. the diameter, of the housing 106 of the center unit 102.

As described above, the housing 106 may comprise a cover at least in one end of the housing 106. The second cover 106c arranged to the second end of the housing 106 enables that the scent composition may be directed to flow out from the scent diffuser device 100 in a direction perpendicular to the center axis 1 12 of the housing 106 of the center unit 102 as illustrated in Figure 1 B. In a case, where a cover is not arranged to the second end of the housing 106 the scent composition may be arranged to flow out from the scent diffuser device 100 in a direction substantially parallel to the center axis 1 12 of the housing 106 of the center unit 102 as illustrated in Figure 1 A, for example. Furthermore, the center unit 102 described in the above presented examples may further comprise a fan 506 arranged to enhance the outflow rate of the scent composition through the scent outlet 122 of the housing 106 of the center unit 102. The fan is illustrated in Figures 5 and 8. The fan 506 may be arranged to blow air in order to enhance the scent outflow by spreading the scent composition. In order to provide air to the fan 506 an air inflow may be arranged to the housing 106 of the center unit 102. The air inflow for the fan 506 may be arranged to the first end of the housing 106. Preferably the air inflow for the fan 506 may be arranged to the opposite end of the housing 106 than the scent outlet 1 12 of the center unit 102. The air may be arranged to flow to the fan 506 through an opening arranged in the cover 106a of the housing 106 as illustrated in Figure 8. Alternatively or in addition, if the cover of the housing 106 comprises more than one layer, the air may be guided to the fan 506 through the space between the layers of the cover 106a, 106b, as shown in Figure 5. For sake of clarity in Figures the air supplied to the plurality of cartridges 104 and/or to the fan 506 is illustrated with arrows having a solid line and the formed scent composition is illustrated with arrows having a dashed line. The fan 506 enables that the scent flow may be increased inside the housing 106 of the center unit 108 causing that the scent composition may cover larger area than without the fan 506. Furthermore, the fan 506 enables that the scent composition may be emitted equally into the environment around the scent diffuser device 100.

The fan 506 may be any type of fan, such as an axial-flow fan, a centrifugal fan, or a cross-flow fan, for example. The fan 506 may comprise an electric motor for powering the fan 506. Preferably, the electric motor may be a DC motor. The DC motor may be a brushed or brushless DC motor, for example. A brushless DC motor generates less electromagnetic interference than other type of motors, thus the fan 506 may preferably comprise a brushless DC motor. The volume of the air flow provided by the fan 506 may depend on the type of the fan 506, for example. Furthermore, the volume of the air flow provided by the fan 506 may be adjusted. The adjustment of the volume of the air flow enables that the volume of the scent composition outflow from the scent diffuser device 100 may also be adjusted. The control unit 1 10 may further be configured to control the operation of the fan 506 and the at least one control signal received by the control unit 1 10 may comprise instructions to control the operation of the fan 506. The at least one control signal received by the control unit 1 10 may comprise instruction to turn on the fan 506, turn off the fan 506, and/or adjust the volume of the air flow of the fan 506, for example.

The scent diffuser device 100 described in the examples above may further comprise fastening means to fasten the scent diffuser device 100 to a ceiling, wall or similar surface depending on the application in which the scent diffuser device 100 will be implemented. The fastening means may be arranged to the housing 106 of the center unit 102, for example. The fastening means may be at least one of the following: bar, pin, pole, screw, bolt or similar, for example.

Figure 10 discloses a schematic example of a control unit 1 10 of the center unit 102 according to the invention. The control unit 100 may comprise at least one processor 1002, at least one memory 1004 being volatile or non-volatile for storing portions of computer program code 1005a-1005n and any data values, a communication interface 1006 and possibly at least one user interface units 1008. The above mentioned elements may be communicatively coupled to each other with e.g. an internal bus. For sake of clarity, the processor 1002 herein refers to any unit suitable for processing information and control the operation of the control unit 1 10, among other tasks. The operations may also be implemented with a microcontroller solution with embedded software. Similarly, the memory 1004 is not limited to a certain type of memory only, but any memory type suitable for storing the described pieces of information may be applied in the context of the present invention. The communication interface 1006 provides interface for communication with any external device, such as mobile phone, database and/or external systems. The communication interface 1006 may be based on one or more known communication technologies, either wired or wireless, in order to exchange pieces of information as described earlier. Alternatively or in addition, the communication interface 506 may also be used for providing power to the scent diffuser device 100. The scent diffuser device 100 may be powered via the communication interface 506 by mains or any external device, for example. Alternatively or in addition, the scent diffuser device 100 according to present invention may comprise a battery to provide power to the scent diffuser device 100.

The processor 1002 of the control unit 1 10 may be at least configured to control the air supply unit 108 as described above. Alternatively or in addition, the processor 1002 of the control unit 1 10 may be configured to control the fan and/or the valve as also described above. The controlling may be achieved by arranging the processor 1002 to execute at least some portion of computer program code 1005a-1005n stored in the memory 1004 causing the processor 1002, and thus the control unit 1 10, to control the air supply unit 108, the fan 506 and/or the valve as described. The processor 1002 is thus arranged to access the memory 1004 and retrieve and store any information therefrom and thereto. Moreover, the processor 1002 is configured to control the communication through the communication interface 1006 with any external devices. The processor 1002 may also be configured to control storing of received and delivered information. The control unit 1 10 may be implemented as a one unit. Alternatively or in addition, the control unit 1 10 may be implemented as a plurality of separate units communicatively coupled to each other. The communicatively coupling may be based on one or more known communication technologies, either wired or wireless.

The control unit 1 10 of the center unit 102 may be arranged anywhere in the center unit 102. Preferably, the location of the control unit 1 10 may be arranged so that the control unit 1 10 does not disturb the operation of the fan 506, i.e. so that the control unit 1 10 does not at least completely prevent the air flow from the fan 506. Figures 5 and 8 illustrate some example location for the control unit 1 10, wherein the control unit 1 10 is arranged in the space between the two layers of the cover 106a, 106b of the housing 106 and fixed to one of the layers of the cover 106a. If the control unit 1 10 is implemented as a plurality of separate units, the units may be arranged in a same location. Alternatively or in addition, the plurality of separate control units 1 10 may be arranged in different locations in the center unit 102. Alternatively or in addition, the control unit 1 10 may comprise a driver for controlling the operation of the blower 202 and/or a driver for controlling the operation of the stepper motor 502. The rotator housing 204 of the air supply unit 108 may be arranged to accommodate the driver of the blower 202, for example. The respective driver may be communicatively coupled to the blower 202 or the stepper motor 502 with some known communication technologies, either wired or wireless.

Above it is described a scent diffuser device 100 according to the invention with different embodiments. The scent diffuser device 100 according to the invention may be implemented in a desired application independently in order to apply a scent composition as an environmental stimulus that has an effect to a person subjected to the scent composition. Alternatively or in addition, the scent diffuser device 100 according to the invention may be implemented in a scent emission arrangement. An example of such an arrangement is presented in an international patent application WO 2016/055689 A1 . The scent emission arrangement may comprise one scent diffuser device 100 according to the present invention. Alternatively, the scent emission arrangement may comprise a plurality of scent diffuser devices 100 according to the present invention. Alternatively, the scent diffuser device 100 according to the invention or the scent emission arrangements may be employed in an ambient emission arrangement for emitting a desired scent composition. The ambient emission arrangement may further comprise an audio production system for provision of the audio signal in the environment and/or a lighting arrangement for illuminating the environment. Furthermore, the ambient emission arrangement may comprise a control arrangement to control the operation of the ambient emission arrangement. The ambient emission arrangement may be used to provide a multisensory stimulus.

The specific examples provided in the description given above should not be construed as limiting the applicability and/or the interpretation of the appended claims. Lists and groups of examples provided in the description given above are not exhaustive unless otherwise explicitly stated.