BACKGROUND

Technical Field

This disclosure generally relates to providing olfactory sensations to or more users in vehicles.

Description of the Related Art

All of our five senses act as messengers that deliver information to the brain, which then processes this information, causing us to respond in relatively predictable ways. Within the context of our sense of smell, all odors present themselves in specific chemical configurations, allowing humans to perceive a wide variety of distinct odors. Odor perception initiates in the nose, where the respective molecules are detected by a large family of olfactory receptors. Olfactory receptors have diverse protein sequences, and are assigned to subfamilies on the basis of sequence

relationships. These observations formed the basis for research into the mechanisms underlying human odor perception, leading to the 2004 grant of the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine to Linda B. Buck and Richard Axel.

However, even given the significant importance of our sense of smell, relatively little has been done to develop the apparent physiological value of this sense or to more thoroughly incorporate this sense into how humans experience the world around them on a daily basis. Although some systems and devices have been proposed for attempting to provide olfactory sensations to users, such systems and devices have proven inadequate as mobile, personal, targeted and effective delivery systems that may be used to alter behavior. Some of these systems and devices are intended for personal use, while other systems and devices are intended to provide olfactory sensations simultaneously to groups of people, for example people located in a common area such as a movie theater.

New approaches that selectively automate, including more precisely control and remotely deliver, desired scents, as well as coordinate audio and/or visual stimuli with olfactory sensations in order to deliver a physiological response, for personal and/or group use are desirable.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Various systems, methods, and articles are described which provide a scent sensory experience to end users within vehicles. In some implementations, the system may allow the discrete delivery of olfactory stimuli with audio and/or visual signals, enhancing the impact on human and animal behavior.

Advantageously, such vehicle-based systems may include one or more wells or stations in the console of the vehicle in which one or more portable scent dispensing devices may be removably docked or linked. Each of the portable scent dispensing devices may, for example, take the form of a personal device, which may include a dedicated power source (e.g., secondary battery), and which may have a form factor which allows the portable scent dispensing device to be carried (e.g., handheld) by a user. The portable scent dispensing devices may, for example, take a form similar or even identical to those illustrated and described in U.S. patent applications Serial Nos. : 14/213,608 filed March 14, 2014; 14/213,683 filed March 14, 2014; and

61/944,870 filed February 26, 2014.

The wells or stations may be positioned within a console of the vehicle, for example. The wells or stations may include structures, for instance apertures, to physically receive the portable scent dispensing devices, and removably secure the portable scent dispensing devices to the station. The well or station may include one or more physical connectors (e.g., USB, Apple Lightning, Apple 30 pin) which selectively provide communicative coupling between the portable scent dispensing devices and a processor-based device of the vehicle, such as a head unit of the vehicle. The station may additionally or alternatively include one or more radios (e.g., WTFI,

BLUETOOTH, radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogator or reader, and/or cellular transceiver) which selectively provide communicative coupling between the portable scent dispensing devices and the processor-based device of the vehicle. In cases where the processor-based device of the vehicle communicates wirelessly with the portable scent dispensing devices, the portable scent dispensing device may be sized and dimensioned to sit in a custom or standard well (e.g., cup holder, tray) of a console of a vehicle.

The communicative coupling allows the processor-based device (e.g., head unit) to send control signals to control the operation of the portable scent dispensing devices. In instances where the portable scent dispensing devices are physically coupled to the processor-based device of the vehicle, the communicative coupling may also allow the processor-based device to provide electrical power to the portable scent dispensing devices, for instance 5 V or 10 V direct current (DC) electrical power. The communicative coupling may also allow the processor-based device further to interrogate the portable scent dispensing devices. The communicative coupling may additionally or alternatively allow the processor-based device of the vehicle to directly interrogate transponders carried by scent cartridges which scent cartridges hold scent media and are in turn held by the portable scent dispensing devices.

Interrogation allows circuitry in the processor-based device of the vehicle to assess scents which are available via the currently linked or docked portable scent dispensing devices. The processor-based device may confirm whether sufficient scents are available to render a scent composition. The processor-based device may determine or otherwise generate control signals and provide the control signals to cause two or more currently linked portable scent dispensing devices to render a scent composition. This may include causing a first one of the currently linked portable scent dispensing devices to render a first scent and to cause a second one of the currently linked portable scent dispensing devices to render a second scent, the second scent different from the first scent.

The processor-based device of the vehicle may cause the currently linked portable scent dispensing devices to render a scent composition in synchronization with other media experiences, for instance audio (e.g., music), images (e.g., video), multimedia (e.g., audiovisual), originating from the processor-based device of the vehicle or from a personal communications device coupled thereto. Such media experiences may include media delivered from one or more of broadcast delivery, satellite delivery, Web delivery, delivery from nontransitory processor-readable media, etc.

The scent cartridges may each include a plurality of scent media, each of which emits a respective distinct scent, for example 4, 6, or 8 scents. The scent cartridges may include machine-readable information (e.g., RFID transponder, machine-readable symbols) which identifies, or which can be used to identify, the specific scents carried by the respective scent cartridge. The scent media is typically consumable, hence the scent cartridges are removably replaceable from the portable scent dispensing devices.

A scent delivery system for a vehicle may be summarized as including a body; a scent delivery subsystem disposed at least partially within the body and which in use selectively dispenses one or more scents; at least one communications subsystem disposed at least partially within the body and which in use communicates with a processor-based device of a vehicle; at least one processor operatively coupled to the communications subsystem and the scent delivery subsystem; and at least one nontransitory processor-readable medium that stores at least one of data or instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: receive, via the at least one communication subsystem, a signal from the processor- based device of the vehicle; and cause the scent delivery subsystem to dispense at least one scent based at least in part on the signal received from the processor-based device of the vehicle. The processor-based device of the vehicle may be a head unit of the vehicle. The at least one communications subsystem may include a short-range wireless communications subsystem, and the at least one processor may cause the short- range wireless communications subsystem to establish a communications link with a short-range wireless communications subsystem operatively coupled to the processor- based device of the vehicle. The body may be fixedly coupled to a portion of a console of the vehicle. The body may be sized and dimensioned to be selectively positioned within a well of a console of the vehicle. The body may be sized and dimensioned to be selectively positioned within a cup holder of the vehicle. The scent delivery subsystem may include at least one cartridge receptacle which selectively receives a scent cartridge containing at least one scent, and in use the scent delivery subsystem may dispense the at least one scent from the at least one scent cartridge received in the at least one cartridge receptacle.

The at least one processor may receive, via the at least one communications subsystem, an audio signal from the processor-based device of the vehicle; and may cause the scent delivery subsystem to dispense at least one scent based at least in part on the audio signal received from the processor-based device of the vehicle. The at least one processor may receive, via the at least one communications subsystem, an audio signal from the processor-based device of the vehicle, the audio signal being received by the processor-based device of the vehicle from at least one of a radio broadcast, a satellite broadcast, a nontransitoiy processor-readable medium operatively coupled to the processor-based device of the vehicle, or a portable media player. The at least one processor may receive, via the at least one communications subsystem, an audio signal from at least one of a radio broadcast, a television broadcast, a satellite broadcast, a nontransitoiy processor-readable medium operatively coupled to the processor-based device of the vehicle, or a portable media player. The at least one processor may receive, via the at least one communication subsystem, a signal from the processor-based device of the vehicle, the signal dependent at least in part on a user input received via a user interface of the processor-based device of the vehicle.

A method of operating a scent delivery system in which the scent delivery system includes a body; a scent delivery subsystem disposed at least partially within the body and which in use selectively dispenses one or more scents; at least one communications subsystem disposed at least partially within the body and which in use communicates with a processor-based device of a vehicle; at least one processor operatively coupled to the communications subsystem and the scent delivery

subsystem; and at least one nontransitoiy processor-readable medium that stores at least one of data or instructions, and may be summarized as including receiving, via the at least one communication subsystem, a signal from the processor-based device of the vehicle; and causing, by the at least one processor, the scent delivery subsystem to dispense at least one scent based at least in part on the signal received from the processor-based device of the vehicle. Receiving a signal from the processor-based device of the vehicle may include receiving a signal from a head unit of the vehicle. The scent delivery system may include at least one communications subsystem including a short-range wireless communications subsystem, and the method may further include causing the short-range wireless communications subsystem to establish a communications link with a short-range wireless communications subsystem operatively coupled to the processor-based device of the vehicle.

The scent delivery subsystem may include at least one cartridge receptacle which selectively receives a scent cartridge containing at least one scent, and the method may further include receiving a scent cartridge in the at least one cartridge receptacle.

The method may further include receiving, via the at least one communications subsystem, an audio signal from the processor-based device of the vehicle; and causing, by the at least one processor, the scent delivery subsystem to dispense at least one scent based at least in part on the audio signal received from the processor-based device of the vehicle.

The method may further include receiving, via the at least one communications subsystem, an audio signal from the processor-based device of the vehicle, the audio signal being received by the processor-based device of the vehicle from at least one of a radio broadcast, a satellite broadcast, a nontransitory processor- readable medium operatively coupled to the processor-based device of the vehicle, or a portable media player.

The method may further include receiving, via the at least one communications subsystem, an audio signal from at least one of a radio broadcast, a television broadcast, a satellite broadcast, a nontransitory processor-readable medium operatively coupled to the processor-based device of the vehicle, or a portable media player.

The method may further include receiving, via the at least one communication subsystem, a signal from the processor-based device of the vehicle, the signal dependent at least in part on a user input received via a user interface of the processor-based device of the vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify similar elements or acts. The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of various elements and angles are not necessarily drawn to scale, and some of these elements may be arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility. Further, the particular shapes of the elements as drawn, are not necessarily intended to convey any information regarding the actual shape of the particular elements, and may have been solely selected for ease of recognition in the drawings.

Figure 1 is a top isometric view of a vehicle-based scent delivery system for portable scent delivery devices, showing one portable scent delivery device linked, and a second portable scent delivery device unlinked, to illustrate a rear thereof with a scent cartridge removed, according to one implementation.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the vehicle-based scent delivery system, according to one illustrated implementation.

Figure 3 A is an exploded perspective view showing electronic and/or electrical components of a scent delivery device implemented as a smart phone case, according to one illustrated implementation.

Figure 3B is a pictorial perspective view of the underside of the scent delivery device shown in Figure 3 A, according to one illustrated implementation.

Figure 3C is a pictorial perspective view of a mobile electronic device received in a scent delivery device which is implemented as a resilient smart phone case, according to one illustrated implementation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosed implementations. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that implementations may be practiced without one or more of these specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures associated with computer systems, server computers, and/or communications networks have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the

implementations. In other instances, well-known mathematical and statistical methods for performing statistical analyses and other well-known mathematical operation have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the implementations.

Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims that follow, the word "comprising" is synonymous with "including," and is inclusive or open-ended (i.e., does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method acts).

Reference throughout this specification to "one implementation" or "an implementation" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the implementation is included in at least one implementation. Thus, the appearances of the phrases "in one implementation" or "in an implementation" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same implementation. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more implementations.

As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. It should also be noted that the term "or" is generally employed in its sense including "and/or" unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

The headings and Abstract of the Disclosure provided herein are for convenience only and do not interpret the scope or meaning of the implementations.

Figure 1 illustrates a vehicle-based scent delivery system 100 disposed within an interior passenger compartment of a vehicle 101, along with a plurality of portable scent delivery devices 102a, 102b (two shown, collectively 102), and a scent cartridge 104 removed from one of the portable scent delivery devices 102a for sake of illustration. As discussed further below, the scent delivery system 100 selectively delivers scents to one or more passengers of the vehicle 101.

The scent delivery system 100 includes a base 106 disposed within a console 107 of the vehicle 101. The base 106 has a plurality of wells 108a, 108b (two shown, collectively 108) at which respective portable scent dispensing devices 102 are removably physically positionable. For example, the base 106 may include a number or apertures or recesses 110 (only one called out for clarity of illustration) which are sized and dimensioned to at least partially to receive a portion of a respective one of the portable scent dispensing devices 102 therein. The apertures or recesses 110 may, for instance, be sized and dimensioned to securely receive an outer bottom portion of a respective one of the portable scent dispensing devices 102 therein. Similarly, the portable scent dispensing devices 102 may be sized and dimensioned to sit within custom or standard apertures or recesses the console 107 of the vehicle 101.

The base 106 may optionally include a respective connector 112 (only one visible in Figure 1) at each of the wells 108. The connectors 112 may be sized and dimensioned to mate with a complimentary connector 114 (only one visible in Figure 1) of a respective one of the portable scent dispensing devices 102. The respective connectors 112 may, for example each take the form of male connectors, and the respective complimentary connectors 114 may each take the form of female connectors accessible from an exterior of the respective portable scent dispensing devices. The connectors 112 may have a plurality of electrical contacts, the connectors 112 sized and dimensioned to communicatively mate with a respective set of electrical contacts of each of a complimentary connector 114 of a respective one of the portable scent dispensing devices 102.

The scent delivery system 100 may include a number of user

input/output (I/O) elements or mechanisms. For example, the scent delivery system 100 may utilize a head unit 118 and audio system of the vehicle 101, which may include a touchscreen 120, speakers 122, and/or a number of user operable switches, buttons or keys 124. In some implementations, the operation of the scent delivery devices 102 is selectively controllable by a user through the user interface of the head unit 118 of the vehicle 101. Switches, buttons or keys 124 may include a power or ON/OFF switch, button or key, a volume or sound decrease switch, button or key, and a volume or sound increase switch, button or key. Switches, buttons or keys 124 may include a stop switch, button or key, a pause switch, button or key, a rewind switch, button or key and/or a fast forward switch, button or key, for example. Generally, the touchscreen present visual media.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the portable scent dispensing devices 102 include vents or ports 130 for emitting scents. The portable scent dispensing devices 102 may otherwise resemble smartphones or personal digital assistants. The portable scent dispensing devices 102 may include a display screen 132, for instance touch sensitive display panels, speakers, microphones, cameras, and/or flash illumination sources.

Each of the portable scent dispensing devices 102 may have a scent cartridge receiver or receptacle 134 sized and dimensioned to removably receive a scent cartridge 104. In some implementations, the scent cartridges 104 each include two or more pieces of scent media 136 (only one called out for clarity of illustration), each piece of scent media capable of releasing a respective distinct scent. The scent media 136 may, for example, take the form of a powder or a wax (e.g., paraffin wax substrate impregnated with at least one volatile scent material) bearing fragrance. The scent media 136 is typically consumable, so the scent cartridges 104 are replaceable in the portable scent dispensing devices 102. Various scent media 136 are discussed in U. S. patent applications Serial Nos. : 14/213,608 filed March 14, 2014; 14/213,683 filed March 14, 2014; and 61/944,870 filed February 26, 2014.

In some implementations, the scent cartridges 104 carry identifying information media 138, which may be in the form of a radio frequency identification (RFID) or other wireless transponder, a machine-readable symbol (e.g., barcode symbol, matrix code symbol), magnetic strip, or touch memory. The identifying information media 138 stores or encodes identifying information which may specify the specific scents of the particular scent cartridge 104, the type of scent cartridge 104, and/or uniquely identify the specific scent cartridge 104 from all other scent cartridge. The identifying information should be sufficient to allow the scent delivery system 100 to identify the scents available from any particular portable scent dispensing device 102 which is currently linked to the scent delivery system 100 and which contains a scent cartridge 104. The machine-readable information identifies or allows identification of each of the respective scents of the scent media cartridge. Such information can include a scent cartridge type identifier that identifies scent cartridges 104, the respective scent cartridge type (e.g., manufacturer and/or model). All scent cartridges 104 that release a same combination of scents would be identified with a common scent cartridge type identifier. For example, a vendor may mass-produce scent cartridges 104 to advertise a new line of coffee flavors, wherein the scent cartridges 104 for the new line all bear the same information (e.g., in machine-readable symbol or RFID tags). Such information can differentiate a current type of scent cartridges 104 from those issued during a previous advertising campaign. Such information can differentiate scent cartridges 104 bearing coffee related scents from those bearing chocolate or wine related scents. Such information can differentiate scent cartridges 104 bearing a first combination of perfume related scents from those bearing a second combination of perfume related scents, the second combination different from the first combination. Additionally or alternatively, the machine-readable information can specify individual scents for each of the temperature activated scent media 136 contained in the scent cartridge 104. Or, the machine-readable information can uniquely identify a particular scent cartridge 104 from all other scent cartridges 104, including those of its same type. Various forms of media that store or encode identifying information are discussed in U.S. patent applications Serial Nos. : 14/213,608 filed March 14, 2014; 14/213,683 filed March 14, 2014; and 61/944,870 filed February 26, 2014.

Figure 2 shows a scent delivery system 200, including a vehicle head unit 202, a scent dispensing device 204, and a portable communications device 206 (e.g., smartphone, tablet computer), according to one illustrated implementation. The scent delivery system 200 illustrated in Figure 2 may be identical or similar to that illustrated in Figure 1. Identical or similar structures share the same reference numbers, and discussion of many components will not be repeated in the interest of conciseness.

The head unit 202 includes a control subsystem 208, a user input/output or human machine interface (FDVII) subsystem 210, and a power subsystem 212.

The control subsystem 208 includes one or more controllers,

microcontrollers, processors, microprocessors, digital signal processor (DSPs), graphical processing units (GPUs), and/or application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) (collectively 214). The control subsystem 208 includes one or more nontransitory computer- or processor-readable medium 216. The nontransitory computer- or processor-readable medium 216 may, for example include one or more nonvolatile memory (e.g., read only memory (ROM), Flash memory), spinning disc memory (e.g., magnetic disk, optical disk). The nontransitory computer- or processor- readable medium 216 may, for example include one or more volatile memory (e.g., random access memory (RAM)). In some implementations, the nontransitory computer- or processor-readable medium 216 stores at least one of processor executable instructions and/or data, which when executed by the at least one processor 214 causes the at least one processor to control the portable scent dispensing device 204, for example as discussed elsewhere herein.

A suitable microcontroller may take the form of an 8-bit microcontroller with in-system programmable flash memory, such as the microcontroller commercially available from Atmel Corporation under designation ATMEGA48/88/168-AU. The microcontroller executes a program stored in its memory, and sends signals to control the various other components, for instance the activation elements, the fans, valves, user interface, radios, etc. Control signals may, for instance be pulse width modulated (PWM) control signal, particularly where controlling an active power supply device (e.g., DC/DC power converters). Otherwise, control signals may take on any of a large variety of forms. For instance, the microcontroller may control a fan simply by completing a circuit that powers the fan. For instance, the microcontroller may control valves simply by completing a circuit that powers the valve(s).

The UMI subsystem 210 may include various audio subsystems 218, video subsystems 220, and input subsystems 222. For example, the UMI subsystem 210 may include a touchscreen and one or more speakers. The UMI subsystem 210 detects user entry of commands and/or settings, and provides output to the user.

The power subsystem 212 may include one or more power supplies and one or more power storage devices or cells. The power subsystem 212 may be operatively coupled to a power source of the vehicle, such as a battery. The head unit 202 may additionally include one or more connectors 224 which may be sized and dimensioned to mate with a complimentary connector 226 of the portable scent dispensing device 204. The respective connectors 224 may, for example each take the form of male connectors, and the respective complimentary connectors 226 may each take the form of female connectors accessible from an exterior of the respective portable scent dispensing devices. The connectors 224 and 226 may be proprietary connectors or may be standard connectors (e.g., USB). The connectors 224 and 226 may allow for communication between the head unit 202 and the portable scent delivery device 204, for example. The connectors 224 and 226 may also supply power to the portable scent delivery device 204 to provide power thereto (e.g., for operation and/or for recharging an energy source of the scent delivery device 204). Generally, the one or more connectors 224 may allow the head unit 202 to exchange wired communications with one or more of the portable scent delivery devices 204 and/or one or more portable communications devices 206 (e.g.,

smartphone, tablet).

The head unit 202 may additionally optionally include one or more radios 228 (i.e., wireless transmitter, receiver, transceiver) and associated antennas 230. For example, the head unit 202 may include a WI-FI® radio or transceiver and associated antenna to provide wireless communications according to WI-FI® protocol. For example, the head unit 202 may include a BLUETOOTH® radio or transceiver and associated antenna to provide wireless communications according to BLUETOOTH® protocol. For example, the head unit may include a RFID radio or transceiver and associated antenna to provide wireless communications with RFID transponders according to various RFID protocols protocol. In some implementations, the RFID radio may allow the head unit 202 to directly interrogate wireless transponders 138 (Figure 1) carried by scent media 136 (Figure 1) to identify the available scents.

In other implementations, one or more radios (collectively 228) may allow the head unit 202 to exchange wireless communications with one or more of the portable scent delivery devices 204 and/or one or more portable communications devices 206 (e.g., smartphone, tablet). This wireless communications may, for example, allow the head unit 202 to indirectly identify the available scents from information previously read by the portable scent delivery device 102 from the scent cartridge 104. The head unit 202 may include other radios, for example radios that provide cellular communications.

The portable scent delivery device 204 includes a control subsystem 232, a human machine interface (HMI) subsystem 234, and a power subsystem 236.

The control subsystem 232 includes one or more controllers, microcontrollers, processors, microprocessors, digital signal processor (DSPs), graphical processing units (GPUs), and/or application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) (collectively 238). The control subsystem 232 includes one or more nontransitory computer- or processor-readable medium 240. The nontransitory computer- or processor-readable medium 240 may, for example include one or more nonvolatile memory (e.g., read only memory (ROM), Flash memory), spinning disc memory (e.g., magnetic disk, optical disk). The nontransitory computer- or processor- readable medium 240 may, for example include one or more volatile memory (e.g., random access memory (RAM)). In some implementations, the nontransitory computer- or processor-readable medium 240 stores at least one of processor executable instructions and/or data, which when executed by the at least one processor 238 causes the at least one processor to control the portable scent dispensing device 204, for example as discussed elsewhere herein.

The HMI subsystem 234 may include various switches, buttons or keys, speakers, and visual indicators. The HMI subsystem 234 detects user entry of commands and/or settings, and provides output to the user.

The power subsystem 236 may include one or more power supplies and one or more power storage devices or cells. The power supply converts electrical power to a useful form, for example rectifying AC electrical power to DC electrical power and stepping down a voltage of the same. The power supply may additionally condition the electrical power. The power supply may include circuitry for recharging one or more power storage devices or cells. The power storage devices or cells may take any of a variety of forms, for example one or more chemical battery cells (e.g., lithium ion), super- or ultra-capacitor cells and/or fuel cells. The power storage devices or cells may be a rechargeable power source, for instance a secondary battery cell (e.g., nickel-cadmium, nickel-zinc, nickel metal hydride, lithium-ion) or a super- or ultra- capacitor. In such cases, the electronics may include conventional recharging circuitry. Alternatively, the power storage devices or cells may be a consumable power sources such as primary batteries (e.g. , zinc-carbon, alkaline), requiring eventual replacement.

As discussed above, the portable scent delivery device 204 may additionally include one or more connectors 226 which may be sized and dimensioned to mate with a complimentary connector 224 of the head unit 202. The connectors 226 may be proprietary connectors or may be standard connectors (e.g., USB). The connectors 226 may allow for communication between the portable scent delivery device 204 and the head unit 202 or between the portable scent delivery device and the portable communications device 206, for example. The connectors 226 may also allow the portable scent delivery device 204 to receive power from the head unit 202 to power to the power subsystem 236 (e.g., for operation and/or for recharging an energy source of the power subsystem).

The portable scent delivery device 204 may additionally optionally include one or more radios 242 (i.e., wireless transmitter, receiver, transceiver) and associated antennas 244. For example, the portable scent delivery device 204 may include a WI-FI® radio or transceiver and associated antenna to provide wireless communications according to WI-FI® protocol. For example, the portable scent delivery device 204 may include a BLUETOOTH® radio or transceiver and associated antenna to provide wireless communications according to BLUETOOTH® protocol. For example, the portable scent delivery device 204 may include a RFID radio or transceiver and associated antenna to provide wireless communications with RFID transponders according to various RFID protocols protocol. In some implementations, the RFID radio may allow the portable scent delivery device to interrogate wireless transponders 138 (Figure 1) carried by scent media 136 (Figure 1) to identify the available scents.

In other implementations, one or more radios (collectively 242) may allow the portable scent delivery device 204 to exchange wireless communications with the head unit 202 and/or the one or more portable communications devices 206 (e.g., smartphone, tablet). This wireless communications may, for example, allow the portable scent delivery device 204 to indirectly identify the available scents from information previously read by the portable scent delivery device from the scent cartridge 104. The portable scent delivery device 204 may include other radios, for example radios that provide cellular communications.

The portable scent delivery device 204 also includes a scent dispensing subsystem 246 which may include various components for dispensing one or more scents. Such components may include, for example, one or more receptacles for receiving one or more removable scent cartridges, one or more fans, one or more vents or pots, control circuitry, etc. The operation of the scent dispensing subsystem 246 may be selectively controlled by the control subsystem 232, as discussed further below.

Figures 3A-3C illustrate scent delivery devices 102 implemented as various implementations of a scent delivery mobile device case 300a-300c. Figures 3A and 3B show a hard shell implementation of a scent delivery mobile device case 300a.

In particular, circuit board 302, normally encapsulated in a hard shell housing 304 of the scent delivery mobile device case 300a, is shown in Figure 3 A as having been removed from underneath an inside face plate 306 leaving the inside face plate 306 in the scent delivery device 300a.

The inside face plate 306 of scent delivery mobile device case 300a includes openings, e.g., 308, 310, that form at least part of a scent cartridge receiver 134 (Figure 1). The openings 308, 310 accommodate external attachment of the scent cartridge 104. The openings 308 and 310 extend through both the back of the scent delivery mobile device case 300a and through the circuit board 302 so as to couple the externally-mounted scent cartridge 104 to scent activation elements, if any, mounted to the circuit board 302. When in use, the circuit board 302 is desirably held in a slightly elevated position, suspended above the inside face plate 306 by a circumferential ridge formed in the wall of the hard shell housing 304. Such a suspension creates a scent generation chamber between the underside of the circuit board 302 and the inside face plate 306 to receive scented air. A low-power micro-fan 322 can be flush-mounted to the inside face plate 306. The micro-fan 322 can move scented air toward the vents 336 and/or can create positive pressure within the scent generation chamber to force scented air out through the scent port 320. The hard shell housing 304 of the scent delivery mobile device case 300a can encapsulate an antenna to support wireless communication between the scent delivery mobile device case 300a and a mobile device (not shown in Figure 3A) disposed or received at last partially in the scent delivery mobile device case 300. The antenna may take any of a variety of forms of, for example, a strip line radio frequency (RF) antenna 313. The strip line RF antenna 313, which is shown in Figure 3A as a straight conducting element aligned with a case edge 315, can generally assume any shape suitable for wireless communications.

The circuit board 302 may carry various electronic and/or electrical or electrical components. For example, the circuit board 302 may carry a control subsystem 328 and a reader or other transducer 318 to read machine-readable identifiers 138 (Figure 1) from the scent cartridges 104. The circuit board 302 may additionally, or alternatively, carry an integrated circuit module 314 and an integrated circuit module connector 316. The integrated circuit module 314 can include integrated circuit chips such as, for example, various types of processors (e.g., microcontrollers,

microprocessors, digital signal processors), drive circuits, nontransitory processor- readable storage media (e.g., one or more nontransitory storage media for instance nonvolatile memory (e.g., ROM, FLASH) and volatile memory (e.g., RAM)), a communications subsystem including wireless receiver (e.g., radio) signal processing hardware, and decryption hardware as described below in more detail. The integrated circuit module 314 can be electrically coupled to the control subsystem via wiring mounted on the underside of the circuit board 302. The integrated circuit module 314 can be a custom system-on-chip (SOC) device that serves as a platform for, and provides interconnects between, these various integrated circuits. The integrated circuit module connector 316 provides selectable electrical coupling between the strip line RF antenna 313 and the integrated circuit module 314.

Figure 3B shows a back side 330 of the scent delivery mobile device case 300a. The back side 330 includes a scent cartridge opening 134 that provides access to mount the scent cartridge 104, and a camera lens opening 334 so as not to obstruct the cell phone camera lens. The scent delivery mobile device case 300a also provides scent vents or ports 130 through which scented air may escape the scent generation chamber. The scent delivery mobile device case 300a also optionally provides a sliding vent adjustment device 338 that opens and closes the vents or ports 130. The sliding vent adjustment device 338 is desirably flush or recessed slightly below the surface of the back side 330. Also shown in Figure 3B is an optional scent delivery conduit 340 coupled to another scent jack 320. Thus, the scent delivery mobile device case 300a allows for scented air to escape the scent generation chamber located behind the circuit board 302 by either of two paths - through the scent vents or ports 130 or through the scent jack 320.

Figure 3C shows a soft shell resilient implementation of a scent delivery mobile device case 300b in which a smart phone 352 or other portable electronic device is placed and resiliently releasably retained. A soft case housing 351 can be made of a pliable and/or resilient material. The soft case housing 351 may, for example, take the form of a resilient silicone sleeve 354. The resilient silicone sleeve 354 serves generally to protect the smart phone 352 from damage, for example, to cushion shocks from falls and/or prevent breakage of a standard planar display screen 353 (e.g., touch screen). The resilient silicone sleeve 354 may be dimensioned such that the interior dimensions of the resilient silicone sleeve 354 are slightly smaller than the outer dimension of the smart phone 352. Thus, the resilient silicone sleeve 354 is stretched and retained under elastic force when the resilient silicone sleeve 354 is attached to the smart phone 352. While described as silicone, other elastomer or resilient materials may be used to form a suitable sleeve.

A number of methods or processes for operation of a vehicle-based scent delivery system for scent delivery devices are described below. These methods or processes may employ the various structures shown and described with respect to Figures 1, 2 and 3A-3C. Alternatively, these methods and processes may employ other structures.

A control subsystem of a scent delivery system includes a control subsystem with at least one processor and at least one nontransitory processor readable medium that stores at least one of processor-executable instructions or data, which when executed by the at least one processor causes that at least one processor to perform one or more of the below methods or processes. The control subsystem identifies a respective set of scents available via each of the portable scent dispensing devices which are currently linked to the vehicle- based sense delivery system. As previously noted, the control subsystem may query the one or more portable scent dispensing devices which are currently linked to identify the respective set of scents available via each of the portable scent dispensing devices. The control subsystem may query the portable scent dispensing devices via a wired or physical interface (e.g., connector and complimentary connectors) or via a wireless interface (e.g., BLUETOOTH® radios). Alternatively, the control subsystem may directly query respective wireless transponders physically associated with the scent cartridges, for instance via a wireless interface (e.g., BLUETOOTH® radios, RFID radios). In cases where the control subsystem communicates with one or more portable scent dispensing devices via a wireless interface, the portable scent dispensing devices may be sized and dimensioned to be selectively positionable within a custom or existing well (e.g., cup holder, tray) in the console of the vehicle.

The control subsystem may optionally determine whether the set of scents available via each of the portable scent dispensing devices which are currently linked are sufficient for rendering a scent composition, the scent composition comprising a plurality of instances of two or more scents to be delivered over a period of time. The control subsystem may provide a notification if the set of scents available via each of the portable scent dispensing devices which are currently linked are insufficient for rendering the scent composition.

The control subsystem may determine a first respective set of control signals for each of the portable scent dispensing devices which are currently linked based on a scent composition, the scent composition comprising a plurality of instances of two or more scents to be delivered over a period of time. For example, a scent composition may be stored or received by the control subsystem, the scent composition indicating a number of scents to be delivered overtime in a defined pattern. For instance, the scent composition may be received as a scent track via a text message or in an electronic mail (email) message. The scent composition or track may be logically associated with an audio track, visual track or audiovisual or video track. For example, a scent composition may be delivered in synchronization with other media experiences, for instance audio (e.g., music), images (e.g., video), multimedia (e.g., audiovisual), originating from the head unit of the vehicle or from a personal communications device coupled thereto. Such media experiences may include media delivered from one or more of broadcast delivery, satellite delivery, Web delivery, delivery from

nontransitory processor-readable media, etc.

For example, in some implementations the head unit of a vehicle may receive a media signal (e.g., audio and/or video) from a broadcaster (e.g., terrestrial broadcast, satellite radio) or physical media (e.g., CD, USB) or media player (e.g., iPod®, smart phone). The head unit may cooperate with and/or control one or more scent dispensing devices based at least in part on the content of the media. Such content may include programming content (e.g., music, talk) or non-programming content (e.g., advertisements). For example, a scent dispensing device may be controlled to dispense a coffee scent while a commercial for a coffee product plays on an audio system of the vehicle. Also for example, a scent dispensing device may be controlled to dispense an forest scent in response to playing of a story that takes place in a wooded forest on the audio/video system of the vehicle.

In some implementations, the one or more scent dispensing devices may be controlled to dispense one or more scents based on physical location. Such physical location may be determined, for example, by utilizing one or more beacons (e.g., RFID, WIFI®) or one or more geolocation systems associated with one or more of the scent dispensing device, the vehicle head unit, or a processor-based device (e.g., smart phone) operatively coupled to a least one of the head unit or the scent dispensing device.

For example, upon the vehicle passing a bakery, the scent dispensing device may dispense a bread flavored scent or a warm cookie flavored scent. As another example, upon the vehicle passing a hamburger restaurant, the scent dispensing device may dispense a hamburger flavored scent or a french fry flavored scent.

The pattern may consist of single distinct scents being emitted or dispensed or delivered sequentially at given times or periods, and/or may include portions during which two or more scents are emitted, dispensed or delivered concurrently during at a given time or given period. For example, it may be desirable to build up a complex scent from two or more simple scents. The control subsystem determines the respect set of control signals or directions for the respective portable scent dispensing devices based on the particular scents currently available via the respective portable scent dispensing device. For instance, a first portable scent dispensing devices may have various coffee scents identified as 1-6, while a second portable scent dispensing device may have various chocolate scents identified as A-F, while a third scent dispensing device has various floral scents identified as a-f. A simple exemplary scent composition may, for instance, consist of the following scents delivered during times To- T ₉ illustrated in Table 1 :

Table 1

The control subsystem generates a first set of control signals that cause the first portable scent dispensing device to emit scents 1, 3, 4 and 2 at times T ₀ , T ₃ , T ₄ , and T ₈ , respectively. The control subsystem generates a second set of control signals that cause the second portable scent dispensing device to emit scents A, B, C, A with F, and D at times Ti, T ₂ , T ₄ , T ₇ , and T ₉ , respectively. The control subsystem generates a third set of control signals that cause the third portable scent dispensing device to emit scents f and f, at times T ₅ and T ₆ , respectively.

In some implementations, operation depends on synchronization between the operation of the a plurality of linked portable scent dispensing devices. Synchronization may be obtained in a variety of manners.

For example, the control subsystem of the scent delivery system may provide control signals to the respective portable scent dispensing devices on an "as needed basis." For instance, the control subsystem may at a first time T ₀ send signals to the first portable scent dispensing device to cause the first portable scent dispensing device to emit a scent 1. The control subsystem may at a second time Ti send signals to the second portable scent dispensing device to cause the second portable scent dispensing device to emit a scent A. The control subsystem may at a third time T ₂ send signals to the second portable scent dispensing device to cause the second portable scent dispensing device to emit a scent B. The control subsystem may at a fourth time T ₃ send signals to the first portable scent dispensing device to cause the first portable scent dispensing device to emit a scent 3. The control subsystem may at a fifth time T ₄ send signals to the first portable scent dispensing device to cause the first portable scent dispensing device to emit a scent 4 and concurrently send signals to the second portable scent dispensing device to cause the second portable scent dispensing device to emit a scent C. The control subsystem may at a sixth time T ₅ send signals to the third portable scent dispensing device to cause the third portable scent dispensing device to emit a scent f. The control subsystem may follow a similar pattern for producing the remainder of the scent composition specified in Table 1.

Also for example, the control subsystem of the scent delivery system may provide a clocking signal to each of the linked portable scent dispensing devices.

As another example, the control subsystem of the scent delivery system may cause each of the linked portable scent dispensing devices to synchronize a respective clock of each of the portable scent dispensing devices to one another, and/or with some other clock external to the portable scent dispensing devices.

The control subsystem sends the control signals to the portable scent dispensing devices which are currently linked to cause the portable scent dispensing devices to dispense a plurality of scents in a defined pattern.

The control subsystem may detect an unlinking of one of the portable scent dispensing devices from the scent delivery system. In response, the control subsystem may determine a new respective set of control signals for each of the portable scent dispensing devices which are then currently linked based on a scent composition. The control subsystem may also determine whether the set of scents available via each of remaining one of the portable scent dispensing devices are sufficient for rendering the scent composition. The control subsystem may provide a notification if the set of scents available via each of remaining one of the portable scent dispensing devices are insufficient for rendering the scent composition.

The above description of illustrated implementations, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the

implementations to the precise forms disclosed. Although specific implementations of and examples are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, as will be recognized by those skilled in the relevant art. The teachings provided herein of the various implementations can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the exemplary systems generally described above.

For instance, network and even non-networked topologies other than those illustrated and/or described may be employed.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various implementations of the devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, schematics, and examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, schematics, and examples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that each function and/or operation within such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one implementation, the present subject matter may be implemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the implementations disclosed herein, in whole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in standard integrated circuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or more computers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computer systems), as one or more programs running on one or more controllers (e.g., microcontrollers) as one or more programs running on one or more processors (e.g., microprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designing the circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and or firmware would be well within the skill of one of ordinary skill in the art in light of this disclosure.

Those of skill in the art will recognize that many of the methods or algorithms set out herein may employ additional acts, may omit some acts, and/or may execute acts in a different order than specified.

In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mechanisms taught herein are capable of being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that an illustrative implementation applies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearing media used to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of signal bearing media include, but are not limited to, the following:

recordable type media such as floppy disks, hard disk drives, CD ROMs, digital tape, and computer memory.

The various implementations described above can be combined to provide further implementations. To the extent that they are not inconsistent with the specific teachings and definitions herein, all of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification, including U.S. patent application Serial Nos. 61/792,716, filed March 15, 2013; 61/817,180, filed April 29, 2013; 61/822,270, filed May 10, 2013; 61/891,328 Filed October 15, 2013; 14/213,608 filed March 14, 2014; 14/213,683 filed March 14, 2014; 61/944,862 filed February 26, 2014; 62/069, 104 filed October 27, 2014; 61/944,866 filed February 26, 2014;

62/012,863 filed June 16, 2014; 62/116, 258 filed February 13, 2015; 61/944,870 filed February 26, 2014; and 62/156,593 filed May 4, 2015, are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of the implementations can be modified, if necessary, to employ systems, circuits and concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further implementations.

These and other changes can be made to the implementations in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific implementations disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible implementations along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.