SUBMINIATURE THERMOELECTRIC FRAGRANCE DISPENSER
First Claim
1. A dispenser for dispensing a liquid, the dispenser comprising:
- a chamber holding a supply of liquid to be dispensed;
an annular conduit having a first end and a second end, the first end submerged in the supply of liquid and the second end extending outside the chamber, liquid from the supply substantially filling the conduit; and
a thermoelectric transducer proximate the second end of the annular conduit;
wherein, upon application of electrical current to the thermoelectric transducer, the thermoelectric transducer operates to cause boiling of a quantity of liquid in the annular conduit, the boiling generating a bubble, the expansion of which bubble forces liquid out the second end of the annular conduit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dispenser for dispensing a liquid includes a chamber holding a supply of liquid, an annular conduit substantially filled with liquid from the chamber, and a thermoelectric transducer near one end of the annular conduit. Upon application of electrical current to the thermoelectric transducer, the transducer operates to cause boiling of a quantity of liquid in the annular conduit. Expansion of a resulting bubble forces liquid out the end of the annular conduit. The dispenser may include battery powered electronic control circuit that includes a supercapacitor. The liquid may be dispensed in periodic bursts. In one application, the dispenser is especially suited to automatically and unobtrusively dispense a fragrance, perfume, or other personal care liquid worn by a person. In some applications, the dispenser may be worn on or under an article of clothing, or attached to an article of jewelry.
21 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A dispenser for dispensing a liquid, the dispenser comprising:
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a chamber holding a supply of liquid to be dispensed; an annular conduit having a first end and a second end, the first end submerged in the supply of liquid and the second end extending outside the chamber, liquid from the supply substantially filling the conduit; and a thermoelectric transducer proximate the second end of the annular conduit; wherein, upon application of electrical current to the thermoelectric transducer, the thermoelectric transducer operates to cause boiling of a quantity of liquid in the annular conduit, the boiling generating a bubble, the expansion of which bubble forces liquid out the second end of the annular conduit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A dispenser for dispensing a liquid, the dispenser comprising:
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a disposable module comprising a chamber containing a supply of liquid to be dispensed, a coin cell battery, an annular conduit having a first end submerged in the supply of liquid and a second end protruding from the chamber, and a thermoelectric transducer proximate the second end of the annular conduit and configured to cause boiling of an amount of liquid in the annular conduit upon the application of electrical current to the thermoelectric transducer, and wherein the boiling forces droplets of liquid out the second end of the annular conduit; a reusable module comprising an electronic control circuit that controls operation of the dispenser; and an interface between the disposable module and the reusable module, the interface attaching the two modules mechanically, making an electrical connection between the coin cell battery and the electronic control circuit, and making an electrical connection between the electronic control circuit and the thermoelectric transducer. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of dispensing a liquid, comprising:
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storing a quantity of the liquid in a chamber; filling an annular conduit with liquid from the chamber, an end of the annular conduit protruding from the chamber; under the control of an electronic circuit powered by a battery, periodically providing a pulse of electric current to a thermoelectric transducer proximate the end of the annular conduit, the pulse of electric current causing the thermoelectric transducer to heat, thereby boiling quantity of liquid in the annular conduit, and wherein the boiling forces droplets of the liquid from the end of the annular conduit. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A dispensing system for dispensing a liquid, the system comprising:
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an annular conduit drawing liquid from a supply of liquid by capillary action; a thermoelectric transducer proximate an end of the annular conduit; a battery; a supercapacitor; and an electronic circuit configured to periodically charge the supercapacitor using energy from the battery and discharge the supercapacitor through the thermoelectric transducer; wherein the discharge through the thermoelectric transducer generates heat that causes boiling of a quantity of liquid in the annular conduit, the boiling forcing liquid out the end of the annular conduit.
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30. A method for supplying electric energy to a thermoelectric transducer in a miniature wearable fragrance dispenser, the method comprising:
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charging a supercapacitor from a miniature battery; and discharging the supercapacitor through the thermoelectric transducer, thereby causing ejection of droplets of fragrance from the wearable fragrance dispenser.
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31. An elongated capillary conduit configured to spray a pulse of liquid particles, the capillary conduit comprising:
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an outer wall having an inner surface and an outer surface; at least one capillary channel in close proximity to the inner surface; and a thermoelectric transducer disposed on the outer surface, the thermoelectric transducer receiving electric charge from a supercapacitor. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A dispenser for dispensing a liquid, the dispenser comprising:
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a chamber holding a supply of liquid to be dispensed; a capillary conduit drawing liquid from the from the supply; a thermoelectric transducer proximate an end of the capillary conduit; a miniature battery; a supercapacitor; and an electronic control circuit configured to charge the supercapacitor from the battery and discharge the supercapacitor through the thermoelectric transducer, thereby causing ejection of liquid from the end of the capillary conduit. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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Specification