Diffusion device

• US 7,455,245 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Harwig, Jeffrey L., Sipinski, Gene, Ananth, Gopal P., Munagavalasa, Murthy S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorman; Darren W
• Application Number:
  US11/457,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20080011875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 239/102.2, 239/71, 239/326, 239/4, 239/44, 239/239, 239/70, 239/102.1, 239/145, 239/302, 239/338, 239/533.13, 239/533.14
• US Class Current: 239/102.2
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/205 using vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic or piezoelectric atomizers
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/02 for controlling time, or sequence, of delivery
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0638 spray being produced by discharging the liquid or other fluent material through a plate comprising a plurality of orifices
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0646 Vibrating plates, i.e. plates being directly subjected to the vibrations, e.g. having a piezoelectric transducer attached thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0684 Wicks or the like

Abstract

A diffusion device includes a housing having a battery disposed therein and adapted to receive a replaceable fluid reservoir for holding a fluid, wherein the fluid reservoir includes a wick for movement of the fluid to a discharge end thereof. The diffusion device further includes a piezoelectric element energized by a power source for vibrating a perforated orifice plate disposed adjacent the discharge end of the wick, wherein the piezoelectric element develops vibratory movement to pump the fluid from the discharge end through the perforated discharge plate and into the atmosphere. A control circuit and light emitting diode (“LED”) are disposed in the housing, wherein the control circuit energizes the LED at a particular frequency when the dispenser is active and a voltage developed by the battery is above a threshold voltage.

Claims

1. A diffusion device, comprising:

a housing having a battery disposed therein and adapted to receive a replaceable fluid reservoir for holding a fluid, the fluid reservoir including a wick for movement of the fluid to a discharge end thereof;

a piezoelectric element energized by the battery for vibrating a perforated orifice plate disposed adjacent the discharge end of the wick, wherein the piezoelectric element develops vibratory movement to pump the fluid from the discharge end through the perforated discharge plate and into the atmosphere; and

a control circuit and a light emitting diode (“

LED”

) disposed in the housing, wherein the control circuit rapidly switches the LED between on and off states in response to the operation of a switch that alternately connects and disconnects a current source to the LED when the piezoelectric element is energized and a voltage developed by the control circuit is above 3.0 volts such that the battery is prevented from cycling in and out of a low battery condition.

2. The diffusion device of claim 1, wherein the LED is disposed behind a translucent selector that is carried by the housing and wherein the selector is movable into three selectable positions corresponding to different modes of operation.

3. The diffusion device of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric element is energized during an emission sequence for about eleven milliseconds to periodically discharge contents of the container to the atmosphere.

4. The diffusion device of claim 1, in combination with a replaceable fluid container containing an insecticide and wherein the battery has a useful life substantially equal to a useful life of the replaceable fluid container.

5. The diffusion device of claim 1, wherein a hinged door is disposed adjacent a bottom portion of the housing and wherein the door is secured to the housing by a screw.

6. The diffusion device of claim 1, wherein the fluid in the fluid reservoir comprises an insecticide in an alkane-based solvent.

7. The diffusion device of claim 6, wherein the alkane-based solvent comprises primarily tridecane and tetradecane.

8. The diffusion device of claim 7, wherein the insecticide comprises about 8.0 wt %/wt % Transflutbrin.

9. The diffusion device of claim 7, wherein the insecticide comprises about 2.5 wt %/wt % Metoflutlirin.

10. The diffusion device of claim 1, wherein the current source is a constant current source and the LED is rapidly switched between on and off states at about100 hertz.

11. The diffusion device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit implements a modulation scheme that operates the LED at a 5% duty cycle at a current that varies between about 2.55 milliamps and about 3.85 milliamps.

12. The diffusion device of claim 11, wherein the modulation scheme results in an average current draw of about 160 microamperes.

13. A diffusion device, comprising:

a housing adapted to receive a replaceable fluid reservoir for holding a fluid, the fluidreservoir including a wick for movement of the fluid to a discharge end thereof;

a piezoelectric element for vibrating a perforated orifice plate disposed adjacent the discharge end of the wick, wherein the piezoelectric element develops vibratory movement to pump the fluid from the discharge end through the perforated discharge plate and into the atmosphere;

a control circuit and a light emitting diode (“

TED”

) disposed in the housing, wherein the control circuit rapidly switches the LED between on and off states in response to the operation of a switch that alternately connects and disconnects a constant current source to the LED; and

only one 1.5 volt AA battery coupled to the control circuit and disposed within the housing, wherein the only one battery and the control circuit drive the piezoelectric element and the LED such that the piezoelectric element is periodically operated to dispense fluid from the device for 10 hours a day for at least 45 days, and wherein the control circuit ranidly switches the LED between on and off states at a particular frequency when the piezoelectric element isenergized and a voltage developed by avoltage boost circuit is above 3.0 volts such that the battery is prevented from cycling in and out of a low battery condition.

14. The diffusion device of claim 13, wherein the control circuit implements a modulation scheme that operates the LED at a 5% duty cycle at a current that varies between about 2.55 milliamps and about 3.85 milliamps.

15. The diffusion device of claim 14, wherein the modulation scheme results in an average current draw of about 160 microamperes.

16. The diffusion device of claim 13, wherein the fluid in the fluid reservoir comprises an insecticide in an alkane-based solvent.

17. The diffusion device of claim 16, wherein the alkane-based solvent comprises primarily tridecane and tetradecane.

18. The diffusion device of claim 17, wherein the insecticide is selected from the group consisting of about 8.0 wt % wt % Transfluthrin and about 2.5 wt %/wt % Metofluthrin.

19. The diffusion device of claim 13, wherein the orifice plate has 84 holes with a nominal hole size between about 4.63 microns and about 5.22 microns.