Method and system of a network of diffusers including a liquid level sensor

• US 9,439,995 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2015
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scentbridge Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Thomas A. Conroy, Thomas G. Siegel, Todd H. Becker
• Inventors: Conroy, Thomas A., Becker, Todd H., Siegel, Thomas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reis, Ryan
• Application Number:
  US14/689,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20150297776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/00 Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor for contact lenses A61L12/00; atomisers for disinfecting agents A61M; sterilisation of packages or package contents in association with packaging B65B55/00; treatment of water, waste water, sewage or sludge C02F; disinfecting paper D21H21/36; disinfecting devices for water closets E03D; articles having provision for disinfection, see the relevant subclasses for these articles, e.g. H04R1/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/11 Apparatus for controlling air treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/111 Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/133 Replaceable cartridges, refills
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/135 Vaporisers for active components
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/16 Connections to a HVAC unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/20 Method-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/00 Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air body deodorants A61Q15/00; purifying air by respirators A62B, A62D9/00; separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours B01D45/00 - B01D51/00, B03C3/00; chemical or biological purification of waste gases B01D53/34; production of ozone C01B13/10; air-conditioning systems incorporating sterilisation F24F3/16, F24F8/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/015 using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone A61L9/20 takes precedence ; evaporation in general B01B1/005
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/12 Apparatus, e.g. holders, therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/54 Mixing liquid fragrances with air
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/213 by spraying or atomising of the liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/08 responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/081 responsive to the weight of a reservoir or container for liquid or other fluent material; responsive to level or volume of liquid or other fluent material in a reservoir or container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/12 responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus B05B12/082, B05B12/084 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2416 characterised by the means for producing or supplying the atomising fluid, e.g. air hoses, air pumps, gas containers, compressors, fans, ventilators, their drives
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2424 the carried liquid and the main stream of atomising fluid being brought together downstream of the container before discharge B05B7/2435 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2489 an atomising fluid, e.g. a gas, being supplied to the discharge device B05B7/2402, B05B7/2483, B05B7/262 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/262 a liquid and a gas being brought together before entering the discharge device
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/30 : by floats
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/72 : using magnetically actuated indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 : electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 : Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 : Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/22 : Electrical actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 : Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 23/00 : Alarms responsive to unspecified undesired or abnormal conditions

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing scent in an environment include disposing a plurality of scent diffusion devices within an environment, wherein the diffusion devices include a communications facility that enables transmitting signals to and receiving signals from a remote computer and disposing at least one sensor within the environment that transmits sensor data to the remote computer. At least one scent parameter for scenting an environment is received at the remote computer. The remote computer controls diffusion of a liquid from a source of a liquid in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of scent diffusion devices to achieve the scent parameter. Controlling includes setting or adjusting an operation parameter of the scent diffusion device in response to the sensor data.

Claims

1. A method relating to atomizing diffusion devices within an environment, comprising:

receiving at a computer, liquid level data from a plurality of remote atomizing diffusion devices wherein each diffusion device comprises a communications facility that enables transmitting signals to and receiving signals from a remote computer and at least one liquid level sensor;

based on the liquid level data, creating, via the remote computer, an electronic data structure characterizing a transformation of at least one of the remote diffusion devices, wherein the electronic data structure includes data specifying at least one of a production of scent fragrance, a procurement of scent fragrance, a management of scent inventory, and a delivery of scent inventory;

accessing logistical data comprising at least one of transportation map data and a route optimization data to produce a service plan for at least one atomizing diffusion device; and

causing the remote atomizing diffusion devices to implement the transformation in accordance with the service plan.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein causing includes at least one of scheduling and coordination of resources to accomplish the transformation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the atomizing diffusion devices are scent diffusion devices.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid level sensor is an imaging sensor.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the liquid level inside a package of the diffusion device is exposed through at least one of a transparent wall and a transparent window of the package.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid level sensor includes:

1) a floating magnet disposed within a track inside at least one of package of the diffusion device, wherein as a liquid level inside the package changes, the floating magnet moves substantially vertically along the track, and

     2) at least one of a Hall effect sensor and a Hall effect switch disposed outside the package at a position to enable sensing the position of the floating magnet in the track.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transformation comprises performing a days of supply calculation.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the calculation involves taking the measured current liquid level and dividing it by the average usage rate per day to determine a number of days of supply remaining.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the average usage rate per day is defined for a time period.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the scheduling and coordination of resources includes the dispatch of a replenishment technician.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the scheduling and coordination of resources includes the transmission of an alert/email to on-site personnel.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising, measuring a liquid level inside the plurality of remote atomizing diffusion devices using the liquid level sensor.