Method and system of identifying tampering in a scent management system

• US 9,474,824 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2015
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• 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): HWU, DAVIS D
• Application Number:
  US14/689,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20150297779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 239/67, 239/69, 239/72
• 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

Scent cartridges for use in a networked scent diffusion device include a reservoir that holds a liquid and an atomizer head assembly. An anti-tampering identifier is associated with at least one of the reservoir and the atomizer head assembly. Scent diffusion from the device is based on the condition of the anti-tampering identifier.

Claims

1. A scent cartridge, comprising:

a reservoir that holds a liquid;

an atomizer head assembly; and

an anti-tampering identifier associated with at least one of the reservoir and the atomizer head assembly,

wherein a scent diffusion from the scent cartridge is based on a state of the anti-tampering identifier and wherein the atomizer head assembly includes an orifice plate containing a flow restriction orifice for passing compressed gas to be mixed with liquid before passing through an atomizing orifice.

2. The scent cartridge of claim 1, wherein the scent cartridge forms a part of a networked scent diffusion device.

3. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein if the scent diffusion device does not recognize the anti-tampering identifier, an alert is sent over a network.

4. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein scent is not dispensed unless an anti-tampering identifier is recognized.

5. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein if the cartridge is removed from the scent diffusion device, resulting in the device no longer recognizing the anti-tampering identifier, an alert is sent over a network.

6. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein the state of the anti-tampering identifier is changed based on the proximity of the networked diffusion device to a specified network zone.

7. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein the anti-tampering identifier is an error or an unexpected reading of a liquid level sensor of the networked scent diffusion device.

8. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein the anti-tampering identifier is a disconnection of an electrical contact disposed on at least one of the reservoir and the atomizer head assembly from the networked scent diffusion device.

9. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the anti-tampering identifier is at least one of a bar code and a QR code.

10. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the anti-tampering identifier is a mechanical feature of at least one of the reservoir and the atomizer head assembly.

11. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the anti-tampering identifier relates to an electric field of at least one of the reservoir and the atomizer head assembly.