DISPENSING A FRAGRANCE BLEND

Abstract

A method is used for dispensing a fragrance blend (FB) comprising at least one fragrance (F1, F2), wherein the method comprises, by a fragrance dispensing apparatus (1), offering at least one desired agent function for user selection and blending at least one fragrance (F1, F2) with at least one functional agent (F3) based on at least one selected agent function to obtain the fragrance blend (FB) and dispensing the fragrance blend (FB). A fragrance dispensing apparatus (1) is adapted to perform the method. The invention is particularly useful for selecting and producing a fragrance blend directly by a user.

Claims

1. A method for dispensing a fragrance blend comprising at least one fragrance, wherein the method comprises, by a fragrance dispensing apparatus, offering at least one desired agent function for user selection, blending at least one fragrance with at least one functional agent based on at least one selected agent function to obtain the fragrance blend and dispensing the fragrance blend.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein offering at least one desired agent function is followed by offering to add at least one functional agent corresponding to the at least one selected agent function.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one functional agent is an anti-aging agent.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one functional agent is an appetite curbing agent.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one functional agent is a hormone balance agent.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one functional agent is a memory triggering agent.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fragrance dispensing apparatus tracks at least one personal user feature and adds at least one functional agent to the fragrance blend based on at least one tracked personal user feature.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the functional agent is an odourless agent.

9. A fragrance dispensing apparatus, comprising: at least one seat for at last one fragrance reservoir and at least one functional agent reservoir, a user interface for selecting at least one fragrance and at least one agent function, at least one extraction means for extracting the selected at least one fragrance from the at last one fragrance reservoir and for extracting at least one functional agent corresponding to the selected at least one agent function from the at last one functional agent reservoir, and a fragrance dispenser for dispensing a fragrance blend blended from the extracted at least one fragrance and at least one functional agent.

10. The fragrance dispensing apparatus according to claim 9, comprising at least one solvent reservoir for at least one solvent, wherein the user interface is adapted to allow selecting a type of the fragrance blend, wherein the at least one extraction means is adapted to additionally extract at least one solvent from at least one solvent reservoir, and wherein the fragrance dispenser is adapted to dispense a fragrance blend comprising the extracted solvent.

11. The fragrance dispensing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the fragrance dispensing apparatus comprises a sensor and/or is connectable to an external sensor to track at least one personal user feature.

12. The fragrance dispensing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein at least one disposable cartridge comprising at last one fragrance reservoir and at least one functional agent reservoir is inserted into the at least one seat.

Description

[0068] The above described features and advantages of the invention as well as their kind of implementation will now be schematically described in more detail by at least one embodiment in the context of one or more FIGURES of the attached drawing.

[0069] FIG. 1 shows a schematic drawing of a fragrance dispensing apparatus 1. The fragrance dispensing apparatus 1 comprises a seat 2 for a cartridge CR. The cartridge CR exemplarily comprises three ingredients reservoirs in form of capsules CS. The capsules CS contain stock solutions of different liquid active ingredients, e.g. two fragrances F1, F2 and a functional agent F3. The fragrances may comprise a single odorant or a mix of several odorants. The functional agent F3 may e.g. be a mood enhancing scent, e.g. a stimulating scent.

[0070] The fragrance dispensing apparatus 1 further comprises one extraction means 3 for selectively extracting the active ingredients F1, F2, F3 from the capsules CS and one extraction means 4 for extracting a solvent S (e.g. an ethanol/water mix) from a solvent tank 5. While the cartridge CR is removable by a user, the solvent tank 5 is fixedly positioned in the fragrance dispensing apparatus 1. The capsules CS and/or the solvent tank 5 may be equipped with a level sensor (not shown).

[0071] The outlets of the capsules CS are each connected to the extraction means 3 via respective coupling means 6 or connectors, e.g. in form of one-way valves. The extraction means 3 can selectively extract the active ingredients F1, F2, F3 from the capsules CS.

[0072] To identify the active ingredients F1, F2, F3, the fragrance dispensing apparatus 1 comprises an identification means in form of an optical or radio frequency reader 7 that reads a respective code or tag of the cartridge CR. The queried information may include the kind of fragrance(s) or functional agent, their initial amount, dilution, etc. Alternatively or additionally, a code or tag may be associated with each of the capsules CS.

[0073] The extraction means 3 comprises dosage valves 8 that are connected to a respective coupling means 6. The dosage valves 8 enable extracting a very precise amount of active ingredients F1, F2 and/or F3. The dosage valves 8 are connected to a flow meter 9 which, in turn, is connected to a pump 10. The pump 10 is connected to a blending chamber 11. The blending chamber 11 is also connected to the solvent tank 5 via the extraction means 4. While the extraction means 4 may have a generally similar setup (e.g. comprising a dosage valve 8, a flow meter 9, and a pump 10) as the extraction means 3, it may have a larger flow-rate than the extraction means 3. Also, there may not be a coupling means 6 between the solvent tank 5 and the extraction means 4.

[0074] The blending chamber 11 is used to blend the active ingredients F1, F2 and/or F3 extracted from the capsules CS and eventually the solvent S extracted from the solvent tank 5 to create a fragrance blend FB. The blending chamber 11 may be a static chamber, a continuous chamber, a bubbling chamber, a mixing chamber (e.g. a close-clearance mixer), etc.

[0075] Further, the blending chamber 11 is connected to a fragrance dispenser 12 for dispensing the blended fragrance mixture FB from the blending chamber 11 into a fragrance bottle B.

[0076] The fragrance dispenser 12 may comprise a dosage valve 8, a pump 10, and/or a flow meter (not shown). Alternatively or additionally, the fragrance dispenser 12 may comprise a fragrance spraying device (not shown), e.g. a spray nozzle.

[0077] An output side of the extraction means 3 is also connected to a test strip dispenser 13 via an optional dosage valve 8 for dispensing at least one active ingredient F1, F2, F3 stored in the capsules CS onto a substrate in form of a test strip (not shown) and providing the test strip. A pump and/or a flow meter (not shown) may also be present between the extraction means 3 and the test strip dispenser 13. Thus, the active ingredients F1, F2, and/or F3 may be directly applied to the test strip. The fragrance dispensing apparatus 1 is adapted to selectively extract the active ingredients F1, F2, and/or F3 towards the blending chamber 11 or the test strip dispenser 13. Alternatively or additionally to the test strip dispenser 13, a spray nozzle may be used. Alternatively to the test strip dispenser 13, the fragrance dispensing apparatus 1 may comprise a heatable open test tube (not shown) that contains a substrate for the fragrance(s) dispensed from the extraction means 3. To this effect, a 3/2-way valve (not shown) or such may be used.

[0078] The fragrance dispensing apparatus 1 further comprises a user interface 14 for selecting one or more of the active ingredients F1, F2, and/or F3 and for eventually selecting a type/dilution of the desired fragrance blend FB to be blended in the blending chamber 11. A user may also use the user interface 14 for selecting the active ingredients F1, F2, and/or F3 to be dispensed onto the test strip etc.

[0079] Additionally, the fragrance dispensing apparatus 1 comprises a communication module 15, e.g. for communicating a need to replace the cartridge CR or to fill up the solvent tank 5.

[0080] Moreover, the fragrance dispensing apparatus 1 comprises a control device 16 (e.g. a control module comprising a microcontroller, an ASIC, a FPGA etc.) to operate or use the fragrance dispensing apparatus 1, e.g. some or all of its electrically controllable components 3 to 4, 5 (its level sensor), 6 to 14. For example, by activating the reader 7, the control device 16 identifies the available active ingredients F1 to F3 and may calculate their remaining amount. Also, the control device 16 has information about the available solvent S and its amount. The control device 16 may thus present available selections/choices in the user interface 14. The control device 16 may also present the possibility to test the available active ingredients F1 to F3 in the user interface 14.

[0081] Furthermore, the fragrance dispensing apparatus 1 comprises an optical sensor 17, 18 for sensing or detecting a user's facial micro-expressions. The sensor comprises a camera 17 and an image processing unit 18. The camera 17 captures an image of a user's face, either triggered by a user command via the user interface 14 or automatically. The image processing unit 18 extracts the facial micro expressions (e.g. by polygonization). The result of this comparison may be used to identify a current mood of the user. To this effect, the image processing unit 18 may send information regarding the user's current mood result to the control device 16. Alternatively, the control device 16 may be the image processing unit 18.

[0082] In one possible user scenario, a user approaches the fragrance dispensing apparatus 1. The fragrance dispensing apparatus 1 may be installed at a shopping mall, in an office building etc. or may be a household apparatus. The user interface 14 may offer to provide a fragrance blend FB with or without using a functional agent F3.

[0083] If the user selects providing a fragrance blend FB without functional agent F3, the user may then be offered to test one or more of the fragrances F1, F2. If the user selects testing the fragrances F1 and/or F2, the control device 16 opens the respective coupling means 6 and operates the respective dosing valve(s) 8 of the extraction means 3 to extract a small quantity from the respective capsule(s) CS, e.g. one after another for the case that the user has selected more than one fragrance F1, F2. By command of the control device 16, the pump 10 of the extraction means 3 pumps the fragrance(s) F1, F2 via the open dosage valve 8 to the test strip dispenser 13. The fragrance(s) F1 and/or F2 are applied to a test strip, and the test strip is presented to the user.

[0084] Ifafter testing or alternatively to testingthe user selects to receive a bottle B of a certain fragrance blend FB, the user is prompted to input the desired one or more fragrances F1, F2, their amount, and the type of the desired fragrance blend FB (perfume, cologne etc.). The control device 16 then opens the respective coupling means 6 and operates the respective dosing valve(s) 8 of the extraction means 3 to extract the selected amount or quantity from the respective capsule(s) CS, e.g. one after another. The pump 10 of the extraction means 3 pumps the fragrance(s) F1 and/or F2 into the blending chamber 11. Similarly, the control device 16 commands the extraction means 4 to extract a quantity of the solvent S into the blending chamber 11. The quantity of the solvent S is determined by the control device 16 on basis of the selected or desired type of fragrance blend FB. The quantities of the fragrance(s) F1 and/or F2 and the solvent S are measurable by the flow meter(s) 9. The control device 16 may also operate the blending chamber 11, if available. Moreover, the control device 16 operates the fragrance dispenser 12 to dispense the ready fragrance blend FB into the bottle B.

[0085] If the user selects providing a fragrance blend FB with the functional agent F3, the fragrance dispensing apparatus 1 then offers to detect the user's mood by activating the optical sensor 17, 18. After having the mood detected, the fragrance dispensing apparatus 1 displays the result in the user interface 14. The fragrance dispensing apparatus 1 may then query the user whether an addition of the functional agent F3, i.e. the mood enhancing scent, is desired. If the answer is yes, the functional agent F3 will be added to the fragrance blend FB. If, for example, the fragrance dispensing apparatus 1 determines that the user is tired, the stimulating functional agent F3 is offered to be added.

[0086] If the fragrance dispensing apparatus 1 has more than one functional agent F3 that acts on a mood/emotion of a user (e.g. a stimulating scent and a relaxing scent), the fragrance dispensing apparatus 1 may offer the respective functional agent F3. The offer may also be dependent on other factors, e.g. a time of the day. If, for example, the fragrance dispensing apparatus 1 determines that the user is tired, it may offer to add a stimulating functional agent F3 in the morning but not in the evening.

[0087] The fragrance dispensing apparatus 1 may also be adapted to let the user freely choose any functional agent F3 available.

[0088] The fragrance dispensing apparatus 1 may be adapted to store and offer previous user selections so as to facilitate the selectin process.

[0089] Selecting the fragrances F1 and/or F2 to be added to the fragrance blend FB may be performed before or after selecting the functional agent F3.

[0090] The fragrance dispensing apparatus 1 may be a self-cleaning device.

[0091] Of course, the invention is not restricted to the described embodiments. For example, the fragrance dispensing apparatus 1 may comprise more than one cartridge CR. The cartridge CR may comprise more than three capsules CS. The fragrance dispensing apparatus 1 may comprise other sensors than the optical sensor 17, 18. The fragrance dispensing apparatus 1 may comprise an e.g. wireless interface to connect to an external sensor, e.g. in form of a WLAN module, a Bluetooth module, etc. The communication module 15 may be this wireless interface.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0092] 1 fragrance dispensing apparatus [0093] 2 seat [0094] 3 extraction means [0095] 4 extraction means [0096] 5 solvent tank [0097] 6 coupling means [0098] 7 reader [0099] 8 dosage valve [0100] 9 flow meter [0101] 10 pump [0102] 11 blending chamber [0103] 12 fragrance dispenser [0104] 13 test strip dispenser [0105] 14 user interface [0106] 15 communication module [0107] 16 control device [0108] 17 camera [0109] 18 image processing unit [0110] B bottle [0111] CR cartridge [0112] CS capsule [0113] FB fragrance blend [0114] F1 fragrance [0115] F2 fragrance [0116] F3 functional agent [0117] S solvent