Sony patent proposes scent presentation device, providing possibility for PSVR olfactory experience

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(XR Navigation Network 2023年12月12日) from Feelreal to Vaqso VR和OVR Technology，再到美国西北大学和新加坡国立大学，行业和社区一直在尝试为VR带来一种缺失的感官体验：嗅觉。实际上，索尼同样有就这一领域进行探索，并已经申请过多项发明。日前，美国专利商标局再次公布了一份与之相关的专利申请“Aroma chemical presentation apparatus”。

Among them, the team mainly introduced an odor presentation device designed to bring olfactory experience to users. It includes: a package support unit that supports an aroma chemical encapsulated body that encapsulates aroma chemical materials; and an action body that physically acts on the aroma chemical encapsulated body to cause the aroma chemical substances in the aroma chemical encapsulated body to be emitted. ; and an exhaust fan that creates airflow in a predetermined direction for deriving the emitted aroma chemicals.

The aroma chemical presentation device 100 according to the invention includes a tray unit 10, a mechanism unit 20 and a control circuit unit 30 as shown in the figure.

As shown in the figure, the tray unit 10 is connected to the side of the mechanism unit 20 via a hinge 101 . When the sides of the mechanism unit 20 and the tray unit 10 opposite to the hinge 101 are placed in a closed state, the mechanism unit 20 and the tray unit 10 are integrated with each other to form a container body, and the entire structure from the tray unit 10 to the mechanism unit 20 is columnar.

In addition, when the hinge 101 is opened, the mechanism unit 20 opposite to the hinge 101 and the side surfaces on both sides of the tray unit 10 are placed in an open state, so that the inside of the tray unit 10 can be entered.

The tray unit 10 in this embodiment functions as a package support unit, and as shown in FIG. 2 , it may include a substantially rectangular-shaped bottom portion 11 , a wall portion 12 formed at a peripheral edge portion of the bottom portion 11 , and Bias unit 13. The biasing unit 13 basically includes a sheet-shaped pressing body 131 having the same shape as the inner periphery of the bottom 11 surrounded by the wall portion 12, and is inserted between the pressing body 131 and the bottom 11 and biases the pressing body 131 toward The elastic body 132 on one side of the mechanism unit 20.

In one example, an aroma chemical carrier 200 as shown in FIG. 3 is accommodated into the tray unit 10 . On the surface side of the aroma chemical carrier 200, microcapsules encapsulating aroma chemicals are fixed in at least one layer.

In the embodiment of Figure 3, the aroma chemicals are encapsulated in microcapsules and formed into a disk shape. However, this construction example is just an example and is not restrictive. Fixing the microcapsules to the aroma chemical carrier 200 can be achieved by applying the microcapsules together with an adhesive to the aroma chemical carrier 200 or other methods.

The drive unit 23 includes a rotary actuator. The air flow control unit 24 includes an exhaust fan 241a and an exhaust fan 241b that are paired with each other and provided on both sides of the mechanism unit housing 21 opposite to each other. The exhaust fan 241a derives vaporized aroma chemicals, causing them to disperse within the tray unit 10 and out through the openings 210a, 210b, etc.

At the same time, the exhaust fan 241b generates vaporized aroma chemicals, which flow out through the openings 210a, 210b, etc.

Since the exhaust fan 241a and the exhaust fan 241b are disposed at opposite positions across the mechanism unit housing 21, 241a and 241b generate airflows in opposite directions to each other. In one example of this embodiment, the exhaust fan 241a generates airflow directed toward the user's nose, and the exhaust fan 241b generates airflow directed away from the user's nose.

It should be noted that the air flow generated by the exhaust fan 241 b is to quickly remove the presented aroma chemicals or prepare for the next odor.

In one embodiment, the control circuit unit 30 includes a microcomputer or the like, and operates according to a program stored therein. The control circuit unit 30 is connected to the information processing device through a wired or wireless connection, receives information input specifying the driving units 23a, 23b, etc. and information on the odor intensity of the aroma chemical substance to be released from the information processing device, and controls the driving The units 23a, 23b, etc. rotate in a predetermined manner.

Here, information specifying the odor intensity of the aroma chemical substance specifies the rotation duration, the number of rotations, or the like, and the control circuit unit 30 repeats the reciprocating rotational motion of the rotation designation driving units 23a, 23b, and the like.

Therefore, the control circuit unit 30 moves the protrusions 223 of the active portion 22 as the active body relative to the aroma chemical carrier 200 and the tray unit 10 supporting the aroma chemical carrier 200, so that the protrusions 223 grind the aroma chemical substances formed on the aroma chemical carrier 200. Microencapsulated to allow fragrance chemicals to be released.

In one embodiment, the aroma chemistry presentation device 100 described in the embodiment can be connected to a head-mounted display to be mounted on the user's head, and oriented so that the user's nose is located on the downstream side of the airflow generated by the exhaust fan 241a.

In one embodiment, the user can open the hinge 101 connecting the mechanism unit 20 and the tray unit 10 to each other, and place the prepared aroma chemical carrier 200 on the pressing body 131 of the tray unit 10 .

If the information processing device is instructed by an application program to present an odor to the user during execution of the application programs, the information processing device generates an instruction for controlling the aroma chemical presentation device 100 according to the instruction.

The emitted aroma chemical is blown from within the aroma chemical presentation device 100 to the user's nose by the air flow generated by the exhaust fan 241a. The smell of emitted aroma chemicals can be presented to the user in this way.

In addition, if the information processing device subsequently receives an instruction from the application program to stop presenting the scent to the user, the information processing device generates an instruction for controlling the aroma chemical presentation device 100 based on the received instruction.

The generated instruction is output to the control circuit unit 30 of the aroma chemical presentation device 100 as a deodorization instruction. When the control circuit unit 30 of the aroma chemical presentation device 100 receives the deodorization instruction, the control circuit unit 30 steps the exhaust fan 241a and rotates the exhaust fan 241b.

Therefore, an airflow directed in the opposite direction to the user's nose is generated from the inside of the aroma chemical presentation device 100 . In this manner, the emitted aroma chemicals remaining inside the aroma chemical presentation device 100 are discharged in the opposite direction to the user's nose.

It should be noted that upon receiving an instruction from the information processing apparatus to present an aroma chemical different from the type of aroma chemical instructed to be presented in the above-described operation cycle, the control circuit unit 30 first stops the exhaust fan 241a as a deodorizer. operation, and then rotate the exhaust fan 241b.

Additionally, the aroma chemistry rendering device 100 may include a code image reader. When the aroma chemical carrier 200 is accommodated into the tray unit 10 and then the tray unit 10 is closed, the reader reads the code image and outputs the read data to an information processing device or the like.

In one embodiment, codes different according to the types of aroma chemicals formed on the aroma chemical carrier 200 are assigned in advance, and a code image corresponding to the code is formed at a predetermined position of the aroma chemical carrier 200 . This enables the information processing device or the like to acquire information related to the type of aroma chemical substance set to the aroma chemical carrier 200 of the aroma chemical presentation device 100 .

It should be noted that information associating a code with an aromatic chemical substance may be registered in an undescribed server or the like in advance, so that the information processing device queries the server or the like through a network or the like to obtain the information.

Additionally, with this information, it is possible to correlate not only information related to one aroma chemical type, but also information related to the odor intensity of each aroma chemical. This enables the information processing device to issue control instructions corresponding to the set aroma chemical carrier 200.

Sony's patent application titled "Aroma chemical presentation apparatus" was originally submitted in April 2023 and was recently published by the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Generally speaking, after a U.S. patent application is examined, it will be automatically published 18 months from the filing date or priority date, or it will be published within 18 months from the filing date at the request of the applicant. Note that publication of a patent application does not mean that the patent is approved. After a patent application is filed, the USPTO requires actual review, which can take anywhere from 1 to 3 years.