U.S. patent number 7,200,363 [Application Number 10/349,006] was granted by the patent office on 2007-04-03 for communication device having a scent release feature and method thereof.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Motorola, Inc.. Invention is credited to Paul M. Greco, Stephen D. Hunt, Joseph W. Seuck.
United States Patent |
7,200,363 |
Greco , et al. |
April 3, 2007 |
Communication device having a scent release feature and method
thereof
Abstract
A communication device such as a cellular telephone (200)
includes a heat-generating device (206) that generates heat energy.
In thermal proximity to the heat-generating device (206) is a scent
package (208) that includes a scented substance that is activated
by the heat generated by the heat-generating device (206). In one
embodiment of the invention, the heat-generating device (206) is a
power amplifier. In another embodiment of the invention, a method
of providing a scent in a communication device comprises providing
a heat-generating device and placing a scent package in thermal
proximity to the heat-generating device. The heat-generating device
can be a power amplifier used by the communication device, or other
electrical circuit found in the communication device.
Inventors: |
Greco; Paul M. (Parkland,
FL), Hunt; Stephen D. (Cooper City, FL), Seuck; Joseph
W. (Lauder Hill, FL) |
Assignee: |
Motorola, Inc. (Schaumburg,
IL)
|
Family
ID: |
33130299 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/349,006 |
Filed: |
January 22, 2003 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20040203412 A1 |
Oct 14, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/66.1;
455/550.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04B
1/3833 (20130101); H04M 1/21 (20130101); H04B
1/036 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04B
7/00 (20060101); H04B 1/38 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;455/550.1,575.1,66.1,567,127.1 ;392/390 ;422/4 ;428/905 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Vo; Nguyen T.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A communication device, comprising: a heat-generating device;
and a scent package having a scented substance located in thermal
proximity to the heat-generating device. wherein the
heat-generating device is part of the communication device and the
heat-generating device is a dual-purpose device in that the
heat-generating device enables operation of the communication
device and heat provided by the heat-generating device for heating
the scent package is a byproduct of that enablement.
2. A communication device as defined in claim 1, wherein the
heat-generating device comprises a power amplifier used by the
communication device.
3. A communication device as defined in claim 1, wherein the scent
package comprises a gel or liquid based scent package.
4. A communication device as defined in claim 1, further
comprising: a removable card; a slot for receiving the removable
card located on the communication device; and wherein the scent
package is attached to the removable card.
5. A communication device as defined in claim 1, further
comprising: at least one control key; and wherein the
heat-generating device commences to generate heat in response to
the at least one control key being activated.
6. A communication device as defined in claim 5, wherein the
heat-generating device produces heat for a predetermined period of
time after the control key is activated.
7. A communication device as defined in claim 5, further
comprising: a display, and the display in response to the at least
one control key being activated, causes an icon to be presented on
the display.
8. A communication device as defined in claim 1, wherein the
heat-generating device commences to generate heat in response to a
message being received by the communication device.
9. A communication device as defined in claim 1, wherein the
heat-generating device comprises a battery.
10. A communication device as defined in claim 1, wherein the
heat-generating device produces heat energy that activates the
scented substance and causes a scent to be released from the scent
package.
11. A cellular telephone, comprising: a power amplifier that
enables operation of the cellular telephone; and a scent package
thermally proximate to the power amplifier, wherein the power
amplifier and the scent package are configured to permit the power
amplifier to provide heat to the scent package as a byproduct of
the power amplifiers enablement of operation of the cellular
telephone.
12. A cellular telephone as defined in claim 11, wherein the
cellular telephone has a battery compartment, and the scent package
is located within the battery compartment.
13. A cellular telephone as defined in claim 12, wherein the
battery compartment includes a removable battery compartment cover,
and the battery compartment cover has at least one retainer for
receiving the scent package.
14. A cellular telephone as defined in claim 11, further comprising
a shield cover surrounding at least a portion of the power
amplifier; and the scent package is in contact with the shield.
15. A cellular telephone as defined in claim 11, wherein the scent
package is filled with a gel that is activated by the heat
generated by the power amplifier.
16. A method of producing a scent in a communication device,
comprising the steps of: providing a heat-generating device which
is part of the communication device and enables operation of the
communication device; and providing a scent package having a
scented substance in thermal proximity to the heat-generating
device such that the heat produced by the heat-generating device
when the heat-generating device enables operation of the
communication device causes the scented substance to activate and
provide an aroma.
17. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein the communication
device comprises a cellular telephone and the heat-generating
device comprises a power amplifier used by the cellular telephone
during normal operation.
18. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein the communication
device includes a controller, and the step of providing a
heat-generating device comprises the sub-steps of: providing an
electrical circuit coupled to the controller; and providing a
control signal from the controller to the electrical circuit that
causes the electrical circuit to produce heat.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates in general to the field of communications,
and more specifically, to a communication device that has a scent
release feature and a method for providing a scent release feature
in a communication device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Plug-in air fresheners are very popular and are used to provide a
fragrant scent to different areas in homes and offices. The plug-in
air fresheners comprise an electrical unit that plugs into an
alternating current (AC) wall outlet. The electrical unit includes
a heating module such as a resistive circuit that generates heat
energy, and a receptacle for receiving a scent carrying gel pack or
scented liquid container in thermal proximity to the heating
module. The temperature developed by the plug-in unit,
approximately 54 degrees Celsius (.degree. C.) for some plug-in
units, activates the release of the scent in the gel pack or
scented liquid container over time. The replaceable scent packages
that are loaded into the plug-in units typically last a few weeks
and are easily replaceable once they are depleted. Plug-in units
typically provide a stronger scent over a broader area than
non-plug-in scented items, given that the scents are activated by
the heat energy in the plug-in devices.
As communication devices, such as portable cellular telephones
become ever more popular, a greater percentage of people are using
these devices so they can stay in touch with others while on they
are on the move. Cellular telephone manufacturers are constantly
looking for ways to differentiate their products in the marketplace
by offering such things as changeable faceplates, different shaped
products, etc. Some cellular telephone users are the same
individuals who enjoy having plug-in scent units located around
their homes, and may miss not having a nice smelling fragrance
while they are on the go. Therefore, a need exists for a
communication device such as a cellular telephone that can address
some of the above-mentioned problems.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The features of the present invention, which are believed to be
novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The
invention, may best be understood by reference to the following
description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify
like elements, and in which:
FIG. 1 shows a communication device in accordance with the
invention.
FIG. 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the communication
device in FIG. 1 in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 3 shows a cellular telephone and external card having a scent
package in accordance with another aspect of the invention.
FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a communication device in
accordance with still another aspect of the invention.
FIG. 5 shows a simplified flow diagram of the steps taken to
provide a scent in a communication device in accordance with the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
While,the specification concludes with claims defining the features
of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that
the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the
following description in conjunction with the drawing figures.
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a communication device 100
such as a cellular telephone having a scent release feature in
accordance with the invention. Other communication devices, such as
portable AM/FM radios, computers, and other devices can take
advantage of the invention. In FIG. 2, a partial cross-sectional
view of cellular telephone 100 is shown. Located on a printed
circuit board 202 is a heat-generating device such as a radio
frequency power amplifier 206. A metal shield 204 provides heat
dispersion and radio interference protection to the power amplifier
circuit 206. A battery 210 is located in the battery compartment of
the radio that is located between the printed circuit board 202 and
battery cover 212.
In accordance with the invention, a scent package 208 having a
scented substance 218 there within is retained in thermal proximity
to the power amplifier 206 or other heat-generating circuit found
inside of the cellular telephone. Thermal proximity meaning that
the scent package 208 is located a distance 214 to the power
amplifier 206 (or other heat-generating circuit) that allows the
heat energy generated by the power amplifier 206 to activate or
enhance the delivery of the scented substance 218 inside of scent
package 208. The scent package 208 can be a replaceable scented gel
package such as those used in plug-in fresheners like the Glade.TM.
air freshener manufactured by S. C. Johnson Wax.
The scent package 208 can be held in place by a set of retainers
216 which retain the scent package 208 in proper alignment with the
power amplifier 206, but yet allows for easy replacement of the
scent package 208. The distance 214 between the scent package 208
and the power amplifier 206 will depend on factors such as the
amount of heat energy and temperature developed by the power
amplifier 206, and the type of scent package 208 being used. The
scent package 208 can be designed to make direct contact with power
amplifier shield 204 or can be located a short distance away. If
the scent package 208 makes direct contact with shield 204, the
scent package will provide the additional benefit of providing
additional heat dissipation for heat generated by the power
amplifier 206 or other heat-generating device or circuit.
Several tests have found that the typical power amplifier used in
for example an IDEN i500.TM. cellular telephone manufactured by
Motorola, Inc. reaches a temperature of about 60.degree. C., which
is more than enough to activate the fragrance in a gel based scent
package.
In another embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3, instead of
having to remove the battery cover 212 of the cellular radio to
replace a depleted scent package as would be the case in the design
shown in FIG. 2, a scent package 308 is loaded into the cellular
telephone 302 using a removable card 304 that is inserted into the
cellular telephone 302 through a slot 306 located on the cellular
telephone 302. The removable card 304 includes a scent package 308
that is part of the card 304 in the case of a one-time use design,
or alternatively, which can be placed onto the card 304 and
replaced when depleted. Card 304 can be a phone service card such
as those used with prepaid digital phones, a memory card, or other
type of plug-in card that can be loaded onto a communication
device. When inserted into cellular telephone 302, the scent
package 308 is placed in thermal proximity to a heat-generating
device (not shown) located inside of cellular telephone 302.
Although, the designs discussed above have used circuits that are
generating heat energy during the normal use of the cellular
telephone (e.g., power amplifier) and thus no extra power is wasted
in providing the heat energy used to activate the scent package, in
still another embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG. 4, a
heat-generating circuit 408 is caused to generate heat energy 418
on demand in response to receiving a control signal 412 from a
controller 402. The controller 402 can be for example a
microprocessor, digital signal processor or other control
hardware/software known in the art. Communication device 400
includes a receiver section 404 and a transmitter section 406.
The heat-generating circuit 408 can include among other things, a
resistive network or other heat-generating circuit along with the
necessary power transistors, etc. that can generate a sufficient
amount of heat energy to activate the scent in scent package 410.
The control signal 412 used to activate the heat-generating circuit
408 can be generated by the controller 402 in response to receiving
a user control input via the user controls 414. The user controls
414 can be a control key or set of keys located in the cellular
radio 400. The controller 402 can cause the heat-generating circuit
408 to generate heat for a predetermined period of time after the
control signal 412 is sent, or can require the cellular telephone
user to press another set of user controls 414 to deactivate the
heat-generating circuit 408.
The controller 402 can cause an icon (see as example icon 310 in
FIG. 3) to be displayed by display 416 that would alert the
cellular telephone user that the heat-generating circuit is causing
the scent package 410 to release a scent. In still another aspect
of the invention, a particular message (e.g., from a particular
person) or type of message received by receiver 404 can
automatically cause controller 402 to generate the control signal
412. A user alert such as an audio or visual alert can be provided
and controlled by controller 402 which could alert the cellular
telephone user that it is time to replace the scent package. The
controller 402 can generate a timer that can keep track of the
amount of time that has elapsed since the scent package was
installed and provide an alert signal upon the timer expiring. The
alert signal could be a tone, or a change to the icon 308 (e.g.,
icon 308 could begin blinking, etc.).
In FIG. 5, there is shown a flow diagram highlighting the steps
taken in accordance with the invention. In step 502, a
heat-generating device found in the communication device such as a
power amplifier, etc. is provided. In step 504, a scent package is
provided in thermal proximity to the heat-generating device. The
heat-generating device provides heat energy that helps in
activating the scented substance in the scent package.
In a cellular radio several heat-generating circuits can be
considered as potential heat generators that can be used to
activate the scent package. Although the RF power amplifier is a
device that produces a good amount of heat energy and a high enough
temperature, other devices such as the battery pack, crystal, or
other circuit in the communication device may be a potential
candidates depending on the type of scent package being used, and
other design criteria.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been
illustrated and described, it will be clear that the invention is
not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations,
substitutions and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the
art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention as defined by the appended claims.
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