Abstract:
A filament may be provided having enhanced solderability and/or heating characteristics configured for heating a substance to release an airborne scent. In exemplary implementations, the ends of a high-temperature compatible filament may be coated with a metal film having greater solderability and/or conductivity relative to the filament. The coated ends may allow the filament to be incorporated into a heating circuit using low-temperature solder, rather than by using high-temperature solder or clamping. The coated ends may have a lower resistance relative to uncoated portions of the filament such that, when electrical current is passed through the filament, most of the current will flow through the coating at the end portions of the filament concentrating heat emitted by the filament to the uncoated portions.

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The invention relates to a filament having enhanced solderability and/or heating characteristics configured for heating a substance to release an airborne scent, systems and methods utilizing the filament, and methods for fabricating the filament. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Heating substances in order to release an airborne scent is known. Some existing approaches utilize a high-temperature filament to heat the substance. These filaments, however, typically do not wet low-temperature solders. As such, existing filaments may require clamping or high-temperature solder to be incorporated into a heating circuit. Clamping may lead to inconsistent electrical connections and/or bulkiness of a system comprising such a filament. High-temperature solder may damage adjacent components and/or the filament itself during application. Additionally, existing filaments generally heat along the full length of the filament, making it difficult to heat targeted areas. 
     SUMMARY 
     One aspect of the invention may relate to coating the ends of a high-temperature compatible filament with a metal film having greater solderability and/or conductivity relative to the filament. The coated ends may allow the filament to be soldered using low-temperature solder. The coated ends may have a lower resistance relative to uncoated portions of the filament such that, when electrical current is passed through the filament, most of the current will flow through the coating at the end portions of the filament concentrating heat emitted by the filament to the uncoated portions. 
     Another aspect of the invention relates to a system configured to provide one or more airborne scents in an environment of a user. The system may include a scent delivery apparatus, a user interface, external resources, and/or other components. 
     The scent delivery apparatus may be configured to emit one or more airborne scents in an environment of a user. Emission of the one or more scents may be coordinated with presentation of various media, in some implementations. Such media may include a video, a video game, a still picture, audio, text, and/or other media. Emission of the one or more scents may correspond to subject matter of media being presented. By way of non-limiting example, a rose scent may be emitted when a field of roses is shown in the movie. 
     The user interface may be configured to provide an interface between system and users. The user interface may include one or more devices suitable for introducing a scent in an environment of a user. Examples of such devices may include a nasal mask, total face mask, nasal cannula, and/or other devices suitable for introducing a scent in an environment of a user. 
     The external resources may be configured to provide media for presentation to a user. By way of non-limiting example, external resources may include one or more of an entertainment center, gaming console, computing platform, digital device, television, movie projector, stereo, digital picture presentation device, e-book reader, and/or other resources configured to provide media for presentation to a user. 
     Referring again to scent delivery apparatus, it may include electronic storage, one or more processors, a scent provisioning apparatus, and/or other components. The processor(s) may be configured to execute one or more computer program modules. In some implementations, the one or more computer program modules may include a scent delivery module and/or other modules. 
     The scent delivery module may be configured to control emission of one or more scents by the scent provisioning apparatus, which is described in further detail herein. Emission of the one or more scents may be controlled based on media being presented to a user, information received from external resources and/or other components of the system, information received from a user via the user interface, and/or other information. In some implementations, scent delivery module may control emission by controlling a level of current passed through a filament and/or other heating element configured to heat a substance that emits a scent when heated. 
     The scent provisioning apparatus may include a reservoir, a capillary, a filament, and/or other components. In some implementations, one or more scent provisioning apparatuses may be included in a cartridge configured to be removably coupled with scent delivery apparatus. 
     The reservoir may be configured to contain a substance. The substance may be configured to release an airborne scent responsive to being heated. According to various implementations, substance may include an oil and/or other liquid, a gel, and/or other substances configured to release an airborne scent responsive to being heated. 
     The capillary may include a tube with a fine bore. The capillary may be disposed at least partially within the reservoir. The capillary may be configured to draw the substance through a portion of the capillary by way of capillary action. Capillary action, or capillarity, may be an ability of a liquid or other viscous substance to flow against gravity where the liquid spontaneously rises in a tube with a fine bore. 
     The filament may be a wire or strand of a high-temperature compatible conductive material. By way of non-limiting example, the filament may be formed at least partially of an alloy comprising nickel and chromium (e.g., nichrome). The filament may be disposed at least partially within the capillary. The filament may be configured to heat the substance within the capillary by way of resistive heating. Resistive heating may be provided by passing a current through the filament. According to some implementations, an intensity of the airborne scent released responsive to heating the substance may be controlled based on the temperature level of the filament. 
     Two or more portions of the filament may have a coating thereon. The coating may include a material having higher conductivity relative to the filament, which may reduce resistive heating of the two or more portions of the filament where the coating is disposed relative to an uncoated segment of the filament. As a result, non-coated portions of the filament may emit greater levels of heat energy than coated portions under the same amount of current. This may facilitate the delivery of heat to one or more specific regions within the capillary. 
     The coating may include a material having better solderability relative to filament. Thus, the coating may enhance solderability of the two or more portions of the filament where the coating is disposed relative to an uncoated segment of the filament. As such, low-temperature solder may be used to incorporate filament into a heating circuit. 
     Yet other aspects of the invention relate to methods for preparing and/or utilizing a filament configured to heat a liquid in order to release an airborne scent, as well as to such a filament itself. At one operation, a filament may be coated at least partially with copper or an alloy comprising copper to form a coating on two or more portions of the filament. At another operation, at least a portion of the copper or copper alloy coating may be coated with an outer layer of tin. At still another operation, at least one portion of the filament may be coiled. At yet another operation, the filament may be disposed at least partially within the capillary. At a further operation, the capillary and filament assembly may be disposed at least partially within a reservoir configured to contain a substance, which may release the airborne scent responsive to being heated. At a still further operation, current may be passed through the filament to heat the substance within the capillary by way of resistive heating. At a yet further operation, an airborne scent is released responsive to the substance within the capillary being heated. 
     These and other objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a system configured to provide one or more airborne scents in an environment of a user, in accordance with one or more implementations. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a scent provisioning apparatus included in the system of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a method for preparing and/or utilizing a filament configured to heat a liquid in order to release an airborne scent, in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a system  100  configured to provide one or more airborne scents in an environment of a user, in accordance with one or more implementations. As depicted in  FIG. 1 , system  100  may include a scent delivery apparatus  102 , a user interface  104 , external resources  106 , and/or other components. The depiction of system  100  in  FIG. 1  is not intended to be limiting as system  100  may include more or less components than those shown. Additionally, two or more components of system  100  may be combined as singular components. 
     The scent delivery apparatus  102  may be configured to emit one or more airborne scents in an environment of a user. Emission of the one or more scents may be coordinated with presentation of various media, in some implementations. Such media may include a video, a video game, a still picture, audio, text, and/or other media. Emission of the one or more scents may correspond to subject matter of media being presented. By way of non-limiting example, emission of a given scent during presentation of a movie may correspond to subject matter being presently being shown in the movie, such as a rose scent being emitted when a field of roses is shown in the movie. The scent delivery apparatus  102  and components thereof are described in further detail herein. 
     The user interface  104  may be configured to provide an interface between system  100  and users. The user interface  104  may include one or more devices suitable for introducing a scent in an environment of a user. Examples of such devices may include a nasal mask, total face mask, nasal cannula, and/or other devices suitable for introducing a scent in an environment of a user. The user interface  104  may also include a headgear assembly, such as mounting straps or a harness, for removing and fastening user interface  104  to a user. In some implementations, user interface  104  may have controls and/or a position sensor mounted thereon. In short, any technique for introducing a scent to an environment of a user is contemplated by the present invention as user interface  104 . 
     In accordance with some implementations, the user interface  104  may be further configured to enable data, results, and/or instructions and any other communicable items, collectively referred to as “information,” to be communicated between the users and system  100 . Examples of interface devices suitable for inclusion in user interface  104  include a keypad, buttons, switches, a keyboard, knobs, levers, a display screen, a touch screen, speakers, a microphone, an indicator light, an audible alarm, and a printer. It is to be understood that other communication techniques, either hard-wired or wireless, are also contemplated by the present invention as user interface  104 . For example, the present invention contemplates that user interface  104  may be integrated with a removable storage interface provided by electronic storage  108 . In this example, information may be loaded into system  100  from removable storage (e.g., a smart card, a flash drive, a removable disk, etc.) that enables the user(s) to customize the implementation of system  100 . Other exemplary input devices and techniques adapted for use with system  100  as user interface  104  include, but are not limited to, an RS-232 port, RF link, an IR link, modem (telephone, cable or other). In short, any technique for communicating information with system  100  is contemplated by the present invention as user interface  104 . 
     The external resources  106  may be configured to provide media for presentation to a user. By way of non-limiting example, external resources  106  may include one or more of an entertainment center, gaming console, computing platform, digital device, television, movie projector, stereo, digital picture presentation device, e-book reader, and/or other resources configured to provide media for presentation to a user. The external resources  106  may include sources of information, hosts and/or providers of media content outside of system  100 , external entities participating with system  100 , and/or other resources. In some implementations, some or all of the functionality attributed herein to external resources  106  may be provided by resources included in system  100 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 1 , scent delivery apparatus  102  may include electronic storage  108 , one or more processors  110 , a scent provisioning apparatus  112 , and/or other components. The depiction of scent delivery apparatus  102  in  FIG. 1  is not intended to be limiting as scent delivery apparatus  102  may include more or less components than those shown. Additionally, two or more components of scent delivery apparatus  102  may be combined as singular components. 
     The processor(s)  110  may be configured to execute one or more computer program modules. The processor(s)  110  may be configured to execute the computer program module(s) by software; hardware; firmware; some combination of software, hardware, and/or firmware; and/or other mechanisms for configuring processing capabilities on processor(s)  110 . In some implementations, the one or more computer program modules may include a scent delivery module  114  and/or other modules. 
     The scent delivery module  114  may be configured to control emission of one or more scents by scent provisioning apparatus  112 , which is described in further detail in connection with  FIG. 2 . Emission of the one or more scents may be controlled based on media being presented to a user, information received from external resources  106  and/or other components of system  100 , information received from a user via user interface  104 , and/or other information. In some implementations, scent delivery module  114  may control emission by controlling a level of current passed through a filament and/or other heating element configured to heat a substance that emits a scent when heated. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates scent provisioning apparatus  112 , in accordance with one or more implementations. As depicted in  FIG. 2 , scent provisioning apparatus  112  may include a reservoir  202 , a capillary  204 , a filament  206 , and/or other components. The depiction of scent provisioning apparatus  112  in  FIG. 2  is not intended to be limiting as scent provisioning apparatus  112  may include more or less components than those shown. Additionally, two or more components of scent provisioning apparatus  112  may be combined as singular components. In some implementations, one or more scent provisioning apparatuses (e.g., scent provisioning apparatus  112 ) may be included in a cartridge configured to be removably coupled with scent delivery apparatus  102 . 
     The reservoir  202  may be configured to contain a substance  208 . The substance  208  may be configured to release an airborne scent responsive to being heated. According to various implementations, substance  208  may include an oil and/or other liquid, a gel, and/or other substances configured to release an airborne scent responsive to being heated. 
     The capillary  204  may include a tube with a fine bore. As depicted in  FIG. 2 , capillary  204  may be disposed at least partially within reservoir  202 . The capillary  204  may be open at both ends. The capillary  204  may be configured to draw substance  208  through a portion of capillary  204  by way of capillary action. Capillary action, or capillarity, may be an ability of a liquid or other viscous substance to flow against gravity where the liquid spontaneously rises in a tube with a fine bore. 
     The filament  206  may be a wire or strand of a high-temperature compatible conductive material. By way of non-limiting example, filament  206  may be formed at least partially of an alloy comprising nickel and chromium (e.g., nichrome). As depicted in  FIG. 2 , filament  206  may be disposed at least partially within capillary  204 . In some implementations, filament  206  may be coiled within capillary  204 , such as in a coaxial manner. The filament  206  may be configured to heat substance  208  within capillary  204  by way of resistive heating. Resistive heating may be provided by passing a current through filament  206 . The scent delivery module  114  (see  FIG. 1 ) may be configured to control a level of current passing through filament  206 , thereby controlling a temperature level of filament  206 . According to some implementations, an intensity of the airborne scent released responsive to heating substance  208  may be controlled based on the temperature level of filament  206 . 
     Two or more portions of filament  206  may have a coating (e.g., coating  205 ) thereon. In exemplary implementations, the two end portions of filament  206  may have the coating there on. The coating may include a material having higher conductivity relative to filament  206 , which may reduce resistive heating of the two or more portions of filament  206  where the coating is disposed relative to a segment of filament  206  lacking such a coating. As a result, non-coated portions of filament  206  may emit greater levels of heat energy than coated portions under the same amount of current. This may facilitate the delivery of heat to one or more specific regions within capillary  204 . 
     The coating may include a material having better solderability relative to filament  206 . Generally speaking, the solderability of a substrate (e.g., filament  206 ) may be a measure of the ease with which a soldered joint can be made to that material. Good solderability typically requires wetting (i.e., low contact angle) of the substrate by the solder. Thus, the coating may enhance solderability of the two or more portions of filament  206  where the coating is disposed relative to an uncoated segment of filament  206 . As such, low-temperature solder may be used to incorporate filament  206  into a heating circuit. 
     By way of non-limiting example, the coating may include copper, an alloy comprising copper, and/or other materials having higher conductivity and better solderability relative to filament  206 . Copper and some alloys containing copper may have a higher conductivity and/or better solderability relative to nichrome and some other alloys comprising nickel and chromium. In some implementations, a portion of the copper or copper alloy coating may have an outer layer of tin disposed thereon. This may further enhance solderability of the two or more portions of filament  206  where the coating is disposed relative to an uncoated segment of filament  206 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , processor(s)  110  may be configured to provide information processing capabilities in system  100 . As such, processor(s)  110  may include one or more of a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuit designed to process information, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronically processing information. Although processor(s)  110  is shown in  FIG. 1  as a single entity, this is for illustrative purposes only. In some implementations, processor(s)  110  may include a plurality of processing units. These processing units may be physically located within the same device, or processor(s)  110  may represent processing functionality of a plurality of devices operating in coordination (e.g., “in the cloud”, and/or other virtualized processing solutions). 
     It should be appreciated that although scent delivery module  114  is illustrated in  FIG. 1  as being located within a single processing unit, in implementations in which processor(s)  110  includes multiple processing units, scent delivery module  114  may be located remotely from scent delivery apparatus  102 . The description of the functionality provided by scent delivery module  114  described herein is for illustrative purposes, and is not intended to be limiting, as scent delivery module  114  may provide more or less functionality than is described. For example, some or all of the functionality attributed to scent delivery module  114  may be provided by one or more other modules executed by processor(s)  110 . 
     The electronic storage  108  may comprise electronic storage media that stores information. The electronic storage media of electronic storage  108  may include system storage that is provided integrally (i.e., substantially non-removable) with scent delivery apparatus  102  and/or other components of system  100 . The electronic storage media of electronic storage  108  may include removable storage that is removably connectable to scent delivery apparatus  102  and/or other components of system  100  via, for example, a port (e.g., a USB port, a firewire port, etc.) or a drive (e.g., a disk drive, etc.). The electronic storage  108  may include one or more of optically readable storage media (e.g., optical disks, etc.), magnetically readable storage media (e.g., magnetic tape, magnetic hard drive, floppy drive, etc.), electrical charge-based storage media (e.g., EEPROM, RAM, etc.), solid-state storage media (e.g., flash drive, etc.), and/or other electronically readable storage media. The electronic storage  108  may include virtual storage resources, such as storage resources provided via a cloud and/or a virtual private network. The electronic storage  108  may store software algorithms, information determined by system  100 , information received via user interface  104 , and/or other information that enables system  100  to function as described herein. The electronic storage  108  may be a separate component within system  100 , or electronic storage  108  may be provided integrally with one or more other components of system  100  (e.g., processor(s)  110 ). 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a method  300  for preparing and/or utilizing a filament configured to heat a liquid in order to release an airborne scent, in accordance with one or more implementations. The operations of method  300  presented below are intended to be illustrative. In some implementations, method  300  may be accomplished with one or more additional operations not described, and/or without one or more of the operations discussed. Additionally, the order in which the operations of method  300  are illustrated in  FIG. 3  and described below is not intended to be limiting. 
     In some implementations, one or more operations of method  300  may be performed by one or more processing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuit designed to process information, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or more processing devices may include one or more devices executing some or all of the operations of method  300  in response to instructions stored electronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or more processing devices may include one or more devices configured through hardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed for execution of one or more of the operations of method  300 . 
     At operation  302 , a filament (e.g., filament  206 ) may be coated at least partially with copper or an alloy comprising copper to form a coating on two or more portions of the filament. In some implementations, the two end portions of the filament may be coated with copper or the copper alloy. The coating may be configured to: (1) reduce resistive heating of the two or more portions of the filament where the coating is disposed relative to an uncoated segment of the filament, and/or (2) enhance solderability of the two or more portions of the filament where the coating is disposed relative to an uncoated segment of the filament. 
     According to some implementations, coating the filament at least partially with copper or the copper alloy to form the coating on the two or more portions of the filament may include: (1) coating some or all of the filament with copper or the copper alloy, (2) etching at least one portion of the coated filament to remove some of the copper or copper alloy in order to form the coating on the two or more portions of the filament, and/or other processing steps. 
     In some implementations, coating the filament at least partially with copper or the copper alloy to form the coating on the two or more portions of the filament may include: (1) masking at least one portion of the filament, (2) electroplating the filament with copper or the copper alloy, (3) removing the masking from the at least one portion of the filament in order to form the coating on the two or more portions of the filament, and/or other processing steps. Furthermore, coating the filament at least partially with copper or the copper alloy to form the coating on the two or more portions of the filament may include using a reel-to-reel processing technique. 
     At operation  304 , at least a portion of the copper or copper alloy coating may be coated with an outer layer of tin. This may further enhance solderability of the two or more portions of the filament where the coating is disposed relative to an uncoated segment of the filament. Similar or other coating processes as for copper or the copper alloy may be used to apply the outer layer of tin. 
     At operation  306 , at least one portion of the filament may be coiled. The at least one coiled portion of the filament may be configured to be disposed within a capillary (e.g., capillary  204 ). In some implementations, a middle portion of the filament may be coiled. 
     At operation  308 , the filament may be disposed at least partially within the capillary. In some implementations, one end of the filament may protrude longitudinally from one end of the capillary, which the other end of the filament may be bent back on itself, but outside of the capillary, such the both ends of the filament extend in approximately the same direction (see, e.g.,  FIG. 2 ). 
     At operation  310 , the capillary and filament assembly may be disposed at least partially within a reservoir (e.g., reservoir  202 ) configured to contain a substance (e.g., substance  208 ). The substance may be configured to release the airborne scent responsive to being heated. The capillary may be configured to draw the substance through a portion of the capillary by way of capillary action. 
     At operation  312 , current may be passed through the filament to heat the substance within the capillary by way of resistive heating. In some implementations, scent delivery module  114  may control controlling a level of current passed through the filament based on media being presented to a user, information received from external resources  106  and/or other components of system  100 , information received from a user via user interface  104 , and/or other information. 
     At operation  314 , an airborne scent is released responsive to the substance within the capillary being heated. In exemplary implementations, releasing the airborne scent may be coordinated with presentation of various media such that the airborne scent corresponds to subject matter of media being presented. By way of non-limiting example, emission of a given scent during presentation of a digital picture may correspond to subject matter of the digital picture, such as a chocolate scent being emitted when a digital picture is of a chocolate candy. 
     Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the invention is not limited to the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any implementation can be combined with one or more features of any other implementation.