Abstract:
A new diffuser for essential oils and the like is rendered more compact by integrating the entire diffuser into a form of cap threaded to fit a bottle operating as a reservoir. The motor and pump system are integrated into a package sleeved inside a housing that then receives in a silo beside the pump and motor the entire reservoir and diffuser system. Simplified control algorithms provide a limited set of buttons that are more intuitive by which a user need only define total time of operation, some level of intensity of scent, and an indication of the comparative size of the space to be conditioned by the diffused scent.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/277,343, filed Jan. 11, 2016. This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/297,542, filed Oct. 19, 2016; which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/260,520, filed Apr. 24, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,480,769, issued Nov. 1, 2016; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/854,545, filed Apr. 1, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,415,130, issued Aug. 16, 2016. This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/373,035, filed Dec. 8, 2016; which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/265,820, filed Dec. 10, 2015. All of the following are hereby incorporated by referenced in their entirety. 
         [0002]    This application also incorporates by reference: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/247,755, filed Oct. 8, 2008, issued Feb. 1, 2011, as U.S. Pat. No. 7,878,418, U.S. Design Patent Application Ser. No. 29/401,480, filed Sep. 12, 2011, issued May 29, 2012, as U.S. Design Pat. No. D660,951; U.S. Design Patent Application Ser. No. 29/401,517, filed Sep. 12, 2011, issued Sep. 4, 2012, as U.S. Design Pat. No. D666,706; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/854,545, filed Apr. 1, 2013; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/260,520, filed Apr. 24, 2014; U.S. Design Patent Application Ser. No. 29/451,750, filed Apr. 8, 2013, U.S. Design Patent Application Ser. No. 29/465,421, filed Aug. 28, 213; U.S. Design Patent Application Ser. No. 29/465,424, filed Aug. 28, 2013; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/850,789, filed Sep. 10, 2015. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    This invention relates to diffusion of essential oils and, more particularly, to novel systems and methods for modularizing diffusers for mobile applications and simplified operation. 
         [0005]    Background Art 
         [0006]    Mechanisms exist for altering a closed environment such as a room or home with humidity. Likewise, mechanisms exist for removing humidity. Electronic and chemical mechanisms for destroying microbial sources of offensive scents exist. Meanwhile, sprays, evaporators, wicks, candles, and so forth also exist to vaporize and distribute volatile scents, essential oils, alcohols or other liquids bearing scents, and so forth. These may be introduced into breathing air, an atmosphere of a room, or any other enclosed space. 
         [0007]    Heating often destroys, or at least changes, the constitution of essential oils. Thus, it has limitations. However, the evaporation rates or atomization rates of essential oils are often insufficient to provide a controllable, sustainable, and sufficient amount of an essential oil into the atmosphere. Thus, wicks having no positive breakup mechanism or no air movement mechanism often prove inadequate. 
         [0008]    Meanwhile, mechanisms that seek to copy vaporizers and moisture atomizers often damage surrounding equipment, furniture, and other environs of a space being treated by overspray or settling out of essential oils. Moreover, the continuing “spitting” by atomizers of comparatively larger droplets not only causes damage to finishes on surrounding surfaces, but wastes a substantial fraction of the essential oil. 
         [0009]    Essential oils are concentrated sources of aromas or scents. Their extraction from source plants is sometimes complicated, and always comparatively expensive, based on the cost per unit volume of the essential oil. Therefore, colognes, other fragrancing systems, and the like often use comparatively high tractions of diluents for essential oils. They also use synthetic oils and artificial scents that may not replicate the comforting, familiar, and natural essence of essential oils. 
         [0010]    By whatever mode, systems to distribute essential oils often waste an expensive commodity while damaging surroundings about their atomizers or other distribution systems. Thus, it would be an advance in the art to provide an apparatus and method for distributing essential oils in as small particles as possible, preferably vaporized or else suspending in air permanently, while protecting surrounding areas. It would be an advance to do so while retrieving and recycling for re-atomization or diffusion any droplets that are larger than those that may be sustained against gravity by fluid dynamic drag or by effectively Brownian motion once discharged into surrounding air. 
         [0011]    It would also be an advance in the art to improve diffusers to make them smaller, more compact, and more mobile so they may be used in a particular room, moved from room to room, or even carried in a vehicle. Adding aromas to vehicles has long been the purview of poorly constructed and short-lived, absorbent materials suspended by a tether from a mount of a rear view mirror. Effective selection of scent, duration and intensity of scent, and other desirable controls have been effectively absent. Moreover, the complexities of controls have likewise been a deterrent to rapid and simplified mechanisms for selecting an effective operational cycle. 
         [0012]    It would be an advance in the art to provide an integrated control mechanism that effectively limits a number of decisions, and perhaps even choices, simplifying and integrating them into parameters that may be more readily understood selected. In some embodiments, it would be a substantial benefit to a user to have a system that integrates information from a user, translates it into operational characteristics of a diffuser, and automatically sets the controlling parameters without the common trial and error or unknown consequences typically imposed on a user. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    In view of the foregoing, in accordance with the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, a method and apparatus are disclosed in one embodiment of the present invention as including a reservoir fitted with an extraction system for drawing out of the reservoir and feeding into a diffuser nozzle. The nozzle may operate as an eductor. In fact, in certain embodiments an eductor may include an injection nozzle feeding into a plenum which plenum feeds through a diffuser nozzle toward an ultimate discharge point or port. 
         [0014]    In certain embodiments, a system may include separation or drift chambers. For example, an initial separation chamber may actually be an evacuated space or vapor space near the top of a reservoir. This provides the advantage of the reservoir directly relying on contact accumulation, coalescence by contact between an atomized spray and the content of essential oil in the reservoir. 
         [0015]    Separator mechanisms may coalesce out comparatively larger droplets as they either drift into or strike with impact against solid surfaces. Solid surfaces may be naturally occurring walls of conduits, the reservoir, and so forth. However, surfaces may also be made up of baffles simply placed within a conduit or path in order to cause changes of direction, and to receive and coalesce overly large droplets. “Larger” means having too much mass, or rather too great a mass-to-cross-sectional-area ratio to drift indefinitely (e.g., permanently) in air. This may also be expressed as a volume-to-surface-area ratio. 
         [0016]    A decrease of radius decreases surface area as the square of radius, while decreasing volume as the cube of radius. Accordingly, there comes a point at which the cross sectional area controlling fluid drag of droplets in air is sufficiently large yet the mass and volume are sufficiently small, that a particle of such size may remain suspended indefinitely in air (e.g., permanently or until evaporated or captured). That is, the drag force resisting drift of the droplet downward under the force of gravity is sufficient to maintain indefinitely the drift of that droplet with the movement of air. Stated another way, the gravitational force is so miniscule as to be irrelevant to the time of drift. Gravity is unimportant. Drift can proceed effectively indefinitely. 
         [0017]    Evaporation is an entirely different mechanism. In evaporation, individual molecules of a liquid become individual molecules of vapor. Vapors then abide by Dalton&#39;s law of partial pressures and take their place with other surrounding vapors including air, constituted primarily by oxygen and nitrogen. Thus, evaporated portions of an essential oil have performed well their function of distributing into the surrounding air. 
         [0018]    Meanwhile, droplets sufficiently small to remain airborne substantially indefinitely, despite gravity, have also achieved their mission to distribute in air. Droplets too large, and therefor too heavy, cannot be sustained in surrounding air against drift downward under the force of gravity. By drifting down these are recaptured. Otherwise they would have become the culprits in waste of essential oils and the damage to surrounding surfaces on which such droplets land. 
         [0019]    Thus, in an apparatus and method in accordance with the invention, it has been found that various separators have proven effective to provide several key factors. For example, separation devices provide time. The time of passage or containment of a droplet within a separation chamber provides opportunity for comparatively larger droplets to drift toward any coalescing surface. By coalescing surface is meant a surface upon which overly large droplets may strike and coalesce with one another under the natural surface tension affinity that the essential oil or other material has for itself. 
         [0020]    Also, the separation chambers have inlets and outlets offering changes of direction and cross sectional. Moreover, barriers may intercept “comparatively larger” particles by serving as coalescing surfaces. Barriers may also redirect flows, thereby encouraging striking thereof by overly large particles. 
         [0021]    Herein we will define overly large particles as particles that are larger, especially those more than an order of magnitude larger in diameter, than self-sustaining (permanently drifting) droplets. Thus, permanently drifting droplets are defined as droplets of an atomized liquid that are sufficiently small that they will not drift consistently downward, especially the height of a room within a day of eight to twenty four hours. 
         [0022]    Thus, the finest particles, defined as permanently drifting particles are those whose gravitational acceleration under the force of gravity is insufficient to drift them down before they are swept along with air currents. Of interest also is any droplet that will not descend the height of a room within a day due to the resistance to drifting down by the fluid drag of the surrounding gases, such as room air or air in another confined space, such as a vehicle. As a practical matter, droplets larger than these finest or permanently drifting particles are sufficiently small if they will drift with an airflow and leave with ventilation air. Often, air leaves a room or an enclosed space of a vehicle in a matter of less than an hour. 
         [0023]    For example, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineering (ASHRAE) defines standards for room ventilation. Finest particles will necessarily be drifting with the flow of air and will leave a room before they have substantial opportunity to drift to the floor. Moreover, because room air is exchanged so frequently, typically more than once per hour, particles that are an order of magnitude larger than the finest particles also fit within the definition of comparatively smaller particles. In other words, these stay aloft for sufficient time to be swept out with the circulation of room air or vehicle air. 
         [0024]    What is now available is a compact system to accomplish atomization and subsequent separation of the comparatively larger particles that can drift to the ground in less than an hour or less than an air exchange time. The size may vary with temperature and with the specific gravity (density compared to the density of water) of a particular essential oil. 
         [0025]    Thus, an apparatus and method in accordance with the invention may rely on a compactly packaged, system for a reservoir, a motor and pump system, and one or more separation mechanisms. They may include drift chambers in the flow path. The separation mechanisms provide drift time and a smooth flow separation mechanism for comparatively larger particles to drift toward and coalesce against solid surfaces. 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, a jet entrains a certain amount of an essential oil to be atomized. This jet, proceeding out of the jet nozzle or injection nozzle (which initiates and creates the jet), passes through a receptacle or well. The well is drawing the essential oil out of the reservoir, through a tube into that receptacle. 
         [0027]    The jet of air passing through the essential oil entrains a certain portion thereof, or entrains an essential oil at a rate and with sufficient energy to strip droplets from the surface of surrounding essential oil. It ejects those droplets by a jet through a diffuser nozzle. 
         [0028]    Of course, according to the laws of physics and engineering, droplets are generated in a variety of sizes. Initially, the largest of the comparatively larger droplets will not be able to make the turn required to reverse direction. Reversal is required in order to pass back out through the cap and a channel in the cap that exits the vapor space above the reservoir. 
         [0029]    By a reservoir is indicated a supply, or a container for holding a supply, of an aromatic substance, such as an essential oil. By a diffuser is meant a system for atomizing and distributed comparatively smaller particles, including finest particles as defined hereinabove, and suitably fine particles that are within about an order of magnitude of the same diameter or radius as finest particles. 
         [0030]    A jet is defined as in engineering fluid mechanics. A jet represents a flow of fluid having momentum, and passing through another fluid which may have the same or a different constitution. Thus, an air jet may pass through a surrounding oil. An air jet may pass through surrounding air. A significant feature of a jet is that it passes fluid having momentum through another fluid having a different specific momentum. Accordingly, momentum is exchanged between the environment and the jet, causing the jet to grow in size as a “plume.” A plume will decrease in velocity as the momentum is distributed among more actual material (mass). 
         [0031]    An eductor is a specific type of fluid handling mechanism. An eductor is a system in which a jet of a first constitution is injected into another fluid, typically of a different constitution. The momentum from the first jet is sufficient to cause the surrounding fluid entrained by the jet to continue as a plume of mixed constitution. 
         [0032]    Herein, an eductor mechanism is created in which a jet, the source of that jet, and the surrounding environment into which the jet is injected are passed through an aperture in a nozzle. Any portion of the jet that exceeds the effective diameter or maximum dimension across the nozzle cannot pass therethrough, and thereby must recirculate back to be re-entrained in the jet, or to some other disposition. 
         [0033]    A diffuser is in some respects an atomizer, but has the specific objective of producing finest fluid particles or droplets. Accordingly, a diffuser system includes not just an eductor but separation chambers, sometimes distinct separator structures. All are calculated to remove comparatively larger droplets, leaving only finest droplets and those within an about an order of magnitude thereof. Again, finest droplets or particles and comparatively larger particles have been defined hereinabove, in terms of their fluid dynamic behaviors. Those behaviors are defined by well established engineering equations. Therefore, all those equations are not repeated here. One may refer to textbooks and papers published on jets, atomization, fluid mechanics, two-phase flow, entrainment, plumes, and the like to obtain the details of the physics, the flow fields, the operational parameters, and governing equations for these phenomena. 
         [0034]    Vapor space in a reservoir is defined as a portion of the volume of a reservoir container that contains other than predominantly the liquid for which the reservoir exists. That is, the vapor region actually contains air, a certain amount of the evaporated essential oil, according to Dalton&#39;s law of partial pressure in chemistry, and a certain quantity of drifting droplets in transit. 
         [0035]    In certain embodiments of an apparatus and method in accordance with the invention, a reservoir may be fitted with an eductor injecting, through a diffuser nozzle, an entrainment jet containing both air, as the driving fluid, and atomized particles or droplets of the essential oil. 
         [0036]    Mass flow rate is equal to an area times the velocity of material passing through that cross sectional area, multiplied by a density of the material flowing. Volumetric flow rate is simply a velocity of the flow rate multiplied by the cross sectional area through which that flow passes. 
         [0037]    Whether looking at mass flow rate or volumetric flow rate, area is a controlling parameter. Increasing area, while keeping the volumetric flow rate constant, requires that the velocity slow down. Accordingly, in order to slow the velocity, area is increased. The result of a change in velocity is to permit more time for comparatively larger droplets to drift out of their entraining airflow toward any adjacent wall, baffle, or the like. 
         [0038]    Accordingly, it has been found that diffuser systems or diffusion system in accordance with the invention, operating with the structures and fluid mechanisms in accordance with the invention, provide three valuable benefits not found in prior art systems. First, comparatively larger droplets do not exit the discharge port and drift down upon surrounding surfaces. Second, this effectively diffuses and controls, without heating, the amount of the essential oil diffused in order to provide a specific level of scent that is pleasant and effectively as strong as desired (controlled), without being overly strong. 
         [0039]    Third, oil use required for a level of scent within a treated space has been shown to be much more efficient. That is, usage rates of less than half to a third of conventional systems result. Sometimes less than about one eighth to one tenth of conventional usage has resulted in systems in accordance with the invention. 
         [0040]    In summary, the treated space has the properly controlled amount of the essential oil to provide the aroma and ambiance desired. Compared to prior art systems, whose rate of use is much greater, the essential oils are more efficiently used. Furniture and other surfaces are not damaged, sticky, or unsightly from comparatively larger particles drifting down onto them. 
         [0041]    In various embodiments, a compact, integrated system may be placed within any arbitrary base or housing. It has been found that a reservoir may be fitted into virtually any décor. 
         [0042]    Meanwhile, only electrical power crosses to the system from the arbitrary base. This results in pleasant possibilities for design, along with compactness, uniformity, and convenience of integration. 
         [0043]    In addition, a system in accordance with the invention may integrate the duty cycle parameters controlling the time that a diffuser is on, the time that it remains off between “on times,” and the intensity or mass flow rate of air passing through the diffuser. In one embodiment, a system and method in accordance with the invention may rely on translated, human-understood, simplified parameters such as high or low intensity, the size of a volume to be treated, such as a small, medium, or large volume, and a total time during which the system will operate in its on-again, off-again, duty cycle. 
         [0044]    To this end, a controller may include an integrated circuit that provides a user with all the calculations to control times, duty cycles (percentage of total time during which the device is actually operating), and so forth. These may permit one to choose and set user-understood control objectives appropriate to comply with the comparative space, intensity, and total duration of time during which the system will operate or continue to “cycle.” 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0045]    The foregoing features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0046]      FIG. 1  is a partially exploded frontal perspective view of one embodiment of a diffuser system in accordance with the invention; 
           [0047]      FIG. 2  is an exploded, perspective view thereof; 
           [0048]      FIG. 3  is an exploded, perspective view of the diffuser and reservoir portion thereof; 
           [0049]      FIG. 4  is an exploded, perspective view of the base portion thereof, including the power pack and motive (motor and pump) section; 
           [0050]      FIG. 5  is a frontal, upper quarter, perspective view of the assembled system; 
           [0051]      FIG. 6  is a lower quarter perspective view thereof; 
           [0052]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view thereof; 
           [0053]      FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view thereof; 
           [0054]      FIG. 9  is a front elevation view thereof; 
           [0055]      FIG. 10  is a rear elevation view thereof; 
           [0056]      FIG. 11  is a left side elevation view thereof; 
           [0057]      FIG. 12  is a right side elevation view thereof; and 
           [0058]      FIG. 13  is a schematic diagram and chart illustrating the control configuration for mapping operation and duty cycles of a system in accordance with the invention to a simplified scheme more easily understood and controlled by a user with limited numbers and buttons and decisions. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0059]    It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the drawings herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the system and method of the present invention, as represented in the drawings, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of various embodiments of the invention. The illustrated embodiments of the invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. 
         [0060]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , while also including  FIGS. 2 through 4 , as well as  FIGS. 1 through 13  generally, a system  10  in accordance with the invention is constituted by a diffuser portion  12  or diffuser  12  attachable to a reservoir  14 , such as a bottle  14  or the like. The diffuser  12  and reservoir  14  fit within a base  16 . In the illustrated embodiment, the diffuser  12  is sized or defined by a housing  18  Likewise, the base  16  may be defined in its outer envelope, where envelope represents its outermost boundaries, defining dimensions such as length, diameter, and an overall volume that is substantially cylindrical in shape. The housing  20  may include a power port  22 . The power port  22  receives electrical power from an outside source. Notwithstanding the base  16  may include electrical power by way of portable batteries, the power port  22  in some embodiments provides for charging of batteries stored within the base  16 . In other embodiments, the power port  22  provides for electricity to drive all the systems within the base  16 , whether or not batteries are included within. 
         [0061]    The button  24  in the illustrated embodiment provides a multi-functional button  24 . In one presently contemplated embodiment, the button  24  may be depressed in order to power up the system  10 . Logic built into the operation underlying the button  24  may also provide for additional functionality by multiple pushes of the button  24 . For example, in one currently contemplated embodiment, the button  24  when depressed a single time turns on power of the system  10  at a first level, such as a high or low volumetric flow rate of air through the system  10 . Typically, it may be preferable to default to powering on at a comparatively low intensity or flow rate of air. 
         [0062]    Meanwhile, pushing the button  24  twice engages an alternative mode, such as a higher volumetric flow rate. Additional modes (volumetric flow rates) may be engaged with additional depressions or pushing of the button  24  in comparatively quick succession. By quick succession means that mere seconds elapsed between adjacent actuations (pushing) of the button  24 . Ultimately, a final maximum number of pushes of the button  24  will result in turning the system  10  off. For convenience, it has been found that a user benefits from simplicity. Accordingly, in one embodiment a single push activates the system  10 , powering it on in a comparatively low volumetric flow rate mode. Two pushes or actuations result in a high volumetric flow rate mode. Three pushes result in returning to an off position. 
         [0063]    In yet other embodiments, a first push results in positioning it at a low mode, a second push at any subsequent time results in an operation in a high volumetric flow rate mode. Meanwhile, a third push at any time results in an off condition at which no power is provided to operate the system  10 . 
         [0064]    By saying no power, this indicates that no mechanical motive power. This does not exclude the minor amount of power required for controls. In some modes, all power may be shut off, in others, control power may remain on for operating electronics at comparatively low amounts of current draw. 
         [0065]    A button  26  may control a space, area, or other designation of the volume of air to be treated. Typically, area or volume is a concept that a user can rapidly understand. However, the reality is that the system  10  does not actually know or interpret area, but rather adjusts a duty cycle. Thus, by selecting a space size, floor area, room volume, or the like, a user may simply select small, medium, large, or some other designation. 
         [0066]    Again, the button  26  may vary from about one percent to about 100 percent duty cycle. Duty cycle may be defined two ways. The simplest way to understand duty cycle is that a duty cycle is a percentage of total elapsed time during which the system  10  operates to diffuse an essential oil or other content used to condition space. Typically, essential oils, other fragrances, mixtures, and so forth may fill the reservoir  14 . The diffuser  12  draws out, atomizes, sorts, and diffuses the smallest possible particles and vapors from the reservoir  14 . The diffuser  12  returns comparatively larger droplets to the reservoir  14  for recycling. 
         [0067]    In one embodiment, a system  10  may have preprogrammed settings. For example, selecting a comparatively small area, when the switch  24  or button  24  is set at a low volumetric flow rate mode may result in about a one percent duty cycle. If the space control button  26  or area button  26  is set for a small region, while the volumetric flow rate control button  24  is set at a high rate and mode the duty cycle may be about 5 percent. A one percent duty cycle corresponds to about six seconds of operation for an elapsed time of six minutes. Similarly, a duty cycle of about five percent will result from a run time of about six seconds out of each two minutes. Since the operational times are comparatively small compared to elapsed time, whether the total elapsed time or a delay time between operations will be used is not a substantial difference. As duty cycles increase, the difference between total elapsed time and a delay time between operation may be more significant. 
         [0068]    In one embodiment, a medium space or area setting with a low volumetric flow rate may be met with about a ten percent duty cycle. If the same area or volume is handled at a high volumetric flow rate, then about 20 percent for a duty cycle is appropriate. Similarly, a large area or volume setting at a low volumetric flow rate may be served by about a 40 percent duty cycle. Meanwhile, the same area or volume at a comparatively high volumetric flow rate may be served by about a 66 percent duty cycle. Again, duty cycle is typically defined as the percentage of operational time out of total elapsed time. However, duty cycle may also be defined by a run time compared to a rest time therebetween. By using the former, duty cycle will always be a value between zero and 100 as a percent or between zero and one as a fraction. 
         [0069]    The total time button  28  represents the total amount of time that a user desires to leave or permit the system  10  to continue to cycle on and off. Thus, the button  28  may be considered an occupation time button  28 . This button  28  thus protects against the system  10  continuing to operate when a room or vehicle has been vacated. Thus, the button  24  allows a setting of some maximum number of minutes or hours that the system  10  will continue to cycle. This saves essential oil, power, and wear of the system  10 . It may also save the environment of a comparatively small volume of space from being overwhelmed by scent. For example, a system  10  left unattended and operating indefinitely in a vehicle that has been parked and closed up may result in uncomfortable levels of scent. 
         [0070]    Thus, in one embodiment, an individual may depress the button  28  multiple times to indicate the number of hours, or fractions of hours that the system  10  will remain cycling. Meanwhile, the button  26  may reflect directly, and select, a user&#39;s concept of the volume or floor space being treated. Meanwhile, the power button  24  may select an “on” condition, in a comparatively higher or lower volumetric flow rate mode. 
         [0071]    It has been found that users prefer and are less intimated by a limited number of options. Too many options create a mental programming problem. Thus, it has been found that times ranging from about half an hour to an hour, two hours, four hours, and either six or eight hours meet the needs of most people. As a default, in the illustrated embodiments, beginning with a half hour, times double except for the last time, which is six hours rather than eight. 
         [0072]    Indicators  32  may be represented by lights. For example, on each side of the power button  24 , or mode button  24 , an indicator of high and low. That is, a light of one color may represent a low volumetric flow rate, while a light of another color may represent a high volumetric flow rate. In other embodiments, the words “low” and “high” may be backlit by lights on one side and the other, respectively, of the button  24 . Similarly, the indicators  32  above or near the space button  26  or area button  26  may indicate by words, colors, backlighting, or both, the small, medium, and large settings for the treated space. Likewise, the duration button  28  or total time button  28  may be identified by lights, colors, numbers, or a combination thereof. The setting at which the button  28  is placed represents a total elapsed time. 
         [0073]    Together, all of the buttons  24 ,  26 ,  28 , and the indicators  32  may represent a system of controls  30 . The controls  30  provide for inputs by a user through the buttons  24 ,  26 ,  28 , controlling on/off and volumetric flow rate (intensity), space (size) to be treated, and the total time of cycling operation, respectively. The indicators  32  may be implemented in individual lights, which may vary by color or vary in color to provide indications thereby. In other embodiments, the indicators  32  may simply be transparent or translucent areas having words that are backlit by light emitting diodes (LED), or the like to be discernable to a user. 
         [0074]    The system  10  with its three principal subsystems of a diffuser  12 , a reservoir  14 , and a base  16  divides functionalities therebetween. For example, the housing  18  of the diffuser  12  represents a comparatively self-contained system that needs to access the reservoir  14  holding contents to be diffused. The diffuser  12  needs to access the base  16  for a supply of pressurized air to operate the diffuser  12 . 
         [0075]    All these components have need to be packaged or contained. For example, the housing  20  of the base  16  may include a barrel  34  or barrel portion  34  that is closed by a cap  36  on the top thereof. The cap  36  may have distributed on its top  38  or top surface  38  the various controls  30 , including the buttons  24 ,  26 ,  28 , and the indicators  32 . Accordingly, the material of the cap  36 , and specifically the top  38  thereof, may be formed of a suitable material for transmitting light through transparency, translucence, or apertures. In other embodiments, lights for indicators  32  may be embedded in the top  38  of the cap  36 . 
         [0076]    Likewise, the housing  18  of the diffuser  12  may be formed of a barrel  40  and a cap  42  enclosing it or closing it. In the illustrated embodiment, the entire diffuser  12  with the reservoir  14  attached may fit through an aperture  44  or into a silo  44  in the base  16 . This arrangement provides for ready access to the reservoir  14  by a user. Thus, no electrical power need be affected, and no other components need be affected, by removal and replacement of a reservoir  14  of essential oil or other content. 
         [0077]    Likewise, the entire diffuser  12  operates, to a certain extent, as a cap  12  for the reservoir  14 . Because no major effect results to the housing  20 , a user may actually maintain multiple diffusers  12  as caps on various reservoirs  14 . Thus, the diffusers  12  may actually serve as caps on a quasi-permanent basis for various reservoirs  14  of selected scents. 
         [0078]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 through 4 , while continuing to refer generally to  FIGS. 1 through 13 , the diffuser  12  may include a fitting  46  or fixture  46  responsible to interface between the diffuser  12  and the base  16 . The diffuser  12  relies on the fitting  46  or fixture  46  to provide a seal  47  or sealing surface  47  that registers, and connects in fluid communication with a source of pressurized air to operate the diffuser  12 . 
         [0079]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , as well as  FIGS. 2 and 4 , and  FIGS. 1 through 13  generally, the fitting  46  may seal against the base  16  by the seal  47 , and likewise seal against the nozzle  48  or air nozzle  48 . The air nozzle  48 , in turn may seal against the barrel  40  or a portion of the barrel  40  to form an integral portion of an eductor system  50 . The eductor system  50  is contained within its own housing  52  extending from a wall of the barrel  50 . Meanwhile, a tube  54  or line  54  extending down into the reservoir  14  secures into the eductor system  50  as described in detail in various of the references incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0080]    A key  56  in the housing  52  fits into a slot  58  in the fixture  46  or fitting  46 . Thus, alignment is provided for improving tolerances and fit. For example, the seal  47  may be shaped, along with the fitting  46 , to seal against a curved surface inside the base  16 . 
         [0081]    The chamber  16  within the barrel  40  receives educted spray of pressurized air along with entrained content from the reservoir  14 . The details of this eduction and atomization are described in great detail in the various other references incorporated hereinabove by reference. 
         [0082]    The diffuser  12  may engage a seal  62  between the barrel  40  and the neck  64  of the reservoir  14 . In this way, a vapor-tight and liquid-tight seal is formed by the seal  62  against the neck  64  of the reservoir  14  and a corresponding surface inside the barrel  40 . Each may be threaded appropriately with matching threads to engage by a few quick turns or rotations of the reservoir  14  with respect to the barrel  40 . 
         [0083]    In some embodiments, a baffle  66  or separator  66  may be used. However, the chamber  60  provides a first separation chamber  60  for separating out comparatively larger droplets from comparatively smaller droplets of the atomized content from the reservoir  14 . Again, this is described in detail hereinabove and in the references incorporated herein by reference. Meanwhile, the baffle  66  or separator  66  provides an additional change of direction and creates an additional separation chamber or drift chamber within the cap  42 . Thus, the general area or volume of the chamber  60  may operate as one separator, or separation chamber  60 . The baffle  66  or separator  66  with its aperture  68  passing into the region enclosed by the cap  42  operates as a final separation chamber. A micro cyclone  70  formed in two halves  72   a,    72   b,  which snap together, operates as a third separator  70 . Once more, the details and operation of the micro cyclone  70  are included in the references incorporated hereinabove by reference. 
         [0084]    A micro cyclone  70  may be formed to conduct flow from the pressurized air passing through the eductor system  50  into the chamber  60 . Typically, the micro cyclone  70  may include a circumferential passageway extending from about 45 to about 360 degrees of circumference. The effect of a micro cyclone  70  is to provide a longer path and a more consistent path therethrough subjecting the liquid droplets in an entrained flow of air to centripetal forces. Those forces effectively drive comparatively larger droplets having greater mass and a reduced cross-sectional-area-to-mass ratio toward the outside wall (radially outward) of the micro cyclone  70 . At that outermost radius of flow in the micro cyclone  70 , droplets coalesce against a solid wall and thereby agglomerated to flow back into the reservoir  14 . 
         [0085]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , as well as  FIGS. 2 and 3 , and  FIGS. 1 through 13  generally, the base  16  may be constructed to include an aperture  44  or silo  44  receiving the reservoir  14  and diffuser  12 . Likewise, an aperture  74  receives a sleeve  76  for receiving the reservoir  14 . Inasmuch as the base  16  charges the diffuser  12  with pressurized air, separation of components permits sealing against intrusion by air, essential oil or other contents of the reservoir  14 , or intrusion by pressurized air bearing droplets of liquid. 
         [0086]    Accordingly, a sleeve  78  may be formed as a separate component, or may be molded as an integral and homogeneous portion of a collar  80 . The collar  80  fits between the barrel  34  of the base  16  and its cap  36 . Thus, the collar  80  becomes a platform readily removable from the barrel  34 . Between the collar  80  and the cap  36 , sufficient space provides for various substrates  82 . The substrates  82  may actually be printed circuit boards  82  in some instances. Typically, the substrates  82  provide mounting surfaces for electrical and electronic components corresponding to the controls  30 . Thus, lights, LED&#39;s, buttons, micro switches, circuits, and the like may be built on the substrates  82 . 
         [0087]    In some embodiments, power packs  84  may be integrated, but need not be. They may include racks  86  and connectors  88  for electrically connecting batteries  90  to one another and to the electronics on the substrates  82 . 
         [0088]    Wiring and circuitry may be included as appropriate to connect power from the batteries  90  to various controls and switches. In one embodiment, micro switches  92  may actually be positioned to be actuated by the buttons  24 ,  26 ,  28  on the top  38  of the cap  36 . 
         [0089]    Similarly, a substrate  82 , exemplified by the substrates  82   a,    82   b,    8   c  may include various components. A jack  94  or socket  94  may receive a plug of some appropriate type for transferring electrical power instead of using power packs  84 , or into the power packs  84 , and specifically to the batteries  90  for recharging. 
         [0090]    A pump module  100  may include a motor portion  112  and a pump portion  114 . The motor  112  uses power from the power pack  84  or directly from a line into the power port and jack  94 . In fact, a power pack  84  may be dispensed with in order to reduce cost. In such an embodiment, the power port  22  receives a plug into the jack  94  or socket  94  that powers the system  10  from some other power supply such as A/D or A-to-D converter. Similarly, the system  10  may be powered by a line originating in a vehicle from a power source, such as a socket commonly available for a lighter, or other electrical devices, including USB sockets, and the like. 
         [0091]    The pump module  100  may be secured in the barrel  78  by a retainer  96 . Meanwhile, seals  98   a,    98   b  may seal the pump module  100  within the sleeve  78 . In this way, air may pass to the fitting  116  or tube  116  and thereby to the substrate  82   b.  The substrate  82   b  may be a portion of a wall, or may simply be positioned near a wall of the sleeve  76  containing the reservoir  14 . Thus, when the diffuser  12  is set into the aperture  44  or silo  44  of the base  16 , the seal  47  on the fitting  46  slides into a sealing engagement with the substrate  82   b.    
         [0092]    Meanwhile, an aperture  118  in a substrate  82   b  connects to a tube  116  or fitting  116 , which may be extended between the tube  116  by flexible tubing connecting to the outlet  120  of the pump portion  114  of the pump module  100 . In the references incorporated herein by reference, various embodiments of flow paths are discussed for drawing air over the motor module  112  or motor portion  112  and into the pump portion  114 , thereby cooling the motor  112  and the overall pump module  100  by the air that will eventually be pushed through the outlet  120  and into the nozzle  48 . 
         [0093]    The pump module  100  may be juxtaposed to an aperture  102  in the collar  80 . The aperture  102  receives the sleeve  76  or container  76  that receives the reservoir  14  and diffuser  12 . However, the sleeve  78  may actually be molded as an integral and homogeneous part of the collar  80 , thereby containing the pump module  100 . In fact, an O-ring seal may seal the module  100  against the walls of the sleeve  78 . 
         [0094]    Meanwhile, a foot  104  may support the sleeve  78 . In certain embodiments, the foot  104  may be a tubular passage  104  that fits into or against an aperture  106  in the floor  110  of the housing  20  of the base  16 . Thus, the foot  104  may actually receive air from outside the system  10 , through an aperture  106 . To effect this, the shape, texture, or various projections on the underside of the floor  110  may be essential or effective to provide space for drawing air through an aperture  106  and foot  104  into the sleeve  78 . 
         [0095]    Thus, the air passed into the sleeve  78  may pass around the motor portion  112  and into the pump portion  114  to eventually be pressurized. It may be injected through the outlet  120  into the flexible tubing connected to the tube  116 , feeding pressurized air through the aperture  118  and thence through the seal  47  and fixture  46  to feed the nozzle  48 . 
         [0096]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 through 12 , the assembled system  10  is illustrated with its components largely contained with its outer envelope. The result is a system  10  that fits within a cup holder of a vehicle, sits comfortably on a shelf, may be moved or even carried with an individual, for use in various different spaces during a day. 
         [0097]    For example, a system  10  in accordance with the invention may transport in a bag, box, or other container to be used at home, in a vehicle, and in an office. Power may be provided through the power port  22  through an electrical connection  94  directly to a motor portion  112 , or by way of a power pack  84  containing batteries  90 . 
         [0098]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , while continuing to refer generally to  FIGS. 1 through 13 , the upper perspective view illustrates how the exit aperture  13  on the cap  42  of a diffuser  12  is the only component or constituent that needs to have access to the outer environment. Nevertheless, by providing a portion of the barrel  40  extending above the top  38  of the cap  36 , a user may easily grip the diffuser  12  in order to replace a reservoir  14  or refill the reservoir  14 . 
         [0099]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , one will note that the apertures  106  may be set in positions to register with the foot  104  of the barrel  78 , or the foot  104  may simply space the barrel  78  above the floor  110 . The apertures  106  may both feed air into the region around the foot  104 , and pass that air on into the barrel  78  by any suitable route. In fact, in some embodiments, air may actually be drawn into the barrel  78  by way of passage through the entire volume of the barrel  34  of the base  16 . 
         [0100]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , while continuing to refer generally to  FIGS. 1 through 13 , the top plan view of  FIG. 7  illustrates a position of the cap  42  of the housing  18  corresponding to the diffuser  12 . Similarly, the top  38  of the cap  36  of the housing  20  corresponding to the base  16  displays the control systems  30  including the buttons  24 ,  26 ,  28  and indicators  32 . The shapes and sizes of the buttons  24 ,  26 ,  28  are selected primarily for convenience. 
         [0101]    For example, the power button  24  that controls volumetric flow rate as well is centered to be collinear with a diameter through the center of the cap  42 . Meanwhile, the button  26  on the left is thus easily accessible through most of a quarter of the circumference, and by simply touching somewhere near the left side of center. Similarly, the duration button  28  may be accessed just to the right of the power button  24 . Thus, one advantage of the side elevation of the cap  42  above the top  38  of the cap  36  of the housing  20  about the base  16  is that it serves to orient a user without having to focus, nor indeed even see the buttons  26 ,  28 . 
         [0102]    Of course the indicators  32  may be visible on the top  38 , or may be distributed somewhere around a side of the cap  36 . Nevertheless, this has been found suitable, particularly when a user is above the system  10 . That is true more particularly when the system  10  is installed in a cup holder in a vehicle. The indicators  32  are easily visible, and may include readable words indicating the status of the volumetric flow rate according to the power button  24 . This is likewise so for the volume or amount of space conditioned, as set by the space button  26 , and the total duration of operations before complete shut down, as set by the button  28 . 
         [0103]    Referring to  FIGS. 10 through 12 , one can see that the housing  18  of the diffuser  12  is offset from center. In the front elevation view of  FIG. 9  and the rear elevation of  FIG. 10 , the system  10  appears substantially symmetric, except for the power port  22  on the back half of the cap  36 . In contrast, the left and right views, respectively, of  FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate the asymmetry of the diffuser  12  and its housing  18 . Some embodiments may be permissible that would be completely symmetric in all the foregoing four views. However, with a compact pump assembly  100 , the offset may be necessary in order to accommodate both the pump assembly  100  and the diffuser  12  in its housing  18 , all within the housing  20  of the base  16 . 
         [0104]    Referring to  FIG. 13 , several variables, mathematically speaking are controllable in order to provide a desired result. As a practical matter, however, a user would have to work through a rather complex process of either calculation and instruction, or alternatively, of trial and error. That is, determining what duty cycle the system  10  should operate on is partly a matter of taste, but also a matter of practicality. The amount of space or volume to be conditioned by a diffuser  12  will necessarily effect how much diffusion time of the total time the system  10  should operate. In the chart of  FIG. 13  one can see a system of settings. The settings correspond to the buttons  24 ,  26 ,  28 . 
         [0105]    Referring to  FIG. 13 , while continuing to refer generally to  FIGS. 1 through 13 , a chart  160  illustrates settings for an intensity, or volumetric flow rate value  162 , aligned beside various values of a space mode  164 . The volumetric flow rate or intensity may be set at multiple levels. However, for purposes of illustration, here only a low (L) and a high (H) are shown Likewise, for space mode, a volume or room size is identified by small (S), medium (M), and large (L) or high (H). One embodiment for a duty cycle  166  is illustrated. 
         [0106]    Each of these duty cycles  166  or values of duty cycle  166  may correspond to any ratio of time in an “on” condition to total elapsed time desired. However, it has been found that the values of “on” time  168  to total elapsed time  170  are well served at the values illustrated. Accordingly, a duty cycle ranges from about one percent to about 66 percent of total elapsed time. 
         [0107]    Finally, the duration portion  170  of the chart  160  identifies settings  172  and corresponding duration times  174 . It has been found that a range of from about half an hour to about six hours will provide adequate options. Even in a work environment, where a user may remain for eight hours, a user may elect to only operate a system  10  for six hours, allowing a dissipation of the intensity of conditioned air over the last hours of the day. 
         [0108]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its purposes, functions, structures, or operational characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.