Odor emission system, device and method
Inventors
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Assignees
MemberBarron AssociatesBarron AssociatesBarron Associates is a research and development company serving aerospace, defense, and healthcare applications. It develops technologies for sensing, modeling, predicting, and controlling complex systems, including control software, simulations, biomedical devices, and monitoring systems.
Barron Associates is a research and development company serving aerospace, defense, and healthcare applications. It develops technologies for sensing, modeling, predicting, and controlling complex systems, including control software, simulations, biomedical devices, and monitoring systems.
Publication Number
US-11583604-B1
Publication Date
2023-02-21
Expiration Date
Abstract
Embodiments of a controlled odor emission system and device include an odor presentation port tube and an odor tray securely retained against a platform, a valve housing securable to the platform adjacent the tray, a valve secured within the valve housing and an actuator for moving the valve. By controlling movement of the valve, precise amounts of an odor can be dispensed under programmatic control for training animals. Further, a system incorporating a central control unit and a reward dispenser in communication with an odor emission device to facilitate animal training.
Core Innovation
An odor-emitting device provides controlled delivery of odors for behavioral olfactory conditioning and animal training. The device includes a platform with a tube receiver maintained atop the platform and an odor presentation port tube positioned within a rim opening, where the odor presentation port tube comprises a wall formed with an odor channel therein. The device further includes first and second removable trays removably securable to the platform and a valve housing securable to the platform adjacent the first and second trays.
A valve is secured within the valve housing and an actuator secured to the platform moves the valve through a gear arrangement. The valve comprises first and second valve sleeves, each housing a respective rotatable valve cylinder formed with a pair of fluid slots, and each valve cylinder is rotated so that one or both fluid slots are selectively positioned between a full fluid communication position with a tray and a blocked fluid communication position with the tray.
The disclosure also covers odor presentation control that minimizes leakage and cross-contamination while providing precise, repeatable odor concentrations under central-programmed control. A central control unit communicates with odor-emitting devices and a reward dispenser, and sensor-based detection triggers valve operation and reward release.
The system supports modular and reconfigurable operation, programmable training protocols, performance data capture and analysis, and prediction components for animal success. In additional device operation, airflow through fan-driven mechanisms and optional heating to purge adsorbed odor molecules are described to manage odor transport and clearance, and alternative valve/slot arrangements are described for controlling odor concentration, including proportional odor concentration control and multi-odor mixing.
Claims Coverage
The partial claim set includes one independent claim that recites the odor-emitting device architecture and valve/actuation structure. The independent claim is further refined by dependent claims that add specific gear arrangement details, fluid-slot geometry constraints, and optional mixing control and fan configuration.
Platform and odor presentation port tube with odor channel
A platform with a tube receiver maintained atop the platform, the tube receiver comprising a rim forming a rim opening, and an odor presentation port tube positioned within the rim opening, wherein the odor presentation port tube comprises a wall formed with an odor channel therein.
First and second removable trays securable to the platform
First and second trays removably securable to the platform, with a valve housing securable to the platform adjacent the first and second trays.
Rotatable multi-sleeve valve with selectively positioned paired fluid slots
A valve secured within the valve housing, wherein the valve comprises first and second valve sleeves each housing a rotatable valve cylinder formed with a pair of fluid slots, wherein each rotatable valve cylinder is driven to selectively position one or both of its fluid slots between a full fluid communication position with a tray and a blocked fluid communication position with the tray.
Actuator and gear arrangement for rotating valve cylinders
An actuator secured to the platform and adapted to move the valve, and a gear arrangement secured between the actuator and the valve so that the first and second valve cylinders are rotatable by the actuator and gear arrangement.
Across the independent claim, the core inventive coverage is the combination of a platform-mounted odor presentation port tube with an odor channel, removable first and second trays, and a valve having first and second valve sleeves with rotatable cylinder fluid slots that are selectively positioned to control fluid communication to each tray via an actuator and gear arrangement.
Stated Advantages
Minimizing leakage and cross-contamination during odor presentation.
Providing precise, repeatable odor concentrations under programmable control.
Enabling sensor-triggered valve operation tied to reward release.
Supporting programmable training protocols with performance data capture and analysis.
Providing prediction components for animal success.
Documented Applications
Behavioral olfactory conditioning and animal training, including training animals in an odor-emission context.
Sensor-triggered odor delivery interactions with reward dispensing, for behavioral training.
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