# US 2013/0156408 A1 · Fragrance Dispenser > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0156408 A1 - Document ID: US20130156408A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/750,824 - Filed: 2013-01-25 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2009-01-09 - Assignees: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. - Inventors: Hermann Neumann; Jeffrey J. Christianson; Marcelo Lauras Ginestel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130156408A1 ## CPC - F24F 11/00: Control or safety arrangements - A01M 1/2077: {using an electrical resistance as heat source (A01M1/2083 takes precedence)} - A61L 9/035: {emanating multiple odours} - A61L 2209/12: Lighting means - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - A01M: CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS (appliances for catching swarms or drone-catching A01K57/00; fishing A01K69/00 - {A01K99/00}; biocides, pest repellants or attractants A01N); APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) ## Abstract A fragrance dispenser includes a housing and a plurality of heating elements disposed in the housing. A controller is disposed in the housing to control an amount and temporal distribution of power distributed to each heating element. Prongs extend from the housing to provide power to the controller. A volatile material holder is held within the housing and includes a plurality of reservoirs adapted to align with the corresponding plurality of heating elements, wherein each of the plurality of reservoirs includes a volatile material. A mode selector switch is disposed on the housing. A setting of the mode selector switch at least partly determines the amount and temporal distribution of power distributed by the controller to each heating element. The setting includes at least one of a sequential setting, a concurrent setting, and a combined sequential and concurrent setting. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fragrance dispenser, comprising: a housing; a plurality of heating elements disposed in the housing; a controller disposed in the housing to control an amount and temporal distribution of power distributed to each heating element; prongs that extend from the housing to provide power to the controller; a volatile material holder held within the housing and including a plurality of reservoirs adapted to align with the corresponding plurality of heating elements, wherein each of the plurality of reservoirs includes a volatile material; and a mode selector switch disposed on the housing, wherein the amount and temporal distribution of power distributed by the controller to each heating element is at least partly determined by a setting of the mode selector switch, wherein the setting includes at least one of a sequential setting, a concurrent setting, and a combined sequential and concurrent setting. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fragrance dispenser of claim 1, wherein a profile of power distributed by the controller to at least one of the heating elements comprises a step function. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fragrance dispenser of claim 1, wherein a profile of power distributed by the controller to at least one of the heating elements comprises at least one of a ramp-up and ramp-down function. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fragrance dispenser of claim 1, wherein a profile of power distributed by the controller to at least one of the heating elements comprises an exponential function. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fragrance dispenser of claim 1, wherein a profile of power distributed by the controller to at least one of the heating elements comprises a function of time in a pulse width modulation scheme. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fragrance dispenser of claim 1, wherein a profile of power distributed by the controller to at least one heating element is different than the profile of power distributed to a different heating element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fragrance dispenser of claim 1, wherein the temporal distribution of the power distributed to at least one of the heating elements further comprises at least one of a plurality of equally and unequally spaced time periods. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fragrance dispenser of claim 1, wherein a profile of power distributed by the controller to at least one of the heating elements varies from a first cycle of power distributed by the controller to a second cycle of power distributed by the controller to the at least one heating element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fragrance dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a sensor disposed on the housing and in electrical communication with the controller, wherein a signal from the sensor is used in conjunction with the setting of the mode selector switch to determine the amount and temporal distribution of power distributed by the controller to each heating element. ### Claim 10 A fragrance dispenser, comprising: a housing; a plurality of heating elements disposed in the housing; a controller disposed in the housing to control an amount and temporal distribution of power distributed to each heating element, wherein the controller distributes power to each heating element in at least one of a sequential setting, a concurrent setting, and a combined sequential and concurrent setting; prongs that extend from the housing to provide power to the controller; and a volatile material holder held within the housing and including a plurality of reservoirs adapted to align with the corresponding plurality of heating elements, wherein each of the plurality of reservoirs includes a volatile material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fragrance dispenser of claim 10, wherein a profile of power distributed by the controller to at least one of the heating elements comprises a step function. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The fragrance dispenser of claim 10, wherein a profile of power distributed by the controller to at least one of the heating elements comprises at least one of a ramp-up and ramp-down function. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The fragrance dispenser of claim 10, wherein a profile of power distributed by the controller to at least one of the heating elements comprises an exponential function. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The fragrance dispenser of claim 10, wherein a profile of power distributed by the controller to at least one of the heating elements comprises a function of time in a pulse width modulation scheme. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The fragrance dispenser of claim 10, wherein a profile of power distributed by the controller to at least one heating element is different than the profile of power distributed to a different heating element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The fragrance dispenser of claim 10, wherein the temporal distribution of the power distributed to at least one of the heating elements further comprises at least one of a plurality of equally and unequally spaced time periods. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The fragrance dispenser of claim 10, wherein a profile of power distributed by the controller to at least one of the heating elements varies from a first cycle of power distributed by the controller to a second cycle of power distributed by the controller to the at least one heating element. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The fragrance dispenser of claim 10, further comprising a sensor disposed on the housing and in electrical communication with the controller, wherein a signal from the sensor at least partly determines the amount and temporal distribution of power distributed by the controller to each heating element. ### Claim 19 A fragrance dispenser, comprising: a housing; a plurality of heating pans disposed in the housing, wherein each of the plurality of heating pans includes a corresponding heating element disposed therein; a controller disposed in the housing to control an amount and temporal distribution of power distributed to each heating element independently; prongs that extend from the housing to provide power to the controller; a volatile material holder held within the housing and including a plurality of reservoirs adapted to align with the corresponding plurality of heating pans, wherein each of the plurality of reservoirs includes a volatile material; a mode selector switch disposed on the housing, wherein the amount and temporal distribution of power distributed by the controller to each heating element is at least partly determined by a setting of the mode selector switch; and a light source disposed proximate to each heating pan. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The fragrance dispenser of claim 19, further including a sensor disposed in the housing, wherein a signal from the sensor is used in conjunction with the setting of the mode selector switch to determine the amount and temporal distribution of power distributed by the controller to each heating element.