# US 2013/0239657 A1 · Assessing odors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0239657 A1 - Document ID: US20130239657A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/421,048 - Filed: 2012-03-15 - Published: 2013-09-19 - Earliest claimed: 2012-03-15 - Assignees: NUtech Ventures - Inventors: Christopher G. Henry - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130239657A1 ## CPC - G01N 33/0011: {Sample conditioning (preparing specimens for investigation G01N1/28)} - G01N 33/0001: {by organoleptic means} - G01N 1/2273: {Atmospheric sampling} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract In some aspects, olfactory devices include a housing having a first inlet and a second inlet, an ambient air inlet cartridge defining a channel in fluid communication with the first inlet, and a position sensor. The ambient air inlet cartridge includes a first member defining a first orifice, and a second member moveable relative to the first member, the second member defining a second orifice, where a degree of overlap between the first orifice and the second orifice controls a flow capacity of the channel. The position sensor signals the degree of overlap between the first orifice and the second orifice. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An olfactory device comprising: a housing having a first inlet and a second inlet; an ambient air inlet cartridge defining a channel in fluid communication with the first inlet, the ambient air inlet cartridge comprising: a first member defining a first orifice; and a second member moveable relative to the first member, the second member defining a second orifice wherein a degree of overlap between the first orifice and the second orifice controls a flow capacity of the channel; and a position sensor signaling the degree of overlap between the first orifice and the second orifice. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The olfactory device according to claim 1, wherein the position sensor comprises a visual scale formed on the first member or the second member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The olfactory device according to claim 1, wherein the position sensor comprises a potentiometer to detect a position of the second member relative to the first member and output a position signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The olfactory device according to claim 3, wherein the potentiometer comprises a detection membrane secured to the first member and a position indicator secured to the second member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The olfactory device according to claim 3, further comprising a controller to receive the position signal to determine a characteristic relating to the position of the second member relative to the first member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The olfactory device according to claim 5, further comprising a display unit to display the characteristic. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The olfactory device according to claim 6, wherein the characteristic is an approximated air flow ratio of an amount of air entering the housing through the second inlet to an amount of air entering the housing through the first inlet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The olfactory device according to claim 1, wherein the second orifice can overlap the first orifice to define a compounding air flow passage that increases over a continuous range as the second member moves between a first position and a second position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The olfactory device according to claim 8, wherein when the second member is in the first position, an amount of air that can enter the housing through the ambient air inlet cartridge is greater than the amount of air that can enter the housing through the ambient air inlet cartridge when the second member is in the second position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The olfactory device according to claim 8, when the second member is in the second position, the first orifice is covered by the second member and the second member limits air flow from entering the housing through the ambient air inlet cartridge. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The olfactory device according to claim 1, wherein the second member is a disk and the disk is rotatable relative to the first member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The olfactory device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second orifices have the same general shape and size. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The olfactory device according to claim 1, wherein the second orifices has a first end having a first width and a second end having a second width, the second width being greater than the first end. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The olfactory device according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a face mask. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The olfactory device according to claim 1, wherein the outlet is sized to be temporarily secured around a human nasal area. ### Claim 16 An olfactory device comprising: a housing having a first inlet and a second inlet; and an ambient air inlet cartridge defining a channel in fluid communication with the first inlet, the ambient air inlet cartridge comprising: a first member defining a first orifice; and a second member moveable relative to the first member, the second member defining a second orifice wherein a degree of overlap between the first orifice and the second orifice controls a flow capacity of the channel, the second member being movable relative to the first member between a first terminal end position, wherein the first and second orifices are offset from one another, and a second end position, wherein the first and second orifices are completely aligned; and as the second member moves between the first terminal end position and the second terminal end position, the degree of overlap between the first orifice and the second orifice increases over a continuous range. ### Claim 17 A method of assessing odor, the method comprising: withdrawing an amount of filtered air into a housing; withdrawing an amount of ambient air into the housing to form a mixture, the amount of ambient air being less than the amount of filtered air; determining the presence of an odor in the mixture; in response to determining that no odor is present, increasing the amount of ambient air withdrawn into the housing, the amount of ambient air being increased through a continuous range; and when an odor is detected, determining a ratio of the amount of filtered air to the amount of ambient air being withdrawn into the housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the determining the ratio comprises reading the ratio from a display unit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the determining the ratio comprises detecting a relative position of two orifices that move relative to one another to form a compounding air flow passage to allow the ambient air to enter the housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, wherein the compounding air flow passage changes in size along a continuous range.