Plug-in fragrance diffuser, and systems and methods for using same
A fragrance dispenser can comprise a housing having a socket portion and defining a receptacle configured to receive a bottle having a fragrance-producing liquid therein and a wick extending therefrom. A heater can be disposed proximate to the receptacle so that, when the bottle is received within the receptacle, the heater is disposed proximate to the wick. A controller can be configured to deliver electrical voltage (e.g., pulse-width-modulated voltage) to the heater. A user input device can be in communication with the controller.
1 . A fragrance dispenser comprising:
a housing having a socket portion and defining a receptacle configured to receive a bottle having a fragrance-producing liquid therein and a wick extending therefrom;
a single heater disposed within the housing so that, when the bottle is received within the receptacle, the single heater is configured to heat a portion of the wick;
a controller in electrical communication with the single heater, wherein the controller is configured to control an output setting of the single heater;
a user input device in communication with the controller, wherein the user input device, upon receiving an input from a user, causes the controller to change the output setting of the single heater; and
at least one light in communication with the controller;
wherein the at least one light comprises a plurality of status lights and wherein the controller is configured to illuminate one or more status lights in the plurality of status lights in accordance with the output setting of the single heater;
wherein the housing has a status display portion that defines a plurality of apertures, wherein the plurality of status lights comprises a plurality of LEDs that are configured to emit light into respective light pipes disposed in the housing, and wherein the light pipes are configured to deliver light from the LEDs through respective apertures of the plurality of apertures; and
wherein the output setting of the single heater comprises at least a low output setting of the single heater, a medium output setting of the single heater, and a high output setting of the single heater, wherein the controller is configured to illuminate only one of the status lights in the plurality of status lights in accordance with the low output setting of the single heater, wherein the controller is configured to illuminate only two of the status lights in the plurality of status lights in accordance with the medium output setting of the single heater, and wherein the controller is configured to illuminate at least three of the status lights in the plurality of status lights in accordance with the high output setting of the single heater.
2 . The fragrance dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising the bottle having the fragrance-producing liquid therein and the wick extending therefrom.
3 . The fragrance dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to deliver pulse-width-modulated electrical voltage to the single heater to control the output setting of the single heater, wherein the pulse-width-modulated electrical voltage has a duty cycle, and wherein at least a first light of the at least one light is connected in series with the single heater so that a change in the duty cycle changes an intensity of the first light.
4 . The fragrance dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising a projector, the projector comprising:
a light source;
a lens that is configured to direct light from the light source to a projection surface; and
a film having at least one of an image or a pattern thereon,
wherein the lens and the film are positioned with respect to each other so that either:
the lens is disposed between the light source and the film; or
the film is disposed between the light source and the lens.
5 . The fragrance dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a quantity of the fragrance-producing liquid in the bottle based on a duration of use of the bottle.
6 . The fragrance dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to deliver pulse-width-modulated electrical voltage to the single heater to control the output setting of the single heater, wherein the pulse-width-modulated electrical voltage has a duty cycle, wherein the at least one light comprises a nightlight that emits light through an opening in the housing, wherein the nightlight has an intensity that varies based on the duty cycle of the pulse-width-modulated electrical voltage, and wherein the nightlight is connected in series with a resistor of the single heater.
7 . The fragrance dispenser of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to account for a particular fragrance-producing liquid in the bottle in order to determine the quantity of fragrance-producing liquid in the bottle.