Apparatus and a method for recording and reproducing scent or taste

Abstract

A camera comprising means for capturing an image, integral scent association means operable by a user to associate a scent with the image, and integral means operable to cause the said scent to be perceived by a user. The invention also provides a printer comprising printing means and integral scent generation means, wherein the scent generation means comprise a drive mechanism and a tape having a plurality of scented regions, the drive mechanism being operable to spool the tape and the scent generation means being operable to cause a selected scented region to emit its scent.

1 . A camera comprising image capture means operable to capture an image, integral scent association means operable by a user to associate a scent with the image, and integral means operable to cause the said scent to be perceived by a user.  
     
     
         2 . A camera as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the scent association means comprise a detector connected to the camera, the detector being operable to analyse the scent of its surrounding medium.  
     
     
         3 . A camera as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the detector comprises a device selected from a group comprising a gas chromatography device, a mass spectrometry device, a chemical sensor.  
     
     
         4 . A camera as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the scent association means comprise a user interface electrically coupled to processing means and a display, configured and operable to allow a user to select a scent from a menu.  
     
     
         5 . A camera as claimed in  claim 1  being a digital camera and comprising transfer means operable to transfer an image and data representing the scent to processing means remote from the camera.  
     
     
         6 . A camera as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the transfer means are selected from a group comprising: a port configured to receive and electrically couple with a cable, wireless digital communication means, infra-red digital communication means, radio frequency communication means.  
     
     
         7 . A camera as claimed in  claim 4  further comprising a plurality of specimens of scents.  
     
     
         8 . A camera as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the specimens correspond to the contents of the said menu and the camera is configured to present a specimen of scent to the user in accordance with a selection made using the said menu.  
     
     
         9 . A camera as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the specimens are provided on a spool of tape operable by a user.  
     
     
         10 . A camera as claimed in  claim 9  wherein each of the said specimens comprises a scented region covered by a scratchable coating, whereby scratching of the coating releases the scent from the underlying region.  
     
     
         11 . A camera as claimed in  claim 7  wherein each of the said specimens is edible.  
     
     
         12 . A camera as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the specimens are configured to be affixed to a printed photograph.  
     
     
         13 . A camera as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the specimens have a self-adhesive surface.  
     
     
         14 . A camera as claimed in  claim 13  having an integral printer.  
     
     
         15 . A camera as claimed in  claim 14  configured to affix a specimen onto a photograph on printing.  
     
     
         16 . A camera as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of specimens of scents.  
     
     
         17 . A camera as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the specimens are provided on a spool of tape operable by a user.  
     
     
         18 . A camera as claimed in  claim 17  wherein each of the said specimens comprises a scented region covered by a scratchable coating, whereby scratching of the coating releases the scent from the underlying region.  
     
     
         19 . A camera as claimed in  claim 16  wherein each of the said specimens is edible.  
     
     
         20 . A camera as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the specimens are configured to be affixed to a printed photograph.  
     
     
         21 . A camera as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the specimens have a self-adhesive surface.  
     
     
         22 . A camera as claimed in  claim 21  having an integral printer.  
     
     
         23 . A printer comprising printing means and integral scent generation means, wherein the scent generation means comprise a drive mechanism and a tape having a plurality of scented regions, the drive mechanism being operable to spool the tape and the scent generation means being operable to cause a selected scented region to emit its scent.  
     
     
         24 . A printer as claimed in  claim 23  further comprising heating means arranged to warm a selected scented region and thereby cause the emission of the scent.  
     
     
         25 . An elongate tape having a plurality of discrete scented regions along its length.  
     
     
         26 . An elongate tape as claimed in  claim 25  further comprising encoded data along its length, the encoded data being readable to enable the tape to be spooled to a specific scented region.  
     
     
         27 . An elongate tape as claimed in  claim 26  wherein the encoded data is magnetic and readable by a magnetic reading head.  
     
     
         28 . An elongate tape as claimed in  claim 25  wherein the scented regions are adhesive labels affixed to and removable from the said tape.  
     
     
         29 . A method for delivering a scent with an image, comprising using a camera to capture an image and the further steps of: 
 (a) using the camera to associate a scent with the image; and    (b) using means integral with the camera to cause the said scent to be perceived by a user.    
     
     
         30 . A method as claimed in  claim 29  wherein step (a) comprises using a detector connected to the camera to analyse the scent of the surrounding medium.  
     
     
         31 . A method as claimed in  claim 29  wherein step (a) comprises operating a user interface to select a scent from a menu provided on a display on the camera.  
     
     
         32 . A method as claimed in  claim 29  using a digital camera and further comprising transferring the image, and data representing the said scent, to processing means remote from the camera.  
     
     
         33 . A method as claimed in  claim 32  comprising electronically transferring the image, and the data representing the said scent, to a device selected from a group comprising: a printer equipped with scent generation means, a personal computer equipped with scent generation means; 
 and then using the said scent generation means to generate the said scent for perception by a user.  
 
     
     
         34 . A method as claimed in  claim 29  further comprising providing a plurality of specimens of scents accessible from the camera from which the user can specify a choice.  
     
     
         35 . A method as claimed in  claim 34  wherein the specimens correspond to the contents of a menu provided on a display on the camera, step (a) comprises operating a user interface to select a scent from the menu, and step (b) comprises the camera presenting a specimen to the user in accordance with the selection made by the user using the menu in step (a).  
     
     
         36 . A method as claimed in  claim 34  wherein step (b) comprises providing the specimens on a spool of tape accessible by the user, from which specimens the user may specify a choice.  
     
     
         37 . A method as claimed in  claim 36  further comprising transferring the spool of tape to a separate device from which the scent of the specified specimen may be perceived by a user.  
     
     
         38 . A method as claimed in  claim 36  further comprising warming the specified specimen to cause the emission of its scent.  
     
     
         39 . A method as claimed in  claim 36  further comprising applying the selected specimen to the printed image.  
     
     
         40 . A camera comprising image capture means and a detector connected to the camera, the detector being operable to analyse the scent of its surrounding medium.  
     
     
         41 . A camera as claimed in  claim 40  wherein the detector comprises a device selected from a group comprising a gas chromatography device, a mass spectrometry device, a chemical sensor.