Virtual reality smoking system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017196260-A1
Application number	US-201715471491-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 28, 2017
Priority date	May 31, 2005
Publication date	Jul 13, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A virtual or augmented reality smoking system is provided herein. A smoker using the system can experience a virtual reality of smoking by puffing on a cigarette shaped article and experiencing the taste or aroma from the article while simultaneously viewing a generated image of a burning cigarette and exhaled and sidestream smoke. Additionally, the room environment may be simulated to give the experience of smoking in a setting of the smoker's choice (virtual reality) or the image of a burning cigarette and smoke may be superimposed on a live or natural image of the smoker's environment (augmented reality).

First claim

1 . A smoking system, comprising:
a smoking implement shaped device; an airflow sensor configured to measure air flow direction and volume of air passing the sensor.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a movement sensor located in the smoking implement shaped device; and/or a flavorant or aroma emitting additive located in the smoking implement shaped device.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the smoking implement shaped device comprises a filter.

4 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a movement sensor in the smoking implement shaped device; and a movement sensor tracker communicatively coupled to the movement sensor and an image generator, wherein the image generator is optionally capable of adapting an image based upon information provided to the image generator from the movement sensor tracker.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein if the movement sensor tracker provides a first signal, then the image generator generates an image of a burning end on the smoking implement shaped device, wherein if the movement sensor tracker provides a second signal, then the image generator generates an image of an exhalation within the viewing device, and/or wherein if the movement sensor tracker provides a third signal, then the image generator generates an image of a sidestream smoke emission from an end of the smoking implement shaped device.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system includes a computer image generator which processes information provided by the sensor to generate a virtual image to be viewed by a smoker using the system.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system includes a computer which processes data provided by the sensor to generate a virtual image of exhaling smoke, sidesteam smoke or a burning cigarette.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system includes an image generator which performs calculations using information provided by the sensor to form a virtual image of a smoking environment.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the smoking implement shaped device includes a light emitting device on an end thereof and the intensity of the light emitting device can be controlled according to a puffing profile generated by a smoker inhaling on the smoking implement shaped device.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the smoking implement shaped device is a cigarette model having a cigarette filter at one end thereof.

11 . A smoking implement shaped device, comprising:
a hollow cylindrical device; a releasable flavorant within the hollow cylindrical device; at least one airflow controller within the hollow cylindrical device; and an airflow sensor configured to measure air flow direction and volume of air passing the sensor.

12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the releasable flavorant comprises tobacco or tobacco smoke, and/or wherein the at least one airflow controller within the hollow cylindrical device comprises a cigarette filter capable of providing a resistance to draw (RTD) for the device, and the airflow sensor comprises a microphone.

13 . The device of claim 11 , further comprising a light emitting device on an end of the hollow cylindrical device, wherein the light emitting device optionally comprises at least one light emitting diode, wherein the light emitting diode is capable of being controlled based on readings by the airflow sensor.

14 . The device of claim 11 , comprising a cigarette model having a cigarette filter at one end thereof.

Assignees

• Philip Morris Usa Inc

Inventors

• Kobal Gerd
• Dante Henry
• Sundar Rangaraj
• Lipowicz Peter
• Sweeney William R
• Solanky Ashok

Classifications

• A24F47/002 Primary

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• G06T11/60

  Creating or editing images; Combining images with text · CPC title

• A24D1/002

  with additives, e.g. for flavouring · CPC title

• A61M2205/502

  User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards · CPC title

• G06T19/006

  Mixed reality (object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00) · CPC title