The smelling screen is a new olfactory display that can generate a localized odor distribution on a two-dimensional display screen. The generated odor distribution is as if an odor source had been placed on the screen, and leads the user to perceive the odor as emanating from a specific region of the screen. The position of this virtual odor source can be shifted to an arbitrary position on the screen. The user can freely move his/her head to sniff at various locations on the screen, and can experience realistic changes in the odor intensity with respect to the sniffing location.

We propose a new olfactory display system that can generate an odor distribution on a two-dimensional display screen. The proposed system has four fans on the four corners of the screen. The airflows that are generated by these fans collide multiple times to create an airflow that is directed towards the user from a certain position on the screen. By introducing odor vapor into the airflows, the odor distribution is as if an odor source had been placed onto the screen. The generated odor distribution leads the user to perceive the odor as emanating from a specific region of the screen. The position of this virtual odor source can be shifted to an arbitrary position on the screen by adjusting the balance of the airflows from the four fans. Most users do not immediately notice the odor presentation mechanism of the proposed olfactory display system because the airflow and perceived odor come from the display screen rather than the fans. The airflow velocity can even be set below the threshold for airflow sensation, such that the odor alone is perceived by the user. We present experimental results that show the airflow field and odor distribution that are generated by the proposed system. We also report sensory test results to show how the generated odor distribution is perceived by the user and the issues that must be considered in odor presentation.

A new olfactory display that can present a virtual odor source at an arbitrary position on a two-dimensional screen is proposed in this paper. The proposed device can give a sensation that an odor is emanating from a certain position on the screen. Fans are placed at the four corners of the screen. The airflows generated by the fans are deflected multiple times by making them collide with each other, and are finally directed toward the user from the position of a virtual odor source on the screen. By introducing odor vapor into the airflows, the odor is spread from the virtual odor source toward the user. The position of the virtual odor source can be shifted to an arbitrary position on the screen by adjusting the balance of the airflows from the four fans. The user can freely move his/her head and sniff at various locations. Potential applications of the proposed device include digital signage, video games, and exhibitions in museums. The result of odor-distribution measurement is presented here to show the validity of the device design.