U.S. patent application number 13/835996 was filed with the patent office on 2014-04-17 for electronically augmented container for storing and interfacing with vapor delivery devices.
This patent application is currently assigned to The Safe Cig, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is The Safe Cig, LLC. Invention is credited to Andre' Joseph LaMothe.
Application Number | 20140107815 13/835996 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50476093 |
Filed Date | 2014-04-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140107815 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LaMothe; Andre' Joseph |
April 17, 2014 |
ELECTRONICALLY AUGMENTED CONTAINER FOR STORING AND INTERFACING WITH
VAPOR DELIVERY DEVICES
Abstract
The disclosed device and apparatus provides a container for
storing and interfacing with fluid vaporization devices, such as
electronic cigarettes or fluid cartridges, which integrates
computing devices to allow the user to perform many different
functions and execute software on the container which enhances and
simplifies the user's overall experience with the fluid
vaporization devices and provides the user with a variety of
different tools which can be used in conjunction with the fluid
vaporization devices.
Inventors: |
LaMothe; Andre' Joseph;
(Austin, TX) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
The Safe Cig, LLC; |
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US |
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Assignee: |
The Safe Cig, LLC
Los Angeles
CA
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Family ID: |
50476093 |
Appl. No.: |
13/835996 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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13615542 |
Sep 13, 2012 |
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13835996 |
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61534859 |
Sep 14, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
700/90 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24F 47/008 20130101;
A24F 15/18 20130101; G16H 20/13 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/90 |
International
Class: |
A24F 47/00 20060101
A24F047/00 |
Claims
1. A computer-implemented method executed by one or more computing
devices integrated with a container which is configured to house
one or more vaporizer components, the method comprising: receiving,
by at least one of the one or more computing devices, information
relating to the operation of a fluid vaporizer; determining, by at
least one of the one or more computing devices, an instruction to
transmit to a vaporizer component based on the received
information, wherein the instruction involves the operation of the
fluid vaporizer; and transmitting, by at least one of the one or
more computing devices, the instruction to the vaporizer
component.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the
information is received from a user through an input interface on
the container.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the
information is received from one or more second computing
devices.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the received
information comprises a request for usage data regarding the
operation of the fluid vaporizer, and the transmitted instruction
comprises an instruction to return the requested usage data.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the received
information comprises a request for the operational status of one
or more components of the fluid vaporizer, and the transmitted
instruction comprises an instruction to return the requested
operational status.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the
requested operational status comprises at least one of a remaining
battery level of a battery in the fluid vaporizer and a remaining
fluid level in a fluid reservoir of the fluid vaporizer.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the
transmitted instruction comprises an instruction to adjust an
operational parameter of the fluid vaporizer.
8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the fluid
vaporizer comprises a plurality of fluid compartments containing a
plurality of fluids and the operational parameter comprises the
proportion of each fluid in each of the fluid compartments that is
vaporized during the vaporization process.
9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the
operational parameter is the vaporization temperature of the fluid
vaporizer.
10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the
information is received from the vaporizer component and comprises
usage data regarding the operation of the fluid vaporizer.
11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the
information is received from the vaporizer component and comprises
status data regarding the operational status of one or more
components of the fluid vaporizer.
12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving, by at least one of the one or more computing devices,
response data from the vaporizer component; and displaying, by at
least one of the one or more computing devices, the response data
on one or more external displays integrated with the container.
13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the
vaporizer component is one of a plurality of vaporizer components
that comprise the fluid vaporizer.
14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the
vaporizer component is a first vaporizer component and comprises: a
housing configured to mate with a housing of a second vaporizer
component, the second vaporizer component comprising a fluid
reservoir and a heating element; a battery configured to power the
heating element; and hardware configured to operate the heating
element to vaporize a fluid in the fluid reservoir.
15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the fluid
vaporizer comprises: a fluid reservoir; a heating element
configured to vaporize a fluid in the fluid reservoir; a battery
configured to power the heating element; and a housing configured
to house the reservoir, the heating element, the battery, and the
vaporizer component.
16. A container apparatus configured to house one or more vaporizer
components and comprising: one or more processors; and one or more
memories operatively coupled to at least one of the one or more
processors and having instructions stored thereon that, when
executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause at
least one of the one or more processors to: receive information
relating to the operation of a fluid vaporizer; determine an
instruction to transmit to a vaporizer component based on the
received information, wherein the instruction involves the
operation of the fluid vaporizer; and transmit the instruction to
the vaporizer component.
17. The container apparatus of claim 16, wherein the information is
received from a user through an input interface on the
container.
18. The container apparatus of claim 16, wherein the information is
received from one or more second computing devices.
19. The container apparatus of claim 16, wherein the received
information comprises a request for usage data regarding the
operation of the fluid vaporizer, and the transmitted instruction
comprises an instruction to return the requested usage data.
20. The container apparatus of claim 16, wherein the received
information comprises a request for the operational status of one
or more components of the fluid vaporizer, and the transmitted
instruction comprises an instruction to return the requested
operational status.
21. The container apparatus of claim 20, wherein the requested
operational status comprises at least one of a remaining battery
level of a battery in the fluid vaporizer and a remaining fluid
level in a fluid reservoir of the fluid vaporizer.
22. The container apparatus of claim 16, wherein the transmitted
instruction comprises an instruction to adjust an operational
parameter of the fluid vaporizer.
23. The container apparatus of claim 22, wherein the fluid
vaporizer comprises a plurality of fluid compartments containing a
plurality of fluids and the operational parameter comprises the
proportion of each fluid in each of the fluid compartments that is
vaporized during the vaporization process.
24. The container apparatus of claim 22, wherein the operational
parameter is the vaporization temperature of the fluid
vaporizer.
25. The container apparatus of claim 16, wherein the information is
received from the vaporizer component and comprises usage data
regarding the operation of the fluid vaporizer.
26. The container apparatus of claim 16, wherein the information is
received from the vaporizer component and comprises status data
regarding the operational status of one or more components of the
fluid vaporizer
27. The container apparatus of claim 16, wherein the one or more
memories have further instructions stored thereon, that, when
executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause at
least one of the one or more processors to: receive response data
from the vaporizer component; and display the response data on one
or more displays integrated with the container.
28. The container apparatus of claim 16, wherein the vaporizer
component is one of a plurality of vaporizer components that
comprise the fluid vaporizer.
29. The container apparatus of claim 28, wherein the vaporizer
component is a first vaporizer component and comprises: a housing
configured to mate with a housing of a second vaporizer component,
the second vaporizer component comprising a fluid reservoir and a
heating element; a battery configured to power the heating element;
and hardware configured to operate the heating element to vaporize
a fluid in the fluid reservoir.
30. The container apparatus of claim 16, wherein the fluid
vaporizer comprises: a fluid reservoir; a heating element
configured to vaporize a fluid in the fluid reservoir; a battery
configured to power the heating element; and a housing configured
to house the reservoir, the heating element, the battery, and the
vaporizer component.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION DATA
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
application Ser. No. 13/615,542, filed Sep. 13, 2012, which claims
priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/534,859, filed Sep.
14, 2011, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their
entireties.
BACKGROUND
[0002] An electronic cigarette, also referred to as an e-cigarette
or e-cig, is a Personal Electronic Vaporizing Unit ("PEVU") that
simulates the act of tobacco smoking by producing an inhaled vapor
which can bear the appearance, flavor, and feel of inhaled tobacco
smoke. Compared to tobacco smoking, electronic cigarettes provide
an ostensibly safer "smoking" experience by reducing the combustion
process that occurs when tobacco is burned, resulting in fewer
toxins and carcinogens. This is accomplished through the use of
heat to vaporize a liquid solution into an inhalable mist.
[0003] Many electronic cigarettes and other fluid vaporization
devices include a fluid cartridge and a battery component. However,
users have few options when it comes to customizing how they would
like to utilize a particular cartridge, fluid vaporization device,
or electronic cigarette. Different users may have different
preferences regarding how they would like the vaporization process
to be carried out. Additionally, users may want to incorporate
these preferences into their electronic cigarettes and fluid
vaporization devices with as little effort as possible and utilize
advances in technology to provide more functionality to their fluid
vaporization related devices. Therefore, improvements in fluid
vaporization devices and related technology are needed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1A shows an external front view of an exemplary
electronically augmented container (EAC) device according to the
disclosed embodiment.
[0005] FIG. 1B shows an external back view of an exemplary EAC
device according to the disclosed embodiment.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a diagram of electronic components in an exemplary
EAC device according to the disclosed embodiment.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a diagram of input/output interfaces in an
exemplary EAC device according to the disclosed embodiment.
[0008] FIG. 4 shows an external view of an exemplary EAC device
containing a removable USB charger according to the disclosed
embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 5A shows three views of an exemplary frictional and/or
spring loaded interface and electronic cigarette for the EAC device
according to the disclosed embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 5B shows a cross sectional view of the exemplary
frictional and/or spring loaded interface and electronic cigarette
for the EAC device according to the disclosed embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 6 shows a communication capabilities diagram of the EAC
device according to the disclosed embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] While devices and apparatuses are described herein by way of
examples and embodiments, those skilled in the art recognize that
such devices and apparatuses are not limited to the embodiments or
drawings described. It should be understood that the drawings and
description are not intended to be limited to the particular form
disclosed. Rather, the intention is to cover all modifications,
equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of
the appended claims. Any headings used herein are for
organizational purposes only and are not meant to limit the scope
of the description or the claims. As used herein, the word "may" is
used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to)
rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly,
the words "include," "including," and "includes" mean including,
but not limited to.
[0013] The disclosed embodiment relates to a container for storing
and interfacing with fluid vaporization items, such as PEVUs, or
fluid cartridges or batteries for fluid vaporization items. The
container integrates one or more computing devices that allow a
user to perform many different functions and execute software on
the container which enhances and simplifies the user's overall
experience with the fluid vaporization items and provides the user
with a variety of different tools which can be used in conjunction
with the fluid vaporization items. This device will be referred to
throughout this disclosure as the electronically augment container
or "EAC."
[0014] FIGS. 1A-1B illustrates an exemplary EAC 100 from two sides
according to the disclosed embodiment. EAC 100 is shown as being a
rectangular cuboid shaped figure with six faces, but can be any
suitable shape and can have any number of faces. Furthermore, the
opposite faces do not necessarily have to be flat parallel planes,
but can lie on intersecting planes or be curved faces. For example,
the EAC may be cubic, octagonal, or spherical. The EAC may also be
a cylindrical tube, or a pyramid, or any other geometrical shape in
accordance with the disclosed embodiment. Additionally, the faces
do not have to meet at right angles as they do in a rectangular
cuboid, and the shape may be a parallelepiped constructed with
faces that meet at acute and/or obtuse angles.
[0015] The EAC 100 in FIGS. 1A-1B is shown having an indicator bar
114 on a side face, a data port 115 on a side face, and a display
113 on its back face. These features are discussed in greater depth
below in the section on EAC input/output interfaces.
[0016] The EAC 100 and its components can be constructed out of any
suitable material or combination of suitable materials, such as
paper, cardboard, plastics, rubbers, metals, glass, foam, ceramics,
metalloids such as silicone, or any other material that can be
fashioned into a box or container shape. Different components can
be used for different parts of the EAC. For example, the EAC can be
mostly made of cardboard, with some parts made of plastic, or made
out of plastic with covers made out of paper. The EAC may be
disposable. Many different variations are possible.
[0017] A first compartment cover 101 is shown in FIG. 1. The cover
101 conceals a compartment that can be used to store items in the
EAC. Numeral 101 references a cover which is formed as part of the
EAC 100, but the cover can be a separate component that is attached
to the EAC. Cover 101 is shown as including multiple faces of the
EAC but may be designed differently. For example, cover 101 can be
any one of the faces of the EAC, part of one of the faces, or only
include part of the top face. Cover 101 can be oriented to run
along the longitudinal axis rather a transverse axis. If the EAC
100 is cylindrical, then the cover 100 can also be cylindrical,
with circular bottom edge. Cover 101 does not necessarily have to
touch any edges and may be entirely contained within one face of
the EAC.
[0018] Additionally, the EAC is not necessarily limited to one
compartment or one cover. For example, the EAC can have one
compartment that is accessible through two covers in different
areas, three covers and one compartment, or three covers and two
compartments, such as an upper compartment accessible through one
cover and a lower compartment accessible through the two remaining
covers. The EAC can have three separate compartments and three
separate covers, such as one cover on the top face to access a
first compartment, a cover on the left face to access a second
compartment, and a cover on the right face to access a third
compartment. Any number of covers and/or compartments may be
used.
[0019] Although many examples disclosed herein refer to the fluid
vaporization devices as electronic cigarettes, the vaporization
devices are not limited to such a purpose or shape. The
vaporization device can be any PEVU, such as an electronic cigar or
other "smoking" device, an anesthetic vaporizer, a nebulizer, or
any other vaporization device which heats a fluid with a heating
element to produce a vapor. Fluid vaporization devices can include
different components which are combined to create a fluid
vaporization device. For example, a fluid vaporization device can
include a battery component and a cartridge component.
[0020] The vaporization devices can also take on any shape or form
factor and are not limited to the physical dimensions disclosed
herein. For example, if the fluid vaporization device is used as a
medical device, it can be constructed to resemble an inhaler or
other medical device that a user is accustomed to, and the
dimensions of the EAC can be adapted to store and interface with
the relevant vaporization device. For example, if an EAC is used
for storing and interfacing with an inhaler, the battery can be
positioned such that it will take the place of the medicine
compartment that is attached to a traditional inhaler and the
inhaler mouthpiece component can house the cartridge. Thus, the
appearance of traditional inhalers or other vaporization device can
be substantially maintained while still incorporating the
advantageous features provided by the EAC's described herein.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a diagram of different electronic components that
can be incorporated into the EAC 100 according to the disclosed
embodiment. The components shown are only provided as an example of
the electronics that can be incorporated according to the disclosed
embodiment, and an EAC can be designed that includes only some of
the components, greater numbers of one or more components, or
different types of components. All of the components are shown
connected by a bus or other internal communication means, but the
actual components can be coupled and connected differently.
Additionally, multiple components can be integrated into a single
component or chip. For example, rather than having dedicated video
hardware 112, image and video processing can be done by a component
which is part of the CPU 105. The EAC may include one or more of
the following components and may include one or more computing
devices which incorporate one or more of the following
components.
[0022] Transceiver 102 can be used for communication to and from
the EAC 100. Transceiver 102 can be a wireless network card or
wireless transceiver that is used to communicate with a wireless
network. Alternatively, or additionally, the transceiver 102 can
include a mobile transceiver designed to communicate over cellular
networks. The transceiver 102 can also be a network interface card
such as a local area network card which enables the EAC to connect
to a local network. The transceiver 102 can also be a short range
transceiver, such as a Bluetooth transceiver.
[0023] The communication interface hardware 103 can be used to read
data from a variety of different communication standards. For
example, the communication interface hardware 103 can be a
Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) card for allowing users to
connect external computing device or peripherals to the EAC 100.
The communication interface card 103 can have a Universal Serial
Bus (USB) interface for connecting with devices that utilize USB or
for connecting the EAC 100 to a computing device through a USB
cable or plug.
[0024] EAC 100 can include a storage device 104. Storage device 104
can include any type of suitable storage. For example, storage
device 104 can be comprised of NAND and/or NOR flash memory,
EEPROM, one or more SD cards, micro SD cards, or other suitable
memory. Additionally, storage device can further include volatile
memory, such as RAM, SRAM, SDRAM, and the like.
[0025] The EAC 100 can include one or more microprocessors 105. The
microprocessors 105 can be of any make or model, and can include
dual core or quad core processors and the like. Additionally,
though not shown, the EAC 100 can also have one or more graphics
processing units dedicated to processing images and/or video for
display on the EAC 100.
[0026] The EAC 100 may include dedicated GPS or location tracking
hardware 106 which monitors and/or records the location of the EAC.
This information can be utilized by the EAC 100 in a variety of
different applications discussed herein.
[0027] The EAC 100 may also include a portable storage card
interface 107. This may include an interface adapted to receive an
external storage card such as an SD card or micro-SD card. Such an
interface would allow users to increase the storage space of the
EAC 100 through the use of removable and replaceable storage.
[0028] The EAC 100 may include one or more accelerometers 108 built
into the device. The accelerometers 108 can be used for a variety
of purposes, such as giving commands to the device through motions,
sending messages to other EACs or computing devices, or connecting
and disconnecting from a network. For example, the user can
activate a locking mechanism built into the EAC 100 through an
action taken by the user, such as shaking the EAC vigorously. In
this scenario, a passcode or password may be required to unlock it.
Alternatively, the EAC could be unlocked through some other method,
such as performing one or more motions, such as spinning the EAC
along a certain axis. The one or more accelerometers 108 can be
utilized in various ways and these examples are provided only to
illustrate a few of the various functionalities.
[0029] The EAC 100 may also include some sound hardware 109 for
producing audio output, such as a sound card. The sound card can
also be used for interpreting sounds and audio, such as voice
commands from a user. Additionally, a vibration mechanism 110 can
be used as an additional or alternative mode of communicating
messages, alerts, or warnings. Video hardware 111 can optionally be
included in the EAC 100 to provide dedicated video processing and
output functionality. Video hardware 111 can include the
aforementioned graphics processing units.
[0030] The EAC 100 includes a battery 112 which powers the various
electronics and functions of the device. The battery 112 may be any
suitable battery, including a standard disposable battery such as
an alkaline battery, or a longer lasting battery such as a lithium
battery, nickel cadmium, or an advanced lithium ion battery. The
battery 112 may be rechargeable. For example, the battery 112 can
be inserted into a recharging station which refills the battery
112. The battery 112 may be removable from the EAC 100, so that it
can be replaced or recharged. Alternatively, the battery 112 can
stay in the EAC 100 and be recharged through a power cord or cable,
or via a USB connection. The battery can be coupled to a USB plug
which is built into the EAC and used to charge the battery. The
battery may be used to charge devices plugged into the EAC and/or
keep them trickle charged for long term storage. The EAC battery
can be charged via a USB connection, direct external power adapter
and/or via induction. The battery can be of any shape or
construction, for example, a cylindrical, prismatic, or thin
profile flexible construction.
[0031] The EAC 100 may contain a number of input and output
interfaces, as shown in FIG. 3. The interfaces shown are only
provided as an example of the input and output mechanisms that can
be incorporated into the EAC 100, and a EAC can be designed that
includes only some of the interfaces, greater numbers of one or
more interfaces, or different types of interfaces.
[0032] One or more displays 113 can be incorporated into the EAC
100. The displays 113 can be LCD's, LED's, OLED's, e-ink displays,
vacuum florescent displays, or resistive or capacitive touch
screens. Multiple types of displays can be utilized on a single EAC
100. For example, a first display can be a touch screen for
inputting information, and a second display can just be an LCD for
reading facts related to the fluid vaporization product or
receiving advertisements or offers. The one or more displays 113 do
not necessarily have to be on the exterior of the EAC 100. A
display can be contained within a compartment such that it is only
visible and activated when the user opens the compartment. For
example, a display on an inside flap of a cover can show
information relating to the fluid vaporization products that are
stored in a compartment under the cover. Many variations and
combinations of display types and display placements are
possible.
[0033] The EAC 100 can also contain several status indicators 114.
Status indicators 114 may also be displays such as LCD's, LED's,
OLED's, e-ink displays, and vacuum florescent displays, but can be
implemented in other ways as well. A status indicator 114 can take
the form of one or more LEDs, a light ring that glows a particular
color, or a light bar to represent different levels of some
quantity.
[0034] Status indicators 114 can display information regarding the
status of one or more variables relating to the EAC 100 or fluid
vaporization products which the EAC 100 contains. For example,
status indicators 114 can display status information relating to
EAC battery level, remaining fluid in a fluid vaporization device
or cartridge, fluid vaporization device battery levels, remaining
amounts of different types of fluid in a fluid cartridge or
vaporization device that holds multiple types of fluids, and a
variety of other information. Status indicators can also display
status information relating to the user of the EAC 100, such as
frequency of usage of vaporization products, intensity of usage,
locations of usage, frequency of usage of specific products, and
various other data.
[0035] Status indicators can convey messages through blink/display
patterns or light colors. For example, flashing red can indicate a
low battery on the EAC. Flashing yellow can indicate that the fluid
levels in one or more fluid vaporization devices are low. Flashing
green can indicate that the user has successfully connected to a
nearby wireless network. Many variations are possible.
[0036] The EAC 100 can contain one or more data ports 115 for
receiving or transmitting data. The one or more data ports 115 can
include USB port which receives data from an attached USB device or
from a computing device attached via USB cable. The data ports 115
can also include a built in USB plug which plugs into a USB port on
another device. The data ports 115 can include slots for portable
storage cards, such as SD or micro-SD cards or any other storage
format.
[0037] A variety of audio input/output interfaces 116 can be
included on the EAC 100. The EAC 100 can have, for example, one or
more audio output jacks, one or more built-in speakers, a
microphone, or a microphone jack. Audio input/output can also be
done over a device that is paired with the EAC over a wireless
connection, such as Bluetooth.
[0038] The EAC can include one or more cameras and/or video cameras
117. The cameras and video cameras 117 can be disposed on the
outside of the box or revealed by opening a compartment or cover on
the outside of the box. They can be used in various applications
with the EAC. For example, if the user is interested in an item,
such as a certain type of fluid vaporization device, they can take
a picture of the fluid vaporization device and send the picture to
a server or service where any special offers or discounts are
forwarded to them and displayed on the one or more displays
113.
[0039] A variety of user input mechanisms 118 can be included on
the EAC. The user can input information using one or more touch
screens, or touch pads or other touch sensitive interfaces. The
user can enter information via one or more buttons, or directional
pads, or joysticks, or other tactile interfaces. The user can also
input information via voice commands or audio, either through a
built-in microphone or through an attached microphone or a
microphone on paired device. Additionally, as discussed above, the
user can input information via the one or more accelerometers built
into the device by the moving the device in certain patterns or
directions.
[0040] An exemplary EAC according to the disclosed embodiment can
be used to store and interface with a variety of items, such as
fluid vaporization devices and related items, electronic devices,
and electronic components or adapters.
[0041] The fluid vaporization devices and items can include medical
devices, such as asthma inhalers, nebulizers, and anesthetic or
medicinal vaporizers, and their corresponding batteries which can
be rechargeable or disposable. Fluid vaporization devices and
related items can also include electronic cigarettes, electronic
cigarette batteries which can be rechargeable or disposable,
electronic cigarette fluid cartridges, electronic cigarettes which
include both a fluid cartridge and a battery, disposable electronic
cigarettes, smart electronic cigarettes which include a microchip
or microcontroller, and similar products.
[0042] The electronic devices which can be stored in the EAC or
incorporated in the EAC can include chargers, transmitters,
adapters or other electronics. For example, as is shown in FIG. 4,
a USB charger can be stored in the EAC which interfaces with the
fluid vaporization devices also stored in the EAC so that users can
recharge their fluid vaporization device batteries easily. The EAC
100 in FIG. 4 contains both fluid vaporization devices 119 and a
USB charger 120 for those fluid vaporization devices which extends
from a side pocket. Of course, the design of EAC 100 can be altered
to allow storage of the USB charger 120 in different locations if
preferred.
[0043] Exemplary USB chargers for the items can be plugged into any
USB port and facilitate the charging of any item, such as an
electronic cigarette, in addition to interfacing with a PC or other
computing device, for example, to update any firmware or behavior
relating to the EAC or the items stored therein. The USB charger
can have embedded intelligence in the form of discrete electronics
and/or a microprocessor which allows bi-directional communications
with the plugged in item. This connection can pass thru to the USB
host (PC or mobile device), to allow connection to the host and/or
a network and network applications, such as the manufacturers
website or online applications created by the manufacturer.
[0044] Additionally, the USB charger may have onboard nonvolatile
storage to track charge patterns, record item unit identifications,
charging times, as well as marketing and/or
educational/entertainment media to market the product and/or
educate or entertain the customer. This data can be accessed via
the host that the charger is plugged into.
[0045] The USB charger can have display abilities to render charge
state (0 to 100%), and other analytics via a display such as an
LED, LCD, OLED, or other technologies or more advanced textual and
graphical LCD displays.
[0046] The USB charger can also have communications ability to
contact the user via the USB connection itself, and transmit
messages and notifications to a mobile device, such as the user's
phone or the EAC, when an item is charged.
[0047] There are a variety of possible interfaces which can be used
to store or secure the electronics or fluid vaporization devices
within the EAC. Additionally, interfaces can provide additional
functionality, such as enabling communication between the items
stored in the EAC and the EAC itself, charging any batteries in the
items from the EAC's battery, or charging any batteries in the
items from an external power source via the EAC.
[0048] If the EAC itself contains smart items, such as smart
electronic cigarettes, then it can preferably communicate with the
smart items using a wireless communication protocol, such as
Bluetooth, a wireless network, or cellular protocols. In one
example, a user can purchase electronic cigarettes or electronic
cigarette fluid cartridges, which can be "smart" items or just
contain a near field communication chip, at a discounted price
available only to those who own an EAC. The electronic cigarettes
or cartridges can be configured to be in a locked state until they
are brought close to the EAC, at which point they will be unlocked
using near field communication or one of the above mentioned
wireless technologies. Of course, this feature can be utilized with
any of the items or devices which can be stored in the EAC, such as
medical devices including anesthetic vaporizers.
[0049] Additionally, the EAC can be configured with standard or
customized physical ports which mate with ports on fluid
vaporization devices. For example, the fluid vaporization device
can include a USB plug which plugs into a USB port on the EAC to
facilitate communication between the EAC and the fluid vaporization
device. Of course, the possible physical connections between the
EAC and the fluid vaporization device are not limited to such an
interface, and can include any type of data port.
[0050] A magnetic locking interface can be used to hold items
within the EAC. The magnetic interface can also provide a way to
power or recharge the items being held in place. So, for example,
an electronic cigarette made out of a magnetic material can be held
to a portion of the interior of the EAC by a magnetic plate or pad
or other coupling.
[0051] Items can also be held in place via a screw, threaded
interface or bayonet receiver. For example, electronic cigarette
fluid cartridges, which are many times screwed into electronic
cigarette batteries, can be screwed into threaded openings in the
EAC. These openings can be in an internal compartment of the EAC or
be implemented as external threaded holes. Similarly, electronic
cigarette batteries, disposable electronic cigarettes, or any other
fluid vaporization related items can be customized to be screwed
into/onto a threaded interface which is part of the EAC.
[0052] Items can also be held in the EAC by a frictional and/or
spring loaded interface as shown in FIGS. 5A-5B. This can include a
combination of a rubber and/or plastic sleeve 500 providing
friction to the insertion or removal of the item 502 to and from a
holding and/or charging cylinder 502. The primary contact points of
the item 502 are made via mechanical receivers 503 in the insertion
port and tension is provided via spring(s) 504. Multiple views of
such an interface, which can be integrated into the EAC, are shown
in FIGS. 5A-5B.
[0053] Additionally, all of the above interfaces can include
couplings for charging any items inserted or attached to the EAC or
for transferring data to and from the items inserted or attached to
the EAC. For example, any of the interfaces can have electrical
contacts which pair with an electrical contact on an item attached
to the EAC. The EAC can support inductive coupling to charge the
batteries of items, such as disposable or non-disposable electronic
cigarettes, which have been inserted into or attached to the EAC.
When the user charges an item, such as an electronic cigarette
battery, from the EAC, the EAC's own battery can be used as the
power source. The user may be able to toggle such a feature with a
physical switch or button, or enter their preferences into a user
interface on the one or more displays. Additionally, the user may
be able to utilize additional accessories that plug into the EAC
and allow the user to charge other devices from their EAC, such as
their mobile phone. The EAC can have a standard phone charger built
in for such a purpose. Such a feature would be useful in an
emergency situation when the user's phone requires additional
power.
[0054] FIG. 6 shows the communication capabilities of the EAC 100.
EAC 100 can communicate with user computing devices 123, mobile
devices 121 and 122, other EACs 125 and application or data servers
124. Any of these communications connections can be used to perform
any downloading or uploading of data or applications discussed in
the sections below, either wirelessly or via a physical interface.
All data transferred to and from the EAC can also be encrypted for
security and the EAC itself can have a password function or utilize
biometric recognition techniques such as fingerprint analysis for
confirming that a user is authorized.
[0055] The EAC can have a user interface and run software such as
an operating system and/or firmware. Firmware may come pre-loaded
or can be installed or modified by users. Additionally, the EAC can
run an operating system designed for mobile devices such as Android
or the Blackberry operating system. Users can download or otherwise
receive upgrades, modifications, or updates to firmware, software,
operating systems, or applications running on the EAC via the one
or more communications connections.
[0056] The EAC can be configured to download and run many kinds of
applications, similar to mobile apps for mobile devices. Such
applications may be downloaded to the device via a wireless
connection or via a USB or other physical connection. Users can
download apps using an app store or other similar environment. Many
apps can be targeted to EAC users and take advantage of its
functionality or abilities. Of course, such software can come
pre-loaded on the EAC and does not have to be added by the
user.
[0057] The EAC can have different profiles, themes, or skins. Such
profiles can change the outer appearance and behavior of the EAC,
such as what is displayed on the one or more displays and
indicators, sounds the EAC makes, vibration themes, messages sent
by the EAC, as well as the behavior the items the EAC contains or
is communicatively coupled to. For example, a EAC user can download
a theme called "nature." In response to downloading and installing
the theme, the EAC can display trees on its display, and use bird
sounds as alerts. If the EAC is used with smart electronic
cigarettes, the downloaded theme can affect the settings of the
electronic cigarettes. For example, if the user is utilizing a
smart electronic cigarette that has multiple chambers and
adjustable levels of nicotine, the user can download a theme called
"extreme" which raises the nicotine output of each of the
electronic cigarettes in their EAC so that the user gets a higher
dosage of nicotine per drag when they are using the electronic
cigarettes.
[0058] On the other hand, many applications can be targeted to
smoking cessation and take advantage of the ability of the EAC to
propagate updates to the fluid vaporization devices stored within.
For example, a user can download an application to the EAC called
"Quit in 10 weeks" which automatically reduces the nicotine output
level of each of their electronic cigarettes stored in the EAC over
a period of 10 weeks until their electronic cigarettes are
releasing no nicotine. An example interface for such an application
is shown on the screen of mobile device 122 in FIG. 6, offering the
user a congratulatory message.
[0059] The EAC can take advantage of the communication it has with
smart electronic cigarettes or other smart fluid vaporization
devices and the tracking capabilities of the EAC and the smart
electronic cigarettes to improve the user's experience. For
example, the electronic cigarette or other fluid vaporization
device can detect that the user is inhaling very hard when they use
the electronic cigarette. This may result in the vaporization being
carried out at too quickly or at too high a temperature and too
much vapor being produced. The smart electronic cigarette can then
communicate this information to the EAC, which can reprogram all
the electronic cigarettes in the EAC and all future electronic
cigarettes to automatically lower the default vaporization
temperature of the fluid to compensate for the user's inhalation
idiosyncrasies. The electronic cigarette or other fluid
vaporization device does not need to be inserted into the EAC in
order to communicate with the EAC, and can communicate via wireless
transmission or through an intermediary server if the EAC and fluid
vaporization device are at different locations. Additionally, all
tracking information from the electronic cigarette or other fluid
vaporization device, such as inhalation frequency, inhalation
intensity, inhalation length, preferred fluid flavors, preferred
fluid ratios in multi-fluid cartridges, preferred nicotine levels,
and similar data, can be communicated to the EAC and/or data
servers/computing devices which compile the information and provide
it to the user in an easily readable format, either through a
website or an application.
[0060] This bi-directional communication between a smart fluid
vaporization device and the EAC can be used to customize the user's
experience in a variety of ways. A smart electronic cigarette may
detect that its battery is running low, and communicate this
information to the EAC, which can display a message or send a text
alert to the user to charge the battery. Similarly, the smart
electronic cigarette may detect that its fluid cartridge is running
low, query the EAC to determine whether the user has additional
fluid cartridges, and if not, have the EAC send or display a
similar alert.
[0061] Of course, the fluid vaporization device does not have to be
a smart device or have bi-directional communication abilities in
order to utilize tracking or recording features on the EAC. For
example, the EAC can detect and record a battery level of a
disposable or otherwise non-smart electronic cigarette or
electronic cigarette battery. When the user removes the non-smart
electronic cigarette, the EAC can detect the removal via one or
more sensors. When the user reinserts the non-smart electronic
cigarette, the EAC can once again check the battery level. Based on
the reduction in battery level and some mapping of the battery
usage required to produce a certain quantity of vapor, the EAC can
approximate and record the user's vapor inhalation amount.
[0062] Applications can take advantage of time keeping functions on
the EAC or location tracking on the EAC to provide information
relating to when and where users utilize the items contained
within. An app called "Where do I smoke?" can tell users the places
where they most frequently use the fluid vaporization devices
stored in the EAC. An app called "When do I smoke?" can tell users
the times when they most frequently use the fluid vaporization
devices in the EAC. These apps do not necessarily require a smart
electronic cigarette or smart fluid vaporization device, as a
sensor on the EAC can indicate when an item is removed and when it
is returned.
[0063] Actual usage of the items in the pack can be presented to
users in detail, and may be accessible either through a display on
the pack itself, or via another computing or mobile device the pack
is coupled to. The data relating to usage can be automatically
transmitted to a server which tracks the data and makes it
available to the user via a website. Application servers can run
24/7 and monitor all incoming connections from EAC, and EAC apps
users. Servers can download and compile many kinds of analytics and
event analyses.
[0064] Additionally, servers may target advertisements, marketing
materials, promotions, discounts, or coupons to users. For example,
the a GPS application or hardware may detect that the user is in a
certain retail location and transmit a discount coupon code, such
as a QR code, to the EAC which can be displayed on the one or more
displays and scanned for a discount. The EAC may be distributed
free of charge or at a discount and display a stream of
advertisements on the one or more displays.
[0065] The EAC can detect that the user is running low on fluid for
their fluid vaporization device and send a coupon to the user for a
discount off their next purchase. The user can also configure the
EAC to automatically perform functions, such as order more fluid
cartridges when the fluid cartridges held by the EAC are near
empty.
[0066] Additionally, users with mobile devices can have their EAC
monitored by an app running on the mobile device which can order
new products and communicate with application servers, data
servers, or commercial servers for electronic commerce transactions
as well as product modifications and upgrades.
[0067] The EAC software can include an internet browser to navigate
to different sites, watch online videos, or perform other online
activities. The user may access a products store through an
application and order more supplies or products for the EAC
directly from the EAC. The EAC can have a music player application
such as an mp3 player so that the user can listen to music through
headphones or the external speaker.
[0068] Applications on the EAC can take advantage of peer-to-peer
communications with other EACs. For example, users can transmit
their preferred configuration settings or fluid vaporization device
settings to the EACs of other users. Users can see what flavor or
type of fluid cartridges friends are utilizing, and many social
media applications can be integrated into the EAC. Communication
with other EACs can be based on proximity and the user can be
required to have permission to communicate with a particular EAC.
Transmission or acceptance of data may be accomplished via any of
the user input mechanisms.
[0069] Motion based applications can make use of the accelerometer
built into the EAC. Users can use such application to define a set
of commands based on different motions. This can even be integrated
with other services like the peer to peer communication so a user
can swing their EAC in the direction of another EAC to transfer
information.
[0070] The EAC can have many alert applications, such an alarm
clock, a vaporization device fluid tracker, a charge tracker for
the EAC and the fluid vaporization device, a calendar, and other
similar applications. The alerts or notifications can be in the
form of an SMS sent to the user's phone, an email sent to the
user's email, an audible alert or notification, or a vibration.
Notifications can be displayed or sent to the user regarding the
status of EAC hardware or software or fluid vaporization devices,
such as a "waiting for wireless network to respond," "accessing
user account," and so on.
[0071] The user can utilize the camera or video camera in different
applications. They can take a picture and set it as the "skin" for
their EAC. They can use captured pictures and images in the context
of e-commerce, to look up information or make purchases.
[0072] The GPS hardware can be utilized with many apps to provide
directions or navigational directions such as walking or driving
directions. Apps can utilize the GPS to give the user directions to
the nearest electronic cigarette vendor if they are running low on
fluid cartridges or other supplies.
[0073] Diagnostic applications can be included on the EAC to show
the operating state of the EAC and any diagnostic information
relating to the contents of the EAC. For example, a diagnostic
program can show the programs installed on the EAC, the charge on
each electronic cigarette, the fluid in each fluid cartridge, the
different flavors of fluid cartridges, the breakdown of different
fluids in a multi-fluid cartridge, and so on.
[0074] Location tracking can be used to provide special offers and
incentives to users when they are at a location which has partnered
with or otherwise supports a manufacturer, seller or distributor of
certain types of electronic cigarettes. For example, a user with a
EAC may walk into a particular restaurant and receive a message
displayed on their EAC that states "Welcome EAC owner, display this
message to your server for 10% off your check, and puff away!"
[0075] The EAC may have software that allows it to easily interface
with a computing device. For example, a user can connect the EAC to
a computing device and trigger an application initialization on the
computing device (autorun), or have the EAC data automatically
synchronized with the user's computing device, either through a
physical connection, or wirelessly.
[0076] The EAC can have applications, software or firmware that
detects unauthorized devices or cartridges. For example, the EAC
can detect when the user is using an un-authorized brand of
electronic cigarette or fluid cartridge and block communication or
charging capabilities, or deactivate the unauthorized device so it
is rendered unusable.
[0077] The EAC, fluid vaporization device and cartridges disclosed
herein are not limited to nicotine related fluids and can be used
for a variety of different medical applications. For example,
inhalers are very common devices used to deliver medication to the
body via the lungs. Cartridge components and battery components of
fluid vaporization devices can be utilized to administer medication
to an individual in the same way as an inhaler. For example, by
using a multi-reservoir cartridge, a patient or a doctor can manage
the doses for and/or administer multiple different or complementary
medications with a single device. One example of this would be an
asthma inhaler cartridge that utilizes multiple different types of
steroids or a steroid and a bronchodilator to prevent an asthma
attack. The user of such a cartridge can manually adjust the
dosages of different medication fluids in the cartridge either
through the cartridge, via a battery component attached to the
cartridge, via the EAC which is in communication with the
cartridge, or through another communication interface, so that they
can tailor the dosage to their specific symptoms.
[0078] Additionally, the communication features of the EAC would
enable users and their doctors to track usage, dosage, and
effectiveness of different drug cocktails. For example, if the
device is an inhaler which a patient is trying for the first time,
the usage information, such as number of drags or amount of
medication fluid used over a period of time can be logged and
uploaded to a website, where the patient or their doctor can
determine the effectiveness based on usage.
[0079] The ability to adjust vaporization settings remotely through
the EAC would be useful in controlling dosage for patients. A
doctor, pharmacist, nurse or other medical professional can send an
instruction to the EAC to lower the amount of fluid that is
vaporized per drag of a fluid vaporization device to lower the
dosage of a particular drug when the patient is showing
improvement, or if the patient is having adverse reactions.
Similarly, the medical professional can send an instruction to the
EAC to limit the number of inhales of fluid vaporization device in
a specific time period to prevent abuse of potentially addictive
drugs, such as opiates or other painkillers. The number of inhales,
or doses, can be pre-authorized, and after a certain amount the
device can deactivate until more doses are authorized.
[0080] In the case of a fluid cartridge with multiple reservoirs,
the medical professional can remotely modify the ratios of the
different drugs through the EAC to provide a different drug
cocktail to the patient at each stage of illness or recovery. Of
course, all of these instructions or profiles can be entered
directly into the EAC by the patient as well.
[0081] In one example, the EAC can be used as a medical appliance
for the administration of drugs in a controlled fashion via vapor
inhalation. The EAC can be permanently connected to a USB cable or
other interface, and the user can attach new loads/refills to the
fluid vaporization devices in the EAC. The wired connection can be
used to provide power to the EAC, and the EAC can monitor user
inhalation patterns of fluid vaporization devices and compute air
flow as user inhales medicines. The EAC can be designed so that the
user will not be able to use un-authorized medical fluids. Only
fluid vaporization devices having doses, fluids, and fluid mixtures
that have been enabled and authorized by the doctor or medical
professional for the EAC will be able to communicate with or charge
from the EAC. The EAC can have a feature that detects unauthorized
devices and deactivates them.
[0082] Since the EAC is preferably able to log many operating and
usage characteristics over time, the device may intelligently adapt
to certain usage patterns or operating characteristics. Such
operating characteristics and usage patterns can include, for
example, the temperatures of the one or more combustion chambers in
a fluid vaporization device, the user's drag intensity, the user's
rate of fluid consumption and times of peak consumption, and/or the
user's consumption of certain types of fluid cartridges or specific
fluids in a multi-reservoir cartridge.
[0083] The continuous logging of usage information and operating
characteristics can be used to adjust the user's experience by
manipulating the operational settings of the fluid vaporization
devices in real-time. The user's previous usage and experience can
be used with the operating characteristics in a closed loop
adaptive controller configuration to adapt to the user's usage
patterns and optimize or otherwise alter the functionality of the
fluid vaporization device.
[0084] Such changes can include elongating the maximum allowable
drag lengths on a fluid vaporization device, changing the heating
profile, and/or mixing ratios of fluids, and so forth. For example,
if the EAC determines that the user puts a lot of vacuum pressure
on the mouthpiece of a fluid vaporization device and thus tends to
overheat the unit with its default settings, the EAC can adjust the
heating temperature on the fluid vaporization device, so that the
user won't overheat the device anymore. If the fluid vaporization
device is a medical device, such as an asthma inhaler, the EAC may
determine that the user requires too many inhalations to relieve an
asthma attack and increase the dosage of the medicinal fluids in
the reservoir of the inhaler to increase the effectiveness of the
device in an emergency situation. Many variations are possible, and
these examples are provided only to show the nature of the adaptive
control feature.
[0085] The EAC technology and interface API's used to communicate
with the different fluid vaporization devices and used for
communication with other computing devices and other EACs can be
stored and distributed as a software and/or firmware package, and
can be adapted to different vaporization devices and EAC
accessories so that other vendors can create products compatible
with the EAC. For example, the API for communicating with the EAC
can be licensed to a medical drug maker so that they can design
cartridges or fluid vaporization devices which can be manipulated
by the commands sent from the EAC.
[0086] Many variations of the EAC are disclosed herein. However,
various modifications can be made without departing from the scope
of the disclosed embodiment as defined by the appended claims and
legal equivalents.
* * * * *