U.S. patent application number 14/243919 was filed with the patent office on 2014-07-24 for bluetooth v4.0-based intelligent electronic cigarette.
This patent application is currently assigned to JunGuo Qi. The applicant listed for this patent is JunGuo Qi. Invention is credited to Yong Gao, LiPing Liu, JunGuo Qi.
Application Number | 20140202477 14/243919 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50492051 |
Filed Date | 2014-07-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140202477 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Qi; JunGuo ; et al. |
July 24, 2014 |
Bluetooth v4.0-based intelligent electronic cigarette
Abstract
A Bluetooth v4.0-based intelligent electronic cigarette is
provided with a casing including an atomizer, a controller, and a
battery. The controller includes a software and hardware assembly
having an MCU, and a Bluetooth-based board having a Bluetooth v4.0
module connected to the MCU, the Bluetooth v4.0 module being
capable of transmitting data processed by the MCU, and receiving
data and transmitting same to the MCU. The battery is electrically
connected to the MCU. The Bluetooth v4.0 module is employed to
implement a two-direction communication between the electronic
cigarette and a mobile app, thereby enabling a user to control
his/her simulated tobacco smoking by monitoring what is shown on
the mobile app.
Inventors: |
Qi; JunGuo; (Shenzhen City,
CN) ; Gao; Yong; (Shenzhen City, CN) ; Liu;
LiPing; (Shenzhen City, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Qi; JunGuo |
Shenzhen City |
|
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
Qi; JunGuo
Shenzhen City
CN
|
Family ID: |
50492051 |
Appl. No.: |
14/243919 |
Filed: |
April 3, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
131/329 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 4/60 20180201; A24F
47/008 20130101; H04W 4/80 20180201 |
Class at
Publication: |
131/329 |
International
Class: |
A24F 47/00 20060101
A24F047/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 16, 2014 |
CN |
201410020988.8 |
Claims
1. A Bluetooth v4.0-based intelligent electronic cigarette
comprising: a casing including an atomizer, a controller, and a
battery; wherein the atomizer is disposed in a front end of the
casing; wherein the controller includes a software and hardware
assembly having a microcontroller unit (MCU), and a Bluetooth-based
board having a Bluetooth v4.0 module connected to the MCU, the
Bluetooth v4.0 module being capable of transmitting data processed
by the MCU, and receiving data and transmitting same to the MCU;
and wherein the battery is electrically connected to the MCU so
that electricity can be supplied from the battery to the MCU.
2. The Bluetooth v4.0-based intelligent electronic cigarette of
claim 1, wherein one end of the Bluetooth v4.0 module is connected
to the MCU and an other end thereof is wirelessly connected to a
mobile app which is connected to cloud services means.
3. The Bluetooth v4.0-based intelligent electronic cigarette of
claim 2, wherein the Bluetooth v4.0 module and the MCU are
configured to communicate in both directions simultaneously, and
wherein the Bluetooth v4.0 module and the mobile app are configured
to communicate in both directions simultaneously.
4. The Bluetooth v4.0-based intelligent electronic cigarette of
claim 3, wherein the mobile app and the cloud services means are
configured to communicate in both directions simultaneously.
5. The Bluetooth v4.0-based intelligent electronic cigarette of
claim 4, wherein the software and hardware assembly and the
Bluetooth-based board are disposed separately.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to electronic cigarettes and more
particularly to a Bluetooth v4.0-based intelligent electronic
cigarette.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Conventionally, an electronic cigarette includes a battery
powered atomizer which is the central component thereof. The
atomizer includes a heating element for vaporizing liquid, a
wicking material for drawing liquid in, and a resistance wire
wrapped around the wicking material and electrically connected to
the battery. When activated the resistance wire quickly heats up
thus turning the liquid into a vapor, which is then inhaled by the
user.
[0005] In recent years, a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen and a
pressure adjustment mechanism are provided on some types of
electronic cigarette. However, there is no software embedded in the
atomizer in the electronic cigarette. Thus, it is impossible of
measuring vapor for control purpose. In short, there is no way of
recording vapor concentration and time and date of the electronic
cigarette being used in the atomizer. Thus, no such data is
transmitted to a mobile app for storage and further processing.
[0006] There is a type of electronic cigarette having a Universal
Serial Bus (USB) plug. The USB plug can be connected to a USB
socket on a computer so that data can be transmitted from the
electronic cigarette to the computer which in turn wirelessly
transmits the data to cloud services means. However, it is
complicated and is not easy in use.
[0007] Thus, the need for improvement still exists.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a
Bluetooth v4.0-based intelligent electronic cigarette which allows
a user to control the electronic cigarette in any time any place so
as to overcome drawbacks experienced by the conventional electronic
cigarette.
[0009] In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a
Bluetooth v4.0-based intelligent electronic cigarette comprising a
casing including an atomizer, a controller, and a battery; wherein
the atomizer is disposed in a front end of the casing; wherein the
controller includes a software and hardware assembly having a
microcontroller unit (MCU), and a Bluetooth-based board having a
Bluetooth v4.0 module connected to the MCU, the Bluetooth v4.0
module being capable of transmitting data processed by the MCU, and
receiving data and transmitting same to the MCU; and wherein the
battery is electrically connected to the MCU so that electricity
can be supplied from the battery to the MCU.
[0010] Preferably, one end of the Bluetooth v4.0 module is
connected to the MCU and the other end thereof is wirelessly
connected to a mobile app which is connected to cloud services
means. Preferably, the Bluetooth v4.0 module and the MCU are
configured to communicate in both directions simultaneously, and
wherein the Bluetooth v4.0 module and the mobile app are configured
to communicate in both directions simultaneously.
[0011] Preferably, the mobile app and the cloud services means are
configured to communicate in both directions simultaneously.
[0012] Preferably, the software and hardware assembly and the
Bluetooth-based board are disposed separately.
[0013] The intelligent electronic cigarette of the invention has
the following characteristics and advantages: An MCU is provided on
a software and hardware assembly. A Bluetooth v4.0 module is
provided on a Bluetooth-based board and is connected to the MCU.
The Bluetooth v4.0 module can transmit data processed by the MCU.
The Bluetooth v4.0 module can receive data from an external device
and transmit same to the MCU. Data processed by the MCU can be
transmitted to an external device via the Bluetooth v4.0 module.
Also, the external device can transmit received data the MCU via
the Bluetooth v4.0 module, thereby enabling a user to control
his/her simulated tobacco smoking by monitoring what is shown on
the mobile app.
[0014] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description taken with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a Bluetooth v4.0-based
intelligent electronic cigarette according to the invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the electronic
cigarette; and
[0017] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the electronic cigarette.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a Bluetooth v4.0-based
intelligent electronic cigarette in accordance with the invention
comprises a casing 1. The casing 1 includes, from front to rear, an
atomizer 11, a controller 12, and a battery (e.g., lithium battery)
13.
[0019] A mouthpiece (not shown) is releasably secured to a front
end of the atomizer 11. Liquid in a container (not shown) of the
electronic casing 1 is supplied to the atomizer 11 through a nickel
member (not shown). When the controller 12 is activated by pressing
an on/off switch 14, electricity is supplied from the battery 13 to
the atomizer 11. An intelligent single chip (i.e., integrated
circuit (IC)) of the atomizer 11 is thus activated to power a
heating element for vaporizing the liquid. And in turn, the liquid
is turned into a vapor which is then inhaled by the user (i.e.,
simulating tobacco smoking). At the same time, the tobacco smoking
simulation data is transmitted to a mobile app as detailed
below.
[0020] The controller 12 includes a software and hardware assembly
(not shown) and a Bluetooth-based board (not shown). The software
and hardware assembly and the Bluetooth-based board are disposed
separately so that a replacement of any of them can be made easy.
Alternatively, they can be disposed as a unit. A microcontroller
unit (MCU) 121 for controlling the atomizer 11 and providing data
about vapor analysis is provided on the software and hardware
assembly. A Bluetooth v4.0 module 122 is provided on the
Bluetooth-based board and is connected to the MCU 121. The
Bluetooth v4.0 module 122 can transmit in high speed. Further, the
Bluetooth v4.0 module 122 can transmit data processed by the MCU
121. Furthermore, the Bluetooth v4.0 module 122 can receive data
from an external device and transmit same to the MCU 121.
[0021] The battery 13 is electrically connected to the MCU 121 so
that electricity can be supplied from the battery 13 to the MCU 121
for its normal operation.
[0022] In an exemplary example, one end of the Bluetooth v4.0
module 122 is connected to the MCU 121 and the other end thereof is
wirelessly connected to a mobile app which is in turn connected to
a cloud services unit. The Bluetooth v4.0 module 122 and the MCU
121 can communicate in both directions simultaneously. Also, the
Bluetooth v4.0 module 122 and the mobile app can communicate in
both directions simultaneously. Further, the mobile app and the
cloud services unit can communicate in both directions
simultaneously. Thus, data processed by the MCU 121 (i.e.,
information) can be transmitted to the mobile app via the Bluetooth
v4.0 module 122. And in turn, the mobile app transmits the received
information to the cloud services unit.
[0023] To the contrary, the mobile app can download data from the
cloud services unit. The data is then transmitted to the MCU 121
via the Bluetooth v4.0 module 122. Thus, the MCU 121 can process
the received data. Thus, the mobile app can control the vapor
concentration when the electronic cigarette is inhaled by a user.
Further, date and time of use and simulated tobacco smoking status
can be shown on the mobile app. As a result, a user can monitor
his/her simulated tobacco smoking status and record same as his/her
simulated tobacco smoking history. Further, the smoker can control
his/her simulated tobacco smoking habit and even quit simulated
tobacco smoking. Furthermore, simulated tobacco smoking data of the
user can be stored in the cloud services unit. In addition, the
user can download it from the cloud services unit prior to sending
it to his/her personal doctor.
[0024] In brief, the Bluetooth v4.0 module 122 is employed by the
invention to implement a two-direction communication between the
electronic cigarette and the mobile app, thereby enabling a user to
control his/her simulated tobacco smoking by monitoring what is
shown on the mobile app.
[0025] While the invention has been described in terms of preferred
embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the
invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and
scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *