U.S. patent application number 14/280299 was filed with the patent office on 2014-11-20 for burning prediction and communications for an electronic cigarette.
This patent application is currently assigned to SIS Resources, Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is SIS Resources, Ltd.. Invention is credited to Nehemia Amir.
Application Number | 20140338685 14/280299 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51845440 |
Filed Date | 2014-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140338685 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Amir; Nehemia |
November 20, 2014 |
BURNING PREDICTION AND COMMUNICATIONS FOR AN ELECTRONIC
CIGARETTE
Abstract
An electronic cigarette comprises a battery portion which is
operable to provide power to a heating element of the electronic
cigarette, and a cartomizer coupled with the battery portion. The
cartomizer comprises a liquid container which provides a liquid
toward the heating element wherein the liquid is used for producing
and flavoring a vapor of the electronic cigarette when the liquid
is heated by the heating element, and a memory which is operable to
record and store an amount of the liquid remaining in the liquid
container.
Inventors: |
Amir; Nehemia; (Shoham,
IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SIS Resources, Ltd. |
Biet Shemesh |
|
IL |
|
|
Assignee: |
SIS Resources, Ltd.
Biet Shemesh
IL
|
Family ID: |
51845440 |
Appl. No.: |
14/280299 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61825304 |
May 20, 2013 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
131/329 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24F 40/50 20200101;
H05B 2203/021 20130101; G06N 5/04 20130101; H05B 1/0244 20130101;
A24F 47/008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
131/329 |
International
Class: |
A24F 47/00 20060101
A24F047/00 |
Claims
1. An electronic cigarette comprising: a battery portion which is
operable to provide power to a heating element of the electronic
cigarette; and a cartomizer coupled with the battery portion, the
cartomizer comprising: a liquid container which provides a liquid
toward the heating element wherein the liquid is used for producing
and flavoring a vapor of the electronic cigarette when the liquid
is heated by the heating element; and a memory which is operable to
record and store an amount of the liquid remaining in the liquid
container.
2. The electronic cigarette of claim 1, wherein the cartomizer is
disposable.
3. The electronic cigarette of claim 1, wherein the cartomizer is
interchangeable with different battery portions.
4. The electronic cigarette of claim 1, wherein the battery portion
further comprises: a controller; and a battery which provides power
to the heating element of the electronic cigarette; wherein the
controller is operable to control the amount of power supplied from
the battery to the heating element.
5. The electronic cigarette of claim 4, wherein the controller
monitors or controls the generation of the vapor, wherein the
controller controls or monitors the temperature of the heating
element, the temperature of the liquid, and/or the amount of the
liquid remaining in the liquid supply.
6. The electronic cigarette of claim 1, wherein the cartomizer
further comprises a communications chip for communicating with a
computing device.
7. The electronic cigarette of claim 6, wherein the communications
chip includes data stored in memory.
8. The electronic cigarette of claim 1, wherein the heating element
is a heating coil which heats the liquid as part of a vaporization
process wherein the vapor is generated by the heating coil.
9. The electronic cigarette of claim 1, further comprising a
temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the heating
element.
10. The electronic cigarette of claim 1, further comprising an air
flow sensor operable to initiate the supply of power from the
battery to the heating element when the air flow sensor senses air
flow through the electronic cigarette.
11. An electronic cigarette comprising: a battery portion including
a battery that provides power to a heating element of the
electronic cigarette; and a cartomizer coupled with the battery
portion, the cartomizer comprising: the heating element which
generates a vapor; a liquid container which provides a liquid to
the heating element which is used to form the vapor, wherein the
liquid is used for flavoring the vapor; a temperature sensor for
sensing the temperature of the heating element.
12. The electronic cigarette of claim 11, wherein the battery
portion comprises a controller that can eliminate power supplied
from the battery to the heating element as a function of the
temperature of the heating element.
13. The electronic cigarette of claim 11, wherein the battery
portion comprises a controller that can control the level of power
supplied to the heating element from the battery as a function of
the temperature of the heating element.
14. The electronic cigarette of claim 11, wherein the heating
element is a heating coil.
15. The electronic cigarette of claim 11, further comprising an air
flow sensor operable to initiate the supply of power from the
battery to the heating element when the air flow sensor senses air
flow through the electronic cigarette.
16. An electronic cigarette comprising: a battery portion including
a battery that provides power to a heater element of the electronic
cigarette; and a cartomizer coupled with the battery portion, the
cartomizer comprising: the heating element which generates a vapor,
the heating element including a heating coil which supplies the
heat to a liquid delivered to the heating element when powered by
the battery; a liquid container which delivers the liquid to the
heating element, the liquid used for flavoring the vapor; and a
coil resistance measurement system that measures the resistance of
the heater coil during use of the electronic cigarette.
17. The electronic cigarette of claim 16, wherein the battery
portion comprises a controller that can eliminate power supplied
from the battery to the heating coil as a function of the
measurement of the heating coil resistance.
18. The electronic cigarette of claim 16, wherein the battery
portion comprises a controller that can control power supplied from
the battery to the heating coil as a function of the measured
resistance of the heater coil.
19. The electronic cigarette of claim 16, further comprising an air
flow sensor operable to initiate the supply of power from the
battery to the heating coil when the air flow sensor senses air
flow through the electronic cigarette.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/825,304, filed
on May 20, 2013, the entire content of which is incorporated herein
by reference thereto.
BACKGROUND
[0002] An electronic cigarette ("c-cigarette" or "e-Cig") is a
device that emulates tobacco cigarette smoking, by producing smoke
replacement (e.g. vapor or aerosol) that may be similar in its
physical sensation, general appearance, and sometimes flavor (i.e.,
with tobacco fragrance, menthol taste, added nicotine etc.). The
device may use heat, ultrasonic energy, or other means to
vaporize/aerosolize a liquid (for example based on propylene
glycol, or glycerin, for example including taste and fragrance
ingredients) solution into an aerosol mist. The vaporization may be
similar to nebulizer or humidifier vaporizing solutions for
inhalation. The generated mist may be sensed similar to cigarette
smoke.
[0003] A common problem in electronic cigarettes ("e-Cigs") may be
burning Burning may occur when a cartridge filled with a liquid
becomes empty. In other words, burning may occur when the liquid
has evaporated or been vaporized as part of the e-Cig smoking
process. Burning may result in bad taste and less pleasure when
smoking. A smoker of an e-Cig may not be able to predict when the
burning will occur.
SUMMARY
[0004] Disclosed herein is an electronic cigarette which comprises
a battery portion which is operable to provide power to a heating
element of the electronic cigarette, and a cartomizer coupled with
the battery portion. The cartomizer comprises a liquid container
which provides a liquid toward the heating element wherein the
liquid is used for producing and flavoring a vapor of the
electronic cigarette, the heating element generates the vapor from
the liquid contained in the liquid container, and a memory which is
operable to record and store an amount of the liquid remaining in
the liquid container.
[0005] Also disclosed herein is an electronic cigarette which
comprises a battery portion including a battery that provides power
to a heating element of the electronic cigarette, and a cartomizer
coupled with the battery portion. The cartomizer comprises the
heating element which generates a vapor, a liquid container which
provides a liquid to the heating element which is used to form the
vapor, wherein the liquid is used for flavoring the vapor, and a
temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the heating
element.
[0006] Additionally disclosed herein is an electronic cigarette
which comprises a battery portion including a battery that provides
power to a heating element of the electronic cigarette, and a
cartomizer coupled with the battery portion. The cartomizer
comprises the heating element which generates a vapor, the heating
element including a heating coil which supplies the heat to a
liquid delivered to the heating element when powered by the
battery, a liquid container which delivers the liquid to the
heating element, the liquid used for flavoring the vapor, and a
coil resistance measurement system that measures the resistance of
the heater coil during use of the electronic cigarette.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The system and method may be better understood with
reference to the following drawings and description. Non-limiting
and non-exhaustive embodiments are described with reference to the
following drawings. The components in the drawings are not
necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon
illustrating principles of operation of the components. In the
drawings, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts
throughout the different views.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an electronic cigarette.
[0009] FIG. 2 is another diagram of an electronic cigarette.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a diagram of an electronic cigarette with a memory
in the cartridge.
[0011] FIG. 4 is one embodiment of memory.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a diagram of an electronic cigarette with
communications in the cartridge.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram for measuring coil
resistance.
[0014] FIG. 7 is another diagram illustrating temperature
measurement in an electronic cigarette.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] The system and method described herein may solve the burning
problem by cutting off power to the cartridge of the e-Cig or
adjusting power to the cartridge of the e-Cig before burning
occurs. The power to the cartridge may be stopped based on the
residual liquid in the cartridge. This action may give the smoker
more puffs per e-Cig. Smart algorithms may automatically adjust the
power to the cartridge during smoking.
[0016] Subject matter will now be described more fully hereinafter
with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form part of the
specification hereof, and which show, by way of illustration,
specific examples of embodiments disclosed herein. Subject matter
may, however, be embodied in a variety of different forms and,
therefore, covered or claimed subject matter is intended to be
construed as not being limited to any example embodiments set forth
herein as example embodiments are provided merely to be
illustrative. Likewise, a reasonably broad scope for claimed or
covered subject matter is intended. Among other things, for
example, subject matter may be embodied as methods, devices,
components, or systems. Accordingly, embodiments disclosed herein
may, for example, take the form of hardware, software, firmware or
any combination thereof (other than software per se). The following
detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be taken in a
limiting sense.
[0017] Throughout the specification and claims, terms may have
nuanced meanings suggested or implied in context beyond an
explicitly stated meaning. Likewise, the phrase "in one embodiment"
as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment
and the phrase "in another embodiment" as used herein does not
necessarily refer to a different embodiment. It is intended, for
example, that claimed subject matter include combinations of
examples of embodiments disclosed herein in whole or in part.
[0018] In general, terminology may be understood at least in part
from usage in context. For example, terms, such as "and", "or", or
"and/or," as used herein may include a variety of meanings that may
depend at least in part upon the context in which such terms are
used. Typically, "or" if used to associate a list, such as A, B or
C, is intended to mean A, B, and C, here used in the inclusive
sense, as well as A, B or C, here used in the exclusive sense. In
addition, the term "one or more" as used herein, depending at least
in part upon context, may be used to describe any feature,
structure, or characteristic in a singular sense or may be used to
describe combinations of features, structures or characteristics in
a plural sense. Similarly, terms, such as "a," "an," or "the,"
again, may be understood to convey a singular usage or to convey a
plural usage, depending at least in part upon context. In addition,
the term "based on" may be understood as not necessarily intended
to convey an exclusive set of factors and may, instead, allow for
existence of additional factors not necessarily expressly
described, again, depending at least in part on context.
[0019] By way of introduction, an improvement to an electronic
cigarette ("e-Cig") may include detection of potential burning for
burning reduction/elimination. In addition, the e-Cig may include
temperature control. In one embodiment, a memory may be included
with the cartomizer that records the liquid level for predicting
when the liquid will run out. In addition to memory, a
communication function may be provided on the cartomizer for
communicating information, such as an amount of liquid remaining.
The cartomizer may be disposable, but the memory can record the
liquid level and allow for a cartomizer to be switched to different
e-Cigs. The memory may store the accumulated operation time (as
well as other parameters) that can be adapted by the e-Cig
controller during smoking and may represent the age of the
cartomizer of the e-Cig. Although commonly referred to as a smoker
throughout, a user of an e-Cig may also be referred to as a vaper
and the act of "smoking" may be referred to as vaping. Likewise, a
non-electronic cigarette may be referred to as a "regular" or
"standard" cigarette, but should be understood to include
nonelectronic cigarettes.
[0020] Other systems, methods, features and advantages will be, or
will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination
of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended
that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages
be included within this description, be within the scope of the
invention, and be protected by the following claims. Nothing in
this section should be taken as a limitation on those claims.
Further aspects and advantages are discussed below.
[0021] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an electronic cigarette. The "smoke"
(e.g. vapor or aerosol) produced by an e-Cig is a created by
turning (i.e. generating) a liquid (i.e. e-Liquid) 110 into mist
(aerosol) and some vapor with an aerosol generator 112. The
cartomizer 113 may include the aerosol generator 112 and the
e-Liquid 110 in a liquid container. The cartomizer 113 may also be
referred to as a cartridge throughout this disclosure and may be
disposable. The e-liquid 110 may have a high viscosity at room
temperature to enable longer shelf life and reduce leakages;
however, this high viscosity may reduce the vaporization rate. The
e-Liquid 110 is vaporized via air flow 108, generated by the
inhalation of a user (i.e. the smoker, consumer or vaper), which
produces a pressure difference that removes e-Liquid droplets from
the e-Liquid 110. In one embodiment, the e-Liquid 110 may be soaked
in a wick. In order to reduce the e-Liquid viscosity, to a level
enabling vaporization, external heat may be applied through a
heating element 111 as further described below. In this embodiment,
local viscosity reduction via heating, while inhalation occurs,
enables e-Liquid vaporization in the inhalation-generated flow of
air 108. The e-Liquid 110 may be heated via an electric current
flowing through the heating element 111 and may then be vaporized
through the e-Cig wherein the e-Liquid 110 may contain tastes and
aromas that create a smoking sensation. The controller 102 may be
activated due to air flow 108 (from the inhaled air) passing a flow
sensor 104. The sensor 104 may be activated by the pressure drop
across the sensor and may directly switch the battery 106 power on,
or be used as an input for the controller 102 that then switches
the battery 106 current on. Although illustrated as separate from
the e-Cig, the controller 102 may be a part of the e-Cig (e.g.
along with the battery 106). The battery 106 may be a
separate/removable assembly. The battery 106 may include one or
more electronic chips which control and communicate therewith. The
battery 106 may connect with the cartomizer 113, which can be
replaced or changed (e.g. when a new/different e-Liquid 110 is
desired).
[0022] The e-Cig may include two parts. The first part is often
just referred to as the battery or battery portion (i.e. battery
enclosure) and it includes the battery 106, the air flow sensor 104
and the controller 102. The second part is the cartridge (i.e.
cartomizer 113) that is filled up with e-Liquid 110 and flavors
that are required for smoke and flavor generation. The battery
portion and the cartridge 113 may be connected by metal connectors.
An airflow tube of the battery enclosure and an airflow tube of the
cartridge 113 may enable the smoker to puff through the electronic
cigarette and activate the airflow sensor 104 inside the battery
portion. This may trigger the controller 102 and cause the heating
element 111 (such as a wire heating coil) inside the cartridge to
get hot, evaporate the e-Liquid that is in the cartridge 113 and
cause smoke (i.e. vapor) to be produced. The process is further
explained in FIG. 2.
[0023] FIG. 2 is another diagram of an electronic cigarette. FIG. 2
illustrates the battery portion 205 that includes the battery 206,
the airflow sensor 204 and the controller 202. The battery portion
205 has a battery barrel 207 and a connector 208 that connects with
the connector 210 of the cartridge 203. The cartridge 203 includes
wires 214 for a heating coil 216 along with e-Liquid 212. The
cartridge 203 may be disposable and replaceable, while the battery
portion 205 may receive a new cartridge 203 whenever the e-Liquid
of the former cartridge becomes depleted. When a new cartridge 203
is inserted (i.e. coupled to) into the battery portion 205 and the
smoking action starts, the air flow sensor 204 detects the airflow
and causes the controller 202 to activate the heating coil 216. The
controller 202 activates the heating coil 216 through the
connectors 208 and 210 and the wires 214 thereby causing the
e-Liquid 212 to evaporate and form smoke or vapor.
[0024] FIG. 3 is another diagram of an electronic cigarette
according to another embodiment. This embodiment may include an
estimation mechanism to estimate the amount of e-Liquid 212 or
residual e-Liquid 212 in the cartridge 203. As burning is directly
connected to the amount of e-Liquid 212 in the cartridge 203, the
knowledge or estimation of the e-Liquid in the cartridge 203
enables the controller 202 to adapt the power supplied to the
heating coil 216 of the cartridge 203 such that burning is
mitigated, or to alert a user that the cartridge 113 should be
disposed when there is not enough e-Liquid in the cartridge 203.
When a new cartridge 203 is connected to the battery portion 205
and the smoking action starts, the air flow sensor 204 may detect
the airflow and cause the controller 202 to read memory 301 that is
in the cartridge 203. In one example, the memory 301 may be one bit
non-volatile memory. The data that the controller 202 reads from
the memory 301 may include the information about the residual
smoking capability of the cartridge 203. This smoking capability
information may include any of the exemplary parameters: residual
e-Liquid 212, cartridge 203 manufacturing date, and cartridge 203
first smoking date as well as other statistical information. When
the smoking action starts, the controller 202 measures and
accumulates the actual power over time that the heating coil 216
gets, adds the result to the information from the memory, and
stores the new data on the memory. In each sequence the controller
202 adapts the power to the heating coil 216 according to the data
such that burning may be mitigated. For example, based on the last
smoke data, if there is less e-Liquid, or the time from the first
smoke is longer, or the original manufacturing date of the
cartridge 203 is earlier, then the power to the heating coil 216
may be lower. When the data on the memory 301 approaches a value
that represents a status wherein the smoke amount that may be
generated due to the residual e-Liquid, or to the residual power in
the battery 206 is less than the minimum defined, then the
controller 202 may write obsolete code to the memory 301 and
prevent the smoking action. When a cartridge 203 with obsolete code
is plugged into the battery portion 205, smoking of the electronic
cigarette may not be enabled by the controller 202.
[0025] FIG. 4 is one embodiment of (one bit) memory. Other
embodiments and memory types/sizes are possible. The electronics
signals to a heating element such as heating coil 490 in a normal
puff sequence may be based on a pulse width modulation ("PWM")
control method. A normal puff time 472 may be about 2 seconds, and
in this period, the control signals to the heating coil 490 are
detailed in the blowup 473, that shows PWM over a small portion of
time. The actual PWM 475 period may normally be about 10
milliseconds. Switches 410 and 420 are solid state switches that
may be transistors or field-effect transistors ("FET") or other
electronic switching technology. A resistor 430 is used for heating
coil 490 current measurements during operation of the heating coil
490. A resistor 440 is used for reading the one bit memory data
when the power 400 is not supplied to the heating coil 490 through
resistor 430. The resistor 430 is preferably a low value resistance
resistor with respect to the resistor 440 which is preferably a
high value resistor. A battery 400 powers a controller 450 and the
heating coil 490, through the small value resistor 430 and the
through switch 410 in a normal smoking mode. A memory chip (as used
herein memory) 480 is preferably a one bit memory. The memory 480
may receive the supply voltage from the heating coil 490 power
while smoking. This voltage passes to a capacitor 470 through a
resistor 460, and charges the capacitor 470. When power supplied to
the heating coil 490 stops, the one bit memory chip 480 may receive
the power from the capacitor 470. The controller 450 sends data to
the memory chip 480 by toggling the switch 410 in high frequency.
This toggling may be fast and lasts for a short time and therefore
does not activate the heating coil 490 to a level which increases
the heat of the heating coil 490. The controller 450 reads data
from the memory 480 by asserting the switch 410 open, closing
switch 420 and reading the voltage on the high value resistor 440.
The read/write operation may be fast and take less than about a
millisecond. This operation, compared to the normal operation of
the PWM sequence of the heating coil 490 (tens of milliseconds per
cycle) is faster as shown through the operation of the coil, and
also between smoking. Counting the accumulating power to the
cartridge during its life may allow for a prediction of the
complete end of life of the cartridge 203 so that the cartridge 203
may be disposed in advance of burning. The disposal process may
include writing information to its memory.
[0026] FIG. 5 is a diagram of an electronic cigarette with
communications in a cartridge 590. This embodiment may be based on
estimation mechanism to residual e-Liquid 563 in the cartridge 590.
As burning is directly connected to the amount of e-Liquid 563 in
the cartridge 590, the knowledge or estimation of the e-Liquid 563
in the cartridge 590 enables the controller 520 to adapt the power
to the cartridge 590, or dispose of the cartridge completely when
there is not enough e-Liquid 563 in the cartridge 590. When a new
cartridge 590 is connected to a battery enclosure 585 via
connectors 560 and the smoking action starts, the air flow sensor
510 detects the airflow and causes the controller 520 to read the
wireless memory 540 that is in the cartridge 590. The read action
is performed using a wireless transmitter/receiver 521 and an
antenna 587 which it requires for the short distance transmission.
The memory 540 may be a wireless memory in one embodiment (e.g.
radio-frequency identification "RFD" technology) or may be based on
near field communication ("NFC") technology, or other similar
wireless memory technology that may not require a power source to
be physically connected to the memory 540. The data that the
controller 520 reads from the memory 540 may contain the
information about the residual smoking capability of the cartridge
590. This smoking capability information may be a combination of
the following parameters: residual e-Liquid 563, cartridge 590
manufacturing date, cartridge 590 first smoking date, expiration
date and other statistical information. When the smoking action
starts, the controller 520 measures and accumulates the actual
power over time supplied by the battery 530 to the heating coil 580
by measuring the voltage and the current that the heating coil 580
gets, adds the result to the information of the memory 540, and
stores the new data in the memory 540. In each sequence the
controller 520 adapts the power supplied to the heating coil 580
from the battery 530 according to the last smoke data, such that
when there is less liquid, or the time from the first smoke is
longer, or the original manufacturing day of the cartridge is
earlier, then the power supplied to the heating coil 580 is
lowered. When the data of the memory 540 approaches a value that
represents a status wherein the amount of smoke that may be
generated due to the amount of residual e-Liquid in the cartridge
590 or to the amount of residual power in the battery 530 is less
than a defined minimum, then the controller 520 may write obsolete
code to the memory 540. Whenever a cartridge 590 with obsolete code
is plugged into a battery 530, then smoking will not be enabled by
the controller 520. Counting the accumulating power to a cartridge
590 during its life may be used to predict the complete end of life
of the cartridge 590 and signal to a user to dispose of the
cartridge 590 by writing information (obsolete code) to its memory
540 such that smoking will not be enabled by the controller
520.
[0027] The memory 540 may be based on short range wireless
technology such as NFC. The RF part such as the wireless
transmitter 521 in the battery barrel 550 of the electronic
cigarette may match the same frequency as the memory 540 of the
cartridge 590 and require a short antenna 587 because of the
physically close position of the wireless transmitter 521 to the
memory 540 and the electrical connection between the battery 530
and the heating coil 580 of the cartridge 563. The memory 540 may
also require only a short antenna, and in some cases may be used
without an antenna at all. The memory 540 may be embedded in one of
the plastic parts of the cartridge 590, or implemented as a sticker
that wraps on or sticks to the cartridge 590.
[0028] Another embodiment disclosed herein includes protecting the
burning operation by measuring the heating coil temperature. In
this embodiment, if the coil or the coil environment temperature
increases above a certain level, then, the power to the heating
coil stops. There may be at least two methods for detecting the
temperature: 1) by controlling temperature as described with
respect to the e-Cig of FIG. 2 and described below; and 2) the
method described below with respect to FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0029] The heating coil 216, referring now back to FIG. 2, may be
made of metal with an initial resistance at room temperature. While
smoking, electric power is driven into the heating coil 216 which
causes the heating coil 216 to increase in temperature which
thereby changes the resistance of the heating coil 216. If the
cartridge 203 is filled up with e-Liquid 212, then the heating coil
216 temperature may have the maximum temperature at the boiling
point of the e-Liquid 212. When the e-Liquid 212 is evaporated and
not enough e-Liquid 212 is present on or in close proximity to the
heating coil 216, then the heating coil 216 temperature will
increase, according to the following formula:
R(T)=R.sub.0[1+.alpha.(T-T.sub.0)]
[0030] wherein R(T) is the resistance of the heating coil 216 at
high temperature, R.sub.0 is the resistance of the heating coil 216
at room temperature, T.sub.0 is room temperature, .alpha. is the
temperature coefficient of the heating coil material, and T is the
heating coil 216 temperature during smoking. When T increases above
a certain value, R will also increase, whereupon a controller 202
will stop the power from the battery 206 to the heating coil 216.
One method for measuring the heating coil 216 resistance is
described with respect to FIG. 6.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 6, a controller 610 supplies power to the
heating coil 620 from a battery (not shown) through a low
resistance resistor 630. The two voltage points on the resistor 630
can be measured using an analog to digital converter. The voltage
points can be subtracted from each other by the controller wherein
the result is divided by the resistance R.sub.0 of the heating coil
620 to find the current through the heating coil 620. The voltage
across the heating coil 620 may be calculated by subtracting the
analog input voltage V2 from V3. The result of which can be divided
by the aforementioned current result which will give the heating
coil 620 resistance. Those measurements are performed during the
smoking action, while the heating coil 620 temperature is varying.
Therefore the controller 610 may take many measurements and monitor
the heating coil 620 resistance such that the R(T) resistance of
the heating coil 620 does not exceed the maximum resistance. The
changing of the heating coil 620 resistance as a result of
temperature changes is noisy process and the results may therefore
vary. Accordingly, the controller 610 may average many samples of
the coil resistance R(T) at different times. According to the
formula:
R(T)=R.sub.0[1+.alpha.(T-T.sub.0)]
The controller may calculate the resistance of the heating coil 620
also at room temperature and then calculate the actual heating coil
620 temperature.
[0032] Referring now to FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a second
method for temperature measurement in an electronic cigarette. In
this embodiment, wires 770 are made from the same material as a
heating coil 780 and may become heated with a reference to the
heating coil 780 current. A temperature sensor (e.g. thermocouple)
791 is connected to a connector 740 of a battery portion 785 of the
electronic cigarette. The connector 740 is made of metal and may be
connected to a connector 560 of the cartridge 790 that is also a
metal part. Metals transfer heat, so the heating coil 780 that is
connected to wires 770 (which are made of metal), to the connector
560, and to the connector 740 causes the temperature sensor (e.g.
thermocouple) 791 to increase in heat as well. The temperature at
the temperature sensor 791 may be less than the heating coil 780
temperature, but may still give a good indication to the controller
720 of the coil temperature. The temperature sensor 791 may be
connected to the controller 720 and may be measured during smoking.
The relationship between the temperature that is sensed by the
temperature sensor 791 and the heating coil 780 temperature may be
different between different cigarette assemblies and can be found
out through experimentation of each assembly. While smoking, the
air sensor 710 detects air flow and the controller 720 samples the
temperature values of the heating coil 780 and compares the
temperature values to a stored value which can be used to suggest
that the heating coil 780 temperature is coming close to a burning
point. When this value is reached, the controller 720 stops the
power from the battery 730 to the heating coil 780 of the e-Cig
763. In one example the user is notified by changing a LED 795
light color, or any other method, such as sound.
[0033] Another embodiment of a system as disclosed herein may
utilize a temperature sensing method as described in any of the
previous embodiments for close loop control over the heating coil
temperature. During the smoking action, the temperature of the
heating coil may be sensed through changes in resistance thereof.
If the temperature of the heating coil, as being sensed by a
resistance method or a temperature sensor, increases, then the
controller can reduce the power supplied from the battery to the
heating coil, and if the temperature of the heating coil reduces,
then the controller can increase the power supplied from the
battery to the heating coil.
[0034] Placing memory inside a disposable cartridge of the e-Cig
may be used to provide additional applications, including storing
smoking habits of a user, manufacturing date, etc. The age of the
cartridge may also be useful to store for guaranteeing freshness.
Electrically storing the manufacturing date or storing the opening
date of the cartridge may be one way of protecting a smoker. Using
the NFC technology on the cartridge may allow for communication
with mobile phones or other computing devices. The memory may be
part of the NFC chip.
[0035] A "computer-readable medium," "machine readable medium,"
"propagated-signal" medium, and/or "signal-bearing medium" may
comprise any device that includes, stores, communicates,
propagates, or transports software for use by or in connection with
an instruction executable system, apparatus, or device. The
machine-readable medium may selectively be, but not limited to, an
electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or
semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. A
non-exhaustive list of examples of a machine-readable medium would
include: an electrical connection "electronic" having one or more
wires, a portable magnetic or optical disk, a volatile memory such
as a Random Access Memory "RAM", a Read-Only Memory "ROM", an
Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM or Flash memory), or
an optical fiber. A machine-readable medium may also include a
tangible medium upon which software is printed, as the software may
be electronically stored as an image or in another format (e.g.,
through an optical scan), then compiled, and/or interpreted or
otherwise processed. The processed medium may then be stored in a
computer and/or machine memory.
[0036] In an alternative embodiment, dedicated hardware
implementations, such as application specific integrated circuits,
programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices, can be
constructed to implement one or more of the methods described
herein. Applications that may include the apparatus and systems of
various embodiments can broadly include a variety of electronic and
computer systems. One or more embodiments described herein may
implement functions using two or more specific interconnected
hardware modules or devices with related control and data signals
that can be communicated between and through the modules, or as
portions of an application-specific integrated circuit.
Accordingly, the present system encompasses software, firmware, and
hardware implementations.
[0037] The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are
intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of the
various embodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as
a complete description of all of the elements and features of
apparatus and systems that utilize the structures or methods
described herein. Many other embodiments may be apparent to those
of skill in the art upon reviewing the disclosure. Other
embodiments may be utilized and derived from the disclosure, such
that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made
without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Additionally,
the illustrations are merely representational and may not be drawn
to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may be
exaggerated, while other proportions may be minimized. Accordingly,
the disclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative
rather than restrictive.
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