Electronic vaporizing device with vehicle monitoring functionality

• US 10,127,741 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2017
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lunatech, LLC
• Original Assignee: Lunatech, LLC
• Inventors: Cameron, John David, Becker, Dean, Fein, Gene
• Primary Examiner(s): Jos, Basil T.
• Application Number:
  US15/494,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20170309091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/00 Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0227 Applications

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to an electronic vaporizing device having a vehicle monitoring component for monitoring a plurality of performance data associated with a vehicle, analyzing the plurality of performance data to determine at least one vehicle condition, and outputting the data and/or analysis to a user of the device. The electronic vaporizing device may comprise at least one vehicle monitoring component operable to interface with a plurality of machine devices of an associated vehicle to capture a plurality of vehicle performance data associated with at least one of the plurality of machine devices, determine at least one performance condition based on at least a portion of the plurality of captured performance data, and generate a plurality of vehicle status data therefrom. The determination of the at least one performance condition and generation of the plurality of vehicle status data may be based on a plurality of performance data capture parameters.

Claims

1. An electronic vaporizing device comprising:

a device processor operable for controlling the electronic vaporizing device;

at least one container configured to store a vaporizable material;

a vaporizing component operatively coupled to the device processor and controlled in part by the device processor, wherein the vaporizing component is in fluid communication with the at least one container for receiving at least a portion of the vaporizable material therefrom, wherein the vaporizing component is operable to vaporize the vaporizable material received therein;

at least one vapor outlet coupled to the vaporizing component and configured to receive vapor generated by the vaporizing component, the at least one vapor outlet operable to expel the generated vapor from the vaporizing device;

at least one power source operatively coupled to the vaporizing component, wherein the at least one power source is operable to generate a supply of power for at least the operation of the vaporizing component; and

a vehicle monitoring component operatively coupled to the device processor and controlled in part by the device processor, wherein the vehicle monitoring component is operable to capture a plurality of performance data from a plurality of machine devices of an associated vehicle.

2. The electronic vaporizing device of claim 1, wherein the vehicle monitoring component is operable to determine at least one performance state based on at least a portion of the plurality of captured performance data, and generate a plurality of vehicle status data therefrom.

3. The electronic vaporizing device of claim 2, wherein the vehicle monitoring component is operable to capture the plurality of performance data from at least one machine device of an associated vehicle selected from the group consisting of:

a vehicle on-board unit, vehicle sensors, vehicle instruments, vehicle electronic control units, vehicle embedded devices, vehicle actuators, vehicle displays, media devices, information and entertainment devices, and combinations thereof.

4. The electronic vaporizing device of claim 2, wherein the vehicle monitoring component comprises:

a performance data analysis component, operatively coupled to the device processor and controlled in part by the device processor, wherein the performance data analysis component is operable to determine the at least one performance state based on at least a portion of the plurality of captured performance data, and generate the plurality of vehicle status data therefrom;

at least one vehicle interface port operatively connected to the performance data analysis component, wherein the at least one vehicle interface port is configured to capture the plurality of performance data from at least one machine device of an associated vehicle and to transmit captured performance data to the performance data analysis component; and

an input/output port operatively coupled to the device processor of the electronic vaporizing device and configured to transmit the plurality of generated vehicle status data to the device processor for further processing thereof.

5. The electronic vaporizing device of claim 4, wherein the at least one vehicle interface port is configured to capture the plurality of performance data via at least one of a Controller Area Network (CAN) port, On Board Diagnostics (OBD) port, OBD-II port, Local Internet Network (LIN) port, Media Oriented System Transport (MOST) port, Flexray port, and combinations thereof.

6. The electronic vaporizing device of claim 4, wherein the plurality of performance data includes at least one of:

location-based data, fuel consumption data, engine performance data;

electrical system performance data, fluid level data, tire performance data, vehicle speed, vehicle control system performance data, climate control data, braking performance data, communication system performance data, and combinations thereof.

7. The electronic vaporizing device of claim 2, wherein the device processor is further operable to:

obtain a plurality of data capture parameters related to the plurality of performance data to be captured by the vehicle monitoring component; and

determine at least one performance state in accordance with at least one of the plurality of data capture parameters.

8. The electronic vaporizing device of claim 7, further comprising an input/output device operatively coupled to the device processor, and wherein the device processor is further operable to receive at least a portion of the plurality of data capture parameters from an associated user via the at least one input/output device.

9. The electronic vaporizing device of claim 2 wherein in response to at least one determined performance state, the vehicle monitoring component is operable to determine at least one action response to the at least one determined performance state.

10. The electronic vaporizing device of claim 2, further comprising a display operatively coupled to the device processor, wherein the display is operable to display at least a portion of the plurality of generated vehicle status data thereon.

11. The electronic vaporizing device of claim 2, further comprising a memory operatively coupled to the device processor, wherein the memory is operable to store at least a portion of at least one of:

the plurality of captured performance data, the plurality of generated vehicle status data, and combinations thereof.

12. The electronic vaporizing device of claim 2, further comprising a network access component operatively coupled to the device processor and configured to connect to at least one network, wherein the network access component is operable to exchange vehicle related data between the device processor and the at least one network.

13. The electronic vaporizing device of claim 1, wherein the electronic vaporizing device is selected from the group of electronic vaporizing devices consisting of:

an electronic cigarette, an electronic cigar, an electronic vapor device integrated with an electronic communication device, a robotic vapor device, and a micro-size electronic vapor device.

14. A method for operating an electronic vaporizing/vehicle monitoring device, wherein the electronic vaporizing/vehicle monitoring device comprises (a) a vaporizing component operable to vaporize a plurality of materials received therein and expel a generated vapor from the vaporizing component, at least one power source operatively coupled to the vaporizing component, and (b) a vehicle monitoring component operable to capture a plurality of performance data from a plurality of machine devices of an associated vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining a plurality of vaporizing component operating parameters related to operation of the vaporizing component;

operating the vaporizing component in accordance with at least portion of the plurality of vaporizing component parameters;

obtaining a plurality of data capture parameters related to a plurality of performance data to be captured by the vehicle monitoring component;

capturing a plurality of performance data from at least one machine device of an associated vehicle;

determining at least one performance state based on at least a portion of the plurality of captured performance data; and

generating a plurality of vehicle status data therefrom.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of performance data is captured from at least one machine device of an associated vehicle selected from the group consisting of:

a vehicle on-board unit, vehicle sensors, vehicle instruments, vehicle electronic control units, vehicle embedded devices, vehicle actuators, vehicle displays, media devices, information and entertainment devices, and combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of performance data includes at least one of:

location-based data, fuel consumption data, engine performance data;

electrical system performance data, fluid level data, tire performance data, vehicle speed, vehicle control system performance data, climate control data, braking performance data, communication system performance data, and combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving at least a portion of;

the plurality of vaporizing component operating parameters, the plurality of data capture parameters, and combinations thereof, from an associated user via at least one input/output interface.

18. A method for operating a dual mode electronic vaporizing/vehicle monitoring device having a vaping mode and a vehicle monitoring mode, wherein the electronic vaporizing/vehicle monitoring device comprises (a) a vaporizing component operable to vaporize a plurality of materials received therein and expel a generated vapor from the vaporizing component, at least one power source operatively coupled to the vaporizing component, and (b) a vehicle monitoring component operable to capture a plurality of performance data from a plurality of machine devices of an associated vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a command to activate a vehicle monitoring mode;

activating the vehicle monitoring component in response to the received command to activate the vehicle monitoring mode;

obtaining a plurality of data capture parameters related to a plurality of performance data to be captured by the vehicle monitoring component;

capturing a plurality of performance data from at least one machine device of an associated vehicle;

determining at least one performance state based on at least a portion of the plurality of captured performance data; and

generating a plurality of vehicle status data therefrom.

19. A system for operating an electronic vaporizing device in conjunction with a vehicle monitoring device, the system comprising:

an electronic vaporizing device comprising;

a first processor operable for controlling the electronic vaporizing device,

at least one container configured to store a vaporizable material,

a vaporizing component operatively coupled to the first processor and controlled in part by the first processor, wherein the vaporizing component is in fluid communication with the at least one container for receiving at least a portion of the vaporizable material therefrom, wherein the vaporizing component is operable to vaporize the vaporizable material received therein,

at least one vapor outlet coupled to the vaporizing component and configured to receive a vapor generated by the vaporizing component, the at least one vapor outlet operable to expel the generated vapor from the vaporizing device,

at least one vaporizing power source operatively coupled to the vaporizing component, wherein the at least one vaporizing power source is operable to generate a supply of power for operation of the vaporizing component, and

an input/output device operatively coupled to the first processor and operable to exchange data with the first processor and a vehicle monitoring device; and

a vehicle monitoring device, comprising;

a vehicle monitoring device processor operable for controlling the vehicle monitoring device,

at least one vehicle interface port operatively connected to vehicle monitoring device processor, wherein the at least one vehicle interface port is configured to capture a plurality of performance data from at least one machine device of an associated vehicle,

a performance data analysis component, operatively coupled to the vehicle monitoring device processor and controlled in part by the vehicle monitoring device processor, wherein the performance data analysis component is operable to receive at least a portion of the plurality of captured performance data from the at least one vehicle interface port, to determine at least one performance state based on at least a portion of the plurality of the captured performance data, and generate a plurality of vehicle status data therefrom,

an input/output port operatively coupled to the first processor of the electronic vaporizing device and configured to transmit the plurality of generated vehicle status data to the first processor for further processing thereof.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the at least one vehicle interface port is configured to capture the plurality of performance data via at least one of a Controller Area Network (CAN) port, On Board Diagnostics (OBD) port, OBD-II port, Local Internet Network (LIN) port, Media Oriented System Transport (MOST) port, Flexray port, and combinations thereof.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the plurality of performance data includes at least one of:

location-based data, fuel consumption data, engine performance data;

electrical system performance data, fluid level data, tire performance data, vehicle speed, vehicle control system performance data, climate control data, braking performance data, communication system performance data, and combinations thereof.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the vehicle monitoring device processor is further operable to:

obtain a plurality of data capture parameters related to the plurality of performance data to be captured by the vehicle monitoring device; and

determine at least one performance state in accordance with at least one of the plurality of data capture parameters.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein in response to at least one determined performance state, the vehicle monitoring device processor is operable to determine at least one action response to the at least one determined performance state.