Multiple heating elements with separate vaporizable materials in an electric vaporization device

• US 10,653,180 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2014
• Issued: 05/19/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc. (PAX Labs, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc. (PAX Labs, Inc.)
• Inventors: Monsees, James, Bowen, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Hyun, Paul S
• Application Number:
  US14/304,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20140366898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,167 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/30 Devices using two or more structurally separated inhalable precursors, e.g. using two liquid precursors in two cartridges

Abstract

A cartridge for use with a vaporization device comprising a first heating element, a first compartment for containment of a first vaporizable material, and a second compartment for containment of a second vaporizable material, wherein the device generates an aerosol for inhalation by a subject by heating the first vaporizable material or the second vaporizable material.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating an inhalable aerosol, the apparatus comprising:

a cartridge comprising;

a first compartment configured to store a first vaporizable material, the first compartment comprising a first airflow path, the first compartment comprising a first chamber comprising the first airflow path,

a first heating element configured to vaporize the first vaporizable material to form a first vapor,

a second compartment configured to store a second vaporizable material, the second compartment comprising a second airflow path that is in communication with the first airflow path, the second compartment comprising a second chamber comprising the second airflow path,

a second heating element configured to vaporize the second vaporizable material to form a second vapor, the second vapor introduced to the first vapor in the second chamber, and

a mating end comprising a first plurality of contacts and a second plurality of contacts, the first plurality of contacts electrically coupled to the first heating element, the second plurality of contacts electrically coupled to the second heating element; and

a body comprising;

a battery,

a first mating connection configured to electrically couple the first plurality of contacts and the first heating element with the battery,

a second mating connection configured to electrically couple the second plurality of contacts and the second heating element with the battery,

circuitry configured to control the first heating element to heat the first vaporizable material, the circuitry further configured to control the second heating element to heat the second vaporizable material, and

at least one pressure sensor coupled to the circuitry, the pressure sensor configured to detect inhalation by the user, the circuitry configured to control, in response to the at least one pressure sensor detecting inhalation by the user, the first heating element to heat the first vaporizable material to a target temperature,

wherein the body is configured to detachably couple to the mating end of the cartridge.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first heating element comprises a first heater circuit wire, and wherein the second heating element comprises a second heater circuit wire.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a first wicking material, wherein the first heater circuit wire comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first heater circuit wire is in contact with the first wicking material, and wherein the first wicking material is in fluid communication with the first vaporizable material.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, comprising a second wicking material, wherein the second heater circuit wire comprises a third end and a fourth end, the second heater circuit wire in contact with the second wicking material, and wherein the second wicking material is in fluid communication with the second vaporizable material.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first wicking material and the second wicking material have different material properties.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first wicking material and the second wicking material have different wicking properties.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are in series within the detachable cartridge relative to an airflow path.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first compartment and the second compartment share a common axis within the detachable cartridge.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the common axis is aligned with a central axis of an airflow path.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are stacked or aligned around a central axis, within the detachable cartridge.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are replaceable with a third compartment or a fourth compartment in the cartridge.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first capacitive sensing zone and a second capacitive sensing zone, wherein the first capacitive sensing zone is electrically isolated from the second capacitive sensing zone, and wherein the first and second capacitive sensing zones are configured so that when a user swipes a finger from the first capacitive sensing zone to the second capacitive sensing zone, or from the second capacitive sensing zone to the first capacitive sensing zone, the apparatus communicates information to the user, the information comprising, a battery charge level, a vaporizable material level, a pre-heat state, or a combination thereof.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first capacitive sensing zone and a second capacitive sensing zone, wherein the first capacitive sensing zone is electrically isolated from the second capacitive sensing zone, and wherein the first and second capacitive sensing zones are configured so that when a user swipes a finger from the first capacitive sensing zone to the second capacitive sensing zone or from the second capacitive sensing zone to the first capacitive sensing zone, the apparatus is activated.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to selectively activate the first heating element and the second heating element in response to user input via at least one of a button interface, a capacitive sensor, and an accelerometer.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second heating element is configured to heat the second vaporizable material to a second target temperature different from the first target temperature.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first vaporizable material comprises nicotine, wherein the first target temperature is between about 100°

C. and about 190°

C., wherein the second vaporizable material comprises humectants, and wherein the second target temperature is between about 100°

C. and about 210°

C.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first vaporizable material comprises nicotine, wherein the first target temperature is between about 100°

C. and about 190°

C., wherein the second vaporizable material comprises flavorants, and wherein the second target temperature is between about 100°

C. and about 170°

C.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first vaporizable material comprises nicotine, wherein the first target temperature comprises a temperature at which the first vaporizable material converts to vapor, and wherein the first target temperature is below the pyrolytic temperature of tobacco.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first vaporizable material comprises nicotine, wherein the first target temperature comprises a temperature at which the first vaporizable material converts to vapor, and wherein the first target temperature is below the combustion temperature of tobacco.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the circuitry is configured to control the first heating element based on first heating parameters, wherein the circuitry is configured to control the second heating element based on second heating parameters, and wherein the first heating parameters are different than the second heating parameters.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first heating parameters comprise at least one of the first target temperature, a temperature range, a heating duration, a heating frequency, and a heating control.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartridge and body are detachably coupled by a magnetic connection.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartridge and body are detachably coupled by a snap-fit connection.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartridge and body are detachably coupled by a spring detent connection.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartridge and body are detachably coupled by a compression connection.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a receptacle, wherein the receptacle comprises the first mating connection, and wherein the receptacle comprises the second mating connection.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first mating connection is electrically coupled to the first plurality of contacts when the body is detachably coupled to the mating end of the cartridge, and wherein the second mating connection is electrically coupled to the second plurality of contacts when the body is detachably coupled to the mating end of the cartridge.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first mating connection comprises a third plurality of contacts, wherein the third plurality of contacts is configured to electrically couple with the first plurality of contacts when the body is detachably coupled to the mating end of the cartridge, wherein the second mating connection comprises a fourth plurality of contacts, and wherein the fourth plurality of contacts is configured to electrically couple with the second plurality of contacts when the body is detachably coupled to the mating end of the cartridge.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of contacts is accessible through an exterior surface of the cartridge, and wherein the second plurality of contacts is accessible through the exterior surface of the cartridge.