ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE WITH CAPACITOR SENSOR

• US 20140150810A1
• Filed: 02/04/2014
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fontem Ventures BV (Imperial Tobacco Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Fontem Holdings 1 BV (Imperial Tobacco Group PLC)
• Inventors: Hon, Lik
• Granted Patent: US 9,968,132 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 131/329
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/51 Arrangement of sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0627 Protection against aggressive medium in general
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/0072 using variations in capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2410/00 Microphones

Abstract

An electronic cigarette, cigar or pipe has a capacitor sensor includings a first conductive plate and a second conductive plate configured to form a capacitor circuit. An output of the capacitor sensor is based at least in part on the capacitance of the capacitor circuit. A pressure sensitive component is connected to the first conductive plate and configured to move the first conductive plate based on a pressure differential between two sides of the pressure sensitive component to change a capacitance of the capacitor circuit.

Claims

1. An electronic cigarette, cigar or pipe device, comprising:

an atomizer including a heating element;

a control unit coupled to a capacitor sensor and configured to receive an output of the capacitor sensor and operate the heating element based on, at least in part, the received output of the capacitor sensor, with the capacitor sensor including;

a first conductive plate and a second conductive plate configured to form a capacitor circuit having a capacitance, and a pressure sensitive component connected to the first conductive plate and configured to move the first conductive plate based on a pressure differential, to change the capacitance of the capacitor circuit.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the first conductive plate is movable and the second conductive plate is stationary.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 wherein the second conductive plate comprises a first conductive surface and a second conductive surface forming a first capacitor, the first conductive surface forms a second capacitor with the first conductive plate, and the second conductive surface forms a third capacitor with the first conductive plate, the output of the electronic device is provided based on the first, second and third capacitor.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 wherein the first conductive plate and the pressure sensitive component are placed at different sides of the second conductive plate, the capacitor sensor further comprises a central protrusion extending through a hole on the second conductive plate and connecting the first conductive plate to the pressure sensitive component.

5. The electronic device of claim 3 further comprising an airflow damping channel extending to a pressure changing side of the pressure sensitive component.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 wherein the airflow damping channel extends on, at least in part, a cross section of the capacitor sensor.

7. The electronic device of claim 5 wherein a pressure differential is generated between two sides of the pressure sensitive component when operating the capacitor sensor, and the airflow damping channel is configured to damp airflow directed towards the pressure changing side.

8. The electronic device of claim 3 wherein both the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate are wired to provide the output of the capacitor sensor.

9. The electronic device of claim 3 wherein the first conductive surface and the second conductive surface are placed side by side and spaced apart from each other, each of the first and second conductive surfaces faces the first conductive plate.

10. The electronic device of claim 3 wherein the second conductive surface is configured to surround and be spaced apart from the first conductive surface, each of the first and second conductive surfaces faces the first conductive plate.

11. The electronic device of claim 3 further comprising a shell configured to receive the first and second assemblies and the pressure sensitive component, wherein the shell is further configured to clamp an edge of the pressure sensitive component to prevent air leakage.

12. The electronic device of claim 3 wherein the pressure sensitive component includes a corrugated membrane.

13. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the capacitor sensor is mounted in the electronic device via a screw which extends towards the pressure changing side of the pressure sensitive component, and wherein the screw is hollow to enable an air path between an air outlet and the pressure changing side of the pressure sensitive component.

14. The electronic device of claim 13 wherein the screw is further configured to establish at least one electrical connection in the electronic device.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 further comprising a shell configured to receive the control unit and the pressure sensitive component, wherein the shell is further configured to clamp an edge of the pressure sensitive component to prevent air leakage.