ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME
First Claim
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1. An electronic cigarette apparatus comprising:
- a voltage regulator situated inside a housing;
a power converter situated inside the housing, wherein the power converter is configured to deliver a current to, and cause establishment of a voltage across, a heating element such that a first power is provided to the heating element;
a power source situated inside the housing for providing second power to the power converter and the voltage regulator;
a timer electrically connected to the voltage regulator;
a switch electrically connected to the power source, wherein upon receipt of an enabling signal from at least one of the switch and the timer, the power converter is configured to output the first power by way of a power converter output; and
one or more sensing components configured to provide a feedback signal to the power converter to regulate one of the current or the voltage.
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Abstract
An electronic cigarette apparatus that includes a first housing, a power converter situated inside the housing, a power source situated inside the housing for providing power at least indirectly to the power converter, a timer at least indirectly electrically connected to the power source, and one or more sensing components configured to provide a feedback signal to the power converter to allow for regulation of the magnitude of a power converter output voltage, wherein upon receipt of an enabling signal, the power converter output voltage is output across a heating element situated in the first housing or a second housing, and wherein the output voltage is constant.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. An electronic cigarette apparatus comprising:
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a voltage regulator situated inside a housing; a power converter situated inside the housing, wherein the power converter is configured to deliver a current to, and cause establishment of a voltage across, a heating element such that a first power is provided to the heating element; a power source situated inside the housing for providing second power to the power converter and the voltage regulator; a timer electrically connected to the voltage regulator; a switch electrically connected to the power source, wherein upon receipt of an enabling signal from at least one of the switch and the timer, the power converter is configured to output the first power by way of a power converter output; and one or more sensing components configured to provide a feedback signal to the power converter to regulate one of the current or the voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An electronic cigarette apparatus comprising:
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a reservoir for receiving a solution therein; a heating element in communication with at least some of the solution in the reservoir; a power converter for providing first power to the heating element, wherein to provide the first power the power converter outputs one of a substantially constant current or a substantially constant voltage at a node associated with the power converter; a power source for providing second power at least indirectly to the power converter; and one or more sensing components configured to provide a feedback signal to the power converter to allow the power converter to regulate the substantially constant current or the substantially constant voltage; wherein upon receiving an operating signal, the power converter outputs the first power to the heating element to vaporize at least a portion of the solution. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method of controlling an electronic cigarette apparatus comprising:
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actuating a switch to apply a first voltage established by a power source across one or both of a voltage regulator and a power converter; applying a further voltage from the voltage regulator to a timer; enabling a counter in the timer; transmitting an ON signal from the timer to the power converter while the counter is enabled; and transmitting a substantially constant current from the power converter to a heating element in response to the transmitting of the ON signal from the timer. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A method of controlling an electronic cigarette apparatus comprising:
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activating a switch to transmit first power from a power source to one or both of a voltage regulator and a power converter; receiving second power from the voltage regulator at a timer; enabling a timer counter for a first time period; during the first time period, transmitting an ON signal from the timer to the power converter; transmitting third power from the power converter to a heating element in response to receiving the ON signal from the timer, wherein the third power includes one of a constant voltage or a constant voltage; sensing at least one of a current or voltage at a sensor component at least indirectly associated with the heating element; and regulating the sensed at least one of current or voltage that is outputted from the power converter to the heating element using feedback from the sensing component.
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26. A method of controlling an electronic cigarette apparatus comprising:
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transmitting a first power from a power source at least indirectly to a voltage regulator and a power converter; receiving a second power from the voltage regulator at a timer; in response to receiving the second power at the timer, starting a counter on the timer to measure a first time period; during the first time period, transmitting a first ON signal from the timer to the power converter; transmitting a first constant voltage from the power converter to a heating element in response to receiving the first ON signal from the timer; upon expiration of the first time period, ceasing the transmission of the first ON signal and transmitting a second ON signal from the timer to the power converter; transmitting a second constant voltage from the power converter to the heating element in response to receiving the second voltage ON signal from the timer, wherein the second constant voltage has a lower magnitude than the first constant voltage; and ceasing transmission of the second constant voltage. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. An electronic cigarette apparatus comprising:
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a first housing; a power converter situated inside the housing; a power source situated inside the housing for providing power at least indirectly to the power converter; a timer at least indirectly electrically connected to the power source; and one or more sensing components configured to provide a feedback signal to the power converter to allow for regulation of the magnitude of a power converter output voltage, wherein upon receipt of an enabling signal, the power converter output voltage is output across a heating element situated in the first housing or a second housing, and wherein the output voltage is constant. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification