WIRE COMMUNICATION IN AN E-VAPING DEVICE

• US 20150208731A1
• Filed: 01/27/2015
• Published: 07/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sis Resources, Ltd. (Green Smoke USA, Inc.)
• Inventors: MALAMUD, Alex, COHEN, Shai, DAR, Amit
• Granted Patent: US 9,980,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/40 Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/53 Monitoring, e.g. fault detection
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/60 Devices with integrated user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0244 Heating of fluids H05B1/0247 takes precedence

Abstract

An e-vaping device includes a liquid storage portion for storing an e-liquid; a memory device storing cartomizer information; a vaporizer including a heating element, the vaporizer being in fluid communication with the liquid storage portion and configured to vaporize e-liquid stored in the liquid storage portion; a power supply configured to provide power to the vaporizer; a controller configured to control provision of power to the vaporizer based on the cartomizer information; and a switching architecture configured to selectively prevent a flow of current through the heating element, when the memory device sends data to the controller.

Claims

1. An e-vaping device, comprising:

a liquid storage portion for storing an e-liquid;

a memory device storing cartomizer information;

a vaporizer including a heating element, the vaporizer being in fluid communication with the liquid storage portion and configured to vaporize e-liquid stored in the liquid storage portion;

a power supply configured to provide power to the vaporizer;

a controller configured to control provision of power to the vaporizer based on the cartomizer information; and

a switching architecture configured to selectively prevent a flow of current through the heating element, when the memory device sends data to the controller.

2. The e-vaping device of claim 1 further comprising:

a power supply line configured to supply power from the power supply to the heating element, and configured to receive data sent from the memory device to the controller.

3. The e-vaping device of claim 2, wherein the switching architecture comprises:

at least a first electronic switch; and

a switch control device configured to control the first electronic switch.

4. The e-vaping device of claim 3 wherein the first electronic switch is located on the power supply line or connected in between the power supply line and the heating element, such that the first electronic switch selectively controls an electrical connection between the heating element and at least a portion of the power supply line, the first electronic switch being configured to control the electrical connection based on a control signal received from the switch control device.

5. The e-vaping device of claim 3 further comprising:

a ground line forming an electrical path between the heating element and a ground node of the e-vaping device,

wherein the first electronic switch is connected in between the ground node and the heating element, such that the first electronic switch controls an electrical connection between the heating element and the ground node, the first electronic switch being configured to control the electrical connection based on a control signal received from the switch control device.

6. The e-vaping device of claim 1 further comprising:

a first section;

a second section; and

a connector device connecting the first and second sections to each other,

the first section including the liquid storage portion, the memory device, the vaporizer, and the switching architecture,

the second section including the power supply and the controller.

7. The e-vaping device of claim 1 wherein,

the controller is configured to receive an indication of the cartomizer information from the memory device;

and

the controller is configured to control at least one of the power supply and a connection between the power supply and the heating element to prevent the heating element from generating heat, when the first information indicates an amount of e-liquid stored in the liquid storage portion is below a threshold level.

8. A cartomizer, comprising:

a liquid storage portion for storing an e-liquid;

a memory device storing cartomizer information;

a vaporizer including a heating element, the vaporizer being in fluid communication with the liquid storage portion and configured to vaporize e-liquid stored in the liquid storage portion; and

a switching architecture configured to selectively prevent a flow of current through the heating element, when the memory device sends data to a controller.

9. The cartomizer of claim 8 further comprising:

a power supply line configured to supply power from a power supply to the heating element, and configured to receive data sent from the memory device to the controller.

10. The cartomizer of claim 9, wherein the switching architecture comprises:

at least a first electronic switch; and

a switch control device configured to control the first electronic switch.

11. The cartomizer of claim 10 wherein at least the first electronic switch is located on the power supply line or connected in between the power supply line and the heating element, such that the first electronic switch selectively controls an electrical connection between the heating element and at least a portion of the power supply line, the first electronic switch being configured to control the electrical connection based on a control signal received from the switch control device.

12. The cartomizer of claim 10 further comprising:

a ground line forming an electrical path between the heating element and a ground node of the e-vaping device,

wherein the first electronic switch is connected in between the ground node and the heating element, such that the first electronic switch controls an electrical connection between the heating element and the ground node, the first electronic switch being configured to control the electrical connection based on a control signal received from the switch control device.

13. A cartomizer, comprising:

a liquid storage portion for storing an e-liquid;

a memory device storing cartomizer information;

a vaporizer including a heating element, the vaporizer being in fluid communication with the liquid storage portion and configured to vaporize e-liquid stored in the liquid storage portion; and

a switching architecture configured to selectively isolate the heating element from a power supply, when the memory device sends data to a controller.

14. The cartomizer of claim 13 further comprising:

a power supply line configured to supply power from a power supply to the heating element, and configured to receive data sent from the memory device to the controller.

15. The cartomizer of claim 14, wherein the switching architecture comprises:

at least a first electronic switch; and

a switch control device configured to control the first electronic switch.

16. The cartomizer of claim 15 wherein the first electronic switch is located on the power supply line or connected in between the power supply line and the heating element, such that the first electronic switch selectively controls an electrical connection between the heating element and at least a portion of the power supply line, the first electronic switch being configured to control the electrical connection based on a control signal received from the switch control device.

17. The cartomizer of claim 15 further comprising:

a ground line forming an electrical path between the heating element and a ground node of the e-vaping device,

wherein the first electronic switch is connected in between the ground node and the heating element, such that the first electronic switch controls an electrical connection between the heating element and the ground node, the first electronic switch being configured to control the electrical connection based on a control signal received from the switch control device.

18. A method of operating an e-vaping device including a controller, a power source, a liquid storage portion for storing liquid material, a vaporizer, a memory device, and a switching architecture, the method comprising:

receiving, at the controller, first information stored in the memory device, and

controlling the switching architecture to prevent current from flowing through a heater included in the vaporizer while the controller receives the first information from the memory device.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the switching architecture includes at least a first electronic switch, and the method further comprises:

detecting a flow of air through an air channel of the e-vaping device; and

based on the detection of the flow of air,

controlling the first electronic switch to allow current to flow through the heater, and

sending a power signal to the heater to cause the heater to generate heat.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein,

the e-vaping device includes a power supply line configured to supply power from the power source to the heater, and the first electronic switch is located on the power supply line or connected in between the power supply line and the heater, such that the first electronic switch controls an electrical connection between the heater and the power supply line, and

the controlling the switching architecture controls the first electronic switch to open the electrical connection between the heater and the power supply line such that current is prevented from flowing through the heater.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein,

the e-vaping device includes a ground line forming an electrical path between the heater and a ground node of the e-vaping device, and the first electronic switch is connected in between the ground node and the heater, such that the first electronic switch controls an electrical connection between the heater and the ground node, and

the controlling the switching architecture controls the first electronic switch to open the electrical connection between the heater and the ground node such that current is prevented from flowing through the heater.

22. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

storing first information in the memory device;

receiving, at the controller from the memory device, an indication of the first information; and

preventing the heater from generating heat, when the first information indicates an amount of liquid material stored in the liquid storage portion is below a threshold level.