Control device for flavor-generating article

• US 5,261,424 A
• Filed: 05/31/1991
• Issued: 11/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sprinkel, F. Murphy Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAHR, JENNIFER DOYLE
• Application Number:
  US07/709,023
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 131/329, 131/271, 131/273, 128/202.21, 128/203.26, 128/203.27, 128/204.21
• US Class Current: 131/329
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/20 Devices using solid 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
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/51 Arrangement of sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/13 with means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. lip sensor

Abstract

A control device for electrically heated flavor generators. Sensors detect user lip activity associated with taking a draw and trigger heating of flavor-generating materials.

Claims

1. A lip sensor for an electric flavor generator, comprising:

means for monitoring user lip activity provided at an end of the electric flavor generator such that during use it comes in physical contact with the user'"'"'s lips; and

means for producing an electric signal that corresponds to such activity, whereby the electrical signal produced in response to user draw lip activity differs from the electric signal produced in response to the user non-draw lip activity.

12. The lip sensor of claim 1 wherein the means for monitoring user lip activity is a pressure sensor.

13. The lip sensor of claim 12 wherein the pressure sensor is piezoelectric film.

16. The lip sensor of claim 1 wherein the means for monitoring user lip activity is a temperature sensor.

17. The lip sensor of claim 16 wherein the temperature sensor is piezoelectric film.

20. The lip sensor of claim 1 wherein the means for monitoring user lip activity is an electric voltage sensor.

22. The lip sensor of claim 1 wherein the means for monitoring user lip activity is an electric current sensor.

24. The lip sensor of claim 1 wherein the means for monitoring user lip activity is an electrochemical sensor.

25. The lip sensor of claim 24 wherein the electrochemical sensor is a pH sensor.

26. The lip sensor of claim 24 wherein the electrochemical sensor is an ion level sensor.

2. A control device for an electric flavor generator, comprising:

means for monitoring user lip activity provided at an end of the electric flavor generator such that during use it comes in physical contact with the user'"'"'s lips; and

means for producing a first electric signal that corresponds to such activity, whereby the electric signal produced in response to user draw lip activity differs from the electric signal produced in response to the user non-draw lip activity;

means for producing a second electric signal only when such first electric signal corresponds to user draw lip activity; and

means for electrically heating a flavor-generating material in response to such second electrical signal.

3. The control device of claim 2 wherein the third means is an electric control circuit.

4. The control device of claim 3 wherein the electric control circuit is a threshold circuit.

5. The control device of claim 3 wherein the electrical control circuit comprises a lowpass filter circuit connected in series with a threshold circuit.

6. The control device of claim 3 wherein the electric control circuit comprises a signal limiter circuit connected in series with a threshold circuit.

7. The control device of claim 3 wherein the electric control circuit comprises a signal limiter circuit, a lowpass filter circuit, and a threshold circuit, all connected in series.

8. The control device of claims 4, 5, 6, or 7 wherein the threshold circuit is a Scmitt Trigger.

9. The control device of claims 4, 5, 6, or 7 wherein the threshold circuit is a comparator.

10. The control device of claims 6 or 7 wherein the signal limiter circuit is a signal divider and diode.

11. The control device of claims 6 or 7 wherein the signal limiter circuit is a signal follower.

14. The control device of claim 2 wherein the means for monitoring user lip activity is a pressure sensor.

15. The control device of claim 14 wherein the pressure sensor is piezoelectric film.

18. The control device of claim 2 wherein the means for monitoring user lip activity is a temperature sensor.

19. The control device of claim 18 wherein the temperature sensor is piezoelectric film.

21. The control device of claim 2 wherein the means for monitoring user lip activity is an electric voltage sensor.

23. The control device of claim 2 wherein the means for monitoring user lip activity is an electric current sensor.

27. The control device of claim 2 wherein the means for monitoring user lip activity is an electrochemical sensor.

28. The control device of claim 27 wherein the electrochemical sensor is a pH sensor.

29. The control device of claim 27 wherein the electrochemical sensor is an ion level sensor.

49. The control device of claims 2, 30, or 36 wherein the means for electrically heating a flavor-generating material in response to a particular electric signal includes an electric heater activation control circuit, comprising:

means for selecting one of a plurality of charges of flavor-generating material; and

means, initiated in response to such particular electric signal, for applying a pulse of electrical energy to heat the selected one of the plurality of charges of flavor-generating material.

51. The control device of claim 49 wherein the selecting means is automatic.

53. The control device of claim 51 wherein the automatic selecting means selects each of the plurality of charges sequentially.

55. The control device of claim 53 wherein the electric heater activation control circuit further comprises sequential indication means for indicating which of the plurality of changes is selected.

57. The control device of claim 49 wherein the pulse applying means applies a pulse of a predetermined duration.

59. The control device of claim 49 wherein the electric heater activation control circuit further comprises pulse indication means for indicating when the pulse is being applied.

61. The control device of claim 57 wherein the electric heater activation control circuit further comprises pulse indication means for indicating when the pulse is being applied.

63. The control device of claim 57 wherein the electric heater activation control circuit further comprises lockout means for disabling the pulse applying means for a predetermined period of time after an actuation thereof.

30. A control device for an electric flavor generator comprising:

means for sensing user lip activity;

means for producing a first electric signal that corresponds to such lip activity;

mean for converting the first signal to a digital HIGH, or 1, signal only when such first signal corresponds to user lip activity that is associated with taking a draw on the flavor generator;

means for sensing a flow of air through the flavor generator;

means for producing a second electric signal that corresponds to such air flow;

means for converting the second signal to a digital HIGH, or 1, signal only when such second signal corresponds to air flow that is associated with taking a draw on the flavor generator;

means for producing a third electric signal only when both the first digital signal and second digital signal are HIGH; and

means for electrically heating a flavor-generating material in response to such third electric signal.

31. The control device of claim 30 wherein the third and sixth means include threshold circuits.

32. The control device of claim 30 wherein the means for producing the third electric signal is a logical "AND" electric circuit with the digital signals connected at its inputs.

33. The control device of claim 30 wherein the means for sensing lip activity is piezoelectric film.

34. The control device of claim 30 wherein the means for sensing a flow of air is a pressure-sensitive sensor.

35. The control device of claim 30 wherein the means for sensing a flow of air is a flow-sensitive sensor.

65. The control device of claims 30, 36, or 39 wherein the means for sensing user lip activity is provided at an end of the electric flavor generator such that during use it comes in physical contact with the user'"'"'s lips.

36. A control device for an electric flavor generator comprising:

two or more means for sensing user lip activity;

two or more means for producing electric signals that correspond to such activity;

two or more means for converting such electric signals to digital HIGH, or 1, signals only when such electric signals correspond to user activity that is associated with taking a draw on the flavor generator;

means for producing a final electric signal only when all digital signals are HIGH; and

means for electrically heating a flavor-generating material in response to such final electric signal.

37. The control device of claim 36 wherein at least one of the means for sensing lip activity is piezoelectric film.

38. The control device of claim 36 wherein the means for producing the final electric signal is a logical "AND" electric circuit with the digital signals connected at its inputs.

39. A control device for an electric flavor generator comprising:

means for sensing user lip activity;

means for producing a first electric signal that corresponds to such activity;

means for sensing a flow of air through the flavor generator;

means for producing a second electric signal that corresponds to such air flow;

means for supplying electrical energy to heat a flavor-generating material in response to the first electric signal; and

means for supplying additional electrical energy to heat the flavor-generating material in response to the second electric signal.

40. The control device of claim 39 wherein the means for sensing lip activity is piezoelectric film.

48. The control device of claims 39 or 41 wherein at least one of the means for supplying electrical energy to heat a flavor-generating material in response to a particular electric signal includes an electric heater activation control circuit, comprising:

means for selecting one of a plurality of charges of flavor-generating material; and

means, initiated in response to such particular electric signal, for applying a pulse of electrical energy to heat the selected one of the plurality of charges of flavor-generating material.

50. The control device of claim 48 wherein the selecting means is automatic.

52. The control device of claim 50 wherein the automatic selecting means selects each of the plurality of charges sequentially.

54. The control device of claim 52 wherein the electric heater activation control circuit further comprises sequential indication means for indicating which of the plurality of changes is selected.

56. The control device of claim 48 wherein the pulse applying means applies a pulse of a predetermined duration.

58. The control device of claim 48 wherein the electric heater activation control circuit further comprises pulse indication means for indicating when the pulse is being applied.

60. The control device of claim 56 wherein the electric heater activation control circuit further comprises pulse indication means for indicating when the pulse is being applied.

62. The control device of claim 56 wherein the electric heater activation control circuit further comprises lockout means for disabling the pulse applying means for a predetermined period of time after an actuation thereof.

41. A control device for an electric flavor generator comprising:

means for monitoring user lip activity;

mean for producing a first electric signal that corresponds to such activity;

means for producing a second electric signal only when such first electric signal corresponds to user draw lip activity;

means for sensing a flow of air through the flavor generator;

means for producing a third electric signal that corresponds to such air flow;

means for supplying electrical energy to heat a flavor-generating material in response to the second electric signal; and

means for supplying additional electrical energy to heat the flavor-generating material in response to the third electric signal.

42. The control device of claim 41 wherein the means for monitoring user lip activity is piezoelectric film.

43. The control device of claim 41 wherein the means for producing a second electric signal is an electric control circuit.

44. The control device of claim 43 wherein the electric control circuit comprises a threshold circuit.

45. The control device of claim 43 wherein the electric control circuit comprises a lowpass filter circuit connected in series with a threshold circuit.

46. The control device of claim 43 wherein the electric control circuit comprises a signal limiter circuit connected in series with a threshold circuit.

47. The control device of claim 43 wherein the electric control circuit comprises a signal limiter circuit, a lowpass filter circuit, and a threshold circuit, all connected in series.

64. The article of claim 41 wherein the means for monitoring user lip activity is provided at an end of the electric flavor generator such that during use it comes in physical contact with the user'"'"'s lips.