Vaporizer configuration, control, and reporting

• US 9,743,691 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2014
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Minskoff, Noah Mark, Terry, Nathan Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): WOODWARD, VALERIE LYNN
• Application Number:
  US14/276,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20140246035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 12820011-20013, 12820014-20023, 12820221, 12820312, 12820316, 12820317, 12820323, 12820326, 12820327, 12820413, 12820414, 12820523, 131273
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/65 Devices with integrated communication means, e.g. wireless communication means
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/95 structurally associated with cases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0025 with caps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0035 Piercing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0205 Materials having antiseptic or antimicrobial properties, e.g. silver compounds, rubber with sterilising agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0233 Conductive materials, e.g. antistatic coatings for spark prevention
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/13 with means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. lip sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/59 Aesthetic features, e.g. distraction means to prevent fears of child patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/65 Impedance, e.g. conductivity, capacity

Abstract

A personal vapor inhaling unit including a microprocessor, memory, and a wireless communication interface is disclosed. An application may control aspects of the personal vapor via the wireless interface. An electronic flameless vapor inhaler unit that may simulate a cigarette has a cavity that receives a cartridge in the distal end of the inhaler unit. The cartridge brings a substance to be vaporized in contact with a wick. When the unit is activated, and the user provides suction, the substance to be vaporized is drawn out of the cartridge, through the wick, and is atomized by the wick into a cavity containing a heating element. The heating element vaporizes the atomized substance. The vapors then continue to be pulled by the user through a mouthpiece and mouthpiece cover where they may be inhaled.

Claims

1. A personal vaporizing unit system, comprising:

a case having a cradle;

a computer running an application to communicate data; and

,

a personal vaporizing unit that communicates said data with the computer, the personal vaporizing unit comprising;

a microprocessor for recording performance data about said personal vaporizing unit that is provided to the computer and for receiving settings data about the personal vaporizing unit from the computer, wherein the settings data includes battery settings and settings modifying a flavor of a vapor product;

a memory for storing said performance data and said settings data; and

,

a first contact and a second contact, said first contact and said second contact to form an electrical contact with said cradle adapted to hold the personal vaporizing unit when the personal vaporizing unit is held by said cradle, said first contact and said second contact conducting charge from said case to said personal vaporizing unit to charge said personal vaporizing unit, the case having a wireless interface to transfer said performance data and settings data between said application and said personal vaporizing unit.

2. The personal vaporizing system unit of claim 1, wherein said wireless interface comprises at least one of an 802.15 specified interface, an 802.11 specified interface, or a cellular telephone network.

3. The personal vaporizing unit system of claim 1, wherein said application configures at least one setting of said personal vaporizing unit using said data.

4. The personal vaporizing unit system of claim 1, wherein said application unlocks the personal vaporizing unit using said data.

5. The personal vaporizing unit system of claim 4, wherein said application receives a personal identification number or biometric information from a user to unlock the personal vaporizing unit.

6. The personal vaporizing unit system of claim 1 wherein said settings comprise updates for software on said personal vaporizing unit.

7. A personal vaporizing system comprising:

a personal digital device;

a personal vaporizing unit that communicates with the personal digital device, the personal vaporizing unit comprising;

a porous wick element;

a cartridge providing liquid to the porous wick element;

a heating element that vaporizes the provided liquid from the porous wick element, wherein the porous wick element transports the liquid from the cartridge to the heating element;

a processor for monitoring performance data and for receiving settings data about the personal vaporizing unit from the personal digital device, wherein the settings data includes battery settings and settings modifying a flavor of a vapor product;

a memory for storing the performance data and the settings data;

a network interface for communicating with the personal digital device or a network;

wherein the personal digital device provides updates to the personal vaporizing unit that include the settings data and receives the performance data from the personal vaporizing unit.

8. The personal vaporizing system of claim 7 wherein the personal digital device comprises an application that communicates the updates and performance data with the personal vaporizing unit.

9. The personal vaporizing system of claim 8 wherein the application is an interface that displays the performance data.

10. The personal vaporizing system of claim 9 wherein the personal digital device comprises a smartphone with an application that provides the interface.

11. The personal vaporizing system of claim 7 further comprising:

a case that receives and charges the personal vaporizing unit.

12. The personal vaporizing system of claim 11 wherein the case communicates with the personal digital device.