Vaporizer related systems, methods, and apparatus

• US 9,999,250 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2015
• Issued: 06/19/2018
• 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): Cordray, Dennis R
• Application Number:
  US14/701,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20160021930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 131328, 131329, 131347, 131360
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/00 Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/46 Shape or structure of electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/51 Arrangement of sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/041 using heaters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0018 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/13 with means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. lip sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/368 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. IR waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3693 by mechanical waves, e.g. ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/80 voice-operated command
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/0014 Devices wherein the heating current flows through particular resistances
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/06 Heater elements structurally combined with coupling elements or holders
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/12 characterised by the composition or nature of the conductive material
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/141 Conductive ceramics, e.g. metal oxides, metal carbides, barium titanate, ferrites, zirconia, vitrous compounds
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/46 : heating conductor mounted on insulating base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

An electronic cigarette (e-Cig) or personal vaporizer device generates a vapor that is inhaled by a user. Liquid in a cartridge is vaporized or atomized by a heating element that heats the liquid. When the e-Cig is activated, and the user provides suction, the liquid to be vaporized is drawn out of the cartridge, through a wick, and is atomized by the wick into a cavity containing the heating element. The heating element may be directly written onto substrate. Various sensors may be employed to optimize the liquid usage.

Claims

1. A vaporizer assembly comprising:

a cartridge storing a substance to be atomized;

a heating element configured to atomize the substance stored in the cartridge by heating the substance; and

a sensor assembly comprising one or more sensors coupled with the cartridge and heating element to detect conditions of the substance and to control activation of the heating element based on the conditions.

2. The vaporizer assembly of claim 1 wherein the one or more sensors comprise a temperature sensor, a viscosity sensor, and a flow sensor, further wherein the conditions comprise a temperature, a viscosity of the substance, and a flow of the substance.

3. The vaporizer assembly of claim 2 wherein the temperature sensor comprises a resistance temperature detector (RTD).

4. The vaporizer assembly of claim 1 wherein the heating element comprises a conductive material directly written onto a substrate.

5. The vaporizer assembly of claim 4 wherein the substrate comprises wire guides.

6. The vaporizer assembly of claim 4 wherein the substrate comprises an infrared absorption material that absorbs infrared thermal energy.

7. The vaporizer assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a wick that receives the substance from the cartridge, wherein the wick is heated by the heating element.

8. The vaporizer assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a battery that provides power to the heating element;

wherein the directly written heating element comprises contact points that connect with the battery for receiving power.

9. A personal vaporizing unit comprising:

a mouthpiece;

a cartridge with a liquid to be vaporized;

a heating element that comprises a conductive material directly written onto a substrate, wherein the heating element is configured to heat the liquid into a vapor that can pass through the mouthpiece; and

a sensor assembly comprising one or more sensors coupled with the cartridge and heating element to detect conditions of the liquid and to control activation of the heating element based on the conditions.

10. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 9 further comprising:

a wick that receives the substance from the cartridge, wherein the wick is heated by the heating element.

11. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 9 further comprising:

a battery that provides power to the heating element.

12. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 11 wherein the directly written heating element comprises contact points that connect with the battery for receiving power.

13. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 9 wherein the substrate comprises an infrared absorption material that absorbs infrared thermal energy.