Multiple dispersion generator e-vaping device

• US 10,368,581 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2016
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rostami, Ali A., Kobal, Gerd, Pithawalla, Yezdi, Kane, David, Tucker, Christopher S., Lipowicz, Peter, Flora, Jason, Karles, Georgios, Mishra, Munmaya K., Barnes, Catherine, Arena, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Campbell, Thor S
• Application Number:
  US15/067,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20170258138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid 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 40/40 Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/50 Control or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0003 with means for dispensing more than one drug
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 9/02 with change of state, e.g. vaporisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment

Abstract

A base for an e-vaping device is configured to couple with multiple cartridges configured to generate separate, respective dispersions. The cartridges may include one or more atomizer assemblies or vaporizer assemblies. The base may include multiple connectors electrically coupled to the power supply. The connectors may be configured to couple multiple dispersion generators to a power supply of the base. The base may include control circuitry configured to independently control dispersion generation by dispersion generators coupled to the base. The control circuitry may independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges based on cartridge information accessed through at least one of the first and second connectors. The control circuitry may control dispersion generation by controlling power supplied to the dispersion generators.

Claims

1. A base, comprising:

a power supply configured to supply electrical power;

first and second connectors configured to electrically couple separate, respective first and second cartridges to the power supply; and

control circuitry configured to independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges, based on cartridge information accessed through the first connector, the second connector, or the first and second connectors,

wherein the first cartridge includes a vaporizer assembly and the second cartridge includes an atomizer assembly, the atomizer assembly being configured to generate an aerosol via applying mechanical force to a pre-aerosol formulation, the vaporizer assembly being configured to generate a vapor via heating a pre-vapor formulation.

2. The base of claim 1, wherein

the control circuitry is configured to

establish a first communication link with a first storage device in the first cartridge via the first connector;

and

access the cartridge information from the first storage device via the first communication link, the cartridge information being associated with the first cartridge.

3. The base of claim 1, wherein the cartridge information includes,

information uniquely identifying one or more elements of a dispersion generator included in the first cartridge,

information indicating a dispersion generator “

type”

of a dispersion generator included in the first cartridge,

information associated with a formulation held in the first cartridge,

a particular activation sequence associated with a dispersion generator included in the first cartridge,

a sub-combination thereof, or

a combination thereof.

4. The base of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges based on independent control of electrical power supplied from the power supply to the first cartridge via the first connector and to the second cartridge via the second connector.

5. The base of claim 4, wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control the electrical power supplied to the first and second connectors, such that electrical power is supplied to the first and second cartridges at different times.

6. The base of claim 4, wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control the electrical power supplied to the first and second connectors, such that electrical power is supplied to the first and second cartridges in an alternating pattern in response to successive vaping command signals.

7. The base of claim 1, wherein the power supply includes a rechargeable battery.

8. A base, comprising:

a power supply configured to supply electrical power;

first and second connectors configured to electrically couple separate, respective first and second cartridges to the power supply; and

control circuitry configured to independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges, based on cartridge information accessed through the first connector, the second connector, or the first and second connectors,

wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges based on independent control of electrical power supplied from the power supply to the first cartridge via the first connector and to the second cartridge via the second connector,

wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control the electrical power supplied to the first and second connectors, such that a dispersion generator included in the second cartridge generates a dispersion based on heat generated by a dispersion generator included in the first cartridge.

9. An e-vaping device, comprising:

a power supply configured to supply electrical power;

first and second cartridges electrically coupled to the power supply; and

control circuitry configured to independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges, based on accessing cartridge information from the first cartridge, the second cartridge, or the first and second cartridges,

wherein the first cartridge includes a vaporizer assembly and the second cartridge includes an atomizer assembly, the atomizer assembly being configured to generate an aerosol via applying mechanical force to a pre-aerosol formulation, the vaporizer assembly being configured to generate a vapor via heating a pre-vapor formulation.

10. The e-vaping device of claim 9, wherein

the control circuitry is configured to

establish a first communication link with a first storage device in the first cartridge;

and

access the cartridge information from the first storage device via the first communication link, the cartridge information being associated with the first cartridge.

11. The e-vaping device of claim 9, wherein the cartridge information includes,

information uniquely identifying one or more elements of a dispersion generator included in the first cartridge,

information indicating a dispersion generator “

type”

of a dispersion generator included in the first cartridge,

information associated with a formulation held in the first cartridge,

a particular activation sequence associated with a dispersion generator included in the first cartridge,

a sub-combination thereof, or

a combination thereof.

12. The e-vaping device of claim 9, wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges based on independent control of electrical power supplied from the power supply to the first cartridge via a first connector and to the second cartridges via a second connectors.

13. The e-vaping device of claim 12, wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control the electrical power supplied to the first and second cartridges, such that electrical power is supplied to the first and second cartridges at different times.

14. The e-vaping device of claim 12, wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control the electrical power supplied to the first and second cartridges, such that electrical power is supplied to the first and second cartridges in an alternating pattern in response to successive vaping command signals.

15. The e-vaping device of claim 9, wherein the power supply includes a rechargeable battery.

16. An e-vaping device, comprising:

a power supply configured to supply electrical power;

first and second cartridges electrically coupled to the power supply; and

control circuitry configured to independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges, based on accessing cartridge information from the first cartridge, the second cartridge, or the first and second cartridges,

wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges based on independent control of electrical power supplied from the power supply to the first cartridge via a first connector and to the second cartridge via a second connector,

wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control the electrical power supplied to the first and second cartridges, such that a dispersion generator included in the second cartridge generates a dispersion based on heat generated by a dispersion generator included in the first cartridge.

17. A method comprising:

independently controlling dispersion generation by first and second cartridges electrically coupled to a power supply of a base, the independently controlling including,

establishing a first communication link with a first storage device in the first cartridge via a first connector;

accessing cartridge information associated with the first cartridge from the first storage device via the first communication link; and

independently controlling electrical power supplied to the first cartridge, based on the accessed cartridge information, such that a dispersion generator included in the second cartridge generates a dispersion based on heat generated by a dispersion generator included in the first cartridge.

18. A base, comprising:

a power supply configured to supply electrical power;

first and second connectors configured to electrically couple separate, respective first and second cartridges to the power supply;

a cover configured to establish a removable enclosure of the first and second connectors; and

control circuitry configured to independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges, based on cartridge information accessed through the first connector, the second connector, or the first and second connectors,

wherein the first cartridge includes a vaporizer assembly and the second cartridge includes an atomizer assembly, the atomizer assembly being configured to generate an aerosol via applying mechanical force to a pre-aerosol formulation, the vaporizer assembly being configured to generate a vapor via heating a pre-vapor formulation.

19. A base, comprising:

a power supply configured to supply electrical power;

first and second connectors configured to electrically couple separate, respective first and second cartridges to the power supply;

a cover configured to establish a removable enclosure of the first and second connectors; and

control circuitry configured to independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges, based on cartridge information accessed through the first connector, the second connector, or the first and second connectors,

wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges based on independent control of electrical power supplied from the power supply to the first cartridge via the first connector and to the second cartridge via the second connector,

wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control the electrical power supplied to the first and second connectors, such that a dispersion generator included in the second cartridge generates a dispersion based on heat generated by a dispersion generator included in the first cartridge.

20. A method, comprising:

independently controlling dispersion generation by first and second cartridges electrically coupled to a power supply of a base, the independently controlling including,

establishing a first communication link with a first storage device in the first cartridge via a first connector;

accessing cartridge information associated with the first cartridge from the first storage device via the first communication link; and

independently controlling electrical power supplied to the first cartridge based on the accessed cartridge information,

wherein the first cartridge includes a vaporizer assembly and the second cartridge includes an atomizer assembly, the atomizer assembly being configured to generate an aerosol via applying mechanical force to a pre-aerosol formulation, the vaporizer assembly being configured to generate a vapor via heating a pre-vapor formulation.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

independently controlling electrical power supplied to the first and second cartridges, such that electrical power is supplied to the first and second cartridges at different times.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

independently controlling electrical power supplied to the first and second cartridges, such that electrical power is supplied to the first and second cartridges in an alternating pattern in response to successive vaping command signals.