VAPORIZER CONFIGURATION, CONTROL, AND REPORTING

• US 20140246035A1
• Filed: 05/13/2014
• Published: 09/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: Minusa Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Minskoff, Noah Mark, Terry, Nathan Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 9,743,691 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 131/329
• 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 computer running an application to upload data; and

,

a personal vaporizing unit to receive the data, the personal vaporizing unit comprising;

a microprocessor;

a memory; and

,

a first contact and a second contact, said first contact and said second contact to form an electrical contact with a case having a 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 data from said application to said personal vaporizing unit.

2. The personal vaporizing system unit of claim 1, wherein said wireless interface comprises an 802.15 specified interface.

3. The personal vaporizing unit system of claim 1, wherein said wireless interface comprises an 802.11 specified interface.

4. The personal vaporizing unit system of claim 1, wherein said wireless interface communicates with a cellular telephone network.

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

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

7. The personal vaporizing unit system of claim 6, wherein said application receives a personal identification number from a user to unlock the personal vaporizing unit.

8. The personal vaporizing unit system of claim 6, wherein said application receives biometric information from a user to unlock the personal vaporizing unit.

9. A personal vaporizing unit having dimensions approximating a smoking article, comprising:

a first contact and a second contact, said first contact and said second contact to form an electrical contact with a case having a 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;

a memory to store data; and

,

a microprocessor configured to receive data, via a wireless interface, from an application running on a computer.

10. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 9, wherein the application sends said data to the personal vaporizing unit to configure settings stored in the memory.

11. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 10, wherein the application receives input from a user via a graphical user interface to determine values for at least one setting stored in the memory.

12. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 11, wherein the application further receives input from said user via said graphical user interface to activate the personal vaporizing unit.

13. The personal vaporizing unit of claim 10, wherein the application further receives biometric information input from said user to activate the personal vaporizing unit.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for operating a personal vaporizing unit that, when executed by a computer, at least instruct the computer to:

establish a communication link with the a personal vaporizing unit, the communication link including transferring data via a case, the case comprising a cradle adapted to hold the personal vaporizing unit;

send first data to the personal vaporizing unit via the communication link; and

,

receive second data from the personal vaporizing unit via the communication link.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the case further comprises:

a first contact and a second contact, said first contact and said second contact forming an electrical contact with said personal vaporizing unit personal vaporizing unit is held by said first cradle, said first contact and said second contact conducting charge from said battery to said personal vaporizing unit to charge said personal vaporizing unit.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the communication link comprises a wireless link.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the computer is further instructed to:

activate the personal vaporizing unit via the wireless link.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the computer is further instructed to:

receive biometric authentication information.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the computer is further instructed to:

share said second data via a network.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the computer is further instructed to:

receive configuration data; and

,

send said configuration data to the personal vaporizing unit via the communication link.