VAPORIZATION DEVICE SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20160174611A1
• Filed: 02/25/2016
• Published: 06/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc. (PAX Labs, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Adam Bowen, Ariel Atkins, James Monsees, Kevin Lomeli, Steven Christensen
• Inventors: HATTON, Nicholas Jay, CHRISTENSEN, Steven, LOMELI, Kevin, ATKINS, Ariel, MONSEES, James, BOWEN, Adam
• Granted Patent: US 9,549,573 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/20 Devices using solid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/50 Control or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0244 Heating of fluids H05B1/0247 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/014 Heaters using resistive wires or cables not provided for in H05B3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/016 Heaters using particular connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/021 Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/022 Heaters specially adapted for heating gaseous material
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/04 Waterproof or air-tight seals for heaters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/44 heating conductor arranged within rods or tubes of insulating material

Abstract

Vaporization devices and methods of operating them. In particular, described herein are methods for controlling the power applied to a resistive heater of a vaporization device by measuring the resistance of the resistive heater at discrete intervals. Changes in the resistance during heating may be used to control the power applied to heat the resistive heater during operation. Also described herein are vaporization devices that are configured to measure the resistance of the resistive heater during heating and to control the application of power to the resistive heater based on the resistance values.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a vaporization device, the method comprising:

placing a vaporizable material in thermal contact with a resistive heater;

applying power to the resistive heater to heat the vaporizable material;

measuring the resistance of the resistive heater; and

adjusting the applied power to the resistive heater based on the difference between the resistance of the resistive heater and a target resistance of the heating element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the target resistance is based on a reference resistance.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the target resistance is based on the resistance of the resistive heater at an ambient temperature.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the target resistance is based on the resistance of the resistive heater at an ambient temperature and a target change in temperature of the resistive heater.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the target resistance of the resistive heater based on a target heating element temperature.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the target resistance of the resistive heater based on a resistance of the resistive heater at ambient temperature and a percent change in a resistance of the resistive heater at an ambient temperature.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the applied power to the resistive heater comprises using a voltage divider to compare the resistance of the resistive heater to a reference resistance.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the applied power to the resistive heater comprises using a Wheatstone bridge to compare the resistance of the resistive heater to a reference resistance.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the applied power to the resistive heater comprises measuring the resistance using a voltage divider, Wheatstone bridge, amplified Wheatstone bridge, or RC charge time circuit.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring the resistance of the resistive heater an ambient temperature by measuring the resistance of the resistive heater after a predetermined time since power was last applied to the resistive heater.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating an absolute target coil temperature from an actual device temperature.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising suspending the application of power to the resistive heater while measuring the resistance of the resistive heater.

13. A method of controlling a vaporization device, the method comprising:

placing a vaporizable material in thermal contact with a resistive heater;

applying power to the resistive heater to heat the vaporizable material;

suspending the application of power to the resistive heater while measuring the resistance of the resistive heater; and

adjusting the applied power to the resistive heater based on the difference between the resistance of the heating element and a target resistance of the resistive heater, wherein measuring the resistance of the resistive heater comprises measuring the resistance using a voltage divider, Wheatstone bridge, amplified Wheatstone bridge, or RC charge time circuit.

14. A vaporization device, the device comprising:

a microcontroller;

a reservoir configured to hold a vaporizable material;

a resistive heater configured to thermally contact the vaporizable material from the reservoir;

a resistance measurement circuit connected to the microcontroller configured to measure the resistance of the resistive heater; and

a power source,

wherein the microcontroller applies power from the power source to heat the resistive heater and adjusts the applied power based on the difference between the resistance of the resistive heater and a target resistance of the resistive heater.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising a sensor having an output connected to the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller is configured to determine when the resistive heater applies power from the power source to heat the resistive heater.

16. The device of claim 14, further comprising a pressure sensor having an output connected to the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller is configured to determine when the resistive heater applies power from the power source to heat the resistive heater.

17. The device of claim 14, further comprising a target resistance circuit configured to determine the target resistance, the target resistance circuit comprising one of:

a voltage divider, a Wheatstone bridge, an amplified Wheatstone bridge, or an RC charge time circuit.

18. The device of claim 14, further comprising a target resistance circuit configured to determine the target resistance, the target resistance circuit comprising a voltage divider having a reference resistance equivalent to the target resistance.

19. The device of claim 14, further comprising a target resistance circuit configured to determine the target resistance, the target resistance circuit comprising a Wheatstone bridge, wherein the target resistance is calculated by adding a resistance of the resistive heater at an ambient temperature and a target change in temperature of the resistive heater.

20. The device of claim 14, further comprising a memory configured to store a resistance of the resistive heater at an ambient temperature.

21. The device of claim 14, further comprising a temperature input coupled to the microcontroller and configured to provide an actual device temperature.

22. The device of claim 14, wherein the microcontroller is configured to calculate an actual temperature for display on an output in communication with the microcontroller.

23. A vaporization device, the device comprising:

a microcontroller;

a reservoir configured to hold a vaporizable material;

a resistive heater configured to thermally contact the vaporizable material from the reservoir;

a resistance measurement circuit connected to the microcontroller configured to measure the resistance of the resistive heater;

a power source; and

a sensor having an output connected to the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller is configured to determine when the resistive heater applies power from the power source to heat the resistive heater;

a target resistance circuit configured to determine a target resistance, the target resistance circuit comprising one of;

a voltage divider, a Wheatstone bridge, an amplified Wheatstone bridge, or an RC charge time circuit,

wherein the microcontroller applies power from the power source to heat the resistive heater and adjusts the applied power based on the difference between the resistance of the resistive heater and the target resistance of the resistive heater.