TW201944911A - Vape devices, including cartridges, tablets, sensors, and controls for vape devices, and methods for making and using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

Vape devices and methods of operating the same to prevent unauthorized use, allow for remote, centralized storage of operational settings associated with unique payload identifiers, and to optimize operation based on historical usage data, real-time operating conditions, and/or user information. Vape devices for vaporizing dry material and methods of operating the same. Tablets comprising dry material for vaporization and methods of making and using the same. Vape devices and cartridges to improve flow of a fluid payload to an atomizer and to prevent leaking and spurting of the fluid payload, including vape devices and cartridges that pressurize the fluid payload. Vapor measurement systems to determine dosage based on a measured capacitance of vaporized payload. A two-lead communication system that enables the communication of a plurality of electrical signals between a control assembly and cartridge. A cartridge temperature control system that provides localized temperature control for the cartridge.

Description

Electronic cigarette device including case, ingot, sensor and control member for electronic cigarette device, and manufacturing and using method thereof

The present invention relates to the field of personal vaporizer devices or "electronic cigarette devices" and, in particular, to a method for controlling an electronic cigarette device and the operation of a case, tablet, sensor, and control member for an electronic cigarette device And system.

Personal vaporizers or e-cigarette devices using marijuana for consumption of tobacco products and for medical and entertainment purposes have grown significantly. Many electronic cigarette devices contain only one atomizer for heating and evaporating the liquid or oil to be inhaled. In a basic form, an electronic cigarette device may be simple composed of a heating element, a battery, a switch for connecting the battery to the heating element, and a quantity of liquid or oil to be evaporated by the heating element. Device. Controlling the electronic cigarette device only needs to turn off the switch to heat the liquid or oil to generate steam to be inhaled. Conventional e-cigarette devices such as these are not provided: control over ramp-up and / or ramp-down of power applied to the heating element; control over how much steam is generated when the switch is turned on; about how a specific fluid should be heated Or control of oil to generate steam; and control to prevent unauthorized use of the electronic cigarette device by anyone other than the user of the electronic cigarette device.

Conventional e-cigarette devices and cartridges used with the e-cigarette device (eg, a cartridge with a 510 threaded connector) are typically designed for use with nicotine "liquid oil" having a relatively low viscosity. When conventional electronic cigarette devices and cassettes are used with oils having a relatively high viscosity (e.g., oils extracted from cannabis plants), fluids such as vegetable glycerol (VG), propylene glycol (PG), and polyethylene glycol must be (PEG)) Dilute the oil to obtain a viscosity that is compatible with the wicking material that allows the fluid payload to be transferred from the payload reservoir to the heating element. When used with a viscous fluid and / or substances such as VG, PG or PEG must be added, many conventional e-cigarette devices or cassettes also need to be stored in a specific orientation (e.g., a vertical orientation) to make the viscosity The fluid is reliably in contact with the heating element or the atomizer. However, some users do not prefer vape to fluids containing additives (such as VG, PG, or PEG) that may be doped with substances that need to be vaped. In addition, storing electronic cigarette devices or cassettes in a particular orientation can be cumbersome.

Many conventional electronic cigarette devices and cassettes further include a bottom air flow design having an air inlet positioned on one side of an atomizer and an outlet positioned on the other side of the atomizer. The fluid payload can penetrate the atomizer and accumulate on one of the internal surfaces of the atomizer. When the atomizer heats the fluid, the fluid can leak out of the cassette or electronic cigarette device through the air intake path. In addition, if the user inhales before the fluid evaporates, the user can inhale the sprayed oil droplets. Some conventional electronic cigarette devices and cassettes include a cotton barrier wrapped around the atomizer to prevent leakage and spray. However, this will introduce one of the fibrous materials that can be burned in the production environment and contaminated into the electronic cigarette device or cassette. The procedure of wrapping the nebulizer with a layer of cotton requires a very delicate work that allows factory workers to perform one of the procedures (which is unhygienic) with their bare fingers, a highly manual dexterity.

With regard to conventional electronic cigarette devices and cassettes, the fluid entry point from the payload reservoir to the atomizer is usually only one or two small circular openings (e.g., openings having a diameter of 1 mm to 2 mm) . These small circular openings trap air bubbles that prevent fluid from flowing to the atomizer (this is often referred to as an "airlock"). Positioning the circular opening also often results in wasted oil in the cassette or electronic cigarette device.

Although most conventional e-cigarette devices are configured to evaporate fluids, some individuals prefer to smoke or mist dry materials. Sucking or misting a dry material may affect a body in a different way than misting a fluid. In particular, there may be differences between thermally induced chemical reactions or metabolic transformations between the aerosolization of dry materials and the aerosolization of fluids that may affect the user in a different way.

Conventional methods for misting or pumping dry materials include weighing and grinding the material, removing any unwanted components (such as stems), and packaging the milled material into a mist chamber or bowl, which is one of the mist or smoking devices in. This procedure is relatively cumbersome and inconvenient for the user, and often results in material loss through spillage and / or adhesion to the grinder. In addition, if the dry material is cannabis, it is difficult to control the dosage of the active compound consumed due to the distribution of cannabinoids between different strains, between different batches, and based on changes in the location of plant growth.

Although there are some conventional e-cigarette devices that attempt to determine the dose of an evaporated payload, they use inaccurate methods that provide poor dosing power (e.g., using known volumes and strains of the evaporated payload to present the dose) . Thus, medicinal patients are not sure of the doses they will take at any given time, which limits the reproducibility and efficacy of the drug's effects. Also, entertainment users may experience different effects (desired and undesired) depending on the dose.

Conventional boxes for use with electronic cigarette devices are usually pre-filled with a substance for evaporation. When purchasing a box from a pharmacy, the purchaser can receive documents with specific box information printed on the package. However, this file is easily separated from the cassette and may be discarded, lost or even tampered with. If the user has multiple boxes, he or she will misidentify the boxes and may not be able to get the expected experience from a particular box. In addition, a medical user can receive a desired relief of his or her symptoms without a specific cassette.

Due to the versatility of the connectors used on electronic cigarette devices, a conventional box (containing a heating element and a payload) can be installed in many different types of control assemblies with different capabilities (they supply power to the heating Components) or connected to these different types of control assemblies. If a conventional box is installed on a control assembly capable of supplying too much power, the box may be damaged, the payload may be burned or the user may be injured.

Conventional e-cigarette devices using a dual-pin connector combined with a cassette and control assembly cannot control the atomizer temperature across all operating modes (eg, low to high air flow, low to high ambient temperature, battery voltage, etc.). Some e-cigarette devices include a control assembly that allows a user to select one of one or more operating parameters, such as coil resistance, coil material, power, current, voltage, and desired temperature. Using these parameters, a basic form of temperature control can be achieved, but its accuracy is very limited. In particular, air flow, ambient temperature, and / or current atomizer temperature are generally not considered, which can significantly affect the atomizer temperature during use.

For dried cannabis products, the problem of the local atomizer temperature is particularly problematic because the surface area of the atomizer in contact with the payload is greater than that of the liquid payload. This problem is further exacerbated by the fact that not all cannabis payloads come into direct contact with the atomizer due to the volume of cannabis used (usually about 1 cubic centimeter). In this case, the payload that is in direct contact with the atomizer may start to burn, while the payload that is far from the atomizer will remain in one of the low heat areas and may not evaporate. This results in smoke and wasted products (neither of which is desirable). An alternative heating method used with dried cannabis products is convection heating, that is, the use of a heating element to heat the air in contact with the payload. If the air is not hot enough, no evaporation will occur. If the air is too hot, the payload will burn. If the air temperature is just right, the payload will evaporate without burning.

Many conventional electronic cigarette devices include a control assembly (eg, a battery cell) that can be used with multiple disposable cartridges. Each bin includes a payload reservoir containing a payload and an atomizer for heating and evaporating the payload. Some electronic cigarette devices utilize basic methods to prevent unauthorized use of the device. For example, a user may be able to lock and unlock an electronic cigarette device by pressing a button on the control assembly in rapid succession using a fixed number of clicks (eg, three clicks to turn on the device and three clicks to close the device). In addition, a user may be able to unlock an electronic cigarette device by placing a finger on a fingerprint scanner provided on the control assembly. However, these methods are limited in the level of authentication and access control that an electronic cigarette device can expect.

The invention described herein includes: electronic cigarette devices; boxes, tablets, sensors, communication systems and control systems for use with electronic cigarette devices; and manufacturing and using electronic cigarette devices, boxes, tablets, sensors, sensors, Communication system and control system method.

An electronic cigarette device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention described herein includes: a payload reservoir configured to accommodate a payload for evaporation; a heating element, which is State to heat the payload; a power source coupled to the heating element; a sensor configured to sense an operating condition of the electronic cigarette device when steam is generated by the electronic cigarette device; a processor A memory device; and an instruction set stored in the memory device and executable by the processor to: receive the operating condition from the sensor; and adjust borrowing based on the sensed operating condition The power supplied to the heating element by the power source. When steam is generated by the electronic cigarette device, the electronic cigarette device preferably continuously adjusts the power supplied to the heating element to maintain a temperature of the heating element within a desired range for a specific payload.

A system for determining a heating profile for an electronic cigarette device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention described herein includes: a processor; a memory device; and a An instruction set stored in the memory device and executable by the processor to receive a plurality of sensed extraction strengths and a plurality of sensed extraction lengths, where each extraction strength and each extraction length are used in conjunction with a An instance of extracting steam from the electronic cigarette device is associated; determining a historical extraction intensity from the plurality of sensed extraction intensities; determining a historical extraction length from the plurality of sensed extraction lengths; and extracting intensity based on the history And the history extraction length generates a heating profile for a heating element of the electronic cigarette device, wherein the heating profile corresponds to the power provided to the heating element over time. The system can be used with any of the electronic cigarette devices described herein. The system preferably learns how a particular user uses an electronic cigarette device to optimize a heating profile for the electronic cigarette device according to the user's preferred usage.

A method for operating an electronic cigarette device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention described herein includes: sensing an operating condition of the electronic cigarette device when steam is generated by the electronic cigarette device; and based on The sensed operating condition adjustment provides power to a heating element of the electronic cigarette device. This method can be used in conjunction with any of the electronic cigarette devices and cassettes disclosed herein.

A method for operating an electronic cigarette device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention described herein includes: sensing a plurality of extraction intensities and a plurality of extraction lengths, wherein each extraction intensity and each extraction length are related to An instance of a user extracting steam from the electronic cigarette device is associated; determining a historical extraction intensity from the plurality of sensed extraction intensities; determining a historical extraction length from the plurality of sensed extraction lengths; based on the historical extraction The intensity and the historical extraction length are determined for a heating profile of a heating element of the electronic cigarette device; and an electric power provided to the heating element is adjusted according to the heating profile. This method can be used in conjunction with any of the electronic cigarette devices and cassettes disclosed herein. The method preferably allows the electronic cigarette device to learn how a particular user uses the electronic cigarette device so that the electronic cigarette device is optimized for operation according to the user's preferred usage.

An electronic cigarette device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention described herein includes: a payload reservoir configured to hold a payload for evaporation; a heating element, which is State to heat the payload; a power source coupled to the heating element; a sensor configured to sense an operating condition of the electronic cigarette device when steam is generated by the electronic cigarette device; and a process A heater configured to receive the operating condition from the sensor and adjust an electric power provided by the power source to the heating element based on the sensed operating condition.

Another exemplary embodiment of the invention described herein includes a cassette for evaporating a payload that includes a dry material. The cassette includes a housing defining an internal cavity. The enclosure includes an inlet and an outlet. The inner chamber is accessible through an opening in the housing. At least a portion of the housing is configured to movably cover and open the opening. The cassette includes a heating element positioned within the interior cavity.

Another exemplary embodiment of the invention described herein includes an ingot for use with a box for evaporative drying of materials. The ingot includes a dry material pressed into a shape including at least a first surface and a second surface positioned opposite the first surface. At least one recessed portion is formed in at least one of the first surface and the second surface. The ingot can be used with any of the cartridges described herein for evaporating a payload that includes one of the dried materials. The recesses preferably allow a larger surface area of the ingot to contact the heated air passing through the ingot to improve the evaporation of the ingot.

Another exemplary embodiment of an ingot for use with a box for evaporating dry materials includes pressing into a shape of a dry material including at least a first surface and a second surface positioned opposite the first surface. A heating element is coupled to the drying material. The ingot can be used with any of the cartridges described herein for evaporating a payload that includes one of the dried materials.

A method of using an electronic cigarette device to vaporize an ingot of a press-dried material according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention described herein includes inserting the ingot into the electronic cigarette device through an opening in the electronic cigarette device. In an internal chamber of an electronic cigarette device; activating a heating element of the electronic cigarette device to evaporate a portion of the ingot into an ingot vapor; and inhaling at least a portion of the ingot vapor. This method can be used in conjunction with any of the electronic cigarette devices and cassettes that can be configured for evaporative drying of the materials disclosed herein.

A method for manufacturing an ingot for use in a box for evaporating and drying materials according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention described herein includes: providing a dry material; measuring a component of the dry material A percentage; determining a desired amount of the component; determining a desired thickness corresponding to the desired amount of the component; and pressing the dried material into an ingot of the desired thickness to include the desired amount Of this component. The invention also covers an ingot manufactured according to the method. This method can be used to make any of the ingots described herein. The tablet preferably aids dose control because one user of the tablet knows the amount of the component present in the tablet.

A method for manufacturing and using an ingot in a box for evaporating and drying materials according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention described herein includes: providing a first dry material; measuring the first dry material; A first component of a first percentage; providing a second dry material; measuring a second percentage of a second component of the second dry material; determining the first percentage and the A desired ratio of a second percentage; and forming an ingot comprising the desired ratio of the first percentage and the second percentage. The invention also covers an ingot manufactured according to the method. This method can be used to make any of the ingots described herein.

Another exemplary embodiment of the invention described herein is a cassette for an electronic cigarette device. The box includes: a housing defining a payload reservoir, an inlet, an outlet, and an air flow chamber positioned between the inlet and the outlet; an atomizer positioned within the housing, The atomizer is in fluid communication with the payload reservoir; and a deflector is positioned between the atomizer and the outlet in the air flow chamber, wherein the deflector includes a plurality of holes. The present invention also covers an electronic cigarette device including the box. The deflector preferably prevents or reduces the possibility that a non-evaporated payload jet will be discharged from the outlet.

Another exemplary embodiment of a cassette for an electronic cigarette device includes a housing including a first end and a second end, wherein the housing defines a payload reservoir positioned adjacent to the first An inlet at one end, an outlet positioned adjacent to the first end and an air flow chamber positioned between the inlet and the outlet; and an atomizer positioned within the housing, wherein the atomization The container is in fluid communication with the payload reservoir and the air flow chamber. The present invention also covers an electronic cigarette device including the box. Positioning both the inlet and the outlet adjacent to the first end preferably reduces the possibility that a non-evaporated payload will leak from the electronic cigarette device or cassette.

A cassette for an electronic cigarette device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention described herein includes: a housing including an outer side wall and an inner side wall spaced from the outer side wall; and a fog An adapter is positioned in a chamber defined by the inner sidewall. The housing defines a payload reservoir positioned between the inner side wall and the outer side wall. A plurality of elongated slots are formed in the inner sidewall. The housing defines an inlet, an outlet, and an air flow chamber positioned between the inlet and the outlet. The plurality of elongated slots place the atomizer in fluid communication with the payload reservoir, and the atomizer is in fluid communication with the air flow chamber. The present invention also covers an electronic cigarette device including the box. The elongated slots preferably prevent or reduce the likelihood that bubbles will form within the slots and prevent the payload from reaching the atomizer.

A cassette for an electronic cigarette device according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention described herein includes: a housing defining a payload reservoir; and an atomizer positioned within the housing And a pressurizer positioned within the housing, wherein the pressurizer is configured to apply pressure to a fluid payload within the payload reservoir to force the fluid payload into contact with the atomizer . The present invention also covers an electronic cigarette device including the box. Applying pressure to the fluid payload preferably provides a continuous payload flow to the atomizer when needed.

An electronic cigarette device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention described herein includes: a housing; an atomizer positioned in the housing; and a payload reservoir positioned in the housing in. The casing includes a first end and a second end, wherein a longitudinal axis of the casing extends between the first end and the second end. The payload reservoir is defined, at least in part, by including a reservoir sidewall positioned adjacent a first end and a second end of the atomizer. When the housing is positioned such that the longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal, the side wall of the receptacle is inclined toward the atomizer from the second end of the side wall of the receptacle to the first end of the side wall of the receptacle. The reservoir sidewall preferably improves the flow of the payload to the atomizer to keep the atomizer immersed in the payload and reduce the amount of payload wasted in the reservoir.

An electronic cigarette device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention described herein includes a housing including a first end and a second end. A longitudinal axis of the casing extends between the first end and the second end. The electronic cigarette device is configured such that the housing orientates itself in a predetermined position when the housing is placed on a substantially horizontal surface and the longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal. The housing is preferably capable of orienting itself in a predetermined position such that a payload within the housing can flow to contact a nebulizer to keep the nebulizer immersed in the payload and reduced in the reservoir. The amount of wasted payload.

An electronic cigarette device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention described herein includes: a housing; a tray positioned in the housing; an atomizer positioned in the housing; and Flexible circuit board. The casing includes a first end and a second end. A longitudinal axis of the casing extends between the first end and the second end. The enclosure defines an inlet, an outlet positioned adjacent the second end of the enclosure, and an air flow chamber positioned between the inlet and the outlet. The tray includes a first section defining a recess and a second section defining a payload receptacle positioned adjacent the second end of the housing. The tray includes a first side and a second side positioned adjacent to the housing. The atomizer is in fluid communication with the payload reservoir. A flexible circuit board is positioned adjacent to the second side of the tray in the recess defined by the tray. The flexible circuit board and the tray preferably make the electronic cigarette device more efficient and consistent.

An electronic cigarette device according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention described herein includes: a housing defining an inlet, an outlet, and an air flow chamber positioned between the inlet and the outlet; An atomizer positioned in the air flow chamber; a capacitive sensor positioned between the atomizer and the outlet in the air flow chamber; and a sensor measurement circuit connected To the capacitive sensor. The atomizer is configured to heat and vaporize a payload to produce an evaporated payload. The capacitive sensor defines a measuring cavity in the air flow cavity. The sensor measurement circuit is configured to directly or indirectly measure a capacitance of the capacitive sensor when the evaporated payload passes through the measurement cavity. The electronic cigarette device is preferably configured to accurately determine the dose based on a measured capacitance of an evaporated payload in a measurement cavity of the electronic cigarette device. This steam measurement system is beneficial for both medicinal patients and entertainment users, as they will be able to accurately measure their dosages to achieve the desired effect in a repeatable manner.

A method for determining a capacitance of a capacitive sensor according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention described herein includes: heating and evaporating a payload to produce an evaporated payload; and passing the evaporated payload through A measurement cavity is defined by the capacitance sensor; and a capacitance of the capacitance sensor is measured when the evaporated payload passes through the measurement cavity. This method can be used in conjunction with any of the electronic cigarette devices and cassettes disclosed herein.

A steam measurement system for an electronic cigarette device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention described herein includes: a capacitive sensor that defines a measurement cavity; and a sensor measurement Circuit connected to the capacitive sensor. The sensor measurement circuit is configured to directly or indirectly measure a capacitance of the capacitive sensor when an evaporated payload passes through the measurement cavity. The steam measurement system can be used in conjunction with any of the electronic cigarette devices and cassettes disclosed herein.

An electronic cigarette device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention described herein includes: a control assembly including a power source and a reader; a box including a heating element and a configured to An electronic memory for storing data; and a two-conductor electrical interface configured to (a) transmit a power signal from the power source to the heating element and (b) transmit a data signal from the electronic memory to The reader. The electronic cigarette device preferably enables the cassette data to be provided in a secure electronic memory in the cassette and transmitted to the control assembly. The box of data cannot be tampered with, discarded or lost, and therefore a user can ensure that the data is legitimate and not a fake.

A method for transmitting a plurality of signals through a two-conductor electrical interface between an assembly and a box according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention described herein includes: via the two-conductor The electrical interface transmits a power signal from a power source of the control assembly to a heating element of the cassette; and a data signal is transmitted from an electronic memory of the cassette to one of the control assemblies via the dual-conductor electrical interface. Reader. This method can be used in conjunction with any of the electronic cigarette devices and cassettes disclosed herein.

A two-lead communication system for an electronic cigarette device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention described herein includes: a control assembly; a box; and an electromechanical connector including a coupling to a first One of the two connectors is the first connector. The first connector is provided as part of the control assembly. The second connector is provided as part of the cassette. The electromechanical connector provides a two-conductor electrical interface capable of transmitting a plurality of electrical signals between the control assembly and the cassette. The dual-lead communication system can be used in conjunction with any of the electronic cigarette devices and cassettes disclosed herein.

An electronic cigarette device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention described herein includes: a control assembly including a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader; a box including an RFID tag; and A two-conductor electrical interface configured to transmit cassette data from the RFID reader to the RFID tag to program the cassette data into the RFID tag.

An electronic cigarette device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention described herein includes: a control assembly including a power source; and a box releasably connected to the control assembly. The cassette includes: a payload reservoir configured to accommodate a payload for evaporation; a heating element configured to heat the payload in the payload reservoir; and a temperature A control circuit configured to regulate an electric power provided to the heating element by the power source based on a temperature sensed in the cassette and a desired temperature set point. The cassette preferably has local temperature control to prevent insufficient or excessive heating of the payload in the cassette.

A method for controlling power provided to a heating element contained in a box of an electronic cigarette device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention described herein includes: sensing a temperature in the box; And adjusting an electric power provided to the heating element based on the temperature sensed in the box and a desired temperature set point. This method can be used in conjunction with any of the electronic cigarette devices and cassettes disclosed herein.

A temperature control system for a cassette of an electronic cigarette device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention described herein includes: a heating element configured to heat a payload; a temperature sensing A temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature in the cassette; and a temperature control circuit incorporating the temperature sensor. The temperature control circuit is configured to adjust an electric power provided to the heating element based on the temperature sensed in the cassette and a desired temperature set point. The temperature control system can be used in conjunction with any of the electronic cigarette devices and cassettes disclosed herein.

An electronic cigarette device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention described herein includes: a control assembly including a microcontroller and a power supply; a box including an atomizer, a payload A reservoir and an authentication device; and an electromechanical connector comprising a first connector releasably coupled to a second connector, wherein the first connector is provided as part of the control assembly and The second connector is provided as part of the cassette. The microcontroller is configured to control the power source to generate a power signal. The authentication device is configured to (a) implement an authentication agreement to determine whether the box is authentic and (b) control the transmission of the power signal from the power source to the atomizer based on a result of the authentication agreement.

Another exemplary embodiment of the invention described herein includes a cassette for an electronic cigarette device, the cassette including: a payload reservoir; an atomizer configured to heat the payload A payload contained in the receptacle; and an authentication device configured to (a) implement an authentication agreement to determine whether the box is authentic and (b) control a based on a result of the authentication agreement Transmission of power signals to the atomizer.

A method for authenticating a box of an electronic cigarette device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention described herein includes: storing authentication data in an authentication device in the box; implementing the authentication An authentication agreement of one of the identification data to determine whether the box is authentic; and controlling the transmission of an electric signal to an atomizer of the box based on one result of the authentication agreement. This method can be used in conjunction with any of the electronic cigarette devices and cassettes disclosed herein.

A system for authenticating a user of an electronic cigarette device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an electronic cigarette device and an application program configured to be installed on a personal computing device. The electronic cigarette device is configured to store a unique payload identifier identifying one of the payload receptacles and transmit the unique payload identifier to the personal computing device. The application is configured to enable the personal computing device to: (a) receive user authentication information entered by a user; (b) receive the unique payload identifier from the electronic cigarette device; (c) capture Taking authentication information stored in a database in association with the unique payload identifier; (d) comparing the user authentication information with the authentication information stored in the database; (e) based on the The comparison results in an indication of whether the user entering the user authentication information is authorized to use a security setting of a payload receptacle identified by the unique payload identifier; and (f) transmitting the security setting to The electronic cigarette device.

A system for determining whether a payload reservoir of an electronic cigarette device is depleted according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an electronic cigarette device and an application program configured to be installed on a personal computing device. The electronic cigarette device is configured to store a unique payload identifier identifying one of the payload receptacles and transmit the unique payload identifier to the personal computing device. The application is configured to enable the personal computing device to: (a) receive the unique payload identifier from the electronic cigarette device; (b) retrieve and store the unique payload identifier in a database in association with the unique payload identifier The payload information, wherein the payload information includes an original volume of the payload contained in the payload receptacle; (c) retrieving and storing in the database in association with the unique payload identifier (D) analyze the payload information stored in the database and the historical payload container use information stored in the database; (e) based on the analysis Generating a security setting indicating whether the payload receptacle is depleted; and (f) transmitting the security setting to the e-cigarette device, wherein if the security setting indicates that the payload receptacle is depleted, preventing the electronic Operation of smoke devices.

A system for determining whether a payload reservoir of an electronic cigarette device has been returned to a return center according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an electronic cigarette device and a device configured to be installed on a personal computing device. An application. The electronic cigarette device is configured to store a unique payload identifier identifying one of the payload receptacles and transmit the unique payload identifier to the personal computing device. The application is configured to enable the personal computing device to: (a) receive the unique payload identifier from the electronic cigarette device; (b) determine the payload reservoir identified by the unique payload identifier Whether it has been returned; (c) generating a security setting indicating whether the payload receptacle has been returned; and (d) transmitting the security setting to the electronic cigarette device, wherein if the security setting indicates the payload receptacle If returned, the operation of the electronic cigarette device is prevented.

A system for determining whether a payload reservoir of an electronic cigarette device has been recalled according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an electronic cigarette device and an application program configured to be installed on a personal computing device. The electronic cigarette device is configured to store a unique payload identifier identifying one of the payload receptacles and transmit the unique payload identifier to the personal computing device. The application is configured to enable the personal computing device to: (a) receive the unique payload identifier from the electronic cigarette device; (b) determine the payload reservoir identified by the unique payload identifier Whether it has been recalled; (c) generating a security setting indicating whether the payload receptacle has been recalled; and (d) transmitting the security setting to the electronic cigarette device, wherein if the security setting indicates the payload receptacle Has been recalled to prevent the operation of the electronic cigarette device.

A system for determining whether a control assembly is authorized for use with an electronic cigarette device case according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an electronic cigarette device and one configured to be installed on a personal computing device application. The electronic cigarette device includes a control assembly and a box. The control assembly is configured to store a control assembly identifier, and the cassette is configured to store a unique payload identifier that identifies the payload receptacle of the cassette. The electronic cigarette device is configured to transmit the control assembly identifier and the unique payload identifier to a human computing device. The application is configured to enable the personal computing device to: (a) receive the control assembly identifier and the unique payload identifier from the e-cigarette device; (b) identify for authorization to communicate with the A list of one or more control assembly identifiers used together with the payload reservoir identified by the unique identifier; (c) comparing the control assembly identifier with the control assembly identifier list; (d) generating a security setting indicating whether the control assembly identified by the control assembly identifier is authorized for use with the payload receptacle identified by the unique payload identifier based on the comparison ; And (e) transmitting the security setting to the electronic cigarette device.

Additional aspects of the present invention, along with its accompanying advantages and novel features, will be explained in part in the following description, and part of it will be understood by those skilled in the art after reviewing the following, or may be learned from the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the present invention can be achieved and obtained by means of the means and combinations specifically pointed out in the patent application scope of the accompanying invention.

Cross-reference to related applications
This application is based on and claims U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 921,144, filed on March 14, 2018, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 642,805, filed on March 14, 2018, in March 2018 U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 642,825 filed on 14th, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 661,306 filed on April 23, 2018, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 668,380 filed on May 8, 2018 No. 62 / 680,057 U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 680,057 filed on June 4, 2018, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 696,930, filed on July 12, 2018, U.S. filed on July 12, 2018 Provisional Application No. 62 / 696,937, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 696,943 filed on July 12, 2018, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 733,286 filed on September 19, 2018, and in 2019 The priority of US Provisional Application No. 62 / 797,694, filed on January 28, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In the description of the present invention, references to "one embodiment", "an embodiment" or "several embodiments" mean that the mentioned feature or features are included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Separate references to "one embodiment", "one embodiment", or "several embodiments" in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are not mutually exclusive, unless so stated and / or in addition to being familiar with this Those skilled in the art will readily understand from this description. For example, a feature, structure, action, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but not necessarily included in other embodiments. Accordingly, the present technology may include various combinations and / or integrations of the embodiments described herein.
Electronic cigarette device

In some embodiments, the e-cigarette devices 10 and 100 described herein are high-quality, best-in-class rechargeable e-cigarette devices, which are simple, intuitive, and useful to "cannabisnaive" customers, whether medical Entertainment) has immediate appeal. In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 can communicate with the personal computing device 72 and interact with one of the applications 74 or "apps" operating on the personal computing device 72 to provide the most experienced appreciation Additional functions and features required and required by home or medical patients. For the purposes of this description and the scope of the patent application below, the term "personal computing device" is defined to include personal computers, laptops, personal digital assistants, personal computing tablets (such as those made by Apple® and Samsung®, and Personal computing tablet computers made by others who are familiar with this technology), Smart phones (such as smart phones running on iOS® and Android® operating systems and other operating systems familiar with this technology), Smart phones Watches, fitness tracking wristbands, wearable devices, smart glasses, and any other electronic computing device including components used to communicate (wireless or wired) with other electronic devices and with a global telecommunications or computing network.

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of an electronic cigarette device 10 is shown. The electronic cigarette device 10 includes a nozzle assembly 12, an atomizer assembly 19, a payload assembly 24, and a control assembly 14. Any one of the nozzle assembly 12, the atomizer assembly 19, the payload assembly 24, and the control assembly 14 may be integrally formed together and contained in a common housing suitable for being grasped by a user. In addition, any one of the nozzle assembly 12, the atomizer assembly 19, the payload assembly 24, and the control assembly 14 may be formed in a separate housing that can be releasably connected to each other via the connection member 15, and the connection member 15 may include, for example, one or more of a pressure or friction fit connection member, a torsional mechanical lock member, a magnetic connection member, and any other connection member as is well known to those skilled in the art. The connecting member 15 may include a female 510 threaded connector on the control assembly 14 that releasably engages one of the male 510 threaded connectors on the atomizer assembly 19 or the payload assembly 24. As known in the art, a 510 threaded connector is an M7-0.5x5 threaded connector, that is, a threaded connector having a nominal diameter of 7 mm, a pitch of 0.5 mm, and a length of 5 mm. The connecting member 15 may include threaded connectors of other sizes. The connection member 15 may be a threaded connector configured to operate according to the two-lead communication system described below in connection with the electronic cigarette device 4000. By way of example, the nozzle assembly 12 is releasably connected together to form an atomizer assembly 19, a payload assembly 24, and a control assembly 14 integrally formed in a separate housing releasably connected to each other. The nozzle assembly 12 and the atomizer assembly 19 can be integrally formed and releasably connected to the payload assembly 24 and the control assembly 14, the payload assembly 24 and the control assembly 14 can be integrally formed or Formed in separate housings releasably connected to each other. In addition, the nozzle assembly 12, the atomizer assembly 19, and the payload assembly 24 may be integrally formed together and releasably connected to the control assembly 14. The combination of the nozzle assembly 12, the atomizer assembly 19, and the payload assembly 24 may be referred to as a box in this document, and replaces the boxes 900, 1000, 1100, 1900, 2100, 2400, 2500 and Any of 2600. It is also within the scope of the present invention to omit the nozzle assembly 12 and allow the vaporized payload to be directly discharged from the atomizer assembly 19 for inhalation.

In some embodiments, the nozzle assembly 12 is operatively coupled to the control assembly 14 via a connection member 15. In some embodiments, a heater or atomizer 20 is disposed in the atomizer assembly 19, wherein the atomizer 20 further includes a liquid atom, an oil, other fluid, or an ingot disposed therein for heating and evaporation. One of the payloads is one of the heating elements 22. The heating element 22 may be a heating coil. The atomizer 20 may include an inlet 21 and an outlet 23, wherein the inlet 21 may communicate with a payload reservoir 26 disposed in the payload assembly 24 via a fluid connector 46, wherein the payload reservoir 26 may contain Payload for evaporation or atomization. For example, the payload may be a liquid, oil, other fluid, or ingot. The payload may include hemp oil or nicotine oil or any of the tablets 940, 1002, 1102, 1202, 1300, 1302, 1400, 1500, 1600, and 1700 described below (if the e-cigarette device 10 is modified to evaporate to dryness) One ingot). The outlet 23 can communicate with one of the user nozzles 16 of the nozzle assembly 12 via a conduit 17. In some embodiments, the payload assembly 24 may include an identifier ("ID") tag 28. The identifier tag 28 may further include a unique payload identifier that identifies one of the payload reservoirs 26 and also includes as needed Secondary information as described below. The unique payload identifier of the ID tag 28 may be a serial number or a tracking number for the payload receptacle 26 as an identification of the payload contained in the payload receptacle 26 in order to obtain the operation of the atomizer 20 One of the components of the specific parameters or information on the optimal operating settings for the specific payload contained in the evaporative payload reservoir 26. For example, a payload identifier may be compared to a database containing one of the payload identifiers from a plurality of payload receptacles. The database may contain specific operational settings and secondary data for each of the payload identifiers, as described below. When cassettes 900, 1000, 1100, 1900, 2100, 2400, 2500, and 2600 are used with electronic cigarette devices 10 or 100, the cassettes preferably have an ID tag 28 containing a unique payload identifier, as described below. description.

The ID tag 28 may be memory or storage containing a payload identifier and optionally secondary data, and may be used to allow retrieval by another device, such as a microcontroller 31 and / or RF transceiver circuit 36 The payload identifier and / or secondary data is any type of device used as a component for processing and / or further transmission. For example, the ID tag 28 may be an RFID tag or a non-volatile memory. The ID tag 28 may be configured for use with NFC or a UHF RFID communication system. The electronic cigarette device 10 may be configured to include the two-lead communication system described below in connection with the electronic cigarette device 4000 such that the information from the ID tag 28 is transmitted to the microcontroller 31 via the connection member 15 and the power is controlled by the connection member 15成 14 is transmitted to the atomizer 20.

For the purposes of this specification, the term "electrical connection" shall include any form of electrical connection via a wired or wireless connection, such as an electrical conductor or wire suitable for transmitting AC or DC power, analog or digital electrical signals or radio frequency signals, It depends and is familiar to those skilled in the art.

In some embodiments, the nozzle assembly 12 may include an extraction sensor 18 operatively coupled to one of the atomizers 20 via an electrical connection 44, wherein the extraction sensor 18 may cause a current from the battery 42 to flow through Heating element 22. In some embodiments, the extraction sensor 18 includes a sensor (such as a mass air flow sensor) that can generate an electrical signal in response to a user inhaling or extracting on the suction nozzle 16, wherein the electrical sensor The signal may cause a current from the battery 42 to flow through the heating element 22. In some embodiments, the extraction sensor 18 can be used as the opening of the atomizer 20 to evaporate the payload drawn from the payload reservoir 26 into the atomizer 20 when the user draws on the nozzle 16. One component is a simple "switch". In some embodiments, the extraction sensor 18 may be configured to monitor how much payload is evaporated or how much volume of steam a user is inhaling. The extraction sensor 18 is a type of activation mechanism that can be used to activate the atomizer 20. The extraction sensor 18 may be replaced with or used in conjunction with another type of activation mechanism that receives an input to shut it off from one of the atomizers 20 without activation. The position is switched to one of the opening positions in which the atomizer 20 is activated. For example, the extraction sensor 18 may be replaced with or used in combination with any of the following types of activation mechanisms: a button, switch, extraction sensor, pressure sensor, proximity sensor, touch sensor, voice recognition sensor Sensors, tactile controls, saliva and respiratory biosensors, and the like.

In some embodiments, the nozzle 16 and the extraction sensor 18 may be part of a single-piece nozzle assembly 12 or may be disposed in a separate nozzle section 13 forming one of the parts forming the nozzle assembly 12 .

In some embodiments, the atomizer 20 may be disposed in the atomizer assembly 19 that can be integrated into the nozzle assembly 12 or integrated into a solid separation envelope that can be coupled to the nozzle assembly 12. As disclosed herein, instead of or in addition to including a heating element 22, the atomizer 20 may include any other structure capable of evaporating or atomizing a payload in a suitable form for inhalation. For example, the atomizer 20 may include a spray sprayer, an ultrasonic sprayer, or a mesh sprayer.

In some embodiments, the payload reservoir 26 and the ID tag 28 may be placed in a nozzle assembly 12 and / or a nebulizer assembly 19 or integrated into a nozzle assembly 12 and / or One of the atomizer assemblies 19 is a physically separated cladding (which may include one or more of the connecting members 15 described above) in a payload assembly 24. Preferably, the ID tag 28 is directly or indirectly physically coupled to the payload receptacle 26 in a tamper-resistant manner (eg, the ID tag 28 and the payload receptacle 26 are contained in a common housing of a payload assembly 24 ).

In some embodiments, the control assembly 14 may include one or more antennas 40, a battery 42, and a circuit board 30. The circuit board 30 may further include one configured to perform one of the operations on the electronic cigarette device 10. Or one of the plurality of electronic functions of the microcontroller 31. Having more than one antenna 40 can realize the diversity of RF signal wireless communication capabilities, as is well known to those skilled in the art. In some embodiments, the circuit board 30 may include one of the charger circuits 32 configured for charging the battery 42. The charger circuit 32 may be integrated into the circuit board 30 or may be disposed on a separate circuit board operatively connected to one of the circuit board 30 and the battery 42 via an electrical connection 54. The charger circuit 32 may be configured to be operatively coupled to one of the common or dedicated electrical connectors 35 of the circuit board 30 via an internal connection using the charger circuit 32 or a wireless connection for power transfer operatively connected to a An external power source is well known to those skilled in the art.

In some embodiments, the circuit board 30 may include a user input interface circuit 34 and an output interface circuit 38. Either or both of the input interface circuit 34 and the output interface circuit 38 may be integrated into the circuit board 30 or may be disposed on a separate circuit board operatively connected to the circuit board 30. In some embodiments, the input interface circuit 34 may provide user controls and activation mechanisms (such as buttons, switches, extraction sensors, pressure sensors, proximity sensors, touch sensors) disposed on the electronic cigarette device 10. Controller, voice recognition sensor, tactile control, saliva and respiratory biosensor, and the like) and the microcontroller 31, and therefore can provide user input commands from user controls as instructions Relayed to the microcontroller 31 to operate the components of the electronic cigarette device 10. For example, the input interface circuit 34 may be electrically coupled to the extraction sensor 18 for receiving an open signal from the extraction sensor 18 when a user extracts on the suction nozzle 16. When the input interface circuit 34 receives the enable signal from the extraction sensor 18, it may send an instruction to the microcontroller 31 to start the atomizer 20, provided that any other conditions required to start the atomizer 20 have been met, as follows Described by the text. In some embodiments, the output interface circuit 38 may provide a microcontroller 31 and an output display device (such as an indicator light, a digital display screen, an audio speaker, a surface heater, a vibration device, and any device known to those skilled in the art). Other forms of haptic feedback devices), and thus may provide a means for relaying information related to the operation of the electronic cigarette device 10 from the microcontroller 31 to the user.

In some embodiments, the circuit board 30 may include a radio frequency ("RF") transceiver circuit 36 to provide wireless communication between the electronic cigarette device 10 and a human computing device, such as the computing device 72 shown in FIG. 3 The building blocks of information. In some embodiments, the RF transceiver circuit 36 may be integrated into the circuit board 30 or may be disposed on a separate circuit board operatively connected to one of the circuit boards 30. The RF transceiver circuit 36 may be connected to one or more antennas 40 via an electrical connection 52, as is well known to those skilled in the art. The RF transceiver circuit 36 and one or more antennas 40 include a wireless transceiver of the electronic cigarette device 10.

In some embodiments, the microcontroller 31 may include a microprocessor with a central processing unit as known to those skilled in the art (for the purposes of the present invention, it also incorporates any type of processor), The microprocessor may further include a memory configured to store data collected from a sensor disposed on the electronic cigarette device 10 or data received by the electronic cigarette device 10 to control its operation. (Such as operating settings) in addition to storing a series of instructions for operating the microprocessor. The microcontroller 31 is in electrical communication with the charger circuit 32, the user input interface circuit 34, the output interface circuit 38, and the RF transceiver circuit 36 for the self-charger circuit 32, the user input interface circuit 34, the output interface circuit 38, and The RF transceiver circuit 36 receives instructions and / or data and / or transmits the instructions and / or data to the charger circuit 32, the user input interface circuit 34, the output interface circuit 38, and the RF transceiver circuit 36. In some embodiments, the atomizer 20 may be operatively and electrically connected to the circuit board 30 via an electrical connection 48. The electrical connection 48 may provide an activation mechanism (such as the extraction sensor 18) to send an enable signal to the microcomputer. The controller 31 activates the atomizer 20 (for example, delivers current from the battery 42 to the heating element 22) and a component that receives data signals from the extraction sensor 18 and / or the atomizer 20. In this way, the activation mechanism (ie, the extraction sensor 18) is indirectly coupled to the atomizer 20 through the microcontroller 31, and a direct connection (i.e., activation) between the activation mechanism and the atomizer 20 is not required. The mechanism sends a signal to the microcontroller 31, which sends a signal to activate the atomizer 20). In one embodiment, the extraction sensor 18 may be electrically connected to the connecting member 15, and the connecting member 15 may be operated according to the two-lead communication system described below in connection with the electronic cigarette device 4000 so that the two-lead communication system can be The signal from the extraction sensor 18 is sent to the microcontroller 31. In addition to controlling the operation of the atomizer 20 based on a signal received by the self-starting mechanism, the microcontroller 31 also controls the operation of the atomizer 20 based on the operation settings as described herein. In some embodiments, the microcontroller 31 may be operatively connected to the ID tag 28 via an electrical connection 50 that may be a wired or wireless connection.

Operational settings referred to herein include any type of setting or instruction that instructs the electronic cigarette device 10 or a specific component of the electronic cigarette device 10 to operate or not operate in a particular manner. Specifically, the operation settings of the electronic cigarette device 10 include a duty cycle setting, a temperature setting, an operation duration, a dose setting, and a safety setting. This duty cycle setting preferably corresponds to a pulse width modulation command transmitted from the microcontroller 31 to the battery 42 to send a current to the heating element 22 in a specific desired manner. The temperature setting preferably corresponds to a temperature command transmitted from the microcontroller 31 to the battery 42 to send a current to the heating element 22 to maintain the heating element 22 at a desired temperature or temperature range. A temperature sensor may be coupled to the microcontroller 31 to measure the actual temperature of the heating element 22 and transmit the information to the microcontroller 31 for determining that it needs to be sent to the heating element 22 to maintain a specific temperature or temperature range. The amount and duration of the current. Any part of the box (including the nozzle assembly 12, the atomizer assembly 19 and the payload assembly 24) may also include an integrated temperature control system described below in conjunction with the electronic cigarette device 4200 to adjust the temperature of the heating element 22. The operation duration preferably corresponds to a time command transmitted from the microcontroller 31 to the battery 42 to maintain the heating element 22 at a temperature suitable for evaporating the contents of the payload reservoir 26 for a desired time. The dose setting preferably corresponds to a dose command transmitted from the microcontroller 31 to the battery 42 to power off the heating element 22 when a desired volume of steam passes through the atomizer 20. A steam metering device can measure the volume of steam passing through the atomizer 20 and transmit this information to the microcontroller 31. The microcontroller 31 compares the actual volume and dose setting of the atomizer 20 to determine when to turn off the heating element 22 . The steam metering device can be positioned between the atomizer 20 and the suction nozzle 16 to measure the evaporated payload discharged from the suction nozzle 16. The steam metering device may be incorporated into the capacitive steam measurement system described below in connection with the electronic cigarette device 3100. The security setting preferably corresponds to a security instruction that causes the microcontroller 31 to prevent operation of the atomizer 20 when an event has occurred or has not yet occurred. The security settings described herein to prevent operation of the atomizer 20 include: one of the payload reservoirs 26 being tampered with or stolen; one of the payload reservoirs 26 that has been returned to a return center (eg, recycling (Payload receptacle 26 and / or its associated cassette); one of the payload receptacles 26 has been recalled; one of the payload receptacles 26 has been depleted; unauthorized use with the payload receptacle 26 A control assembly; an unauthorized user (for example, a user who does not have a valid prescription for a substance in the payload receptacle 26, or is not identified as having or has the use of a payload receptacle One of the users with valid rights of 26); one of the users in one of the places where the use of the electronic cigarette device 10 is not allowed; one of the users of the car; a payload exceeding his / her allowance within a certain time frame One of the users of the amount of substance in the receptacle 26; and any other security settings described herein or the reasons that make the electronic cigarette device 10 inoperable as described herein.

In some embodiments, the ID tag 28 and / or the microcontroller 31 together with a suitable sensor can also be used as part of a system for collecting information related to the use of the electronic cigarette device 10 by a user through monitoring, the The data may include (but not limited to) historical e-cigarette device usage information, such as the number of times the e-cigarette device 10 was used during a given time period (hours, days, weeks, etc.), the duration of each use of the e-cigarette device 10, The number of extractions performed by the user on the electronic cigarette device 10, the intensity of such extractions, the amount of payload consumed during each use of the electronic cigarette device 10, and other information as described herein. Historical electronic cigarette device usage information is stored in a database in association with the payload identifier, as described below. In some embodiments, the historical e-cigarette device usage information can be used as clinical data to determine whether the user consumed the correct amount of medicine to be evaporated and inhaled and whether it was consumed at the correct time of day. This information can be used to provide the user with whether the user should consume the drug more frequently or less frequently throughout the day and / or increase or decrease the amount of the drug used each time of the day or at a specific time of the day Feedback in this regard. In some embodiments, the collected information about the marijuana liquid or oil payload consumed by the user with the electronic cigarette device 10 may be used to estimate the user based on the physical characteristics of the user and the amount of marijuana liquid or oil payload consumed Poisoning or injury. As an example, this estimate can be relayed to the user as a means to inform the user as to whether the user is poisoned or injured and unable to operate a motor vehicle or operating tool or machine.
Second embodiment of the electronic cigarette device

Referring to FIG. 2, another embodiment of the electronic cigarette device 100 is shown. In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette device 100 may include a control assembly 14, an atomizer assembly 79, and a nozzle assembly that are operatively coupled together in order to bond the sub-assembly together using a mechanical connection member 56. 88. The mechanical connection member 56 may include one or more of a threaded connection member, a magnetic connection member, and a friction or press-fit connection member and any of the connection members 15 described above (including a 510 threaded connector). In some embodiments, the nozzle assembly 88 may include one of the nozzles 58 in communication with the outlet of the atomizer 20 via a conduit 60. The nozzle assembly 88 may further include a payload reservoir 62 that may be filled with a payload 64 that may be one of a liquid or an oil. The payload 64 may flow from the payload reservoir 62 to the inlet 21 of the atomizer 20 via one or more valves 68. In some embodiments, the nozzle assembly 88 may include an ID tag 28 and a fuel gauge 66. The fuel gauge 66 may be configured to monitor the volume of the payload 64 in the payload reservoir 62 and provide this information Relay to microcontroller 31. In this embodiment, the nozzle assembly 88 can be replaced with a complete sub-assembly once consumed or only exchanged with another nozzle assembly 88 containing a different payload 64 for consumption (this depends on Based on user needs and needs). In some embodiments, the fuel gauge 66 may be only one of the speculums that is positioned on the nozzle assembly 88 to provide the user with one of the visual indicators of the amount of payload remaining in the nozzle assembly 88. The atomizer assembly 79 is preferably configured to prevent airlock and / or blockage due to a thick, undiluted payload.

In some embodiments, if the atomizer 20 is damaged or only stops further working, and the atomizer 20 is damaged or only stops further working, the atomizer assembly 79 may also be one of the electronic cigarette devices 100. Subassembly. In some embodiments, in addition to the extraction sensor 18, the control assembly 14 may also include a sensor 70 electrically coupled to the input interface circuit 34, and user input buttons and controls disposed on the electronic cigarette device 10. (Not shown), as described above and shown in FIG. 1. The sensor 70 may include a capacitive vapor measurement system or a part thereof described below in conjunction with the electronic cigarette device 3100, and / or an integrated temperature control system described below in conjunction with the electronic cigarette device 4200 and may be positioned in the electronic cigarette device Anywhere in 10.

The control assembly 14 of the electronic cigarette device 100 is preferably substantially similar to the control assembly 14 of the electronic cigarette device 10. The atomizer 20 of the electronic cigarette device 100 is preferably substantially similar to the atomizer 20 of the electronic cigarette device 10, and may include an effective means for evaporation in addition to a heating element as described above in connection with the electronic cigarette device 10. Load replacement component. It is within the scope of the present invention that the atomizer assembly 79 and the nozzle assembly 88 are integrally formed in a common housing that is releasably connected to the control assembly 14. In addition, it is within the scope of the present invention that the control assembly 14 and the atomizer assembly 79 are integrally formed in a common housing that is releasably connected to the nozzle assembly 88. It is also within the scope of the present invention that the atomizer assembly 79, the nozzle assembly 88, and the control assembly 14 are integrally formed in a common housing.
Application of electronic cigarette device

Referring to FIG. 3, an electronic cigarette device system 102 includes the electronic cigarette device 10 and a computing device 72 running an application program 74 thereon. It should be understood that the computing device 72 includes a processor 94 running an application program 74, and references to the computing device 72 herein include its processor 94. The electronic cigarette device 100 and the electronic cigarette device 2800 (described below) may also operate with the computing device 72 in the same manner as described below with respect to the electronic cigarette device 10. In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette device 10 may wirelessly communicate with the computing device 72 and the application program 74 via the RF communication link 73. In some embodiments, the RF communication link 73 may include a Bluetooth ™ communication protocol, a Wi-Fi ™ IEEE 802 communication protocol, a Zigbee IEEE 802.15.4-based communication protocol, and any other RF as known to those skilled in the art, One or more of short-range and long-range communication protocols. The electronic cigarette device 10 may also communicate with the computing device 72 via, for example, a wired connection established between the electrical connector 35 of the electronic cigarette device 10 and a communication connector (not shown) of the computing device 72.

In some embodiments, the application 74 may present a visual "dashboard" 75 that includes visual information and controls that can be manipulated by a user. In some embodiments, in addition to general information, the dashboard 75 may include a user information window 76 that displays information about the operation of the electronic cigarette device 10. This general information may include general information and information about available updates of the electronic cigarette device 10 or applications 74 from the manufacturer or supplier of the electronic cigarette device 10.

In some embodiments, the dashboard 75 may include a positioning button 78 as one of the components for the user to determine the position of the electronic cigarette device 10 when the user misplaces the electronic cigarette device 10. By pressing the positioning button 78, the computing device 72 can wirelessly send a signal to the electronic cigarette device 10 to operate an audible signal from an audio speaker or buzzer or other similar device disposed on the electronic cigarette device 10 to help The user finds the electronic cigarette device 10. In other embodiments, pressing the positioning button 78 can help the user determine his or her geographic location (using the geo-positioning capabilities of the computing device 72) and whether the e-cigarette device 10 can be used in that location to consume cannabis products (e.g., whether There are any government regulations, laws, or rules applicable to the geographic area in which the electronic cigarette device 10 is located or enforced in the geographic area that can expose the user of the electronic cigarette device 10 to criminal or administrative penalties, fines, or enforcement actions). In some embodiments, the dashboard 75 may include a heat slide button 80 as a component that enables a user to manually control the heat used to evaporate the payload 64, which is transmitted to the electronic cigarette device 10 by the application 74 to control The heat signal can be included in the operating settings. In some embodiments, the dashboard 75 may include a lock indicator 82, an unlock indicator 84, and a component that enables and disables the electronic cigarette device 10 by the user sliding the slide button 86 to the right or left, respectively. Slide button 86.

In some embodiments, the application 74 may access an online data source to update a database (described below) or otherwise process information, such operations may be performed periodically and / or automatically, or by a user Prompt the application to update the data manually, or a combination of the two procedures. As described below, the online data source may include the operating settings for the plurality of electronic cigarette devices 10 and substances contained in the payload reservoir 26. The online data source may also include a list of stolen payload identifiers, a list of recalled payload identifiers, and / or a payload identifier that has been returned to a return center (for example, for recycling) One list. In addition, the online data source may include a list of control assemblies authorized for use with each of the payload receptacles 26. In one embodiment, each control assembly is identified by a control assembly identifier, and the online data source includes a control assembly identifier of a control assembly authorized for use with each of the payload reservoirs 26. One list.
database

In some embodiments, a database is provided that stores the unique payload identifiers of the plurality of payload receptacles and associates each of the unique payload identifiers with a particular operational setting and / or secondary data. The secondary data may include, for example, user information, authentication information, prescription information, payload information, historical usage information (including historical e-cigarette device usage information and historical payload reservoir information), recall information, return information And control assembly information, as described below. Of course, it should be understood that the database can store any combination of operational settings and secondary data as required for a particular application.

The user information may include, but is not limited to, various physiological characteristics, such as a user's height, weight, age, gender, medical history and medical history, and medical conditions.

User information may also include demographic information, such as a user's employer, work experience, education, criminal history, and the like. This user information can not only be used to control the operation settings of the electronic cigarette device 10, but also the demographic information can be used to display the target content, advertisements and materials on the dashboard 75 and / or the user information window 76.

User information may be retrieved from, for example, third-party health, fitness, and social networking software applications (such as Facebook®, LinkedIn®, Snapchat®, Twitter®, and / or Fitbit®) on the computing device 72. In addition, user information may be obtained from a third-party database (such as a health information database, medical records database, health insurance company database, crime database, legal and court database, and the like) through an application 74 or a remote computing device. Person) capture. In addition, user information may be typed into the application 74 and / or the electronic cigarette device 10 by the user (eg, via a user input device coupled to the user input interface circuit 34).

The authentication information may include a password or passcode, a fingerprint scan, a facial recognition scan, a retinal scan, or any other type of biological information that can be used to identify a user. The authentication information may be typed into the application 74 and / or the electronic cigarette device 10 by the user (eg, via a user input device coupled to the user input interface circuit 34).

Prescribing information can be retrieved from, for example, pharmacy and pharmacy databases and from doctors, pharmacists, and others with permission to write and / or manage prescriptions. The prescription information preferably includes whether a particular user has a valid, unexpired prescription to use the substance in the payload reservoir 26.

The payload information may include the original volume of one of the specific substances located in a payload receptacle 26 to identify and locate the substance in the payload receptacle 26.

The historical usage information may include information associated with the use of the electronic cigarette device 10 (historical electronic cigarette device usage information) and / or information associated with the use of the payload reservoir 26 (historical payload container information). Historical e-cigarette device usage information may include (but is not limited to) the number of previous sessions during which the e-cigarette device 10 was used, user information related to the previous session, the duration of the previous session, the operation of the previous session Settings, metering and dosage information from previous sessions, and the like. The historical payload receptacle information may contain details related to the payload receptacle 26, such as the original payload contents, the remaining contents, the contents used, the contents used in the work phase, and the like.

The recall information may include information indicating that the payload reservoir 26 has been recalled. The return information may include information indicating that the payload reservoir 26 has been returned to a return center (eg, for recycling). The control assembly information may include information about a control assembly authorized for use with the payload reservoir 26. In one embodiment, each control assembly is identified by a control assembly identifier, and the control assembly information includes a control assembly identifier of a control assembly authorized for use with the payload reservoir 26 One list.

It should be understood that the database may be maintained in the memory of the computing device 72 accessible by the application 74, in the memory of the microcontroller 31 and / or in a location remote from the electronic cigarette device 10 and the computing device 72. An external memory is accessible via a global telecommunications network 92. Any type of relational database software (such as Microsoft Access® software sold by Microsoft Corporation, Oracle® software sold by Oracle Corporation, or SQL software sold by Sybase, Inc.) can be used to maintain data in applicable memory. Of course, as known to those skilled in the art, other database software can also be used.
Method for using electronic cigarette device

Referring to FIG. 4, the steps according to an exemplary method for operating and controlling the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 are shown. Although the method is described below in connection with the electronic cigarette device 10, the method can also be used with the electronic cigarette device 100 and the electronic cigarette device 2800 (described below). When used in accordance with the methods described herein, the electronic cigarette device 2800 preferably includes an ID tag 28 having a unique payload identifier. The method can be executed by the electronic cigarette device 10 in conjunction with the application program 74 running on the computing device 72 shown in FIG. 3. The method may begin at step 402, where the electronic cigarette device 10 is in a preset, locked state, which means that it cannot be operated. When a user accesses their computing device 72 in step 404, the computing device 72 can confirm the user's identification (for example, the user enters a password, passcode, or biometric) to be able to move to step 406, The computing device 72 can launch the application 74 and then communicate with the electronic cigarette device 10 to poll the unique payload identifier of the ID tag 28. The application program 74 may also be used to authenticate the user before transmitting the payload identifier to the computing device 72. In step 408, the electronic cigarette device 10 may read the ID tag 28 after polling by the computing device 72 and then transmit the payload identifier to the computing device 72. Specifically, in one embodiment, the microcontroller 31 of the electronic cigarette device 10 receives the payload identifier from the ID tag 28 and transmits the payload identifier to the wireless transceiver (ie, the RF transceiver circuit 36 and ( (A) antennas 40), and the (such) antenna 40 transmits a payload identifier to the computing device 72.

In step 410, the application program 74 may utilize the payload identifier of the ID tag 28 and the secondary data as needed to determine that it is associated with the payload identifier of the ID tag 28 and may take into account the evaporation or operation settings of the secondary data as needed. As described above, the computing device 72 may alternatively transmit the unique payload identifier to a remote computing device at a central server or in the cloud. The remote computing device can maintain one of the data associated with each unique payload identifier and operating settings customized for a specific substance located in the payload reservoir 26 and a specific user using the payload reservoir 26 Library. The remote computing device may then send the operating settings and identification of the specific substance within the payload reservoir 26 back to the computing device 72. In some embodiments, the application 74 proceeds to step 412 and transmits the operation settings to the electronic cigarette device 10. Specifically, in one embodiment, a wireless transceiver of the computing device 72 transmits the operating settings to the antenna (s) 40 and the RF transceiver circuit 36 of the electronic cigarette device, which transmits the operating settings to the microcontroller 31 of the microprocessor. In step 414, the microcontroller 31 in the electronic cigarette device 10 then operates and controls the electronic cigarette device 10 based on the operation settings.

In other embodiments, the application 74 proceeds to step 416 instead of step 414, so the application 74 can confirm whether the user is authorized to use the electronic cigarette device 10. The application 74 may use any combination of secondary data (e.g., user information, prescription information, location information, payload information, historical e-cigarette device usage information, and historical payload reservoir information) and a payload identifier to determine Whether the user is authorized to use the electronic cigarette device 10. For example, the application 74 may use secondary data (such as prescription information) and payload information indicating the contents of the payload reservoir 26 to determine whether the user associated with the prescription information is allowed to access the payload reservoir The payload contents in the container 26. In yet another example, the application 74 may utilize user information (such as gender, age, and weight) and historical e-cigarette device usage information to determine an appropriate dose and / or metering of the e-cigarette device 10.

If the user is so authorized, the application 74 can further determine whether the payload reservoir 26 (in FIG. 1) or the nozzle assembly 88 (in FIG. 2) is genuine rather than a fake, or if necessary Stolen or otherwise unauthorized for use by the user (e.g., application 74 may compare the payload identifier with an indication of whether payload reservoir 26 or nozzle assembly 88 has been reported as being tampered or stolen effectively Load information). If true rather than stolen, the application 74 may proceed to step 412 where the operating settings may be transmitted to the electronic cigarette device 10 and then allow the user to operate the electronic cigarette device 10 at step 414. If it is not real or stolen, the application 74 may lock the electronic cigarette device 10 to prevent its use.

In other embodiments, the application 74 proceeds from step 416 to step 418 instead of proceeding to step 414. In step 418, the application 74 may determine the geographic location of the electronic cigarette device 10 and determine whether the validity of the electronic cigarette device 10 can be consumed in the location by comparing the geographic location with the location information obtained by the application 74 load. If the payload in the electronic cigarette device 10 can be consumed in the position of the electronic cigarette device 10, the application 74 may proceed to step 412 in which the operation settings may be transmitted to the electronic cigarette device 10, and then allowed in step 414者 Operate the electronic cigarette device 10. If the payload in the electronic cigarette device 10 cannot be consumed in the position of the electronic cigarette device 10, the application program 74 may lock the electronic cigarette device 10 to prevent its use.

In other embodiments, the application 74 proceeds to step 420, where it is determined that one of the electronic cigarette devices 10 may be used for an allowed duration. The allowed duration may be based on secondary data (e.g., user information, prescription information, location information, payload information, historical e-cigarette device usage information, and historical payload reservoir information) and / or payload identifiers. Any combination to determine. The allowed duration may be transmitted to the electronic cigarette device as an operating setting in step 412. Once the operation settings are received by the electronic cigarette device 10 in step 414, the electronic cigarette device 10 can implement these operation settings to vaporize the payload contained therein accordingly. In this embodiment, the electronic cigarette device 10 can be unlocked for use by the user according to the received operation setting. In addition, the electronic cigarette device 10 may be locked at step 402 after the allowed duration or the expiration of the use period.

In addition, after operating the electronic cigarette device 10 in step 414, after use, after a predetermined duration, after being deactivated by the user, the payload receptacle 26 is considered or calculated as empty or has been After use, after a new user has been detected, and / or for any other reason that the e-cigarette device 10 can be locked as described herein, the microcontroller 31 and / or the application 74 may be passed in step 402 Lock the electronic cigarette device 10.

In one embodiment, the application program 74 or an application program similar to the application program 74 can be executed by the electronic cigarette device 10 on the microprocessor of the microcontroller 31 without using the computing device 72. The method shown in 4. In this embodiment, step 402 remains the same as described above. Step 404 may be modified so that user information is entered into the electronic cigarette device 10 to determine whether the user is an approved user of the electronic cigarette device 10 and to determine the contents of the payload receptacle 26. Steps 406 and 408 may be omitted, or if necessary, step 408 may include the microprocessor 31 of the microcontroller 31 receiving a payload identifier from the ID tag 28. In step 410, the operation setting is determined based on the payload identifier and / or the secondary data as described above, but the operation setting is determined by the microprocessor of the microcontroller 31 of the electronic cigarette device 10. When the electronic cigarette device 10 already contains the operation setting, step 412 is omitted. Step 414 continues as described above. The selection steps 416, 418, and 420 can be continued as described above, but an application program running on the microprocessor of the microcontroller 31 performs these steps. The method may also include operating the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 according to the systems and methods for optimizing evaporation described below.

In yet another embodiment, the computing device 72 is integrated in the electronic cigarette device 10 or is physically coupled to the electronic cigarette device 10. In this embodiment, the payload identifier can be transmitted to the computing device 72 via an electrical connection between the payload reservoir 26 and the integrated computing device 72. Similarly, the computing device 72 may transmit the operation settings to the microcontroller 31 via the electrical connection. In yet another embodiment, the integrated computing device 72 may include a wireless transceiver or an optical transceiver, and may operate as in the remote computing device embodiment described herein.

In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 may include security settings that prevent unauthorized use of the electronic cigarette device by anyone other than the owner of the electronic cigarette device, which has a prescription for medical marijuana. In some embodiments, the security settings can prevent the use of electronic cigarette devices in areas or jurisdictions where the consumption of medical marijuana is unauthorized or illegal, even for legal owners of electronic cigarette devices. These security settings can be implemented to meet regulatory or legal enforcement of unauthorized use of electronic cigarette devices when marijuana products are consumed for medical or other purposes.

In another embodiment, the application 74 and / or the electronic cigarette device 10 may utilize acceleration, motion, altitude, and / or speed sensors to determine whether the user is in, for example, a moving vehicle or airplane. This information can be used by the application 74 and / or the electronic cigarette device 10 to restrict access to the electronic cigarette device 10 or lock the electronic cigarette device 10. The sensor 70 (such as an accelerometer, an altimeter, a gyroscope, and a speed sensor) may be integrated with the electronic cigarette device 10 and / or the computing device 72.

Of course, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the exemplary method for operating and controlling an electronic cigarette device as described above in conjunction with FIG. 4, and an electronic cigarette may be operated and controlled using a computing device running an application 74 Other steps and combinations of steps of the device.

In some embodiments, the computing device 72 runs an application program 74 that includes a set of instructions stored in the memory of the computing device 72 and executable by the processor of the computing device 72 to execute a program described herein. The application program 74 causes the computing device 72 to retrieve a unique payload identifier, wherein the unique payload identifier and any combination of operation settings and secondary data stored in the database in association with the unique payload identifier as described above It is used to modify, judge, adjust or otherwise control the operation settings of the electronic cigarette device and access to the electronic cigarette device. In these embodiments, the database may be maintained in the memory of the computing device 72 accessible via the application 74 and / or maintained remotely from the electronic cigarette device and the computing device 72 via a global telecommunications network 92 Access one of external memory.

In other embodiments, the computing device 72 may retrieve the unique payload identifier from the electronic cigarette device and transmit the unique payload identifier to a remote computing device (such as being located at a central server) via the global telecommunication network 92. Or a computing device in the cloud). The remote computing device runs an application program, which includes an instruction set stored in the memory of the remote computing device and executable by the processor of the remote computing device to execute a program described herein. The remote computing device utilizes a unique payload identifier and any combination of operational settings and secondary data stored in a database in association with the unique payload identifier as described above in order to determine the operational settings of the electronic cigarette device and / Or security settings and transmit these operational settings and / or security settings back to the computing device 72.

In some embodiments, an application (whether it is an application 74 running on the computing device 72 or an application running on a remote computing device) may use a unique payload identifier as a setting for determining the operation settings of the electronic cigarette device. A component. In one embodiment, after receiving the unique payload identifier, the application can retrieve the operation settings stored in the database in association with the unique payload identifier. Operating settings include operating settings that cause the e-cigarette device to evaporate a specific payload contained in a payload reservoir identified by a unique payload identifier as recommended from the manufacturer of the payload and / or the electronic cigarette device. In another embodiment, after receiving the unique payload identifier, the application may retrieve the payload information stored in the database in association with the unique payload identifier. The payload information may include identification of one of the substances contained in the payload reservoir identified by a unique payload identifier, and the application may access operations associated with the substance via a connection to an online data source set up. In another embodiment, the application can access the online data source to update the operating settings stored in the database, which can be performed periodically and automatically, or manually by the user prompting the application to update the data , Or a combination of two programs. When new information about a particular substance is available, the operating settings can be updated by the manufacturer or provider of the payload receptacle or electronic cigarette device (whether stored in a database or connected to one of an online data source) take).

Once the operation settings have been determined as described above, the application causes the operation settings to be transmitted to the electronic cigarette device, whereby the electronic cigarette device operates according to the operation settings. Preferably, whenever a user uses the electronic cigarette device, the electronic cigarette device checks the new operation setting, so that if the operation setting has been updated, the electronic cigarette device operates according to the updated operation setting. In this way, a manufacturer or provider of a payload receptacle or e-cigarette device can update operating settings for a specific substance and specific payload receptacle and ensure that these operating settings will be effective for the specific substance and Any future use of the load reservoir is effective.

In some embodiments, the application program 74 running on the computing device 72 may use the unique payload identifier as a component to determine whether the person who owns the electronic cigarette device and the computing device 72 is an authorized user.

In one embodiment, the application 74 may request the user to enter user authentication information, such as a password, a fingerprint scan, a facial recognition scan, a retinal scan, or other biological information. After receiving the unique payload identifier, the application 74 may retrieve the authentication information stored in the database in association with the unique payload identifier. The application 74 may then compare the user authentication information entered by the user with the authentication information stored in the database and generate an indication based on the comparison whether the user who entered the user authentication information is authorized to use the A security setting for one of the payload receptacles identified by the payload identifier. The application 74 may then cause the security setting (eg, an enable or disable control signal) to be transmitted to the electronic cigarette device. If the security setting instructs the user entering the user authentication information to use the payload receptacle identified by the unique payload identifier without authorization, the operation of the electronic cigarette device is prevented. However, operation of the electronic cigarette device is allowed if the security setting indicates that the user who enters the user authentication information is authorized to use the payload receptacle identified by the unique payload identifier.

In another embodiment, when the user turns on his / her personal computing device 72 and meets the general security settings of the device (ie, the user enters his / her secure access code or password into the personal computing device) , Or by using a fingerprint scanner placed on a personal computing device, or by using a camera placed on the device for a user's face or retina scan, as is well known to those skilled in the art), Unlock electronic cigarette device. If the person who owns the computing device 72 and the electronic cigarette device is allowed to open the application on the computing device 72 and thus access the application 74, the application 74 may send an enable signal to the electronic cigarette device to poll the unique payload identifier And the operation of the electronic cigarette device is allowed, provided that all other factors or conditions that allow the operation of the electronic cigarette device have been satisfied. As is familiar to those skilled in the art, when the computing device 72 "sleeps" due to a low battery charge condition, the application 74 may send a disable signal to the electronic cigarette device to prevent the electronic cigarette when it is turned off or powered off Device operation. In addition, when the electronic cigarette device is separated from the computing device 72 by a predetermined physical distance, the electronic cigarette device may be turned off or disabled until it receives an enable signal from the computing device 72. In some embodiments, in addition to any password to be entered or other security measures required by the computing device 72, the application 74 may also require the user to enter a password to open and enable the operation of the application 74 and therefore the electronic cigarette device Operation. If the user can type the correct password into the application 74, the application 74 can send an enable signal to the electronic cigarette device to poll the unique payload identifier. In addition, when the application program 74 is closed, the application program 74 may send a disable signal to the electronic cigarette device to disable the electronic cigarette device.

In yet another embodiment, the application 74 may compare user information (e.g., one or more specific users who may or may not use the substance in the payload reservoir) associated with the unique payload identifier. An application user information provided by the user to the application 74 to determine whether the user of the application 74 is permitted to operate the electronic cigarette device and use a specific payload reservoir.

In some embodiments, an application (whether it is an application 74 running on a computing device 72 or an application running on a remote computing device) may use a unique payload identifier as a determination whether it is available to the user A geographic region, location, country, state, or municipality that consumes one component of a payload. In these embodiments, the application may access Global Positioning System ("GPS") features that the computing device 72 may have to determine the physical location of the computing device 72 and therefore the physical location of its users. In other embodiments, the computing device 72 may use a honeycomb tower triangulation measurement technique or other cellular phone positioning techniques, as known to those skilled in the art, to determine its geographic location.

After receiving the unique payload identifier, the application can retrieve the payload information stored in the database in association with the unique payload identifier. The application can then determine whether the substance identified in the payload information can be legally consumed in the user's location (ie, the location of the computing device 72). In one embodiment, this determination is made by comparing the geographic location of the computing device 72 with a location information database (which can be stored on the computing device 72 or a remote computing device) to determine whether the user can Material is legally consumed in this location. The application may then generate a security setting indicating whether one of the substances identified by the unique payload identifier can be legally consumed in the location of the computing device 72 based on the comparison. The application may then cause a security setting (eg, an enable or disable control signal) to be transmitted to the electronic cigarette device. Prevent the operation of the electronic cigarette device if the security setting indicates that the substance identified by the unique payload identifier cannot be legally consumed in the location of the computing device 72 (because the use of the substance would violate laws or regulations or for any other reason) . However, if the security setting instruction can legally consume the substance identified by the unique payload identifier in the position of the computing device 72, the operation of the electronic cigarette device is allowed.

In some embodiments, the application (whether it is an application 74 running on the computing device 72 or an application running on a remote computing device) may use the unique payload identifier as a determination whether a payload store has been recalled. A component of the collector (eg, whether a recall has been issued for a substance contained in the payload reservoir). In one embodiment, the application makes this determination by retrieving recall information stored in the database in association with a unique payload identifier, where the recall information indicates whether the payload reservoir has been recalled. In another embodiment, the application identifies the recalled payload reservoir (or alternatively, the recalled substance by accessing it, which may be stored in a database in association with a unique payload identifier) The payload information) to make this determination. The application may then generate an indication of whether one of the security settings of the payload reservoir has been recalled and cause the security setting (eg, an enable or disable control signal) to be transmitted to the electronic cigarette device. If the safety setting indicates that the payload reservoir has been recalled, the operation of the electronic cigarette device is prevented. However, if the security setting indicates that the payload reservoir has not been recalled, operation of the electronic cigarette device is allowed. This security feature also enables the sound of a recall message and / or an audible recall message to be displayed on the computing device 72 and / or the electronic cigarette device itself. Of course, if the payload reservoir is depleted, these recall messages are not needed, as described below.

In some embodiments, an application (whether it is an application 74 running on a computing device 72 or an application running on a remote computing device) may use a unique payload identifier as a determination of whether a payload reservoir is A component that has been returned to a return center (for example, for recycling a cassette or payload reservoir). In one embodiment, the application makes this determination by retrieving return information stored in the database in association with a unique payload identifier, where the return information indicates whether a payload reservoir has been returned. In another embodiment, the application makes this determination by accessing an online data source identifying one of the payload receptacles that have been returned. The application may then generate an indication of whether a security setting of the payload reservoir has been returned and cause the security setting (eg, an enable or disable control signal) to be transmitted to the electronic cigarette device. If the safety setting indicates that the payload reservoir has been returned, operation of the electronic cigarette device is prevented. However, operation of the electronic cigarette device is allowed if the safety setting indicates that the payload reservoir has not been returned.

In some embodiments, an application (whether it is an application 74 running on a computing device 72 or an application running on a remote computing device) may use a unique payload identifier as a determination of whether a payload reservoir is One component was stolen. In one embodiment, the application makes this determination by retrieving information stored in the database in association with a unique payload identifier, where the information indicates whether the payload receptacle has been stolen. In another embodiment, the application makes this determination by accessing an online data source identifying one of the payload receptacles that has been stolen. The application may then generate a security setting indicating whether the payload receptacle has stolen and caused the security setting (eg, an enable or disable control signal) to be transmitted to the electronic cigarette device. If the security setting indicates that the payload reservoir has been stolen, the operation of the electronic cigarette device is prevented. However, if the security setting indicates that the payload receptacle has not been stolen, operation of the electronic cigarette device is allowed.

In some embodiments, the application program (whether it is an application program 74 running on the computing device 72 or an application running on a remote computing device) may use a unique payload identifier as a control device for determining one of the electronic cigarette devices. Is a component authorized for use with a payload receptacle contained in a cassette of an electronic cigarette device. In one embodiment, the application controls the assembly identifier by receiving one of the control assemblies of the electronic cigarette device (which can be stored in the microcontroller of the control assembly and transmitted to the computing together with the unique payload identifier The device 72) makes this determination. In one embodiment, the control assembly identifier includes a unique control assembly identifier, but this is optional and not required. The application then identifies a list of one or more control assembly identifiers authorized for use with the payload reservoir identified by the unique identifier. The application then compares the received control assembly identifier with the list of control assembly identifiers, and generates an indication based on the comparison whether the control assembly identified by the received control assembly identifier is authorized to borrow from A security setting used with a payload receptacle identified by a received unique payload identifier. The application may then cause the security setting (eg, an enable or disable control signal) to be transmitted to the electronic cigarette device. If the security setting indicates that the control assembly identified by the control assembly identifier is unauthorized for use with the payload receptacle identified by the unique payload identifier, operation of the electronic cigarette device is prevented. However, if the security setting indicates that the control assembly identified by the control assembly identifier is authorized for use with the payload receptacle identified by the unique payload identifier, operation of the electronic cigarette device is permitted.

In some embodiments, the application (whether it is an application 74 running on the computing device 72 or an application running on a remote computing device) may use the unique payload identifier as a determination of whether the user of the electronic cigarette device is A component having a prescription for evaporating the payload contained in the payload reservoir. In one embodiment, the application makes this determination by retrieving and analyzing user information and / or prescription information stored in a database in association with the unique payload identifier. The application may then generate a security setting indicating whether the user has a valid prescription for evaporating the payload contained in the payload reservoir and cause the security setting (e.g., an enable or disable control signal) to be transmitted To the electronic cigarette device. If the safety setting indicates that the user does not have a valid prescription for evaporating the payload contained in the payload reservoir, the operation of the electronic cigarette device is prevented. However, operation of the electronic cigarette device is allowed if the safety setting indicates that the user has a valid prescription for evaporating one of the payloads contained in the payload reservoir. Preferably, when a user's prescription has changed, the prescription information is updated in the database.

In some embodiments, the application (whether it is an application 74 running on the computing device 72 or an application running on a remote computing device) may use the unique payload identifier as a determination of whether the payload container is consuming Lack of one component. In one embodiment, the application makes this determination by retrieving and analyzing the payload information and historical payload container usage information stored in the database in association with the unique payload identifier. The payload information contains the original volume of the payload contained in the payload reservoir. The historical payload receptacle usage information is updated based on the payload receptacle usage information obtained from the e-cigarette device, as described above. The application analyzes the payload information and historical payload receptacle usage information to determine if the payload receptacle is depleted (eg, whether the currently calculated volume of the payload is below a predetermined threshold). The application then generates a security setting indicating whether the payload reservoir is depleted and causes the security setting (eg, an enable or disable control signal) to be transmitted to the electronic cigarette device. If the safety setting indicates that the payload reservoir is depleted, operation of the electronic cigarette device is prevented. However, if the safety setting indicates that the payload reservoir is not depleted, operation of the electronic cigarette device is allowed. This security feature prevents an electronic cigarette device having a counterfeit payload receptacle (e.g., a payload receptacle having one of the same unique identifiers as a payload receptacle) or where the payload receptacle is not Operation of a refilled electronic cigarette device with authorization. This safety feature also prevents a user from inhaling (ie, inhaling without any payload in the payload reservoir), which provides improved consumer health.

In some embodiments, an application (whether it is an application 74 running on a computing device 72 or an application running on a remote computing device) may use a unique payload identifier as a determination when the payload reservoir is almost There is no one component of the payload. In one embodiment, the application makes this determination by retrieving and analyzing the payload information and historical payload container usage information stored in the database in association with the unique payload identifier. The payload information contains the original volume of the payload contained in the payload reservoir. The historical payload receptacle usage information is updated based on the payload receptacle usage information obtained from the e-cigarette device, as described above. The application analyzes the payload information and historical payload container usage information to determine when the payload container has almost no payload. When this happens, the app can alert the user to replace or order a new box and / or automatically order a replacement box.

In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 may include a single-use or single-use version with reduced functionality but adapted from its higher quality embodiments.

In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 may include a conventional "cigarette appearance", while other embodiments may include a non-cigarette appearance.

In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 may include a lamp that mimics the embers of a cigarette when inhaling steam.

In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 in combination with an application 74 running on a personal computing device 72 may control the temperature and / or duty cycle of evaporation to optimize the effectiveness of any given type to be evaporated for inhalation. Load of odor or steam. In some embodiments, the application 74 may be used to improve the efficiency of the operation of the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 and to maximize the life of one of the fluid or oil filled cassettes or payload reservoirs 26 used in the electronic cigarette device.

In some embodiments, the application 74 may include features for customizing a user's electronic cigarette device 10 or 100 (such as naming the electronic cigarette device, selecting its color, and controlling a vibrating device disposed in the electronic cigarette device). In some embodiments, the application 74 may include security settings that control access to the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 and lock them when not in use.

In some embodiments, the e-cigarette devices 10 and 100 may include a processor (ie, such as included in the microcontroller 31) that operates on a firmware disposed thereon. The connection capability between the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 and the application program 74 disposed on the personal computing device 72 can implement a means for updating the firmware on the electronic cigarette device to keep the electronic cigarette device operating on the latest firmware. In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette device may include an electronic cigarette device that may be adapted to display an OEM brand or depend on the brand, sales channels for branded electronic cigarette devices, and the intended end use of the electronic cigarette device (such as medical , Entertainment) and other entities configuration.

In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 will be used with high-quality oil products that do not leak from the electronic cigarette device. The e-cigarette device will avoid the generation of stale steam by precise temperature control, rapid cooling and providing a fast path for the steam inhaled from the e-cigarette device.

In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 may include a battery 42 as a power source for evaporating a payload. The battery 42 may include a lithium-ion battery, but other battery technologies may be used, as is well known to those skilled in the art. Because the electronic cigarette device is a personal use device, the battery 42 may include technology to prevent explosion in the event of a battery failure.

In some embodiments, the e-cigarette devices 10 and 100 may be configured to be free of any location (whether in the oil used in the e-cigarette device or the material used in the manufacture of the e-cigarette device) Use propylene glycol "PG" or other unnecessary chemicals.

In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 may include a means for preventing them from overheating.

In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 may include means for preventing them from generating a potential odor or taste. The electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 may be further configured to generate steam that can be seen when a user exhales.

In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 may be configured to be able to view the effectiveness of the cassette or payload receptacle 26 when inserted or attached to the cassette or payload receptacle 26. load. In other embodiments, the electronic cigarette device may be configured so that the payload in the box is not visible when the box is inserted into the electronic cigarette device.

In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 may be configured to be water resistant or waterproof.

In some embodiments, the cassettes used with the e-cigarette devices 10 and 100 may be separated from the e-cigarette device and may be provided in various sizes depending on the amount of payload they may contain.

In some embodiments, the e-cigarette devices 10 and 100 may include a component for obtaining information about a box that can be used to control the operation of the electronic cigarette device based on the serial number of the box. For example, the e-cigarette device may obtain specific information specific to the payload in the cassette to know the temperature and / or duty cycle suggested by the manufacturer for heating the payload in order to achieve optimal evaporation. In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette device may include a component that enables a user to change one or more operating settings of the electronic cigarette device to suit the user's personal preferences. In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette device may include means for tracking information related to the operation of the electronic cigarette device and a user's use of the electronic cigarette device. In some embodiments, the e-cigarette device may be configured to respond to certain conditions of the e-cigarette device (to name a few, such as when the cassette is almost empty, when the battery is almost exhausted, when the heating element overheats or loses functionality) When) provide a warning. In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette device may include means for monitoring and collecting information about how a user uses the electronic cigarette device, and in addition to being able to provide the user with information on how to improve or In addition to their recommendations for optimizing the use of electronic cigarette devices, they also provide information and evaluation components on how the user uses the electronic cigarette device.

In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 may be configured for use with other personal computing devices 72 (such as a smartphone or device such as an iPhone® or Apple® Watch®) that a user may use or own. ) Or an integrated tracking wristband (such as a Fitbit®)) to exchange information to provide users with further information about their lifestyle habits.

In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 may include means for locating them when they are lost. This may include components for communicating with a smartphone or device to provide functionality similar to the Find iPhone ™ app used on, for example, Apple® iPhones® and iPads®.

In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 may be configured to communicate with an application program 74 running on a smart phone or personal computing device 72, wherein the app may include adjusting the operation of the heating element 22 Temperature and / or duty cycle, and the ability to control the operation of the electronic cigarette device for users with different experiences. As an example, the application 74 may enable an anti-cough setting on the electronic cigarette device for a novice user.

The electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 are preferably capable of communicating with smart phones or devices and operating in conjunction with applications running on those smart phones or devices to control and monitor the use of electronic cigarette devices by a user, as described above . In some embodiments, the application 74 may be configured to obtain specific information about the evaporated payload based on the serial number of the cassette. This information can then be used to control or meter the dose of steam inhaled by the user.

In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 can be locked and unlocked by a user using their personal computing device 72. In some embodiments, the e-cigarette device may be configured to be child-safe and prevent use by unauthorized users. In some embodiments, the e-cigarette device may be configured to be inherently locked for regulatory purposes when not connected to the application 74. In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette device may further include a device for losing connection with the user's smart phone or device (such as when the user does not have such a smart phone or device, or When the battery in the phone or device is exhausted) a component that identifies an authorized user. These components may include a fingerprint sensor disposed on each e-cigarette device itself, wherein the e-cigarette device may hold personal data about the user (such as one or more of a memory stored on the e-cigarette device). (Fingerprint scan data) in order to determine whether a fingerprint scan obtained by the fingerprint sensor matches the fingerprint scan data stored in the memory to confirm that the identity of the person attempting to use the electronic cigarette device is an authorized user.

Broadly speaking, in some embodiments, the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 may include: an atomizer including a heating element, the atomizer further including an inlet and an outlet; a nozzle, which is operable Ground coupled to the outlet; and a payload receptacle operatively coupled to the inlet, the payload receptacle including an identifier ("ID") containing a unique identifier of the payload receptacle ) Tag, the payload reservoir is configured to hold a payload that can be drawn into the atomizer to evaporate when the user draws on the nozzle.

Broadly speaking, in some embodiments, the electronic cigarette device may further include a radio frequency transceiver or wireless transceiver and at least one antenna operatively coupled to the transceiver, and the combination of the transceiver and the antenna is configured In order to be able to wirelessly transmit data between the electronic cigarette device and a personal computing device.

Broadly speaking, in some embodiments, an improved electronic cigarette device system may be provided. The system includes: an electronic cigarette device; and a human computing device configured to wirelessly transmit data to the electronic cigarette. Device and wirelessly transmitting data from the electronic cigarette device, the electronic cigarette device includes: an atomizer including a heating element, the atomizer further includes an inlet and an outlet; and a suction nozzle operatively coupled to The outlet; a payload receptacle operatively coupled to the inlet, the payload receptacle comprising an identifier ("ID") tag containing a unique identifier of the payload receptacle, the The payload reservoir is configured to hold a payload that can be drawn into the atomizer to evaporate when the user draws on the nozzle; and a radio frequency transceiver and operatively coupled to the transceiver for at least one day The combination of the transceiver and the at least one antenna is configured for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data.

Broadly speaking, in some embodiments, the electronic cigarette device may further include a switch or a extraction sensor operatively coupled to the suction nozzle, the switch or the extraction sensor being configured to operate at the switch. A current is caused to flow through the heating element when or when the user draws on the nozzle.

Broadly speaking, in some embodiments, the electronic cigarette device may further include a battery configured to provide current.

Broadly speaking, in some embodiments, the electronic cigarette device may further include a battery charger configured to charge the battery.

Broadly speaking, in some embodiments, the personal computing device may include a software application running thereon, wherein the combination of the electronic cigarette device and the personal computing device may be configured to wirelessly control the electronic cigarette device using the personal computing device. .

Broadly speaking, in some embodiments, the software application may be further configured to perform the following steps: Interpreting an ID tag via a first data transmitted from the electronic cigarette device to the personal computing device, the first data including the only valid A load identifier; using a unique identifier to determine the payload in the payload reservoir; and transmitting an operation setting from the personal computing device to the electronic cigarette device, the operation setting including instructions for the electronic cigarette device: Authorization to use the electronic cigarette device enables the operation of the electronic cigarette device; or if the user is unauthorized to use the electronic cigarette device, the operation of the electronic cigarette device is disabled.

Broadly speaking, in some embodiments, the operation settings may further include instructions for the electronic cigarette device: if the user is positioned in a geographic area where the user can vaporize the payload, the operation of the electronic cigarette device is enabled; and If the user is located in a geographic area where the user cannot evaporate the payload, the operation of the electronic cigarette device is disabled.

Broadly speaking, in some embodiments, the electronic cigarette device may further include a microcontroller operatively coupled to one of the atomizer and the ID tag, the microcontroller configured to control the operation of the electronic cigarette device.

Broadly speaking, in some embodiments, the electronic cigarette device may further include a user interface operatively coupled to the microcontroller.

Broadly speaking, in some embodiments, the user interface may include one or more user input control devices operatively coupled to the microcontroller, the input control devices being configured for The operator controls the operation of the electronic cigarette device when operating.

Broadly speaking, in some embodiments, the user interface may further include one or more user output indicating devices operatively coupled to the microcontroller, the output indicating devices being configured for The operation information of the smoke device is relayed to the user.

Broadly speaking, in some embodiments, the atomizer can be placed in an atomizer assembly; both the nozzle and the payload reservoir can be placed in a nozzle assembly; and the microcontroller can be placed In a control assembly, the atomizer assembly may be disposed between the nozzle assembly and the control assembly.
Optimize evaporation

In addition to operating as described above, the e-cigarette devices 10 and 100, the e-cigarette device system 102, and the e-cigarette device 2800 (described below) can also be configured to monitor by using sensors and microcontrollers , Analyze and store a user's extraction profile to optimize evaporation for a specific user. The obtained information can be used to adjust the heat distribution of the electronic cigarette devices 10, 100, 2800 and the electronic cigarette device system 102. Optimizing evaporation according to the systems and methods described below results in a more efficient electronic cigarette device and a better user experience.

As described above, the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 include means for evaporating a payload (such as, but not limited to, a fluid, oil, or an ingot containing nicotine or hemp (in the form of a dry matter, oil, wax, crystals, or debris)) One atomizer 20. Although the following description refers to the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100, it is within the scope of the present invention that the configuration boxes 900, 1000, 1100, 1900, 2100, 2400, 2500, and 2600 and the electronic cigarette device 2800 operate in a similar manner. When the atomizer 20 includes a heating element, such as the heating element 22, to evaporate the payload, different compounds of the payload may evaporate at different temperatures. For example, the table below lists the temperatures at which different compounds of a payload can evaporate.

Various compounds in the payload can have different effects on the user when inhaled, and therefore the user can expect to control the temperature of the heating element 22 so that the heating element 22 releases specific compounds from the payload and not others, which may not provide A desired effect may be harmful. To ensure that the desired compound from the payload is released when the heating element 22 heats the payload, the temperature of the heating element 22 may be expected to be as accurate and consistent as possible. The temperature of the heating element 22 can be changed based on a number of different factors, including: the air flow through the nozzle 16 and the atomizer 20 caused by a user extracting the evaporated payload and air through the electronic cigarette device 10; The composition of the payload in the payload reservoir 26; and the thermal conductivity of the electronic cigarette device 10. The temperature of the heating element 22 can also be adjusted by adjusting the amount of power provided from the battery 42 to the heating element 22. The microcontroller 31 has the ability to adjust the level of power provided by the battery 42 to the heating element 22 (by current or voltage control).

A user of an electronic cigarette device usually uses an electronic cigarette device in a similar manner from one mist suction work stage to the next mist suction work stage. For example, FIG. 6A to FIG. 6D are graphs showing an average value and a 95% confidence interval calculated based on multiple measurements of extraction or puffing of an electronic cigarette device by one of twenty-two different electronic cigarette device users. FIG. 6A shows the average of the measured suction duration or extraction length and the 95% confidence interval for a user in seconds. FIG. 6B shows the average value of the measured suction flow or extraction intensity and the 95% confidence interval for the user in ml / s. FIG. 6C shows the average measured suction or extraction volume and the 95% confidence interval for a user in milliliters. FIG. 6D shows the average of the measured suction interval or the time span between suction / extraction and the 95% confidence interval for the user in seconds. From these charts, it can be seen that most e-cigarette device users have relatively narrow confidence intervals for the duration of suction (Figure 6A), the flow of suction (Figure 6B), and the volume of suction (Figure 6C). Most users also have a relatively narrow confidence interval for the suction interval (Figure 6D). These narrow confidence intervals are indicators that each user has a similar extraction length and extraction intensity among the multiple extractions from the electronic cigarette device.

By measuring a user's extraction length, extraction intensity, and other operating conditions of an electronic cigarette device over time, the user's preferred extraction length, extraction intensity, and other operating conditions can be predicted for use in future misting work phases and It is used to optimize the operation settings of the electronic cigarette device to correspond to a specific user. The measured operating conditions can also be used to predict a typical mist suction working phase of a user. The typical mist suction working phase can constitute a plurality of extractions with different extraction lengths and extraction intensities from the electronic cigarette device. There is a time interval between them. By way of example, a typical working phase for a user that includes multiple extractions can follow the following pattern: five total extractions; each extraction has a extraction length of about three seconds; each extraction consists of a relatively high extraction intensity It consists of two seconds, where the extraction intensity decreases in the last second; and there is a time interval of fifteen seconds between each extraction.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a typical representative misting work phase of a user based on measured extraction length, extraction intensity, and time interval between extractions. The representative mist suction work stages shown in FIG. 5 include a first suction / extraction, a second suction / extraction, and a final (n) th suction / extraction. A representative misting work phase may be used by any of the electronic cigarette devices and cassettes described herein to power the heating element of the electronic cigarette devices and cassettes at the appropriate amount of time. For example, the power sent to the heating element 22 may be changed based on a representative mist suction working phase, where more power is sent to the heating at the peak extraction intensity (shown in Figure 5 as a higher flow rate in ml / s) The element 22 also sends less power to the heating element 22 at the beginning and end of the extraction. Between extraction, no power or a minimum amount of power may be sent to the heating element 22. The power level sent to the heating element 22 can also be changed based on real-time measurements that can be different from the extraction intensity and extraction length of a representative misting work stage profile, which is based on historical extraction intensity And historical extraction length measurements, the type of heated payload, the preferred heating mode selected by the user (as described below), and the desired temperature associated with the payload and the better selected heating mode. The representative misting work period profile can be updated with each misting work period so that it changes when a user's misting mode is changed.

A preferred electronic cigarette device used in accordance with the system and method for optimizing evaporation described herein is described below in connection with the electronic cigarette device 10; however, the electronic cigarette device and cassette described herein may be used in conjunction with this system and method Any of these and other types of electronic cigarette devices and cassettes. When used in conjunction with the systems and methods for optimizing evaporation described herein, the payload reservoir 26 of the electronic cigarette device 10 is preferably configured to hold a payload or substance for evaporation. The heating element 22 or any other type of heating element is configured to heat a payload within the payload reservoir 26. The heating element 22 may be placed in direct contact with the payload, or the payload may be heated by convection or another way as described herein. A battery 42 or any other type of power source is electrically coupled to the heating element 22. At least one sensor such as extraction sensor 18 or sensor 70 (which may be a mass air flow sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, an air temperature sensor, a payload temperature sensor, an atomizer One or more of an ambient temperature sensor, a heating element temperature sensor, a dosimetry sensor, and / or any other type of suitable sensor) configured to operate in a user-owned electronic cigarette device 10 An operation condition of the electronic cigarette device 10 is sensed when steam is extracted or when the electronic cigarette device 10 generates steam. The sensor used may include a capacitive vapor measurement system described below in connection with the electronic cigarette device 3100 and / or an integrated temperature control system described below in connection with the electronic cigarette device 4200. A processor (such as contained in the microcontroller 31) is configured to execute an instruction set stored in a memory device, thereby allowing it to receive operating conditions from its sensors and adjust borrowing based on the sensed operating conditions. The power supplied from the battery 42 to the heating element 22. When at least one sensor includes an air pressure sensor or an air flow sensor, the sensed operating conditions are an air pressure and / or an extraction intensity (i.e., air measured at, for example, ml / s) flow). When at least one sensor includes a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor is preferably configured to sense a temperature of a heating element 22, a temperature of a payload in a payload reservoir 26, or a payload At least one of the temperatures of an evaporated portion after it has been evaporated by the heating element 22. The processor in the microcontroller 31 is configured to operate the electronic cigarette device 10 and the electronic cigarette device system 102 according to any of the methods described below.

One method for optimizing the use of the electronic cigarette device 10 and the electronic cigarette device system 102 (or any of the electronic cigarette devices and cassettes described herein). A first method includes: 10 sensing an operating condition of the electronic cigarette device 10 when extracting steam or more generally when generating steam by the electronic cigarette device 10; and adjusting an electric power provided to the heating element 22 based on the sensed operating condition. Operating conditions include at least one of an extraction intensity, an extraction length, a payload temperature, an air temperature, an air pressure, an atomizer ambient temperature, an air flow rate, a heating element temperature, and a dose measurement. The (several) operating conditions of the electronic cigarette device 10 are sensed in real time by the extraction sensor 18 and / or the sensor 70 and the power supplied to the heating element 22 is adjusted to be extracted by the user or by the electronic cigarette. During the generation of steam by the device 10: the heating element 22 is maintained at a desired temperature (or temperature range) of the heating element; the payload that is in contact with and / or heated by the heating element (not necessarily positioned in the payload reservoir) The payload within 26 and unheated for evaporation) is maintained at a desired payload temperature (or payload temperature range); and / or the air temperature is sensed (e.g., near an outlet of an atomizer 20) One (by sensing the air temperature) is maintained at a desired air temperature (or air temperature range). The desired range of payload temperature preferably corresponds to a cannabinoid selected by a user. For example, the user can select one of the cannabinoids from the table above, and the desired temperature range is correlated with the temperature listed in the table for the selected cannabinoid. Preferably, the operating condition (s) of the electronic cigarette device 10 are continuously sensed by the extraction sensor 18 or the sensor 70 during a user's extraction of steam from the electronic cigarette device 10 and during a mist suction operation phase. And the microcontroller 31 continuously adjusts the power provided to the heating element 22 to maintain the heating element 22 and the payload at a desired temperature or a desired temperature range.

When the operating condition is an air pressure and / or an extraction intensity, it is provided to the heating element when the sensed outlet air pressure decreases relative to the inlet air pressure (or the inlet air pressure increases relative to the outlet air pressure) or the detected extraction strength increases The electric power of 22 increases the temperature of the heating element 22. When the sensed outlet pressure increases relative to the inlet pressure (or the inlet pressure decreases relative to the outlet pressure) or the sensed extraction intensity decreases, the power supplied to the heating element 22 is reduced to reduce the temperature of the heating element 22.

Because the extraction intensity and the corresponding airflow rate affect the temperature of the heating element 22, an air pressure sensor or an air flow sensor can be used to quantify the volume of airflow passing through the heating element 22. A stronger extraction (more air flow) will cool the element and the payload at a faster rate, which may result in a first-time optimal evaporation temperature (which may become too low to be used for evaporation). A weaker extraction (less air flow) will result in a higher temperature, which may cause evaporation of unwanted compounds or burning of the payload. By measuring the air flow (using an air flow sensor or an air pressure sensor), the power to the heating element 22 is dynamically adjusted in real time (by current or voltage control).

7A and 7B show a flowchart of this first method for optimizing evaporation. As shown in FIG. 7A, the heating element power is increased based on an increase in one of the desired temperature of the payload and one of the heating elements 22 and based on an increase of an air flow measurement obtained by an air flow sensor. The heating element power increases the heating element temperature and the airflow decreases the heating element temperature. Therefore, the air flow measurement is used to increase the power of the heating element to consider the decrease in the temperature of the heating element caused by the air flow.

FIG. 7B shows the same flowchart as FIG. 7A. In addition, the procedure in FIG. 7B includes using a heating element temperature as measured by a temperature sensor to adjust the heating element power. The integrated temperature control system described below in connection with the electronic cigarette device 4200 can be used to sense the temperature and adjust the heating element power. For example, if the temperature of the heating element rises above a desired temperature, the power of the heating element can be reduced to reduce the temperature of the heating element back to the desired temperature.

One method for optimizing evaporation using the electronic cigarette device 10 and the electronic cigarette device system 102 (or any of the electronic cigarette devices and cassettes described herein) The second method includes using the extraction feeling on the electronic cigarette device 10 The detector 18 and / or the sensor 70 (preferably an air pressure sensor or an air flow sensor) senses a plurality of extraction strengths and a plurality of extraction lengths. Each extraction intensity and each extraction length are associated with an example of a user extracting steam from the electronic cigarette device 10. A historical extraction intensity is determined from the plurality of sensed extraction intensities, and a historical extraction length is determined from the plurality of sensed extraction lengths. A heating profile for the heating element 22 is generated based on the historical extraction intensity and the historical extraction length. The microcontroller 31 adjusts the power supplied to the heating element 22 by the battery 42 according to the heating profile.

Using historical extraction intensity and historical extraction length, a predefined heating profile can be used to heat the heating element 22 to a temperature suitable for one of the ways in which an electronic cigarette device 10 is typically used by a user.

The historical extraction intensity and the historical extraction length can be determined by averaging all the measured extraction intensity and the extraction length in time while the user uses the electronic cigarette device 10, respectively. The microcontroller 31 can be used based on the individual extraction intensity and extraction length stored in the memory on the electronic cigarette device 10, in the memory on the computing device 72, or in the memory remote from the electronic cigarette device 10 and the computing device 72. Determine the history extraction intensity and history extraction length. Alternatively, the history extraction intensity and history extraction length may be determined by the processor 94 of the computing device 72 being separated from the electronic cigarette device 10, and the processor 94 may execute the storage in the memory of the computing device 72 (for example, by using The application program 74 provides an instruction set. The processor 94 may determine the historical extraction intensity and extraction length based on the individual extraction intensity and extraction length sent by the electronic cigarette device 10 to the operation device 72 and stored in the memory of the operation device 72. In addition, the processor 94 can execute the application program 74 based on the individual extraction intensity and extraction length to determine the historical extraction intensity and the historical extraction length. The individual extraction intensity and extraction length are sent to the computing device 72 by the electronic cigarette device 10 and The computing device 72 is sent via the global telecommunications network 92 to a database or remote computing device remote from the electronic cigarette device 10 and the computing device 72 and separated from the electronic cigarette device 10 and the computing device 72. Individual extraction intensity and extraction length can be stored in the remote database and accessed by the computing device 72 for determining historical extraction intensity and historical extraction length, or a processor remote from the computing device 72 can access the remote database The individual extraction intensity and the individual extraction length above are determined, and the historical extraction intensity and the historical extraction length are determined and sent to the computing device 72. The history extraction intensity and history extraction length can be stored in a database remote from the electronic cigarette device 10 and the computing device 72; in the memory on the computing device 72; and / or in the memory on the electronic cigarette device 10.

The heating profile corresponds to the amount of power that needs to be provided to the heating element 22 over time to maintain the heating element 22 and the payload at a desired temperature over time. Considering the historical extraction intensity and historical extraction length and how to change the power provided to the heating element 22 based on the cooling effect of an extraction to maintain the temperature of the heating element 22 and the payload within a desired temperature range, the heating setpoint The amount of power is better and can change over time. The heating profile can be determined by the microcontroller 31, the processor 94 of the execution device 74 of the computing device 72, or any processor remote from the electronic cigarette device 10 and the computing device 72, and stored in the electronic cigarette device 10. The memory of the computing device 72 may be located in a database remote from the electronic cigarette device 10 and the computing device 72. If the heating profile is determined and stored away from the electronic cigarette device 10, it is preferably sent to the microcontroller 31 of the electronic cigarette device 10 so that the microcontroller 31 can adjust the power provided to the heating element 22 according to the heating profile. It is preferable to use each extraction update history extraction intensity, history extraction length, and heating profile from the user so that the electronic cigarette device 10 learns the user's fogging profile over time.

The microcontroller 31 may start to supply power to the heating element 22 according to the heating profile, and then adjust the heating profile in real time when steam is generated by the electronic cigarette device 10 according to the first method of optimizing evaporation described above. For example, operating conditions (such as extraction intensity, extraction length, payload temperature, air temperature, air pressure, nebulizer ambient temperature, air flow, heating element temperature, and dose amount) can be measured in real-time as steam is generated by the electronic cigarette device 10 And the heating profile based on the historical extraction length and historical extraction intensity can be modified in real time when steam is generated by the electronic cigarette device to adjust the power provided to the heating element 22 based on the sensed operating conditions.

In addition to determining based on historical extraction intensity and historical extraction length, the heating profile is preferably also determined based on the specific payload being heated and a user-selected desired compound or cannabinoid. For example, different payloads and different desired compounds or cannabinoids require different temperatures for optimal evaporation. It can also be determined based on the processor 94 of the electronic cigarette device 10, the computing device 72, or a central processor remote from the electronic cigarette device 10 and the computing device 72 based on the unique payload identifier of the payload reservoir 26 described above. Operate the setting to determine the heating setting. For example, the unique payload identifier may be transmitted from the electronic cigarette device 10 to the computing device 72, and the computing device 72 uses the unique payload identifier to determine the specific compound (s) within the payload reservoir 26. The computing device 72 may use the global telecommunications network 92 to send a unique payload identifier to a remote central processing unit and database, where the unique payload identifier is associated with the specific compound (s) in the payload reservoir 26 and Associated with preferred operating settings for a particular compound. These operating settings can be transmitted back to the computing device 72 and the electronic cigarette device 10 and used to generate a heating profile. If the electronic cigarette device 10 is not connected to a computing device 72, the electronic cigarette device 10 may have the ability to independently determine the operating settings and (several) heating profiles. The electronic cigarette device 10 may use presets stored on the electronic cigarette device 10. The operation setting and (several) heating profile operations, and / or the electronic cigarette device 10 may use the operation setting received from a computing device 72 and the latest collective operation of (several) heating profiles.

The heating profile is also preferably determined based on a heating mode selected by the user for the electronic cigarette device 10. For example, a user may use a user input button or control of the control assembly 14 or an application 74 to select a desired heating mode for the electronic cigarette device 10. Exemplary heating modes may include an efficacy mode, an efficiency mode, and a decarboxylation mode, each of which is described below.

When the effectiveness mode is used for the selected heating mode of the electronic cigarette device 10, the user is provided with electric power to the heating element 22 when the sensed extraction intensity instructs the user to extract steam from the electronic cigarette device 10, and the sensed extraction intensity indication When the user has stopped extracting steam from the electronic cigarette device 10, no power is provided to the heating element 22. Therefore, the heating element 22 is supplied with electricity during the entire process of the user extracting steam from the electronic cigarette device 10. This results in steam being generated throughout the extraction length. The amount of power provided to the heating element 22 for the efficacy mode may be determined based on the heating profile (ie, historical extraction intensity, historical extraction length, specific payload, and a user-selected desired compound or cannabinoid). At the end of the extraction, the heating element 22 and the payload will still be at the evaporation temperature for the specific compound required for evaporation, which may cause some payload to evaporate and be lost after the user has finished extracting steam from the device.

When the efficiency mode is used in the selected heating mode of the electronic cigarette device 10, the time for supplying power to the heating element 22 is not longer than one of the efficiency time periods determined based on the user's historical extraction length such that the efficiency time period is longer than the historical extraction length. short. The efficiency time period begins when the sensed extraction intensity instructs the user to extract steam from the electronic cigarette device 10 and preferably ends before the user stops extracting steam from the electronic cigarette device 10 unless the user stops extraction before the end of the efficiency time period steam. By turning off the heating element 22 before the end of the extraction, the user is able to inhale all residual steam generated when the heating element 22 and the payload are cooled without substantial loss of the evaporated payload. As an alternative to completely turning off the heating element 22 before the end of the extraction, the power supplied to the heating element 22 may be gradually or gradually reduced before the end of the user's historical extraction length. This power reduction can be determined based on the historical extraction strength of the user. If the actual extraction length is shorter than the efficiency time period, the electronic cigarette device 10 can sense that the extraction has ended and turn off the heating element 22 at the end of the extraction (even if the efficiency time period has not completely ended). In this manner, the efficiency time period is one of the maximum times for powering the heating element 22, but not a minimum time. In addition, when in the efficiency mode, the electronic cigarette device 10 has more time to start cooling, which reduces the residual heat transferred to the user's hand, pocket or wallet.

When the decarboxylation mode is used for the selected heating mode of the electronic cigarette device 10, the heating profile corresponds to a decarboxylation temperature and a decarboxylation duration that allow the decarboxylation reaction of the payload of the electronic cigarette device. The decarboxylation duration can be selected by the user or based on the user's historical extraction length, and the decarboxylation temperature can be calculated based on the decarboxylation duration. If an actual extraction is shorter than the preset decarboxylation duration, the decarboxylation duration may be shortened based on an actual extraction length as needed. For example, Figure 8A shows the approximate time for THCA to THC decarboxylation reaction at different temperatures, and Figure 8B shows the THC content in cannabis over time at different temperatures. The times and temperatures shown in Figures 8A and 8B can be used to set the heating profile for the decarboxylation mode.

Additionally or as an alternative, in order to determine the historical extraction intensity and historical extraction length of a user, the method of optimizing evaporation may include determining one of the user's misting work stage profile. The mist suction work stage profile is based on a plurality of mist suction work stages performed by a user, wherein each fog suction work stage includes a plurality of extractions separated for a relatively short time period. The misting session profile may include the number of historical draws during a user's typical misting session. For each of these extractions, the mist suction work stage profile may include a historical extraction length and a historical extraction intensity. For example, the mist suction work stage profile may include a first plurality of extraction strengths and a first plurality of extraction lengths respectively (each corresponding to a first steam extraction from one of the electronic cigarette devices 10 during the plurality of mist suction work stages) Determine a first history extraction intensity and a first history extraction length. The mist suction working stage profile may include a determination based on the second plurality of extraction strengths and the second plurality of extraction lengths (each corresponding to a second steam extraction from one of the electronic cigarette devices 10 during the plurality of mist suction work stages). A second history extraction intensity and a second history extraction length. The misting session configuration file may further include additional historical extraction intensity and additional historical extraction length for each of the historical extraction times during a typical misting session of a user.

In addition, each of the historical extraction times during a user's typical misting work phase may include its own heating profile for the historical extraction intensity and historical extraction length of a particular extraction in a sequence based on the historical extraction times. For example, the mist suction working stage profile may include a first heating profile determined based on a first historical extraction intensity and a first historical extraction length, and a second heating setting determined based on a second historical extraction intensity and a second historical extraction length. Files and additional heating profiles determined based on the additional history extraction intensity and the additional history extraction length. Each of these heating profiles can be determined as described above and used to adjust the power provided to the heating element 22 during a user's misting work phase so that a user in the sequence of the misting work phase Each extraction has its own predefined heating profile based on how the user typically extracts steam during a mist inhalation phase or during steam generation by an electronic cigarette device. For example, during a first extraction period of one of the new mist suction operation phases, power is provided to the heating element 22 according to a first heating profile, and during a second extraction period of one of the new mist suction operation phases, power is provided according to the second heating profile. The electric power is supplied to the heating element 22, and during the additional extraction of a new mist suction operation phase, the electric power is provided to the heating element 22 according to the additional heating profile.

The first heating profile, the second heating profile, and the additional heating profile may each be determined according to one of the exemplary heating modes (ie, the effectiveness mode, the efficiency mode, and the decarboxylation mode) described above. The user can select different heating modes for each of the first heating profile, the second heating profile, and the additional heating profile, so that during a new mist suction working phase, different heating modes are available for each of the electronic cigarette devices Steam extraction. For example, if a user's typical misting work phase includes five extractions, the user's misting work profile can be set such that the heating mode used for the first three extractions is set to the effectiveness mode, and will be used for later The heating mode for two extractions is set to the efficiency mode. Because the user will perform additional extraction after each of the first three extractions, there is no need to worry too much about the loss of evaporated material, and therefore the effectiveness mode can be used during the first three extractions. Setting the last two extractions into the efficiency mode allows very little steam to be lost and the e-cigarette device has time to cool before it is stored in a user's pocket, purse or other desired location.

Alternatively, a heating profile for a user may be defined to have multiple heating modes for each operation for a set time period. For example, the heating profile may have a first heating mode and a second heating mode each selected as one of an efficiency mode, an efficiency mode, or a decarboxylation mode. The heating profile may cause the electronic cigarette device 10 to operate in the first heating mode for one of the heating profiles for a first time period and in the second heating mode to operate for one of the heating profiles after the first time period The second time period. An additional heating mode operating for an additional time period may be after this second time period. The total time period for the heating mode may correspond to the total length of a historical misting work phase of a user, for example, based on determining the length of the plurality of misting work phases. For example, if a user ’s historical misting session is 390 seconds long, the first 300 seconds of a new misting session can be set to operate in the effectiveness mode, and the last 90 seconds (or longer, this Depends on the duration of this new mist suction phase) is set to operate in the efficiency mode.

The user can set the heating mode on the user control of the electronic cigarette device 10 or using the application program 74 or can send information to another computing device of the electronic cigarette device 10 directly or through another computing device. In addition, the user can view the measured operating conditions on an output display of one of the electronic cigarette devices 10 or on the computing device 72 or on another computing device that can receive information from the electronic cigarette device 10 directly or through another computing device (for example , Extraction intensity, extraction length, payload temperature, air temperature, air pressure, nebulizer ambient temperature, air flow, heating element temperature and dose measurement), historical extraction intensity, historical extraction length, mist suction work stage setting file, heating Profiles, power levels, cannabinoid selection, and / or specific compounds (s) within the payload. The user can preferably use the electronic cigarette device 10 or the computing device 72 to change or fine-tune the mist suction working stage profile, heating profile, and power level to a desired setting. In addition, the user can preferably set multiple mist suction working stage profiles, heating profiles, and power levels, and for the new mist suction working stage, select multiple predefined mist suction working stage profiles, heating profiles, and One of the power levels.
Electronic cigarette device and case for use with dry ingot

Additional embodiments of the invention described herein include: an electronic cigarette device designed to heat a payload comprising a dry material, such as hemp, such that the active ingredients in the dry material are evaporated for inhalation; the A box portion of an electronic cigarette device that receives the dry material; an ingot formed from the dry material for use with the electronic cigarette device and the box; a method for evaporating the ingot using the electronic cigarette device and the box; method. The ingot may be formed from a dry material which is pressed into a shape. The ingot may be heated by conduction when it is in direct contact with a heating element, heated by convection when heated air is drawn through or through the ingot, or by a combination of conduction and convection. The term "dry material" as used herein is not limited to materials that are completely free of any fluid. In fact, the term is used to indicate materials that can be pressed together to form a solid or semi-solid ingot for insertion into an electronic cigarette device or case.

A cassette for evaporative drying material according to one embodiment of the invention described herein is generally identified as 900 in FIG. 9A. Cassette 900 heats an ingot 940 (FIG. 9B) by conduction, wherein ingot 940 is in direct contact with a heating element 942. Although the cassette 900 is shown and described herein for use with an ingot 940, it is within the scope of the present invention that the cassette 900 is used in conjunction with a payload that includes a dry material that is not necessarily pressed into the form of an ingot. If the ingot 940 has internal holes or flow paths (as described below), heated air can flow through the ingot 940 to heat the ingot 940 also by convection. The case 900 includes a shell formed by an outer side wall 902 and end caps 904 and 906 that are each removably screwed into the inner thread of the outer side wall 902. The outer sidewall 902 is preferably transparent, but may be of any color. The end cap 904 includes a first end wall 908 of the cassette 900 and the end cap 906 includes a second end wall 910 of the cassette 900. The end cap 904 further includes a first cylindrical tube 912 integrated with the first end wall 908 and extending from the first end wall 908 (FIG. 9B), and integrated with the first cylindrical tube 912 and from the first cylindrical tube 912 Extending one of the second cylindrical tubes 914. An outer surface of the second cylindrical tube 914 has a diameter smaller than a diameter of an outer surface of the first cylindrical tube 912. The inner surface of the second cylindrical tube 914 has a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the inner surface of the first cylindrical tube 912. External threads are formed on the outer surfaces of the first cylindrical pipe 912 and the second cylindrical pipe 914. The external threads on the first cylindrical tube 912 removably engage the internal threads of the outer sidewall 902. The end cap 906 further includes a cylindrical tube 916 integrated with and extending from the second end wall 910. An external thread formed on the outer surface of the cylindrical tube 916 removably engages the internal thread of the outer sidewall 902.

A tubular threaded connector 918 is integrated with the first end wall 908 and extends outward from the first end wall 908 in a direction opposite to the first cylindrical pipe 912. The threaded connector 918 contains external threads on its outer surface. Preferably, the threaded connector 918 is configured to couple the cassette 900 to a control assembly (such as the control assembly 14 described above and shown in FIG. 1). The threaded connector 918 may be a 510 threaded connector. Further, the threaded connector 918 may be configured to operate in accordance with the two-lead communication system described below in connection with the electronic cigarette device 4000. A central opening 920 extends through the first end wall 908 and the threaded connector 918. A plurality of radial openings 922 (FIG. 9A) extend through the first end wall 908. The central opening 920 and the radial opening 922 include an inlet of the first end wall 908. The inlet of the first end wall 908 may be any opening through the first end wall 908 in fluid communication with the inner chamber 932 of the cassette 900 described below.

A tube 924 is integrated with the second end wall 910 and extends outward from the second end wall 910 in a direction opposite to the cylindrical tube 916. A central opening 926 extends through the second end wall 910 and the tube 924. The central opening 926 includes an exit of the second end wall 910. The exit of the second end wall 910 may be any opening through the second end wall 910 in fluid communication with the inner chamber 932 of the cassette 900 described below. A tubular spring fastener 928 is integrated with the second end wall 910 and extends outward from the second end wall 910 in the same direction as the cylindrical tube 916. The spring fastener 928 is concentric with the cylindrical tube 916. The central opening 926 extends through the spring fastener 928.

The cassette 900 includes an inner side wall 930 having one internal thread that removably engages the external thread of the second cylindrical tube 914. The inner sidewall 930 has an outer surface spaced from the outer sidewall 902 to form a gap between the inner sidewall 930 and the outer sidewall 902.

The outer sidewall 902, the first end wall 908, and the second end wall 910 define and surround an inner cavity 932 of the cassette 900. The inner chamber 932 includes an inlet chamber 934 positioned between the outer wall 902 and the inner wall 930, an evaporation chamber 936 defined by the inner wall 930 and positioned within the inner wall 930, and an outer chamber 902 defined and Positioned within one of the mixing chambers 938 within the outer sidewall 902. The inlet cavity 934 is in fluid communication with the inlet (ie, the central opening 920 and the radial opening 922) for receiving ambient air when a user draws air through the cassette 900. The evaporation chamber 936 receives the evaporated material from one of the ingots 940 heated in the evaporation chamber 936. The mixing chamber 938 is in fluid communication with the inlet chamber 934, the evaporation chamber 936, and the outlet (ie, the central opening 926). When a user draws air through the cassette 900, the mixing chamber 938 receives ambient air from the inlet chamber 934 and receives evaporated material from the evaporation chamber 936. The mixed ambient air and evaporated material exit the mixing chamber 938 through the central opening 926 for inhalation by the user.

The cassette 900 further includes a heating element 942 positioned within the evaporation chamber 936. When the inner wall 930 is threadably engaged with the end cap 904, the heating element 942 is held in place between the inner wall 930 and the end cap 904. A wire (not shown) preferably electrically couples the heating element 942 to the threaded connector 918 for self-bonding to one of the threaded connectors 918. The control assembly receives a current or an electrical signal that causes the heating element 942 to turn on or begin to generate heat. . The heating element 942 extends across the evaporation chamber 936 and includes one of the payload holding surfaces 944 facing the end cap 906 (FIG. 9C). When an ingot is used with the electronic cigarette device 900, the payload holding surface 944 may be an ingot holding surface.

A spring 946 positioned in the inner chamber 932 has a first end positioned around the spring fastener 928 and a second end positioned around a spindle adapter 948. The ingot adapter 948 engages the ingot 940 and the spring 946 presses the ingot 940 into the evaporation chamber 936 and presses into direct engagement with the payload holding surface 944 of the heating element 942. The heating element 942 heats the ingot 940 by conduction to heat the ingot 940 until the desired compound of the ingot evaporates. As the ingot 940 is evaporated and its volume is reduced, the spring 946 maintains the ingot 940 directly connected to the heating element 942. Other types of biasing mechanisms may be used in place of the spring 946 to maintain the ingot 940 in engagement with the heating element 942. The inner wall 930 is preferably dimensioned so that the inner diameter of the inner wall 930 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the ingot 940.

A suction nozzle (not shown) is preferably coupled to the end cap 906 and includes an internal channel in fluid communication with the central opening 926. The nozzle is preferably configured to be partially placed in a user's mouth so that the user can extract air through the nozzle and the mixing chamber 938 to receive the evaporated material from the ingot 940.

The ingot 940 can be placed in the evaporation chamber 936 by unscrewing the end cap 906 from the outer side wall 902 so that the evaporation chamber 936 can be accessed by a user. After placing the ingot 940 within the evaporation chamber 936, the end cap 906 is screwed back into engagement with the outer sidewall 902. Alternatively, the end cap 904 may be unscrewed from the outer sidewall 902 to place the ingot 940 within the evaporation chamber 936. Alternatively, another type of opening may be formed in the cassette 900 to allow placement of the ingot 940 within the evaporation chamber 936. The opening may preferably be closed after the ingot 940 is placed in the evaporation chamber 936 to prevent leakage of the evaporated material from the chamber. When the ingot 940 is used up, any remainder of the ingot 940 is removed before a new ingot 940 is placed in the cassette 900.

Cassette 900 may be integrally formed with one control assembly (eg, control assembly 14) operable to power the heating element 942, or the cassette 900 may be screwed into a control assembly using a threaded connector 918 as shown. The threaded connector 918 is preferably one of the 510 threaded connectors that allows the cassette 900 to be used with a compatible 510 threaded control assembly or electronic cigarette device.

A cassette for evaporative drying material according to another embodiment of the invention described herein is generally identified as 1000 in FIG. 10A. When hot air heated by a heating element 1004 is drawn through and / or through an ingot 1002, the cassette 1000 heats the ingot 1002 by convection. Although the cassette 1000 is shown and described herein for use with the ingot 1002, it is within the scope of the invention to use the cassette 1000 in conjunction with a payload that includes one of the dry materials that is not necessarily pressed into the form of an ingot. The box 1000 includes an outer side wall 1006 and end caps 1008 and 1010 each removably screwed into the inner thread of the outer side wall 1006. The outer side wall 1006 is preferably transparent, but may be of any color. The end cap 1008 includes a first end wall 1012 of the cassette 1000, and the end cap 1010 includes a second end wall 1014 of the cassette 1000. 10B, the end cap 1008 further includes a first cylindrical tube 1016 integrated with and extending from the first end wall 1012, and integrated with the first cylindrical tube 1016 and from the first cylindrical tube 1016 Extending one of the second cylindrical tubes 1018. The outer surface of the second cylindrical tube 1018 has a diameter smaller than one of the diameters of the outer surface of the first cylindrical tube 1016. The inner surface of the second cylindrical tube 1018 has a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the inner surface of the first cylindrical tube 1016. External threads are formed on the outer surfaces of the first cylindrical pipe 1016 and the second cylindrical pipe 1018. The external threads on the first cylindrical tube 1016 removably engage the internal threads of the outer sidewall 1006. The end cap 1010 further includes a cylindrical tube 1020 integrated with the second end wall 1014 and extending from the second end wall 1014. An external thread formed on the outer surface of the cylindrical pipe 1020 removably engages the internal thread of the outer sidewall 1006.

A tubular threaded connector 1022 is integrated with the first end wall 1012 and extends outward from the first end wall 1012 in a direction opposite to the first cylindrical pipe 1016. The threaded connector 1022 includes an external thread on its outer surface. Preferably, the threaded connector 1022 is configured to couple the cassette 1000 to a control assembly (such as the control assembly 14 described above and shown in FIG. 1). The threaded connector 1022 may be a 510 threaded connector. In addition, the threaded connector 1022 may be configured to operate in accordance with the two-lead communication system described below in connection with the electronic cigarette device 4000. A central opening 1024 extends through the first end wall 1012 and the threaded connector 1022. A plurality of openings 1026 radially spaced from the central opening 1024 extend through the first end wall 1012. The central opening 1024 and the opening 1026 include an inlet of the first end wall 1012. The inlet of the first end wall 1012 may be any opening through the first end wall 1012 in fluid communication with the inner chamber 1040 of the cassette 1000 described below.

A tube 1028 is integrated with the second end wall 1014 and extends outward from the second end wall 1014 in a direction opposite to the cylindrical tube 1020. A central opening 1030 extends through the second end wall 1014 and the tube 1028. The central opening 1030 includes an outlet of one of the second end walls 1014. The exit of the second end wall 1014 may be any opening through the second end wall 1014 in fluid communication with the inner chamber 1040 of the cassette 1000 described below. A tubular spring fastener 1032 is integrated with the second end wall 1014 and extends outward from the second end wall 1014 in the same direction as the cylindrical tube 1020. The spring fastener 1032 is concentric with the cylindrical tube 1020. The central opening 1030 extends through the spring fastener 1032.

The cassette 1000 includes a partition 1034 coupled to the end cap 1008 and positioned within the outer sidewall 1006. The divider 1034 includes an inner side wall 1036 that is cylindrical and is concentric with the outer side wall 1006. The inner sidewall 1036 is spaced from the outer sidewall 1006 to define a gap between the inner sidewall 1036 and the outer sidewall 1006. The inner sidewall 1036 extends from an adjacent first end wall 1012 to an adjacent second end wall 1014. The partition 1034 further includes a partition panel 1038 that integrates with one of the inner surfaces of the inner sidewall 1036 and extends across the inner sidewall 1036 to divide the interior of the partition 1034 into one of two compartments.

The outer side wall 1006, the first end wall 1012, and the second end wall 1014 define and surround an inner chamber 1040 of the cassette 1000. The inner chamber 1040 includes an outer chamber 1042 positioned between the outer side wall 1006 and the inner side wall 1036. An inner chamber 1042 is defined by the inner side wall 1036 and is positioned at an inlet chamber on a side of the inner partition panel 1038 facing the end cap 1008. The chamber 1044 and one of the evaporation chambers 1046 defined by the inner side wall 1036 and positioned on the side of the inner partition 1036 that faces the end cap 1010 within the partition panel 1038. The partition panel 1038 separates the inlet chamber 1044 from the evaporation chamber 1046. The inlet chamber 1044 is in fluid communication with an inlet (ie, the central opening 1024 and the opening 1026) for receiving ambient air when a user draws air through the cassette 1000.

A spiral flow guide 1048 is positioned within the inlet chamber 1044 along with the heating element 1004. A wire (not shown) preferably electrically couples the heating element 1004 to the threaded connector 1022 for self-bonding to one of the threaded connectors 1022. The control assembly receives a current or an electrical signal that causes the heating element 1004 to be turned on or start to generate heat. . The spiral flow guide 1048 is positioned between the central opening 1024 and the heating element 1004, and is in contact with the partition panel 1038. The spiral flow guide 1048 includes a continuous groove 1050 formed in its outer surface in a spiral shape to direct air from the adjacent central opening 1024 to the heating element 1004 adjacent the partition panel 1038. The outer surface of the spiral flow guide 1048 has a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the inner surface of the inner side wall 1036, so that when a user draws air through the cassette 1000, the air entering the central opening 1024 is guided through the groove 1050. The heating element 1004 heats the air in the spiral flow guide 1048 and the inlet chamber 1044. The spiral flow guide 1048 provides a relatively large heated surface area to enhance the heating of the air passing through the inlet chamber 1044 and causes the incoming air to remain in the inlet chamber 1044 sufficient to heat it to a desired temperature for a length of time .

The inner sidewall 1036 includes a first set of openings 1052 (FIG. 10C) that places the outer chamber 1042 in fluid communication with the inlet chamber 1044 adjacent the heating element 1004. The air flowing through the inlet chamber 1044 is heated by the heating element 1004 and the spiral flow guide 1048 and enters the outer chamber 1042 through the opening 1052. The inner sidewall 1036 includes a second set of openings or slots 1054 that place the outer chamber 1042 adjacent to the ingot 1002 in fluid communication with the evaporation chamber 1046. When a user draws air through the cassette 1000, heated air from the inlet chamber 1044 and the outer chamber 1042 flows through the opening 1054 and enters the evaporation chamber 1046. The heated air is in contact with the ingot 1002 to heat the ingot 1002 via convection. The ingot 1002 may also be heated via conduction due to the heating element 1004 heating the partition 1034 (which heats the ingot 1002).

When the ingot 1002 is heated, the compounds and materials are evaporated from the ingot 1002 and mixed with the heated air in the evaporation chamber 1046. The evaporation chamber 1046 is in fluid communication with an outlet (ie, the central opening 1030). The mixed heated air and the evaporated material from the ingot 1002 exit the evaporation chamber 1046 through the central opening 1030 for inhalation by the user.

A spring 1056 positioned in the evaporation chamber 1046 has a first end positioned around the spring fastener 1032 and a second end positioned around an ingot adapter 1058. The ingot adapter 1058 engages the ingot 1002 and the spring 1056 presses the ingot 1002 into the evaporation chamber 1046 and presses into direct engagement with one of the partition 1034 payload holding surfaces 1060. When the ingot 1002 is evaporated and the volume is reduced, the spring 1056 maintains the ingot 1002 in place within the evaporation chamber 1046 to maximize the contact between the heated air and the ingot 1002. Other types of biasing mechanisms may be used in place of the spring 1056 to maintain the ingot 1002 in place. The inner wall 1036 is preferably dimensioned so that the inner diameter of the inner wall 1036 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the ingot 1002.

A suction nozzle (not shown) is preferably coupled to the end cap 1010 and includes an internal channel in fluid communication with the central opening 1030. The nozzle is preferably configured to be partially placed in a user's mouth so that the user can extract air through the nozzle and the evaporation chamber 1046 to receive the evaporated material from the ingot 1002.

The ingot 1002 can be placed in the evaporation chamber 1046 by unscrewing the end cap 1010 from the outer side wall 1006 so that the evaporation chamber 1046 can be accessed by a user. After the ingot 1002 is placed in the evaporation chamber 1046, the end cap 1010 is screwed back into engagement with the outer sidewall 1006. Alternatively, the end cap 1008 may be unscrewed from the outer sidewall 1006 to place the ingot 1002 within the evaporation chamber 1046. Alternatively, another type of opening may be formed in the cassette 1000 to allow the ingot 1002 to be placed within the evaporation chamber 1046. The opening is preferably connectable after the ingot 1002 is placed in the evaporation chamber 1046 to prevent the evaporated material from leaking from the chamber. When the ingot 1002 is used up, any remainder of the ingot 1002 is removed before a new ingot 1002 is placed in the cassette 1000.

Cassette 1000 may be integrally formed with one control assembly (eg, control assembly 14) operable to power the heating element 1004, or the cassette 1000 may be screwed into a control assembly using a threaded connector 1022 as shown. The threaded connector 1022 is preferably a 510 threaded connector that allows the cassette 1000 to be used with a compatible 510 threaded control assembly or electronic cigarette device.

11A to 11D show another alternative embodiment of a cassette 1100 for evaporating dry materials. Like the case 900, the case 1100 heats an ingot 1102 (or other dry material not pressed into an ingot form) by conduction, wherein the ingot 1102 is in direct contact with a heating element 1104. If the ingot 1102 has internal holes or flow paths (as described below), heated air can flow through the ingot 1102 to heat the ingot 1102 also by convection. The cassette 1100 includes an outer wall 1106 and an end cap 1108 coupled to one end of the outer wall 1106. The outer side wall 1106 is preferably transparent, but may be of any color. The end cap 1108 includes a first end wall 1110 of the box 1100, and a second end wall 1112 is integrated with the outer side wall 1106 on the opposite end of the box 1100. The end cap 1108 further includes a cylindrical protrusion 1114 integrated with the first end wall 1110 and extending from the first end wall 1110. External threads may be formed on the outer surface of the cylindrical protrusion 1114 to removably engage the internal threads of the outer sidewall 1106.

A tubular threaded connector 1116 is integrated with the first end wall 1110 and extends outward from the first end wall 1110 in a direction opposite to the cylindrical protrusion 1114. The threaded connector 1116 includes an external thread on its outer surface. Preferably, the threaded connector 1116 is configured to couple the cassette 1100 to a control assembly (such as the control assembly 14 described above and shown in FIG. 1). The threaded connector 1116 may be a 510 threaded connector. Further, the threaded connector 1116 may be configured to operate in accordance with the two-lead communication system described below in connection with the electronic cigarette device 4000. A central opening 1118 extends through the first end wall 1110 and the threaded connector 1116. A plurality of openings 1120 radially spaced from the central opening 1118 extend through the first end wall 1110. The opening 1120 includes an inlet of the first end wall 1110. The inlet of the first end wall 1110 may be any opening through the first end wall 1110 in fluid communication with the inner chamber 1125 of the cassette 1100 described below.

A tube 1122 (FIG. 11C) is integrated with the second end wall 1112 and extends outward from the second end wall 1112 in a direction opposite to the first end wall 1110. A central opening 1124 extends through the second end wall 1112 and the tube 1122. The central opening 1124 includes an outlet of one of the second end walls 1112. The exit of the second end wall 1112 may be any opening through the second end wall 1112 in fluid communication with the inner chamber 1125 of the cassette 1100 described below.

The outer side wall 1106, the first end wall 1110, and the second end wall 1112 define and surround one of the inner chambers 1125 of the cassette 1100 (FIG. 11D). The heating element 1104 is positioned in the inner chamber 1125 and includes a heater 1126 and a cap 1128 covering the heater 1126. A wire (not shown) preferably electrically couples the heating element 1104 to the threaded connector 1116 for self-bonding to one of the threaded connectors 1116. The control assembly receives a current or an electrical signal that causes the heating element 1104 to power on or begin to generate heat. . A spring 1130 presses the ingot 1102 against the cap 1128. One end of the spring 1130 is engaged with the second end wall 1112, and the other end of the spring 1130 is engaged with an ingot holding plate 1132 adjacent to the ingot 1102. A hole is formed through the ingot holding plate 1132 to allow the evaporated material from the ingot 1102 to travel through the central opening 1124. The holes are preferably also formed in the ingot 1102 (as described below) so that when a user draws air through the cassette 1100, the air enters the cassette 1100 through the opening 1120 and then flows through the ingot 1102, the ingot holding plate 1132, and the center opening 1124.

FIG. 11A shows an embodiment of a suction nozzle 1136 coupled to the second end wall 1112 (FIG. 11C) and the tube 1122. The suction nozzle 1136 includes an internal channel in fluid communication with the central opening 1124 through the tube 1122. The suction nozzle 1136 is configured to be partially placed in a user's mouth so that the user can extract air through the suction nozzle 1136 to receive the evaporated material from the ingot 1102. 11B-11D show an alternative embodiment of a suction nozzle 1138 also coupled to the second end wall 1112 and the tube 1122 and having an internal passage in fluid communication with the central opening 1124.

The ingot 1102 can be placed in the cassette 1100 by decoupling the end cap 1108 from the outer sidewall 1106. After the ingot 1102 is placed in the cassette 1100, the end cap 1108 is coupled back into engagement with the outer sidewall 1106. Alternatively, another type of opening may be formed in the cassette 1100 to allow the ingot 1102 to be placed in the cassette 1100. The opening is preferably connectable after the ingot 1102 is placed in the cassette 1100 to prevent leakage of evaporated material from the cassette.

Cassette 1100 may be integrally formed with one control assembly (eg, control assembly 14) operable to power the heating element 1104, or cassette 1100 may be screwed into a control assembly using a threaded connector 1116 as shown. The threaded connector 1116 is preferably one of the 510 threaded connectors that allows the cassette 1100 to be used with a compatible 510 threaded control assembly or electronic cigarette device.

FIG. 12 shows an alternative embodiment of a heating element 1200 that can be used with any of the cassettes 900, 1000, and 1100 described herein. The heating element 1200 is configured to heat an ingot 1202 (or other dry material not pressed into an ingot form) by conduction and preferably also by convection, as described below. The heating element 1200 includes a first wall 1204 and a second wall 1206, which define a heating chamber 1208 positioned between the first wall 1204 and the second wall 1206. The heating chamber 1208 is accessible through a first opening 1210 in a sidewall 1212 and a second opening 1214 in a sidewall 1216.

Ventilation holes (not shown) may be provided through the first wall 1204 and the second wall 1206 to allow air to flow through the walls into the heating chamber 1208. The use of ventilation holes allows convective heating of the ingot 1202 and also reduces the mass of heat that must be heated when heating the ingot 1202 only by conduction. The use of vents also provides an effective way to allow the release of steam for inhalation.

The first wall 1204 and the second wall 1206 may also include grooves or patterns (not shown) formed in the wall adjacent to the heating chamber 1208. If the contact between the heating element 1200 and the ingot 1202 is not perfect, it is better to use grooves or patterns to increase air turbulence and maximize the heat transfer of air from the heating element 1200 to the ingot 1202. The first wall 1204 and the second wall 1206 of the heating element 1200 may be composed of any suitable material, including ceramic, aluminum, and stainless steel. The first wall 1204 and the second wall 1206 may also include a metal heating coil enclosed with a material such as ceramic. The metal heating coils can be implemented as single or multiple stranded elements in a series or parallel configuration.

The heating chamber 1208 may be configured to receive ingots of different sizes and configurations. For example, the heating chamber 1208 may be configured to accept round ingots (such as ingot 1300 shown in FIG. 13A) and / or rectangular ingots (such as ingot 1302 shown in FIG. 13B). Any of the ingots described herein may also be circular, such as ingot 1304 shown in FIG. 13C. With both ends of the heating chamber 1208 open, an ingot can be inserted through the first opening 1210, and once the ingot is exhausted, the remaining debris from the ingot can be pushed out of the heating chamber 1208 through the second opening 1214. . A cleaning tool 1218 can be used to push the ingot chips through the second opening 1214. The cleaning tool 1218 includes a grip 1220 grasped by a user and a pressure head 1222 shaped to receive and push the ingot debris through and out of the heating chamber 1208 through the first opening 1210.
ingot

The ingots described herein and the methods of making and using them provide one of the more convenient methods of aerosolizing or pumping dry materials. The composition, potency, and physical characteristics of the tablets can be controlled so that they provide a convenient and repeatable misting or smoking experience.

Referring to FIGS. 14A to 14D, an exemplary embodiment of an ingot used with a box for evaporative drying of materials is identified as 1400. The ingot 1400 may be used with any of the cassettes 900, 1000, and 1100 described above and in the heating element 1200. The ingot 1400 comprises a dry material pressed into a relatively flat cylindrical shape; however, other shapes are also within the scope of the present invention. The ingot 1400 may be formed from any suitable dry material, such as hemp, tobacco, hemp plants, or cannabinoids. It is within the scope of the present invention that the dry material is mixed with other materials that help the dry material maintain an ingot shape of solid, semi-solid, or liquid.

The ingot 1400 includes a first surface 1402 and a second surface 1404 positioned opposite the first surface 1402 (FIG. 14C). Each of the first surface 1402 and the second surface 1404 is circular. An annular sidewall 1406 extends between the first surface 1402 and the second surface 1404. A concave portion 1408 is formed in the first surface 1402. The recess 1408 is helical, but can be shaped in any desired manner. A hole 1410 extends from the first surface 1402 through the ingot 1400 to the second surface 1404. The hole 1410 is positioned at one end of the recess 1408 such that the hole 1410 is in fluid communication with the recess 1408. Another recess 1412 (shown by a dotted line in FIG. 14A) is formed in the second surface 1404. The recess 1412 is also preferably spiral, but extends across a different portion of the ingot 1400. The recess 1408 on the first surface 1402 begins at the center of the ingot 1400, spirally wound 180 degrees in a fairly tight spiral, and then spirally wound another 180 degrees in one of the larger radii until it terminates in one of the adjacent ingots 1400 1410 holes in the peripheral edge. From the hole 1410, the recess 1412 is wound 270 degrees around one peripheral edge of the ingot 1400 and then bent 90 degrees toward the hole 1410.

Although the ingot 1400 includes a recess on both the first surface 1402 and the second surface 1404, it is within the scope of the present invention that only one of the first surface 1402 and the second surface 1404 includes a recess.

As shown in Figure 14D, the side walls 1414 and 1416 are adjacent and define a recess 1408. It is within the scope of the present invention for the side walls 1414 and 1416 to include protrusions, ribs, or further recesses or patterns to increase the surface area of the ingot 1400 exposed to the heated air flowing through the recesses 1408. The side walls 1414, 1416 of the recess 1412 may also include protrusions, ribs, or further recesses or patterns (for example, the protrusion 1417 shown in FIG. 14D).

The recesses 1408 and 1412 and the hole 1410 improve the convective heating of the ingot by allowing heated air to reach the inaccessible part of the ingot 1400 (if the ingot 1400 is a solid). The recesses 1408 and 1412 and the holes 1410 increase the total surface area of the heated air exposed by the ingot 1400 to an electronic cigarette device or case. Therefore, the ingot 1400 is preferably suitable for use with an electronic cigarette device or cassette that heats the ingot 1400 by convection heating. The ingot 1400 may also be used with an electronic cigarette device or cassette using conduction heating by itself or in combination with convection heating. The recesses 1408 and 1412 may be implemented as part of a logo or image of a manufacturer of the ingot 1400. Adding surface discontinuities (eg, protrusions, ribs, further recesses, or patterns) to the side walls 1414, 1416 that define the recesses 1408, 1412 can further improve heat transfer by causing turbulence as air flows through the recesses.

One ingot (such as ingot 1400) having recesses and holes can also be formed by laminating or otherwise combining two separate ingots to form a combined, laminated ingot. FIG. 15 shows an exemplary embodiment of a laminated ingot 1500. Laminated ingot 1500 is formed of two ingots 1502 and 1504 that are laminated together to permanently join ingots 1502 and 1504. Each of the ingots 1502 and 1504 is substantially similar to the ingot 1400 described above. The ingot 1502 has a first surface 1506 and a second surface 1508, and the ingot 1504 has a first surface 1510 and a second surface 1512. The second surface 1508 of the ingot 1502 is laminated to the second surface 1512 of the ingot 1504. The ingot 1502 has one hole 1514 extending therethrough, and the ingot 1504 has one hole 1516 extending therethrough. The ingots 1502 and 1504 are oriented such that the holes 1514 and 1516 are on opposite sides of the laminated ingot 1500. The orientation of the ingots 1502 and 1504 creates a serpentine flow path in which heated air flows from a recess 1518 on the first surface 1510 through the ingot, through the hole 1516, through a recess 1520 on the second surface 1512, and through the second surface. One of the recesses 1522 on 1508 passes through the hole 1514 and passes through one of the recesses 1524 on the first surface 1506. Instead of permanently laminating the ingots 1502 and 1504 together, a user may simply insert the ingots 1502 and 1504 back-to-back into an electronic cigarette device or cassette as shown in FIG. 15 to obtain substantially the same effect.

16A to 16C show another exemplary embodiment of an ingot 1600 including a heating element 1602 coupled to a substantially rectangular shaped dry material pressed into the ingot 1600. The heating element 1602 helps to achieve uniform evaporation and consumption of one of the ingot materials by heating a relatively large surface area of one of the ingots 1600. The heating element 1602 may also be used in combination with convection heating and the recesses and holes of the ingot 1400 described above.

The ingot 1600 includes a dry material (such as hemp, tobacco, hemp plants or cannabinoids) pressed into a generally rectangular shape having a first surface 1604 and a second surface 1606 positioned opposite the first surface 1604. An annular sidewall 1608 extends between the first surface 1604 and the second surface 1606. The heating element 1602 is coupled to the first surface 1604 and the sidewall 1608. The contacts of the heating element 1602 are designed and positioned to contact the electrical terminal of an electronic cigarette device or cassette to allow current to flow through the heating element 1602. The contacts are positioned on the side wall 1608, separated from each other by 180 degrees on opposite sides of the ingot 1600. The heating element 1602 is preferably a resistive heating element. The heating element 1602 is preferably pressed into or onto the ingot 1600 as part of a pressing process for forming the dried material into the ingot 1600.

The ingot 1600 preferably has a shape that only allows it to be inserted into an electronic cigarette device or cassette in a specific orientation to ensure that the contacts of the heating element 1602 are in close electrical contact with the electrical terminals of the electronic cigarette device or cassette. For example, the ingot 1600 may have an alignment structure configured to align the ingot 1600 within a cassette in a particular orientation such that the heating element 1602 makes proper electrical contact with the electrical terminals of the cassette. The electronic cigarette device or cassette may have an alignment structure that receives or engages the ingot 1600 to ensure that the ingot 1600 is correctly oriented when inserted into the electronic cigarette device or cassette. The alignment structure of the ingot 1600 and the electronic cigarette device may include an alignment notch on one of the ingot 1600 and the electronic cigarette device and an alignment protrusion on the other of the ingot 1600 and the electronic cigarette device. The alignment structure of the ingot 1600 and the electronic cigarette device may also include a pogo contact pin.

FIG. 17 shows an exemplary embodiment of a laminated ingot 1700 formed from three separate ingots 1702, 1704, and 1706. Ingots 1702, 1704, and 1706 are laminated and positioned between adjacent ingots 1702, 1704, and 1706. Parts of a heating element 1708 are laminated together. Each of the ingots 1702, 1704, and 1706 may be formed from a dry material that is pressed together. The ingots 1702, 1704, and 1706 may then be positioned such that a first portion 1710 of one of the heating elements 1708 is between the ingots 1702 and 1704, and a second portion 1712 of one of the heating elements 1708 is between the ingots 1704 and 1706. The heating element 1708 also includes side portions 1714 and 1716 on the side of the laminated ingot 1700. As an alternative to forming three separate ingots 1702, 1704, and 1706, the ingot 1700 may be formed in a single pressing operation. The heating element 1708 is integrated in the ingot 1700 to improve the heating of the ingot 1700 by increasing the inner area of the inductive heating ingot 1700 and increasing the surface area of the ingot 1700 exposed to the conductive heating. The ingot 1700 may also include holes or recesses as described above in connection with the ingot 1400 to improve the convective heating of the ingot 1700.

Any of the ingots 940, 1002, 1102, 1202, 1300, 1302, 1400, 1500, 1600, and 1700 described above can be manufactured according to the dose control methods described below. One method of dose control is to change only the thickness of an ingot with a predefined cross-sectional area so that there are multiple different doses of different thicknesses for a user to choose. In addition, any of the ingots 940, 1002, 1102, 1202, 1300, 1302, 1400, 1500, 1600, and 1700 described above may be formed in any shape including a cylindrical shape, for example, they may have a circular shape Or oval cross section or a circular ring shape.

According to another method, first, an amount of loose, preferably relatively dry material (such as dried hemp buds) is provided. A percentage of one component of a dry material can be measured by weight or volume. For example, the dry material can be analyzed to determine the weight percentage of one or several specific compounds of the dry material. If the dry material is cannabis, the measured component may be one of the cannabinoid compounds listed in the table above under the heading Optimized Evaporation. Once the weight percentage of a particular component is known for the type of plant or plants from which the dry material is derived, the plant or plants of that type can be grown under known, repeatable conditions to produce a uniform cannabinoid distribution. This may reduce or eliminate the need to test future dry materials produced by this type of plant or plants, as the percentage of a particular cannabinoid within that type of plant or plants is known.

Then, a desired amount (for example, 0.2 g) of one of the components can be determined by weight or volume. A desired volume of one of the ingots corresponding to a desired amount of the component can be determined. Alternatively, if the ingot has a predefined cross-sectional area, a desired thickness of one of the ingots corresponding to a desired amount of the component can be determined. An ingot press can be modified to compact the ingot to a desired volume or thickness. The dried material is then pressed into an ingot of the desired thickness (which contains the desired amount of components).

In order to provide an additional level of control over the dosage, the thickness of the ingot can be increased or decreased with the production batch (using the same production tool) based on sample measurements of raw materials in the form of pressed ingots, so that the content can be adjusted as needed. This degree of freedom to adjust the volume of the ingot is highly desirable because the relative concentration of cannabinoids can vary from crop to crop, even though the crops are from the same genetic line.

This method of making tablets helps a user of a tablet to control the dosage by ensuring that the tablet contains a known, desired amount of the target component so that one user of the tablet knows how much of the target component they are inhaling. By following this method, a consistent and specified amount of cannabinoids can be reliably delivered with the tablets. For example, the method can be used to make tablets that a doctor will prescribe for a patient so that the doctor and the patient know exactly the amount of the target component in each tablet. An ingot manufactured according to this method will also help one entertainment user determine the amount of target component they are inhaling.

Any of the ingots described above may also be manufactured to include multiple types of dry materials that are pressed together into a single ingot. For example, two or more types of loose, relatively dry materials may be provided. One percentage of one or more target components of these types of dry materials can be measured by weight or volume. The desired ratio between target components can be determined. For example, if two types of dry materials are used to make an ingot, then a first percentage of one target component of one type of dry material and one second of one target component of one type of dry material may be determined. One of the desired ratios. The two types of dry materials are mixed together to form a combined dry material such that the combined dry material comprises a desired ratio of the first percentage to the second percentage. The combined dried material is then pressed into an ingot of a desired thickness. As described above, by determining the desired amount of one of the first component and / or the second component in the ingot and determining the desired thickness corresponding to the amount before pressing the ingot to the desired thickness Determine the desired thickness. For example, an ingot can be produced according to this method to include a desired ratio of THC to CBD in a 1: 1 ratio and THC and / or CBD calculated by weight or volume.

When it is desired to evaporate two or more types of dry materials, these different types of dry materials can each be pressed into separate ingots. The separate ingots can be combined by lamination, by heating and pressing the ingots together, by an adhesive or any suitable method. Alternatively, a user of one of the ingots may use the two or more ingots together by inserting two or more ingots back-to-back into an electronic cigarette device or cassette. Each of the ingots may be produced according to the methods described above such that the ingots are formed to have a desired thickness corresponding to a desired amount of one of the components present in the ingot. Ingots can also be produced such that when combined, a desired ratio of one of the components within the separate ingots is achieved. For example, separate ingots can be produced to have a desired mass between a weight or volume of a first component in a first ingot and a weight or volume of a second component in a second ingot. ratio. Separate ingots can be used in combination or only together.

Any of the boxes 900, 1000, and 1100 and the heating element 1200 described above can be used with any of the ingots 940, 1002, 1102, 1202, 1300, 1302, 1400, 1500, 1600, and 1700 described above. Use to evaporate the desired components of the tablet for inhalation. Regarding the cassette 900 and the ingot 940, the end cap 906 is removed from the engagement with the outer side wall 902, and the ingot 940 is inserted through the opening at the end of the outer side wall 902. The ingot 940 is inserted into an inner cavity 932 adjacent to the heating element 942. The heating element 942 is activated to evaporate a portion of the ingot 940 into ingot steam. The user inserts one of the nozzles of the cassette 900 into his or her mouth and extracts air and ingot steam into his or her mouth for inhalation. Cassette 900 heats the ingot by conduction, but can also heat the ingot by convection as described above. Further, as described above with respect to the cartridge 1000, the ingot may be heated primarily or solely by convection by heating the air extracted to contact the ingot.

Any of the cassettes 900, 1000, and 1100 described above may be integrally formed with a control assembly (e.g., the control assembly 14) to form an operation that can be performed by applying a controlled current according to a user's needs Or an electronic cigarette device that is supplied with voltage to the atomizer and powers the heating element of the cassette. Cassettes 900, 1000, and 1100 may also be screwed into a control assembly using their threaded connectors or may have a snap clip or some other structure that couples them to a control assembly. The control assembly 14 is configured to cause the cassettes 900, 1000, and 1100 to provide steam through an outlet by supplying a controlled current or voltage to a heating element in response to a user's input, as described above. Any of the bins 900, 1000, and 1100 may be operated to perform the method described above for the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 and the electronic cigarette device system 102 (including the system for optimizing evaporation according to the method described above) And method) heating an ingot. Cassettes 900, 1000, and 1100 or ingots placed in the cassettes may have an ID tag 28 containing a unique payload identifier that identifies a particular ingot. Cassettes 900, 1000, and 1100 may also include sensors that measure the operating conditions of the cassettes. For example, the bins 900, 1000, and 1100 may include an integrated temperature control system for adjusting the temperature of the heating element described below in conjunction with the electronic cigarette device 4200 and a capacitive vapor measurement system described below in conjunction with the electronic cigarette device 3100. The conductive plates of the capacitive vapor measurement system (such as the conductive plates 3114 and 3116 shown in FIG. 31) can be positioned anywhere between the heating element and the outlet of the cassette. For example, the conductive plate may be positioned in the mixing chamber 938 or tube 924 of the cassette 900, in the tube 1028 of the cassette 1000, or in the tube 1122 of the cassette 1100. The data from the sensor can be transmitted to a control assembly via a threaded connector operated according to the two-lead communication system described in connection with the electronic cigarette device 4000 below so that power is also provided to the box via the threaded connector.

One of the ingot storage and dispensing devices 1800 shown in FIG. 18 may be used to facilitate easier ingot transportation and / or load ingots into a cassette or electronic cigarette device. The ingot storage and dispensing device 1800 includes a side wall 1802 surrounding an internal cavity 1804. One end wall 1806 is coupled to one end of the side wall 1802 and an opening 1808 is tied at the other end of the side wall 1802. A plurality of ingots 1810 are positioned within the internal cavity 1804. The ingot 1810 may be pre-loaded at the time of manufacture or by an end user. A spring 1812 engages the end wall 1806 and the ingot 1810 to force the ingot 1810 upward toward the opening 1808. A holding device 1814 engages the uppermost ingot 1810 and is positioned with an edge slightly inclined upward to facilitate gripping by a user or a loading mechanism on an electronic cigarette device or cassette engaged by the ingot storage and dispensing device 1800. The ingot storage and dispensing device 1800 can be designed for single use or it can be reused. The ingot storage and dispensing device 1800 can be loaded into or engaged with an electronic cigarette device or cassette to enable a user to use the electronic cigarette device and multiple ingots without having to individually load each ingot to Electronic cigarette device. An institution may be incorporated into the ingot storage and dispensing device 1800 or an electronic cigarette device to discharge waste from a waste ingot at the same time as or before loading the next ingot.

Any of the ingots described above and shown herein may be formed from a dry material that has been milled or ground and then pressed in a specially designed ingot press. In one aspect, the dry material is milled using a Comil cone milling machine, model number 194, manufactured by Quadro Engineering Corp. of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The dried material can be milled to have an average particle size of <1000 mesh. The dry material can be milled so that the particle size of the milled dry material> 95% is between 100 μm and 200 μm.

Dry material can be below 0 ^o C, below -5 ^o C, below -10 ^o C, below -15 ^o C, below -20 ^o C, below -25 ^o C, below -30 ^o C, below -35 ^o C, below -40 ^o C, below -45 ^o C, below -50 ^o C, below -55 ^o C, below -60 ^o C, below -65 ^o C , Below -70 ^o C, below -75 ^o C, below -100 ^o C, below -150 ^o C, or below -190 ^o C.

The table below identifies the variables and results of the six dry material milling tests. The dry material used in the ingot disclosed herein may be milled according to any of the variables identified below.

An ingot press for forming an ingot from milled and dried material can shape the ingot using a pressure of less than 10 tons. The tablet press may be an NP400 rotary tablet press manufactured by Natoli Engineering of St. Charles, Missouri. The ingot can be pressed into any shape including, but not limited to, for example, a cylindrical shape that can have a circular or oval cross-section, or a circular shape.

Dry material can be below 0 ^o C, below -5 ^o C, below -10 ^o C, below -15 ^o C, below -20 ^o C, below -25 ^o C, below -30 ^o C, below -35 ^o C, below -40 ^o C, below -45 ^o C, below -50 ^o C, below -55 ^o C, below -60 ^o C, below -65 ^o C , At a temperature lower than -70 ^o C, lower than -75 ^o C, lower than -100 ^o C, lower than -150 ^o C, or lower than -190 ^o C, and pressed into its final ingot shape.

The dry material used to form any of the ingots described above and shown herein may be a +/- 5% variation with a specified weight percentage (wt%) of a cannabinoid, cannabinoid or other plant component A cannabis composition.

The dry material used to form any of the ingots described above and shown herein may be a specially processed hemp-derived plant material. The specially treated cannabis-derived plant material may have a moisture content of about 0% by weight, about 1% by weight, about 2% by weight, about 3% by weight, about 4% by weight, or about 5% by weight moisture. The specially processed cannabis-derived plant material may be added to hemp without any material. The specially processed cannabis-derived plant material may only have a glidant as an additive to cannabis. The specially processed cannabis-derived plant material may have only terpenes as an additive to cannabis. The specially processed cannabis-derived plant material may only have a humectant (eg, glycerol or propylene glycol) as an additive to cannabis. The specially processed cannabis-derived plant material may only have a glidant and a humectant as an additive to hemp. The specially processed cannabis-derived plant material may only have a glidant and a terpene as an additional material for cannabis. The specially processed cannabis-derived plant material may only have terpenes and humectants as additional materials for cannabis. The specially processed cannabis-derived plant material may only have glidants, terpenes, and humectants as additional materials for cannabis. Hemp-derived plant material can be enriched with specially processed cannabis-derived plant material. The specially processed cannabis-derived plant material may include plant material derived from a single line of cannabis. Specially processed cannabis-derived plant material can be derived from cannabis in two or more different strains. The specially processed cannabis-derived plant material may include a mixture of cannabis batches selected to provide a homogeneous material with a defined phytochemical form. The specially processed cannabis-derived plant material may include cannabis leaves trimmed from the cannabis plant during the harvesting of trimmed whole flowers and cannabis extracts. The specially processed cannabis-derived plant material can be prepared by combining hemp leaf material and hemp extract in a belt mixer.

When the dried material is a three-color, specially treated cannabis-derived plant material, the material can be subjected to a first compression and micronization step to provide a grain with a density higher than that of the original hairy-rich hemp material状 材料。 Like material. The granular material is then pressed into a final ingot shape by a tablet press.

At any time during the process of the ingot-derived by the cannabis plant material can be specially treated as described above decarboxylation of about 50 ^o C one vacuo.
Fluid box

Other aspects of the invention described herein include cartridges and electronic cigarette devices that are designed to vaporize a payload that includes one of a fluid and oil for inhalation, and preferably include vaporizers designed to vaporize hemp oil or other viscous oils. Cassette and electronic cigarette device for inhaling a steam stream. These cassettes are an improvement on one of the commonly used cassettes in the personal evaporator market. These evaporator cassettes (or cassette atomizers) have dual-conductor electromechanical connectors (often referred to as 510 threaded connectors). The cassette technology described herein can also be incorporated into a self-contained e-cigarette device (e.g., a single piece of disposable electronic cigarette device or a single piece of refillable and rechargeable electronic cigarette device, such as described below) Electronic cigarette device 2800).

The cartridges described herein are designed to be used with highly viscous oils, such as highly viscous oils extracted from cannabis plants. The cassette described herein is also configured to prevent oil leakage from contaminating the area where the cassette is attached to a control assembly containing a battery and a control unit.

One embodiment of a cassette for an electronic cigarette device according to the invention described herein is generally identified as 1900 in FIG. 19A. The cassette 1900 includes a first section 1902 (FIG. 19D) and a second section 1904 that is removably engaged with a thread as described below. The first section 1902 and the second section 1904 are combined to form an outer shell 1906 of the cassette 1900. Referring to FIG. 19B, an atomizer 1908, deflectors 1910 and 1912, and a power connector 1914 are positioned within the housing 1906.

The housing 1906 has a first end 1916 and a second end 1918. A longitudinal axis of the housing 1906 extends from the first end 1916 to the second end 1918. At the second end 1918, the housing 1906 includes a threaded connector 1920 configured to couple the housing 1906 to a control assembly such as the control assembly 14 described above and shown in FIG. 1. The threaded connector 1920 may be a 510 threaded connector. In addition, the threaded connector 1920 may be configured to operate in accordance with the two-lead communication system described below in connection with the electronic cigarette device 4000. The housing 1906 includes an outer side wall 1922 and an inner side wall 1924 spaced from the outer side wall 1922. The outer side wall 1922 includes a first section 1922a as a part of the first section 1902 of the housing 1906 and a second section 1922b as a part of the second section 1904. When the first section 1902 and the second section 1904 of the housing 1906 are combined together, a seal 1926 is sealed between the first section 1922a and the second section 1922b of the outer side wall 1922 to prevent a fluid payload from the cassette 1900. leakage. The first section 1922a is preferably formed of a transparent material, such as glass or polymer. For example, the first section 1922a may be formed of a heat-resistant glass such as borosilicate glass, glass ceramic, artificial sapphire, or quartz. The first section 1922a can also be sleeved in a metal sleeve positioned on the outer surface of the outer side wall 1922.

The housing 1906 includes a first end wall 1928 at a first end 1916 and a second end wall 1930 at a second end 1918. The first end wall 1928 is preferably formed integrally with the second section 1922b of the outer side wall 1922 to form a generally cylindrical suction nozzle 1929 (FIG. 19C). The second end wall 1930 includes a portion of an end cap 1932 of a cylindrical tube 1934 that extends to a portion of the first section 1922a of the outer side wall 1922. Seals 1936a to 1936b are positioned between the cylindrical tube 1934 and the outer side wall 1922 to prevent fluid payload from leaking from the cassette 1900. The threaded connector 1920 extends outward from the second end wall 1930 away from the rest of the cassette 1900. The power connector 1914 extends through one of the central openings 1938 and the second end wall 1930 of the threaded connectors 1920. A seal 1940a is positioned between the power connector 1914 and the end cap 1932 to prevent fluid payload from leaking from the cassette 1900. A thread 1942 is formed on an inner surface of the cylindrical tube 1934 to removably couple the first section 1902 and the second section 1904 of the cassette 1900. The cylindrical tube 1934 together with a portion of the second section 1904 forms a portion of the inner side wall 1924 of the cassette 1900, as described below.

The second section 1904 includes a nozzle 1929 and an end wall 1946 coupled to one of the nozzles 1929 and extending away from the center wall 1946 in a direction opposite to the first end 1916. The center post 1944 may be coupled to the suction nozzle 1929 in any suitable manner, including a threaded connection or a press-fit connection, or the center post 1944 may be integrally formed with the suction nozzle 1929. The center post 1944 is a generally cylindrical tube containing an external thread 1948 at the end of the center post 1944 opposite the suction nozzle 1929. The threads 1948 on the center post 1944 are configured to removably engage the threads 1942 on the cylindrical tube 1934 for joining the first section 1902 and the second section 1904 of the cassette 1900. The cassette 1900 is formed in the first section 1902 and the second section 1904 to allow the cassette 1900 to be refilled and cleaned. The center post 1944 together with the cylindrical tube 1934 forms the inner side wall 1924 of the cassette 1900. The center column 1944 includes an enlarged diameter portion 1944a (FIG. 19D) containing an atomizer 1908 and a deflector 1910 near the second end 1918 of the cassette 1900 and a reduced diameter portion 1944b extending from the suction nozzle 1929. When the atomizer 1908 and the deflector 1910 cannot be fitted in the reduced-diameter portion 1944b, the reduced-diameter portion 1944b keeps the atomizer 1908 and the deflector 1910 in place in the center column 1944.

A power connector 1950 is partially inserted into the end of the center post 1944 adjacent the atomizer 1908. A seal 1940b seals between the power connector 1950 and the center post 1944 to prevent fluid payload from leaking. The power connector 1950 is electrically coupled with the atomizer 1908 to provide power to the atomizer 1908. When the first section 1902 and the second section 1904 of the cassette 1900 are combined, the power connector 1950 is also electrically connected to the power connector 1914. When the threaded connector 1920 couples the cassette 1900 to a control assembly, the power connector 1914 receives power from a control assembly.

The housing 1906 defines a payload reservoir 1952 (FIG. 19A) positioned between an outer side wall 1922 and an inner side wall 1924. The payload reservoir 1952 preferably contains a fluid payload that may contain a substance (such as nicotine, cannabis or cannabinoids) for evaporation and inhalation by a user. The payload reservoir 1952 may also contain propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol or vegetable glycerin. When the first section 1902 is separated from the second section 1904 (FIG. 19D), the payload reservoir 1952 is accessible for refilling. For the refill cassette 1900, a fluid payload may be injected into the first section 1902 and then the second section 1904 may be threadably coupled with the first section 1902. Seals 1926, 1936a, 1936b, 1940a, and 1940b prevent fluid payload from leaking out of the cassette 1900.

Referring to FIG. 19B, the housing 1906 defines an air flow chamber 1953 extending through one of the suction nozzle 1929 and the center post 1944. A partition 1954 is positioned within the air flow chamber 1953 to divide the air flow chamber 1953 into an inlet flow chamber 1956 and an outlet flow chamber 1958. The divider 1954 is a cylindrical tube positioned within the center post 1944 and spaced from the inner surface of the center post 1944 to form an inlet flow chamber 1956. The inlet flow chamber 1956 is concentric with the outlet flow chamber 1958.

An inlet 1960 is positioned adjacent to the first end 1916 of the cassette 1900, and an outlet 1962 is positioned adjacent to the first end 1916 of the cassette 1900. The air flow chamber 1953 is positioned between the inlet 1960 and the outlet 1962 such that air entering the inlet 1960 travels through the air flow chamber 1953 to the outlet 1962. The inlet 1960 consists of two holes extending through the outer side wall 1922 of the suction nozzle 1929. The inlet 1960 is in fluid communication with the inlet flow chamber 1956. The divider 1954 engages an internal surface of one of the nozzles adjacent to the inlet 1960 to seal the inlet flow chamber 1956 from the outlet flow chamber 1958. An outlet 1962 is formed in an opening in one of the first end walls 1928 and is in fluid communication with the outlet flow chamber 1958 through the center of the partition 1954.

FIG. 20 shows a schematic diagram of air flow in the box 1900 from the inlet 1960 to the outlet 1962. FIG. When a user inserts the suction nozzle 1929 into his or her mouth and draws air through the outlet 1962, fresh air from the outside to the cassette 1900 enters the inlet 1960 and travels toward the atomizer 1908 through the inlet flow chamber 1956. The partition 1954 is spaced from the first end 1964 of one of the atomizers 1908 to place the inlet flow chamber 1956 adjacent to the first end 1964 of the atomizer 1908 in the space between the partition 1954 and the atomizer 1908. In fluid communication with the outlet flow chamber 1958. The air from the inlet flow chamber 1956 is combined with the evaporated payload from the atomizer 1908 and enters the outlet flow chamber 1958. Air and the evaporated payload are drawn through the outlet flow chamber 1958 through the outlet 1962 and into the user's mouth. The inlet air passing through the inlet flow chamber 1956 can cool the evaporated payload and air flowing through the outlet flow chamber 1958 to prevent the user's mouth or lips from being burned. Alternatively, the cassette 1900 may be formed to have one air flow path as shown in FIG. 23A and described below.

The inner side wall 1924 is positioned around at least a portion of the atomizer 1908 and the air flow chamber 1953 (including the inlet flow chamber 1956 and the outlet flow chamber 1958). A plurality of openings 1966 are formed in the inner sidewall 1924 adjacent to the atomizer 1908 to place the atomizer 1908 in fluid communication with the payload reservoir 1952. Referring to FIG. 19A, each of the openings 1966 is an elongated slot extending along a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis of the housing 1906 extending from the first end 1916 to the second end 1918. The openings 1966 are spaced approximately equidistant from one another around a circumference of the inner side wall 1924. Any suitable number of openings 1966 may be formed in the inner sidewall 1924. For example, there may be one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, or ten openings 1966. The opening 1966 is a rectangular slot with a modified dome point. Each of the openings 1966 is defined by a pair of linear side edges 1968a to 1968b spaced apart from each other and a pair of rounded end edges 1970a to 1970b each positioned at one end of the opening 1966. The linear side edges 1968a to 1968b extend in one direction aligned with the longitudinal axis of the housing 1906. The end edge 1970b is positioned near the cylindrical tube 1934 of the end cap 1932. The end edge 1970b can be positioned directly adjacent to and adjacent to the cylindrical tube 1934 such that the cassette 1900 is oriented such that the first end 1916 faces upward and the second end 1918 faces downward, even when the payload reservoir 1952 With very little payload remaining, the payload in the payload reservoir 1952 is still in fluid communication with the opening 1966. Further, when the cassette 1900 is oriented such that the first end 1916 faces upward and the second end 1918 faces downward, the opening 1966 may be configured to be at the bottom of the payload reservoir 1952. The linear side edges 1968a to 1968b and the rounded end edges 1970a to 1970b (including the surface surrounding the opening 1966 and extending from the side edges 1968a to 1968b and the end edges 1970a to 1970b to the surface of the atomizer 1908) may be coated with an oleophobic A coating, a hydrophobic coating, a hydrophilic coating, or a low surface energy coating to facilitate the flow of the payload within the payload reservoir 1952 through the opening 1966. In addition, the linear side edges 1968a to 1968b and the rounded end edges 1970a to 1970b (including the surface surrounding the opening 1966 and extending radially from the side edges 1968a to 1968b and the end edges 1970a to 1970b to the surface of the atomizer 1908) can be micro-patterned 1966 to facilitate payload flow through the opening. The micropattern may include ridges and / or dimples.

The opening 1966 is preferably sized and configured to prevent air bubbles from blocking the opening 1966 and to prevent fluid payload from flowing into the atomizer 1908. If bubbles form in any of the openings 1966, the shape of the opening allows any bubbles to guide the elongated slot and release to clear the opening. Containing openings 1966 circumferentially spaced around the inner side wall 1924 allows fluid payloads within the payload reservoir 1952 to contact the atomizer 1908 through an opening 1966, regardless of how the cartridge 1900 is rotationally oriented about its longitudinal axis (ie, the opening 1966) One of them will always be at or near the bottom of the box 1900, regardless of how the box 1900 rotates).

Preferably, the openings 1966 all have the same size and shape; however, it is also within the scope of the present invention for the openings 1966 to have different sizes and shapes. In an alternative embodiment, the opening 1966 may be oval. In addition, the end edges 1970a to 1970b may be linear such that the opening 1966 is rectangular. The opening 1966 may additionally be of any type of suitable shape (such as a triangle or a square). In an alternative embodiment, the opening 1966 may extend around the circumference of the housing 1906 such that the side edges 1968a to 1968b are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing 1906.

The opening 1966 may have the same shape on the outer surface of the inner wall 1924 as on the inner surface of the adjacent atomizer 1908 of the inner wall 1924. Alternatively, the size of the opening 1966 may gradually increase or decrease as it moves from the outer surface of the inner side wall 1924 to the inner surface of the inner side wall 1924. The openings 1966 may be equidistantly spaced from each other, so that they are symmetrically distributed around the inner side wall 1924. Alternatively, the openings 1966 may be asymmetrically distributed around the inner sidewall 1924, with different distances between adjacent openings 1966. Each of the openings 1966 may be filled with a wicking filler (for example, it may be porous ceramic, metal mesh, metal fiber, glass fiber, porous or sintered plastic or porous or sintered metal).

In one aspect, each of the openings 1966 may have approximately 0.25 mm ² , 0.5 mm ² , 1.0 mm ² , 1.5 mm ² , 2 mm ² , 3 mm ² , 4 mm ² , 5 mm ² , 6 mm ² , 7 mm ² , 8 mm ² , 9 mm ² , 10 mm ² , 11 mm ² , 12 mm ² , 13 mm ² , 14 mm ² , 15 mm ² , 16 mm ² , 17 mm ² , 18 mm ² , 19 mm ² , 20 mm ² , 21 mm ² , 22 mm ² , 23 mm ² , 24 mm ² or 25 mm ² surface area.

In one aspect, the aspect ratio of the length (i.e., the distance between the end edges 1970a to 1970b) and the width (i.e., the distance between the side edges 1968a to 1968b) of one or more of the openings 1966 may be about 1.1 : 1, 1.2: 1, 1.3: 1, 1.4: 1, 1.5: 1, 1.6: 1, 1.7: 1, 1.8: 1, 1.9: 1, 2: 1, 2.1: 1, 2.2: 1, 2.3: 1 , 2.4: 1, 2.5: 1, 2.6: 1, 2.7: 1, 2.8: 1, 2.9: 1, 3: 1, 3.2: 1, 3.4: 1, 3.6: 1, 3.8: 1, 4: 1, 4.2 : 1, 4.4: 1, 4.6: 1, 4.8: 1, or 5: 1.

The atomizer 1908 is positioned within the housing 1906 adjacent to the second end 1918 of the housing 1906. The atomizer 1908 is in fluid communication with both the payload reservoir 1952 and the air flow chamber 1953, as described above. Atomizer 1908 is a generally cylindrical tube that includes an outer side wall 1972 and an inner side wall 1974 that define a cylindrical atomizer chamber 1976. The atomizer 1908 has a first end 1964 that faces one of the first ends 1916 of the housing 1906 and a second end 1978 that faces the second end 1918 of the housing 1906.

The atomizer 1908 is preferably composed of a porous ceramic material (e.g., a non-fibrous material such as Japanese alumina ceramic or black porous ceramic such as Al ₂₎ surrounding a heating element positioned between the outer sidewall 1972 and the inner sidewall 1974. O ₃ or black Al ₂ O ₃ )). The heating element is electrically connected to a power connector 1950. The heating element may be a coil enclosed by a porous ceramic material. The heating element may be a resistive or inductive heating element and may include SS316L surgical stainless steel or a titanium alloy. In one embodiment, the heating element has a resistance of less than 2 ohms, less than 1.5 ohms, less than 1.3 ohms, or less than 1 ohm. In one embodiment, the heating element and atomizer 1908 does not include a nickel-chromium alloy or a chromium-aluminum-cobalt heat-resistant steel. The heating element can also be applied to the inside wall 1974 of the atomizer 1908. The outer sidewall 1972 may be coated with an oleophobic coating, a hydrophobic coating, a hydrophilic coating, or a low surface energy coating to facilitate payload flow through the opening 1966. The outer sidewall 1972 may also be micro-patterned to facilitate payload flow through the opening 1966. The micropattern may include ridges and / or dimples.

The payload in the payload reservoir 1952 is in contact with the outer sidewall 1972 through the opening 1966. The payload travels from the outer sidewall 1972 through the porous atomizer 1908 to the atomizer chamber 1976. As the payload passes through the atomizer 1908 to the atomizer chamber 1976, the heating element heats and vaporizes the payload. The evaporated payload in the atomizer chamber 1976 is drawn into the outlet flow chamber 1958, and the evaporated payload is mixed in the outlet flow chamber 1958 with air from the inlet flow chamber 1956 (as described above).

The deflectors 1910 and 1912 are positioned between the atomizer 1908 and the outlet 1962 in the air flow chamber 1953 for the purpose of preventing leakage of the non-evaporated fluid payload from the cassette 1900. The deflector 1910 includes a side wall 1980 having a cylindrical portion positioned within an atomizer chamber 1976. The side wall 1980 defines a hollow deflector chamber 1982. An end of the side wall 1980 facing the first end 1916 of the housing 1906 is extended outward into a section 1980a of the side wall 1980 having a diameter larger than a cylindrical portion of the side wall 1980. The outwardly expanding section 1980a is shaped into a truncated cone and is positioned outside the atomizer chamber 1976. The diameter of the frusto-conical shape of the section 1980a increases as it extends towards the first end 1916 away from the cylindrical portion of the side wall 1980.

In one aspect, the largest diameter portion at the end of the expanded section 1980a has about 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, or 2 of the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the deflector 1910. Double the diameter. In one aspect, the length of the expanded section 1980a (ie, the distance from the cylindrical portion of the side wall 1980 to the end of the deflector 1910) is about 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 of the length of the cylindrical portion of the deflector 1910. , 0.4 or 0.5 times.

The deflector 1910 is perforated with a plurality of holes. Each of the holes may have between about 0.1 mm to about 0.5 mm, between about 0.5 mm to about 1 mm, between about 1 mm to about 2 mm, or between about 2 mm to A diameter between about 5 mm. In one aspect, each of the holes may have approximately 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.8 mm, 0.9 mm, 1.0 mm, 1.1 mm, 1.2 mm , 1.3 mm, 1.4 mm, 1.5 mm, 1.6 mm, 1.7 mm, 1.8 mm, 1.9 mm, or 2.0 mm.

The deflector 1910 may also be formed of a hollow cylindrical mesh including one of a plurality of openings. In one aspect, the longest distance across each of the openings in the hollow cylindrical mesh may be from about 0.1 mm to about 0.5 mm, from about 0.5 mm to about 1 mm, from about 1 mm to about 2 mm, or From about 2 mm to about 5 mm. In one aspect, the longest distance across each of the openings may be about 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.8 mm, 0.9 mm, 1.0 mm, 1.1 mm, 1.2 mm, 1.3 mm, 1.4 mm, 1.5 mm, 1.6 mm, 1.7 mm, 1.8 mm, 1.9 mm, or 2.0 mm.

The deflector 1912 is positioned within the outlet flow chamber 1958 downstream of the deflector 1910 near the outlet 1962. The deflector 1912 is a generally flat, perforated disc having one of a plurality of holes formed therein to allow air to flow through the deflector 1912. Each of the deflectors 1910 and 1912 may include an oleophobic coating, a hydrophobic coating, a hydrophilic coating, or a low surface energy coating. The deflectors 1910 and 1912 may include a micro-patterned surface configured to be hydrophobic and / or oleophobic. The deflectors 1910 and 1912 are optional and can be omitted from the cassette 1900. Further, the cassette 1900 may contain one of the deflectors 1910 or 1912 and not the other.

In one aspect, each of the holes of the deflector 1912 may have a thickness between about 0.1 mm to about 0.5 mm, between about 0.5 mm to about 1 mm, and between about 1 mm to about 2 mm. A diameter between about 2 mm and about 5 mm. In one aspect, each of the holes of the deflector 1912 may have about 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.8 mm, 0.9 mm, 1.0 mm, 1.1 mm, 1.2 mm, 1.3 mm, 1.4 mm, 1.5 mm, 1.6 mm, 1.7 mm, 1.8 mm, 1.9 mm, or 2.0 mm diameter.

The deflector 1912 may be formed of a net or a screen. In one aspect, the longest distance of each of the openings across the mesh may be from about 0.1 mm to about 0.5 mm, from about 0.5 mm to about 1 mm, from about 1 mm to about 2 mm, or from about 2 mm to about 5 mm . In one aspect, the longest distance across each of the openings may be about 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.8 mm, 0.9 mm, 1.0 mm, 1.1 mm, 1.2 mm, 1.3 mm, 1.4 mm, 1.5 mm, 1.6 mm, 1.7 mm, 1.8 mm, 1.9 mm, or 2.0 mm.

The deflectors 1910 and 1912 preferably capture or deflect the non-evaporated fluid payload in the outlet flow chamber 1958 to prevent the heated fluid payload from entering the mouth of a user through the outlet 1962. The deflectors 1910 and 1912 can inhibit any un-evaporated payload from exiting the outlet 1962 by limiting droplet accumulation with a micro-patterned surface configured as one of hydrophobic and / or oleophobic. In another embodiment, suppressing the droplet ejection outlet 1962 includes trapping the droplets on a micropatterned surface. The deflectors 1910 and 1912 can be positioned anywhere between the atomizer 1908 and the outlet 1962. The deflectors 1910 and 1912 may be made of a metal or a metal alloy such as stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, or another metal or metal alloy. Preferably, the deflectors 1910 and 1912 are made of SS316L surgical grade stainless steel or a titanium alloy. Alternatively, the deflectors 1910 and 1912 may be made of a suitable polymer material having heat resistance sufficient to maintain its shape at a typical operating temperature of the cassette 1900 without removing volatiles.

In one embodiment, the nozzle 1929, the end cap 1932, and the center post 1944 of the cassette 1900 may be made of a metal or a metal alloy, such as stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, or another metal or metal alloy.

Cassette 1900 may also include a valve that adjusts the size of the opening 1966 that places the payload reservoir 1952 in fluid communication with the atomizer 1908. For example, the valve may be a rotary sleeve positioned between the atomizer 1908 and the inner side wall 1924. The rotating sleeve may have a plurality of spaced apart openings similar to the openings 1966 in the inner side wall 1924. The rotating sleeve can be rotated to: a fully open position, in which the opening in the rotating sleeve is aligned with the opening 1966; a plurality of partially open positions, in which the opening in the rotating sleeve is aligned with the opening 1966 portion and one of the rotating sleeves A solid portion blocks fluid flow through a portion of the opening; or an on position where the opening in the rotating sleeve is not aligned with the opening 1966 and a solid portion of the rotating sleeve completely blocks the opening 1966.

21 to 23D show a portion of an alternative embodiment of the cassette 2100. The cassette 2100 is similar to the cassette 1900 except that the cassette 2100 has an inlet flow chamber 2102 extending through a channel 2104 in the atomizer 2106. Because the cassette 2100 is similar to the cassette 1900, the only differences between the cassette 2100 and the cassette 1900 are described in detail herein. Referring to FIG. 22, the cassette 2100 has a partition 2108 that divides the air flow chamber 2110 in the inner side wall 2112 into an inlet flow chamber 2102 and an outlet flow chamber 2114. Air enters the inlet flow chamber 2102 through the inlet in a manner similar to one described above with respect to the cassette 1900. The partition 2108 abuts the atomizer 2106 so that the air in the inlet flow chamber 2102 is directed through the passage 2104 in the atomizer 2106. The atomizer 2106 includes a first end 2116 facing one of the first ends 2117 of the cassette 2100 and a second end 2118 facing one of the second ends 2119 of the cassette 2100. The atomizer 2106 includes an outer sidewall 2120 and an inner sidewall 2122. The channel 2104 is positioned between the outer side wall 2120 and the inner side wall 2122 and extends from the first end 2116 through the atomizer 2106 to the second end 2118. The channel 2104 forms a portion extending through the inlet flow chamber 2102 of the cassette 2100 such that the inlet flow chamber 2102 extends from the inlet through the first end 2116 of the atomizer 2106 to the second end 2118 of the atomizer 2106.

The inner wall 2122 of the atomizer 2106 defines an atomizer chamber 2124. As shown in FIG. 23B, a recess 2126 is formed in the second end 2118 of the atomizer 2106 to place the channel 2104 and thus the inlet flow chamber 2102 adjacent to the second end 2118 of the atomizer 2106 and the atomizer cavity. The chamber 2124 is in fluid communication. The atomizer chamber 2124 is in fluid communication with the outlet flow chamber 2114 adjacent the first end 2116 of the atomizer 2106, as shown in FIG. The elongated slot 2128 (FIG. 21) formed in the inner side wall 2112 is preferably offset circumferentially from the channel 2104 through the atomizer 2106 to allow the fluid payload from the payload reservoir 2130 to pass through the atomizer 2106 more easily. Into the atomizer chamber 2124 and prevent the fluid payload from entering the channel 2104. The surface of the atomizer 2106 surrounding the channel 2104 may also be formed of, coated with, or covered with the non-porous material to prevent the fluid in the payload reservoir 2130 from entering the channel 2104 in payload. For example, although the atomizer 2106 may be formed of a porous material, such as a porous ceramic, the surface surrounding the channel 2104 may be coated with a non-porous material or glazed, covered with a sheet of non-porous material, or heat treated to render the surface free hole.

The inner sidewall 2112 is positioned within a housing 2132 to define a payload reservoir 2130 between the inner sidewall 2112 and the housing 2132. A seal or gasket 2134 is positioned between the inner wall 2112 and one end wall 2136 of the housing 2132 to prevent fluid payload from leaking out of the payload reservoir 2130 and prevent air from entering the cassette 2100. The inner wall 2112 may be bonded to the end wall 2136. For example, the inner wall 2112 may be bonded to the end wall 2136 by fusing, forging, or gluing the inner wall 2112 and the end wall 2136 together. If the inner wall 2112 and the end wall 2136 are combined in a manner that prevents a fluid payload from leaking between the inner wall 2112 and the end wall 2136, the seal 2134 can also be eliminated. Alternatively, like the cassette 1900 described above, the inner wall 2112 may be a portion of a central post removably screwed to one end cap. The elongated slot 2128 can extend to the end wall 2136 such that when the cassette 2100 is oriented such that the first end 2117 is positioned above the second end 2119 and very little fluid payload is left in the cassette 2100, the fluid payload and the elongated slot 2128 connected.

In an alternative embodiment, the channel 2104 of the cassette 2100 may be positioned between the atomizer 2106 and the inner wall 2112. For example, a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses may be formed in the outer wall 2120 of the atomizer 2106 to form a channel between the atomizer 2106 and the inner wall 2112. The recesses are preferably offset circumferentially from an elongated slot 2128 that places the payload reservoir 2130 in fluid communication with the atomizer 2106. The surface surrounding the recess may be formed of, coated with, or covered with a non-porous material to prevent a fluid payload in the payload reservoir 2130 from entering the channel.

Extending the inlet flow chamber 2102 through or adjacent to the atomizer 2106 improves the performance of the cassette 2100. The atomizer 2106 preheats the inlet air when the inlet air flows through or is adjacent to the atomizer 2106, which allows the concentration of the evaporated payload to be more easily optimized relative to the wattage of the heating element supplied to the atomizer 2106. . Pre-heating the inlet air also allows for a more uniform temperature distribution that prevents one of the payload's unwanted pyrolysis effects when the payload is evaporated. In another aspect, the inlet air can cool the evaporated payload and air flowing through the outlet flow chamber 2114 to prevent the user's mouth or lips from being burned.

In one embodiment, the ceramic material of the atomizer 2106 can be replaced by a sintered metal or a high heat resistant plastic. The partition 2108, the inner wall 2112, and the outer shell 2132 may be formed of metal, plastic, wood, a composite material, or ceramic. Cassette 2100 may include deflectors 1910 and 1912 (described above), where deflector 1910 is modified to remove the expanded section 1980a so that divider 2108 may abut atomizer 2106.

Cassette 2100 may have one of the rotary sleeve valves structured similar to the rotary sleeve valve described above for cassette 1900 to regulate fluid flow through the elongated slot 2128.

24 is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of the cassette 2400 having an air flow path different from that of the cassettes 1900 and 2100. The air flow path of the cassette 2400 can be used in the cassette 1900 together with the elongated slot opening 1966 and the deflectors 1910 and 1912. The cassette 2400 has a first end 2402 and a second end 2404. The inlet 2406 is adjacent to the second end 2404 of the cassette 2400 and the outlet 2408 is adjacent to the first end 2402. The inlet flow chamber 2410 extends from the inlet 2406 to the atomizer 2412 and the atomizer chamber 2414. An outlet flow chamber 2416 extends from the atomizer chamber 2414 to an outlet 2408. When a user draws air through one of the nozzles adjacent to the outlet 2408, the air enters the inlet 2406, the air is mixed with the evaporated payload in the atomizer chamber 2414, and the air and the evaporated payload exit the outlet 2408 .

Any of the boxes 1900, 2100, and 2400 described above may be integrally formed with a control assembly (e.g., control assembly 14) to form an operable to supply a controlled current according to the needs of a user Or the voltage is supplied to the atomizer to power one of the electronic cigarette devices of the atomizers 1908, 2106 and 2412. Casses 1900, 2100, and 2400 may also be screwed into a control assembly using a threaded connector 1920 as shown or may have a clip or some other structure that couples them to a control assembly. The control assembly 14 is configured to cause the cassettes 1900, 2100, and 2400 to provide steam through an outlet by supplying a controlled current or voltage to the atomizer 1908, 2106, or 2412, as described above . The threaded connector 1920 is preferably one of the 510 threaded connectors that allows the cassettes 1900, 2100, and 2400 to be used with a compatible 510 threaded control subassembly or electronic cigarette device. Any one of the cassettes 1900, 2100, and 2400 is operable to operate according to the methods described above for the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 and the electronic cigarette device system 102 (including the system for optimizing evaporation according to the above and Method) Evaporate one of the fluid payloads in the payload reservoir. The cassettes 1900, 2100, and 2400 may have an ID tag 28 that includes a unique payload identifier that identifies one of the cassettes 1900, 2100, and 2400. Cassettes 1900, 2100, and 2400 may also include sensors that measure the operating conditions of the cassettes. For example, the cassettes 1900, 2100, and 2400 may include an integrated temperature control system for regulating the temperature of the atomizer described below in conjunction with the electronic cigarette device 4200 and a capacitive vapor measurement system described below in conjunction with the electronic cigarette device 3100. The conductive plates of the capacitive vapor measurement system, such as the conductive plates 3114 and 3116 shown in Figure 31, can be positioned anywhere between the atomizer and the outlet of the cassette. For example, the conductive plate may be positioned in the exit flow chamber 1958 of the cassette 1900, in the exit flow chamber 2114 of the cassette 2100, or in the exit flow chamber 2416 of the cassette 2400. The data from the sensor can be transmitted to a control assembly via a threaded connector operated according to the two-lead communication system described in connection with the electronic cigarette device 4000 below so that power is also provided to the box via the threaded connector.
Casing with pressurized fluid reservoir

In addition to the cassettes 1900, 2100, and 2400 described above, another aspect of the invention described herein regarding the use of one cassette with a fluid payload is to make a fluid in a payload reservoir The payload is pressurized one box. Pressurizing the fluid payload allows the fluid payload to flow reliably into the atomizer without forming bubbles in the openings or channels between the payload reservoir and the atomizer. This is particularly advantageous when the fluid payload is a highly viscous oil or fluid, such as a highly viscous oil or fluid extracted from a cannabis plant. In addition, pressurizing the fluid payload ensures that substantially all of the fluid payload is available for evaporation and that no substantial fluid payload remains in the payload reservoir after use.

An embodiment with a pressurized fluid reservoir is generally identified as 2500 in Figure 25A. The cassette 2500 includes a housing 2502, an atomizer 2504 (FIG. 25B), a pressurizer 2506, a stopper 2508, a dose ring 2510, and a spring 2512. The atomizer 2504, the pressurizer 2506, the stopper 2508, and the spring 2512 are positioned in an inner chamber 2513 defined by the housing 2502. The spring 2512 biases the pressurizer 2506 toward one of the payload reservoirs 2514 of the housing 2502 to apply pressure to a fluid payload within the payload reservoir 2514, which forces the fluid payload into contact with the atomizer 2504. The dose ring 2510 can screw-engage the stopper 2508 and allow a user to move the stopper 2508 to adjust the amount of fluid payload forced to contact the atomizer 2504. The payload reservoir 2514 preferably contains a fluid payload comprising one of nicotine, cannabis, or cannabinoid for evaporation and inhalation by a user. The payload reservoir 2514 may also contain propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, or vegetable glycerin.

As shown in FIG. 25A, the housing 2502 includes a nozzle 2516, an end cap 2518, and a cylindrical tube 2520 coupled to the end cap 2518. The dose ring 2510 is positioned between and coupled to the cylindrical tube 2520 and the suction nozzle 2516 in a manner that allows the dose ring 2510 to rotate. The end cap 2518 forms a first end wall 2522 of the housing 2502, and the suction nozzle 2516 forms a second end wall 2524. An outer side wall 2526 is formed by a combination of a cylindrical tube 2520 and a suction nozzle 2516. The end cap 2518 includes one threaded connector 2528 configured to couple the housing 2502 to a control assembly such as the control assembly 14 described above and shown in FIG. 1. An inlet 2530 is formed in the outer side wall 2526 adjacent to the second end wall 2524, and an outlet 2532 is formed in the second end wall 2524. The inlet 2530 preferably includes a plurality of holes extending through the outer side wall 2526 to one of the chambers 2533 of the housing 2502. The end cap 2518 may be permanently coupled to the cylindrical tube 2520 or removably coupled to the cylindrical tube 2520 for refilling the payload reservoir 2514.

Pressurizer 2506 includes a circular pressure plate 2534, a cylindrical tube 2536 coupled to the pressure plate 2534 and extending from the pressure plate 2534 toward the second end wall 2524, and an end coupled to the tube 2536 and substantially from the tube 2536. One flange 2538 extends vertically outward. The pressure plate 2534 has a first side 2534a positioned adjacent one of the payload reservoirs 2514 and a second side 2534b positioned adjacent one of the atomizers 2504. The payload reservoir 2514 is positioned between the pressure plate 2534, the outer side wall 2526, and the first end wall 2522 and is defined by the pressure plate 2534, the outer side wall 2526, and the first end wall 2522. The outer peripheral edge of the pressure plate 2534 sealingly engages the outer side wall 2526. The pressurizer 2506 moves within the housing 2502 along one direction aligned with one of the longitudinal axes of the housing 2502 (ie, an axis extending between the first end wall 2522 and the second end wall 2524). The movement of the pressurizer 2506 within the housing 2502 reduces or enlarges the size of the payload reservoir 2514.

The pressure plate 2534 includes a central opening 2540 that places the atomizer 2504 in fluid communication with the payload reservoir 2514. The opening 2540 is preferably sized based on the viscosity of the fluid payload contained in the payload reservoir 2514, the force exerted on the pressurizer 2506 by the spring 2512, and the desired flow rate of the fluid payload through the opening 2540. The tube 2536 extends through a central opening of the dose ring 2510 into a cavity 2533 adjacent to the inlet 2530. A valve can be positioned adjacent the central opening 2540 to adjust the size of the opening 2540 and the amount of fluid that can flow through the opening 2540. For example, the valve can slide to unblock the opening 2540, partially block the opening 2540, or completely block the opening 2540.

The atomizer 2504 is positioned within the pressurer tube 2536 and adjacent to the second side 2534b of the pressure plate 2534. The atomizer 2504 preferably includes a porous ceramic surrounding a heating element. The atomizer 2504 may be formed of any of the materials and may operate in the same manner as described above in connection with the atomizer 1908. The atomizer 2504 is cylindrical and includes a central atomizer channel 2542, which is aligned with the opening 2540 in the pressure plate 2534 to allow a fluid payload to flow from the payload reservoir 2514 through the opening 2540 and Enter the atomizer channel 2542.

A divider 2544 cavity extends from chamber 2533 into tube 2536. The partition 2544 is a cylindrical tube that divides the inner chamber of the chamber 2533 and the tube 2536 into an inlet flow chamber 2546 positioned between an outer surface of the partition 2544 and an inner surface of the tube 2536. One of the flow chambers 2548 exits within the partition 2544. The inlet 2530 is in fluid communication with the inlet flow chamber 2546, and the outlet 2532 is in fluid communication with the outlet flow chamber 2548. The end of the divider 2544 within the tube 2536 is spaced from the atomizer 2504 to place the inlet flow chamber 2546 in fluid communication with the outlet flow chamber 2548 adjacent the atomizer 2504. When a user draws air through the outlet 2532, the air enters the inlet 2530 and travels through the inlet flow chamber 2546. The evaporated fluid payload from the atomizer 2504 mixes with the air from the inlet flow chamber 2546 and travels through the outlet flow chamber 2548 into the user's mouth for inhalation. FIG. 27 shows a schematic diagram of an air flow path through the cassette 2500.

The stopper 2508 is a cylindrical tube positioned around the tube 2536 of the pressurizer 2506. A stopper 2508 is positioned between the flange 2538 and the pressure plate 2534 of the pressurizer 2506. The length of the stopper 2508 is smaller than the distance between the flange 2538 and the pressure plate 2534 so that the stopper 2508 can be moved relative to the pressurizer 2506 in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis of the housing 2502. The stopper 2508 has threads on the outer surface and engages threads on one of the inner surfaces of the dose ring 2510. The stopper 2508 engages the tube 2536 or a portion of the housing 2502 in a manner that prevents the stopper 2508 from rotating around the tube 2536 but allows the stopper 2508 to move in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis of the housing 2502.

The dose ring 2510 includes an outer surface substantially aligned with the outer surface of the outer sidewall 2526 and an inner surface with a thread that engages the threads on the stopper 2508. The dose ring 2510 is rotatable relative to the housing 2502.

The spring 2512 is positioned between the dose ring 2510 and the pressure plate 2534. When the stopper 2508 does not prevent the pressurizer 2506 from moving, the spring 2512 biases the pressure plate 2534 toward the payload reservoir 2514 and the first end wall 2522. The spring 2512 also biases the flange 2538 toward the stopper 2508. It is within the scope of the present invention to use other types of biasing mechanisms that have the ability to apply force to the presser 2506 instead of the spring 2512.

When a user desires to use the cassette 2500 to evaporate a fluid payload within the payload reservoir 2514, the user connects the cassette 2500 to a control assembly (such as the control assembly 14 described above). The control assembly is operable to power one of the heating elements of the atomizer 2504 according to the operating methods described above for the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 and the electronic cigarette device system 102. Prior to use, the stopper 2508 is in one of its engaged positions where the engagement flange 2538 prevents the spring 2512 from moving the pressurizer 2506 toward the payload reservoir 2514. This prevent pressurizer 2506 pressurizes the fluid payload in the payload reservoir 2514 to such an extent that the fluid payload will flow through the opening 2540 in the pressure plate 2534. To allow a fluid payload to flow through the opening 2540, the user rotates the dose ring 2510 in a direction that causes the stopper 2508 to move away from the engagement with the flange 2538. Alternatively, a motor can be used to rotate the dose ring 2510 and can be controlled manually by a user or by a processor that sends a signal to turn the motor on and off. Since the rotational movement of the stopper 2508 is blocked, the rotation of the dose ring 2510 causes the stopper 2508 to move longitudinally away from the flange 2538. Once the stopper 2508 moves away from the flange 2538, the spring 2512 and pressure plate 2534 can apply pressure to the fluid payload in the payload reservoir 2514, causing the fluid payload to move through the opening 2540 in the pressure plate 2534 and interact with The atomizer 2504 is in contact.

The dose ring 2510 and the housing 2502 preferably include a dose indicator corresponding to a specific amount of the fluid payload contained in the payload reservoir 2514. For example, the dose indicator may be a line or a group of lines on the dose ring 2510 and a line or a group of lines on the outer side wall 2526 of the adjacent dose ring 2510. The user can rotate the dose ring 2510 so that a line on the dose ring moves from being aligned with a first line on the outer side wall 2526 to being aligned with a second line on the outer side wall 2526. The dose ring 2510 can also move axially relative to the housing 2502 when it is rotated. Alternatively, if a first line on the dose ring 2510 is aligned with a line on the outer side wall 2526, the user can rotate the dose ring 2510 until a second line on the dose ring 2510 and the same on the outer side wall 2526. Line alignment. The distance between adjacent lines on the dose ring 2510 or the outer side wall 2526 corresponds to an angle of movement of the dose ring 2510, which corresponds to the longitudinal movement of one of the stops 2508. The longitudinal movement of the stopper 2508 towards the payload reservoir 2514 and the reduction in volume of one of the payload reservoirs 2514 and the force within the payload reservoir 2514 are forced through the opening 2540 into the atomizer 2504 for evaporation Corresponds to one volume of the fluid payload. Therefore, the user can use the dose indicator on the dose ring 2510 and the housing 2502 to select the volume or dose of the fluid payload that the user wants to evaporate. Other types of dose indicators can be used in place of the wire box 2500. For example, a detent mechanism may be used with a spring-loaded ball or pin on the dose ring 2510 or the housing 2502 to engage one of a series of holes or recesses on the other of the dose ring 2510 or the housing 2502. The use of a detent mechanism can provide the user with tactile or audible feedback so that the user knows when the dose ring has rotated from one position to the next position, and the instances of rotation from one position to the next position will be forced to pass One dose of the fluid payload of the opening 2540 corresponds.

After selecting a dose with the dose ring 2510, the user causes, for example, to press one of the buttons on the control assembly connected to the cassette 2500, start to draw air through the outlet 2532, or as described above for the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 Either of the other methods supplies power to the atomizer 2504. When the atomizer 2504 heats the fluid payload, the fluid payload evaporates, mixes with air from the inlet 2530, and exits through the outlet 2532 for inhalation. As the fluid payload passes through the opening 2540 and evaporates, the spring 2512 causes the pressurer 2506 to move toward the payload reservoir 2514, which also causes the flange 2538 of the pressurer 2506 to move toward the stopper 2508. When the flange 2538 engages the stopper 2508, the pressurizer 2506 may no longer move toward the payload reservoir 2514, which causes the fluid payload to stop flowing through the opening 2540 and evaporate. To evaporate the fluid payload again, the user rotates the dose ring 2510 as described above.

The opening 2540 is preferably sized so that the fluid payload within the payload reservoir 2514 will not leak through the opening 2540 when the stopper 2508 engages the flange 2538. The size of the viscosity combination opening 2540 of the fluid payload prevents leakage through the opening 2540.

A heater may be positioned in or near the payload reservoir 2514 to heat the fluid payload within the payload reservoir 2514 to a temperature that is lower than the fluid payload Evaporates the temperature but reduces the viscosity of the fluid payload to allow it to flow through the opening 2540 of the pressurizer 2506 in a desired manner.

In an alternative embodiment, the inlet flow chamber 2546 may extend from the inlet 2530 through one of the channels in the pressurizer 2506. When the flange 2538 engages the stopper 2508, the channel can be blocked by the stopper 2508 to prevent a user when the stopper 2508 prevents the spring 2512 and the pressurizer 2506 from forcing the fluid payload into contact with the atomizer 2504. Air is drawn through the box 2500. Blocking the airflow from the inlet 2530 and the inlet flow chamber 2546 can prevent the user from heating the atomizer 2504 when the fluid payload is not in contact with the atomizer 2504, which is advantageous because during atomization Heating the atomizer 2504 without the atomizer 2504 in contact with the fluid payload can potentially damage the atomizer 2504. If the cartridge 2500 has one of the pressure activation switches that senses the pressure drop before the atomizer 2504 is activated as described above in connection with the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100, blocking the air flow through the inlet flow chamber 2546 will prevent the pressure activation switch and Start of the atomizer 2504.

Another embodiment of a cassette with a pressurized fluid reservoir is generally identified as 2600 in Figure 26A. The cassette 2600 includes a housing 2602, an atomizer 2604 (FIG. 26B), a pressurizer 2606, a stopper 2608, a dose ring 2610, and a spring 2612. The atomizer 2604, the pressurizer 2606, the stopper 2608, and the spring 2612 are positioned in an inner chamber 2613 defined by the housing 2602. The spring 2612 biases the pressurizer 2606 toward one of the payload reservoirs 2614 of the housing 2602 to apply pressure to a fluid payload within the payload reservoir 2614, which forces the fluid payload to contact the atomizer 2604. The dose ring 2610, the pressurizer 2606, and the stopper 2608 allow a user to move the stopper 2608 to adjust the amount of fluid payload forced to contact the atomizer 2604, as described below. The payload reservoir 2614 preferably contains a fluid payload comprising one of nicotine, cannabis or cannabinoid for evaporation and inhalation by a user. The payload reservoir 2614 may also contain propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, or vegetable glycerin.

The housing 2602 includes a suction nozzle 2616, an end cap 2618, and a cylindrical tube 2620 coupled to the end cap 2618. The dose ring 2610 is positioned between and coupled to the cylindrical tube 2620 and the suction nozzle 2616 in a manner that allows the dose ring 2610 to rotate. The end cap 2618 forms a first end wall 2622 of the housing 2602, and the suction nozzle 2616 forms a second end wall 2624. An outer side wall 2626 is formed by a combination of a cylindrical tube 2620 and a suction nozzle 2616. The end cap 2618 may include a threaded connector configured to couple the housing 2602 to a control assembly such as the control assembly 14 described above and shown in FIG. 1. An inlet 2630 is formed in the outer side wall 2626 adjacent to the second end wall 2624, and an outlet 2632 is formed in the second end wall 2624. The inlet 2630 preferably includes a plurality of holes extending through the outer side wall 2626. The end cap 2618 may be permanently coupled to the cylindrical tube 2620 or removably coupled to the cylindrical tube 2620 for refilling the payload reservoir 2614.

A central post 2631 is formed integrally with the suction nozzle 2616 and extends from the suction nozzle 2616 to a payload reservoir 2614 adjacent to the first end wall 2622. The center post 2631 is positioned within an inner chamber 2613 defined by a housing 2602. A channel 2633 extends through the central post 2631 and has an opening 2635 adjacent to the first end wall 2622. The atomizer 2604 is positioned at an end of the central pillar 2631 adjacent to the first end wall 2622 in the channel 2633. The end of the center post 2631 is spaced from the first end wall 2622 so that when the stopper 2608 is spaced from the first end wall 2622, the fluid payload in the payload reservoir 2614 can flow through the opening 2635 to the atomizer. 2604. The center post 2631 may also be attached to the first end wall 2622 with, for example, threads or clamps, in which case at least one opening will extend through the center post 2631 to atomize when the opening is not covered by the stopper 2608. The reservoir 2604 is placed in fluid communication with the payload reservoir 2614.

The pressure device 2606 includes an annular pressure plate 2634 and a cylindrical tube 2636 coupled to the pressure plate 2634 and extending from the pressure plate 2634 toward the second end wall 2624. The payload reservoir 2614 is positioned between the pressure plate 2634, the outer side wall 2626, and the first end wall 2622 and is defined by the pressure plate 2634, the outer side wall 2626, and the first end wall 2622. The outer peripheral edge of the pressure plate 2634 sealingly engages the outer side wall 2626. Pressurizer 2606 includes an internal surface 2638 that is threaded and surrounds one of the internal chambers that extend through the pressurizer 2606. The threaded inner surface 2638 engages one of the threaded outer surfaces 2640 of the stopper 2608. The pressurizer 2606 moves within the housing 2602 along a direction aligned with one of the longitudinal axes of the housing 2602 (ie, an axis extending between the first end wall 2622 and the second end wall 2624). Movement of the pressurizer 2606 within the housing 2602 reduces or enlarges the size of the payload reservoir 2614.

The pressure device 2606 includes at least one groove 2642 positioned within a recess of the dose ring 2610. The engagement between the flow channel 2642 and the recess of the dose ring 2610 allows the pressure device 2606 to rotate with the rotation of the dose ring 2610 and also allows the pressure device 2606 to align with the dose in a direction aligned with the longitudinal direction of the housing 2602 The ring 2610 moves axially. As long as the pressurizer 2606 is rotatably fixed to the dose ring 2610 and the pressurizer 2606 can be moved axially relative to the dose ring 2610, the use of other types of structures other than the flume and the recess is also within the scope of the invention.

The atomizer 2604 preferably includes a porous ceramic surrounding a heating element. The atomizer 2604 may be formed of any of the materials and may operate in the same manner as described above in connection with the atomizer 1908. The atomizer 2604 is cylindrical and includes a central atomizer channel 2663. The central atomizer channel 2663 is in fluid communication with the payload reservoir 2614 when the stopper 2608 does not engage the first end wall 2622 to allow fluid The payload travels from the payload reservoir 2614 into the atomizer channel 2643.

The housing 2602 includes a partition 2644 positioned within the channel 2633 of the center post 2631. The partition 2644 partitions the channel 2633 into an inlet flow chamber 2646 positioned between an outer surface of the partition 2644 and an inner surface of the center post 2631 and an outlet flow chamber 2648 positioned in the partition 2644. A cylindrical tube. The inlet 2630 is in fluid communication with the inlet flow chamber 2646, and the outlet 2632 is in fluid communication with the outlet flow chamber 2648. The end of the partition 2644 within the center post 2631 is spaced from the atomizer 2604 to place the inlet flow chamber 2646 in fluid communication with the atomizer 2604 adjacent to the outlet flow chamber 2648. When a user draws air through the outlet 2632, the air enters the inlet 2630 and travels through the inlet flow chamber 2646. The evaporated fluid payload from the atomizer 2604 is mixed with air from the inlet flow chamber 2646 and travels through the outlet flow chamber 2648 into the user's mouth for inhalation.

The stopper 2608 is a cylindrical tube positioned around the center post 2631. A part of the stopper 2608 engages the housing 2602 that may include the center post 2631, so that the stopper 2608 cannot rotate around the center post 2631, but the engagement allows the stopper 2608 to oppose in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis of the housing 2602 Move on the center column 2631. The stopper 2608 is positioned between the first end wall 2622 and one of the inner walls 2650 of the housing 2602. The length of the stopper 2608 is shorter than the distance between the first end wall 2622 and the inner wall 2650, so that the stopper 2608 can move relative to the pressurizer 2606 and the center pillar 2631 in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis of the housing 2602. . The outer surface 2640 of the stopper 2608 includes threads that engage the threads on the inner surface 2638 of the presser 2606.

The stopper 2608 has an end surface 2652 adjacent to one of the first end walls 2622. The end surface 2652 surrounds a central opening 2654 that extends through one of the stops 2608 (FIG. 26C). The center post 2631 is positioned in the opening 2654 of the stopper 2608. When the spring 2612 forces the stopper 2608 to engage the first end wall 2622, the end surface 2652 is configured to sealingly engage the first end wall 2622, which prevents the fluid payload within the payload reservoir 2614 from flowing through the opening 2654 And in contact with the atomizer 2604. When the stopper 2608 is spaced apart from the first end wall 2622, the fluid payload within the payload reservoir 2614 may flow through the opening 2654 to contact the atomizer 2604 for evaporation.

The dose ring 2610 includes an outer surface substantially aligned with the outer surface of the outer side wall 2626 and one way to rotationally secure the pressure device 2606 to the dose ring 2610 but allow the pressure device 2606 to move axially relative to the dose ring 2610. One of the inner surfaces of the presser 2606 is engaged. The dose ring 2610 is rotatable relative to the housing 2602.

The spring 2612 is positioned between the dose ring 2610 and the pressure plate 2634. The spring 2612 biases the pressure plate 2634 toward the payload reservoir 2614 and the first end wall 2622. The spring 2612 also biases the stopper 2608 toward the first end wall 2622 by virtue of the threaded engagement between the stopper 2608 and the pressurer 2606. It is within the scope of the present invention to use other types of biasing mechanisms having the ability to apply force to the presser 2606 and the stopper 2608 instead of the spring 2612.

When a user desires to use the cassette 2600 to evaporate a fluid payload within the payload reservoir 2614, the user connects the cassette 2600 to a control assembly (such as the control assembly 14 described above). The control assembly is operable to power one of the heating elements of the atomizer 2604 according to the operating methods described above for the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 and the electronic cigarette device system 102. Prior to use, the stopper 2608 is biased by its spring 2612 to engage the first end wall 2622 to prevent the circulating payload in the payload reservoir 2614 from entering the opening 2654 in the stopper 2608 and with the atomizer 2604 One of the contacts is in the ON position. To allow a fluid payload to flow through the opening 2654, the user rotates the dose ring 2610 in a direction that causes the stopper 2608 to move away from engagement with the first end wall 2622. Alternatively, a motor can be used to rotate the dose ring 2610 and can be controlled manually by a user or by a processor that sends a signal to turn the motor on and off. As the dose ring 2610 rotates, the pressure device 2606 rotates in the same direction. Because the stopper 2608 engages the housing 2602 in a manner that blocks the rotational movement of the stopper 2608 and the fluid payload within the payload reservoir 2614 prevents the pressurer 2606 from moving toward the first end wall 2622, the pressurer The rotation of 2606 causes the stopper 2608 to move longitudinally away from the first end wall 2622. Once the stopper 2608 moves away from the first end wall 2622, the pressure exerted by the spring 2612 and the pressure plate 2634 on the fluid payload in the payload reservoir 2614 causes the fluid payload to move through the opening 2654 in the stopper 2608. And in contact with the atomizer 2604.

The dose ring 2610 and the housing 2602 preferably include one of the dose indicators substantially similar to the dose indicator described above for the cartridge 2500 so that a user can select a payload reservoir by rotating the dose ring 2610 by a specific amount One of the desired doses of fluid payload in the reservoir 2614.

After selecting a dose with the dose ring 2610, the user causes, for example, to press one of the buttons on the control assembly connected to the cassette 2600, start to draw air through the outlet 2632, or as described above for the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 Either of the other methods supplies power to the atomizer 2604. When the atomizer 2604 heats the fluid payload, the fluid payload evaporates, mixes with air from the inlet 2630, and exits through the outlet 2632 for inhalation. As the fluid payload passes through the opening 2654 and evaporates, the spring 2612 causes the pressurizer 2606 and the stopper 2608 to move toward the first end wall 2622. When the selected dose has moved through the opening 2654 and evaporated, the stopper 2608 sealingly engages the first end wall 2622 to prevent the fluid payload from flowing further into the atomizer 2604. With the stopper 2608 sealingly engaging the first end wall 2622, the fluid payload in the payload receptacle 2614 is prevented from leaking out of the cassette 2600. To evaporate the fluid payload again, the user rotates the dose ring 2610 as described above.

Cassette 2600 may also include an optional heater positioned in or adjacent to payload reservoir 2614 to heat the fluid payload within payload reservoir 2614 to a A temperature that is lower than the evaporation temperature of the fluid payload but reduces the viscosity of the fluid payload to allow it to flow in a desired manner through one of the openings 2654. The inlet 2630 of the box 2600 can also be positioned adjacent to the first end wall 2618, in which case a divider 2644 will not be necessary because the incoming air will flow through near the first end wall 2618 or be discharged through the inlet 2632 or Pass the atomizer 2604.

Figure 26D shows another box 2656, which is similar to box 2600, except for the configuration of the atomizer 2658 and the center column 2660. The center pillar 2660 extends from the vicinity of the second end wall 2662 to the atomizer 2658. There is a gap between the center column 2660 and the atomizer 2658. The stopper 2664 can be moved in the same manner as the stopper 2608 described above to block the gap and stop the fluid payload from the payload reservoir 2666 from flowing to the atomizer 2658 or to open the gap to allow from The fluid payload of the payload reservoir 2666 flows to the atomizer 2658. The atomizer 2658 is positioned adjacent to the first end wall 2668 (here the atomizer 2658 is in electrical communication with the power connector 2670). Cassette 2656 includes a threaded connector 2672 for engaging the cassette to a control assembly that can power the atomizer 2658 in the same manner as described above with respect to other cassettes described herein.

Either of the boxes 2500 and 2600 described above may be integrally formed with a control assembly (e.g., control assembly 14) to form an operable to supply a controlled current or voltage according to the needs of a user To the atomizer, power is supplied to one of the electronic cigarette devices of the atomizers 2504, 2604. The cassettes 2500 and 2600 may also be screwed into a control assembly using a threaded connector 2528 or may have a clip or some other structure that couples them to a control assembly. The control assembly 14 is configured to cause the cassettes 2500, 2600 to provide steam through an outlet by supplying a controlled current or voltage to the atomizers 2504, 2604 in response to a user's input, as described above. The threaded connector 2528 is preferably a 510 threaded connector that allows the cassettes 2500, 2600 to be used with a compatible 510 threaded control subassembly or electronic cigarette device. Any one of the cassettes 2500, 2600 can be operated according to the methods described above for the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 and the electronic cigarette device system 102 (including the systems and methods for optimizing evaporation according to the methods described above) ) Evaporate one of the fluid payloads in the reservoir. Cassettes 2500, 2600 may have an ID tag 28 that contains one of the unique payload identifiers identifying the cassettes 2500, 2600. Cassettes 2500, 2600 may also include sensors that measure the operating conditions of the cassettes. For example, the boxes 2500 and 2600 may include an integrated temperature control system for adjusting the temperature of the atomizer described below in conjunction with the electronic cigarette device 4200 and a capacitive vapor measurement system described below in conjunction with the electronic cigarette device 3100. The conductive plates of the capacitor vapor measurement system (such as the conductive plates 3114 and 3116 shown in FIG. 31) can be positioned anywhere between the atomizer and the outlet of the cassette. For example, the conductive plate may be positioned in the outlet flow chamber 2548 of the cassette 2500, or in the outlet flow chamber 2648 of the cassette 2600. The data from the sensor can be transmitted to a control assembly via a threaded connector operated according to the two-lead communication system described in connection with the electronic cigarette device 4000 below so that power is also provided to the box via the threaded connector.

The components of cassettes 2500 and 2600 can be made from any of the materials described above in connection with cassette 1900.
Tamper-resistant electronic cigarette device with improved atomizer / fluid contact

An additional embodiment of the invention described herein is an electronic cigarette device or cassette having an atomizer that is maintained when the electronic cigarette device or cassette is substantially horizontal and even when very little payload remains The ability to continuously immerse in a viscous payload fluid. The electronic cigarette device or cartridge according to the invention described herein need not be stored vertically or used with a viscosity modifier that is doped with a payload fluid. The electronic cigarette device or cassette may have the ability to orient itself in a predetermined position that keeps the atomizer continuously immersed in the payload fluid when the electronic cigarette device or cassette is placed on a horizontal surface. The electronic cigarette device or cassette is also preferably tamper-resistant. The electronic cigarette device can also be pre-charged and pre-filled.

An electronic cigarette device according to the invention described herein is generally identified as 2800 in FIG. 28A. Referring to FIGS. 28A, 28B, and 28D, the electronic cigarette device 2800 includes a casing 2802 and all of the following positioned in an inner cavity defined by the casing: a tray 2804, a flexible circuit board 2806, a The battery 2808, a pressure sensor 2810, a haptic motor 2812, an atomizer 2814, a seal 2816, and a button 2818.

As shown in FIG. 28D, the housing 2802 may be joined together to form a first section 2802a and a second section 2802b of a side wall 2820, a first end wall 2822 at a first end of the housing 2802, A second end wall 2824 at a second end of 2802 and a substantially flat surface 2826 are formed. A longitudinal axis of the housing 2802 extends between the first end wall 2822 and the second end wall 2824. The side wall 2820 and the substantially flat surface 2826 extend from the first end wall 2822 to the second end wall 2824 in the same direction as the longitudinal axis. The substantially flat surface 2826 has a first side edge 2826a (FIG. 28C) and a second side edge 2826b, and the side wall 2820 extends from the first side edge 2826a to the second side edge 2826b around the housing 2802. The side wall 2820 has a cross section that is generally oval as shown in FIG. 28C, where one of the major axes of the oval is parallel to and substantially spaced from the substantially flat surface 2826 and one of the ovals is short The axis is perpendicular to the substantially planar surface 2826. It is also within the scope of the present invention to make the cross section of the side wall 2820 into any suitable shape, such as a circle, a triangle, or a polygon. The housing 2802 is generally shaped as an oblong, oval tube with a closed end and a flat bottom.

Due to the oval side wall 2820 and the substantially flat surface 2826, the electronic cigarette device 2800 is configured such that the housing 2802 orients itself to a predetermined position when the housing 2802 is placed on a substantially horizontal surface and the longitudinal axis of the housing 2802 is substantially horizontal Position (ie, a position where the substantially planar surface 2826 faces downward). In this predetermined position, the substantially flat surface 2826 faces downward and abuts a substantially horizontal surface on which the housing 2802 is placed. The electronic cigarette device 2800 assumes this predetermined position because if the side wall 2820 is placed on a substantially horizontal surface, the oval shape of the side wall 2820 will cause the electronic cigarette device 2800 to flip until the substantially flat surface 2826 faces downward and abuts the substantially horizontal surface. As described above, in addition to an oval side wall 2820 and a substantially flat surface 2826, the housing 2802 may be formed to have the electronic cigarette device 2800 oriented to a predetermined position when the electronic cigarette device 2800 is placed on a generally horizontal surface. Other shapes in position. In addition, in addition to or instead of having a housing 2802 shaped to orient the electronic cigarette device 2800 in a predetermined position, the weight and center of mass of the electronic cigarette device 2800 can be configured to cause the electronic cigarette device 2800 The housing 2802 orients itself in a predetermined position when placed on a substantially horizontal surface or a substantially flat surface. For example, the housing 2802 may have one side wall having a circular or oval cross-section and the housing 2802 may not include a substantially flat surface such that the entire outer surface of the housing 2802 is cylindrical or curved. The weight and center of mass of the electronic cigarette device 2800 can be configured such that when the sidewall is placed on a substantially horizontal surface, the electronic cigarette device 2800 rolls to its predetermined position, no matter how the sidewall is initially placed on the substantially horizontal surface. The approximately cylindrical shape of the housing 2802 is preferably easily distinguishable from a circular or polygonal pen, a lipstick container, a pencil, or a flashlight.

Preferably, when the electronic cigarette device 2800 is in the predetermined position, a payload reservoir 2856 (FIG. 28B) is oriented such that the payload reservoir 2856 is at least about 1% to 5% full, and about 5% to 10%. At% full or about 10% to 15% full, a fluid payload within the reservoir forms a pool of immersion bath atomizer 2814.

Referring to FIG. 28A, one of the inlets 2828 of the housing 2802 is positioned adjacent the first end wall 2822. The inlet 2828 typically consists of six openings extending through the side wall 2820 to an internal cavity surrounded by the housing 2802. Three of the openings are positioned on one side of the housing 2802, and three of the openings are positioned on opposite sides of the housing 2802. An outlet 2830 (FIG. 28F) of one of the housings 2802 extends through a center of one of the second end walls 2824. The housing 2802 also includes a viewing port 2832 positioned adjacent the second end wall 2824 (FIG. 28E). The observation port 2832 is positioned adjacent to the payload reservoir 2856 of the electronic cigarette device 2800 (described below) so that a user of the electronic cigarette device 2800 can watch through the observation port 2832 to determine how much of the payload reservoir 2856 is valid. load. As shown in FIG. 28E, the viewing port 2832 may include an opening formed through the side wall 2820 and a thin sheet of transparent material (such as glass or polymer material) that covers the opening to substantially seal the inner cavity of the housing 2802. The viewing port 2832 is positioned on the side wall 2820 opposite the generally planar surface 2826, and approximately 180 degrees around the housing 2802 from the generally planar surface 2826. It is also within the scope of the present invention to place the viewing ports 2832 in alternate positions (such as about 90 degrees from the viewing port 2832 around the housing 2802 on either side of the electronic cigarette device 2800). There may also be two or more viewing ports 2832, with one viewing port 2832 on each side of the housing 2802. If the payload reservoir 2856 cannot be completely filled, the viewing port 2832 may be included in the electronic cigarette device 2800 in one of the maximum fill lines indicating when the payload reservoir 2856 is full when in the predetermined position described above.

Referring to FIG. 28B, the tray 2804 is positioned in the housing 2802 and extends almost the entire length of the housing 2802 from the first end wall 2822 to the second end wall 2824. As shown in FIG. 28D, the tray 2804 has a first section 2804a and a second section 2804b formed integrally with the first section 2804a. It is also within the scope of the present invention that the first section 2804a and the second section 2804b are separate components that are joined together or placed adjacent to each other only within the housing 2802. The first section 2804a has curved side walls 2834a to 2834b that are shaped to abut the side walls 2820 of the housing 2802 (FIG. 28C). The first section 2804a has a substantially flat bottom 2836 that is shaped to abut one of the substantially flat surfaces 2826 of the housing 2802. Each of the side walls 2834a to 2834b extends laterally upwardly on one of the substantially flat bottoms 2836 and terminates at a position approximately half of the entire height of the housing 2802. As shown in FIG. 28D, the side walls 2834a to 2834b and the substantially flat bottom 2836 define a semi-cylindrical recess 2838. The side walls 2834a to 2834b have flat sections 2840a to 2840b adjacent to the long axis of the oval side wall 2820 and perpendicular to the long axis of the oval side wall 2820, respectively (FIG. 28C). The flat sections 2840a to 2840b cause enclosed channels 2842a to 2842b to be formed between the side walls 2834a to 2834b and the side walls 2820 of the housing 2802, respectively. The enclosed channels 2842a to 2842b form part of an inlet flow chamber of an electronic cigarette device 2800, as described below. As shown in FIG. 28D, openings 2844a to 2844b are formed in the side walls 2834a to 2834b. The openings 2844a to 2844b are positioned adjacent to the atomizer 2814 and the channels 2842a to 2842b and the inlet 2828 are placed in fluid communication with the atomizer 2814. The tray 2804 has a first side positioned adjacent to the housing 2802 and a second side adjacent to the recess 2838. The openings 2844a to 2844b extend from the first side through the tray 2804 to the second side.

As shown in FIG. 28B, the second section 2804b of the tray 2804 has an outer side wall 2846 having an outer surface that is one of the flat bottoms 2848 of a generally flat surface 2826 that is generally cylindrical and includes a matching housing 2802. A reservoir sidewall 2850 is formed on an inner surface of one of the outer sidewalls 2846. The first and second receptacle end walls 2852 and 2854 are coupled to the outer side wall 2846 and the receptacle side wall 2850 and integrated with the outer side wall 2846 and the receptacle side wall 2850. The receptacle sidewall 2850 and the first receptacle end wall 2852 and the second receptacle end wall 2854 define and enclose a payload receptacle 2856 positioned adjacent to the second end wall 2824 of the housing 2802. A reservoir opening 2858 extends through the second reservoir end wall 2854. The reservoir opening 2858 is spaced from the outlet 2830 in a direction substantially perpendicular to one of the longitudinal axes of the housing 2802. Separating the reservoir opening 2858 from the outlet 2830 makes it more difficult to access the reservoir opening 2858 through the outlet 2830, which helps prevent tampering with the payload positioned in the payload reservoir 2856 and prevents the original payload from being depleted Unauthorized refill of the payload reservoir 2856. For authorized refilling, the asymmetric design of the housing 2802 allows for a refilling machine (if the payload reservoir 2856 is designed in a way that allows it to be refilled) then the electronic cigarette is refilled before the payload reservoir 2856 The device 2800 is properly oriented. A plug (such as the plug 2910 shown in FIG. 29C or the plug 2966 shown in FIGS. 29F to 29G) is preferably inserted into the receptacle opening 2858 after the payload receptacle is filled. The plug may be tamper-resistant as described below with respect to plug 2910, and / or may be designed to equalize the pressure within the payload reservoir 2856 as described below with respect to plug 2966. The first reservoir end wall 2852 includes a plurality of openings 2860 that place the payload reservoir 2856 in fluid communication with the atomizer 2814. The payload reservoir 2856 is preferably inserted into the housing 2802 after being filled.

The tray 2804 is advantageous during the manufacture of the electronic cigarette device 2800 because it allows the flexible circuit board 2806, the battery 2808, the pressure sense to be pre-assembled on the tray 2804 before the tray 2804 slides into the first section 2802a of the housing 2802. Detector 2810, tactile motor 2812, nebulizer 2814, seal 2816, and button 2818. The second section 2802b of the housing 2802 may then be combined with the first section 2802a. The payload reservoir 2856 may also be filled before the tray 2804 is slid into the housing 2802 for final assembly.

Referring to FIG. 28B, the side wall 2850 of the reservoir is shaped into a truncated oblique cone and has a first end 2862 positioned adjacent to one of the atomizer 2814 and a second end 2864 positioned adjacent to the second end wall 2824. . The frustum of the oblique cone is tied to the second end 2864. The vertex of the cone is also positioned at the second end 2864 and at a height higher than the bottom of the electronic cigarette device 2800, which is about three-quarters of the total height of the electronic cigarette device 2800. When the electronic cigarette device 2800 is oriented in the predetermined position described above and as shown in FIG. 28B (ie, where the substantially flat surface 2826 of the housing 2802 faces downward and the electronic cigarette device 2800 is positioned such that the longitudinal axis of the housing 2802 Generally horizontal), the side wall 2850 of the reservoir slopes downward from the second end 2864 to the first end 2862 toward the atomizer 2814. In this predetermined position, the second end 2864 of the side wall 2850 of the receptacle is positioned just below the receptacle opening 2858 at a height higher than the bottom of the electronic cigarette device 2800, which is approximately the total height of the electronic cigarette device 2800. Two thirds. In this predetermined position, the first end 2862 of the side wall 2850 of the receptacle is positioned near the bottom of the electronic cigarette device 2800. The side wall 2850 of the receptacle is inclined upward from the first end 2862 to the second end 2864 at an angle X formed between the side wall 2850 of the receptacle and the bottom of the electronic cigarette device 2800. The angle X is preferably determined by the viscosity of the payload and the tendency of the payload to adhere to the side wall 2850 of the receptacle. For example, the angle X may be increased for more sticky payloads and for payloads that have a greater tendency to adhere to the side wall 2850 of the receptacle. The angle X is preferably optimized for the viscosity or other physical or chemical properties of the payload to improve the flow of the payload towards the atomizer 2814. The receptacle sidewall 2850 may be made of any suitable material, including plastic, metal, ceramic, and / or glass.

Atomizer 2814 is positioned in the housing 2802 adjacent the first reservoir end wall 2852. The atomizer 2814 is positioned about 1 mm to 2 mm above the bottom of the electronic cigarette device 2800. The atomizer 2814 is at a different height within the electronic cigarette device 2800 and is preferably based on the characteristics of the payload (e.g., viscosity or other physical or chemical properties) within the payload reservoir 2856 and the payload reservoir 2856. The configuration of the optimized atomizer 2814 is within the scope of the present invention. The atomizer 2814 is in fluid communication with the payload reservoir 2856 through an opening 2860 in the first reservoir end wall 2852. The payload reservoir 2856 preferably contains a fluid payload that may contain a substance (such as nicotine, marijuana, or cannabinoid) for evaporation and inhalation by a user. The payload reservoir 2856 may also contain propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, or vegetable glycerin. The atomizer 2814 is configured to heat and evaporate the payload to produce an evaporative payload. A valve is preferably positioned between the payload reservoir 2856 and the atomizer 2814 to regulate the flow of the payload from the payload reservoir 2856 to the atomizer 2814. The valve can be operated mechanically by a user or electromechanically by instructions received from a processor described below. In one embodiment, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) pad may be positioned between the payload reservoir 2856 and the atomizer 2814 instead of a valve. The payload in the payload reservoir 2856 does not contain glycerol or propylene glycol as a solvent. The payload in the payload reservoir 2856 may be a water-based payload. The payload is preferably substantially free of particulates.

The atomizer 2814 may be configured as any of a pancake ceramic, a coil wound core, a coil wound ceramic rod, or a coil wound quartz rod. In addition, the atomizer 2814 may include titanium, stainless steel, nickel-chromium alloy, chromium-aluminum-cobalt heat-resistant steel, and / or nickel core.

Referring to FIG. 28D, a flexible circuit board 2806 is positioned in the recess 2838 of the tray 2804. The flexible circuit board 2806 includes a middle section 2866, a front section 2868 extending away from the middle section 2866 toward the first end wall 2822, and a rear section 2870 extending away from the middle section 2866 toward the second end wall 2824. . The middle section 2866 is semi-cylindrical and defines a battery recess 2872 that receives one of the batteries 2808 to place a flexible circuit board 2806 between the battery 2808 and the tray 2804. The front section 2868 is shaped as an inverted U and is connected to a bottom part of the middle section 2866 by a tab 2874. The rear section 2870 is also shaped as an inverted U and is connected to a bottom part of the middle section 2866 by a tab 2876. The battery 2808 may be any type of suitable battery, including a lithium ion battery, a LiPo battery, a nickel metal hydride battery, an alkaline battery, or an air-zinc battery.

As shown in Figure 28B, the front section 2868 contains lamps 2878a to 2878b (preferably LEDs). The lamps 2878a to 2878b are positioned adjacent the first end wall 2822. At least a portion of the first end wall 2822 is preferably transparent or opaque so that the lamps 2878a to 2878b are visible to a user of the electronic cigarette device 2800. The lights 2878a to 2878b are preferably illuminated according to a state of one of the electronic cigarette devices 2800. For example, the lights 2878a to 2878b can be turned on when the atomizer 2814 is activated, the intensity of the lights 2878a to 2878b can be increased during a user's entire extraction length, and the lights 2878a to 2878b can be used at specific preset time intervals throughout the extraction flicker. The lamps 2878a to 2878b may also change color at different times throughout the decimation length.

The flexible circuit board 2806 contains circuit components for controlling the electronic cigarette device 2800, and these circuit components may be positioned in the rear section 2870 or other positions on the flexible circuit board 2806. For example, the flexible circuit board 2806 may contain the circuit components described above in connection with the electronic cigarette device 10, including a microcontroller 31, a charger circuit 32 configured to charge the battery 2808, an input interface circuit 34, The RF transceiver circuit 36, the output interface circuit 38, the antenna (s) 40, and the electrical connector 35 can all operate as described above in connection with the electronic cigarette device 10. The antenna (s) 40 may include an NFC antenna and a Bluetooth antenna. The use of a flexible circuit board 2806 provides a relatively large surface area for placing one of the antenna (s) 40. For example, the antenna (s) 40 may be placed in the middle section 2866 of the flexible circuit board 2806 to extend the length of the middle section 2866. The microcontroller 31 includes other sensors or controls configured to receive signals from the pressure sensor 2810, the pressure sensor 2880, and the electronic cigarette device 2800 and activate the tactile motor 2812, the lamps 2878a to 2878b, and the atomizer. One of the microprocessors or processors of 2814, as described below.

The pressure sensor 2810 is positioned between the battery 2808 and the payload reservoir 2856 and is adjacent to the section 2870 behind the flexible circuit board 2806. The pressure sensor 2810 is electrically connected to a flexible circuit board 2806. The pressure sensor 2810 preferably senses the air pressure in one of the air flow chambers 2882 (FIG. 28B) described in more detail below. The haptic motor 2812 is positioned at about one third of the total length of the electronic cigarette device 2800 below the second end wall 2824 and the second end wall 2824 under the section 2870 behind the flexible circuit board 2806. This position is a typical during use. Where the thumb of one of the users will be placed. The haptic motor 2812 is electrically connected to a flexible circuit board 2806. The processor of the electronic cigarette device 2800 may be programmed to activate the haptic motor 2812 when a pressure detected by the pressure sensor 2810 drops below a pressure threshold for a predetermined amount of time.

A seal 2816 is positioned between the atomizer 2814 in the housing 2802 and the flexible circuit board 2806. The seal 2816 may be a polysilicon gasket. A seal 2816 separates one of the electronics recesses 2884 inside the housing 2802 from the air flow chamber 2882, the atomizer 2814, and the payload reservoir 2856. The electronic device recess 2884 is positioned between the seal 2816, the first end wall 2822, and the tray 2804. The electronics recess 2884 is preferably not in fluid communication with the air flow chamber 2882. The seal 2816 seals the flexible circuit board 2806 and the battery 2808 in the recess 2884 of the electronic device, and isolates it from the air flow chamber 2882 and the atomizer 2814, so that the air entering the electronic cigarette device 2800 and the vaporizing device 2800 are evaporated The payload does not touch the components of flexible circuit board 2806. The pressure sensor 2810 is positioned in one of the openings in the seal 2816. A portion of the atomizer 2814 extends through the seal 2816 such that the atomizer 2814 is electrically connected to the flexible circuit board 2806.

An air flow chamber 2882 is positioned between the inlet 2828 and the outlet 2830 within the housing 2802. The air flow chamber 2882 includes an inlet flow chamber and an outlet flow chamber 2886 formed by enclosing the channels 2842a to 2842b (FIG. 28C). The inlet flow chamber extends from the inlet 2828 through the enclosed channels 2842a to 2842b to the openings 2844a to 2844b (FIG. 28D). The outlet flow chamber 2886 extends from the atomizer 2814 to the outlet 2830 around a gap formed between the second section 2804b of the tray 2804 and the housing 2802. The inlet flow chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet 2828 and the atomizer 2814 through the openings 2844a to 2844b. The outlet flow chamber 2886 is in fluid communication with the atomizer 2814 and the outlet 2830. When a user places his / her mouth on the outlet 2830 and extracts air through the electronic cigarette device 2800, the air enters the inlet 2828 and travels through the enclosed passages 2842a to 2842b to the openings 2844a to 2844b. The air through openings 2844a to 2844b are in contact with the atomizer 2814 and mixed with the evaporated payload from the atomizer 2814. The air and the evaporated payload then travel through the outlet flow chamber 2886 to the outlet 2830 for inhalation by the user.

The e-cigarette device 2800 may include a vapor measurement system (such as a capacitive vapor measurement system for the e-cigarette device 3100 described below) configured to determine one dose of the evaporated payload through the outlet flow chamber 2886. The steam measurement system can measure the dose per unit time. Conductive plates (such as conductive plates 3114 and 3116 of the electronic cigarette device 3100) may be positioned within the outlet flow chamber 2886. The flexible circuit board 2806 may include any of the sensor measurement circuits described in conjunction with the electronic cigarette device 3100, and the microcontroller 31 of the electronic cigarette device 2800 may determine the dose of the evaporated payload. The RF transceiver circuit 36 and the antenna 40 can transmit the dose to a separate computing device, which can be used to determine the electronic cigarette according to the systems and methods described above in connection with the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 and the electronic cigarette device system 102 Device 2800 operation settings. A separate computing device (e.g., a mobile phone (such as a smartphone), tablet, or watch) can run a software application (e.g., as shown in FIG. 3) that can be accessed by a user. The application can record the dose that the user has inhaled and record the user's dose experience. This information can be analyzed by the app to track and optimize the user's experience with inhaled substances. To help improve analysis, users can enter personal information such as illness, pain, weight, and food intake. The recorded information can be used to accurately monitor a user's intake details and can be submitted to a doctor for review and / or improvement.

Apps can also connect with other users preferably via the Internet, which can be used to share experiences, receive suggestions, and the web with a user community. The application can also be used as an e-commerce platform to purchase dose capsules or evaporator equipment. The platform can provide specific substances based on a user's rated experience. Another enhanced use may be to find other users within a geographic location that allows social interaction and meetings. These enhanced services can be integrated with other services via the Internet.

The electronic cigarette device 2800 may also be preferably locked by a user via an application. This can be used as a safety feature against unwanted use (by children or others). Apps can include a custom lock setting to enhance security or restrict access to people with low self-control.

An ID tag associated with the payload in the payload reservoir 2856 can also be positioned in the housing 2802. The ID tag can be configured similar to one of the ID tags 28 described above and can store a unique payload identifier used as described above in connection with the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 and the electronic cigarette device system 102. The ID tag may be an RFID tag and may use NFC, any other type of RFID communication system (including UHF RFID), or any other type of suitable communication system to communicate with other devices. The ID tag may be updated when the payload reservoir 2856 is filled or refilled to include one of the unique payload identifiers associated with the payload. The ID tag simplifies Bluetooth registration by allowing automatic registration without the need to press a button.

FIG. 29A shows an alternative configuration of a payload reservoir 2900 that can be used with the electronic cigarette device 2800. The payload reservoir 2900 is defined by a reservoir side wall 2902 having a first section 2902a shaped as a truncated oblique cone and a second section 2902b having a cylindrical shape. The first section 2902a is positioned adjacent the reservoir opening 2904 and the second section 2902b is positioned adjacent the atomizer 2814.

FIG. 29B shows an alternative placement of one of the atomizers 2814 in the electronic cigarette device 2800. In FIG. 29B, the atomizer 2814 is positioned about 3 mm to 4 mm above the bottom of the electronic cigarette device 2800.

FIG. 29C shows another alternative configuration of the payload reservoir 2906 that can be used with the electronic cigarette device 2800. A receptacle opening 2908 receives a solid plug 2910 that is inserted after the payload receptacle 2906 is filled with a payload. FIG. 29C also shows an alternative configuration of the second end wall 2912 and the tray 2914 that can be used with the electronic cigarette device 2800. The second end wall 2912 is formed by an end cap separated from the side wall 2916 and coupled to one of the side walls 2916 (eg, the end cap can be snapped into the side wall 2916). The plug 2910 may be coupled to the second end wall 2912 and configured in a tamper-resistant manner such that if the second end wall 2912 is not pried away from the side wall 2916 without using a special tool, the plug 2910 is located near the receptacle opening 2908. The two end walls 2912 are disconnected. Therefore, if the second end wall 2912 is pried open by a user for the purpose of refilling the payload reservoir 2906 or tampering with the payload in the payload reservoir 2906, the plug 2910 is opened in the reservoir. Disconnect within 2908 to prevent user access to payload reservoir 2906. The tray 2914 includes an outlet flow chamber 2917 extending through a passage formed in the tray 2914 to one of the outlets 2918. A seal 2920 is positioned between an outer surface of the tray 2914 and the side wall 2916.

FIG. 29D shows an alternative configuration of an electronic cigarette device 2922 similar to the electronic cigarette device 2800. The electronic cigarette device 2922 includes an air flow chamber extending from an inlet 2924 through a housing 2928 of the electronic cigarette device 2922 to an outlet 2926. The inlet 2924 is positioned on the top of the electronic cigarette device 2922 and adjacent to a first end of one of the electronic cigarette devices 2922. The air flow chamber includes an inlet flow chamber 2930 extending from an inlet 2924 under a tray 2932 that holds a battery 2934. The inlet flow chamber 2930 flows around a circuit board 2936 and a haptic motor 2938 to one of the chambers 2940 holding an atomizer. The air flow chamber includes an outlet flow chamber 2942 extending from the chamber 2940 to the outlet 2926 above a payload reservoir 2944. The payload reservoir 2944 is also cylindrical in shape. Except as described herein, the e-cigarette device 2922 may be substantially similar to the e-cigarette device 2800. The e-cigarette device 2800 may be modified to include the air flow chamber configuration and payload reservoir configuration of the e-cigarette device 2922.

FIG. 29E shows another alternative configuration of the electronic cigarette device 2946 similar to the electronic cigarette device 2800. The electronic cigarette device 2946 includes an air flow chamber extending from an inlet 2948 to an outlet 2950. The inlet 2948 is positioned adjacent the second end 2952 of the housing 2954 and the outlet 2950. The inlet 2948 is positioned directly above the atomizer chamber 2956. The inlet flow chamber extends straight down from the inlet 2948 to the atomizer chamber 2956, and the outlet flow chamber 2957 extends around the payload reservoir 2959 from the atomizer chamber 2956 to the outlet 2950. The payload reservoir 2959 is configured substantially the same as that shown in FIG. 29C. In this embodiment, the flexible circuit board 2958 is modified to position a haptic motor 2960 between the battery 2962 and the first end 2964 of the housing 2954. The battery 2962 and the flexible circuit board 2958 are preferably sealed with a seal 2965 to isolate them from the atomizer chamber 2956. The e-cigarette device 2946 may be substantially similar to the e-cigarette device 2800 except as described herein. The electronic cigarette device 2800 may be modified to include an air flow chamber configuration of the electronic cigarette device 2946, a flexible circuit board 2958, and a haptic motor 2960 placement.

29F and 29G show a plug 2966 placed in a receptacle opening 2968. The plug 2966 includes a vent hole 2970 and a breathable membrane 2972. The breathable membrane 2972 prevents one of the fluid payloads within the payload reservoir 2974 from leaking through the vent hole 2970. The breathable membrane 2972 and the vent 2970 allow pressure to be equalized within the payload reservoir 2974. For example, when the payload reservoir 2974 is depleted (ie, the fluid therein is evaporated), the breathable membrane 2972 and the vent 2970 allow air to enter the payload reservoir 2974. In addition, when the ambient temperature increases or the external atmospheric pressure decreases, the breathable membrane 2972 and the vent hole 2970 allow air to exit the payload reservoir 2974. The plug 2966 preferably ensures that one of the fluid payloads within the payload reservoir 2974 does not leak out in response to changes in air pressure, temperature, or altitude. The plug 2966 can be used with the electronic cigarette device 2800 described above. The plug 2966 may be made of a self-healing material, such as polysiloxane.

FIG. 30 shows a method of operating the electronic cigarette device 2800 that can also be used with other electronic cigarette devices and cassettes disclosed herein. The processor of the microcontroller 31 (as incorporated into the circuit components of the electronic cigarette device 2800) may be programmed to execute the procedures described herein. According to the method of FIG. 30, the electronic cigarette device 2800 is unlocked and unused at step 3002. In step 3004, the electronic cigarette device 2800 determines whether the non-active state time period of the electronic cigarette device 2800 is greater than a predetermined amount of time. If the inactive state time period is less than the predetermined amount of time, the electronic cigarette device 2800 remains unlocked. If the inactive state time period is greater than the predetermined amount of time, the electronic cigarette device 2800 is locked in step 3006 and remains in a locked state 3008. To unlock the electronic cigarette device 2800, the user must provide a PIN code associated with the user or device to an application running on a separate computing device (eg, a phone, tablet, or watch). If the PIN code is provided, the computing device instructs the electronic cigarette device 2800 to return to the unlocked state of step 3002. The electronic cigarette device 2800 can also be manually locked in step 3010 by the user providing a manual lock instruction to the application, regardless of the inactive state time period. The electronic cigarette device 2800 may also be locked and unlocked for use in accordance with any of the systems and methods described above for the electronic cigarette device 10.

From the unlocked state of step 3002, when a user draws air through the outlet 2830, the atomizer 2814 of the electronic cigarette device 2800 is started in step 3012. The pressure sensor 2810 senses a decrease in pressure caused by the user's extraction of air and sends a signal causing a current from the battery 2808 to the atomizer 2814 to be sent to the processor of the electronic cigarette device 2800. The electronic cigarette device 2800 can also be activated when a user presses the button 2818. At step 3012, the lights 2878a to 2878b are also turned on to a relatively low intensity. The method of operating the electronic cigarette device 2800 then proceeds to a series of steps of detecting the elapsed time of the user's extraction and activating the lights 2878a to 2878b and the haptic motor 2812 based on the elapsed time of the extraction. At step 3014, the method waits for one second before proceeding to step 3016, and within that one second determines the elapsed time of the extraction. If the elapsed time is three seconds, six seconds, or nine seconds, the method continues to steps 3018, 3020, or 3022, respectively. If the elapsed time is three seconds, then at step 3018, the lights 2878a to 2878b flash once and then remain on with one of the 30% of the maximum intensity of the lights 2878a to 2878b increased. The haptic motor 2812 is also turned on to vibrate once for a relatively short duration. If the elapsed time is six seconds, then at step 3020, the lights 2878a to 2878b blink twice and then remain on with an increase of 60% of the maximum intensity of the lights 2878a to 2878b. The haptic motor 2812 is also turned on to vibrate twice, each vibration having a relatively short duration. If the elapsed time is nine seconds, the intensity of the lamps 2878a to 2878b is increased to 100% of the maximum intensity of the lamps 2878a to 2878b. The haptic motor 2812 is also turned on to vibrate once for a relatively long duration. From step 3022, the method proceeds to step 3024, where the processor locks the atomizer 2814 to turn it off and prevent it from evaporating the payload.

If the elapsed time in step 3016 is different from dividing three seconds, six seconds, or nine seconds, and after each of steps 3018, 3020, and 3024, the method continues until the elapsed time counted by the processor is increased by one second Step 3026. The method then proceeds to step 3028 (if the atomizer is not locked at step 3024), where the processor of the electronic cigarette device 2800 determines whether the user is still drawing air through the electronic cigarette device 2800. If the user is still extracting air, the method returns to step 3014, which repeats the loop of one of steps 3014, 3016, 3026, and 3028 and steps 3018, 3020, and 3022 (if applicable). If the atomizer is locked after step 3026, or if the user is still not drawing air through the electronic cigarette device in step 3028, the method continues to step 3030 where the atomizer 2814 is turned off and the lights 2878a to 2878b are turned off. The method then proceeds back to the beginning of step 3002.

The three-second and six-second triggers for steps 3018 and 3020 can be configured by the user to any other value less than nine. Nine seconds means that the user cannot configure one of the maximum elapsed extraction times. Therefore, after one-nine-second extraction, the atomizer is turned off and the method returns to step 3002. Preferably, the user may also select another trigger point (such as five seconds), where the intensity of the lights 2878a to 2878b is between the intensity set in step 3018 and the intensity set in step 3020. The user can also preferably change the manner in which the lights 2878a to 2878b and the tactile motor 2812 operate at each of the trigger points.

The electronic cigarette device 2800 may be formed of two separate pieces (a cassette and a control assembly) coupled by a user. For example, a 510 threaded connector may be used on the cassette and the control assembly to couple the separate pieces together. A bayonet, magnetic or socket connection can also be used to combine the cassette with the control assembly. The cassette may include a payload reservoir 2856 and an atomizer 2814, and the control assembly may include a flexible circuit board 2806, a battery 2808, and a haptic motor 2812. The air flow chamber can be changed so that the inlet is positioned in the cassette, as shown in Figure 29E. Data from the sensor in the box (e.g., the capacitive vapor measurement system of the electronic cigarette device 3100 described below) can be operated via one of the threaded connectors of the two-lead communication system of the electronic cigarette device 4000 described below The processor transmitted to the flexible circuit board 2806 enables power to also be provided to the cassette via the threaded connector. The electronic cigarette device 2800 is operable to follow the methods described above for the electronic cigarette devices 10 and 100 and the electronic cigarette device system 102 (including the systems and methods for optimizing evaporation according to the methods described above, which may include minimal (Chemical decomposition or conversion of the components of the payload). Evaporate one of the fluid payloads in the reservoir 2856. In addition to the capacitive vapor measurement system of the pressure sensor 2810 and the electronic cigarette device 3100, the electronic cigarette device 2800 may also include a sensor to measure the operating conditions of the electronic cigarette device 2800. For example, the electronic cigarette device 2800 may include an integrated temperature control system for adjusting the temperature of the atomizer 2814 described below in conjunction with the electronic cigarette device 4200.

In one aspect of the invention, a set comprising an electronic cigarette device 2800 and a payload comprising a cannabinoid is provided. In one aspect of the invention, a set including an electronic cigarette device 2800 and a payload including one of the terpenes is provided. In one aspect of the invention, a set including an electronic cigarette device 2800 and a log for recording user experience is provided. In one aspect of the present invention, a set including an electronic cigarette device 2800 and a payload including one of cannabinoids and terpenes, and one log for recording user experience is provided.
Capacitive steam measurement system

In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette device includes a capacitive vapor measurement system to accurately measure the concentration of an evaporated payload in a measurement cavity of the electronic cigarette device so that the dose of the evaporated payload can be accurately determined. . The steam measurement system includes a capacitive sensor (which may include a parallel plate capacitor, a roll capacitor, a finger capacitor, or other types of capacitors known in the art) in combination with being configured to measure the capacitance One of the capacitors of a sexy sensor is a sensor measurement circuit. The steam measurement system also includes a processor programmed to determine the dose of the evaporated payload based on the measured capacitance of the capacitive sensor. Embodiments of the steam measurement system are described below.

Referring to FIG. 31, an embodiment of an electronic cigarette device 3100 using a capacitive sensor in the form of a parallel plate capacitor is shown. The electronic cigarette device 3100 includes a housing 3102 defining an inlet 3104 and an outlet 3106. An air flow chamber 3108 extends between the inlet 3104 and the outlet 3106. An atomizer 3110 is positioned in the air flow chamber 3108, and as described above, the atomizer 3110 is in fluid communication with a payload reservoir (not shown). The atomizer 3110 is configured to heat and evaporate the payload to output an evaporative payload 3112.

A first conductive plate 3114 and a second conductive plate 3116 are positioned between the atomizer 3110 and the outlet 3106 in the air flow chamber 3108. The conductive plates 3114 and 3116 each include a generally square or rectangular plate that can be formed from a metal or any other conductive material such as copper, stainless steel, silicon (which can be doped), gold, or titanium. The conductive plates 3114 and 3116 are mounted or otherwise attached to the inner surface of the housing 3102 using a non-conductive mechanical support (not shown). The conductive plates 3114 and 3116 are spaced in a substantially parallel relationship so as to define a measuring cavity 3118 therebetween. Thus, the conductive plates 3114 and 3116 form a parallel plate capacitor, which is one of the capacitive sensors used in the steam measurement system. When the evaporated payload 3112 is transferred from the atomizer 3110 to the outlet 3106, it passes the measurement cavity 3118 so that the evaporated payload 3112 is effectively used as the dielectric of the parallel plate capacitor formed by the conductive plates 3114 and 3116.

It should be understood that the components shown in FIG. 31 may be provided as part of an atomizer assembly of an electronic cigarette device, may be provided as part of a replaceable box of an electronic cigarette device, or may be provided as an integrated electronic Part of a smoke device. In addition, it should be understood that the measurement cavity 3118 can be placed at any position between the atomizer and the suction nozzle of an electronic cigarette device.

The capacitance of the parallel-plate capacitor formed by the conductive plates 3114 and 3116 is expressed by the following equation:

among them
= Capacitance of parallel plate capacitor in Farads
= Relative dielectric constant of the material between the plates
= Permittivity of free space (8.854 × 10 ^-12 Farads / meter)
= Area of the board in meters²
= Distance between boards in meters.

Because the relative permittivity of air is about 1 ( = 1.00059), so any material having a dielectric constant greater than the dielectric constant of air passing through the measurement cavity 3118 between the conductive plate 3114 and the conductive plate 3116 will increase the capacitance of the parallel plate capacitor in a measurable manner. For example, the dielectric constant of the evaporated payload 3112 will typically be in the range of 2 to 10. This same principle applies to other types of capacitors including first and second electrical conductors forming a capacitive sensor, as described below.

In one embodiment, the electrical conductors of the capacitive sensor (e.g., conductive plates 3114 and 3116) are coated with a protective film to maintain the integrity of the conductors (i.e., to protect them from being attributed to a chemical Degradation of the reaction) and reduce the possibility of a change in capacitance due to the accumulation of condensate, which will change the dielectric constant of the material between the conductors.

In another embodiment, the measurement chamber 3118 is isolated within the air flow chamber 3108 by placing a guard on the side of the measurement chamber 3118 adjacent to the outlet 3106. The guard includes a conductor maintained at the same voltage as the measurement cavity 3118. When a voltage is applied to the conductive plates 3114 and 3116, a separate circuit applies the exact same voltage to the guard. Because there is no voltage difference between the measuring cavity 3118 and the protective member, there is no electric field between them. Any conductor behind the shield will form an electric field with the shield instead of the measurement cavity 3118. Only the unprotected side of the measuring cavity 3118 adjacent to the atomizer 3110 is allowed to form an electric field with the evaporated payload 3112. This protection technology enables more accurate measurement of one of the capacitances of a capacitive sensor.

Many different circuits can be used to directly and indirectly measure the capacitance of a capacitive sensor. In some embodiments, the sensor measurement circuit is configured to measure the absolute capacitance of the capacitive sensor when the evaporated payload 3112 passes through the measurement cavity 3118. In other embodiments, the sensor measurement circuit is configured to measure a capacitance shift (ie, a capacitance change) of one of the capacitive sensors. In all of these embodiments, the measurement of the capacitance of the sensor enables the dose of the constituent parts of the steam to be accurately determined.

Examples of a sensor measurement circuit that can be used to measure the capacitance of a capacitance sensor will now be described. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the use of these specific circuits and other types of circuits configured to measure the capacitance of a capacitive sensor can also be used in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 32, in one embodiment, the sensor measurement circuit includes a charge pump circuit configured to charge electrical conductors of a capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) of a steam measurement system. For example, the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) may include a parallel plate capacitor as shown in FIG. 31. In this case, a first terminal connection (Term 1) is provided on the conductive plate 3114 and a conductive plate 3116 is provided. The second terminal is connected (Term 2). Of course, other types of capacitive sensors can also be used, as described below.

The charge pump circuit also includes a first current source (I _S1 ) connected to the supply voltage (V _DD ) and a second current source (I _S2 ) connected to ground. The current sources are separated by a first switch (SW ₁ ) and a second switch (SW ₂ ). A controller (which may comprise control logic implemented in software in the) provided respectively turn on the first switch (SW ₁₎ and a second switch (SW ₂₎ of the "up" and "down" control signal. When the "Up" control signal is high (up = 1) to turn on the first switch (SW ₁₎ and "down" control signal is low (down = 0) to turn off the second switch (SW _2), known The first current source (I _S1 ) of the current output (I) charges the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ). By observing the change of the output voltage (V _out ) of the transcapacitive sensor (C _sensor ) with time ( dV / dt ), we can use the following equation to determine the capacitance of the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ):

among them
= Capacitance of the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) in Farads
= Current output of the first current source (I _S1 ) in amps
= Output voltage (V _out ) changes with time.

If the charge pump is operated at a known switching frequency and duty cycle, the amount of charge deposited on the electrical conductor of the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) using each "up" current pulse is known. Therefore, the capacitance of the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) can be determined by any of the following methods: (1) counting the number of "up" current pulses required to obtain a desired output voltage (V _out ); ( 2) Counting the time required to obtain a desired output voltage (V _out ) while providing "up" current pulses at a fixed frequency and duty cycle; and (3) measuring a known number of "up" current pulse The subsequent output voltage (V _out ). Therefore, the charge pump circuit shown in FIG. 32 enables direct measurement of the capacitance of the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ).

Alternatively, the output voltage (V _out ) can be biased to a certain value (for example, V _DD / 2) and the first switch and the second switch (SW ₁ and SW ₂ ) can be used to carefully measure the capacitance sensing Capacitor (C _sensor ). A large shift in the capacitance of a capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) requires a large asymmetry between the first switch and the second switch (SW ₁ and SW ₂ ) for a measurable output voltage (V _out ) Measure shift. In comparison, a small shift in the capacitance of a capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) requires a small asymmetry between the first switch and the second switch (SW ₁ and SW ₂ ) for the non-clipped one. One of the output voltages (V _out ) can measure the shift.

It should be understood that all components of the charge pump circuit shown in FIG. 32 (except for the capacitive sensor (C _sensor )) are provided as having a first terminal connection (Term 1) to the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) and One of the suitable connections of the second terminal connection (Term 2) is a sensor measurement circuit. In some embodiments, the sensor measurement circuit is located in the air flow chamber 3108 of the electronic cigarette device 3100, preferably near a capacitive sensor (C _sensor ). In other embodiments, the sensor measurement circuit is positioned outside the air flow chamber 3108 (such as in the control assembly described above).

Referring to FIG 33, in another embodiment, the sensor comprises a measuring circuit comprising a switched capacitor and a second resistor (R ₂₎ connected to a first one of the series resistor (R ₁₎ one resistor divider circuit . The switched capacitor resistor (R ₂ ) includes a capacitive sensor (C _sensor ), a first switch (SW ₁ ), and a second switch (SW ₂ ). A controller (which may include control logic implemented in software) provides control signals for turning on the first switch (SW ₁ ) and the second switch (SW ₂ ). For example, the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) may include a parallel plate capacitor as shown in FIG. 31. In this case, a first terminal connection (Term 1) is provided on the conductive plate 3114 and a conductive plate 3116 is provided on the conductive plate 3116. The second terminal is connected (Term 2). Of course, other types of capacitive sensors can also be used, as described below.

The equivalent resistance of the switched capacitor resistor (R ₂ ) varies with the capacitance of the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) and the switching frequency, as shown by the following equation:

among them
= Equivalent resistance of switched capacitor resistor (R ₂ ) in ohms
= Capacitance of the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) in Farads
= Switching frequency in hertz.

It should be understood that if the period (T) is sufficiently long (i.e., the switching frequency ( ) Is low enough to enable the C _sensor to be fully charged / discharged, then the duty cycle (D) will not have a significant effect on the equivalent resistance of the switched capacitor resistor (R ₂ ). In this regard, if the duty cycle (D) is reduced to such an extent that the capacitance sensor (C _sensor ) is not fully charged / discharged, it will affect the equivalent resistance of the switched capacitor resistor (R ₂ ). In addition, at the switching frequency ( ) To the extent that the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) is not fully charged / discharged within half of the period (T), the duty cycle (T) will directly and effectively increase the equivalent resistance of the switched capacitor resistor (R ₂ ). Impact. In the case where the duty cycle (D) is affected, the equivalent resistance of the switched capacitor resistor (R ₂ ) can be demonstrated by the following equation:

among them
= Equivalent resistance of switched capacitor resistor (R ₂ ) in ohms
= Parasitic resistance in the circuit in ohms
= Duty cycle
= Switching frequency in hertz.

Referring to equation (4), a resistor can be added to provide a well-controlled resistance value in the circuit. In this case, as a control method, the duty cycle can be modified to adjust the equivalent resistance of the switched capacitor resistor (R ₂ ). .

The trans resistance (R ₁ and R ₂ ) series applies the input supply voltage (V _DD ) and reads the output voltage (V _out ) across the switched capacitor resistor (R ₂ ). The output voltage (V _out ) can therefore be expressed by the following equation:

among them
= Input supply voltage in volts
= Output voltage in volts
= Resistance of the first resistor (R ₁ ) in ohms
= Equivalent resistance of the switched capacitor resistor (R ₂ ) in ohms.

Equations (3) and (5) can be combined and rewritten as follows:

among them
= Capacitance of the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) in Farads
= Input supply voltage in volts
= Output voltage in volts
= Resistance of the first resistor (R ₁ ) in ohms
= Switching frequency in hertz.

With reference to equation (6), it can be understood that the input supply voltage (V _DD ), the resistance of the first resistor (R ₁ ), and the switching frequency are known values. Therefore, by reading the output voltage (V _out ), the capacitance of the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) can be determined. In some embodiments, if the voltage variation is too small to be measured directly in a reliable manner, the output voltage (V _out ) can be scaled through a gain stage. Therefore, the resistance voltage divider circuit shown in FIG. 33 enables the direct measurement of the capacitance of the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ).

It should be understood that all components of the resistance voltage divider circuit shown in FIG. 33 (except for the capacitive sensor (C _sensor )) are provided as having a first terminal connection to the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) (Term 1 ) And one of the appropriate connections of the second terminal connection (Term 2) is a sensor measurement circuit. In some embodiments, the sensor measurement circuit is located in the air flow chamber 3108 of the electronic cigarette device 3100, preferably near a capacitive sensor (C _sensor ). In other embodiments, the sensor measurement circuit is positioned outside the air flow chamber 3108 (such as in the control assembly described above).

Referring to FIG. 34, in another embodiment, the sensor measurement circuit includes a phase locked loop circuit. The phase-locked loop circuit usually includes generating a signal having a reference frequency ( ), A reference frequency, a variable frequency oscillator, and a phase comparator, a loop filter, and a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) operating in a feedback loop. The phase comparator receives two input periodic signals from the variable frequency oscillator and the feedback loop and generates an output signal representing one of the phase differences between the two inputs. The loop filter suppresses the higher frequency components of the output signal and provides a filtered signal to the VCO. The frequency of the periodic signal generated by the VCO is controlled by the control voltage (V _c ). Therefore, the VCO is a variable frequency oscillator that allows an external voltage (ie, the control voltage (V _c )) to control its oscillation frequency. If necessary, an N frequency divider is provided to adjust the output frequency of the VCO by N times.

It can be seen that the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) is part of the VCO. For example, the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) may include a parallel plate capacitor shown in FIG. 31. In this case, a first terminal connection (Term 1) is provided on the conductive plate 3114 and a first terminal is provided on the conductive plate 3116. Two terminal connections (Term 2). Of course, other types of capacitive sensors can also be used, as described below. By including a capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) as part of the VCO, the output of the VCO is changed whenever the capacitance of the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) is changed (for example, when the evaporated payload 3112 passes through the measurement cavity 3118). There will be a shift in frequency. When the circuit corrects the frequency shift by attempting to realign the phases of the two input periodic signals received by the phase comparator, there is a measurable change in the control voltage (V _c ) provided to the VCO. The change of the control voltage (V _c ) is related to the capacitance of the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ). Therefore, the phase-locked loop circuit shown in FIG. 34 realizes the capacitance measurement of the capacitance sensor (C _sensor ).

It should be understood that all components of the phase-locked loop circuit shown in FIG. 34 (except for the capacitive sensor (C _sensor )) are provided as having a first terminal connection (Term 1) to the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ). And a second terminal connection (Term 2), one of the suitable connections of the sensor measurement circuit. In some embodiments, the sensor measurement circuit is located in the air flow chamber 3108 of the electronic cigarette device 3100, preferably near a capacitive sensor (C _sensor ). In other embodiments, the sensor measurement circuit is positioned outside the air flow chamber 3108 (such as in the control assembly described above).

Referring to FIG. 35, in another embodiment, the sensor measurement circuit includes a first-order active low-pass filter circuit connected to a rectifier circuit. The low-pass filter circuit includes an operational amplifier. An input signal in the form of a sine wave is provided to the inverting input of the amplifier through a first resistor (R ₁ ). Preferably, the input voltage (V _in ) near the 3 dB point of the low-pass filter is selected. A second resistor (R ₂ ) and a capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) are connected in parallel between the inverting input of the amplifier and the output of the amplifier. For example, the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) may include a parallel plate capacitor shown in FIG. 31. In this case, a first terminal connection (Term 1) is provided on the conductive plate 3114 and a first terminal is provided on the conductive plate 3116. Two terminal connections (Term 2). Of course, other types of capacitive sensors can also be used, as described below.

Cut-off frequency of low-pass filter ( ) Is as follows:

among them
= Cut-off frequency of the low-pass filter in Hertz
= Resistance of the second resistor (R ₂ ) in ohms
= The capacitance of the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) in pulls.

Also, the stop frequency of the low-pass filter ( ) Is as follows:

among them
= Stop frequency of the low-pass filter in Hertz
= Resistance of the first resistor (R ₁ ) in ohms
= The capacitance of the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) in Farads.

At low frequencies, where The capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) is open so that the gain of the amplifier is . At high frequencies, where The capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) is shorted so that the increase in the amplifier becomes zero. in versus At frequencies in between, the amplifier's gain drops to -20 dB / decimal. The Bode plot of the low-pass filter is shown in Figure 36.

Referring again to FIG. 35, the rectifier circuit is used to convert an alternating current (AC) signal provided at the output of the amplifier to a direct current (DC). Therefore, a DC output voltage (V _out ) is provided at the output of the circuit.

It can be understood that a change in the capacitance of the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) causes a change in the bandwidth of the low-pass filter. Increasing or decreasing one of the bandwidths changes the signal amplitude at the output of the amplifier, which in turn changes the value of the DC output voltage (V _out ). The value of the DC output voltage (V _out ) is related to the capacitance of the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ). Therefore, the circuit shown in FIG. 35 realizes the capacitance measurement of the capacitance sensor (C _sensor ).

In some embodiments, if the voltage variation is too small to be measured directly in a reliable manner, the DC output voltage (V _out ) can be scaled through a gain stage. In addition, when the capacitance of the capacitance sensor (C _sensor ) is changed, a higher-order filter having a sharper roll-off may be used instead to increase the change in the DC output voltage (V _out ).

It should be understood that all components of the circuit shown in FIG. 35 (except for the capacitive sensor (C _sensor )) are provided as having a first terminal connection (Term 1) and a second terminal to the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ). One of the appropriate connections for the terminal connection (Term 2) is a sensor measurement circuit. In some embodiments, the sensor measurement circuit is located in the air flow chamber 3108 of the electronic cigarette device 3100, preferably near a capacitive sensor (C _sensor ). In other embodiments, the sensor measurement circuit is positioned outside the air flow chamber 3108 (such as in the control assembly described above).

Referring to FIG. 37, in another embodiment, the sensor measurement circuit includes a crystal oscillation circuit that generates a reference frequency that varies according to a variable frequency oscillator of a phase locked loop circuit ( ) One of the reference signals. In this embodiment, the crystal oscillation circuit includes a Colpitts crystal oscillator. The Colpitts crystal oscillator includes a quartz crystal (XTAL), a transistor, and a first resistor (R ₁ ). , A second resistor (R ₂ ), a third resistor (R ₃ ), a first capacitor (C ₁ ), and a second capacitor (C ₂ ), as shown in FIG. 37. Of course, other types of oscillating circuits can also be used.

The phase-locked loop circuit includes a phase comparator, a loop filter, a VCO, and a frequency divider as needed, as described above in more detail in conjunction with the circuit of FIG. 34. However, in this embodiment, the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) is not included in the VCO. In fact, the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) is used to load a crystal oscillator circuit. For example, the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) may include a parallel plate capacitor shown in FIG. 31. In this case, a first terminal connection (Term 1) is provided on the conductive plate 3114 and a first terminal is provided on the conductive plate 3116. Two terminal connections (Term 2). Of course, other types of capacitive sensors can also be used, as described below.

It can be understood that a change in the capacitance of the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) causes the reference frequency of the reference signal provided to the phase-locked loop circuit ( ) One change. To compensate the reference frequency ( ), The phase-locked loop circuit will change the value of the control voltage (V _c ) provided to the VCO. The value of the control voltage (V _c ) is related to the capacitance of the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ). Therefore, the circuit shown in FIG. 37 realizes the measurement of the capacitance between the capacitance sensors (C _sensor ).

It should be understood that all components of the circuit shown in FIG. 37 (except for the capacitive sensor (C _sensor )) are provided as having a first terminal connection (Term 1) and a second terminal to the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ). One of the appropriate connections for the terminal connection (Term 2) is a sensor measurement circuit. In some embodiments, the sensor measurement circuit is located in the air flow chamber 3108 of the electronic cigarette device 3100, preferably near a capacitive sensor (C _sensor ). In other embodiments, the sensor measurement circuit is positioned outside the air flow chamber 3108 (such as in the control assembly described above).

It can be understood that the sensor measurement circuit described above may be required to accommodate very small capacitance shifts to large capacitance shifts. For example, when the measurement cavity is filled with air, the capacitance of the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) will be low. However, when the measurement cavity is filled with dense steam, the capacitance of the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) will be several times larger (may be 2 or more orders of magnitude higher). Therefore, in some embodiments, a controller is used to adjust the sensitivity of the sensor measurement circuit (eg, adjust the gain of the amplifier, the charge pump current, or the VCO).

The steam measurement system of the present invention further includes a processor, which is part of the control assembly, or may alternatively be provided as part of the sensor measurement circuit. The processor is programmed to perform the following steps: (1) correlate the measured capacitance with a change in a dielectric constant; (2) correlate the change in the dielectric constant with a dielectric density (i.e., effective by evaporation A change in the density of the load); and (3) a change in the dielectric density with a dose of the evaporated payload. Therefore, the measurement of the capacitance of the sensor enables the dose of the steam component to be accurately determined. Dosage can be used in a variety of ways, including: (1) the dose can be reported to the user after administration; (2) the user can preselect a dose and the system can turn the nebulizer off once the dose has been administered; or ( 3) A constant dose can be administered to the user (ie, the dose is not configurable).

Because many types of payloads (e.g., hemp oil) are viscous, it is possible to build up residuals on the surfaces of conductive plates 3114 and 3116 (or other electrical conductors of a capacitive sensor as described below) over time. Thing. To compensate for a capacitance shift due to the accumulation of this residue, some embodiments utilize a calibration step in which the nominal capacitance of the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ) is measured (i.e., there is no evaporation in the measurement cavity). The capacitance at the time of the payload) and use this nominal capacitance as a reference to be compared with one or more subsequent capacitance measurements. When the evaporated payload passes through the measurement cavity, the capacitance of the capacitance sensor (C _sensor ) is re-measured. Compare this second capacitance measurement with a reference value and use the difference between them to determine the concentration of the evaporated payload in the measurement cavity. Calibration steps can be performed periodically, for example, before each capacitance measurement or each group of capacitance measurements. Of course, those skilled in the art will understand other calibration schedules. For example, a calibration step can be performed before and after the presence of the evaporated payload in the measurement cavity, in which case the dose measured during inhalation is subtracted from any new offset in the latter measurement, as long as the offset is attributable Due to the accumulation of new residue on the sensor.

In some embodiments, the capacitance of the C _sensor is sampled at several points during use of the electronic cigarette device and used to modulate the evaporation profile of the atomizer (i.e., to produce more or less evaporated Payload). For example, if the heating element of an atomizer is known to be hot but no evaporated payload is detected, the power to the atomizer can be reduced to avoid overheating the element. As another example, if there is too much evaporated payload in the measurement cavity, the power to the atomizer can be limited to reduce the amount of evaporated payload generated. Of course, those skilled in the art will appreciate other examples of modifications to the vaporization profile of the atomizer.

Referring again to the electronic cigarette device 3100 shown in FIG. 31, the steam measurement system of the present invention is not limited to using a capacitive sensor positioned between the atomizer 3110 and the outlet 3106 in the air flow chamber 3108. In some embodiments, the conductive plate of the capacitive sensor forms part of the atomizer, which enables the use of smaller electronic cigarette devices that are more convenient to use. For example, one or both of the conductive plates of a capacitive sensor can be used as a heating element / coil for an atomizer. In this case, a user can apply any amount of payload directly using various dispensing methods known in the art (e.g., the outlet of the payload reservoir can be positioned directly on the sensor board / coil) (Eg, hemp oil) to the conductive plate. The system can measure the capacitance before and after the capacitance of the capacitive sensor (C _sensor ), and can use the difference to provide an accurate measurement of the administered dose.

As mentioned above, the steam measurement system of the present invention is not limited to using a parallel plate capacitor as a capacitive sensor (C _sensor ). Other types of capacitors can also be used, such as a roll-type capacitor or a finger-type capacitor. Generally, any capacitor including a first electrical conductor spaced from a second electrical conductor to define a measurement cavity therebetween may be used.

38A to 38C show an example of a roll capacitor. As shown in FIG. 38A, the roll capacitor includes a first electrical conductor 3800 and a second electrical conductor 3802. The first electrical conductor 3800 includes a plurality of roll plates 3800a to 3800f connected to a common mounting plate 3800g providing a first terminal connection (Term 1). The second electrical conductor 3802 includes a plurality of roll plates 3802a to 3802d connected to a common mounting plate 3802e providing a second terminal connection (Term 2). The first electrical conductor 3800 and the second electrical conductor 3802 may be formed of a metal or any other conductive material such as copper, stainless steel, silicon (which may be doped), gold, or titanium.

The roll capacitor includes an air inlet 3804 and an air outlet 3806. FIG. 38B includes an arrow indicating the direction of the air flow in a plane parallel to the front surface of the roll capacitor. FIG. 38C includes an arrow indicating the direction of the air flow in a plane perpendicular to the front surface of the roll capacitor.

Referring to the electronic cigarette device 3100 shown in FIG. 31, the roll capacitor is configured to be positioned between the atomizer 3110 and the outlet 3106 in the air flow chamber 3108 using a non-conductive mechanical support (not shown) (as conductive An alternative to plates 3114 and 3116). The first electrical conductor 3800 and the second electrical conductor 3802 define a measuring cavity between the rolled plates 3800a to 3800f and the rolled plates 3802a to 3802d. When the evaporated payload 3112 is transferred from the atomizer 3110 to the outlet 3106, it passes through the measurement cavity so that the evaporated payload 3112 is effectively used as the dielectric of the roll capacitor.

39A to 39C show an example of an interdigital capacitor. As shown in FIG. 39A, the interdigitated capacitor includes a first electrical conductor 3900 and a second electrical conductor 3902. The first electrical conductor 3900 includes a plurality of interconnected segments 3900a to 3900e providing a first terminal connection (Term 1). The second electrical conductor 3902 includes a plurality of interconnected segments 3902a to 3902e providing a second terminal connection (Term 2). The first electrical conductor 3900 and the second electrical conductor 3902 may be formed of a metal or any other conductive material such as copper, stainless steel, silicon (which may be doped), gold, or titanium.

The finger capacitor includes an air inlet 3904 and an air outlet 3906. FIG. 39B includes an arrow indicating the direction of air flow in a plane parallel to the front of the interdigitated capacitor. FIG. 39C includes an arrow indicating the direction of air flow in a plane perpendicular to the front of the interdigitated capacitor.

Referring to the electronic cigarette device 3100 shown in FIG. 31, a finger-type capacitor is configured to be positioned between the atomizer 3110 and the outlet 3106 in the air flow chamber 3108 using a non-conductive mechanical support (not shown) (as a (An alternative example of the conductive plates 3114 and 3116). The first electrical conductor 3900 and the second electrical conductor 3902 define a measuring cavity between the segments 3900a to 3900e and the segments 3902a to 3902e. When the evaporated payload 3112 is transferred from the atomizer 3110 to the outlet 3106, it passes through the measurement cavity so that the evaporated payload 3112 is effectively used as the dielectric of the finger-type capacitor.

It should be understood that multiple capacitors (including multiple parallel capacitors or multiple series capacitors) can be used in different configurations. Of course, it is better to use multiple capacitors in parallel, because this configuration will increase the total capacitance of the capacitance sensor and make it easier to detect (in the case of multiple series capacitors, the total capacitance will be reduced and more Difficult to detect).

In one embodiment, a modified differential interdigitated capacitive sensor design is used in which the electrical conductors of one capacitor are chemically modified and the electrical conductors of the other capacitors are not chemically modified. The capacitors are positioned adjacent to each other such that each capacitor has substantially the same number of target molecules (eg, THC and / or CBD molecules). The electrical conductor of the chemically modified capacitor has a coating designed to absorb the target molecule relative to the baseline capacitor. The surface absorption of the target molecule will change the dielectric constant of the chemically modified capacitor (which can be measured by low noise electronic devices).

The capacitor vapor measurement system described above is configured to accurately determine a dose based on a measured capacitance of one of the evaporated payloads in a measurement cavity of an electronic cigarette device. This steam measurement system is beneficial to both medical patients and entertainment users, as they will be able to accurately measure their dosages to obtain the desired effect in a repeatable manner.
Two-lead communication system

In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette device includes a two-lead communication system utilizing an electromechanical connection, wherein a first connector provided as part of the control assembly is releasably coupled to a second connection provided as part of the cassette Device. The electromechanical connection provides a two-conductor electrical interface capable of communicating a plurality of electrical signals (such as a power signal and one or more data signals) between the control assembly and the cassette. Embodiments of the two-lead communication system are described below.

Referring to FIG. 40, an embodiment of an electronic cigarette device 4000 including a two-lead communication system is shown. Generally speaking, the electronic cigarette device 4000 includes a control assembly 4010 and a box 4020 formed in a separate housing and releasably connected to each other via an electromechanical connection 4040. In this embodiment, the control assembly 4010 is provided as a reusable component that can be used with multiple disposable cassettes, such as cassette 4020. In other embodiments, the control assembly 4010 may be disposable and / or the cassette 4020 may contain a payload reservoir accessible for refilling, as described above.

The control assembly 4010 is shown in FIG. 40 as having a microcontroller 4012, a power source 4014, a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader 4016, and a switch 4018, which are components that form part of a two-lead communication system. It should be understood that the control assembly 4010 may include many other components not shown in FIG. 40, as described above in connection with the control assembly 14 of the electronic cigarette device 10.

The microcontroller 4012 is configured to perform one or more electronic control functions related to the operation of the electronic cigarette device 4000, including control of the power supply 4014, control of the RFID reader 4016, and control of the switch 4018. In some embodiments, the microcontroller 4012 includes a microprocessor with a central processing unit as known to those skilled in the art (for the purposes of the present invention, it also incorporates any type of processor). The microcontroller 4012 further includes a series of instructions configured to operate the microprocessor and stored from an RFID tag 4024 (described below) or a sensor collection disposed on the electronic cigarette device 4000 to control the electronic cigarette device One of the operating data of 4000 (such as the operating settings).

The power source 4014 is configured to generate a power signal for powering the heating element 4022 of the atomizer. In one embodiment, the power source 4014 includes a battery that generates a DC current. The DC can be pulsed according to a pulse width modulation (PWM) command provided by the microcontroller 4012 to control the temperature of the heating element 4022 in a specific desired manner. Alternatively, the temperature of the heating element 4022 can be adjusted through current and voltage control. In some embodiments, the control assembly 4010 further includes sending an "ON" signal to a decimation switch (not shown) of the microcontroller 4012. When the microcontroller 4012 receives the "on" signal from the extraction switch, it may send an instruction to start the heating element 4022 (ie, to deliver current from the power source 4014 to the heating element 4022), provided that the startup heating element 4022 has been satisfied Any other conditions required, as described above.

The RFID reader 4016 is configured to read data stored on an RFID tag 4024 according to instructions from the microcontroller 4012 (and write data to the RFID tag 4024 as needed). In one embodiment, the RFID reader 4016 operates according to a near field communication (NFC) protocol and the RFID tag 4024 includes an NFC tag. Of course, the RFID reader 4016 may communicate with the RFID tag 4024 using other RFID-type protocols such as ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID, FeliCa, and analog messaging methods known to those skilled in the art.

The switch 4018 is configured to control signal communication between the control assembly 4010 and the cassette 4020 via a two-conductor electrical interface provided through the electromechanical connection 4040 according to instructions from the microcontroller 4012. In one embodiment, the switch 4018 includes a double-pole double-throw (DPDT) switch having a first switch position and a second switch position. As shown in FIG. 40, the DPDT switch is moved to the first switch position to realize a power signal transmission from the power source 4014 to the heating element 4022. The DPDT switch is moved to the second switch position to realize transmission of one or more data signals between the RFID reader 4016 and the RFID tag 4024.

The box 4020 is shown in FIG. 40 as having a heating element 4022 of an atomizer, an RFID tag 4024, capacitors 4026 and 4028, inductors 4030 and 4032, a choke 4034, and electrical terminals 4036 and 4038, and the like. A component of a part of a two-lead communication system. It should be understood that the cassette 4020 may include many other components not shown in FIG. 40, as described above in connection with the control assembly 14 of the electronic cigarette device 10.

The heating element 4022 is disposed in the atomizer for heating and evaporating a payload contained in a payload reservoir (not shown) of the cartridge 4020, as described above. In this embodiment, the heating element 4022 includes a heating coil. The choke 4034 includes one of the high-frequency chokes provided to prevent the low-impedance heating element 4022 from loading analog circuits (ie, the capacitors 4026 and 4028, the inductors 4030 and 4032, and the RFID tag 4024). The choke 4034 is self-resonant at the radio frequency of the RFID tag 4024 and is therefore high impedance at this frequency.

The RFID tag 4024 includes any type of electronic storage device including a memory for storing data related to the cartridge 4000. In one embodiment, the RFID tag 4024 includes an integrated circuit (IC) chip for modulating and demodulating radio frequency signals. For example, the RFID tag 4024 may include a first-class electrically isolated NFC tag.

The data stored in the RFID tag 4024 may contain a variety of different types of information, such as: (1) information about specific payloads contained in the payload reservoir of the cartridge 4000 (e.g., payload volume, payload composition , THC concentration, CBD concentration, terpene distribution); (2) Information about the manufacture of the cartridge 4000 (e.g., date and batch code, serial number, MAC address); (3) About suggestions for use in the evaporation cartridge Information on one or more operational settings of a specific payload contained in the 4000 payload reservoir (e.g., a current setting); (4) information to achieve authenticity verification of the box 4000 (e.g., (some) encryption (Key); (5) information about the software or hardware contained in the box 4000 (for example, a software revision of a microcontroller of a temperature control circuit, as described below); and / or (6) about Information for one of the intended users of the cassette 4000 (eg, user information and specific individual prescription information for a prescription for one of the payloads within the payload receptacle with the cassette 4000). Of course, those skilled in the art will understand that other types of data can also be stored in the RFID tag 4024.

The RFID tag 4024 may be programmed during production (eg, during filling of a payload receptacle) to store desired data in order to personalize the cassette 4020. This can be accomplished by connecting a dual pin connector (discussed below) provided on the cassette 4020 to a corresponding RFID reader capable of programming one of the RFID tags 4024 with the desired information.

In one embodiment, the RFID tag 4024 operates at a frequency of 13.56 MHz. In another embodiment, the RFID tag 4024 operates at a frequency in a range of 860 MHz to 960 MHz. In other embodiments, the RFID tag 4024 operates at a lower frequency (eg, a frequency in a range of 125 kHz to 134.2 kHz) or at a higher frequency (eg, 2.45 GHz). Of course, other frequencies can be used according to the present invention.

Capacitors 4026 and 4028 include DC blocking capacitors that are provided to isolate the RFID tag 4024 from the electrical signal transmitted from the power source 4014 to the heating element 4022 via a two-conductor electrical interface. Capacitors 4026 and 4028 self-resonate at the radio frequency of RFID tag 4024 and are therefore low impedance at this frequency.

The inductor 4030 is used as an antenna of the RFID reader 4016, and the inductor 4032 is used as an antenna of the RFID tag 4024. Inductors 4030 and 4032 are positioned to allow magnetic coupling between them and provide wireless transmission over a very short range separating these inductors. Alternatively, the inductors 4030 and 4032 may be replaced with a transformer having the same function.

It should be understood that the cassette 4020 supports two different modes: (1) a DC mode in which a DC voltage is applied across the power terminals 4036 and 4038; and (2) an AC mode in which the power terminals 4036 and 4038 are connected to an RFID reader The antenna terminal of 4016 makes it possible to access the RFID tag 4024 via the RFID reader 4016.

The electromechanical connection 4040 of the electronic cigarette device 4000 realizes signal communication (for example, a power signal and one or more data signals) between the control assembly 4010 and the cassette 4020. The electromechanical connection 4040 includes a pair of connectors, that is, a first connector provided at one end of the control assembly 4010 and a second connector provided at one end of the cassette 4020. The first connector and the second connector are configured to be mechanically and electrically connected together. The mechanical connection may include a threaded connection, a pressure or friction fit connection, a twisted mechanical lock, a magnetic connection, and any other mechanical connection member known to those skilled in the art. The electrical connection provides a two-conductor electrical interface that forms part of a two-lead communication system.

In one embodiment, the first and second connectors include M7x0.5 mm threaded connectors (commonly referred to as "510 threaded connectors"). The first connector (ie, the connector on the control assembly 4010) includes a female 510 threaded connector, an example of which is shown in FIG. 41A. This connector includes a two-pin electromechanical connector 4100 using a housing 4104 as a negative electrical terminal and a center pin 4106 as a positive electrical terminal, and an insulator may be provided between the housing 4104 and the center pin 4106 as required. The second connector (ie, the connector on the cassette 4020) includes a male 510 threaded connector, an example of which is shown in FIG. 41B. This connector includes a two-pin electromechanical connector 4102 using a housing 4108 as a negative electrical terminal and a center pin 4110 as one of the positive electrical terminals, and an insulator may be provided between the housing 4108 and the center pin 4110 as required.

When the male connector 4102 and the female connector 4100 are connected, (1) the center pin 4110 contacts the center pin 4106 to provide a positive lead extending between the positive electrical terminal of the switch 4018 and the positive electrical terminal 4036 of the box 4020; And (2) the case 4108 contacts the case 4104 to provide a negative lead extending between the negative electrical terminal of the switch 4018 and the negative electrical terminal 4038 of the box 4020.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the use of 510 threaded connectors and other types of dual-conductor connectors can also be used.

The two-lead communication system provides one way to allow at least two functions to share a two-conductor electrical interface: (1) transmitting a power signal from the power source 4014 to the heating element 4022; and (2) the RFID reader 4016 and the RFID tag 4024 transmits one or more data signals (eg, NFC data transmission).

The first function is provided when the switch 4018 is moved to its first switch position. In this case, a power signal (eg, DC or pulsed DC) is transmitted from the power source 4014 to the electrical terminals 4036 and 4038 through the switch 4018 and via the two-conductor electrical interface. This power signal is then transmitted from the electrical terminals 4036 and 4038 to the heating element 4022 to activate the atomizer.

The second function is provided when the switch 4018 is moved to its second switch position. In this case, the transmission of the data signal will depend on whether the RFID tag 4024 includes a passive tag, an active interrogator tag, or an active beacon tag.

If the RFID tag 4024 includes a passive tag, the RFID reader 4016 transmits an interrogation signal to the electrical terminals 4036 and 4038 through the switch 4018 and through the two-conductor electrical interface. The interrogation signal is then coupled from inductor 4030 to inductor 4032, which extracts energy from radio frequency waves. This energy moves from the inductor 4032 to the RFID tag 4024 to power the tag. In response, the RFID tag 4024 generates a response signal that encodes one of the data stored on the tag. The response signal is then coupled from inductor 4032 to inductor 4030 and provided at electrical terminals 4036 and 4038. The response signal is then transmitted to the RFID reader 4016 through the dual-conductor interface and through the switch 4018.

If the RFID tag 4024 includes an active interrogator tag, the operation is similar to that of a passive tag, except that the active interrogator tag is not powered by an interrogation signal. In fact, the active interrogator tag has its own internal power supply.

If the RFID tag 4024 includes an active beacon tag, there is no interrogation signal and the active beacon tag has its own power source. In this case, the RFID tag 4024 generates a signal that encodes the data stored on the tag. This signal is then coupled from inductor 4032 to inductor 4030 and is provided at electrical terminals 4036 and 4038. This signal is then transmitted to the RFID reader 4016 via the two-conductor electrical interface and through the switch 4018.

In the embodiment described above, the power signal and the (several) data signals are transmitted via a two-conductor electrical interface according to a time-division multiplexing scheme. Therefore, the DC and analog communication paths need mutually exclusive time slots and cannot operate simultaneously. In other embodiments, the DC and analog signaling paths (which operate at different frequencies) may be provided simultaneously via a dual-conductor interface according to a frequency division multiplexing scheme. This functionality will be incorporated into the RFID reader 4016 so that the transmission and reception functions operate in parallel at different frequencies, as known to those skilled in the art.

The two-wire communication system described above enables the cassette data to be provided in a secure electronic memory in the cassette. The box data cannot be tampered with, discarded or lost, and therefore a user can determine that the data is legitimate and not a fake.
Integrated temperature control system

In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette device includes a cassette with an integrated temperature control system. In particular, the cassette includes a temperature sensor configured to sense or determine a temperature within the cassette. The temperature sensor may include a component (such as a thermistor, a thermocouple, a band gap temperature sensor, an analog temperature sensor, a digital temperature sensor) configured to sense the temperature in the cassette. Sensor or a light sensor). The temperature sensor may also include a circuit configured to measure the resistance of the heating element and use this measurement to determine the temperature in the box. The temperature sensor is incorporated into a temperature control circuit configured to adjust the power provided to the heating element based on the temperature in the cassette and a desired temperature set point. Embodiments of the temperature control circuit are described below.

Referring to FIG. 42, an embodiment of an electronic cigarette device 4200 including a cassette with an integrated temperature control system is shown. Generally speaking, the electronic cigarette device 4200 includes a control assembly 4210 and a box 4220 that can be formed in separate housings releasably connected to each other via an electromechanical connection 4230. In this embodiment, the control assembly 4210 is provided as a reusable component that can be used with multiple disposable cassettes, such as cassette 4220. In other embodiments, the control assembly 4210 may be disposable and / or the cassette 4220 may contain a payload reservoir that is accessible for refilling, as described above.

The electromechanical connection 4230 is configured to provide a mechanical connection between the control assembly 4210 and the box 4220, and to be able to route one of the power sources 4212 from the control assembly 4210 to a heater or atomizer 4224 in the box 4220 An electrical connection. For example, the electromechanical connection 4230 may include a female 510 threaded connector on a control assembly 4210 releasably engaging a box 4220 on a male 510 threaded connector. Of course, the present invention is not limited to the use of a 510 threaded connector and other types of double pin connectors (such as EGO connectors) can also be used.

As shown in FIG. 42, the control assembly 4210 includes a power source 4212. Of course, it should be understood that the control assembly 4210 may include many other components and circuits not explicitly shown in FIG. 42, as described above in connection with the control assembly 14 of the electronic cigarette device 10. The power source 4212 is configured to generate a power signal for powering one of the heating elements of the atomizer 4224. In one embodiment, the power source 4212 includes a battery that generates a DC current.

The cassette 4220 is shown in FIG. 42 with a payload reservoir 4222, a heater or atomizer 4224, a temperature sensor 4226, and a temperature control circuit 4228. It should be understood that the cassette 4220 may include many other components not shown in FIG. 42, as described above in connection with the electronic cigarette devices 10, 100, and 2800 and the cassettes 900, 1000, 1100, 1900, 2100, 2400, 2500 and 2600.

The payload reservoir 4222 is configured to contain one payload for evaporation or atomization, as described above. For example, the payload may be a liquid, oil, other fluid, or ingot. The payload may include hemp oil or nicotine oil or any of the tablets 940, 1002, 1102, 1202, 1300, 1302, 1400, 1500, 1600, and 1700 described above (if the electronic cigarette device 4200 is modified to evaporate One ingot of dry material).

The heater or atomizer 4224 includes a heating element disposed therein for heating and evaporating a payload contained in the payload reservoir 4222. In this embodiment, the heating element includes a heating coil. As described below, the heating element is connected to a temperature control circuit 4228, which is configured to adjust the power provided to the heating element based on the temperature sensed in the cassette 4220 and a desired temperature set point.

The temperature sensor 4226 may include any type of component capable of sensing the temperature inside the cassette 4220. For example, the temperature sensor 4226 may include a thermistor, a thermocouple, a band gap temperature sensor, an analog temperature sensor, a digital temperature sensor (e.g., a temperature with I2C interface compatibility). Sensors), or any other type of temperature sensor known to those skilled in the art. The thermal path between the atomizer and the temperature sensor can be implemented with thermal glue, a ceramic thermal bridge (eg, Q-bridge thermal conductors available from American Technical Ceramics), or air and PCB dielectrics.

The temperature sensor 4226 may also include a light sensor configured to detect light emitted from a material in the cassette 4220, wherein the intensity of the emitted light is proportional to the temperature of the material, as familiar with this This item is known to the skilled person. For example, the light sensor may include a photodiode that detects light emitted by a heating element and / or light emitted by an evaporated payload (which is typically in the infrared region of 0.7 microns to 20 microns). Bulk or optoelectronic crystal. The light sensor is preferably capable of detecting light passing through different seals or glass to isolate the light sensor from the evaporated payload. The light sensor can be used to trigger when a certain threshold temperature has been reached or can be used to maintain operation within a temperature range. As an example, a light sensor can be used to detect when the core is dry, in which case the heating element will heat up faster and turn red. Detecting a dry core can be used as a way to prevent the inhalation of burning silicon dioxide and save battery power.

The temperature sensor 4226 may also include a circuit configured to measure the resistance of the heating element and use this measurement to determine the temperature within the cassette 4220. As is known in the art, the resistance of a heating element is directly proportional to the resistivity of the material from which the heating element is made (that is, the resistance depends on the resistivity, the length and cross-sectional area of the heating element). The relationship between the resistivity and the temperature of the heating element is shown by the following equation (which is a linear approximation for one of the cases where the temperature does not vary much):

among them
= Temperature in Ohm-meters Resistivity of heating element
= Temperature in Ohm-meters Resistivity of heating element
= In Temperature coefficient of resistivity
= Current temperature in ° K
= Fixed reference temperature in ° K (for example, ambient temperature).

It can be seen from equation (9) that the resistivity of the heating element increases as the current temperature of the heating element increases. Therefore, if the resistance of the heating element is known at any given moment, the resistivity of the heating element can be calculated and the current temperature of the heating element can be calculated using equation (9).

For example, the following method can be implemented to determine the current temperature of the heating element (and therefore the temperature in the cassette 4220): (a) Measure the ambient temperature in the cassette 4220 (the heating element will be approximately the same temperature, as long as it has not been activated recently) ; (B) periodically measure the resistance of the heating element when the heating element is powered; and (c) calculate the current temperature of the heating element based on the measured resistance (or determine one of the resistance changes of the heating element to provide higher than Ambient temperature value rises). Therefore, the resistance of the heating element that changes with temperature can be used to provide an accurate assessment of one of the temperatures within the cassette 4220 at any given moment.

The temperature control circuit 4228 is configured to adjust the power provided to the heating element of the atomizer 4224 based on the temperature sensed in the cassette 4220 by the temperature sensor 4226 and a desired temperature set point. Various methods can be used to regulate the power provided to the heating element. In one embodiment, the temperature control circuit 4228 is configured to increase or decrease a direct current (DC) voltage applied to the heating element. In another embodiment, the temperature control circuit 4228 is configured to increase or decrease the direct current transmitted to the heating element. In another embodiment, the temperature control circuit 4228 includes a processing element (eg, a microcontroller) that is programmed to modify the pulse width (ie, a fixed voltage / current implementation) of the pulsed DC transmitted to the heating element. In this embodiment, pulse width modulation (PWM) (ie, regular periodic pulses for several cycles) or irregular pulses can be used. An example of an irregular pulse is turning on the current until it reaches a set point, then turning off the current until it reaches a hysteresis point, and then turning on the current again. In yet another embodiment, the temperature control circuit 4228 is configured to interrupt direct current flow to the heating element. Of course, those skilled in the art will understand other power regulation methods.

Various examples of temperature control circuits that can be used to regulate the power supplied to the heating elements of the atomizer 4224 will now be described. It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the use of such specific circuits and that other types of circuits configured to regulate the power provided to the heating element of the atomizer 4224 can also be used in accordance with the invention.

Referring to FIG. 43, in one embodiment, the temperature control circuit includes an input voltage (V _in ) having one of the voltage (V _BATT ) connected to the battery and an output voltage (V) of one of the voltage (V _COIL ) connected to the heating element. _out ) one of the DC-DC converters (DCDC). The DC-DC converter (DCDC) is enabled when a microprocessor, button or other control means applies a control voltage to the enable pin voltage (EN). Alternatively, a DC-DC converter (DCDC) may be enabled when power is present. A resistive feedback voltage divider including a fixed resistor (R _fixed ) and a PTC thermistor (R _PTC ) is connected to the feedback pin voltage (FB) of the DC-DC converter (DCDC). The PTC thermistor (R _PTC ) is thermally connected to the atomizer and has a resistance that increases as the temperature increases and decreases as the temperature decreases. Therefore, a PTC thermistor ( _RPTC ) is used as a temperature sensor for the circuit.

In operation, when increasing the PTC thermistor (R & lt _PTC) of resistance, DC-DC converter to decrease the output voltage (V _out) of the heating element in order to reduce the voltage (V _COIL) to be applied. Conversely, when the PTC thermistor (R & lt _PTC) of resistance is reduced, DC-DC converter to increase the output voltage (V _out) of the heating element in order to increase the voltage (V _COIL) to be applied. Therefore, this circuit adjusts the power to the heating element by increasing or decreasing the direct current (DC) voltage applied to the heating element based on the temperature sensed by the PTC thermistor ( _RPTC ).

Referring to FIG. 44, in another embodiment, a temperature control circuit includes an operational amplifier in which a non-inverting input is connected to a battery voltage (V _BATT ) through two reference resistors (R _Ref1 and R _Ref2 ). The output of the operational amplifier is connected to the inverting input through a capacitor (C ₂ ), and the output of the operational amplifier is connected to the non-inverting input through a feedback circuit. The feedback circuit includes a capacitor (C ₂ ) and an explosion-proof fusible resistor. (R _FB ), a PTC thermistor (R _PTC ), and a capacitor (C ₁ ). The PTC thermistor (R _PTC ) is thermally connected to the atomizer and has a resistance that increases as the temperature increases and decreases as the temperature decreases. Therefore, a PTC thermistor ( _RPTC ) is used as a temperature sensor for the circuit. It can also be seen that the output of the operational amplifier is connected to the heating element through a p-type field effect transistor (PFET) which provides a DC current gain.

In operation, when the resistance of the PTC thermistor (R _PTC ) increases, the voltage at the non-inverting input of the op amp decreases in order to increase the voltage at the output, and therefore reduces the transmission through the p-type field effect transistor (PFET) ) The current transmitted to the heating element. Conversely, when the resistance of the PTC thermistor (R _PTC ) decreases, the voltage at the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier increases in order to reduce the voltage at the output, and therefore increases through the p-type field effect transistor (PFET) The current transmitted to the heating element. Therefore, this circuit adjusts the power to the heating element by increasing or decreasing the direct current transmitted to the heating element based on the temperature sensed by the PTC thermistor ( _RPTC ).

Referring to FIG. 45, in another embodiment, a temperature control circuit includes a microcontroller unit (MCU) connected to a load switch positioned in a current path from a battery via a general-purpose input / output pin (GPIO). The microcontroller unit (MCU) is programmed to transmit control signals to open and close the load switch and thereby generate a pulsed DC at the output of the load switch. The microcontroller unit (MCU) also receives a temperature value from an analog temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature of the atomizer as a feedback. Of course, any type of temperature sensor can be used to provide feedback to the micro-controller. MCU (MCU), such as a digital temperature sensor, a serial bus read sensor, a PWM output sensor or any type of analog temperature measurement as known to those skilled in the art Sensor.

In operation, when the temperature value received from the analog temperature sensor is higher than a desired temperature set point, the microcontroller unit (MCU) reduces the pulse width of the pulse DC to reduce the current transmitted to the heating element. Conversely, when the temperature value received from the analog temperature sensor is lower than a desired temperature set point, the microcontroller unit (MCU) increases the pulse width of the pulse DC to increase the current transmitted to the heating element. Therefore, this circuit adjusts the power to the heating element by increasing or decreasing the pulse width of the pulsed direct current transmitted to the heating element based on the temperature value received from the analog temperature sensor.

Referring to FIG 46, in another embodiment, the temperature control circuit includes a connection through a general purpose input / output interface pins (GPIO) to current from a battery positioned in the path of one of the first switch (S ₁₎ and positioned in the mist to One of the second switches (S ₂ ) in the current path of the converter is a microcontroller unit (MCU). The microcontroller unit (MCU) is programmed to transmit a control signal to open and close the first switch (S ₁ ) and thereby generate a pulsed DC at the output of the first switch (S ₁ ). The microcontroller unit (MCU) also includes a thermocouple that contains a thermocouple interface as part of the wiring that supplies the atomizer. If the thermocouple interface is positioned outside the payload area, the thermal conductivity of the atomizer wiring is sufficient to transfer a temperature directly related to the temperature of the atomizer to the thermocouple interface. The thermocouple voltage (V _SENSE ) is communicated to another general-purpose input / output pin (GPIO) of the microcontroller unit (MCU), and therefore the thermocouple is used as a temperature sensor for the circuit. The microcontroller circuit is programmed to implement a short non-active state cycle during which no power is supplied to the atomizer so that the thermocouple voltage (V _SENSE ) can be read.

In operation, when the thermocouple voltage (V _SENSE ) is higher than the voltage associated with a desired temperature set point, the microcontroller unit (MCU) reduces the pulse width of the pulsed DC in order to reduce the current transmitted to the heating element. Conversely, when the thermocouple voltage (V _SENSE ) is lower than the voltage associated with a desired temperature set point, the microcontroller unit (MCU) increases the pulse width of the pulsed DC in order to increase the current delivered to the heating element. Therefore, this circuit adjusts the power to the heating element by increasing or decreasing the pulse width of the pulsed direct current transmitted to the heating element based on the sensed thermocouple voltage (V _SENSE ).

Referring to FIG. 47, in another embodiment, the temperature control circuit includes a microcontroller unit (MCU) including functionality similar to the functionality described above in conjunction with FIG. 45. However, instead of using an analog temperature sensor, the circuit receives feedback from another type of temperature sensor (T _SENSE ) located in the thermal path of the atomizer. For example, the temperature sensor (T _SENSE ) may include a thermistor, a band gap temperature sensor, a digital temperature sensor, or any other type of PCB-mounted passive or active temperature sensor.

In operation, when the sensor value received from the temperature sensor (T _SENSE ) is higher than a value associated with a desired temperature set point, the microcontroller unit (MCU) reduces the pulse width of the pulsed DC In order to reduce the current transmitted to the heating element. Conversely, when the sensor value received from the temperature sensor (T _SENSE ) is lower than a value associated with a desired temperature set point, the microcontroller unit (MCU) increases the pulse width of the pulse DC to increase The current transmitted to the heating element. Therefore, this circuit adjusts the power to the heating element by increasing or decreasing the pulse width of the pulsed direct current transmitted to the heating element based on the sensor value received from the temperature sensor (T _SENSE ).

Referring to FIG. 48, in another embodiment, the temperature control circuit includes turning off a photodiode (ie, a light sensor) of the heating element (L1) when the temperature reaches an upper temperature limit (for example, 200 ° C). . As shown, the circuit also includes a first resistor and a second resistor (R1 and R2) and a first transistor and a second transistor (Q1 and Q2), where the first resistor (R1) can be changed by Value and / or the value of the second resistor (R2) to adjust the light intensity required to turn off the heating element (L1). It can be understood that this circuit ensures the continuous and safe performance of the electronic cigarette device.

Of course, it is understood that other temperature control circuits can be used according to the present invention. For example, an analogy that provides power regulation based on a temperature sensing element (e.g., a thermistor) in a configuration that is biased to an electronic component (e.g., a MOSFET transistor) that can provide regulation can be used. Circuit. As another example, a simple thermal fuse can be used that temporarily interrupts the power connection when the temperature of the atomizer or heating element exceeds a desired temperature set point. When the temperature drops below a temperature set point, the thermal fuse will then be reset to provide power to the atomizer or heating element.

In all the examples provided above, the desired temperature setpoint is determined by the value of the electrical components in the circuit or programmed into a microcontroller unit (MCU). In other embodiments, the desired temperature set point is user-configurable, that is, the temperature set point can be modified by a specific user or as needed for a desired temperature distribution.

In some embodiments, the temperature control circuit includes a potentiometer having a variable resistance, and the electronic cigarette device includes a user resistor capable of modifying a variable resistance of the potentiometer to modify a temperature set point. Moving mechanism.

An example of a temperature control circuit including a potentiometer is shown in FIG. This circuit includes a resistor divider that feeds one of the "analog input" pins of a microcontroller, where the value at the "analog input" pin changes the temperature set point. The resistive voltage divider includes a fixed resistor (R _fixed ) and a potentiometer. The potentiometer has a variable resistor that can be modified by a user as described below, such that a change in the value of the potentiometer resistance changes the temperature set point. It should be understood that the microcontroller can be used with any of the temperature control circuits (e.g., load switches, FETs, DCDCs, etc.) described above to regulate the power provided to the atomizer. The microcontroller may be connected to a radio tag, such as the radio tag 4024 shown in FIG. 40 of the two-lead communication system described above, as needed.

The temperature control circuit shown in Figure 49 can be used in conjunction with a user-actuated mechanism that translates a mechanical setting into a resistance value of a potentiometer. Examples of such user-actuated mechanisms are shown in FIGS. 50-52.

FIG. 50 shows a portion including a housing 5000 and a cassette disposed in one of the printed circuit boards 5002. The printed circuit board contains the components of the temperature control circuit shown in FIG. 49 (including the potentiometer 5004). A rotary dial 5006 is positioned outside the housing 5000 for access by a user. The dial 5006 is connected to the potentiometer 5004 via a rotary connector 5008. Therefore, a user can modify the resistance value of the potentiometer 5004 by turning the dial 5006.

FIG. 51 shows a part including a case 5100 and a box disposed on one of the printed circuit boards 5102. The printed circuit board contains the components of the temperature control circuit shown in FIG. 49 (including the potentiometer 5104). A slidable tab 5106 is positioned outside the housing 5100 for access by a user. The slidable tab 5106 is integrally connected to an arm 5106a of a potentiometer 5104 extending into a cassette and engaging through a slider switch 5108. Therefore, a user can modify the resistance value of the potentiometer 5104 by sliding the tab 5106 along the housing 5100.

FIG. 52 shows a portion of a case containing a housing 5200 and a printed circuit board 5202 disposed therein. The printed circuit board contains the components of the temperature control circuit shown in FIG. 49 (including the potentiometer 5204). The housing is rotatable and is connected to the potentiometer 5204 via a rotating arm 5206. The rotating arm 5206 is rigidly mounted to the housing 5200 via a base 5208. Therefore, a user can modify the resistance value of the potentiometer 5204 by rotating the housing 5200.

Of course, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the user-actuated mechanism shown in FIGS. 50 to 52 and other mechanisms may be used in accordance with the present invention. Also, instead of using a potentiometer to change the resistance and thereby modify the temperature set point, a temperature control circuit may be incorporated to enable a user to enter a digital value (e.g., based on several bits) to modify one of the temperature set points interface.

A voltage setting can also be “transformed” into a temperature setting (for example, if the voltage output from the self-control assembly is 3.8 volts, the box temperature is changed to 180 ° C; if the voltage output from the self-control assembly is 4.0 volts, the box Temperature transition to 200 ° C, etc.). The cassette is therefore able to convert this voltage into an appropriate power setting to produce a predetermined temperature setting.

A box with local temperature sensing and control provides an extra layer of security for the end user. Due to the versatility of the connectors used on electronic cigarette devices, these types of cassettes can be mounted on many different types of control assemblies with different capabilities. If a conventional box without local temperature control is installed on a control assembly capable of supplying too much power, the box may be damaged, the payload may be burned or the user may be injured. However, if the cassette contains local temperature control, the cassette, payload, and user are protected from such a control assembly.

It can be understood that the temperature control system described above adds local temperature control to the box containing the atomizer or heating element so that no additional electrical signal needs to be transmitted to promote temperature control through the electromechanical connector between the box and the control assembly. Thus, an electronic cigarette device can use an existing dual pin connector type to simultaneously add a desired feature (ie, local control of the atomizer temperature).

Of course, the present invention can be used with an electronic cigarette device using a multi-pin connector to achieve communication between the control assembly and the cassette. For example, the control assembly may send a signal that sets a temperature upper limit for a specific strain to the temperature control circuit of the cassette, whereby one of the user-actuated mechanisms shown in FIGS. 50 to 52 may be used to lower the temperature from the upper limit. . If the cassette is connected to a control assembly that does not provide this functionality (ie, does not send a signal with an upper temperature limit), the temperature control circuit treats the signal as grounded and operates in an independent mode.

Referring to FIG. 53, another embodiment of a cassette 5300 with an integrated temperature control system is shown. In this embodiment, the cassette 5300 includes a heating element 5302 (described above) and a temperature control circuit (described above) provided on a printed circuit board 5304. The printed circuit board 5304 provides connections 5304a and 5304b to an electromechanical connector 5306 to be able to transfer power from a power source of a control assembly (not shown) to the temperature control circuit. The electromechanical connector 5306 may include a male 510 threaded connector, but other types of connectors may be used as described herein. The heating element 5302 provides connections 5302a and 5302b to the printed circuit board 5304 to enable the temperature control circuit to regulate the power provided to the heating element 5302.

Box 5300 also contains two air inlets 5308 and 5310. When a user inserts a suction nozzle (not shown) into his or her mouth and draws air through the outlet 5312, fresh air from the outside of the cassette 5200 enters the inlets 5308 and 5310 and travels toward the heating element 5302. This fresh air is combined with the evaporated payload 5314 from the heating element 5302 and enters the outlet 5312. Air and the evaporated payload 5316 are drawn into the user's mouth through the outlet 5312.

In this embodiment, a temperature sensor provided as part of the temperature control circuit on the printed circuit board 5304 is positioned next to the heating element 5302 so that the temperature inside the atomizer can be measured. In other embodiments, a heat pipe may be used between the temperature sensor and the heating element, in which case the temperature control circuit may be positioned at a greater distance from the heating element. Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention is not limited to the structural configuration of the cassette shown in FIG. 53 and other cassette configurations may be used.

The temperature control system described herein can be used to conduct or convectively heat a payload (which can be a fluid payload or include a payload of dry material).
Smart box with authenticated access control

In some embodiments, the electronic cigarette device includes a cassette releasably connected to a control assembly, wherein the cassette contains one of the payloads that is allowed to be accessed only when the cassette and / or the control assembly is properly authenticated Authentication device. A box containing this functionality may be referred to herein as a "smart" box, as long as the box provides authentication and access control independently of the control assembly. Embodiments of the electronic cigarette device including a smart box are described below.

Referring to FIG. 54, an embodiment of an electronic cigarette device 5400 includes a control assembly 5410 and a smart box 5420 formed in separate housings and releasably connected to each other via an electromechanical connector 5440. In this embodiment, the control assembly 5410 is provided as a reusable component that can be used with multiple disposable cassettes, such as the smart cassette 5420. In other embodiments, the control assembly 5410 may be disposable.

As shown in FIG. 54, the control assembly 5410 includes a microcontroller 5412 connected to a power supply 5414. It should be understood that the control assembly 5410 may include many other components not shown in FIG. 54, as described above in connection with the control assembly 14 of the electronic cigarette device 10.

The microcontroller 5412 is configured to perform one or more electronic control functions (including control of the power supply 5414) with respect to the operation of the electronic cigarette device 5400. In some embodiments, the microcontroller 5412 includes a microprocessor with a central processing unit as known to those skilled in the art (for the purposes of the present invention, it also incorporates any type of processor). The microcontroller 5412 further includes a memory configured to store a series of instructions for operating the microprocessor and also stored from one or more sensors disposed on the electronic cigarette device 5400 to control the operation of the electronic cigarette device 5400. A memory such as data (such as operation settings).

The memory of the microcontroller 5412 can also be configured to store authentication data transmitted from the authentication device 5430 of the cassette 5420 to the microcontroller 5412. In addition, the memory can be configured to store a list of valid public / private key pairs for cryptographic authentication purposes, as described below. This list includes public / private key pairs associated with various cassettes that have been manufactured for use with the control assembly 5410. Preferably, this list is periodically updated through communication with a remote server to add a new public / private key pair or to revoke a specific public / private key pair (if it is determined that a particular box has been compromised).

The power supply 5414 is configured to generate a power signal for powering the atomizer 5422 of the cassette 5420. In one embodiment, the power source 5414 includes a battery that generates a DC current. The DC can be sent according to a pulse width modulation (PWM) command pulse provided by the microcontroller 5412 to control the temperature of the atomizer 5422 in a specific desired manner. Alternatively, the temperature of the atomizer 5422 can be adjusted through current and voltage control. In some embodiments, the control assembly 5410 further includes sending an "ON" signal to a decimation switch (not shown) of the microcontroller 5412. When the microcontroller 5412 receives the "on" signal from the extraction switch, it may send an instruction to the power supply 5414 to deliver a power signal to the atomizer 5422, provided that any other required to start the atomizer 5422 has been met The conditions are as described above.

Cassette 5420 is shown in FIG. 54 with an atomizer 5422, a payload reservoir 5424, and an authentication assembly 5428. The authentication assembly 5428 includes an authentication device 5430 and a power switch 5432, which provide one of the "smart" capabilities of the cassette 5420. It should be understood that the cassette 5420 may include many other components not shown in FIG. 54, as described above in connection with the cassette 12 of the electronic cigarette device 10.

The inlet of the atomizer 5422 is in communication with a payload reservoir 5424 containing a payload. For example, the payload may be a liquid, oil, other fluid, or ingot. As described above, the atomizer 5422 includes a heating element configured to heat and vaporize the payload contained in the payload reservoir 5424 to produce one of the vaporized payload 5426 provided at the outlet of the atomizer 5422. (Such as a heating coil).

The authentication device 5430 includes an independent or customized integrated circuit (IC) having a microcontroller unit (MCU) and a secure element capable of storing authentication data and performing encryption operations, as described below. The secure element may include an inaccessible memory (ie, a block of memory guaranteed to be inaccessible from outside the IC), encrypted memory, or other secure elements known to those skilled in the art. The authentication data may include an encryption key (such as the public key of a public / private key pair). The authentication data may include the expiration date of one of the boxes (or the manufacturing date and storage period of one of the boxes from which the expiration date can be determined as needed), the maximum suction seconds allowed for the operation of the box, and one of the boxes as required. A unique identifier (eg, a unique serial number) and other authentication information known to those skilled in the art. Because the authentication data is stored in a secure element, the data cannot be tampered with, discarded or lost, and therefore a user can ensure that the data is legitimate and not a fake.

The power gate 5432 is configured to control transmission of a power signal from the power source 5414 to the atomizer 5422 via the electromechanical connector 5440 according to instructions received by the self-authentication device 5430. In this embodiment, the power switch 5432 includes a single-pole single-throw switch (SW1) having an off position and an on position. As shown in FIG. 54, the power gate 5432 is moved to the off position to disable transmission of a power signal from the power source 5414 to the atomizer 5422. In contrast, moving the power gate 5432 to the on position enables transmission of a power signal from the power source 5414 to the atomizer 5422. As described below, the authentication device 5430 is programmed to cause the power gate 5432 to move from the off position to the on position when the cassette 5420 and / or the control assembly 5410 are determined to be true.

As shown in FIG. 54, the authentication device 5430 and the power switch 5432 are provided as separate discrete components. In other embodiments, the authentication device 5430 and the power switch 5432 may be integrated into a single component, such as a silicon die, a multi-chip module (MCM), or other components known to those skilled in the art.

In some embodiments, the cassette 5420 is initially provided in a locked state, that is, the power gate 5432 is in the off position. When the cassette 5420 is coupled to the control assembly 5410, the authentication device 5430 is configured to implement an authentication protocol to determine whether the cassette 5420 is authentic. The authentication agreement may include relying on one or more different tests using authentication data stored in the secure element of the authentication device 5430, as described below. The authentication device 5430 then uses the result of the authentication agreement to control the power gate 5432. For example, if the box 5420 is authenticated, the power gate 5432 moves from the open position to the on position to implement the operation of the electronic cigarette device 5400. This feature minimizes the chance of accidental or intentional misuse of the electronic cigarette device 5400.

In one embodiment, the cassette 5420 is implemented to return to its locked state after power loss to implement strict access control, ie, the power gate 5432 moves from the on position back to the off position at the end of a power cycle. Therefore, authentication must occur on each inhalation. Of course, the user does not need to pay attention to the authentication action so that even if authentication occurs at each inhalation, the cartridge may seem to remain authenticated at the beginning of a working phase. In another embodiment, the cassette 5420 is maintained in its unlocked state across the power cycle to avoid having to be authenticated during subsequent inhalations during a working phase. For example, the authentication device 5430 may store the last time stamp of the authentication and only need to be re-authenticated if an internally defined timeout (user, factory, or other) has expired.

One test as part of the authentication agreement includes an encrypted handshake (eg, challenge-response) between the microcontroller 5412 and the authentication device 5430 to enable authentication of the cassette 5420 and the control assembly 5410. In one embodiment, the authentication device 5430 stores a public key and the microcontroller 5412 stores a list of valid public key / private key pairs, as described above. The encrypted handshake can be performed as follows: (1) the microcontroller 5412 transmits a message to the authentication device 5430; (2) the authentication device 5430 encrypts the message with the stored public key to generate an encrypted message; (3) ) The authentication device 5430 transmits the encrypted message and the public key to the microcontroller 5412; (4) The microcontroller 5412 accesses a stored list of public / private key pairs to identify the public key associated with the public key (5) the microcontroller 5412 uses the private key to decrypt the encrypted message to generate a decrypted message; (6) the microcontroller 5412 determines whether the original message matches the decrypted message, and if so, the box 5420 And control assembly 5410 is considered real. Of course, other encryption authentication protocols known to those skilled in the art can also be used.

Once the crypto handshake is complete, the microcontroller 5412 may transmit an indication of authenticity to the authentication device 5430. If the box 5420 and the control assembly 5410 are real, the authentication device 5430 directly moves the power switch 5432 to the on position to enable the transmission of a power signal from the power supply 5414 to the atomizer 5422. Alternatively, the authentication device 5430 may move the power gate 5432 to the on position after receiving the operation instruction from the microcontroller 5412. This can be accomplished by changing one of the operating settings of either a persistent or non-persistent power cycle as experienced by the cassette 5420 or the control assembly 5410.

It can be understood that the encrypted handshake described above enables authentication of the cassette 5420 and the control assembly 5410 without accessing a remote server. This authentication method is also sufficient to ensure that the cassette 5420 and the control assembly 5410 are compatible. This eliminates the possibility of pairing a mismatched cassette with the control assembly and potentially putting the user at risk.

Another test that may be performed as part of the authentication agreement may include a test to determine if the cassette 5420 has expired.

In one embodiment, the test to determine whether the cassette 5420 has expired may be performed as follows: (1) The authentication device 5430 may store the stored expiry date of the cassette 5420 (or one of the expiry dates may be determined from them if necessary The manufacturing date and storage period are transmitted to the microcontroller 5412; (2) the microcontroller 5412 determines the current date; and (3) the microcontroller 5412 determines whether the expiration date of the box 5420 is after the current date. The data transmitted from the self-authentication device 5430 to the microcontroller 5412 may be encrypted data or plain text data. If the cassette 5420 is deemed to be untrue, the microcontroller 5412 may permanently disable the cassette 5420 via the authentication device 5430.

In another embodiment, the test to determine whether the cassette 5420 has expired may be performed as follows: (1) the microcontroller transmits the current date to the authentication device 5430; (2) the authentication device 5430 (since the expiration date is stored) Or from the stored manufacturing date and the storage period, the expiration date of the box 5420 can be determined from the stored manufacturing date and the storage period determination expiration date; and (3) the authentication device 5430 determines whether the expiration date of the box 5420 is After the current date, and if so, the cassette 5420 is considered real. The data transmitted from the microcontroller 5412 to the authentication device 5430 may be encrypted data or plain text data.

Yet another optional test that can be performed as part of the authentication agreement includes one of the tests that determines whether the cassette 5420 exceeds its maximum allowable operating time (ie, the maximum allowable operating time of the cassette 5420). The maximum allowable operating time can be measured in units of suction seconds. As used herein, a "one puff second" means a fraction of a second during which power is supplied to the atomizer 5422 and part of the payload in the evaporative payload reservoir 5424 is evaporated. To perform this test, the authentication device 5430 is configured to record user analysis (i.e., number of puffs and puff duration) to be able to determine the total number of puff seconds elapsed during operation of the cartridge 5420 (i.e., current Operation time).

In one embodiment, a test to determine whether the cassette 5420 is used beyond its maximum allowable operating time may be performed as follows: (1) The authentication device 5430 stores the stored maximum allowable operating time and the current operating time (Or user analysis, from which the current operating time can be determined) to the microcontroller 5412; and (2) the microcontroller 5412 compares the maximum allowable operation time with the current operation time to determine whether the current operation time is greater than the maximum allowable operation time. In some cases, the microcontroller 5412 may use this comparison result to determine whether the maximum allowable operating time has elapsed. If so, the microcontroller 5412 may permanently disable the cassette 5420 via the authentication device 5430. Alternatively, the microcontroller may transmit the comparison result to the authentication device 5430 for recording in the authentication device 5430. In this case, if the maximum allowable operation time has passed, the authentication device 5430 may refuse to supply power to the cassette 5420.

In another embodiment, the authentication device 5430 compares the stored maximum allowable operation time with the stored user analysis to determine whether the current operation time is greater than the maximum allowable operation time. In some cases, if the maximum allowable operating time has passed, the authentication device 5430 may refuse to supply power to the cassette 5420. Alternatively, the authentication device 5430 may transmit the comparison result to the microcontroller 5412. If the maximum allowable operating time has elapsed, the microcontroller 5412 may permanently disable the cassette 5420 via the authentication device 5430.

Yet another optional test that can be performed as part of the authentication agreement includes a test to determine if the cassette 5420 is a counterfeit. This test can be performed as follows: (1) the authentication device 5430 transmits the stored unique identifier for the cassette 5420 to the microcontroller 5412; (2) the microcontroller 5412 transmits the unique identifier to the control assembly 5410 One of the wireless transceivers (such as the RF transceiver circuit 36 and the (several) antennas 40 of the control assembly 14 shown in FIG. 1); (3) the wireless transceiver is via an RF communication link (e.g., Bluetooth) Transmitting the unique identifier to an external computing device (such as computing device 72 shown in FIG. 3); (4) the external computing device determines whether the unique identifier is valid by accessing a remote server; (5) external The control device transmits a response indicating whether the unique identifier is valid to the wireless transceiver; and (6) the wireless transceiver transmits the response to the microcontroller 5412, and if the unique identifier is valid, the cassette 5420 is considered to be true . It is understood that once a box with its unique identifier has been registered with the remote server, any other box with the same identifier will be considered a counterfeit.

The electronic cigarette device 5400 may utilize any or a combination of the tests described above as part of its authentication agreement. If the box 5420 is deemed to be authentic, the electronic cigarette device 5400 may provide an indication to the user that the box 5420 has been authenticated. For example, the control assembly 5410 may include a light emitting diode (LED). If the box 5420 has been identified, the LED turns green. In another example, the control assembly 5410 may wirelessly communicate the authentication information to an external computing device (such as the computing device 72 shown in FIG. 3), where an application program running on the computing device causes the use to The person displays the authentication information.

In some embodiments, after the cassette 5420 has been authenticated, an additional key verification step is performed to verify that the operator of the electronic cigarette device 5400 is authorized to use the cassette 5420. In one embodiment, the owner of the case 5420 key in a key (encrypted or ordinary) to lock the case 5420, where the key is stored in the security element of the authentication device 5430. Thereafter the authentication device 5430 will ensure that the operator of the electronic cigarette device 5400 owns one of the smart phones or stored keys before moving the power switch 5432 to the on position to enable transmission of a power signal from the power supply 5414 to the atomizer 5422. Other RFID-enabled devices.

In one embodiment, multiple keys are allowed to be stored in the secure element of the authentication device 5430. Multiple keys provide the benefit of enabling multiple operators to access the same cassette without sharing a key. If an owner has multiple applications on his / her smart phone or other RFID-enabled device that can unlock the box, or if an owner has a smart phone or other RFID-enabled device that can unlock the box This is especially beneficial if you have multiple accounts on the same application on your device. This key verification scheme can be implemented by a single administrator who can add / remove keys, by multiple administrators, or by all co-owners who are administrators.

In another embodiment, the current owner of a box may transfer ownership of the box to a new owner by transferring keys using his / her smartphone or other RFID-enabled device. The transfer of the ownership of the cassette can be implemented permanently or temporarily. The temporary transfer of the use case of the cassette includes (but is not limited to) the elapsed suction seconds, dose, date, time of day, location, and other information known to those skilled in the art. Also, a temporary transfer of cassette ownership may occur during a scheduled time that defines a known use window, such as a prescription doctor temporarily transferring ownership of a cassette to a patient for a limited dose, withdrawal before ownership is automatically transferred back to a prescribing physician. The suction time is isochronous. Scheduled transfer of box ownership can also be reproduced.

Referring again to FIG. 54, the electromechanical connector 5440 includes a pair of connectors, that is, a first connector provided at one end of the control assembly 5410 and a second connector provided at one end of the cassette 5420. The first connector and the second connector are configured to be mechanically and electrically connected together. The mechanical connection may include a threaded connection, a pressure or friction fit connection, a twisted mechanical lock, a magnetic connection, and any other mechanical connection member known to those skilled in the art. As described below, the electromechanical connector 5440 enables (1) transmission of a power signal from the control assembly 5410 to the box 5420 and (2) transmission of one or more data signals between the control assembly 5410 and the box 5420. Of course, it should be understood that this same electromechanical connector 5440 is also used to read and write payload information (for example, strain information, optimal mist suction temperature, suction count, expiration date, etc.), control assembly 5410 or a The external computing device uses the payload information to modify the operating parameters of the electronic cigarette device 5400.

In some embodiments, the electromechanical connector 5440 provides an electrical interface including one of two conductors. For example, in a common implementation, the first and second connectors include M7x0.5 mm threaded connectors (these are often referred to as "510 threaded connectors"). The first connector (ie, the connector on the control assembly 5410) includes a female 510 threaded connector and the second connector (ie, the connector on the cassette 5420) includes a male 510 threaded connector, as described above And shown in Figure 41A. Of course, the present invention is not limited to the use of 510 threaded connectors and other types of dual-conductor connectors can also be used.

A two-conductor electrical interface is commonly used in electronic cigarette devices to provide a power conductor and a ground conductor. To accommodate the transmission of one or more data signals between the control assembly 5410 and the cassette 5420, these data signals must also be transmitted via one of these conductors. Various multiplexing schemes, such as time division multiplexing, frequency division multiplexing, or voltage level multiplexing, can be used to provide this functionality. Of course, other types of multiplexing schemes can also be used according to the present invention.

In an embodiment using a time-division multiplexing scheme, power signals and data signals are transmitted sequentially through the same conductor. An example of a circuit that can be used to implement a time division multiplexing scheme is shown in FIG. 55. Of course, other circuits can be used to implement a time-division multiplexing scheme, as known to those skilled in the art.

As shown in FIG. 55, the circuit 5500 includes a microcontroller 5510 and a box 5520 of a control assembly connected via a two-conductor electrical interface. The electrical interface includes a first conductor that provides a data / power path (ie, a data and power common first conductor) and a second conductor that provides a ground path. Data and power need mutually exclusive time slots on the first conductor, that is, data and power cannot be transmitted through the first conductor at the same time.

In the circuit 5500, the microcontroller 5510 is connected to an NMOS transistor (Q1) through an input / output pin (IO), which is then connected across an electrical interface to one of the IOs of the authentication device 5520. Pin. This provides a data path on the first conductor to enable data signals to be transmitted between the microcontroller 5510 and the authentication device 5520.

The control assembly also includes providing a power source (not shown) with a resistor (R1) having a relatively large resistance value, which resistor (R1) then passes a diode (D1) across the electrical interface Connect to one of the box's atomizers (not shown). Of course, a power switch (not shown) will also be provided in the box to control the transmission of the power signal to the atomizer, as described above. This provides a power path on the first conductor to realize the transmission of a power signal from the power source to the atomizer. It can be seen that the power signal also provides a supply voltage (V _DD ) to both the microcontroller 5510 and the authentication device 5520. A capacitor (C1) has a capacitance value large enough to be held to the power of the authentication device 5520 during the data signal transmission between the microcontroller 5510 and the authentication device 5520. Therefore, the first conductor can be used to temporarily transmit a data signal between the microcontroller 5510 and the authentication device 5520 while the authentication device 5520 remains powered on.

In an embodiment using a frequency division multiplexing scheme, a power signal and a data signal are transmitted simultaneously between the control assembly and the cassette. In this case, an alternating current (AC) or radio frequency (RF) signal is used to encode the data on the power or ground conductor. Frequency division multiplexing can support both full-duplex operation and half-duplex operation using different uplink and downlink frequencies, as known to those skilled in the art. Filtering is then used to separate data from power. This can also be done using amplitude modulation (AM). Digital communication methods such as binary phase shift keying (BPSK), Gaussian minimum frequency shift keying (GMSK), and other methods known to those skilled in the art can also be used.

In an embodiment using a voltage level multiplexing scheme, a power signal and a data signal are transmitted simultaneously between the control assembly and the cassette. As described below, if the logic low used for digital messaging is greater than the minimum required supply voltage of the authentication device of the cassette, the data signal can be passed through the same conductor used to transmit the power signal. An example of a circuit that can be used to implement a voltage level multiplexing scheme is shown in FIG. Of course, other circuits can be used to implement a voltage level multiplexing scheme, as known to those skilled in the art.

As shown in FIG. 56, the circuit 5600 includes a microcontroller (referred to as a processing device U1) and a box (referred to as a processing device) connected to a control assembly through a two-conductor electrical interface. U2). The electrical interface includes a first conductor that provides a data / power path (ie, the first conductor is shared by data and power) and a second conductor that provides a ground path.

As can be seen, the processing device (U1) is connected to an NMOS transistor (Q1) and a resistor (R2) through an output pin (DATA_OUT), which is then connected across a dielectric interface to a resistor ( R3), an analog comparator and one of the input pins (DATA_IN) of the processing device (U2) use a level shifter. This provides a data path on the first conductor to realize the transmission of data signals from the processing device (U1) to the processing device (U2).

Similarly, the processing device (U2) is connected to an NMOS transistor (Q3) and a resistor (R3) through an output pin (DATA_OUT), and the resistor (R3) is then connected to the resistor (R2) across the dielectric interface. ), An analog comparator and one of the input pins (DATA_IN) of the processing device (U1) use a level shifter. This provides a data path on the first conductor to realize the transmission of the data signal from the processing device (U2) to the processing device (U1).

The control assembly also includes a power supply with battery protection (U5), which is connected through a resistor (in parallel with an NMOS transistor (Q2) of a high-power pin (HIGH-PWR) connected to the processing unit (U1)) R1) provides a power signal, and the resistor (R1) is then connected to a power switch (SW1) across the electrical interface. One control pin (SW1_CTL) of the processing device (U2) is connected to the power switch (SW1) to control the transmission of power signals to the atomizer of the box, as described above. This provides a power path on the first conductor to realize the transmission of a power signal from the power source to the atomizer. It can be seen that the power signal provides a supply voltage (V_PWR) to the processing device (U1) through a selected DC-DC converter (U3). Similarly, the power signal provides a supply voltage (V_PWR) to the processing device (U2) through an optional DC-DC converter (U4).

In circuit 5600, a non-inverting input to each of the analog comparators (V_THRESH) is selected such that the inverting input is greater than the minimum required power supply voltage of the processing device (U2). In addition, the resistor (R1) is selected to have a sufficiently small resistance value so that the current required to power the processing device (U2) does not cause an excessive voltage drop. If the resistance value of the resistor (R1) is selected incorrectly, the processing unit (U2) may experience a voltage lower than its minimum required power supply voltage.

It can be understood that the logic blocks shown in FIG. 56 can be integrated into a single integrated circuit, discrete components, or some combination thereof. Preferably, all the cassette electronics (excluding the atomizer) are integrated into a single integrated circuit (IC) or module. This is advantageous because the encapsulation for electronic devices is extremely small in typical cassette applications.

It can be understood that for the circuit shown in Figure 56, there are many alternative configurations that can be used to achieve the same effect, including (but not limited to): (1) an open-drain implementation of a level shifter; (2) borrow Remove (several) optional level shifters by integrating or using a compatible program; (3) remove optional DC-DC converters by integrating or using a compatible program; (4) enable analog comparators Invert to simplify logic; and (5) If V_510 accidentally drops too much in a short period of time, add a diode and capacitor to help maintain the processing device (U2) (or its corresponding DC-DC converter (U4) ) Of the power supply voltage (V_PWR).

The data transfer protocol used by the circuit 5600 can be optimized for many different use cases, including (but not limited to): (1) optimized for data transfer rates; (2) optimized to minimize V_510 noise ; And (3) optimize to minimize noise and / or ripple of the power supply voltage (V_PWR) of the processing unit (U2) (or its corresponding DC-DC converter (U4)).

An example of a data transfer protocol used by circuit 5600 is shown in FIG. 57 and includes an "unauthenticated" stage, an "authentication process" stage, and an "authenticated" stage. During each of these stages, pins for the processing device (U1) (ie, DATA_OUT, DATA_IN, and HIGH_PWR), pins for the processing device (U2) (ie, DATA_OUT, DATA_IN, and SW1_CTL), V_510, and Logic value of atomizer current.

During the "unauthenticated" phase, the control assembly attempts to heat the atomizer (ie, the HIGH_PWR pin of the processing unit (U1) is active low), but the processing unit (U2) in the box The control pin (SW1_CTL) has not been activated so that the power switch (SW1) remains in the open position. Therefore, no current is delivered to the nebulizer.

During the "authentication process" phase, an authentication agreement is implemented to authenticate the box and control the assembly. As can be seen, the authentication data is initially transferred from the processing device (U1) to the processing device (U2). For example, the status of the DATA_OUT pin of the processing device (U1) and the function of the DATA_IN pin of the processing device (U2) Status shown (see also V-510). Next, the authentication data is transmitted from the processing device (U2) to the processing device (U1), such as by the active state of the DATA_OUT pin of the processing device (U2) and the active state of the DATA_IN pin of the processing device (U1). Display (see also V-510).

During the "authenticated" phase (i.e., once the authentication procedure is completed), the control assembly attempts to heat the atomizer again (i.e., the HIGH_PWR pin of the processing unit (U1) is active low) and the The processing unit (U2) has enabled the control pin (SW1_CTL) to move the power switch (SW1) to the on position. Therefore, an electric current is delivered to the atomizer to achieve heating of the payload.

In all the embodiments discussed above, the power signal may include a direct current, which sends a direct current in accordance with a pulse width modulation (PWM) command to control the temperature of the atomizer in a particular desired manner. In this case, the cassette must be able to ensure that the authentication device is sufficiently decoupled to avoid brownouts and reset / power cycling. Another method to ensure that the authentication device does not consume power is to ensure that the minimum level of the PWM signal is still sufficient to meet the minimum supply voltage requirements of the authentication device.

In all the embodiments discussed above, the power supply may also use a variable output voltage to control the temperature of the atomizer in a particular desired manner. In this case, the authentication device must be sufficiently decoupled and function at a sufficiently low voltage to avoid power down and reset / power cycling. The cassette may also include the required circuitry to boost the voltage of the power signal to a voltage high enough to meet one of the lowest supply voltage requirements of the authentication device (ie, raise the input voltage to a higher potential).

In some embodiments, the electromechanical connector 5440 provides an electrical interface including one of three or more conductors / pins. In this case, it is not necessary to use any of the multiplexing schemes described above. For a three-pin electrical interface, there are separate pins for power, ground, and data. There are also several options for a four-pin interface, such as an integrated circuit (I2C) interface. For example, you can use the dedicated signal pins of the ITC interface, such as SDA (data line) and SCL (clock line) pins, to transfer data. A multi-conductor connector similar to a stereo headphone connector with an integrated microphone can also be used. Using this method, a cassette having a 510 thread using one of two or more electrical connections and compatible with a control assembly having only two electrical connections (and vice versa) can be used.

In all the embodiments described above, the smart box is used with a control assembly that has one of the functionalities of implementing the desired authentication protocol. However, in other embodiments, the smart box can be used with a "dumb" control assembly, for example, in the case where one user may not care about the authentication box or may have previously used another control assembly to authenticate the box . In these embodiments, the cassette is preset to an unlocked state, that is, the power switch is in the on position.

A box that is not coupled to a control assembly can also be identified. For example, the cassette may be implemented with RFID capabilities to enable communication with a smartphone or other RFID-enabled device. In this case, the cassette can be wirelessly authenticated at the point of sale (POS) or by an owner using a smartphone or other RFID-enabled device. It can be understood that the identification and unlocking of the box at the POS is a desirable feature of the retailer, because this ensures that no stolen box can be used.

Although some embodiments have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made to these embodiments without changing or departing from their scope, purpose, or functionality. The terms and expressions used in the foregoing description have been used herein as descriptive terms and are not restrictive, and these terms and expressions are not intended to be used to exclude equivalents of the features shown or described or portions thereof, It should be recognized that the present invention is defined and limited only by the scope of the following patent applications.

As will be seen from the foregoing, the present invention is well adapted to achieve all the objects and objectives set forth above and one of the other advantages that are obvious and inherent to the present invention.

Since many possible embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, it should be understood that all items described herein or shown in the drawings should be construed as illustrative, not limiting. significance.

Although specific embodiments have been shown and discussed, of course, various modifications can be made, and the present invention is not limited to the specific form or configuration of the parts and steps described herein, except that such limitations are included in the scope of the following invention application patents. In addition, it will be understood that specific features and sub-combinations are practical and can be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. This is within the scope of the scope of the invention patent application and is within the scope of the scope of the invention patent application.

10‧‧‧ electronic cigarette device

12‧‧‧ Nozzle assembly

13‧‧‧Nozzle section

14‧‧‧Control Assembly

15‧‧‧ connecting member

16‧‧‧user nozzle

17‧‧‧ catheter

18‧‧‧ Extraction sensor

19‧‧‧ Atomizer assembly

20‧‧‧Atomizer

21‧‧‧import

22‧‧‧Heating element

23‧‧‧ exit

24‧‧‧ Payload Assembly

26‧‧‧ Payload Reservoir

28‧‧‧Identifier (ID) tags

30‧‧‧Circuit Board

31‧‧‧Microcontroller

32‧‧‧Charger circuit

34‧‧‧User input interface circuit / input interface circuit

35‧‧‧electrical connector

36‧‧‧Radio Frequency (RF) Transceiver Circuit

38‧‧‧output interface circuit

40‧‧‧ Antenna

42‧‧‧ Battery

44‧‧‧ Electrical connection

46‧‧‧Fluid Connector

48‧‧‧ Electrical connection

50‧‧‧ Electrical connection

52‧‧‧ Electrical connection

54‧‧‧ Electrical connection

56‧‧‧Mechanical connection components

58‧‧‧Nozzle

60‧‧‧ Catheter

62‧‧‧ Payload Reservoir

64‧‧‧ payload

66‧‧‧ Fuel Gauge

68‧‧‧ valve

70‧‧‧Sensor

72‧‧‧Personal Computing Device / Computing Device

73‧‧‧ radio frequency (RF) communication link

74‧‧‧ Apps

75‧‧‧Visual Dashboard / Dashboard

76‧‧‧User Information Window

78‧‧‧ positioning button

79‧‧‧Atomizer assembly

88‧‧‧Nozzle assembly

80‧‧‧ thermal slide button

82‧‧‧ Lock indicator

84‧‧‧ unlock indicator

86‧‧‧Slide button

88‧‧‧Nozzle assembly

92‧‧‧Global Telecommunication Network

94‧‧‧ processor

100‧‧‧ electronic cigarette device

102‧‧‧Electronic cigarette device system

402‧‧‧step

404‧‧‧step

406‧‧‧step

408‧‧‧step

410‧‧‧step

412‧‧‧step

414‧‧‧step

416‧‧‧step

418‧‧‧step

420‧‧‧step

900‧‧‧ box

902‧‧‧outer wall

904‧‧‧End cap

906‧‧‧End cap

908‧‧‧first end wall

910‧‧‧Second end wall

912‧‧‧first cylindrical tube

914‧‧‧Second cylindrical tube

916‧‧‧ cylindrical tube

918‧‧‧tubular threaded connector / threaded connector

920‧‧‧center opening

922‧‧‧Radial opening

924‧‧‧tube

926‧‧‧center opening

928‧‧‧tubular spring fastener / spring fastener

930‧‧‧ inside wall

932‧‧‧Inner chamber

934‧‧‧import chamber

936‧‧‧Evaporation chamber

938‧‧‧mixing chamber

940‧‧‧ ingots

942‧‧‧Heating element

944‧‧‧ payload holding surface

946‧‧‧Spring

948‧‧‧ ingot adapter

1000‧‧‧ box

1002‧‧‧ ingots

1004‧‧‧Heating element

1006‧‧‧outer wall

1008‧‧‧End cap

1010‧‧‧End cap

1012‧‧‧First end wall

1014‧‧‧Second end wall

1016‧‧‧First cylindrical tube

1018‧‧‧Second cylindrical tube

1020‧‧‧ cylindrical tube

1022‧‧‧Tubular Threaded Connector / Threaded Connector

1024‧‧‧ center opening

1026‧‧‧ opening

1028‧‧‧tube

1030‧‧‧Center opening

1032‧‧‧ Tubular Spring Fastener / Spring Fastener

1034‧‧‧ divider

1036‧‧‧Inner wall

1038‧‧‧ divider panel

1040‧‧‧Inner chamber

1042‧‧‧outer chamber

1044‧‧‧Inlet chamber

1046‧‧‧Evaporation chamber

1048‧‧‧ Spiral Flow Guide

1050‧‧‧Groove

1052‧‧‧ opening

1054‧‧‧Slot / opening

1056‧‧‧Spring

1058‧‧‧ ingot adapter

1060‧‧‧ payload holding surface

1100‧‧‧box

1102‧‧‧ ingots

1104‧‧‧Heating element

1106‧‧‧outer wall

1108‧‧‧End cap

1110‧‧‧First end wall

1112‧‧‧Second end wall

1114‧‧‧ cylindrical protrusion

1116‧‧‧tubular threaded connector / threaded connector

1118‧‧‧center opening

1120‧‧‧ opening

1122‧‧‧tube

1124‧‧‧center opening

1125‧‧‧Inner chamber

1126‧‧‧Heater

1128‧‧‧ Cap

1130‧‧‧Spring

1132‧‧‧ ingot holding plate

1136‧‧‧Nozzle

1138‧‧‧Nozzle

1200‧‧‧Heating element

1202‧‧‧ ingots

1204‧‧‧ First Wall

1206‧‧‧Second Wall

1208‧‧‧Heating chamber

1210‧‧‧First opening

1212‧‧‧ sidewall

1214‧‧‧Second opening

1216‧‧‧ sidewall

1218‧‧‧Cleaning tools

1220‧‧‧ Grip

1222‧‧‧ Indenter

1300‧‧‧ ingots

1302‧‧‧ ingots

1304‧‧‧ ingots

1400‧‧‧ ingots

1402‧‧‧ first surface

1404‧‧‧Second Surface

1406‧‧‧Circular sidewall

1408‧‧‧concave

1410‧‧‧hole

1412‧‧‧Concave

1414‧‧‧ sidewall

1416‧‧‧ sidewall

1417‧‧‧ protrusion

1500‧‧‧Laminated ingot

1502‧‧‧ ingots

1504‧‧‧ ingots

1506‧‧‧First surface

1508‧‧‧Second Surface

1510‧‧‧ first surface

1512‧‧‧Second Surface

1514‧‧‧hole

1516‧‧‧hole

1518‧‧‧concave

1520‧‧‧Concave

1522‧‧‧Concave

1524‧‧‧Concave

1600‧‧‧ ingots

1602‧‧‧Heating element

1604‧‧‧First surface

1606‧‧‧Second Surface

1608‧‧‧Circular sidewall

1700‧‧‧Laminated Ingots / Ingots

1702‧‧‧ ingots

1704‧‧‧ ingots

1706‧‧‧ ingots

1708‧‧‧Heating element

1710‧‧‧ Part I

1712‧‧‧ Part Two

1714‧‧‧ side

1716‧‧‧ side section

1800‧‧‧ ingot storage and dispensing device

1802‧‧‧ side wall

1804‧‧‧Internal cavity

1806‧‧‧ end wall

1808‧‧‧open

1810‧‧‧ ingots

1812‧‧‧Spring

1814‧‧‧ holding device

1900‧‧‧box

1902‧‧‧Section 1

1904‧‧‧Second Section

1906‧‧‧Shell

1908‧‧‧Atomizer

1910‧‧‧ Deflector

1912‧‧‧ Deflector

1914‧‧‧Power Connector

1916‧‧‧ the first end

1918‧‧‧ second end

1920‧‧‧Threaded Connector

1922‧‧‧outer wall

1922a‧‧‧Section 1

1922b‧‧‧Second Section

1924‧‧‧Inner side wall

1926‧‧‧Seal

1928‧‧‧First End Wall

1929‧‧‧ cylindrical nozzle / nozzle

1930‧‧‧Second end wall

1932‧‧‧End cap

1934‧‧‧ cylindrical tube

1936a‧‧‧Seal

1936b‧‧‧seal

1938‧‧‧center opening

1940a‧‧‧Seal

1940b‧‧‧Seal

1942‧‧‧Thread

1944‧‧‧Center Post

1944a‧‧‧Enlarged diameter part

1944b‧‧‧ reduced diameter

1946 ‧ ‧ ‧ end wall

1948‧‧‧external thread / thread

1950‧‧‧Power Connector

1952‧‧‧ Payload Reservoir

1953‧‧‧Air Flow Chamber

1954‧‧‧ divider

1956‧‧‧Inlet flow chamber

1958‧‧‧ exit flow chamber

1960‧‧‧import

1962‧‧‧Export

1964‧‧‧The first end

1966‧‧‧ opening

1968a‧‧‧linear side edge / side edge

1968b‧‧‧linear side edge / side edge

1970a ‧‧‧ rounded end edge

1970b ‧‧‧ rounded end edge

1972‧‧‧outer wall

1974‧‧‧inner wall

1976‧‧‧cylindrical atomizer chamber / atomizer chamber

1978‧‧‧ second end

1980‧‧‧ side wall

1980a‧‧‧ section

1982‧‧‧Hollow deflector chamber

2100‧‧‧box

2102‧‧‧Inlet Flow Chamber

2104‧‧‧channel

2106‧‧‧Atomizer

2108‧‧‧ divider

2110‧‧‧Air Flow Chamber

2112‧‧‧Inner wall

2114‧‧‧ exit flow chamber

2116‧‧‧ the first end

2117‧‧‧ the first end

2118‧‧‧ second end

2119‧‧‧ second end

2120‧‧‧outer wall

2122‧‧‧ inside wall

2124‧‧‧Atomizer chamber

2126‧‧‧Concave

2128‧‧‧Long slot

2130‧‧‧ Payload Reservoir

2132‧‧‧Shell

2134‧‧‧Seals / Gaskets

2136‧‧‧ end wall

2400‧‧‧box

2402‧‧‧First End

2404‧‧‧Second End

2406‧‧‧import

2408‧‧‧Export

2410‧‧‧Inlet flow chamber

2412‧‧‧Atomizer

2414‧‧‧Atomizer chamber

2416‧‧‧ exit flow chamber

2500‧‧‧box

2502‧‧‧Shell

2504‧‧‧Atomizer

2506‧‧‧Pressurizer

2508‧‧‧stop

2510‧‧‧Dose Ring

2512‧‧‧Spring

2513‧‧‧Inner chamber

2514‧‧‧ Payload Reservoir

2516‧‧‧Nozzle

2518‧‧‧End cap

2520‧‧‧ cylindrical tube

2522‧‧‧First end wall

2524‧‧‧Second end wall

2526‧‧‧outer wall

2528‧‧‧Threaded connector

2530‧‧‧Import

2532‧‧‧Export

2533‧‧‧ Chamber

2534‧‧‧Circular pressure plate / pressure plate

2534a‧‧‧first side

2534b‧‧‧Second Side

2536‧‧‧ cylindrical tube / pressurizer tube

2538‧‧‧ flange

2540‧‧‧center opening

2542‧‧‧Center Atomizer Channel

2544‧‧‧ divider

2546‧‧‧inlet flow chamber

2548‧‧‧ exit flow chamber

2600‧‧‧box

2602‧‧‧Shell

2604‧‧‧Atomizer

2606‧‧‧Pressurizer

2608‧‧‧stop

2610‧‧‧ dose ring

2612‧‧‧Spring

2613‧‧‧Inner chamber

2614‧‧‧ Payload Reservoir

2616‧‧‧Nozzle

2618‧‧‧End cap

2620‧‧‧ cylindrical tube

2622‧‧‧First end wall

2624‧‧‧Second end wall

2626‧‧‧outer wall

2630‧‧‧import

2631‧‧‧Center pillar

2632‧‧‧Export

2633‧‧‧channel

2634‧‧‧Ring pressure plate / pressure plate

2635‧‧‧ opening

2636‧‧‧cylindrical tube

2638‧‧‧Inner surface

2640‧‧‧Thread outer surface / outer surface

2642‧‧‧ flume

2643‧‧‧Center Atomizer Channel

2644‧‧‧ divider

2646‧‧‧inlet flow chamber

2648‧‧‧ exit flow chamber

2650‧‧‧Inner wall

2652‧‧‧ end surface

2654‧‧‧center opening / opening

2656‧‧‧box

2658‧‧‧Atomizer

2660‧‧‧Center Post

2662‧‧‧Second end wall

2664‧‧‧stop

2666‧‧‧ Payload Reservoir

2668‧‧‧First end wall

2670‧‧‧Power Connector

2672‧‧‧Threaded connector

2800‧‧‧Electronic cigarette device

2802‧‧‧shell

2802a‧‧‧Section 1

2802b‧‧‧Second Section

2804‧‧‧Tray

2804a‧‧‧Section 1

2804b‧‧‧Second Section

2806‧‧‧ flexible circuit board

2808‧‧‧battery

2810‧‧‧Pressure sensor

2812‧‧‧haptic motor

2814‧‧‧Atomizer

2816‧‧‧seals

2818‧‧‧ button

2820‧‧‧ sidewall

2822‧‧‧First end wall

2824‧‧‧Second end wall

2826‧‧‧ generally flat surface

2826a‧‧‧first side edge

2826b‧‧‧Second side edge

2828‧‧‧import

2830‧‧‧Export

2832‧‧‧observation mouth

2834a‧‧‧curved sidewall

2834b‧‧‧curved sidewall

2836‧‧‧ generally flat bottom

2838‧‧‧Semi-cylindrical recess / recess

2840a‧‧‧flat section

2840b‧‧‧ flat section

2842a‧‧‧Enclosed channel

2842b‧‧‧Enclosed channel

2844a‧‧‧open

2844b‧‧‧open

2846‧‧‧outer wall

2848‧‧‧ flat bottom

2850‧‧‧Sidewall

2852‧‧‧the first reservoir end wall

2854‧‧‧Secondary reservoir end wall

2856‧‧‧ Payload Reservoir

2858‧‧‧reservoir opening

2860‧‧‧ opening

2862‧‧‧First end

2864‧‧‧ second end

2866‧‧‧ middle section

2868‧‧‧ Front Section

2870‧‧‧ after section

2872‧‧‧ Battery recess

2874‧‧‧ protrusion

2876‧‧‧ protrusion

2878a‧‧‧light

2878b‧‧‧light

2880‧‧‧Pressure sensor

2882‧‧‧Air Flow Chamber

2884‧‧‧Electronic recess

2886‧‧‧ exit flow chamber

2900‧‧‧ Payload Reservoir

2902‧‧‧Reservoir side wall

2902a‧‧‧Section 1

2902b‧‧‧Second Section

2904‧‧‧reservoir opening

2906‧‧‧ Payload Reservoir

2908‧‧‧reservoir opening

2910‧‧‧Plug / Solid Plug

2912‧‧‧Second end wall

2914‧‧‧Tray

2916‧‧‧ sidewall

2917‧‧‧ exit flow chamber

2918‧‧‧Export

2920‧‧‧seals

2922‧‧‧Electronic cigarette device

2924‧‧‧import

2926‧‧‧Export

2928‧‧‧shell

2930‧‧‧ inlet flow chamber

2932‧‧‧Tray

2934‧‧‧battery

2936‧‧‧Circuit Board

2938‧‧‧haptic motor

2940‧‧‧ Chamber

2942‧‧‧ exit flow chamber

2944‧‧‧ Payload Reservoir

2946‧‧‧Electronic cigarette device

2948‧‧‧import

2950‧‧‧Export

2952‧‧‧ second end

2954‧‧‧shell

2956‧‧‧Atomizer chamber

2957‧‧‧ exit flow chamber

2958‧‧‧ flexible circuit board

2959‧‧‧ Payload Reservoir

2960‧‧‧haptic motor

2962‧‧‧battery

2964‧‧‧First End

2965‧‧‧seals

2966‧‧‧plug

2968‧‧‧Reservoir opening

2970‧‧‧Ventilation holes

2972‧‧‧breathable film

2974‧‧‧ Payload Reservoir

3002‧‧‧step

3004‧‧‧step

3006‧‧‧step

3008‧‧‧step

3010‧‧‧step

3012‧‧‧step

3014‧‧‧step

3016‧‧‧step

3018‧‧‧step

3020‧‧‧step

3022‧‧‧step

3024‧‧‧step

3026‧‧‧step

3028‧‧‧step

3030‧‧‧ steps

3100‧‧‧Electronic cigarette device

3102‧‧‧Shell

3104‧‧‧import

3106‧‧‧Export

3108‧‧‧Air Flow Chamber

3110‧‧‧Atomizer

3112‧‧‧Evaporated Payload

3114‧‧‧Conductive plate

3116‧‧‧Conductive plate / Second conductive plate

3118‧‧‧Measuring cavity

3800‧‧‧First electrical conductor

3800a to 3800f

3800g‧‧‧Common mounting plate

3802‧‧‧Second electrical conductor

3802a to 3802d

3802e‧‧‧Common mounting plate

3804‧‧‧Air inlet

3806‧‧‧Air outlet

3900‧‧‧first electrical conductor

3900a to 3900e ‧‧‧ interconnected fragments / fragments

3902‧‧‧Second electrical conductor

3902a to 3902e ‧‧‧ interconnected fragments / fragments

3904‧‧‧Air inlet

3906‧‧‧Air outlet

4000‧‧‧ electronic cigarette device

4010‧‧‧Control Assembly

4012‧‧‧Microcontroller

4014‧‧‧ Power

4016‧‧‧Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Reader

4018‧‧‧Switch

4020‧‧‧box

4022‧‧‧Heating element

4024‧‧‧RFID tags / radio tags

4026‧‧‧Capacitor

4028‧‧‧Capacitor

4030‧‧‧Inductor

4032‧‧‧Inductor

4034‧‧‧Choke

4036‧‧‧ Electric Terminal / Positive Electric Terminal

4038‧‧‧ Electric Terminal / Negative Electric Terminal

4040‧‧‧ Electromechanical connection

4100‧‧‧Double Pin Electromechanical Connector / Female Connector

4102‧‧‧Double Pin Electromechanical Connector / Male Connector

4104‧‧‧Shell

4106‧‧‧center pin

4108‧‧‧Shell

4110‧‧‧center pin

4200‧‧‧Electronic cigarette device

4210‧‧‧Control Assembly

4212‧‧‧ Power

4220‧‧‧box

4222‧‧‧ Payload Reservoir

4224‧‧‧Heater or atomizer

4226‧‧‧Temperature sensor

4228‧‧‧Temperature control circuit

4230‧‧‧ Electromechanical connection

5000‧‧‧ shell

5002‧‧‧Printed Circuit Board

5004‧‧‧ Potentiometer

5006‧‧‧Rotary Dial / Dial

5008‧‧‧Rotary connector

5100‧‧‧Case

5102‧‧‧Printed Circuit Board

5104‧‧‧ Potentiometer

5106‧‧‧Sliding tab

5106a‧‧‧arm

5108‧‧‧ Slide switch

5200‧‧‧Case

5202‧‧‧Printed Circuit Board

5204‧‧‧ Potentiometer

5206‧‧‧Rotating arm

5208‧‧‧Base

5300‧‧‧box

5302‧‧‧Heating element

5302a‧‧‧ Connect

5302b‧‧‧ Connect

5304‧‧‧Printed Circuit Board

5304a‧‧‧ Connect

5304b‧‧‧ Connect

5306‧‧‧ Electromechanical connector

5308‧‧‧Air inlet / import

5310‧‧‧Air inlet / import

5312‧‧‧Export

5314‧‧‧Evaporated payload

5316‧‧‧Air and evaporated payload

5400‧‧‧Electronic cigarette device

5410‧‧‧Control Assembly

5412‧‧‧Microcontroller

5414‧‧‧ Power

5420‧‧‧Smart Box

5422‧‧‧Atomizer

5424‧‧‧ Payload Reservoir

5426‧‧‧Evaporated payload

5428‧‧‧Authentication Assembly

5430‧‧‧Identification device

5432‧‧‧Power Gate

5440‧‧‧ Electromechanical connector

5500‧‧‧Circuit

5510‧‧‧Microcontroller

5520‧‧‧Identification device

5600‧‧‧Circuit

C ₁ ‧‧‧first capacitor / capacitor

C1‧‧‧Capacitor

C ₂ ‧‧‧Second capacitor / capacitor

C _sensor ‧‧‧capacitive sensor

D1‧‧‧diode

DATA_IN‧‧‧input header

DATA_OUT‧‧‧ output header

DCDC‧‧‧DC-DC converter

EN‧‧‧Enable pin voltage

FB‧‧‧Feedback pin voltage

f _ref ‧‧‧ reference frequency

HIGH_PWR‧‧‧High power header

I _S1 ‧‧‧ the first current source

I _{S 2} ‧‧‧second current source

L1‧‧‧Heating element

Q1‧‧‧First transistor / NMOS transistor

Q2‧‧‧Second Transistor / NMOS Transistor

Q3‧‧‧NMOS transistor

R ₁ ‧‧‧first resistor / resistance

R1‧‧‧first resistor / resistor

R ₂ ‧‧‧Second Switched Capacitor Resistor / Switched Capacitor Resistor / Resistor / Second Resistor

R2‧‧‧Second resistor / resistor

R ₃ ‧‧‧Third resistor

R3‧‧‧ resistor

R _FB ‧‧‧ Explosion-proof fusible resistor

R _fixed ‧‧‧ fixed resistor

R _PTC ‧‧‧PTC thermistor

R _Ref1 ‧‧‧Reference resistor

R _{Ref 2} ‧‧‧Reference Resistor

S ₁ ‧‧‧First switch

S ₂ ‧‧‧Second switch

SW ₁ ‧‧‧First switch

SW1‧‧‧Single Pole Single Throw Switch / Power Gate

SW1_CTL‧‧‧Control header

SW ₂ ‧‧‧Second switch

T _SENSE ‧‧‧Temperature Sensor

Term1‧‧‧First terminal connection

Term2‧‧‧Second terminal connection

U1‧‧‧Processing device

U2‧‧‧Processing device

U3‧‧‧DC-DC converter

U4‧‧‧DC-DC converter

U5‧‧‧Battery Protection

V _BATT ‧‧‧ Battery voltage

V _c ‧‧‧Control voltage

V _COIL ‧‧‧Voltage of heating element

V _DD ‧‧‧ supply voltage / input supply voltage

V _in ‧‧‧ input voltage

V _out ‧‧‧ output voltage

V_PWR‧‧‧ supply voltage / power supply voltage

V _SENSE ‧‧‧Thermocouple voltage

V_THRESH‧‧‧ Analog Comparator

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an electronic cigarette device according to the present invention described herein.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the electronic cigarette device according to the present invention described herein.

3 is a schematic diagram of an electronic cigarette device system including an electronic cigarette device wirelessly communicating with a computing device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing steps of an exemplary method using the electronic cigarette device system of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a representative vape working phase of a user, which includes predicting the extraction (or suction) length, extraction intensity, and time interval between extractions. Evan Gregg, Thierry Bachmann, Ryuji Bito, Xavier Cahours, Michael McEwan, Paul Nelson, Krishna Prasad, Gerhard Scherer, and Mitchell Stiles, Assessing Smoking Behaviour and Tobacco Smoke Exposure: Definitions and Methods, 25 Beiträge zur Tabakforschung International To Concoutions, Research Pages 685 to 699 (December 2013), available at https://doi.org/10.2478/cttr-2013-0945.

FIG. 6A shows the average of calculations based on the measurement of the extraction length (or duration of the puff) of multiple extractions of the e-cigarette device from one of 22 different electronic cigarette device users (or subjects) Value and 95% confidence interval. Risa Robinson, Edward Hensel and PN Morabito and KA Roundtree, Electronic Cigarette Topography in the Natural Environment, PLOS ONE 10 (6): e0129296 (2015), available at https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0129296 obtain.

FIG. 6B shows the average value of the measurement calculation based on the extraction intensity (or suction flow) of multiple extractions of the electronic cigarette device from one of 22 different electronic cigarette device users (or subjects). And one of the 95% confidence intervals.

FIG. 6C shows the average value of the measurement and calculation of the extraction volume (or the extraction volume) based on multiple extractions of the electronic cigarette device from one of the 22 different electronic cigarette device users (or subjects). And one of the 95% confidence intervals.

FIG. 6D shows the amount of time span (or puffing interval) between extractions based on multiple extractions of an electronic cigarette device based on one of twenty-two different electronic cigarette device users (or subjects). An interval graph of the calculated mean and 95% confidence interval.

7A-7B are flowcharts of an exemplary method for optimizing evaporation according to the present invention as described herein.

FIG. 8A is a graph showing the approximate time of the decarboxylation reaction of THCA to THC at different temperatures. Kerstin Iffland, Michael Carus and Dr. med. Franjo Grotenhermen, nova-Institut GmbH, Hürth (Germany), Decarboxylation of Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid (THCA) to Active THC, European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) (October 2016), available at http://eiha.org/media/2014/08/16-10-25-Decarboxylation-of-THCA-to-active-THC.pdf.

FIG. 8B is a graph showing THC content in marijuana over time at different temperatures. T. Veress, JI Szanto, and L. Leisztner, Determination of cannabinoid acids by high-performance liquid chromatography of their neutral derivatives formed by thermal decarboxylation: I. Study of the decarboxylation process in open reactors, 520 Journal of Chromatography A 339-347 Page (November 9, 1990), available at https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9673(90)85118-F.

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a conduction-based cassette for evaporating drying materials according to one embodiment of the invention described herein.

Fig. 9B is a cross-sectional view of one of the cassettes of Fig. 9A.

FIG. 9C is an exploded view of one of the boxes of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10A is a perspective view of a convection-based box for evaporative drying of materials according to one embodiment of the invention described herein.

Fig. 10B is a cross-sectional view of one of the cassettes of Fig. 10A.

Fig. 10C is an exploded view of one of the boxes of Fig. 10A.

FIG. 11A is a perspective view of another conduction-based cassette for evaporative drying materials according to one embodiment of the invention described herein.

11B is an exploded view of one of the cassettes of FIG. 11A.

FIG. 11C is a partial cross-sectional view of a box of FIG. 11A.

11D is a cross-sectional view of one of the cassettes of FIG. 11A.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a heating element used with a box for evaporating and drying materials or an electronic cigarette device.

13A to 13C are perspective views of an ingot used with a box for evaporating and drying materials or an electronic cigarette device.

14A is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of an ingot according to the invention described herein.

Fig. 14B is a right side view of one of the ingots of Fig. 14A.

Fig. 14C is a front view of one of the ingots of Fig. 14A.

FIG. 14D is a cross-sectional view taken through line 14D-14D in FIG. 14A.

Fig. 15 shows a cross-sectional view of one of the ingots of Fig. 14A combined or placed back to back.

FIG. 16A is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of an ingot including a heating element according to the invention described herein.

Fig. 16B is a right side view of one of the ingots of Fig. 16A.

Fig. 16C is a front view of one of the ingots of Fig. 16A.

17 is a front view of one exemplary embodiment of an ingot including a heating element according to the present invention as described herein.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of an ingot storage and dispensing device.

FIG. 19A is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a cassette for vaporizing a fluid payload according to the present invention described herein.

Fig. 19B is a cross-sectional view of one of the cassettes of Fig. 19A.

Fig. 19C is an exploded view of one of the boxes of Fig. 19A.

FIG. 19D is a partial exploded view of the cassette of FIG. 19A.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram of the air flow in the cassette of FIG. 19A.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a cartridge for evaporating a fluid payload according to the invention described herein.

22 is a cross-sectional view of one of the cassettes of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23A is a cross-sectional perspective view of one of the cassettes of FIG. 21. FIG.

23B is a cross-sectional view of one of the atomizers of the cassette of FIG. 21.

23C is a top plan view of one of the atomizers of FIG. 23B.

Fig. 23D is a bottom plan view of one of the atomizers of Fig. 23B.

FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram of an alternative air flow path for evaporating a fluid payload according to the present invention described herein.

FIG. 25A is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment for evaporating a cartridge of a fluid payload according to the invention described herein.

Fig. 25B is a cross-sectional view of one of the cassettes of Fig. 25A.

FIG. 26A is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of a cassette for evaporating a fluid payload according to the invention described herein.

Fig. 26B is a cross-sectional view of one of the cassettes of Fig. 26A.

Fig. 26C is an exploded view of one of the boxes of Fig. 26A.

26D is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a cartridge for evaporating a fluid payload similar to the cartridge shown in FIG. 26A.

FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram of air flow in the cassette of FIG. 25.

FIG. 28A is a perspective view of an electronic cigarette device according to the present invention as described herein.

FIG. 28B is a cross-sectional view of one of the electronic cigarette devices of FIG. 28A.

FIG. 28C is a cross-sectional view taken through line 28C-28C in FIG. 28B.

FIG. 28D is an exploded view of one of the electronic cigarette devices of FIG. 28A.

FIG. 28E is a perspective view of one end of the electronic cigarette device of FIG. 28A showing a viewing port.

FIG. 28F is a perspective view of one end of the electronic cigarette device shown in FIG. 28E showing an outlet.

Fig. 28G is a perspective view of the other end of the electronic cigarette device of Fig. 28A.

FIG. 29A is a cross-sectional view of an alternative configuration of a payload reservoir that can be used with the electronic cigarette device of FIG. 28A.

FIG. 29B is a cross-sectional view of an alternative placement of an atomizer that can be used with the electronic cigarette device of FIG. 28A.

FIG. 29C is a cross-sectional view of an alternative configuration of a payload reservoir that can be used with the electronic cigarette device of FIG. 28A.

FIG. 29D is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of an electronic cigarette device having an alternative imported configuration.

29E is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of an electronic cigarette device having another alternative import configuration.

FIG. 29F is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternative configuration of a payload reservoir that can be used with the electronic cigarette device of FIG. 28A.

Figure 29G is a cross-sectional view of one of the payload reservoirs shown in Figure 29F.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing the steps of an exemplary method using the electronic cigarette device of FIGS. 28A to 29G.

FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram of a case in which a parallel plate capacitor is used as a capacitive sensor of a steam measurement system according to an embodiment of the present invention described herein.

FIG. 32 is a circuit diagram of a charge pump circuit configured to charge the electrical conductor of a capacitive sensor of a steam measurement system to achieve the capacitance measurement of the sensor.

FIG. 33 is a circuit diagram of a resistive voltage divider, in which a switched capacitor resistor includes a capacitive sensor of a steam measurement system to realize capacitance measurement of the sensor.

FIG. 34 is a circuit diagram of a phase-locked loop circuit. A voltage-controlled oscillator includes a capacitive sensor of a steam measurement system to realize the capacitance measurement of the sensor.

FIG. 35 is a circuit diagram of an active low-pass filter circuit connected to a rectifier circuit, wherein a capacitive sensor of a steam measurement system is included in the low-pass filter circuit to realize the capacitance of the sensor. Measurement.

FIG. 36 is a Bode plot of one of the active low-pass filter circuits shown in FIG. 35.

FIG. 37 is a circuit diagram of a crystal oscillator circuit for providing a reference signal to a phase-locked loop circuit, wherein the crystal oscillator circuit is equipped with a capacitive sensor of a steam measurement system to implement the sensor. Measurement of capacitance.

FIG. 38A is a front view of one of a roll capacitor used as a capacitive sensor in a steam measurement system.

FIG. 38B is a front view of one of the roll capacitors shown in FIG. 38A, where the arrow indicates the direction of air flow in a plane parallel to the front surface of the roll capacitor.

FIG. 38C is a perspective view of one of the roll capacitors shown in FIG. 38A, where the arrow indicates the direction of air flow in a plane perpendicular to the front surface of the roll capacitor.

FIG. 39A is a front view of one of a finger-type capacitor used as a capacitive sensor of a steam measurement system.

FIG. 39B is a front view of one of the interdigitated capacitors shown in FIG. 39A, with arrows indicating the direction of air flow in a plane parallel to the front of the interdigitated capacitor.

FIG. 39C is a front view of one of the interdigitated capacitors shown in FIG. 39A, where the arrow indicates the direction of air flow in a plane perpendicular to the front of the interdigitated capacitor.

FIG. 40 is a schematic diagram of an electronic cigarette device including a dual-lead communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention described herein.

FIG. 41A is a perspective view of a female dual pin connector that can be used as part of the two-lead communication system shown in FIG. 40. FIG.

FIG. 41B is a perspective view of a male two-pin connector that can be used as part of the two-lead communication system shown in FIG. 40. FIG.

FIG. 42 is a schematic diagram of an electronic cigarette device including a box with an integrated temperature control system according to an embodiment of the present invention described herein.

Figure 43 is a circuit diagram of a temperature control circuit configured to modify a direct current (DC) voltage applied to a heating element in response to a change in resistance of a thermistor, which temperature control circuit can be incorporated into the figure The box shown in 42.

FIG. 44 is a circuit diagram of a temperature control circuit configured to modify a direct current transmitted to a heating element in response to a change in resistance of a thermistor, which temperature control circuit may be incorporated into the display shown in FIG. 42 In the box.

Figure 45 is a circuit diagram of a temperature control circuit configured to modify a pulse width of a pulsed DC transmitted to a heating element in response to a change in a temperature detected by an analog temperature sensor, the temperature The control circuit may be incorporated into the cassette shown in FIG. 42.

Figure 46 is a circuit diagram of a temperature control circuit configured to modify the pulse width of a pulsed DC transmitted to a heating element in response to a change in the voltage of a thermocouple. The temperature control circuit can be incorporated into Figure 42 In the box shown in.

Figure 47 is a temperature control circuit configured to modify the pulse width of a pulsed DC transmitted to a heating element in response to a change in resistance of a thermistor or a change in voltage of a band gap temperature sensor. A circuit diagram, the temperature control circuit can be incorporated into the cassette shown in FIG. 42.

FIG. 48 is a circuit diagram of a temperature control circuit configured to respond to interruption of a direct current applied to a heating element by detecting light by a light sensor, which temperature control circuit may be incorporated in FIG. 42. Showcase.

FIG. 49 is a circuit diagram of a temperature control circuit of a potentiometer with a modification to achieve a temperature set point, which temperature control circuit can be incorporated into the box shown in FIG. 42.

FIG. 50 is a cross-sectional view of a casing of a box with a dial of a variable resistor that can be used to modify the potentiometer connected to the potentiometer shown in FIG. 49.

FIG. 51 is a cross-sectional view of a case of a cassette switch having a variable resistor that can be used to modify the potentiometer connected to the potentiometer shown in FIG. 49. FIG.

FIG. 52 is a cross-sectional view of a rotatable case housing having a rotating arm connected to a potentiometer shown in FIG. 49 and a variable resistor that can be used to modify the potentiometer.

FIG. 53 is a cross-sectional view of a cassette with an integrated temperature control system according to an embodiment of the invention described herein.

FIG. 54 is a schematic diagram of an electronic cigarette device including a smart box with authenticated access control according to an embodiment of the invention described herein.

FIG. 55 is a circuit diagram of one embodiment of the electronic cigarette device shown in FIG. 54, wherein a time-division multiplexing scheme is used to transmit power signals and data signals between the control assembly and the box through a two-conductor electrical interface.

FIG. 56 is a circuit diagram of another embodiment of the electronic cigarette device shown in FIG. 54, wherein a voltage level multiplexing scheme is used to transmit power signals and data signals between the control assembly and the box through a two-conductor electrical interface .

FIG. 57 is a diagram of an exemplary data transfer protocol that can be used by the electronic cigarette device shown in FIG. 56.

Claims (504)

An electronic cigarette device includes: A payload reservoir configured to hold a payload for evaporation; A heating element configured to heat the payload; A power source coupled to the heating element; A sensor configured to sense an operating condition of the electronic cigarette device when steam is generated by the electronic cigarette device; A processor A memory device; and An instruction set stored in the memory device and executable by the processor to: Receiving the operating condition from the sensor; and The power supplied to the heating element by the power source is adjusted based on the sensed operating conditions. The electronic cigarette device of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes at least one of an air pressure sensor, an air flow sensor, or a temperature sensor, and the operating condition includes an air pressure, an extraction intensity, or an At least one of the temperatures. The electronic cigarette device of claim 2, wherein the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is a temperature of the heating element, a temperature of the payload in the payload reservoir, or a temperature of the payload At least one of the temperatures of one of the evaporation sections. The electronic cigarette device of claim 1, wherein the operating conditions include an extraction intensity, an extraction length, a payload temperature, an air temperature, an air pressure, an atomizer ambient temperature, an air flow rate, a heating element temperature, and At least one of a dose is measured. The electronic cigarette device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the operating condition includes at least one of a pressure and a extraction intensity, and wherein the instruction set can be executed by the processor to: When the sensed outlet air pressure decreases relative to the sensed inlet air pressure, the sensed inlet pressure increases relative to the sensed outlet air pressure, or the sensed extraction strength increases, the heating is provided to the heating. The power of the element to raise the temperature of the heating element; and When the sensed outlet pressure increases relative to the sensed inlet pressure, the sensed inlet pressure decreases relative to the sensed outlet pressure, or when the sensed extraction intensity decreases, The electric power supplied to the heating element is reduced to reduce the temperature of the heating element. The electronic cigarette device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the instruction set is executable by the processor to continuously and repeatedly receive the operating conditions and adjustments from the sensor when the electronic cigarette device generates steam. The steps of the power provided to the heating element. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the instruction set is executable by the processor to adjust the power provided to the heating element to one of a payload to be heated by the heating element The payload temperature, a heating element temperature, or an air temperature is maintained within a desired range. The electronic cigarette device of claim 7, wherein the desired range for the payload temperature corresponds to a cannabinoid selected by a user. A system for determining a heating profile for an electronic cigarette device. The system includes: A processor A memory device; and An instruction set stored in the memory device and executable by the processor to: Receiving a plurality of sensed extraction intensity and a plurality of sensed extraction length, wherein each extraction intensity and each extraction length are associated with an example of a user extracting steam from the electronic cigarette device; Determine a historical extraction intensity from the plurality of sensed extraction intensity; Determine a historical extraction length from the plurality of sensed extraction lengths; and A heating profile for a heating element of the electronic cigarette device is generated based on the historical extraction intensity and the historical extraction length, wherein the heating profile corresponds to the power provided to the heating element over time. The system of claim 9, wherein the heating profile is generated according to a heating mode selected for the electronic cigarette device, wherein the heating mode selected for the electronic cigarette device includes an efficacy mode, a At least one of an efficiency mode and a decarboxylation mode. The system of claim 10, wherein when the effectiveness mode is the selected heating mode for the electronic cigarette device, the heating profile is configured such that a sensed extraction intensity instructs the user from the electronic cigarette device Power is provided to the heating element when the steam is extracted, and no power is provided to the heating element when the sensed extraction intensity indicates that the user has stopped extracting steam from the electronic cigarette device. The system of any one of claims 10 to 11, wherein when the efficiency mode is used for the selected heating mode of the electronic cigarette device, the heating profile is configured such that power is supplied to the heating element for no longer than A sensed extraction intensity indicates that the user has an efficiency time period beginning when the electronic cigarette device is extracting steam, wherein the efficiency time period is shorter than the historical extraction length. The system of any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein when the decarboxylation mode is used for the selected heating mode of the electronic cigarette device, the heating profile is configured to correspond to allowing one of the electronic cigarette devices to be effective One of the supported decarboxylation reactions is a decarboxylation temperature and a decarboxylation duration. The system of any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the instruction set is executable by the processor to: Sensing one of the operating conditions of the electronic cigarette device when the electronic cigarette device generates steam; and The electric power provided to the heating element is adjusted based on the sensed operating conditions. The system of any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the plurality of extraction intensities and the plurality of extraction lengths correspond to a first steam extraction from one of the electronic cigarette devices during a plurality of mist suction work phases, and wherein the The instruction set can be executed by the processor to: Receiving a second plurality of sensed extraction intensities and a second plurality of sensed extraction lengths, wherein the second plurality of extraction strengths and the second plurality of extraction lengths correspond to the time during which the plurality of mist suction work phases are from A second steam extraction of one of the electronic cigarette devices; Determine a second historical extraction intensity from the second plurality of sensed extraction intensity; Determine a second historical extraction length from the second plurality of sensed extraction lengths; and A second heating profile for the heating element is generated based on the second history extraction intensity and the second history extraction length, wherein the second heating profile corresponds to the power provided to the heating element over time. As in the system of claim 15, wherein the instruction set is executable by the processor to: Causing the electric power provided to the heating element to be adjusted according to the heating profile during a first extraction period of a new mist suction operation phase; and Causes the electric power provided to the heating element to be adjusted according to the second heating profile during a second extraction period of the new mist suction working phase. If the system of claim 16, wherein the instruction set is executable by the processor to generate additional heating profiles for the heating element, each of the additional heating profiles is based on the additional history extraction intensity and the additional history extraction length Each of these additional historical extraction intensities is determined corresponding to a plurality of sensed extraction intensities extracted from one of the e-cigarette devices during the plurality of mist suction work phases, and the additional historical extraction length Each of them is determined corresponding to a plurality of sensed extraction lengths extracted from one of the e-cigarette devices during the plurality of mist suction working phases. The system of claim 17, wherein the heating profile, the second heating profile, and the additional heating profiles are each generated according to a heating mode selected for use in the electronic cigarette device, wherein the heating profile is selected for use in The heating mode of the electronic cigarette device includes at least one of an efficiency mode, an efficiency mode, and a decarboxylation mode. If the system of item 18 is requested, a different heating mode may be selected for each of the heating profile, the second heating profile, and the additional heating profiles. The system of any one of claims 10 to 19, wherein the heating profile is generated according to a second heating mode selected for use in the electronic cigarette device, wherein the heating profile is selected for use in the electronic cigarette device. The second heating mode includes at least one of an efficiency mode, an efficiency mode, and a decarboxylation mode, wherein the first heating mode corresponds to a first time period of the heating profile, and wherein the second heating mode corresponds to the Heat one of the profiles for a second time period. The system of any one of claims 9 to 20, wherein the instruction set is executable by the processor to cause the heating profile to be transmitted to the electronic cigarette device, or to cause adjustment by a power source according to the heating profile The electric power provided to the heating element. A method for operating an electronic cigarette device includes: Sensing one of the operating conditions of the electronic cigarette device when the electronic cigarette device generates steam; and An electric power provided to a heating element of the electronic cigarette device is adjusted based on the sensed operating conditions. The method of claim 22, wherein the operating conditions include an extraction intensity, an extraction length, a payload temperature, an air temperature, an air pressure, an atomizer ambient temperature, an air flow rate, a heating element temperature, and a dose Measure at least one of them. The method of any one of claims 22 to 23, wherein the operating conditions include at least one of an air pressure and an extraction intensity, wherein a sensed outlet pressure is reduced relative to a sensed inlet pressure, When the measured inlet pressure is increased relative to the sensed outlet pressure, or the sensed extraction strength is increased, the power supplied to the heating element is increased to raise the temperature of the heating element, and When the measured outlet pressure increases with respect to the sensed inlet pressure, when the sensed inlet pressure decreases with respect to the sensed outlet pressure, or when the sensed extraction intensity decreases, a decrease is provided to the The electric power of the heating element reduces the temperature of the heating element. The method of any one of claims 22 to 24, further comprising the steps of continuously repeatedly sensing an operating condition and adjusting the power supplied to the heating element while generating steam from the electronic cigarette device. The method of any one of claims 22 to 25, wherein the electric power provided to the heating element is adjusted to maintain a payload temperature, a heating element temperature, or an air temperature of a payload heated by the heating element Within a desired range. The method of claim 26, wherein the desired range for the payload temperature corresponds to a cannabinoid selected by a user. A method for operating an electronic cigarette device includes: Sensing a plurality of extraction intensities and a plurality of extraction lengths, wherein each extraction intensity and each extraction length are associated with an example of a user extracting steam from the electronic cigarette device; Determine a historical extraction intensity from the plurality of sensed extraction intensity; Determine a historical extraction length from the plurality of detected extraction lengths; Determining a heating profile for a heating element of the electronic cigarette device based on the historical extraction intensity and the historical extraction length; and An electric power provided to the heating element is adjusted according to the heating profile. The method of claim 28, wherein the heating profile is determined according to a heating mode selected for the electronic cigarette device, wherein the heating mode selected for the electronic cigarette device includes an effectiveness mode, an efficiency At least one of a mode and a decarboxylation mode. The method of claim 29, wherein when the effectiveness mode is the selected heating mode for the electronic cigarette device, power is provided to the user when the sensed extraction intensity instructs the user to extract steam from the electronic cigarette device. The heating element, and does not provide power to the heating element when the sensed extraction intensity indicates that the user has stopped extracting steam from the electronic cigarette device. The method of any one of claims 29 to 30, wherein when the efficiency mode is used in the selected heating mode of the electronic cigarette device, providing power to the heating element is no longer than the sensed extraction intensity indication The user starts an efficiency time period when the electronic cigarette device extracts steam, wherein the efficiency time period is shorter than the historical extraction length. The method of any one of claims 29 to 31, wherein when the decarboxylation mode is used for the selected heating mode of the electronic cigarette device, the heating profile corresponds to a decarboxylation reaction that allows one of the payloads of the electronic cigarette device One decarboxylation temperature and one decarboxylation duration. The method of any one of claims 28 to 32, further comprising: Sensing one of the operating conditions of the electronic cigarette device when the electronic cigarette device generates steam; and The electric power provided to the heating element is adjusted based on the sensed operating conditions. The method of any one of claims 28 to 33, wherein the plurality of extraction intensities and the plurality of extraction lengths correspond to a first vapor extraction from one of the electronic cigarette devices during a plurality of mist suction work phases, and further comprising : Sensing a second plurality of extraction strengths and a second plurality of extraction lengths, wherein the second plurality of extraction strengths and the second plurality of extraction lengths correspond to one of the electronic cigarette devices during the plurality of mist suction work phases Second steam extraction; Determine a second historical extraction intensity from the second plurality of sensed extraction intensity; Determine a second historical extraction length from the second plurality of sensed extraction lengths; and Determine a second heating profile for the heating element for the electronic cigarette device based on the second historical extraction intensity and the second historical extraction length; and The electric power provided to the heating element is adjusted according to the second heating profile. The method of claim 34, wherein the step of adjusting the electric power provided to the heating element according to the heating profile is performed during a first extraction period of one of the new mist suction work phases, and wherein according to the second heating profile The step of adjusting the power supplied to the heating element is performed during a second extraction period of one of the new mist suction work phases. The method of claim 35, further comprising determining additional heating profiles for the heating element of the electronic cigarette device, each of the additional heating profiles based on the additional historical extraction intensity and the additional historical extraction length, the additional Each of the historical extraction intensities is determined corresponding to the plurality of sensed extraction intensities extracted from one of the e-cigarette devices during the plurality of mist suction work phases, and each of the additional historical extraction lengths is determined by A plurality of sensed extraction lengths corresponding to the extra steam extracted from one of the electronic cigarette devices during the plurality of mist suction working phases are determined. The method of claim 36, wherein the heating profile, the second heating profile, and the additional heating profiles are each determined based on a heating mode selected for use in the electronic cigarette device, wherein the heating profile is selected for use in The heating mode of the electronic cigarette device includes at least one of an efficiency mode, an efficiency mode, and a decarboxylation mode. The method of item 37, wherein a different heating mode can be selected for each of the heating profile, the second heating profile, and the additional heating profiles. The method of any one of claims 29 to 38, wherein the heating profile is determined based on a second heating mode selected for use in the electronic cigarette device, wherein the heating profile is selected for use in the electronic cigarette device. The second heating mode includes at least one of an efficiency mode, an efficiency mode, and a decarboxylation mode, wherein the first heating mode corresponds to a first time period of the heating profile, and wherein the second heating mode corresponds to the Heat one of the profiles for a second time period. The method of any one of claims 28 to 39, wherein the history extraction intensity, the history extraction length, and the heating profile are determined by an application on a computing device separate from the electronic cigarette device, and The heating profile is sent to a processor of the electronic cigarette device, and the processor is configured to send an instruction to a power source to adjust the power provided to the heating element. A cassette for evaporating a payload including one of dry materials, the cassette comprising: A shell defining an inner chamber, wherein the shell includes an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inner chamber is accessible through an opening in the shell, and wherein at least a portion of the shell is configured to be removably Cover and open the opening; and A heating element is positioned in the inner cavity. The cartridge of claim 41, further comprising: a payload holding surface positioned within the interior cavity; and a biasing mechanism that engages a portion of the housing and is configured to bear against the payload holding surface. Includes one of the dry material payload offsets. The cassette of any of claims 41 to 42, wherein the housing includes a threaded connector configured to couple the cassette to a control assembly. The cartridge of any of claims 41 to 43, further comprising a suction nozzle coupled to or forming with the housing, wherein the suction nozzle includes an internal passage in fluid communication with the outlet of the housing. The cassette of any one of claims 41 to 44, wherein the housing includes a plurality of walls, the plurality of walls including a first end wall and a second end wall, and a first end wall and a second end wall coupled to the first end wall and the second end wall. A side wall, wherein at least one of the first end wall and the second end wall is removably coupled to the side wall, and wherein the at least one of the first end wall and the second end wall is coupled to the The side wall covers the opening. The cartridge of claim 45, wherein the heating element extends across at least a portion of the inner chamber, wherein the heating element includes a payload holding surface, wherein a biasing mechanism positioned within the inner chamber engages one of the walls One of these is configured to bias a payload including a dry material into direct connection with the payload holding surface of the heating element. The box of any one of claims 45 to 46, wherein the side wall includes an outer side wall, and wherein the plurality of walls further include an inner side wall coupled to the first end wall and spaced from the outer side wall. The cartridge of claim 47, wherein the inner chamber comprises an inlet chamber positioned between the outer side wall and the inner side wall, an evaporation chamber defined by the inner side wall and one of the outer chambers defined by the outer side wall A mixing chamber, wherein the inlet chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet, and wherein the mixing chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet chamber, the evaporation chamber, and the outlet. The cartridge of claim 48, wherein the heating element is positioned within the evaporation chamber, and wherein the biasing mechanism is configured to bias a payload including a dry material into the evaporation chamber. The box of claim 45, further comprising a divider coupled to at least one of the first end wall and the second end wall, wherein the divider is positioned in the inner cavity, and wherein the divider and the The side walls are spaced apart. The cartridge of claim 50, wherein the partition defines an inlet chamber and an evaporation chamber separated from the inlet chamber by a partition panel, wherein the inlet chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet, and wherein the evaporation chamber The chamber is in fluid communication with the outlet. The cassette of claim 51, wherein the heating element is positioned in the inlet chamber, wherein the partition includes a payload holding surface positioned in the evaporation chamber, and wherein a biasing mechanism positioned in the evaporation chamber is engaged One of the walls is partially and configured to bias the payload including a dry material against the payload holding surface. The cartridge of any one of claims 50 to 52, wherein the partition includes an inner side wall extending from adjacent to the first end wall to adjacent to the second end wall, wherein an outer chamber is positioned in the partition. Between the inner wall and the side wall, wherein the inner wall defines at least a first opening for placing the inlet chamber in fluid communication with the outer chamber, and wherein the inner wall defines the evaporation chamber for placing the evaporation chamber in communication with the outer The chamber is in fluid communication with at least one second opening. The cassette according to any one of claims 41 to 53, wherein the heating element includes at least a first wall and a second wall, and the first wall and the second wall are defined and positioned on the first wall and the second wall. A heating chamber therebetween, wherein the heating chamber is accessible through a first opening and a second opening of the heating element. The cartridge of claim 54, wherein a plurality of ventilation holes extend through the first wall and the second wall of the heating element, and wherein the ventilation holes are in fluid communication with the heating chamber. The cassette of any one of claims 54 to 55, wherein a groove or pattern is formed in each of the first wall and the second wall adjacent to the heating chamber. The cartridge of any one of claims 54 to 56, wherein the first wall and the second wall of the heating element include a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic, aluminum, and stainless steel. The cartridge of any one of claims 54 to 57, wherein the first wall and the second wall of the heating element include a metal heating coil enclosed in a ceramic. An ingot for use with a box for evaporative drying material, comprising: The dried material is pressed into a shape including at least a first surface and a second surface positioned opposite to the first surface, wherein at least one recess is formed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface in. The ingot of claim 59, wherein the shape includes at least one side wall adjacent to the at least one recess, and wherein a protrusion extends outward from the at least one side wall into a portion of the at least one recess. The ingot of any one of claims 59 to 60, wherein a hole extends from the first surface through the shape to the second surface. The ingot of claim 61, wherein the hole is in fluid communication with the recess. The ingot of claim 62, wherein the at least one recess includes a first recess formed on the first surface and a second recess formed on the second surface, and wherein the hole and the first recess and the The second recess is in fluid communication. The ingot of claim 63, further comprising an extra dry material pressed into a second shape including at least a third surface and a fourth surface positioned opposite to the third surface, wherein at least one third recess is formed In at least one of the third surface and the fourth surface, a second hole extends from the third surface through the second shape to the fourth surface, wherein the second hole and the third recess In fluid communication, and wherein one of the third surface and the fourth surface is coupled to one of the first surface and the second surface, the hole and the second hole are in fluid communication with each other. The ingot of claim 64, wherein one of the third surface and the fourth surface is permanently laminated to one of the first surface and the second surface. The ingot of any one of claims 59 to 65, wherein the dry material is selected from the group consisting of cannabis, tobacco, hemp plants and cannabinoids. An ingot for use with a box for evaporative drying material, comprising: The drying material is pressed into a shape including at least a first surface and a second surface positioned opposite to the first surface, wherein a heating element is coupled to the drying material. The ingot of claim 67, wherein the heating element is coupled to at least one of the first surface and the second surface. The ingot of claim 68, wherein the shape includes at least one side surface extending from the first surface to the second surface, and wherein the heating element is coupled to the at least one side surface. The ingot of any one of claims 67 to 69, further comprising an extra dry material pressed into a second shape including at least a third surface and a fourth surface positioned opposite to the third surface, wherein The second surface is coupled to the third surface such that the heating element is positioned between the second surface and the third surface. The ingot of any one of claims 67 to 70, wherein the shape includes an alignment structure configured to align the shape in a box with a specific orientation such that the heating element and the box One of the electrical terminals is in electrical contact. A method of using an electronic cigarette device to evaporate an ingot of pressed and dried material, the method comprising: Inserting the ingot into an inner chamber of the electronic cigarette device through an opening in the electronic cigarette device; Activating a heating element of the electronic cigarette device to evaporate a portion of the ingot into ingot steam; and Inhale at least a portion of the ingot vapor. The method of claim 72, further comprising inserting a second ingot through the opening in the electronic cigarette device such that the second ingot abuts the ingot. The method of claim 73, wherein the ingot includes a first hole extending through the ingot, and wherein the second ingot includes a second hole extending through the second ingot, and wherein the second ingot abuts the The ingot places the first hole in fluid communication with the second hole. The method of claim 74, wherein the step of extracting air includes extracting air through the first hole and the second hole. The method of any one of claims 72 to 75, wherein the ingot is placed adjacent to the heating element such that the ingot is heated by conduction. The method of any one of claims 72 to 76, wherein the heating element heats the air drawn to contact the ingot to heat the ingot by convection. A method of manufacturing an ingot for use with a box for evaporative drying materials, the method comprising: Provide a dry material; Measuring a percentage of a component of the dried material; Determine the desired amount of one of the components; Determine a desired thickness corresponding to the desired amount of the component; and The dried material is pressed into an ingot having the desired thickness to contain the component in the desired amount. The method of claim 78, wherein the dry material is cannabis and the component is at least one cannabinoid. The method of any one of claims 78 to 79, further comprising modifying an ingot press to compact the ingot to the desired thickness. The method of any one of claims 78 to 80, further comprising: Provide additional dry material; Measuring a second percentage of a second component of the additional dry material; Determining a desired ratio between the first percentage and the second percentage; Mixing the dry material with the additional dry material to form a combined dry material containing the desired ratio of the first percentage and the second percentage; and The step of pressing the dry material further includes pressing the combined dry material into the ingot having the desired thickness. An ingot manufactured according to the method of any one of claims 78 to 81. A method of manufacturing an ingot for use with a box for evaporative drying materials, the method comprising: Providing a first dry material; Measuring a first percentage of a first component of the first dry material; Providing a second dry material; Measuring a second percentage of a second component of the second dry material; Determine a desired ratio of the first percentage to the second percentage; and An ingot is formed containing the desired ratio of the first percentage and the second percentage. The method of claim 83, further comprising: Mixing the first dry material and the second dry material to form a combined dry material containing one of the desired ratio of the first percentage and the second percentage; and The combined dried material is pressed into the ingot containing the desired ratio of the first percentage and the second percentage. The method of claim 83, further comprising: Compressing the first dry material into a first ingot; Pressing the second dry material into a second ingot; and The first ingot and the second ingot are combined into the ingot containing the desired ratio of the first percentage and the second percentage. The method of claim 85, further comprising: Determine the desired amount of one of the first components; Determining a first thickness of the first ingot corresponding to the desired amount of the first component, wherein the first ingot is formed into the first thickness; Determine the desired amount of one of the second components; and A second thickness of one of the second ingots corresponding to the desired amount of the second component is determined, wherein the second ingot is formed to the second thickness. An ingot manufactured according to the method of any one of claims 83 to 86. A cassette for an electronic cigarette device includes: A housing defining a payload reservoir, an inlet, an outlet, and an air flow chamber positioned between the inlet and the outlet; An atomizer positioned within the housing, wherein the atomizer is in fluid communication with the payload reservoir; and A deflector is positioned between the atomizer and the outlet in the air flow chamber, wherein the deflector includes a plurality of holes. The box of claim 88, wherein the deflector is substantially flat. The cartridge of claim 88, wherein the deflector includes a side wall, and wherein the side wall defines a deflector chamber. The cartridge of claim 90, wherein at least a portion of the side wall is cylindrical. The box of claim 91, wherein one end of the side wall is shaped as a truncated cone extending outwardly from the cylindrical portion of the side wall, wherein the diameter of the frustoconical shape of the side wall extends away from the side wall The cylindrical portion is enlarged. The cartridge of claim 90, wherein the atomizer includes an outer side wall and an inner side wall defining an atomizer chamber. The cartridge of claim 93, wherein at least a portion of the deflector is positioned within the atomizer chamber. The box of claim 94, wherein at least a portion of the side wall of the deflector is cylindrical, and one end of the side wall of the deflector is shaped to extend outwardly from the cylindrical portion of the side wall of the deflector A frusto-conical shape, wherein the diameter of the frusto-conical shape of the side wall increases as it extends away from the cylindrical portion of the side wall, and wherein the frusto-conical shape of the side wall is not positioned on the cylindrical atomizer Chamber. The cartridge of any one of claims 88 to 95, wherein the housing includes an outer side wall and an inner side wall spaced from the outer side wall, wherein the payload reservoir is positioned between the outer side wall and the inner side wall Wherein the inner wall is positioned around at least a portion of the air flow chamber, and wherein the inner wall is positioned around at least a portion of the atomizer. The cassette of claim 96, wherein an opening is formed in the inner side wall of the housing adjacent to the atomizer to place the atomizer in fluid communication with the payload reservoir. As in claim 97, each of the openings includes an elongated slot extending in a direction aligned with a longitudinal axis of the housing. As in the cassette of any one of claims 97 to 98, a partition is positioned in the air flow chamber, wherein the partition divides the air flow chamber into an inlet flow chamber and an outlet flow chamber. The cartridge of claim 99, wherein the inlet extends through the outer side wall of the housing and is in fluid communication with the inlet flow chamber, wherein the outlet is in fluid communication with the outlet flow chamber, and wherein the inlet flow chamber is attached to It is in fluid communication with the outlet flow chamber at a location adjacent to the atomizer. The cassette of any one of claims 96 to 100, wherein the housing includes a first section and a second section that removably engages one of the first sections, wherein the first section includes the housing At least a portion of the outer sidewall, and wherein the second section includes at least a portion of the inner sidewall of the housing. The cartridge of any of claims 88 to 101, wherein the housing includes a threaded connector configured to couple the housing to a control assembly. The cassette of any of claims 88 to 102, wherein the payload reservoir contains a fluid payload comprising at least one of nicotine, cannabis, cannabinoids, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, or vegetable glycerin. The cassette of any one of claims 88 to 103, wherein the atomizer comprises a porous ceramic surrounding a heating element. The cassette of any one of claims 88 to 104, wherein the deflector comprises an oleophobic coating, a hydrophobic coating, a hydrophilic coating, or a low surface energy coating. The cassette of any of claims 88 to 105, wherein the deflector comprises a micro-patterned surface configured to be hydrophobic. A cartridge as claimed in any of claims 88 to 106, wherein the deflector is configured to inhibit an unevaporated fluid from exiting the outlet. A cassette for an electronic cigarette device includes: A casing including a first end and a second end, wherein the casing defines a payload reservoir, an inlet positioned adjacent to the first end, an outlet positioned adjacent to the first end, and An air flow chamber positioned between the inlet and the outlet; and An atomizer is positioned within the housing, wherein the atomizer is in fluid communication with the payload reservoir and the air flow chamber. As in the case of claim 108, a partition is positioned in the air flow chamber, wherein the partition divides the air flow chamber into an inlet flow chamber and an outlet flow chamber. The cartridge of claim 109, wherein the inlet flow chamber is in fluid communication with the outlet flow chamber at a location adjacent to the atomizer. The cartridge of any one of claims 108 to 110, wherein the atomizer is positioned adjacent to the second end. The cartridge of any one of claims 109 to 111, wherein the housing includes an outer side wall, a first end wall at the first end and a second end wall at the second end, wherein the inlet Extending through the outer sidewall of the housing and in fluid communication with the inlet flow chamber, wherein the outlet extends through the first end wall and is in fluid communication with the outlet flow chamber. The cartridge of claim 110, wherein the atomizer includes a first end facing the first end of the housing, and wherein the atomizer includes a second end facing the second end of the housing. As in the box of claim 113, wherein the partition is spaced from the first end of the atomizer, and wherein the inlet flow chamber is adjacent to the atomizer in a space between the partition and the atomizer The first end is in fluid communication with the outlet flow chamber. The cartridge of claim 113, wherein the inlet flow chamber extends from the inlet through the first end of the atomizer to the second end of the atomizer. The cartridge of claim 115, wherein the atomizer includes an outer side wall and an inner side wall defining an atomizer chamber. The cartridge of claim 116, wherein the inlet flow chamber is adjacent to the second end of the atomizer and is in fluid communication with the atomizer chamber, and wherein the outlet flow chamber is adjacent to the first of the atomizer End in fluid communication with the atomizer chamber. If the cartridge of claim 117, wherein the atomizer defines at least one channel extending from the first end of the atomizer to the second end of the atomizer, and wherein the at least one channel defines the inlet flow cavity Part of the room. The cartridge of claim 118, wherein the atomizer is formed of a porous material and a non-porous material is coupled to the portion of the atomizer surrounding the at least one channel. The box of claim 119, wherein the non-porous material is a coating, glaze or sheet of material. As in the case of claim 118, wherein the housing further includes an inner side wall spaced from the outer side wall, wherein the payload reservoir is positioned between the outer side wall and the inner side wall, and wherein the inner side wall is positioned at Around the atomizer, the inlet flow chamber, and at least a portion of the outlet flow chamber. The cartridge of claim 121, wherein an opening is formed in the inner side wall of the housing adjacent to the atomizer to place the atomizer in fluid communication with the payload reservoir. The cartridge of claim 122, wherein the openings formed in the inner side wall of the housing are offset from the at least one channel defined by the atomizer. The cartridge of any one of claims 118 to 123, wherein the at least one channel is positioned between the outer side wall and the inner side wall of the atomizer. The cassette of any of claims 118 to 123, wherein the at least one channel is positioned between the atomizer and the inner side wall of the housing. The cassette of any of claims 122 to 125, wherein each of the openings includes an elongated slot extending in a direction aligned with a longitudinal axis of the housing. As in the cartridge of any one of claims 121 to 126, a seal is positioned between the inner side wall and the outer side wall and is adjacent to the second end of the atomizer. The cassette of any one of claims 121 to 127, wherein the housing includes a first section and a second section removably engaged with one of the first sections, wherein the first section includes the housing At least a portion of the outer sidewall, and wherein the second section includes at least a portion of the inner sidewall of the housing. The cartridge of any of claims 108 to 128, wherein the housing includes a threaded connector configured to couple the housing to a control assembly. The cassette of any of claims 108 to 129, wherein the payload reservoir contains a fluid payload comprising at least one of nicotine, cannabis, cannabinoids, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, or vegetable glycerin. The cartridge of any of claims 108 to 130, wherein the atomizer comprises a porous ceramic surrounding a heating element. A cassette for an electronic cigarette device includes: An outer shell including an outer side wall and an inner side wall spaced from the outer side wall, wherein the outer shell defines a payload reservoir positioned between the inner side wall and the outer side wall, wherein a plurality of elongated slots Formed in the inner side wall, wherein the housing defines an inlet, an outlet, and an air flow chamber positioned between the inlet and the outlet; and An atomizer positioned in a cavity defined by the inner side wall, wherein the plurality of elongated slots place the atomizer in fluid communication with the payload reservoir, and wherein the atomizer In fluid communication with the air flow chamber. The box of claim 132, wherein the shell includes a first end and a second end, wherein a longitudinal axis of the shell extends from the first end to the second end, and wherein the plurality of elongated slots Each extends in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis of the housing. The box of any one of claims 132 to 133, wherein the plurality of elongated slots are spaced approximately equidistant from each other around the inner side wall. The cassette of any one of claims 132 to 134, wherein each of the plurality of elongated slots is spaced from each other by a pair of linear side edges and each positioned at one of the ends of the elongated slot Defining the opposite edge. If the box of item 135 is requested, each of the opposite edges is rounded. The cassette of any of claims 135 to 136, wherein each of the pair of linear side edges and each of the pair of end edges are coated with an oleophobic coating, a hydrophobic coating, a hydrophilic coating, or a low surface Can be coated. The cartridge of any one of claims 132 to 137, wherein an outer surface of the atomizer is coated with an oleophobic coating, a hydrophobic coating, a hydrophilic coating, or a low surface energy coating. The cartridge of any of claims 132 to 138, wherein the atomizer includes an outer side wall and an inner side wall defining an atomizer chamber. The cartridge of any of claims 132 to 139, wherein the atomizer comprises a porous ceramic surrounding a heating element. The cassette of any of claims 132 to 140, wherein the payload reservoir contains a fluid payload comprising at least one of nicotine, cannabis, cannabinoids, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, or vegetable glycerin. The cassette of any of claims 132 to 141, wherein the housing includes a threaded connector configured to couple the housing to a control assembly. An electronic cigarette device comprising any one of the boxes of claims 88 to 142. The electronic cigarette device of claim 143, wherein the electronic cigarette device includes a control assembly, and wherein the cassette is integrated with the control assembly or configured to be removably attached to the control assembly. A cassette for an electronic cigarette device includes: A housing that defines a payload reservoir; An atomizer positioned within the housing; and A pressurizer is positioned within the housing, wherein the pressurizer is configured to apply pressure to a fluid payload within the payload reservoir to force the fluid payload into contact with the atomizer. As in the case of claim 145, wherein the pressurizer is positioned adjacent to the payload reservoir, wherein the pressurizer is biased toward the payload reservoir, and wherein the pressurizer is movable within the housing To reduce and expand the size of the payload reservoir. The cartridge of any of claims 145 to 146, wherein the pressurizer comprises a first side and a second side positioned adjacent to the payload reservoir. The cassette of any of claims 145 to 147, wherein the atomizer is placed in fluid communication with the payload reservoir through an opening in the pressurizer. The cartridge of claim 148, wherein the opening is sized based on a viscosity of a fluid payload contained in the payload reservoir. The cartridge of any one of claims 145 to 149, wherein the housing includes an outer side wall, a first end wall, and a second end wall, and wherein the payload reservoir is positioned on the outer side wall and the first end Between the wall and the presser, and wherein an outer peripheral edge of one of the pressers engages the outer side wall. As in the case of claim 150, a stopper is positioned within the housing, wherein the stopper is configured to prevent the pressurizer from moving toward the first end wall, and wherein the stopper is movable to allow The pressurizer moves toward the first end wall. The box of claim 151, further comprising a dose ring that can be screwably engaged with the stopper, and wherein the rotation of the stopper is blocked such that the rotation of the dose ring causes the stopper to move toward or Away from the first end wall. The cartridge of claim 152, wherein at least one of the dose ring or the housing includes a dose indicator corresponding to an amount of a fluid payload contained in the payload reservoir. The cartridge of claim 153, wherein the dose indicator includes a plurality of marks on at least one of the dose ring or the housing adjacent the dose ring. A cartridge as claimed in any of claims 153 to 154, wherein the dose indicator comprises a detent mechanism. The cartridge of any of claims 151 to 155, wherein the pressurizer includes a pressure plate positioned adjacent to the payload reservoir, wherein the pressurizer includes a pressure plate coupled to the pressure plate and extending toward the first A tube of two end walls, wherein the pressurizer includes a flange coupled to the tube, and wherein the stopper is positioned between the pressure plate and the flange. As in the box of claim 156, wherein the stopper is configured to engage the flange to prevent the presser from moving toward the first end wall, and wherein the stopper is movable away from the flange to allow the brake The press moves toward the first end wall. The cassette of any one of claims 156 to 157, further comprising a spring biasing the pressure plate toward the first end wall and biasing the flange toward the stopper. The cartridge of any of claims 157 to 158, wherein the pressurizer defines an inlet flow chamber and an outlet flow chamber, and wherein the outer side wall of the housing defines one of the positioned adjacent to the second end wall An inlet, wherein the second end wall of the housing defines an outlet, wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with the inlet flow chamber when the stopper does not engage the flange, wherein when the stopper engages the flange, the inlet The inlet is not in fluid communication with the inlet flow chamber, and wherein the outlet is in fluid communication with the outlet flow chamber. If the cartridge of any one of claims 156 to 158, wherein the atomizer is positioned in the tube of the pressurizer and adjacent to the pressure plate, a partition is positioned in the tube and one of the tubes is positioned The inner chamber is divided into an inlet flow chamber and an outlet flow chamber. As in the box of claim 160, wherein the outer side wall of the enclosure defines an inlet positioned adjacent to the second end wall, wherein the second end wall of the enclosure defines an outlet, wherein the inlet and the inlet flow chamber In fluid communication, and wherein the outlet is in fluid communication with the outlet flow chamber. The cartridge of claim 146, wherein the housing includes an outer side wall, a first end wall, and a second end wall, wherein the payload reservoir is positioned on the outer side wall, the first end wall, and the pressurizer. Between, and wherein an outer peripheral edge of the presser engages the outer sidewall. The cartridge of claim 162, further comprising a stop coupled to the pressurizer, wherein the stop is biased toward the first end wall, wherein the stop includes a stop configured to engage the first An end surface of an end wall, an opening formed in the end surface of the stopper, and wherein when the end surface of the stopper does not engage the first end wall, the atomizer passes through the opening and the effective The load reservoir is in fluid communication. As in the case of claim 163, wherein the stopper is screwably coupled to the pressure device, and wherein the rotational movement of the stopper is blocked such that the movement of the pressure device toward the first end wall is blocked. When blocking, the rotation of the pressure device in a first direction causes the end surface of the stopper to move away from the first end wall. The cartridge of claim 164, further comprising engaging a dose ring of the pressure device, wherein rotation of the dose ring causes rotation of the pressure device. The cartridge of claim 165, wherein at least one of the dose ring or the housing includes a dose indicator corresponding to an amount of a fluid payload contained in the payload reservoir. The cartridge of claim 166, wherein the dose indicator includes a plurality of markings on at least one of the dose ring or the housing adjacent the dose ring. A cartridge as claimed in any of claims 166 to 167, wherein the dose indicator comprises a detent mechanism. The cartridge of any one of claims 164 to 168, wherein the housing includes a center post extending from the payload end adjacent to the second end wall to the payload receptacle, wherein the center post is positioned at Within the opening of the stopper, one of the channels extends through the central post. As in the box of claim 169, wherein the atomizer is positioned in the channel. The cartridge of claim 169, wherein the atomizer is positioned adjacent the first end wall. If the cartridge of any one of claims 169 to 171, a partition is positioned in the channel of the center column, and wherein the partition divides the channel of the center column into an inlet flow chamber and an outlet flow chamber room. As in the box of claim 172, wherein the outer side wall of the housing defines an inlet positioned adjacent to the second end wall, wherein the second end wall of the housing defines an outlet, wherein the inlet and the inlet flow chamber In fluid communication, and wherein the outlet is in fluid communication with the outlet flow chamber. The cartridge of any one of claims 172 to 173, wherein the partition is spaced from the atomizer in the channel of the center column. The cartridge of any of claims 163 to 174, wherein the pressurizer includes an inner surface that engages an outer surface of the stopper. The cartridge of any of claims 163 to 175, further comprising a spring biasing the pressurizer and the stopper toward the first end wall. As in the case of any one of claims 145 to 150, a stopper is positioned within the housing, wherein the stopper is configured to prevent a fluid payload from flowing when the stopper is in an on position. The payload reservoir flows to the atomizer, and wherein the stopper is movable to allow a fluid payload to flow from the payload reservoir to the atomizer. As in the case of any of claims 145 to 157, a spring biases the pressurizer toward the payload reservoir. The cartridge of any of claims 145 to 178, further comprising a heater positioned adjacent to the payload receptacle, configured to heat a fluid payload within the payload receptacle. The cassette of any of claims 145 to 179, wherein the atomizer comprises a porous ceramic surrounding a heating element. The cassette of any of claims 145 to 180, wherein the payload reservoir contains a fluid payload comprising at least one of nicotine, cannabis, cannabinoids, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, or vegetable glycerin. The cartridge of any of claims 145 to 181, wherein the housing includes a threaded connector configured to couple the housing to a control assembly. An electronic cigarette device including any one of the boxes of claims 145 to 182. The electronic cigarette device of claim 183, wherein the electronic cigarette device includes a control assembly, and wherein the cassette is integrated with the control assembly or configured to be removably attached to the control assembly. An electronic cigarette device includes: A casing comprising a first end and a second end, wherein a longitudinal axis of the casing extends between the first end and the second end; An atomizer positioned in the housing; and A payload receptacle positioned in the housing, wherein the payload receptacle is at least partially adjacent to a first end and a second end of the atomizer by positioning A side wall is defined, wherein when the housing is positioned such that the longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal, the side wall of the receptacle faces the atomizer from the second end of the side wall of the receptacle to the first end of the side wall of the receptacle. tilt. The electronic cigarette device of claim 185, wherein the electronic cigarette device is configured such that the housing orientates itself in a predetermined position when the housing is placed on a substantially horizontal surface and the longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal, and wherein When the electronic cigarette device is oriented in the predetermined position, the side wall of the receptacle is inclined downward from the second end of the side wall of the receptacle to the first end of the side wall of the receptacle toward the atomizer. The electronic cigarette device of claim 186, wherein a weight of the electronic cigarette device and a center of mass of the electronic cigarette device cause the housing to orient itself in the predetermined position when the housing is placed on a substantially horizontal surface. The electronic cigarette device of claim 185, wherein the housing includes a substantially flat surface extending in the same direction as the longitudinal axis, and wherein the electronic cigarette device is oriented such that the longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal and the substantially When the flat surface faces downward, the side wall of the receptacle is inclined downward from the second end of the side wall of the receptacle to the first end of the side wall of the receptacle toward the atomizer. The electronic cigarette device of claim 188, wherein the substantially flat surface includes a first side edge and a second side edge, and wherein the housing includes a side wall extending from the first side edge to the second side edge. The electronic cigarette device of claim 189, wherein the side wall of the housing includes a substantially circular cross section. The electronic cigarette device of claim 189, wherein the side wall of the housing includes a substantially oval cross section. The electronic cigarette device of any of claims 188 to 191, wherein the housing includes a viewing port positioned adjacent to the payload reservoir, and wherein the viewing port is positioned between the housing and the substantially flat surface On the opposite part. The electronic cigarette device according to any one of claims 185 to 192, wherein the side wall of the receptacle is shaped into a truncated oblique cone. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 185 to 191 or 193, wherein the housing includes a viewing port positioned adjacent to the payload reservoir. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 185 to 194, wherein the casing defines an inlet, an outlet positioned adjacent to the second end of the casing, and an air flow positioned between the inlet and the outlet Chamber. The electronic cigarette device of claim 195, wherein the inlet is positioned adjacent to the first end of the housing. The electronic cigarette device of claim 195, wherein the inlet is positioned adjacent to the second end of the housing. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 195 to 197, further comprising a tray positioned in the housing, wherein the air flow chamber includes an inlet flow chamber located between the tray and the housing. The electronic cigarette device of claim 198, wherein the tray includes a first side and a second side positioned adjacent to the housing, and wherein a flexible circuit board is positioned in a recess defined by the tray. Adjacent to the second side of the tray, and wherein the inlet flow chamber is positioned between the first side of the tray and the housing. The electronic cigarette device of claim 199, further comprising a battery positioned in the recess defined by the tray, wherein the flexible circuit board is positioned between the battery and the tray. The electronic cigarette device according to any one of claims 199 to 200, wherein the tray includes a first section defining a recess and a second section including a side wall of the receptacle. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 199 to 201, wherein at least one opening extends from the first side of the tray through the tray to the second side of the tray, wherein the opening is positioned adjacent to the Atomizer, and wherein the opening places the inlet flow chamber in fluid communication with the atomizer. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 201 to 202, wherein the air flow chamber includes an outlet flow chamber in fluid communication with the atomizer and the outlet, and wherein the outlet flow chamber is positioned on the tray Between the second section and the casing. The electronic cigarette device according to any one of claims 195 to 203, wherein the housing includes a side wall, a first end wall at the first end and a second end wall at the second end, and wherein The outlet extends through the second end wall. The electronic cigarette device of claim 204, wherein the payload receptacle is further defined by a receptacle end wall positioned adjacent to the second end wall of the housing, wherein a receptacle opening is formed in the receptacle A collector end wall, and wherein the reservoir opening is spaced from the outlet in a direction substantially perpendicular to one of the longitudinal axes of the housing. The electronic cigarette device of claim 205, further comprising a plug received through the receptacle opening. The electronic cigarette device of claim 206, wherein the plug is tamper-resistant. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 185 to 207, wherein a payload is contained in the payload reservoir, and wherein the atomizer is configured to heat and evaporate the payload to produce an evaporative effective load. The electronic cigarette device of claim 208, further comprising a steam measurement system configured to determine a dose of the evaporated payload through a measurement chamber of the steam measurement system. The electronic cigarette device of claim 209, further comprising a wireless transceiver configured to receive the dose from the steam measurement system and transmit the dose to a separate computing device. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 208 to 210, further comprising an RFID tag positioned in the housing, wherein the RFID tag stores a unique payload identifier. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 185 to 211, further comprising a valve positioned between the payload reservoir and the atomizer. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 185 to 212, further comprising a processor positioned in the casing, a tactile motor positioned in the casing, a battery positioned in the casing, and One of the pressure sensors in the housing. The electronic cigarette device of claim 213, wherein the processor is programmed to activate the haptic motor when a pressure sensed by the pressure sensor drops below a pressure threshold for a predetermined amount of time. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 185 to 212, wherein the housing is configured to be coupled to a control assembly including a battery and a processor. An electronic cigarette device includes: A casing includes a first end and a second end, wherein a longitudinal axis of the casing extends between the first end and the second end, and the electronic cigarette device is configured so that the electronic cigarette device is placed on the casing. The housing orientates itself in a predetermined position on a substantially horizontal surface and the longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal. The electronic cigarette device of claim 216, wherein a weight of the electronic cigarette device and a center of mass of the electronic cigarette device cause the housing to orient itself in the predetermined position when the housing is placed on a substantially horizontal surface. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 216 to 217, wherein the housing includes a substantially flat surface extending in the same direction as the longitudinal axis. The electronic cigarette device of claim 218, wherein the substantially flat surface includes a first side edge and a second side edge, and wherein the housing includes a side wall extending from the first side edge to the second side edge. The electronic cigarette device of claim 219, wherein the side wall of the housing includes a substantially circular cross section. The electronic cigarette device of claim 219, wherein the side wall of the housing includes a substantially oval cross-section. An electronic cigarette device includes: A casing includes a first end and a second end, wherein a longitudinal axis of the casing extends between the first end and the second end, wherein the casing defines an inlet and is positioned adjacent to the casing. An outlet at the second end and an air flow chamber positioned between the inlet and the outlet; A tray positioned in the housing, wherein the tray includes a first section defining a recess and a second section defining a payload reservoir positioned adjacent to the second end of the housing, The tray includes a first side and a second side positioned adjacent to the casing; An atomizer positioned in the housing, wherein the atomizer is in fluid communication with the payload reservoir; and A flexible circuit board is positioned adjacent to the second side of the tray in the recess defined by the tray. The electronic cigarette device of claim 222, wherein the inlet is positioned adjacent to the first end of the housing, and wherein the air flow chamber includes an inlet flow positioned between the first side of the tray and the housing Chamber. The electronic cigarette device of claim 223, wherein at least one opening extends from the first side of the tray through the tray to the second side of the tray, wherein the opening is positioned adjacent to the atomizer, and wherein The opening places the inlet flow chamber in fluid communication with the atomizer. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 222 to 224, wherein the air flow chamber includes an outlet flow chamber in fluid communication with the atomizer and the outlet, and wherein the outlet flow chamber is positioned on the tray Between the second section and the casing. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 222 to 225, further comprising a seal positioned in the housing adjacent to the atomizer, wherein an electronic device recess is located in the seal, the first of the housing Between the end and the second side of the tray, wherein the flexible circuit board is positioned in the electronic device recess, and wherein the electronic device recess is not in fluid communication with the air flow chamber. The electronic cigarette device according to any one of claims 222 to 226, wherein the flexible circuit board defines a battery recess, and further includes a battery positioned in the battery recess. The electronic cigarette device of claim 222, wherein the inlet is positioned adjacent to the second end of the housing. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 222 to 228, wherein the housing includes a side wall, a first end wall at the first end, and a second end wall at the second end, and wherein The outlet extends through the second end wall. The electronic cigarette device according to any one of claims 222 to 229, wherein the tray comprises a side wall of a receptacle defining a side wall of the payload receptacle and an end wall of the receptacle, wherein the end wall of the receptacle is positioned to Adjacent to the second end of the casing. The electronic cigarette device of claim 230, wherein a receptacle opening is formed in the end wall of the receptacle, and wherein the receptacle opening is connected to the outlet in a direction substantially perpendicular to one of the longitudinal axes of the housing. interval. The electronic cigarette device of claim 231, further comprising a plug received through the receptacle opening. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 230 to 232, wherein the side wall of the receptacle includes a first end and a second end positioned adjacent to the atomizer, wherein the electronic cigarette device is configured The housing is oriented in a predetermined position when the housing is placed on a substantially horizontal surface and the longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal, and wherein the receptacle is oriented in the predetermined position when the electronic cigarette device is oriented in the predetermined position. The side wall is inclined downward from the second end of the side wall of the receptacle to the first end of the side wall of the receptacle toward the atomizer. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 230 to 232, wherein the side wall of the receptacle includes a first end and a second end positioned adjacent to the atomizer, wherein the housing includes A substantially flat surface extending in the same direction as the longitudinal axis, and wherein when the electronic cigarette device is oriented such that the longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal and the substantially flat surface faces downward, the side wall of the receptacle extends from the side wall of the receptacle The second end from the second end to the first side of the side wall of the reservoir is inclined downward toward the atomizer. The electronic cigarette device of claim 234, wherein the substantially flat surface includes a first side edge and a second side edge, and wherein the housing includes a side wall extending from the first side edge to the second side edge. The electronic cigarette device of claim 235, wherein the side wall of the housing includes a substantially circular cross section. The electronic cigarette device of claim 235, wherein the side wall of the housing includes a substantially oval cross-section. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 222 to 237, wherein a payload is contained in the payload reservoir, and wherein the atomizer is configured to heat and evaporate the payload to produce an evaporative effective load. The electronic cigarette device of claim 238, further comprising a steam measurement system configured to determine a dose of the evaporated payload through a measurement cavity of the steam measurement system. The electronic cigarette device of claim 239, further comprising a wireless transceiver configured to receive the dose from the steam measurement system and transmit the dose to a separate computing device. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 222 to 240, further comprising an RFID tag positioned in the housing, wherein the RFID tag stores a unique payload identifier. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 222 to 241, further comprising a valve positioned between the payload reservoir and the atomizer. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 222 to 242, further comprising a processor positioned in the casing, a tactile motor positioned in the casing, a battery positioned in the casing, and One of the pressure sensors in the housing. The electronic cigarette device of claim 243, wherein the processor is programmed to activate the haptic motor when a pressure detected by the pressure sensor drops below a pressure threshold for a predetermined amount of time. An electronic cigarette device includes: A housing defining an inlet, an outlet, and an air flow chamber positioned between the inlet and the outlet; An atomizer positioned in the air flow chamber, wherein the atomizer is configured to heat and vaporize a payload to produce an evaporated payload; A capacitive sensor positioned between the atomizer and the outlet in the air flow chamber, wherein the capacitive sensor defines a measurement cavity within the air flow chamber; and A sensor measurement circuit connected to the capacitive sensor, wherein the sensor measurement circuit is configured to directly or indirectly measure the capacitive sensor when the evaporated payload passes through the measurement cavity. The capacitance of one of the testers. The electronic cigarette device of claim 245, wherein the capacitive sensor includes a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor. The electronic cigarette device of claim 246, wherein the measurement cavity includes a portion of the air flow chamber between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 245 to 247, wherein the capacitive sensor includes a parallel plate capacitor. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 245 to 247, wherein the capacitive sensor includes a roll capacitor. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 245 to 247, wherein the capacitive sensor includes a finger-type capacitor. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 245 to 250, wherein the sensor measurement circuit is positioned in the air flow chamber. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 245 to 250, wherein the sensor measurement circuit is positioned outside the air flow chamber. The electronic cigarette device according to any one of claims 245 to 252, wherein the sensor measurement circuit includes a charge pump circuit for charging the capacitive sensor. The electronic cigarette device according to any one of claims 245 to 252, wherein the sensor measurement circuit comprises a resistance voltage divider circuit including a first resistor and a second switched capacitor resistor, wherein the capacitance is The tester is contained in the switched capacitor resistor. The electronic cigarette device according to any one of claims 245 to 252, wherein the sensor measurement circuit includes a phase-locked loop circuit including a voltage controlled oscillator, and the capacitive sensor is included in the voltage controlled oscillator Inside. The electronic cigarette device according to any one of claims 245 to 252, wherein the sensor measurement circuit includes an active low-pass filter circuit connected to a rectifier circuit, wherein the capacitive sensor is included in the low-pass Filter circuit. The electronic cigarette device according to any one of claims 245 to 252, wherein the sensor measurement circuit includes a crystal oscillator circuit that provides a reference signal to a phase-locked loop circuit, wherein the crystal oscillator circuit is loaded with The capacitive sensor. The electronic cigarette device according to any one of claims 245 to 252, wherein the sensor measurement circuit measures an absolute capacitance of one of the capacitive sensors. The electronic cigarette device according to any one of claims 245 to 252, wherein the sensor measurement circuit measures a change in the capacitance of the capacitive sensor. The electronic cigarette device according to any one of claims 245 to 259, wherein the measured capacitance of the capacitive sensor is adjusted according to a calibration procedure. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 245 to 260, further comprising a processor programmed to correlate the measured capacitance of the capacitive sensor with a change in a dielectric constant. The electronic cigarette device of claim 261, wherein the processor is further programmed to correlate the change in the dielectric constant with a change in a dielectric density. The electronic cigarette device of claim 262, wherein the processor is further programmed to correlate the change in the dielectric density with a dose of the evaporated payload. A method for determining a capacitance of a capacitive sensor, the method includes: Heating and evaporating a payload to produce an evaporative payload; Passing the evaporated payload through a measurement cavity defined by the capacitive sensor; and A capacitance of one of the capacitive sensors is measured when the evaporated payload passes through the measurement cavity. The method of claim 264, wherein the capacitive sensor includes a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor. The method of claim 265, wherein the measurement cavity is positioned between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor. The method of any one of claims 264 to 266, wherein the capacitive sensor comprises a parallel plate capacitor. The method of any of claims 264 to 266, wherein the capacitive sensor comprises a roll capacitor. The method of any one of claims 264 to 266, wherein the capacitive sensor comprises an interdigitated capacitor. The method of any one of claims 264 to 269, wherein the capacitance of the capacitive sensor is measured by a sensor measurement circuit. The method of claim 270, wherein the sensor measurement circuit comprises a charge pump circuit for charging the capacitive sensor. The method of claim 270, wherein the sensor measurement circuit includes a resistance voltage divider circuit including a first resistor and a second switched capacitor resistor, and wherein the capacitive sensor is included in the switched capacitor resistance Device. The method of claim 270, wherein the sensor measurement circuit comprises a phase-locked loop circuit including a voltage controlled oscillator, and wherein the capacitive sensor is included in the voltage controlled oscillator. The method of claim 270, wherein the sensor measurement circuit comprises an active low-pass filter circuit connected to a rectifier circuit, and wherein the capacitive sensor is included in the low-pass filter circuit. The method of claim 270, wherein the sensor measurement circuit includes providing a reference signal to a crystal oscillator circuit of a phase locked loop circuit, wherein the crystal oscillator circuit is loaded with the capacitive sensor. The method of claim 270, wherein the sensor measurement circuit measures an absolute capacitance of one of the capacitive sensors. The method of claim 270, wherein the sensor measurement circuit measures a change in the capacitance of the capacitive sensor. The method of any one of claims 264 to 277, further comprising adjusting the measured capacitance of the capacitive sensor according to a calibration procedure. The method of any one of claims 264 to 278, further comprising the step of correlating the measured capacitance of the capacitive sensor with a change in a dielectric constant. The method of claim 279, further comprising the step of correlating the change in the dielectric constant with a change in a dielectric density. The method of claim 280, further comprising the step of correlating the change in the dielectric density with a dose of the evaporated payload. A steam measurement system for an electronic cigarette device includes: A capacitive sensor that defines a measurement cavity; and A sensor measurement circuit connected to the capacitive sensor, wherein the sensor measurement circuit is configured to directly or indirectly measure the capacitive sensor when an evaporated payload passes through the measurement cavity. Capacitor. The steam measurement system of claim 282, wherein the capacitive sensor includes a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor. The steam measurement system of claim 283, wherein the measurement cavity is positioned between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor. The steam measurement system of any one of claims 282 to 284, wherein the capacitive sensor includes a parallel plate capacitor. The steam measurement system of any one of claims 282 to 284, wherein the capacitive sensor includes a roll capacitor. The steam measurement system of any one of claims 282 to 284, wherein the capacitive sensor comprises a finger-type capacitor. The steam measurement system of any one of claims 282 to 287, wherein the sensor measurement circuit includes a charge pump circuit for charging the capacitive sensor. The steam measurement system of any one of claims 282 to 287, wherein the sensor measurement circuit includes a resistance voltage divider circuit including a first resistor and a second switched capacitor resistor, wherein the capacitor The sensor is contained in the switched capacitor resistor. The steam measurement system according to any one of claims 282 to 287, wherein the sensor measurement circuit comprises a phase-locked loop circuit including a voltage controlled oscillator, wherein the capacitive sensor is included in the voltage controlled oscillation Device. The steam measurement system of any one of claims 282 to 287, wherein the sensor measurement circuit includes an active low-pass filter circuit connected to a rectifier circuit, wherein the capacitive sensor is included in the low Inside the pass filter circuit. The steam measurement system of any one of claims 282 to 287, wherein the sensor measurement circuit includes a crystal oscillator circuit that provides a reference signal to a phase locked loop circuit, wherein the crystal oscillator circuit is loaded There is this capacitive sensor. The steam measurement system of any one of claims 282 to 287, wherein the sensor measurement circuit measures an absolute capacitance of one of the capacitive sensors. The steam measurement system of any one of claims 282 to 287, wherein the sensor measurement circuit measures a change in the capacitance of the capacitive sensor. The steam measurement system of any one of claims 282 to 294, wherein the measured capacitance of the capacitive sensor is adjusted according to a calibration procedure. The steam measurement system of any one of claims 282 to 295, further comprising a processor programmed to correlate the measured capacitance of the capacitive sensor with a change in a dielectric constant. The steam measurement system of claim 296, wherein the processor is further programmed to correlate the change in the dielectric constant with a change in a dielectric density. The steam measurement system of claim 297, wherein the processor is further programmed to correlate the change in the dielectric density with a dose of the evaporated payload. An electronic cigarette device includes: A control assembly including a power source and a reader; A cassette containing a heating element and an electronic memory configured to store data; and A two-conductor electrical interface configured to (a) transmit a power signal from the power source to the heating element and (b) transmit a data signal from the electronic memory to the reader. The electronic cigarette device of claim 299, wherein the dual-conductor electrical interface is provided by an electromechanical connection. The electronic cigarette device of claim 300, wherein the electromechanical connection comprises a first connector coupled to a second connector, wherein the first connector is provided as part of the control assembly, and wherein the second connection The device is provided as part of the box. The electronic cigarette device of claim 301, wherein the first connector includes a first housing spaced from a first center pin, and the second connector includes a second housing spaced from a second center pin. And when the first connector is coupled to the second connector, the first housing contacts the second housing and the first center pin contacts the second center pin. The electronic cigarette device according to any one of claims 299 to 302, wherein the power source includes a battery, and wherein the power signal includes a DC or a pulsed DC. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 299 to 303, wherein the reader comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, wherein the electronic memory comprises an RFID tag configured to store the data in the cassette, and The data signal includes a modulated signal that encodes the box data. The electronic cigarette device of claim 304, wherein the box data includes information about the payload contained in one of the box's payload receptacles, information about the manufacture of the box, and recommendations for use in the evaporation card Information on one or more operational settings of the payload contained in the payload reservoir of the box, information on achieving authenticity verification of the box, information on software or hardware contained in the box, and At least one of information about one of the intended users of the box. The electronic cigarette device of claim 304 or 305, wherein the RFID tag is configured to generate the data signal. The electronic cigarette device of claim 306, wherein the dual-conductor electrical interface is further configured to transmit an interrogation signal from the RFID reader to the RFID tag, whereby the RFID tag generates the data in response to the interrogation signal signal. The electronic cigarette device of claim 307, wherein the RFID tag comprises a passive RFID tag powered by the interrogation signal. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 299 to 308, wherein the control assembly includes a double-pole double-throw (DPDT) switch having a first switch position and a second switch position, wherein the DPDT switch is moved to The first switch position realizes the transmission of the power signal from the power source to the heating element, and wherein the DPDT switch moves to the second switch position to realize the transmission of the data signal from the electronic memory to the reader. The electronic cigarette device according to any one of claims 299 to 308, wherein the power signal and the data signal are transmitted sequentially through the dual-conductor electrical interface according to a time-division multiplexing scheme. The electronic cigarette device according to any one of claims 299 to 308, wherein the power signal and the data signal are transmitted simultaneously through the dual-conductor electrical interface according to a frequency division multiplexing scheme. A method for transmitting a plurality of signals through a two-conductor electrical interface between an assembly and a box through one of an electronic cigarette device, comprising: Transmitting a power signal from a power source of the control assembly to a heating element of the cassette via the dual-conductor electrical interface; and A data signal is transmitted from an electronic memory of the cassette to a reader of the control assembly via the dual-conductor electrical interface. The method of claim 312, wherein the two-conductor electrical interface is provided by an electromechanical connection. The method of claim 313, wherein the electromechanical connection comprises a first connector coupled to a second connector, wherein the first connector is provided as part of the control assembly, and wherein the second connector is Provided as part of the box. The method of claim 314, wherein the first connector includes a first housing spaced from a first center pin, wherein the second connector includes a second housing spaced from a second center pin, and Wherein when the first connector is coupled to the second connector, the first housing contacts the second housing and the first center pin contacts the second center pin. The method of any one of claims 312 to 315, wherein the power source includes a battery, and wherein the power signal includes a DC or a pulsed DC. The method of any one of claims 312 to 316, wherein the reader comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, wherein the electronic memory comprises an RFID tag configured to store data in a cassette, and wherein the The data signal includes a modulated signal that encodes the data in the box. The method of claim 317, wherein the cassette data includes information about the payload contained in one of the cassette's payload receptacles, information about the manufacture of the cassette, and information about the cassette recommended for evaporation cards Information of one or more operating settings of the payload contained in the payload reservoir, information for realizing the authenticity verification of the box, information about software or hardware contained in the box, and information about the At least one of the information of the intended user of the box. The method of claim 317 or 318, wherein the RFID tag is configured to generate the data signal. The method of claim 319, further comprising transmitting an interrogation signal from the RFID reader to the RFID tag, whereby the RFID tag generates the data signal in response to the interrogation signal. The method of claim 320, wherein the RFID tag comprises a passive RFID tag powered by the interrogation signal. The method of any one of claims 312 to 321, wherein the control assembly includes a double-pole double-throw (DPDT) switch having a first switch position and a second switch position, wherein the DPDT switch moves to the first A switch position realizes the transmission of the power signal from the power source to the heating element, and wherein the DPDT switch moves to the second switch position to realize the transmission of the data signal from the electronic memory to the reader. The method of any one of claims 312 to 321, wherein the power signal and the data signal are transmitted sequentially through the dual-conductor electrical interface according to a time-division multiplexing scheme. The method according to any one of claims 312 to 321, wherein the power signal and the data signal are transmitted simultaneously through the dual-conductor electrical interface according to a frequency division multiplexing scheme. A dual-lead communication system for an electronic cigarette device includes: A control assembly; A box; and An electromechanical connection including a first connector coupled to a second connector, wherein the first connector is provided as part of the control assembly, and wherein the second connector is provided as part of the cassette, And the electromechanical connection provides a two-conductor electrical interface capable of transmitting a plurality of electrical signals between the control assembly and the cassette. The two-lead communication system of claim 325, wherein the first connector includes a first housing spaced from a first center pin, and the second connector includes a second housing spaced from a second center pin. A housing, and wherein when the first connector is coupled to the second connector, the first housing contacts the second housing and the first center pin contacts the second center pin. The dual-lead communication system of claim 325 or 326, wherein the control assembly includes a power source and a reader, wherein the cassette includes a heating element and an electronic memory configured to store data, and wherein the dual The conductor electrical interface is configured to (a) transmit a power signal from the power source to the heating element and (b) transmit a data signal from the electronic memory to the reader. The two-lead communication system of claim 327, wherein the power source includes a battery, and wherein the power signal includes a DC or a pulsed DC. The dual-lead communication system of claim 327 or 328, wherein the reader comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, wherein the electronic memory includes an RFID tag configured to store data in a cassette, and wherein the data The signal includes a modulated signal encoding one of the bin data. If the two-lead communication system of claim 329, the box information includes information about the payload contained in one of the box's payload receptacles, information about the manufacture of the box, and recommendations for evaporation Information on one or more operating settings of the payload contained in the payload reservoir of the card, information on authenticity verification of the box, information on software or hardware contained in the box And at least one of information about one of the intended users of the box. The two-lead communication system of claim 329 or 330, wherein the RFID tag is configured to generate the data signal. For example, the two-lead communication system of claim 331, wherein the two-conductor electrical interface is further configured to transmit an interrogation signal from the RFID reader to the RFID tag, whereby the RFID tag generates the response Data signals. The dual-lead communication system of claim 332, wherein the RFID tag includes a passive RFID tag powered by the interrogation signal. The dual-lead communication system of any one of claims 325 to 333, wherein the control assembly includes a double-pole double-throw (DPDT) switch having a first switch position and a second switch position, wherein the DPDT switch moves To the first switch position, the first electrical signal is transmitted between the control assembly and the cassette, and wherein the DPDT switch is moved to the second switch position to implement a second electrical signal between the control assembly and the control assembly. The communication between the boxes. The two-lead communication system of any one of claims 325 to 333, wherein the electrical signals are sequentially transmitted through the two-conductor electrical interface according to a time-division multiplexing scheme. The two-lead communication system of any one of claims 325 to 333, wherein the electrical signals are simultaneously transmitted via the two-conductor electrical interface according to a frequency division multiplexing scheme. An electronic cigarette device includes: A control assembly including a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader; A box containing an RFID tag; and A two-conductor electrical interface configured to transmit cassette data from the RFID reader to the RFID tag to program the cassette data into the RFID tag. The electronic cigarette device of claim 337, wherein the dual-conductor electrical interface is provided by an electromechanical connection. The electronic cigarette device of claim 338, wherein the electromechanical connection includes a first connector coupled to a second connector, wherein the first connector is provided as part of the control assembly, and wherein the second connection The device is provided as part of the box. The electronic cigarette device of claim 339, wherein the first connector includes a first housing spaced from a first center pin, wherein the second connector includes a second housing spaced from a second center pin And when the first connector is coupled to the second connector, the first housing contacts the second housing and the first center pin contacts the second center pin. For example, the electronic cigarette device of any one of items 337 to 340, wherein the box data includes information about the payload contained in one of the box's payload receptacles, information about the manufacture of the box, It is recommended to use information for one or more operating settings of the payload contained in the payload receptacle of the cassette for the evaporation card, information for realizing the authenticity verification of the cassette, and software included in the cassette. Or at least one of hardware information and information about one of the intended users of the box. An electronic cigarette device includes: A control assembly including a power source; and A box that is releasably connected to the control assembly, wherein the box includes: A payload reservoir configured to hold a payload for evaporation; A heating element configured to heat the payload in the payload reservoir; and A temperature control circuit configured to adjust a power supplied to the heating element by the power source based on a temperature sensed in the cassette and a desired temperature set point. The electronic cigarette device of claim 342, wherein the temperature control circuit comprises a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature in the cassette. The electronic cigarette device of claim 343, wherein the temperature sensor includes a thermistor, a thermocouple, a band gap temperature sensor, an analog temperature sensor, a digital temperature sensor, or a light sensor. One of the testers. The electronic cigarette device of claim 343, wherein the temperature sensor includes a circuit configured to measure a resistance of the heating element and use the resistance to determine the temperature in the cassette. The electronic cigarette device of claim 342 or 343, wherein the temperature control circuit is configured to adjust the power provided to the heating element by modifying a direct current (DC) voltage applied to the heating element. The electronic cigarette device of claim 342 or 343, wherein the temperature control circuit is configured to adjust the power supplied to the heating element by modifying a direct current transmitted to the heating element. The electronic cigarette device of claim 342 or 343, wherein the temperature control circuit is configured to adjust the electric power supplied to the heating element by modifying a pulse DC to a pulse width transmitted to the heating element. The electronic cigarette device of claim 342 or 343, wherein the temperature control circuit is configured to regulate the power supplied to the heating element by interrupting a direct current flow to the heating element. The electronic cigarette device according to any one of claims 342 to 349, wherein the desired temperature set point is user-configurable. The electronic cigarette device of claim 350, wherein the temperature control circuit incorporates a potentiometer having a variable resistor, and wherein the electronic cigarette device further includes the variable resistor configured to modify the potentiometer to thereby One of the temperature set points is modified by a user-actuated mechanism. The electronic cigarette device of claim 351, wherein the user-actuated mechanism includes a dial positioned on a casing of the cassette. The electronic cigarette device of claim 351, wherein the user-actuated mechanism includes a slidable tab positioned on a casing of the cassette. The electronic cigarette device of claim 351, wherein the user-actuated mechanism includes a rotatable housing of the cassette. The electronic cigarette device of claim 350, wherein the temperature control circuit is incorporated into a user interface that enables a user to enter a digital value to modify the temperature set point. A method for controlling power supplied to a heating element contained in a cassette of an electronic cigarette device, the method comprising: Sensing a temperature in the box; and An electric power provided to the heating element is adjusted based on the temperature sensed in the box and a desired temperature set point. The method of claim 356, wherein the temperature is sensed by one of a thermistor, a thermocouple, a band gap temperature sensor, an analog temperature sensor, or a digital temperature sensor. The method of claim 356, wherein the temperature is sensed by a light sensor configured to detect light emitted by the heating element. The method of claim 356, wherein the heating element is configured to heat and evaporate the evaporative payload, and wherein a light sensor is configured to detect a light emitted by the evaporative payload. Sense the temperature. The method of claim 356, wherein the temperature is sensed by a circuit configured to measure a resistance of the heating element and use the resistance to determine a temperature in the cassette. The method of claim 356, wherein the power provided to the heating element is adjusted by modifying a direct current (DC) voltage applied to the heating element. The method of claim 356, wherein the power provided to the heating element is adjusted by modifying a direct current transmitted to the heating element. The method of claim 356, wherein the electric power supplied to the heating element is adjusted by modifying a pulse width and a pulse width transmitted to the heating element. The method of claim 356, wherein the electric power provided to the heating element is adjusted by interrupting a flow of one direct current transmitted to the heating element. The method of claim 356, wherein the desired temperature setpoint is user-configurable. A temperature control system for a cassette of an electronic cigarette device includes: A heating element configured to heat a payload; A temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature in the cassette; and A temperature control circuit incorporating the temperature sensor, wherein the temperature control circuit is configured to adjust an electric power provided to the heating element based on the temperature sensed in the box and a desired temperature set point. The temperature control system of claim 366, wherein the temperature sensor includes a thermistor, a thermocouple, a band gap temperature sensor, an analog temperature sensor, a digital temperature sensor, or a light sensor. One of the testers. The temperature control system of claim 366, wherein the temperature sensor includes a circuit configured to measure a resistance of the heating element and use the resistance to determine the temperature in the cassette. The temperature control system of claim 366, wherein the temperature control circuit is configured to adjust the power provided to the heating element by modifying a direct current (DC) voltage applied to the heating element. The temperature control system of claim 366, wherein the temperature control circuit is configured to adjust the power provided to the heating element by modifying a direct current transmitted to the heating element. The temperature control system of claim 366, wherein the temperature control circuit is configured to adjust the electric power provided to the heating element by modifying a pulse width of a pulse direct current transmitted to the heating element. The temperature control system of claim 366, wherein the temperature control circuit is configured to regulate the power provided to the heating element by interrupting a direct current flow to the heating element. The temperature control system of claim 366, wherein the desired temperature setpoint is user-configurable. The temperature control system of claim 373, wherein the temperature control circuit incorporates a potentiometer having a variable resistor that can be modified by a user to modify the temperature set point. The temperature control system of claim 373, wherein the temperature control circuit is incorporated into a user interface that enables a user to enter a digital value to modify the temperature set point. An electronic cigarette device includes: A control assembly including a microcontroller and a power source, wherein the microcontroller is configured to control the power source to generate a power signal; A box including an atomizer, a payload reservoir, and an authentication device, wherein the atomizer is configured to heat a portion of a payload contained in the payload reservoir, and wherein the The authentication device is configured to (a) implement an authentication agreement to determine whether the box is authentic and (b) control the transmission of the power signal from the power source to the atomizer based on a result of the authentication agreement; and An electromechanical connector including a first connector releasably coupled to a second connector, wherein the first connector is provided as part of the control assembly and the second connector is provided as the cassette Part of it. The electronic cigarette device of claim 376, wherein the authentication device is configured to securely store the authentication data. For example, the electronic cigarette device of item 377, wherein the authentication data includes an encryption key, and wherein the authentication protocol includes an encrypted handshake between the authentication device and the microcontroller to implement the cassette and the control Identification of the assembly. For example, the electronic cigarette device of item 377, wherein the authentication data includes an encryption key, and wherein the authentication protocol includes an encrypted handshake between the authentication device and an external computing device to realize the authentication of the box . If the electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 377 to 379, wherein the authentication data includes information from which it judges an expiration date of the box, and wherein the authentication agreement includes the expiration date and a current date A comparison is made to determine if the cassette has expired. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 377 to 380, wherein the authentication information includes one of the maximum allowable operating time of the box, and wherein the authentication agreement includes the maximum allowable operating time and the current operating time of one of the box One compares to determine if the maximum allowable operating time has elapsed. If the electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 377 to 381, wherein the authentication data includes a unique identifier of the box, and wherein the authentication agreement includes transmitting the unique identifier to an external computing device to determine the Whether the box is a fake. The electronic cigarette device according to any one of claims 376 to 382, wherein the cassette further comprises a power switch movable between an off position and an on position, wherein the power switch is moved to the off position to stop The power signal is used to transmit from the power source to the atomizer, and the power gate is moved to the on position to enable the power signal to be transmitted from the power source to the atomizer. For example, the electronic cigarette device of item 383, wherein the authentication device causes the power switch to move from the off position to the on position when the box is determined to be authentic. The electronic cigarette device of any one of claims 376 to 384, wherein the power source includes a battery, and wherein the power signal includes a DC or a pulsed DC. The electronic cigarette device of claim 376, wherein the electromechanical connector is configured to (a) transmit the power signal from the power source to the atomizer and (b) between the authentication device and the microcontroller Send one or more data signals as part of the authentication agreement. The electronic cigarette device of claim 386, wherein the electromechanical connector includes a two-conductor electrical interface including one of two conductors. The electronic cigarette device of claim 387, wherein the power signal and the data signals are transmitted sequentially through the two-conductor electrical interface according to a time-division multiplexing scheme. The electronic cigarette device of claim 387, wherein the power signal and the data signals are transmitted simultaneously through the dual-conductor electrical interface according to a frequency division multiplexing scheme. The electronic cigarette device of claim 387, wherein the power signal and the data signals are transmitted simultaneously through the dual-conductor electrical interface according to a voltage level multiplexing scheme. The electronic cigarette device of claim 386, wherein the electromechanical connector includes a multi-conductor electrical interface including one of at least three conductors. The electronic cigarette device of claim 391, wherein the power signal and the data signals are transmitted simultaneously through the multi-conductor electrical interface. A cassette for an electronic cigarette device includes: A payload reservoir; An atomizer configured to heat a portion of a payload contained in the payload reservoir; and An authentication device configured to (a) implement an authentication agreement to determine whether the box is authentic and (b) control the transmission of an electrical signal to the atomizer based on a result of the authentication agreement. As in the case of claim 393, the authentication device is configured to securely store authentication data. For example, if the item 394 is requested, the authentication data includes an encryption key, and the authentication protocol includes an encrypted communication between the authentication device and a microcontroller of a control assembly of the electronic cigarette device. Grip to realize the identification of the box and the control assembly. For example, the box of claim 394, wherein the authentication data includes an encryption key, and wherein the authentication protocol includes an encrypted handshake between the authentication device and an external computing device to implement the authentication of the box. If the box of any one of claims 394 to 396, wherein the authentication data includes information from which it has determined an expiration date of the box, and wherein the authentication agreement includes a comparison of the expiration date with one of a current date To determine if the box has expired. If the box of any one of claims 394 to 397, wherein the authentication data includes one of the maximum allowable operating time of the box, and wherein the authentication agreement includes one of the maximum allowable operating time and one of the current operating time of the box Compare to determine if the maximum allowable operating time has elapsed. For example, if the box of any one of claims 394 to 398 is used, the authentication data includes a unique identifier of the box, and the authentication protocol includes transmitting the unique identifier to an external computing device to determine whether the box is For a fake. The box of any one of claims 393 to 399, further comprising a power gate movable between an open position and an on position, wherein the power gate is moved to the open position to deactivate the power signal Transmission to the atomizer, and wherein the power switch is moved to the on position to enable transmission of the power signal to the atomizer. For example, the box of claim 400, wherein the authentication device causes the power switch to move from the off position to the on position when the box is determined to be authentic. The box of any one of claims 393 to 401, wherein the power signal includes a DC or a pulsed DC. The cassette of any one of claims 393 to 402, further comprising a first connector configured to releasably connect to a second connection of a control assembly of the electronic cigarette device Device, wherein the first connector and the second connector form an electromechanical connection between the cassette and the control assembly. As in the box of claim 403, wherein the electromechanical connector is configured to (a) transmit the power signal from the control assembly to the atomizer and (b) between the authentication device and the control assembly Send one or more data signals as part of the authentication agreement. The cartridge of claim 404, wherein the electromechanical connector includes a two-conductor electrical interface including one of two conductors. As in the box of claim 405, the power signal and the data signals are transmitted sequentially through the two-conductor electrical interface according to a time-division multiplexing scheme. As in the box of claim 405, the power signal and the data signals are transmitted simultaneously through the two-conductor electrical interface according to a frequency division multiplexing scheme. As in the box of claim 405, the power signal and the data signals are transmitted simultaneously through the two-conductor electrical interface according to a voltage level multiplexing scheme. The cartridge of claim 404, wherein the electromechanical connector includes a multi-conductor electrical interface including one of at least three conductors. If the box of claim 409, the power signal and the data signals are transmitted simultaneously through the multi-conductor electrical interface. A method for identifying a cassette of an electronic cigarette device includes: Storing the authentication data in an authentication device in the box; Implement an authentication agreement using the authentication information to determine whether the box is authentic; and Controlling the transmission of a power signal to an atomizer of the cassette based on a result of the authentication agreement. The method of claim 411, wherein the authentication data includes an encryption key, and wherein the authentication protocol includes an encrypted communication between the authentication device and a microcontroller of a control assembly of the electronic cigarette device. Grip to realize the identification of the box and the control assembly. For example, the method of item 411, wherein the authentication data includes an encryption key, and wherein the authentication protocol includes an encrypted handshake between the authentication device and an external computing device to implement the authentication of the box. The method of any one of claims 411 to 413, wherein the authentication data includes information from which it determines that an expiration date of the box, and wherein the authentication agreement includes a comparison of the expiration date with one of a current date To determine if the box has expired. The method of any one of claims 411 to 414, wherein the authentication data includes one of the maximum allowable operating time of the box, and wherein the authentication agreement includes one of the maximum allowable operating time and one of the current operating time of the box Compare to determine if the maximum allowable operating time has elapsed. The method of any one of claims 411 to 415, wherein the authentication data includes a unique identifier of the box, and wherein the authentication agreement includes transmitting the unique identifier to an external computing device to determine whether the box is For a fake. The method of claim 411, wherein the controlling step includes enabling the transmission of the power signal to the atomizer when the box is determined to be true and deactivating the power signal to the atomizer when the box is determined to be untrue Of transmission. The method of claim 411, wherein the implementing step includes transmitting one or more data signals between the authentication device and a control assembly of the electronic cigarette device as part of the authentication agreement. If the method of item 418 is requested, it further comprises the step of transmitting the power signal and the data signals with the control assembly via an electrical interface. The method of claim 419, wherein the electrical interface comprises a two-conductor electrical interface including one of two conductors. The method of claim 420, wherein the transmitting step includes sequentially transmitting the power signal and the data signals via the dual-conductor electrical interface using a time-division multiplexing scheme. The method of claim 420, wherein the transmitting step includes using a frequency division multiplexing scheme to simultaneously transmit the power signal and the data signals through the dual-conductor electrical interface. The method of claim 420, wherein the transmitting step comprises using a voltage level multiplexing scheme to simultaneously transmit the power signal and the data signals via the dual-conductor electrical interface. The method of claim 419, wherein the electrical interface comprises a multi-conductor electrical interface including one of at least three conductors. The method of claim 424, wherein the transmitting step includes transmitting the power signal and the data signals simultaneously via the multi-conductor electrical interface. A system for identifying a user of an electronic cigarette device, wherein each of the electronic cigarette devices includes a payload reservoir identified by a unique payload identifier, the system includes: A processor A memory device; An instruction set stored in the memory device and executable by the processor to: Receiving user authentication information entered by a user; Receiving a unique payload identifier of a payload reservoir of an electronic cigarette device; Retrieve authentication information stored in a database in association with the unique payload identifier; Comparing the user authentication information entered by the user with the authentication information stored in the database; Generating, based on the comparison, an instruction indicating whether the user who entered the user authentication information is authorized to use one of the security settings of the payload receptacle identified by the unique payload identifier; and Causes the security setting to be transmitted to the electronic cigarette device. The system of claim 426, wherein the database is maintained in the memory device. The system of claim 426, wherein the database is maintained in a second memory device located remote from the processor and one of the memory devices. The system of claim 426, wherein the processor and the memory device are located in a personal computing device, and wherein the personal computing device transmits the security setting to the electronic cigarette device. If the system of claim 426, wherein the processor and the memory device are located in a remote server, and wherein the remote server transmits the security setting to a personal computing device, the personal computing device then secures the security The settings are transmitted to the electronic cigarette device. If the system of item 426, wherein the instruction set can be further executed by the processor to: Retrieving an operation setting stored in the database in association with the unique payload identifier; and Causes the operation to be set to the transmission of the electronic cigarette device. If the system of item 426, wherein the instruction set can be further executed by the processor to: Retrieving payload information stored in the database in association with the unique payload identifier, wherein the payload information includes an identification of a substance located in the payload receptacle of the electronic cigarette device; Determine an operational setting associated with the substance; and Causes the operation to be set to the transmission of the electronic cigarette device. The system of claim 432, wherein determining the operation setting associated with the substance includes: retrieving the operation setting associated with the substance and stored in a second database. If the system of item 426, wherein the instruction set can be further executed by the processor to: Generating an operation setting based on at least one of user information, prescription information, location information, payload information, historical e-cigarette device usage information, and historical payload reservoir information; and Causes the operation to be set to the transmission of the electronic cigarette device. The system of any one of claims 431 to 434, wherein the operation setting includes at least one of a duty cycle setting, a temperature setting, an operation duration, and a dose setting. If the system of any one of items 426 to 435, the user authentication information includes at least one of a password, a fingerprint scan, a facial recognition scan, and a retinal scan. The system of any of claims 426 to 436, wherein if the security setting indicates that the user who entered the user authentication information is unauthorized to use the payload pool identified by the unique payload identifier Device, preventing the operation of the electronic cigarette device. A method for identifying a user of an electronic cigarette device, wherein each of the electronic cigarette devices includes a payload receptacle identified by a unique payload identifier, the method comprising: Receiving user authentication information input by a user into a personal computing device; Receiving a unique payload identifier from a payload receptacle from an electronic cigarette device; Retrieve authentication information stored in a database in association with the unique payload identifier; Comparing the user authentication information entered by the user into the personal computing device with the authentication information stored in the database; Generating an indication based on the comparison whether the user who entered the user authentication information into the personal computing device is authorized to use a security setting of the payload receptacle identified by the unique payload identifier; and The security setting is transmitted to the electronic cigarette device. The method of claim 438, further comprising: Retrieving an operation setting stored in the database in association with the unique payload identifier; and The operation setting is transmitted to the electronic cigarette device. The method of claim 438, further comprising: Retrieving payload information stored in the database in association with the unique payload identifier, wherein the payload information includes an identification of a substance located in the payload receptacle of the electronic cigarette device; Determine an operational setting associated with the substance; and The operation setting is transmitted to the electronic cigarette device. The method of claim 440, wherein determining the operation setting associated with the substance includes: retrieving the operation setting associated with the substance and stored in a second database. The method of claim 438, further comprising: Generating an operation setting based on at least one of user information, prescription information, location information, payload information, historical e-cigarette device usage information, and historical payload reservoir information; and The operation setting is transmitted to the electronic cigarette device. The method of any one of items 439 to 442, wherein the operation setting includes at least one of a duty cycle setting, a temperature setting, an operation duration, and a dose setting. The method of any one of claims 438 to 443, wherein the user authentication information includes at least one of a password, a fingerprint scan, a facial recognition scan, and a retinal scan. The method of any of claims 438 to 444, wherein if the security setting indicates that the user who entered the user authentication information is unauthorized to use the payload pool identified by the unique payload identifier Device, preventing the operation of the electronic cigarette device. A system for identifying a user of an electronic cigarette device includes: An electronic cigarette device includes a payload reservoir, wherein the electronic cigarette device is configured to store a unique payload identifier that identifies one of the payload reservoirs, and wherein the electronic cigarette device is configured to The unique payload identifier is transmitted to a human computing device; and An application configured to be installed on the personal computing device, wherein the application is configured to enable the personal computing device to: (a) receive user authentication information input by a user; (b) ) Receiving the unique payload identifier from the electronic cigarette device; (c) retrieving authentication information stored in a database in association with the unique payload identifier; (d) comparing the user authentication information And the authentication information stored in the database; (e) generating, based on the comparison, an instruction indicating whether the user who entered the user authentication information is authorized to use one that is identified by the unique payload identifier One of the load receptacles' security settings; and (f) transmitting the security settings to the electronic cigarette device. The system of claim 446, wherein the database is maintained by the personal computing device. The system of claim 446, wherein the database is maintained by a server located remote from the personal computing device. The system of claim 446, wherein the application is further configured to enable the personal computing device to: (g) retrieve an operation setting stored in the database in association with the unique payload identifier; and (h) transmitting the operation setting to the electronic cigarette device. The system of claim 446, wherein the application is further configured to enable the personal computing device to: (g) retrieve payload information stored in the database in association with the unique payload identifier, where The payload information includes an identification of a substance positioned in the payload receptacle; (h) determining an operation setting associated with the substance; and (i) transmitting the operation setting to the electronic cigarette device. The system of claim 450, wherein determining the operation setting associated with the substance includes: retrieving the operation setting associated with the substance and stored in a second database. The system of claim 446, wherein the application is further configured to enable the personal computing device to: (g) based on user information, prescription information, location information, payload information, historical electronic cigarette device usage information, and historical validity At least one of the load reservoir information generates an operation setting; and (h) transmits the operation setting to the electronic cigarette device. The system of any one of claims 449 to 452, wherein the operation of the electronic cigarette device is controlled based on the operation setting. The system of any one of claims 449 to 453, wherein the operation setting includes at least one of a duty cycle setting, a temperature setting, an operation duration, and a dose setting. The system of any one of claims 446 to 455, wherein the user authentication information includes at least one of a password, a fingerprint scan, a facial recognition scan, and a retinal scan. The system of any of claims 446 to 455, wherein if the security setting indicates that the user entering the user authentication information is unauthorized to use the payload pool identified by the unique payload identifier Device, preventing the operation of the electronic cigarette device. A system for determining whether a payload receptacle of an electronic cigarette device is depleted, wherein each of the payload receptacles is identified by a unique payload identifier, and the system includes: A processor A memory device; An instruction set stored in the memory device and executable by the processor to: Receiving a unique payload identifier of a payload reservoir of an electronic cigarette device; Retrieving payload information stored in a database in association with the unique payload identifier, wherein the payload information includes an original volume of a payload contained in the payload receptacle; Retrieve historical payload container usage information stored in the database associated with the unique payload identifier; Analyze the payload information stored in the database and the historical payload container usage information stored in the database; Generating a security setting indicating whether the payload reservoir is depleted based on the analysis; and Causes transmission of the security setting to the electronic cigarette device, wherein if the security setting indicates that the payload reservoir is depleted, operation of the electronic cigarette device is prevented. The system of claim 457, wherein the database is maintained in the memory device. The system of claim 457, wherein the database is maintained in a second memory device located remote from the processor and one of the memory devices. The system of claim 457, wherein the processor and the memory device are located in a personal computing device, and wherein the personal computing device transmits the security settings to the electronic cigarette device. If the system of claim 457, wherein the processor and the memory device are located in a remote server, and wherein the remote server transmits the security setting to a personal computing device, the personal computing device then secures the security The settings are transmitted to the electronic cigarette device. If the system of item 457 is requested, the instruction set can be further executed by the processor to: Receiving payload storage usage information from the electronic cigarette device; Updating the historical payload receptacle usage information based on the payload receptacle usage information received from the electronic cigarette device; and The updated historical payload container usage information is stored in the database in association with the unique payload identifier. A method for determining whether a payload receptacle of an electronic cigarette device is depleted, wherein each of the payload receptacles is identified by a unique payload identifier, the method includes: Receiving a unique payload identifier from a payload receptacle from an electronic cigarette device; Retrieving payload information stored in a database in association with the unique payload identifier, wherein the payload information includes an original volume of a payload contained in the payload receptacle; Retrieve historical payload container usage information stored in the database associated with the unique payload identifier; Analyze the payload information stored in the database and the historical payload container usage information stored in the database; Generating a security setting indicating whether the payload reservoir is depleted based on the analysis; and The security setting is transmitted to the electronic cigarette device, wherein if the security setting indicates that the payload reservoir is depleted, operation of the electronic cigarette device is prevented. The method of claim 463, further comprising: Receiving payload storage usage information from the electronic cigarette device; Updating the historical payload receptacle usage information based on the payload receptacle usage information received from the electronic cigarette device; and The updated historical payload container usage information is stored in the database in association with the unique payload identifier. A system for determining whether a payload reservoir of an electronic cigarette device is depleted, including: An electronic cigarette device includes a payload reservoir, wherein the electronic cigarette device is configured to store a unique payload identifier that identifies one of the payload reservoirs, and wherein the electronic cigarette device is configured to The unique payload identifier is transmitted to a human computing device; and An application configured to be installed on the personal computing device, wherein the application is configured to enable the personal computing device to: (a) receive the unique payload identifier from the electronic cigarette device; (b) ) Retrieving payload information stored in a database in association with the unique payload identifier, wherein the payload information includes an original volume of the payload contained in the payload receptacle; (c ) Retrieving historical payload container usage information stored in the database in association with the unique payload identifier; (d) analyzing the payload information stored in the database and stored in the database The historical payload receptacle usage information; (e) generating a security setting indicating whether the payload receptacle is depleted based on the analysis; and (f) transmitting the security setting to the electronic cigarette device, wherein If the safety setting indicates that the payload reservoir is depleted, operation of the electronic cigarette device is prevented. The system of claim 465, wherein the database is maintained by the personal computing device. The system of claim 465, wherein the database is maintained by a server located remote from the personal computing device. The system of claim 465, wherein the electronic cigarette device is configured to determine payload receptacle use information based on the use of the electronic cigarette device and transmit the payload receptacle use information to the personal computing device, and wherein The application is further configured to enable the personal computing device to: (g) receive the payload receptacle usage information from the electronic cigarette device; (h) based on the payload receptacle received from the electronic cigarette device Use the information to update the historical payload container usage information; and (i) store the updated historical payload container usage information in the database in association with the unique payload identifier. A system for determining whether a payload receptacle of an electronic cigarette device has been returned to a return center, wherein each of the payload receptacles is identified by a unique payload identifier, the system includes: A processor A memory device; An instruction set stored in the memory device and executable by the processor to: Receiving a unique payload identifier of a payload reservoir of an electronic cigarette device; Determining whether the payload receptacle identified by the unique payload identifier has returned; Generating a security setting indicating whether the payload reservoir has returned; and Causes transmission of the security setting to the electronic cigarette device, wherein if the security setting indicates that the payload reservoir has been returned, the operation of the electronic cigarette device is prevented. The system of claim 469, wherein the database is maintained in the memory device. The system of claim 469, wherein the database is maintained in a second memory device located remote from the processor and one of the memory devices. The system of claim 469, wherein the processor and the memory device are located in a personal computing device, and wherein the personal computing device transmits the security setting to the electronic cigarette device. If the system of claim 469, wherein the processor and the memory device are located in a remote server, and wherein the remote server transmits the security setting to a personal computing device, the personal computing device then secures the security The settings are transmitted to the electronic cigarette device. A method for determining whether a payload receptacle of an electronic cigarette device has been returned to a return center, wherein each of the payload receptacles is identified by a unique payload identifier, the method includes: Receiving a unique payload identifier from a payload receptacle from an electronic cigarette device; Determining whether the payload receptacle identified by the unique payload identifier has returned; Generating a security setting indicating whether the payload reservoir has returned; and The security setting is transmitted to the electronic cigarette device, wherein if the security setting indicates that the payload reservoir has been returned, operation of the electronic cigarette device is prevented. A system for determining whether a payload reservoir of an electronic cigarette device has been returned to a return center, which includes: An electronic cigarette device includes a payload reservoir, wherein the electronic cigarette device is configured to store a unique payload identifier that identifies one of the payload reservoirs, and wherein the electronic cigarette device is configured to The unique payload identifier is transmitted to a human computing device; and An application configured to be installed on the personal computing device, wherein the application is configured to enable the personal computing device to: (a) receive the unique payload identifier from the electronic cigarette device; (b) ) Determine whether the payload receptacle identified by the unique payload identifier has been returned; (c) generate a security setting indicating whether the payload receptacle has been returned; and (d) transmit the security setting To the electronic cigarette device, wherein if the safety setting indicates that the payload receptacle has been returned, preventing the operation of the electronic cigarette device. The system of claim 475, wherein the database is maintained by the personal computing device. The system of claim 475, wherein the database is maintained by a server located remote from the personal computing device. A system for determining whether a payload receptacle of an electronic cigarette device has been recalled, wherein each of the payload receptacles is identified by a unique payload identifier, the system includes: A processor A memory device; An instruction set stored in the memory device and executable by the processor to: Receiving a unique payload identifier of a payload identifier of an electronic cigarette device; Determining whether the payload receptacle identified by the unique payload identifier has been recalled; Generating a security setting indicating whether the payload receptacle has been recalled; and Causes transmission of the security setting to the electronic cigarette device, wherein if the security setting indicates that the payload receptacle has been recalled, the operation of the electronic cigarette device is prevented. The system of claim 478, wherein the database is maintained in the memory device. The system of claim 478, wherein the database is maintained in a second memory device located remote from the processor and one of the memory devices. The system of claim 478, wherein the processor and the memory device are located in a personal computing device, and wherein the personal computing device transmits the security settings to the electronic cigarette device. If the system of claim 478, wherein the processor and the memory device are located in a remote server, and wherein the remote server transmits the security settings to a personal computing device, the personal computing device then secures the security The settings are transmitted to the electronic cigarette device. The system of any one of claims 478 to 482, wherein the electronic cigarette device displays a recall message or sounds an audible recall message when the security setting indicates that the payload receptacle has been recalled. A method for determining whether a payload receptacle of an electronic cigarette device has been recalled, wherein each of the payload receptacles is identified by a unique payload identifier, the method includes: Receiving a unique payload identifier from a payload identifier from an electronic cigarette device; Determining whether the payload receptacle identified by the unique payload identifier has been recalled; Generating a security setting indicating whether the payload receptacle has been recalled; and The security setting is transmitted to the electronic cigarette device, wherein if the security setting indicates that the payload reservoir has been recalled, operation of the electronic cigarette device is prevented. The method of claim 484, further comprising displaying a recall message or sounding an audible recall message when the security setting indicates that the payload receptacle has been recalled. A system for determining whether a payload reservoir of an electronic cigarette device has been recalled, which includes: An electronic cigarette device includes a payload reservoir, wherein the electronic cigarette device is configured to store a unique payload identifier that identifies one of the payload reservoirs, and wherein the electronic cigarette device is configured to The unique payload identifier is transmitted to a human computing device; and An application configured to be installed on the personal computing device, wherein the application is configured to enable the personal computing device to: (a) receive the unique payload identifier from the electronic cigarette device; (b) ) Determine whether the payload receptacle identified by the unique payload identifier has been recalled; (c) generate a security setting indicating whether the payload receptacle has been recalled; and (d) transmit the security setting To the electronic cigarette device, wherein if the safety setting indicates that the payload receptacle has been recalled, preventing the operation of the electronic cigarette device. The system of claim 486, wherein the database is maintained by the personal computing device. The system of claim 486, wherein the database is maintained by a server located remote from the personal computing device. The system of any one of claims 486 to 488, wherein one or both of the electronic cigarette device and the personal computing device display a recall message or emit a sound when the security setting indicates that the payload reservoir has been recalled One can hear the recall message. A system for determining whether a control assembly is authorized for use with a cassette of an electronic cigarette device, wherein each of the cassettes includes a payload reservoir identified by a unique payload identifier, the system including: A processor A memory device; An instruction set stored in the memory device and executable by the processor to: Receiving a unique payload identifier of a payload reservoir of an electronic cigarette device; Receiving one control assembly identifier of one control assembly of the electronic cigarette device; Identifying a list of one or more control assembly identifiers that are authorized for use with the payload receptacle identified by the unique identifier; Comparing the control assembly identifier with the control assembly identifier list; Generating a security setting indicating whether the control assembly identified by the control assembly identifier is authorized for use with the payload reservoir identified by the unique payload identifier based on the comparison; and Causes the security setting to be transmitted to the electronic cigarette device. The system of claim 490, wherein the database is maintained in the memory device. The system of claim 490, wherein the database is maintained in a second memory device located remote from the processor and one of the memory devices. The system of claim 490, wherein the processor and the memory device are located in a personal computing device, and wherein the personal computing device transmits the security setting to the electronic cigarette device. If the system of claim 490, wherein the processor and the memory device are located in a remote server, and wherein the remote server transmits the security setting to a personal computing device, the personal computing device then secures the security The settings are transmitted to the electronic cigarette device. The system of any one of claims 490 to 494, wherein the control assembly identifier includes a unique control assembly identifier. The system of any one of claims 490 to 495, wherein if the security setting indicates that the control assembly identified by the control assembly identifier is unauthorized to match the validity identified by the unique payload identifier The use of a load receptacle prevents the operation of the electronic cigarette device. A method for determining whether a control assembly is authorized for use with a cassette of an electronic cigarette device, wherein each of the cassettes includes a payload receptacle identified by a unique payload identifier, the method comprising: Receiving a unique payload identifier from a payload receptacle from an electronic cigarette device; Receiving one control assembly identifier of one control assembly of the electronic cigarette device; Identifying a list of one or more control assembly identifiers that are authorized for use with the payload receptacle identified by the unique identifier; Comparing the control assembly identifier with the control assembly identifier list; Generating a security setting indicating whether the control assembly identified by the control assembly identifier is authorized for use with the payload reservoir identified by the unique payload identifier based on the comparison; and The security setting is transmitted to the electronic cigarette device. The method of claim 497, wherein the control assembly identifier includes a unique control assembly identifier. The method of any of claims 497 to 498, further comprising if the security setting indicates that the control assembly identified by the control assembly identifier is unauthorized to pair with the control identified by the unique payload identifier The use of the payload reservoir prevents the operation of the electronic cigarette device. A system for determining whether a control assembly is authorized for use with a cassette of an electronic cigarette device, including: An electronic cigarette device comprising a control assembly and a box including a payload reservoir, wherein the control assembly is configured to store a control assembly identifier, wherein the box is configured to store a unique A payload identifier, and wherein the electronic cigarette device is configured to transmit the control assembly identifier and the unique payload identifier to a human computing device; and An application configured to be installed on the personal computing device, wherein the application is configured to enable the personal computing device to: (a) receive the control assembly identifier and the unique from the electronic cigarette device Payload identifiers; (b) identify a list of one or more control assembly identifiers used for authorization to use with the payload receptacle identified by the unique identifier; (c) ) Compare the control assembly identifier with the control assembly identifier list; (d) generate an indication based on the comparison whether the control assembly identified by the control assembly identifier is authorized to match with the only valid A security setting used by the payload receptacle identified by the load identifier; and (e) transmitting the security setting to the electronic cigarette device. The system of claim 500, wherein the database is maintained by the personal computing device. The system of claim 500, wherein the database is maintained by a server located remote from the personal computing device. The system of any one of claims 500 to 502, wherein the control assembly identifier includes a unique control assembly identifier. The system of any one of claims 500 to 503, wherein if the security setting indicates that the control assembly identified by the control assembly identifier is unauthorized to match the validity identified by the unique payload identifier The use of a load receptacle prevents the operation of the electronic cigarette device.