Patent Application
20140202477
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to electronic cigarettes and more particularly to a Bluetooth v4.0-based intelligent electronic cigarette.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, an electronic cigarette includes a battery powered atomizer which is the central component thereof. The atomizer includes a heating element for vaporizing liquid, a wicking material for drawing liquid in, and a resistance wire wrapped around the wicking material and electrically connected to the battery. When activated the resistance wire quickly heats up thus turning the liquid into a vapor, which is then inhaled by the user.
In recent years, a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen and a pressure adjustment mechanism are provided on some types of electronic cigarette. However, there is no software embedded in the atomizer in the electronic cigarette. Thus, it is impossible of measuring vapor for control purpose. In short, there is no way of recording vapor concentration and time and date of the electronic cigarette being used in the atomizer. Thus, no such data is transmitted to a mobile app for storage and further processing.
There is a type of electronic cigarette having a Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug. The USB plug can be connected to a USB socket on a computer so that data can be transmitted from the electronic cigarette to the computer which in turn wirelessly transmits the data to cloud services means. However, it is complicated and is not easy in use.
Thus, the need for improvement still exists.
It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a Bluetooth v4.0-based intelligent electronic cigarette which allows a user to control the electronic cigarette in any time any place so as to overcome drawbacks experienced by the conventional electronic cigarette.
In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a Bluetooth v4.0-based intelligent electronic cigarette comprising a casing including an atomizer, a controller, and a battery; wherein the atomizer is disposed in a front end of the casing; wherein the controller includes a software and hardware assembly having a microcontroller unit (MCU), and a Bluetooth-based board having a Bluetooth v4.0 module connected to the MCU, the Bluetooth v4.0 module being capable of transmitting data processed by the MCU, and receiving data and transmitting same to the MCU; and wherein the battery is electrically connected to the MCU so that electricity can be supplied from the battery to the MCU.
Preferably, one end of the Bluetooth v4.0 module is connected to the MCU and the other end thereof is wirelessly connected to a mobile app which is connected to cloud services means. Preferably, the Bluetooth v4.0 module and the MCU are configured to communicate in both directions simultaneously, and wherein the Bluetooth v4.0 module and the mobile app are configured to communicate in both directions simultaneously.
Preferably, the mobile app and the cloud services means are configured to communicate in both directions simultaneously.
Preferably, the software and hardware assembly and the Bluetooth-based board are disposed separately.
The intelligent electronic cigarette of the invention has the following characteristics and advantages: An MCU is provided on a software and hardware assembly. A Bluetooth v4.0 module is provided on a Bluetooth-based board and is connected to the MCU. The Bluetooth v4.0 module can transmit data processed by the MCU. The Bluetooth v4.0 module can receive data from an external device and transmit same to the MCU. Data processed by the MCU can be transmitted to an external device via the Bluetooth v4.0 module. Also, the external device can transmit received data the MCU via the Bluetooth v4.0 module, thereby enabling a user to control his/her simulated tobacco smoking by monitoring what is shown on the mobile app.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
A mouthpiece (not shown) is releasably secured to a front end of the atomizer 11. Liquid in a container (not shown) of the electronic casing 1 is supplied to the atomizer 11 through a nickel member (not shown). When the controller 12 is activated by pressing an on/off switch 14, electricity is supplied from the battery 13 to the atomizer 11. An intelligent single chip (i.e., integrated circuit (IC)) of the atomizer 11 is thus activated to power a heating element for vaporizing the liquid. And in turn, the liquid is turned into a vapor which is then inhaled by the user (i.e., simulating tobacco smoking). At the same time, the tobacco smoking simulation data is transmitted to a mobile app as detailed below.
The controller 12 includes a software and hardware assembly (not shown) and a Bluetooth-based board (not shown). The software and hardware assembly and the Bluetooth-based board are disposed separately so that a replacement of any of them can be made easy. Alternatively, they can be disposed as a unit. A microcontroller unit (MCU) 121 for controlling the atomizer 11 and providing data about vapor analysis is provided on the software and hardware assembly. A Bluetooth v4.0 module 122 is provided on the Bluetooth-based board and is connected to the MCU 121. The Bluetooth v4.0 module 122 can transmit in high speed. Further, the Bluetooth v4.0 module 122 can transmit data processed by the MCU 121. Furthermore, the Bluetooth v4.0 module 122 can receive data from an external device and transmit same to the MCU 121.
The battery 13 is electrically connected to the MCU 121 so that electricity can be supplied from the battery 13 to the MCU 121 for its normal operation.
In an exemplary example, one end of the Bluetooth v4.0 module 122 is connected to the MCU 121 and the other end thereof is wirelessly connected to a mobile app which is in turn connected to a cloud services unit. The Bluetooth v4.0 module 122 and the MCU 121 can communicate in both directions simultaneously. Also, the Bluetooth v4.0 module 122 and the mobile app can communicate in both directions simultaneously. Further, the mobile app and the cloud services unit can communicate in both directions simultaneously. Thus, data processed by the MCU 121 (i.e., information) can be transmitted to the mobile app via the Bluetooth v4.0 module 122. And in turn, the mobile app transmits the received information to the cloud services unit.
To the contrary, the mobile app can download data from the cloud services unit. The data is then transmitted to the MCU 121 via the Bluetooth v4.0 module 122. Thus, the MCU 121 can process the received data. Thus, the mobile app can control the vapor concentration when the electronic cigarette is inhaled by a user. Further, date and time of use and simulated tobacco smoking status can be shown on the mobile app. As a result, a user can monitor his/her simulated tobacco smoking status and record same as his/her simulated tobacco smoking history. Further, the smoker can control his/her simulated tobacco smoking habit and even quit simulated tobacco smoking. Furthermore, simulated tobacco smoking data of the user can be stored in the cloud services unit. In addition, the user can download it from the cloud services unit prior to sending it to his/her personal doctor.
In brief, the Bluetooth v4.0 module 122 is employed by the invention to implement a two-direction communication between the electronic cigarette and the mobile app, thereby enabling a user to control his/her simulated tobacco smoking by monitoring what is shown on the mobile app.
While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201410020988.8 | Jan 2014 | CN | national |
