Patent Application
20210219622
The present disclosure relates to non-nicotine electronic vapor devices including self-contained articles including non-nicotine pre-vapor formulations.
Non-nicotine electronic vaping devices are used to vaporize a non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation material into a non-nicotine vapor. These non-nicotine electronic vaping devices may be referred to as non-nicotine e-vaping devices. Non-nicotine e-vaping devices include a heater which vaporizes the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation material to produce non-nicotine vapor. A non-nicotine e-vaping device may include several elements including a power source, a cartridge or tank including the heater and along with a reservoir capable of holding the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation material.
According to at least some example embodiments, a method of controlling a hot wire anemometer (HWA) of a non-nicotine e-vaping device includes controlling, by a first PID controller, a level of power applied by the non-nicotine e-vaping device to the HWA based on a temperature of a heated element of the HWA and a temperature setpoint; generating a puff detection signal indicating whether or not a puff is currently occurring with respect to the non-nicotine e-vaping device; and while the puff detection signal indicates that a puff is not currently occurring with respect to the non-nicotine e-vaping device, detecting, by a second PID controller, a change in an ambient temperature of the HWA; and controlling, by the second PID controller, the temperature setpoint such that the temperature setpoint changes in response to the detected change in the ambient temperature of the HWA.
The controlling of the level of power applied by the non-nicotine e-vaping device to the HWA may include generating, by the first PID controller, a drive signal setting value, the level of power applied by the non-nicotine e-vaping device to the HWA being based on the drive signal setting value.
The method may further include, while the puff detection signal indicates that a puff is currently occurring with respect to the non-nicotine e-vaping device, determining a flow rate of air flowing around the HWA based on the drive signal setting value.
The generating of the puff detection signal may include determining a gradient of the drive signal setting value; and generating the puff detection signal based on the determined gradient of the drive signal setting value.
The method may further include generating a pulse width modulated (PWM) drive signal based on the drive signal setting value; and applying the power to the HWA by applying the PWM drive signal to the HWA.
The generating of the PWM drive signal may include generating the PWM drive signal such that a duty cycle of the PWM is controlled based on the drive signal setting value.
The generating of the drive signal setting value may include generating, by the first PID controller, the drive signal setting value based on a difference between the temperature of a heated element of the HWA and the temperature setpoint.
The detecting of the change in the ambient temperature of the HWA may include detecting, by the second PID controller, the change in the ambient temperature of the HWA based on a difference between the drive signal setting value and a drive signal setting value setpoint.
The detecting of the change in the ambient temperature of the HWA may include detecting, by the second PID controller, the change in the ambient temperature of the HWA based on a difference between the drive signal setting value and a drive signal setting value setpoint.
The controlling of the temperature setpoint may include increasing, by the second PID controller, the temperature setpoint in response to detecting an increase in the ambient temperature of the HWA; and decreasing, by the second PID controller, the temperature setpoint in response to detecting a decrease in the ambient temperature of the HWA.
According to at least some example embodiments, a non-nicotine e-vaping device includes a non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation storage portion for storing a non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation; a heater configured to generate a non-nicotine vapor by heating the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation; a hot wire anemometer (HWA); a first PID controller configured to control a level of power applied by the non-nicotine e-vaping device to the HWA based on a temperature of a heated element of the HWA and a temperature setpoint; a puff detection signal generator configured to generate a puff detection signal indicating whether or not a puff is currently occurring with respect to the non-nicotine e-vaping device; and a second PID controller configured such that, while the puff detection signal indicates that a puff is not currently occurring with respect to the non-nicotine e-vaping device, the second PID controller detects a change in an ambient temperature of the HWA, and the second PID controller controls the temperature setpoint such that the temperature setpoint changes in response to the detected change in the ambient temperature of the HWA.
The first PID controller may be configured to control the level of power applied by the non-nicotine e-vaping device to the HWA by generating a drive signal setting value, the level of power applied by the non-nicotine e-vaping device to the HWA being based on the drive signal setting value.
The second PID controller may be further configured to determine a flow rate of air flowing around the HWA based on the drive signal setting value, while the puff detection signal indicates that a puff is currently occurring with respect to the non-nicotine e-vaping device.
The puff detection signal generator may be configured to determine a gradient of the drive signal setting value, and generate the puff detection signal based on the determined gradient of the drive signal setting value.
The non-nicotine e-vaping device may further include a drive signal generator configured to generate a pulse width modulated (PWM) drive signal based on the drive signal setting value, and apply the power to the HWA by applying the PWM drive signal to the HWA.
The drive signal generator may be configured to control a duty cycle of the PWM drive signal based on the drive signal setting value.
The first PID controller may be configured to generate the drive signal setting value based on a difference between the temperature of a heated element of the HWA and the temperature setpoint.
The second PID controller may be configured to detect the change in the ambient temperature of the HWA based on a difference between the drive signal setting value and a drive signal setting value setpoint.
The second PID controller may be configured to detect the change in the ambient temperature of the HWA based on a difference between the drive signal setting value and a drive signal setting value setpoint.
The second PID controller may be configured to control the temperature setpoint by increasing the temperature setpoint in response to detecting an increase in the ambient temperature of the HWA, and decreasing the temperature setpoint in response to detecting a decrease in the ambient temperature of the HWA.
The various features and advantages of the non-limiting embodiments herein may become more apparent upon review of the detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are merely provided for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted to limit the scope of the claims. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted. For purposes of clarity, various dimensions of the drawings may have been exaggerated.
It should be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,” “coupled to,” or “covering” another element or layer, it may be directly on, connected to, coupled to, or covering the other element or layer or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the specification. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
It should be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, elements, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, elements, regions, layers, and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, element, region, layer, or section from another region, layer, or section. Thus, a first element, element, region, layer, or section discussed below could be termed a second element, element, region, layer, or section without departing from the teachings of example embodiments.
Spatially relative terms (e.g., “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like) may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It should be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the term “below” may encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing various embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or elements, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, elements, and/or groups thereof.
Example embodiments are described herein with reference to cross-sectional illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) of example embodiments. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, example embodiments should not be construed as limited to the shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. The regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the actual shape of a region of a device and are not intended to limit the scope of example embodiments.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, including those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
A “non-nicotine e-vapor device” as used herein may be referred to on occasion using, and considered synonymous with, any of the terms: non-nicotine e-vaping device, non-nicotine e-vapor apparatus, and non-nicotine e-vaping apparatus. Pod assemblies (e.g., pod assembly 300) may also be referred to, herein, as a “pods” or “removable pods.”
The device body 100 includes a front cover 104, a frame 106, and a rear cover 108. The front cover 104, the frame 106, and the rear cover 108 form a device housing that encloses mechanical components, electronic components, and/or circuitry associated with the operation of the non-nicotine e-vaping device 500. For instance, the device housing of the device body 100 may enclose a power source configured to power the non-nicotine e-vaping device 500, which may include supplying an electric current to the pod assembly 300. In addition, when assembled, the front cover 104, the frame 106, and the rear cover 108 may constitute a majority of the visible portion of the device body 100.
The front cover 104 (e.g., first cover) defines a primary opening configured to accommodate a bezel structure 112. The bezel structure 112 defines a through hole 150 configured to receive the pod assembly 300. The through hole 150 is discussed herein in more detail in connection with, for instance,
The front cover 104 also defines a secondary opening configured to accommodate a light guide arrangement. The secondary opening may resemble a slot (e.g., segmented slot), although other shapes are possible depending on the shape of the light guide arrangement. In an example embodiment, the light guide arrangement includes a light guide lens 116. Furthermore, the front cover 104 defines a tertiary opening and a quaternary opening configured to accommodate a first button 118 and a second button 120. Each of the tertiary opening and the quaternary opening may resemble a rounded square, although other shapes are possible depending on the shapes of the buttons. A first button housing 122 is configured to expose a first button lens 124, while a second button housing 123 is configured to expose a second button lens 126.
The operation of the non-nicotine e-vaping device 500 may be controlled by the first button 118 and the second button 120. For instance, the first button 118 may be a power button, and the second button 120 may be an intensity button. Although two buttons are shown in the drawings in connection with the light guide arrangement, it should be understood that more (or less) buttons may be provided depending on the available features and desired user interface.
The frame 106 (e.g., base frame) is the central support structure for the device body 100 (and the non-nicotine e-vaping device 500 as a whole). The frame 106 may be referred to as a chassis. The frame 106 includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a pair of side sections between the proximal end and the distal end. The proximal end and the distal end may also be referred to as the downstream end and the upstream end, respectively. As used herein, “proximal” (and, conversely, “distal”) is in relation to an adult vaper during vaping, and “downstream” (and, conversely, “upstream”) is in relation to a flow of the non-nicotine vapor. A bridging section may be provided between the opposing inner surfaces of the side sections (e.g., about midway along the length of the frame 106) for additional strength and stability. The frame 106 may be integrally formed so as to be a monolithic structure.
With regard to material of construction, the frame 106 may be formed of an alloy or a plastic. The alloy (e.g., die cast grade, machinable grade) may be an aluminum (Al) alloy or a zinc (Zn) alloy. The plastic may be a polycarbonate (PC), an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), or a combination thereof (PC/ABS). For instance, the polycarbonate may be LUPOY SC1004A. Furthermore, the frame 106 may be provided with a surface finish for functional and/or aesthetic reasons (e.g., to provide a premium appearance). In an example embodiment, the frame 106 (e.g., when formed of an aluminum alloy) may be anodized. In another embodiment, the frame 106 (e.g., when formed of a zinc alloy) may be coated with a hard enamel or painted. In another embodiment, the frame 106 (e.g., when formed of a polycarbonate) may be metallized. In yet another embodiment, the frame 106 (e.g., when formed of an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) may be electroplated. It should be understood that the materials of construction with regard to the frame 106 may also be applicable to the front cover 104, the rear cover 108, and/or other appropriate parts of the non-nicotine e-vaping device 500.
The rear cover 108 (e.g., second cover) also defines an opening configured to accommodate the bezel structure 112. The front cover 104 and the rear cover 108 may be configured to engage with the frame 106 via a snap-fit arrangement.
The device body 100 also includes a mouthpiece 102. The mouthpiece 102 may be secured to the proximal end of the frame 106.
For instance, rather than following the contour of the front cover 104 (so as to be relatively flush with the front face of the pod assembly 300 and, thus, obscure the pod inlet 322), the upstream rim of the bezel structure 112 is in a form of a scoop configured to direct ambient air into the pod inlet 322. This angled/scoop configuration may help reduce or prevent the blockage of the air inlet (e.g., pod inlet 322) of the non-nicotine e-vaping device 500. The depth of the scoop may be such that less than half (e.g., less than a quarter) of the upstream end face of the pod assembly 300 is exposed. Additionally, in a non-limiting embodiment, the pod inlet 322 is in a form of a slot. Furthermore, if the device body 100 is regarded as extending in a first direction, then the slot may be regarded as extending in a second direction, wherein the second direction is transverse to the first direction.
Additionally, the pod assembly 300 may be a “smart pod” that includes electronic components and/or circuitry configured to store, receive, and/or transmit information to/from the device body 100. Such information may be used to authenticate the pod assembly 300 for use with the device body 100 (e.g., to prevent usage of an unapproved/counterfeit pod assembly). Furthermore, the information may be used to identify a type of the pod assembly 300 which is then correlated with a vaping profile based on the identified type. The vaping profile may be designed to set forth the general parameters for the heating of the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation and may be subject to tuning, refining, or other adjustment by an adult vaper before and/or during vaping.
The pod assembly 300 may also communicate with the device body 100 other information that may be relevant to the operation of the non-nicotine e-vaping device 500. Examples of relevant information may include a level of the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation within the pod assembly 300 and/or a length of time that has passed since the pod assembly 300 was inserted into the device body 100 and activated.
The device body 100 may include mechanical components (e.g. complementary structures) configured to engage, hold, and/or activate the pod assembly 300. In addition, the device body 100 may include electronic components and/or circuitry configured to receive an electric current to charge an internal power source (e.g., battery) which, in turn, is configured to supply power to the pod assembly 300 during vaping. Furthermore, the device body 100 may include electronic components and/or circuitry configured to communicate with the pod assembly 300, a different non-nicotine e-vaping device, other electronic devices (e.g., phone, tablet, computer), and/or the adult vaper.
The downstream sidewall of the bezel structure 112 may define a first downstream opening, a second downstream opening, and a third downstream opening. A retention structure including a first downstream protrusion 130a and a second downstream protrusion 130b is engaged with the bezel structure 112 such that the first downstream protrusion 130a and the second downstream protrusion 130b protrude through the first downstream opening and the second downstream opening, respectively, of the bezel structure 112 and into the through hole 150.
The pod assembly 300 includes a connector module 320 (e.g.,
In an example embodiment, the pod assembly 300 includes a front face, a rear face opposite the front face, a first side face between the front face and the rear face, a second side face opposite the first side face, an upstream end face, and a downstream end face opposite the upstream end face. The corners of the side and end faces (e.g., corner of the first side face and the upstream end face, corner of upstream end face and the second side face, corner of the second side face and the downstream end face, corner of the downstream end face and the first side face) may be rounded. However, in some instances, the corners may be angular. In addition, the peripheral edge of the front face may be in a form of a ledge. The external face of the connector module 320 (that is exposed by the pod body) may be regarded as being part of the upstream end face of the pod assembly 300. The front face of the pod assembly 300 may be wider and longer than the rear face. In such an instance, the first side face and the second side face may be angled inwards towards each other. The upstream end face and the downstream end face may also be angled inwards towards each other. Because of the angled faces, the insertion of the pod assembly 300 will be unidirectional (e.g., from the front side (side associated with the front cover 104) of the device body 100). As a result, the possibility that the pod assembly 300 will be improperly inserted into the device body 100 can be reduced or prevented.
As illustrated, the pod body of the pod assembly 300 includes a first housing section 302 and a second housing section 308. The first housing section 302 has a downstream end defining the pod outlet 304. The rim of the pod outlet 304 may optionally be a sunken or indented region. In such an instance, this region may resemble a cove, wherein the side of the rim adjacent to the rear face of the pod assembly 300 may be open, while the side of the rim adjacent to the front face may be surrounded by a raised portion of the downstream end of the first housing section 302. The raised portion may function as a stopper for the distal end of the mouthpiece 102. As a result, this configuration for the pod outlet 304 may facilitate the receiving and aligning of the distal end of the mouthpiece 102 (e.g.,
The downstream end of the first housing section 302 additionally defines at least one downstream recess. In an example embodiment, the at least one downstream recess is in a form of a first downstream recess 306a and a second downstream recess 306b. The pod outlet 304 may be between the first downstream recess 306a and the second downstream recess 306b. The first downstream recess 306a and the second downstream recess 306b are configured to engage with the first downstream protrusion 130a and the second downstream protrusion 130b, respectively, of the device body 100. As shown in
The second housing section 308 has an upstream end further defining (in addition to the pod inlet 322) a plurality of openings (e.g., first power contact opening 325a, second power contact opening 325b, data contact opening 327) configured to expose the connector module 320 (
The first housing section 302 may define a reservoir within configured to hold the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation. The reservoir may be configured to hermetically seal the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation until an activation of the pod assembly 300 to release the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation from the reservoir. As a result of the hermetic seal, the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation may be isolated from the environment as well as the internal elements of the pod assembly 300 that may potentially react with the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation, thereby reducing or preventing the possibility of adverse effects to the shelf-life and/or sensorial characteristics (e.g., flavor) of the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation. The second housing section 308 may contain structures configured to activate the pod assembly 300 and to receive and heat the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation released from the reservoir after the activation.
The pod assembly 300 may be activated manually by an adult vaper prior to the insertion of the pod assembly 300 into the device body 100. Alternatively, the pod assembly 300 may be activated as part of the insertion of the pod assembly 300 into the device body 100. In an example embodiment, the second housing section 308 of the pod body includes a perforator configured to release the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation from the reservoir in the first housing section 302 during the activation of the pod assembly 300. The perforator may be in a form of a first activation pin 314a and a second activation pin 314b, which will be discussed in more detail herein.
To activate the pod assembly 300 manually, an adult vaper may press the first activation pin 314a and the second activation pin 314b inward (e.g., simultaneously or sequentially) prior to inserting the pod assembly 300 into the through hole 150 of the device body 100. For instance, the first activation pin 314a and the second activation pin 314b may be manually pressed until the ends thereof are substantially even with the upstream end face of the pod assembly 300. In an example embodiment, the inward movement of the first activation pin 314a and the second activation pin 314b causes a seal of the reservoir to be punctured or otherwise compromised so as to release the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation therefrom.
Alternatively, to activate the pod assembly 300 as part of the insertion of the pod assembly 300 into the device body 100, the pod assembly 300 is initially positioned such that the first upstream recess 312a and the second upstream recess 312b are engaged with the first upstream protrusion 128a and the second upstream protrusion 128b, respectively (e.g., upstream engagement). Because each of the first upstream protrusion 128a and the second upstream protrusion 128b of the device body 100 may be in a form of a rounded knob configured to engage with a corresponding U-shaped indentation of the first upstream recess 312a and the second upstream recess 312b, the pod assembly 300 may be subsequently pivoted with relative ease about the first upstream protrusion 128a and the second upstream protrusion 128b and into the through hole 150 of the device body 100.
With regard to the pivoting of the pod assembly 300, the axis of rotation may be regarded as extending through the first upstream protrusion 128a and the second upstream protrusion 128b and oriented orthogonally to a longitudinal axis of the device body 100. During the initial positioning and subsequent pivoting of the pod assembly 300, the first activation pin 314a and the second activation pin 314b will come into contact with the upstream sidewall of the through hole 150 and transition from a protracted state to a retracted state as the first activation pin 314a and the second activation pin 314b are pushed (e.g., simultaneously) into the second housing section 308 as the pod assembly 300 progresses into the through hole 150. When the downstream end of the pod assembly 300 reaches the vicinity of the downstream sidewall of the through hole 150 and comes into contact with the first downstream protrusion 130a and the second downstream protrusion 130b, the first downstream protrusion 130a and the second downstream protrusion 130b will retract and then resiliently protract (e.g., spring back) when the positioning of the pod assembly 300 allows the first downstream protrusion 130a and the second downstream protrusion 130b of the device body 100 to engage with the first downstream recess 306a and the second downstream recess 306b, respectively, of the pod assembly 300 (e.g., downstream engagement).
As noted supra, according to an example embodiment, the mouthpiece 102 is secured to the retention structure 140 (of which the first downstream protrusion 130a and the second downstream protrusion 130b are a part). In such an instance, the retraction of the first downstream protrusion 130a and the second downstream protrusion 130b from the through hole 150 will cause a simultaneous shift of the mouthpiece 102 by a corresponding distance in the same direction (e.g., downstream direction). Conversely, the mouthpiece 102 will spring back simultaneously with the first downstream protrusion 130a and the second downstream protrusion 130b when the pod assembly 300 has been sufficiently inserted to facilitate downstream engagement. In addition to the resilient engagement by the first downstream protrusion 130a and the second downstream protrusion 130b, the distal end of the mouthpiece 102 is configured to also be biased against the pod assembly 300 (and aligned with the pod outlet 304 so as to form a relatively vapor-tight seal) when the pod assembly 300 is properly seated within the through hole 150 of the device body 100.
Furthermore, the downstream engagement may produce an audible click and/or a haptic feedback to indicate that the pod assembly 300 is properly seated within the through hole 150 of the device body 100. When properly seated, the pod assembly 300 will be connected to the device body 100 mechanically, electrically, and fluidically. Although the non-limiting embodiments herein describe the upstream engagement of the pod assembly 300 as occurring before the downstream engagement, it should be understood that the pertinent mating, activation, and/or electrical arrangements may be reversed such that the downstream engagement occurs before the upstream engagement.
The upstream end of the second housing section 308 defines a pod inlet 322, a first power contact opening 325a, a second power contact opening 325b, a data contact opening 327, a first upstream recess 312a, a second upstream recess 312b, a first pin opening 315a, and a second pin opening 315b. As noted supra, the pod inlet 322 allows air to enter the pod assembly 300 during vaping, while the first power contact opening 325a, the second power contact opening 325b, and the data contact opening 327 are configured to expose the first power contact 324a, the second power contact 324b, and the data contacts 326, respectively, of the connector module 320. In an example embodiment, the first power contact 324a and the second power contact 324b are mounted on a module housing 354 of the connector module 320. In addition, the data contacts 326 may be disposed on a printed circuit board (PCB) 362. Furthermore, the pod inlet 322 may be situated between the first upstream recess 312a and the second upstream recess 312b, while the contact openings (e.g., first power contact opening 325a, second power contact opening 325b, data contact opening 327) may be situated between the first pin opening 315a and the second pin opening 315b. The first pin opening 315a and the second pin opening 315b are configured to accommodate the first activation pin 314a and the second activation pin 314b, respectively, which extend therethrough.
The pod assembly 300 defines a flow path within from the pod inlet 322 to the pod outlet 304. The flow path through the pod assembly 300 includes, inter alia, a first diverged portion, a second diverged portion, and a converged portion. The pod inlet 322 is upstream from the first diverged portion and the second diverged portion of the flow path. In particular, as shown in
The pair of longer side faces (e.g., vertical side faces) of the module housing 354 is also recessed so as to define subsequent segments of the first diverged portion and the second diverged portion of the flow path. Herein, the pair of longer side faces of the module housing 354 may be referred to, in the alternative, as lateral faces. The sector of the module housing 354 covered by the printed circuit board (PCB) 362 in
When the connector module 320 is seated within a receiving cavity in the downstream side of the second housing section 308, the unrecessed side faces of the module housing 354 interface with the sidewalls of the receiving cavity of the second housing section 308, while the recessed side faces of the module housing 354 together with the sidewalls of the receiving cavity define the first diverged portion and the second diverged portion of the flow path. The seating of the connector module 320 within the receiving cavity of the second housing section 308 may be via a close-fit arrangement such that the connector module 320 remains essentially stationary within the pod assembly 300.
As shown in
In an example embodiment, an incoming air flow entering the pod assembly 300 through the pod inlet 322 is directed by the divider 329 into the first diverged portion and the second diverged portion of the flow path. The divider 329 may be wedge-shaped and configured to split the incoming air flow into opposite directions (e.g., at least initially). The split air flow may include a first air flow (that travels through the first diverged portion of the flow path) and a second air flow (that travels through the second diverged portion of the flow path). Following the split by the divider 329, the first air flow travels along the inlet side face and continues around the corner to and along the first lateral face to the first curved path 330a. Similarly, the second air flow travels along the inlet side face and continues around the corner to and along the second lateral face to the second curved path 330b (e.g.,
According to at least some example embodiments, the wick 338 may be a fibrous pad or other structure with pores/interstices designed for capillary action. In addition, the wick 338 may have a rectangular shape, although example embodiments are not limited thereto. For instance, the wick 338 may have an alternative shape of an irregular hexagon, wherein two of the sides are angled inward and toward the heater 336. The wick 338 may be fabricated into the desired shape or cut from a larger sheet of material into such a shape. Where the lower section of the wick 338 is tapered towards the winding section of the heater 336 (e.g., hexagon shape), the likelihood of the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation being in a part of the wick 338 that continuously evades vaporization (due to its distance from the heater 336) can be reduced or avoided. Furthermore, as noted supra, the heater 336 may include a folded heating element configured to grip the wick 338. The folded heating element may also include at least one prong configured to protrude into the wick 338.
In an example embodiment, the heater 336 is configured to undergo Joule heating (which is also known as ohmic/resistive heating) upon the application of an electric current thereto. Stated in more detail, the heater 336 may be formed of one or more conductors and configured to produce heat when an electric current passes therethrough. The electric current may be supplied from a power source (e.g., battery) within the device body 100 and conveyed to the heater 336 via the first power contact 324a or the second power contact 324b.
Suitable conductors for the heater 336 include an iron-based alloy (e.g., stainless steel) and/or a nickel-based alloy (e.g., nichrome). The heater 336 may be fabricated from a conductive sheet (e.g., metal, alloy) that is stamped to cut a winding pattern therefrom. The winding pattern may have curved segments alternately arranged with horizontal segments so as to allow the horizontal segments to zigzag back and forth while extending in parallel. In addition, a width of each of the horizontal segments of the winding pattern may be substantially equal to a spacing between adjacent horizontal segments of the winding pattern, although example embodiments are not limited thereto. To obtain the form of the heater 336 shown in the drawings, the winding pattern may be folded so as to grip the wick 338. Additionally, when prongs are part of the heater 336, the projections corresponding to the prongs are bent (e.g., inward and/or orthogonally) before the winding pattern is folded. As a result of the prongs, the possibility that the wick 338 will slip out of the heater 336 will be reduced or prevented. The heater and associated structures are discussed in more detail in U.S. application Ser. No. 15/729,909, titled “Folded Heater For Electronic Vaping Device” (Atty. Dkt. No. 24000-000371-US), filed Oct. 11, 2017, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Referring to
According to at least some example embodiments, the insert 342 includes a holder portion that projects from the upstream side and a connector portion that projects from the downstream side. According to at least some example embodiments, the holder portion of the insert 342 is configured to hold an absorbent material, while a connector portion of the insert 342 is configured to engage with the vapor channel 316 of the first housing section 302. The connector portion of the insert 342 may be configured to be seated within the vapor channel 316 and, thus, engage the interior of the vapor channel 316. Alternatively, the connector portion of the insert 342 may be configured to receive the vapor channel 316 and, thus, engage with the exterior of the vapor channel 316. The insert 342 also defines reservoir outlets through which the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation flows when the seal 344 is punctured during the activation of the pod assembly 300. The holder portion and the connector portion of the insert 342 may be between the reservoir outlets (e.g., first and second reservoir outlets), although example embodiments are not limited thereto. Furthermore, the insert 342 defines a vapor conduit extending through the holder portion and the connector portion. As a result, when the insert 342 is seated within the first housing section 302, the vapor conduit of the insert 342 will be aligned with and in fluidic communication with the vapor channel 316 so as to form a continuous path through the reservoir to the pod outlet 304 for the non-nicotine vapor generated by the heater 336 during vaping.
The seal 344 is attached to the upstream side of the insert 342 so as to cover the reservoir outlets in the insert 342. In an example embodiment, the seal 344 defines an opening (e.g., central opening) configured to provide the pertinent clearance to accommodate the holder portion (that projects from the upstream side of the insert 342) when the seal 344 is attached to the insert 342. When the seal 344 is punctured by the first activation pin 314a and the second activation pin 314b of the pod assembly 300, the two punctured sections of the seal 344 will be pushed into the reservoir as flaps, thus creating two punctured openings (e.g., one on each side of the central opening) in the seal 344. The size and shape of the punctured openings in the seal 344 may correspond to the size and shape of the reservoir outlets in the insert 342. In contrast, when in an unpunctured state, the seal 344 may have a planar form and only one opening (e.g., central opening). The seal 344 is designed to be strong enough to remain intact during the normal movement and/or handling of the pod assembly 300 so as to avoid being prematurely/inadvertently breached. For instance, the seal 344 may be a coated foil (e.g., aluminum-backed Tritan).
The second housing section 308 may be structured to contain various components configured to release, receive, and heat the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation. For instance, the first activation pin 314a and the second activation pin 314b are configured to puncture the reservoir in the first housing section 302 to release the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation. Each of the first activation pin 314a and the second activation pin 314b has a distal end that extends through a corresponding one of the first pin opening 315a and the second pin opening 315b in the second housing section 308. In an example embodiment, the distal ends of the first activation pin 314a and the second activation pin 314b are visible after assembly (e.g.,
An absorbent material may be downstream from and in fluidic communication with the wick 338. Furthermore, as noted supra, the absorbent material may be configured to engage with a holder portion of the insert 342 (which may project from the upstream side of the insert 342). The absorbent material may have an annular form, although example embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the absorbent material may resemble a hollow cylinder. In such an instance, the outer diameter of the absorbent material may be substantially equal to (or slightly larger than) the length of the wick 338. The inner diameter of the absorbent material may be smaller than the average outer diameter of the holder portion of the insert 342 so as to result in an interference fit. To facilitate the engagement with the absorbent material, the tip of the holder portion of the insert 342 may be tapered. The absorbent material may be configured to receive and hold a quantity of the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation released from the reservoir when the pod assembly 300 is activated. The wick 338 may be positioned within the pod assembly 300 so as to be in fluidic communication with the absorbent material such that the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation can be drawn from the absorbent material to the heater 336 via capillary action. The wick 338 may physically contact an upstream side of the absorbent material. In addition, the wick 338 may be aligned with a diameter of the absorbent material, although example embodiments are not limited thereto.
As illustrated in
As noted supra, the flow path for the air drawn into the pod assembly 300 includes a first diverged portion, a second diverged portion, and a converged portion defined by the module housing 354. In an example embodiment, the first diverged portion and the second diverged portion are symmetrical portions bisected by an axis corresponding to the converged portion of the flow path. For instance, as shown in
As illustrated in
The printed circuit board (PCB) 362 includes the plurality of data contacts 326 on its upstream side (e.g.,
The module outlet 368 may be a resistance-to-draw (RTD) port. In such a configuration, the resistance-to-draw for the non-nicotine e-vaping device 500 may be adjusted by changing the size of the module outlet 368 (rather than changing the size of the pod inlet 322). In an example embodiment, the size of the module outlet 368 may be selected such that the resistance-to-draw is between 25-100 mmH2O (e.g., between 30-50 mmH2O). For instance, a diameter of 1.0 mm for the module outlet 368 may result in a resistance-to-draw of 88.3 mmH2O. In another instance, a diameter of 1.1 mm for the module outlet 368 may result in a resistance-to-draw of 73.6 mmH2O. In another instance, a diameter of 1.2 mm for the module outlet 368 may result in a resistance-to-draw of 58.7 mmH2O. In yet another instance, a diameter of 1.3 mm for the module outlet 368 may result in a resistance-to-draw of about 40-43 mmH2O. Notably, the size of the module outlet 368, because of its internal arrangement, may be adjusted without affecting the external aesthetics of the pod assembly 300, thereby allowing for a more standardized product design for pod assemblies with various resistance-to-draw (RTD) while also reducing the likelihood of an inadvertent blockage of the incoming air.
The device system 2100 includes a controller 2105, a power supply 2110, actuator controls 2115, a pod electrical/data interface 2120, device sensors 2125, input/output (I/O) interfaces 2130, vaper indicators 2135, at least one antenna 2140 and a storage medium 2145. The device system 2100 is not limited to the features shown in
The controller 2105 may be hardware, firmware, hardware executing software or any combination thereof. When the controller 2105 is hardware, such existing hardware may include one or more Central Processing Units (CPUs), microprocessors, processor cores, multiprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific-integrated-circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) computers or the like configured as special purpose machines to perform the functions of the controller 2105. CPUs, microprocessors, processor cores, multiprocessors, DSPs, ASICs and FPGAs may generally be referred to as processing devices.
In the event where the controller 2105 is, or includes, a processor executing software, the controller 2105 is configured as a special purpose machine (e.g., a processing device) to execute the software, stored in memory accessible by the controller 2105 (e.g., the storage medium 2145 or another storage device), to perform the functions of the controller 2105. The software may be embodied as program code including instructions for performing and/or controlling any or all operations described herein as being performed by the controller 2105 or the controller 2105A (
As disclosed herein, the term “storage medium”, “computer readable storage medium” or “non-transitory computer readable storage medium” may represent one or more devices for storing data, including read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic RAM, core memory, magnetic disk storage mediums, optical storage mediums, flash memory devices and/or other tangible machine readable mediums for storing information. The term “computer-readable medium” may include, but is not limited to, portable or fixed storage devices, optical storage devices, and various other mediums capable of storing, containing or carrying instruction(s) and/or data.
Returning to
The controller 2105 communicates with a cryptographic coprocessor with non-volatile memory (CC-NVM) or non-volatile memory (NVM) in the pod assembly 300 through the pod electrical/data interface 2120. The term CC-NVM may refer to a hardware module(s) including a processor for encryption and related processing and an NVM. More specifically, the controller 2105 may utilize encryption to authenticate the pod assembly 300. As will be described, the controller 2105 communicates with the CC-NVM package or NVM to authenticate the pod assembly 300. More specifically, the non-volatile memory may be encoded during manufacture with product and other information for authentication.
The memory device may be coded with an electronic identity to permit at least one of an authentication of the pod assembly 300 and a pairing of operating parameters specific to a type of the pod assembly 300 (or physical construction, such as a heating engine type) when the pod assembly 300 is inserted into the device body 100. In addition to authenticating based on an electronic identity of the pod assembly 300, the controller 2105 may authorize use of the pod assembly 300 based on an expiration date of the stored non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation and/or heater encoded into the NVM or the non-volatile memory of the CC-NVM. If the controller determines that the expiration date encoded into the non-volatile memory has passed, the controller may not authorize use of the pod assembly 300 and disable the non-nicotine e-vaping device 500.
The controller 2105 (or storage medium 2145) stores key material and proprietary algorithm software for the encryption. For example, encryption algorithms rely on the use of random numbers. The security of these algorithms depends on how truly random these numbers are. These numbers are usually pre-generated and coded into the processor or memory devices. Example embodiments may increase the randomness of the numbers used for the encryption by using the vapor drawing parameters e.g., durations of instances of vapor drawing, intervals between instances of vapor drawing, or combinations of them, to generate numbers that are more random and more varying from individual to individual than pre-generated random numbers. All communications between the controller 2105 and the pod assembly 300 may be encrypted.
Moreover, the pod assembly 300 can be used as a general pay-load carrier for other information such as software patches for the non-nicotine e-vaping device 500. Since encryption is used in all the communications between the pod assembly 300 and the controller 2105, such information is more secure and the non-nicotine e-vaping device 500 is less prone to being installed with malwares or viruses. Use of the CC-NVM as an information carrier such as data and software updates allows the non-nicotine e-vaping device 500 to be updated with software without it being connected to the Internet and for an adult vaper to go through a downloading process as with most other consumer electronics devices requiring periodic software updates.
The controller 2105 may also include a cryptographic accelerator to allow resources of the controller 2105 to perform functions other than the encoding and decoding involved with the authentication. The controller 2105 may also include other security features such as preventing unauthorized use of communication channels and preventing unauthorized access to data if a pod or adult vaper is not authenticated.
In addition to a cryptographic accelerator, the controller 2105 may include other hardware accelerators. For example, the controller 2105 may include a floating point unit (FPU), a separate DSP core, digital filters and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) modules.
The controller 2105 is configured to operate a real time operating system (RTOS), control the device system 2100 and may be updated through communicating with the NVM or CC-NVM or when the device system 2100 is connected with other devices (e.g., a smart phone) through the I/O interfaces 2130 and/or the antenna 2140. The I/O interfaces 2130 and the antenna 2140 allow the device system 2100 to connect to various external devices such as smart phones, tablets, and PCs. For example, the I/O interfaces 2130 may include a micro-USB connector. The micro-USB connector may be used by the device system 2100 to charge the power source 2110b.
The controller 2105 may include on-board RAM and flash memory to store and execute code including analytics, diagnostics and software upgrades. As an alternative, the storage medium 2145 may store the code. Additionally, in another example embodiment, the storage medium 2145 may be on-board the controller 2105.
The controller 2105 may further include on-board clock, reset and power management modules to reduce an area covered by a PCB in the device body 100.
The device sensors 2125 may include a number of sensor transducers that provide measurement information to the controller 2105. The device sensors 2125 may include a power supply temperature sensor, an external pod temperature sensor, a current sensor for the heater, power supply current sensor, air flow sensor and an accelerometer to monitor movement and orientation. The power supply temperature sensor and external pod temperature sensor may be a thermistor or thermocouple and the current sensor for the heater and power supply current sensor may be a resistive based sensor or another type of sensor configured to measure current. The air flow sensor may be a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) flow sensor or another type of sensor configured to measure air flow such as a hot-wire anemometer. Further, as will be discussed in greater detail below with reference to
The data generated from one or more of the device sensors 2125 may be sampled at a sample rate appropriate to the parameter being measured using a discrete, multi-channel analog-to-digital converter (ADC).
The controller 2105 may adapt heater profiles for a non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation and other profiles based on the measurement information received from the controller 2105. For the sake of convenience, these are generally referred to as vaping or vapor profiles. The heater profile identifies the power profile to be supplied to the heater during the few seconds when vapor drawing takes place. For example, a heater profile can deliver maximum power to the heater when an instance of vapor drawing is initiated, but then after a second or so immediately reduce the power to half way or a quarter way. According to at least some example embodiments, the modulation of electrical power provided to the heater is may be implemented using pulse width modulation.
In addition, a heater profile can also be modified based on a negative pressure applied on the non-nicotine e-vaping device 500. The use of the MEMS flow sensor allows vapor drawing strength to be measured and used as feedback to the controller 2105 to adjust the power delivered to the heater of the pod, which may be referred to as heating or energy delivery.
According to at least some example embodiments, when the controller 2105 recognizes the pod is currently installed (e.g., via SKU), the controller 2105 matches an associated heating profile that is designed for that particular pod. The controller 2105 and the storage medium 2145 will store data and algorithms that allow the generation of heating profiles for all SKUs. In another example embodiment, the controller 2105 may read the heating profile from the pod. The adult vapers may also adjust heating profiles to suit their preferences.
As shown in
The power source 2110b may be a Lithium-ion battery or one of its variants, for example a Lithium-ion polymer battery. Alternatively, the power source 2110b may be a Nickel-metal hydride battery, a Nickel cadmium battery, a Lithium-manganese battery, a Lithium-cobalt battery or a fuel cell. Alternatively, the power source 2110b may be rechargeable and include circuitry allowing the battery to be chargeable by an external charging device. In that case, the circuitry, when charged, provides power for a desired (or alternatively a pre-determined) number of instances of vapor drawing, after which the circuitry must be re-connected to an external charging device.
The power controller 2110a provides commands to the power source 2110b based on instructions from the controller 2105. For example, the power supply 2110 may receive a command from the controller 2105 to provide power to the pod (through the pod electrical/data interface 2120) when the pod is authenticated and the adult vaper activates the device system 2100 (e.g., by activating a switch such as a toggle button, capacitive sensor, IR sensor). When the pod is not authenticated, the controller 2105 may either send no command to the power supply 2110 or send an instruction to the power supply 2110 to not provide power. In another example embodiment, the controller 2105 may disable all operations of the device system 2100 if the pod is not authenticated.
In addition to supplying power to the pod, the power supply 2110 also supplies power to the controller 2105. Moreover, the power controller 2110a may provide feedback to the controller 2105 indicating performance of the power source 2110b.
The controller 2105 sends data to and receives data from the at least one antenna 2140. The at least one antenna 2140 may include a Near Field Communication (NFC) modem and a Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) modem and/or other modems for other wireless technologies (e.g., Wi-Fi). In an example embodiment, the communications stacks are in the modems, but the modems are controlled by the controller 2105. The Bluetooth LE modem is used for data and control communications with an application on an external device (e.g., smart phone). The NFC modem may be used for pairing of the non-nicotine e-vaping device 500 to the application and retrieval of diagnostic information. Moreover, the Bluetooth LE modem may be used to provide location information (for an adult vaper to find the non-nicotine e-vaping device 500) or authentication during a purchase.
As described above, the device system 2100 may generate and adjust various profiles for vaping. The controller 2105 uses the power supply 2110 and the actuator controls 2115 to regulate the profile for the adult vaper.
The actuator controls 2115 include passive and active actuators to regulate a desired vapor profile. For example, the device body 100 may include an inlet channel within a mouthpiece. The actuator controls 2115 may control the inlet channel based on commands from the controller 2105 associated with the desired vapor profile.
Moreover, the actuator controls 2115 are used to energize the heater in conjunction with the power supply 2110. More specifically, the actuator controls 2115 are configured to generate a drive waveform associated with the desired vaping profile. As described above, each possible profile is associated with a drive waveform. Upon receiving a command from the controller 2105 indicating the desired vaping profile, the actuator controls 2115 may produce the associated modulating waveform for the power supply 2110.
The controller 2105 supplies information to the vaper indicators 2135 to indicate statuses and occurring operations to the adult vaper. The vaper indicators 2135 include a power indicator (e.g., LED) that may be activated when the controller 2105 senses a button pressed by the adult vaper. The vaper indicators 2135 may also include a vibrator, speaker, an indicator for a current state of an adult vaper-controlled vaping parameter (e.g., vapor volume) and other feedback mechanisms.
Once the pod assembly 300 is authenticated, the controller 2105 operates the power supply 2110, the actuator controls 2115, vaper indicators 2135 and antenna 2140 in accordance with the adult vaper using the non-nicotine e-vaping device 500 and the information stored by the NVM or CC-NVM on the pod. Moreover, the controller 2105 may include logging functions and be able to implement algorithms to calibrate the non-nicotine e-vaping device 500. The logging functions are executed by the controller 2105 to record usage data as well any unexpected events or faults. The recorded usage data may be used for diagnostics and analytics. The controller 2105 may calibrate the non-nicotine e-vaping device 500 using buttonless vaping (i.e., vaping without pressing a button such as generating a non-nicotine vapor when a negative pressure is applied on the mouthpiece), an adult vaper configuration and the stored information on the CC-NVM or NVM including vapor drawing sensing, non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation level and non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation composition. For example, the controller 2105 may command the power supply 2110 to supply power to the heater in the pod based on a vaping profile associated with the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation composition in the pod. Alternatively, a vaping profile may be encoded in the CC-NVM or NVM and utilized by the controller 2105.
As shown in
In another example embodiment, the pod assembly 300 may not have a cryptographic coprocessor. For example,
As is shown in
The non-volatile memory 2205b may be coded with an electronic identity to permit at least one of an authentication of the pod and a pairing of operating parameters specific to a type of the pod when the pod assembly is inserted into the through-hole of the device body 100. In addition to authenticating based on an electronic identity of the pod, the controller 2105 may authorize use of the pod based on an expiration date of the stored non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation and/or encoded into the non-volatile memory 2205b. If the controller determines that the expiration date encoded into the non-volatile memory non-volatile memory 2205b has passed, the controller may not authorize use of the pod and disable the non-nicotine e-vaping device 500.
Moreover, the non-volatile memory 2205b may store information such as a stock keeping unit (SKU) of the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation in the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation compartment (including non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation composition), software patches for the device system 2100, product usage information such as vapor drawing instance count, vapor drawing instance duration, and non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation level. The non-volatile memory 2205b may store operating parameters specific to the type of the pod and the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation composition. For example, the non-volatile memory 2205b may store the electrical and mechanical design of the pod for use by the controller 2105 to determine commands corresponding to a desired vaping profile.
The non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation level in the pod may be determined in one of two ways, for example. In one example embodiment, one of the pod sensors 2220 directly measures the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation level in the pod.
In another example embodiment, the non-volatile memory 2205b stores the vapor drawing instance count from the pod and the controller 2105 uses the vapor drawing instance count as a proxy to the amount of non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation vaporized.
The controller 2105 and/or the storage medium 2145 may store non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation calibration data that identifies an operating point for the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation composition. The non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation calibration data include data describing how non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation flow rate changes with a remaining non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation level or how volatility changes with an age of the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation and may be used for calibration by the controller 2105. The non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation calibration data may be stored by the controller 2105 and/or the storage medium 2145 in a table format. The non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation calibration data allows the controller 2105 to equate the vapor drawing instance count to the amount of non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation vaporized.
The controller 2105 writes the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation level and vapor drawing instance count back to the non-volatile memory 2205b in the pod so if the pod is removed from the device body 100 and later on re-installed, an accurate non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation level of the pod will still be known by the controller 2105.
The operating parameters (e.g., power supply, power duration, air channel control) are referred to as a vaping profile. Moreover, the non-volatile memory 2205b may record information communicated by the controller 2105. The non-volatile memory 2205b may retain the recorded information even when the device body 100 becomes disconnected from the pod.
In an example embodiment, the non-volatile memory 2205b may be a programmable read only memory.
The heater 2215 is actuated by the controller 2105 and transfers heat to at least a portion of the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation in the pod assembly 300, for example, in accordance with the commanded profile (volume, temperature (based on power profile) and flavor) from the controller 2105.
The heater 2215 may be a planar body, a ceramic body, a single wire, a cage of resistive wire, a wire coil surrounding a wick, a mesh, a surface or any other suitable form for example. Examples of suitable electrically resistive materials include titanium, zirconium, tantalum and metals from the platinum group. Examples of suitable metal alloys include stainless steel, nickel-, cobalt-, chromium-, aluminum- titanium- zirconium-, hafnium-, niobium-, molybdenum-, tantalum-, tungsten-, tin-, gallium-, manganese- and iron-containing alloys, and super-alloys based on nickel, iron, cobalt, stainless steel. For example, the heater may be formed of nickel aluminides, a material with a layer of alumina on the surface, iron aluminides and other composite materials, the electrically resistive material may optionally be embedded in, encapsulated or coated with an insulating material or vice-versa, depending on the kinetics of energy transfer and the external physicochemical properties required. In one embodiment, the heater 2215 comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, copper, copper alloys, nickel-chromium alloys, superalloys and combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the heater 2215 is formed of nickel-chromium alloys or iron-chromium alloys. In one embodiment, the heater 2215 can be a ceramic heater having an electrically resistive layer on an outside surface thereof.
In another embodiment, the heater 2215 may be constructed of an iron-aluminide (e.g., FeAl or Fe3Al), such as those described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,706 to Sikka et al. filed Dec. 29, 1994, or nickel aluminides (e.g., Ni.sub.3A1), the entire contents of which are hereby incorporate by reference.
The heater 2215 may determine an amount of non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation to heat based on feedback from the pod sensors or the controller 2105. The flow of non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation may be regulated by a micro-capillary or wicking action. Moreover, the controller 2105 may send commands to the heater 2215 to adjust an air inlet to the heater 2215.
The data generated from the pod sensors 2220 may be sampled at a sample rate appropriate to the parameter being measured using a discrete, multi-channel analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The pod sensors 2220 may include, for example, a heater temperature sensor, non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation flow rate monitor, an air flow sensor and a puff detector. According to at least one example embodiment, the heater temperature sensor may be a thermistor or thermocouple and the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation flow rate sensing may be performed by the pod system 2200 using electrostatic interference or an in-non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation rotator.
Pod sensors 2220 may also include a hot wire anemometer (HWA) 2220A. The HWA 2220A provides an air flow rate sensing function and may also be referred to in the present specification as the flow sensor 2220A. Further, as is discussed in greater detail below in
As used in the present specification, the term “ambient temperature” when used with respect to an HWA or a flow sensor may refer to a temperature of air in an immediate vicinity of the HWA or flow sensor. For example, when at least the heated element of the HWA (or flow sensor) 2220A is inside in the pod assembly 300, the ambient temperature of the HWA (or flow sensor) 2220A may refer to a temperature of the air within the pod assembly 300 surrounding the heated element of the HWA (or flow sensor 2220A). According to at least some example embodiments, if a temperature of the air within the pod assembly 300 is substantially uniform (e.g., when non-nicotine vapor is not currently being drawn through outlets of the non-nicotine e-vaping device 500 and/or when the heater 2215 is not currently being actuated), a reference to the “ambient temperature” of the HWA (or flow sensor) 2220A in the present specification may refer to a temperature of the air within the pod assembly 300, generally.
As will be discussed in greater detail below with reference to
According to at least some example embodiments, the HWA 2220A may be (or be included in) the sensor 364 of
As is illustrated in
Referring to
The flow sensor 2220A is driven by a pulse width modulated (PWM) drive signal 2526 which is generated by the drive signal generation function 2522. According to at least some example embodiments, the drive signal generation function 2522 generates the PWM drive signal 2526 and applies the PWM drive signal 2526 to the flow sensor 2220A by controlling the power supply 2110 to generate the PWM drive signal 2526 and apply the PWM drive signal to the flow sensor 2220A (e.g., via the pod electrical/data interface 2120). Applying the PWM drive signal 2526 to the flow sensor 2220A causes the heated element of the flow sensor 2220A to accumulate heat thus increasing a temperature of the heated element. For example,
Returning to
For example, according to at least some example embodiments, the inner PID controller 2510 may generate the drive signal setting value 2514 to be within an upper limit and a lower limit, and the drive signal generation function 2522 may generate the PWM drive signal 2526 in such a manner that the duty cycle of the PWM drive signal 2526 is proportional to the drive signal setting value 2514. For example, as is illustrated in
Returning to
Thus, the process being controlled by the inner PID control loop 2500 is the inner process 2520, the inner setpoint SP_I is a temperature setpoint 2512, the inner control variable CV_I is the drive signal setting value 2514, and the inner process variable PV_I is the flow sensor temperature 2516.
Consequently, the inner PID control loop 2500 of
However, a performance of the flow sensor 2220A may be negatively affected when an ambient temperature of the flow sensor 2220A changes while the temperature setpoint 2512 remains fixed. For example, in a scenario in which the ambient temperature of the flow sensor 2220A increases, the temperature of the heated element of the flow sensor 2220A may also increase, for example, due to the heated element receiving heat from the air in the immediate vicinity of the heated element. As the temperature of the heated element increases, so does the resistance (Ω) of the heated element. Thus, values of both the flow sensor voltage 2528 measured from the flow sensor 2220A and the flow sensor temperature 2516 generated by the voltage-to-temperature conversion function 2524 rise as well. Further, if, for example, the flow sensor temperature 2516 exceeds the temperature setpoint 2512, the resulting value of the inner error Error_I will cause the inner PID controller 2510 to attempt to lower the flow sensor temperature 2516 by reducing a level of the power applied to the heated element of the flow sensor 2220A (i.e., by reducing the drive signal setting value 2514 so as to reduce the duty cycle of the PWM drive signal 2556). Accordingly, if inner error Error_I is large enough to cause the inner PID controller 2510 to attempt to reduce the level of power applied to the heated element below a level necessary for the flow sensor 2220A to function reliably, the flow sensor 2220A may become unresponsive due to lack of power, and thus, cease to perform a flow sensing function. For example, if the inner PID controller 2510 reduces the drive signal setting value 2514 to a point where the resulting duty cycle of the PWM drive signal 2556 is too low to provide a sufficient amount of power to the flow sensor 2220A, the flow sensor 2220A may become unresponsive due to lack of power, and thus, cease to perform a flow sensing function.
Consequently, in order to avoid the scenario discussed above in which the flow sensor 2220A ceases to function properly, it may be beneficial to change the temperature setpoint 2512 of the inner PID control loop 2500 of
However, according to at least some example embodiments, a dual control loop architecture that includes the outer PID control loop 2600 of
Referring to
As is illustrated in
Consequently, the outer PID control loop 2600 of
As the ambient temperature of the flow sensor 2220A rises, the drive signal setting value 2514 may fall in the manner discussed above with reference to
In addition to raising the temperature setpoint 2512 in response to an ambient temperature of the flow sensor 2220A increasing, as is discussed in the example scenario above, the outer PID control loop 2600 may also lower the temperature setpoint 2512 in response to an ambient temperature of the flow sensor 2220A decreasing. For example, in a scenario in which the ambient temperature of the flow sensor 2220A decreases, the temperature of the heated element of the flow sensor 2220A may also decrease, for example, due to the heated element losing heat to the air in the immediate vicinity of the heated element. As the temperature of the heated element decreases, so does the resistance of the heated element. Thus, values of both the flow sensor voltage 2528 measured from the flow sensor 2220A and the flow sensor temperature 2516 generated by the voltage-to-temperature conversion function 2524 decrease as well. Further, if, for example, the flow sensor temperature 2516 is below the temperature setpoint 2512, the resulting value of the inner error Error_I will cause the inner PID controller 2510 to attempt to raise the flow sensor temperature 2516 by increasing a level of the power applied to the heated element of the flow sensor 2220A (i.e., by increasing the drive signal setting value 2514 so as to increase the duty cycle of the PWM drive signal 2556). Further, as the drive signal setting value 2514 rises relative to the drive signal setting value setpoint 2612, a magnitude of the outer error Error_O increases. In response, the outer PID controller 2610 operates to reduce the magnitude of the outer error Error_O by decreasing the temperature setpoint 2512 in accordance with a change in the ambient temperature of the flow sensor 2220A, thereby causing the drive signal setting value 2514 to fall. For example, the inner PID controller 2510 will decrease the drive signal setting value 2514 in response to the decreased temperature setpoint 2512 because a level of power applied to the heated element of the flow sensor 2220A will need to be reduced in order to lower the temperature of the heated element to the newly decreased temperature setpoint 2512.
According to at least some example embodiments, a level of the drive signal setting value setpoint 2612 may be set in accordance with the preferences of a designer and/or manufacturer of the non-nicotine e-vaping device 500 and/or pod assembly 300. According to at least some example embodiments, a level of the drive signal setting value setpoint 2612 may be stored in accordance with the preferences of a designer and/or manufacturer of the non-nicotine e-vaping device 500 (e.g., in the device body 100 and/or the pod assembly 300). For example, according to at least some example embodiments, a level of the drive signal setting value setpoint 2612 may be set in accordance with a desired margin between an ambient temperature of the HWA 2220A and a temperature of the heated element of the HWA 2220A (i.e., when a puff in not occurring).
Consequently, the outer PID control loop 2600 can advantageously use the flow sensor 2220A to control the temperature setpoint 2512 to change in accordance with changes in the ambient temperature of the flow sensor 2220A without the need to implement a separate temperature sensor (e.g., within the pod assembly 300) for detecting the ambient temperature of the flow sensor 2220A. An example method of operating a HWA according to at least some example embodiments will now be explained below with reference to
Referring to
In step S2720, a level of power applied by the non-nicotine e-vaping device to the HWA is controlled based on the determined temperature of the heated element of the HWA and a temperature setpoint. For example, as is discussed above with reference to
In step S2730, a puff detection signal is generated. According to at least some example embodiments, the puff detection signal 2640 may be generated by a controller (e.g., the controller 2105 or a controller included in the pod system 2200 of the pod assembly 300) by monitoring the drive signal setting value 2514 and/or a gradient of the drive signal setting value 2514. For example, in step S730, while the puff detection signal 2640 has a value indicating that a puff is not presently occurring (e.g., a logic low value or 0), the controller may change the value of the puff detection signal 2640 to a value indicating that a puff is presently occurring (e.g., a logic high value or 1) in response to determining that a present level (or average level over a sliding window of levels) of the drive signal setting value 2514 has exceeded a puff start level threshold and/or determining that a present gradient (or average gradient over a sliding window of gradients) of the drive signal setting value 2514 has exceeded a puff start gradient threshold. Further, in step S730, while the puff detection signal has a value indicating that a puff is presently occurring (e.g., a logic high value or 1), the controller may change the value of the puff detection signal 2640 to a value indicating that a puff is not presently occurring (e.g., a logic low value or 0) in response to determining that a present level (or average level over a sliding window of levels) of the drive signal setting value 2514 has fallen below a puff end level threshold and/or determining that a present gradient (or average gradient over a sliding window of gradients) of the drive signal setting value 2514 has fallen below a puff end gradient threshold.
In step S2740, a determination is made with respect to whether or not a puff is detected. For example, if a level of the puff detection signal 2640 generated in step S2730 indicates that a puff is not detected (N), then the method proceeds to step S2750.
In step S2750, a determination is made with respect to whether or not a change in the ambient temperature of the HWA is detected. For example, in the manner discussed above with respect to
In step S2760, the temperature setpoint is controlled such that the temperature setpoint changes in response to the detected change in the ambient temperature of the HWA. For example, as is discussed above with respect to
Returning to step S2750, if a level of the puff detection signal 2640 generated in step S2730 indicates that a puff is detected (Y), then the method proceeds to step S2770.
In step S2770, an air low rate of air flowing around the HWA is determined based on the level of power applied to the HWA. For example, in step S2770, a controller (e.g., the controller 2105 or a controller included in the pod system 2200 of the pod assembly 300) may determine the air flow rate of air flowing around the HWA based on the present drive signal setting value 2514. Specifically, as is discussed above, the heated element of the HWA 2220A becomes heated as a result of applying power to the heated element through the PWM drive signal 2526. Further, the temperature of the heated element affects the resistance (Ω) of the heated element. Consequently, the voltage of the heated element (e.g., the flow sensor voltage 2528) may be used to estimate the temperature of the heated element (e.g., the flow sensor temperature 2516). Further, in the presence of flowing air, heat will be carried away from the heated element of the HWA 2220A by the flowing air, and thus, a level of power needed to cause the heated element of the HWA 2220A to maintain a particular temperature can be used to estimate an air flow rate of air flowing around the heated element of the HWA 2220A. Further, the level of power needed to cause the heated element of the HWA 2220A to maintain a particular temperature may be determined or estimated based on the present drive signal setting value 2514, which controls the present level of power applied to the heated element of the HWA 2220A by controlling the duty cycle of the PWM drive signal 2526 being applied to the HWA 2220A. Consequently, the controller 2105 or a controller included in the pod system 2200 may use the present drive signal setting value 2514 to determine or estimate an air flow rate of air flowing around the heated element of the HWA 2220A. Further, the air flow rate of air flowing around the heated element of the HWA 2220A may be indicative of the air flow rate of air flowing through the pod assembly 300 and/or the non-nicotine e-vaping device 500. For example, as is noted above with reference to
Thus, according to at least some example embodiments, a single HWA (e.g., HWA 2220A) in conjunction with the dual control loop architecture, which includes the inner PID control loop 2500 of
As used herein, the term “aerosol-forming substrate” refers to a material (or combination of materials) that may yield an aerosol. As referred to herein, an “aerosol” is any matter generated or outputted from any heat-not-burn aerosol-generating device according to any of the example embodiments disclosed herein. The material is in a solid form and is a predominant source of a compound (e.g., a cannabinoid), wherein an aerosol including the compound is produced when the material is heated. The heating may be below the combustion temperature so as to produce an aerosol without involving a substantial pyrolysis of the aerosol-forming substrate or the substantial generation of combustion byproducts (if any). Thus, according to at least some example embodiments, pyrolysis does not occur during the heating and resulting production of aerosol. In other instances, there may be some pyrolysis and combustion byproducts, but the extent may be considered relatively minor and/or merely incidental. For example, once a heat-not-burn aerosol-generating device heats an aerosol-forming substrate to an aerosolization temperature, the aerosol-forming substrate may yield an aerosol. As used herein, the “aerosolization temperature” of an aerosol-forming substrate is the temperature at which the aerosol-forming substrate yields an aerosol, and is below the combustion temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate.
The aerosol-forming substrate may be a fibrous material. For instance, the fibrous material may be a botanical material. The fibrous material is configured to release a compound when heated. The compound may be a naturally occurring constituent of the fibrous material. For instance, the fibrous material may be plant material such as tobacco, and the compound released may be nicotine. The term “tobacco” includes any tobacco plant material including tobacco leaf, tobacco plug, reconstituted tobacco, compressed tobacco, shaped tobacco, or powder tobacco, and combinations thereof from one or more species of tobacco plants, such as Nicotiana rustica and Nicotiana tabacum.
In some example embodiments, the tobacco material may include material from any member of the genus Nicotiana. In addition, the tobacco material may include a blend of two or more different tobacco varieties. Examples of suitable types of tobacco materials that may be used include, but are riot limited to, flue-cured tobacco, Burley tobacco, Dark tobacco, Maryland tobacco, Oriental tobacco, rare tobacco, specialty tobacco, blends thereof, and the like. The tobacco material may be provided in any suitable form, including, but not limited to, tobacco la processed tobacco materials, such as volume expanded or puffed tobacco, processed tobacco stems, such as cut-rolled or cut-puffed stems,reconstituted tobacco materials, blends thereof, and the like. In some example embodiments, the tobacco material is in the form of a substantially dry tobacco mass. Furthermore, in some instances, the tobacco material may be mixed and/or combined with at least one of propylene glycol, glycerin, sub-combinations thereof, or combinations thereof.
The compound may also be a naturally occurring constituent of a medicinal plant that has a medically-accepted therapeutic effect. For instance, the medicinal plant may be a cannabis plant, and the compound may be a cannabinoid. Cannabinoids interact with receptors in the body to produce a wide range of effects. As a result, cannabinoids have been used for a variety of medicinal purposes (e.g., treatment of pain, nausea, epilepsy, psychiatric disorders). The fibrous material may include the leaf and/or flower material from one or more species of cannabis plants such as Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. In some instances, the fibrous material is a mixture of 60-80% (e.g., 70%) Cannabis sativa and 20-40% (e.g., 30%) Cannabis indica.
Examples of cannabinoids include tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN), cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabichromene (CBC), and cannabigerol (CBG). Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) is a precursor of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), while cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) is precursor of cannabidiol (CBD). Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) may be converted to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), respectively, via heating. In an example embodiment, heat from the first heater and/or the second heater may cause decarboxylation so as to convert the tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) in the capsule (e.g., capsule 800 or 900) to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and/or to convert the cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) in the capsule to cannabidiol (CBD).
In instances where both tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are present in the capsule, the decarboxylation and resulting conversion will cause a decrease in tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) and an increase in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). At least 50% (e.g., at least 87%) of the tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) may be converted to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) during the heating of the capsule. Similarly, in instances where both cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and cannabidiol (CBD) are present in the capsule, the decarboxylaion and resulting conversion will cause a decrease in cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and an increase in cannabidiol (CBD). At least 50% (e.g., at least 87%) of the cannabidiolic acid. (CBDA) may be converted to cannabidiol (CBD) during the heating of the capsule.
Furthermore, the compound may be or may additionally include a non-naturally occurring additive that is subsequently introduced into the fibrous material. In one instance, the fibrous material may include at least one of cotton, polyethylene, polyester, rayon, combinations thereof, or the like (e.g., in a form of a gauze). In another instance, the fibrous material may be a cellulose material (e.g., non-tobacco and/or non-cannabis material). In either instance, the compound introduced may include nicotine, cannabinoids, and/or flavorants. The flavorants may be from natural sources, such as plant extracts (e.g., tobacco extract, cannabis extract), and/or artificial sources. In yet another instance, when the fibrous material includes tobacco and/or cannabis, the compound may be or may additionally include one or more flavorants (e.g., menthol, mint, vanilla). Thus, the compound within the aerosol-forming substrate may include naturally occurring constituents and/or non-naturally occurring additives. In this regard, it should be understood that existing levels of the naturally occurring constituents of the aerosol-forming substrate may be increased through supplementation. For example, the existing levels of nicotine in a quantity of tobacco may be increased through supplementation with an extract containing nicotine. Similarly, the existing levels of one or more cannabinoids in a quantity of cannabis may be increased through supplementation with an extract containing such cannabinoids.
According to at least some example embodiments, when the capsule 800 is inserted into the heat-not-burn aerosol-generating device 1000, the control circuitry 1045 may instruct the power source 1035 to supply an electric current to the first electrode 1055a, the second electrode 1055b, the third electrode 1055c, and/or the fourth electrode 1055d. The supply of current from the power source 1035 may be in response to a manual operation (e.g., button-activation) or an automatic operation (e.g., puff-activation). As a result of the current, the capsule 800 may be heated to generate an aerosol.
Additional details of the capsule 800 and the heat-not-burn aerosol-generating device 1000, including the mouthpiece 1015, the device body 1025, the power source 1035, the control circuitry 1045, the first electrode 1055a, the second electrode 1055b, the third electrode 1055c, and the fourth electrode 1055d may be found in U.S. application Ser. No. 15/845,501, filed Dec. 18, 2017, titled “VAPORIZING DEVICES AND METHODS FOR DELIVERING A COMPOUND USING THE SAME,” Atty. Dkt. No. 24000DM-000012-US, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. The capsule, aerosol-forming substrate, and related aspects discussed herein are also described in more detail in U.S. application Ser. No. 16/252,951, filed Jan. 21, 2019, titled “CAPSULE, HEAT-NOT-BURN (HNB) AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICES, AND METHODS OF GENERATING AN AEROSOL,” Atty. Dkt. No. 24000NV-000521-US, and U.S. application Ser. No. 16/451,662, filed Jun 25, 2019, titled “ CAPSULES, HEAT-NOT-BURN (HNB) AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICES, AND METHODS OF GENERATING AN AEROSOL,” Atty. Dkt. No. 24000NV-000522-US the disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.
A first electrode 1155a, a second electrode 1155b, a third electrode 1155c, and a fourth electrode 1155d are configured to electrically contact the capsule 900. According to at least some example embodiments, then the first electrode 1155a and the third electrode 1155c may electrically contact the first heater, while the second electrode 1155b and the fourth electrode 1155d may electrically contact the second heater. However, in non-limiting embodiments involving a capsule with only one heater, it should be understood that the first electrode 1155a and the third electrode 1155c (or the second electrode 1155b and the fourth electrode 1155d) may be omitted.
When engaged with the heaters, the first electrode 1155a and the third electrode 1155c are within the area bounded by the first seal 1165a, while the second electrode 1155b and the fourth electrode 1155d are within the area bounded by the second seal 1165b. The first electrode 1155a and the third electrode 1155c may also adjacent to opposite sides of the first seal 1165a such that the first heater is pressed against the underlying first frame. Similarly, the second electrode 1155b and the fourth electrode 1155d may be adjacent to opposite sides of the second seal 1165b such that the second heater is pressed against the underlying second frame. In example embodiments involving a third frame, the heaters may be pressed against the underlying third frame by the electrodes.
The first electrode 1155a, the second electrode 1155b, the third electrode 1155c, and the fourth electrode 1155d may be in the form of blades. Additionally, to reduce contact resistance, the first electrode 1155a, the second electrode 1155b, the third electrode 1155c, and the fourth electrode 1155d may be formed of steel and coated with titanium nitride. In an example embodiment, the blades may be straight-edged. Alternatively, the blades may be serrated to enhance an electrical contact in instances where the heaters have an uneven surface (e.g., heaters in the form of a mesh).
According to at least some example embodiments, the first electrode 1155a, second electrode 1155b, third electrode 1155c, fourth electrode 1155d, capsule 900, first seal 1165a and second seal 1165d may be included in the heat-not-burn aerosol-generating device 1000. For example, according to at least some example embodiments, the first electrode 1155a, second electrode 1155b, third electrode 1155c, fourth electrode 1155d and capsule 900 are examples of the first electrode 1055a, second electrode 1055b, third electrode 1055c, fourth electrode 1055d and capsule 800.
According to at least some example embodiments, the control circuitry 1045 and power source 1035 of the heat-not-burn aerosol-generating device 1000 are embodied, respectively, by the device system 2100 and power supply 2110 discussed above with reference to
While a number of example embodiments have been disclosed herein, it should be understood that other variations may be possible. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
