METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR VARIABLE-VISCOSITY CARRIER VAPORIZERS

Abstract

In some embodiments, a system includes a cartridge assembly configured to be coupled to a vaporizer pen assembly. The cartridge assembly includes a mouthpiece defining a mouthpiece opening, a housing including an upper surface and a sidewall, and a heating subassembly. The upper surface and the sidewall of the housing and the heating subassembly define a reservoir. The sidewall of the housing defines an inlet, and the sidewall and the heating subassembly can define a first flow path from the inlet to a bottom surface of a permeable cup portion of the heating subassembly. The sidewall of the housing also defines a second flow path away from the permeable cup portion of the heating subassembly toward the mouthpiece opening.

Description

BACKGROUND

Electronic vapor delivery systems are increasingly popular. Such systems have been developed for inhalation-based delivery of cannabis components and nicotine.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, a system includes a cartridge assembly configured to be coupled to a vaporizer pen assembly. The cartridge assembly includes a mouthpiece defining a mouthpiece opening, a housing including an upper surface and a sidewall, and a heating subassembly. The upper surface and the sidewall of the housing and the heating subassembly define a reservoir. The sidewall of the housing defines an inlet, and the sidewall and the heating subassembly can define a first flow path from the inlet to a bottom surface of a permeable cup portion of the heating subassembly. The sidewall of the housing also defines a second flow path away from the permeable cup portion of the heating subassembly toward the mouthpiece opening. In some embodiments, a first channel, a second channel, and a curved portion fluidically coupling the first channel and the second channel are defined between the second flow path defined by the sidewall of the housing and the mouthpiece opening. In some embodiments, when the cartridge assembly is coupled to the vaporizer pen, the housing defines a third flow path for the flow of air relative to a draw sensor of the vaporizer pen and the mouthpiece outlet, the third flow path non-overlapping with the second flow path.

In some embodiments, a system includes a pen assembly, and a cartridge assembly configured to be removably coupled to the pen assembly. The cartridge assembly includes a mouthpiece defining a mouthpiece opening, a housing including an upper surface and a sidewall, and a heating subassembly. An upper surface and the sidewall of the housing and the heating subassembly define a reservoir, and the sidewall and the heating subassembly can define a first flow path from an inlet of the housing to a bottom surface of the heating subassembly, the sidewall of the housing further defining a second flow path away from the heating subassembly toward the mouthpiece opening.

In some embodiments, the first channel is disposed parallel to the second channel and fluidly coupled thereto via a curved channel portion collectively defined by the upper surface of the housing and the lower surface of the mouthpiece. In some embodiments, the inlet is defined through a sidewall of the housing of the cartridge assembly. In some embodiments, the inlet includes a gap defined on an edge of the sidewall of the housing of the cartridge assembly that is proximate to the mouthpiece. In some embodiments, the pen assembly includes a pen assembly housing, a notch defined on the pen assembly housing, the notch configured to be aligned with the gap when the cartridge assembly is installed in the pen assembly.

In some embodiments, the pen assembly includes a pen assembly housing, and the mouthpiece includes a plurality of protrusions such that when the cartridge assembly is engaged with the pen assembly, the protrusions engage the pen assembly housing such that a gap is defined between the pen assembly housing and the mouthpiece to allow air to be drawn therethrough. In some embodiments, the housing of the cartridge assembly includes a flange along an upper front edge thereof, the gap defined between the flange and the mouthpiece. In some embodiments, a gap exists between at least a portion of the housing and the mouthpiece when the housing is coupled to the mouthpiece, the gap forming the inlet. In some embodiments, the housing defines a first flow path portion extending from an air inlet to a first flow path portion of the heating subassembly, a second flow path portion extending from a second flow path portion of the heating subassembly to the first channel, and a third flow path portion extending from a passageway of the heating subassembly to the second channel. In some embodiments, the first flow path portion of the heating subassembly extends from the first flow path the housing to a wick assembly included in the heating subassembly, and the second flow path portion of the heating subassembly extends from the wick assembly to the second flow path of the housing. In some embodiments, the pen assembly includes a draw sensor such that when the cartridge assembly is coupled to the pen assembly, the mouthpiece opening is in fluid communication with the draw sensor via a second flow path that includes a portion of the second channel, the third flow path portion of housing, the third flow path portion of the heating subassembly, the passageway of the heating subassembly, and an opening defined in an airflow sensor cover of the draw sensor.

In some embodiments, a flow path that contacts the bottom surface of the heating subassembly and leads out of the mouthpiece opening does not overlap with the second flow path. In some embodiments, the flow path is structured to increase in cross-sectional area from the inlet to the mouthpiece opening. In some embodiments, the mouthpiece includes an elastomeric plug disposed in an opening of the mouthpiece opening so as to seal the opening.

In some embodiments, a system includes a pen assembly including a processor, and a light sensor, and a cartridge assembly configured to be removably coupled to the vaporizer pen, the cartridge assembly including a mouthpiece defining a mouthpiece opening, a housing including an upper surface and a sidewall, and a heating subassembly. The light sensor is configured to read an indication displayed on a display of a compute device, and the processor is configured to interpret the indication based on information received from light sensor and responsive to the indication matching a stored identifier, transitioning the cartridge assembly from a deactivated state to an activated state.

In some embodiments, the indication includes at least one of a heating profile, a rate of release of a carrier material disposed in the cartridge assembly, and one or more ingredients of the carrier material. In some embodiments, the indication incudes a sequence of visual images. In some embodiments, the sequence of visual images is at least one of red, green, blue, and black. In some embodiments, the pen assembly is configured to contact the display of the compute device to read the indication, a portion of the pen assembly configured to contact the display of the compute device having a smaller surface area than the display. In some embodiments, the light sensor is further configured to receive a calibration sequence in conjunction with the indication, the calibration sequence configured to cause the processor to accurately interpret the indication. In some embodiments, the indication includes a delimiter at a beginning and at an end of the indication, and the processor is configured to determine the beginning and the end of the indication based on the delimiter.

In some embodiments, a method includes disposing a housing of a cartridge assembly in each recess of a set of first recesses of a bottom tray, each of the housings defining an opening in a top portion of the housing. A needle is inserted through the opening of each of the housings. The housings are filled with a carrier material via the needle. The needle is removed from the opening. The method also includes disposing a mouthpiece in each of a set of second recesses of a top tray, and coupling the top tray in an upside down position to the bottom tray such that each mouthpiece is coupled to a corresponding housing of the housings disposed in the bottom tray.

In some embodiments, the needle is moved autonomously between the housing via a robot. In some embodiments, each of the mouthpieces include an elastomeric plug, and the elastomeric plug fills the opening of a corresponding housing when the mouthpieces are coupled to the respective housings. In some embodiments, the bottom tray includes an identifier defined on a surface thereof, the identifier including information corresponding to devices that are formed by coupling the mouthpieces to the respective housings. In some embodiments, the method further includes scanning the identifier, and associating information corresponding to the carrier material filled in each of the housings with the identifier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic block diagram of a vaporizer system, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 1B is a schematic illustration of a portion of the cartridge of FIG. 1A, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 1C is a schematic illustration of a portion of the vaporizer pen of FIG. 1A, according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of a vaporizer system in an assembled and an exploded configuration, respectively, according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 4-9 are various view of the pen housing of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are perspective views of the bracket assembly of the pen assembly of FIG. 2 in an assembled and an exploded configuration, respectively.

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the pen housing of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are perspective views of the cap of the bracket assembly of FIG. 2 in an assembled and an exploded configuration, respectively.

FIG. 15 is a chart showing example indicators that can be produced by the vaporizer system of FIG. 2.

FIG. 16A is a top view, FIG. 16B is a bottom view, FIG. 16C is a left side elevation view, FIG. 16D is a front elevation view, FIG. 16E is a right side elevation view, and FIG. 16F is a back elevation view of a package in an assembled configuration, according to an embodiments.

FIG. 17 is a perspective exploded view of the package of FIG. 16.

FIGS. 18 and 19 are perspective views of the cartridge of FIG. 2 in an assembled and an exploded configuration, respectively.

FIGS. 20-28 are various views of the cartridge of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 29 and 30 are perspective views of the heating subassembly of FIG. 2 in an assembled and an exploded configuration, respectively.

FIGS. 31 and 32 are perspective views of the lower housing portion of FIG. 2 coupled to the magnet and uncoupled from the magnet, respectively.

FIGS. 33 to 35 are a cross-sectional front view, a left side view, and a right side view of the cartridge of FIG. 2 with the outer housing shown as being transparent, respectively.

FIGS. 36, 37, and 38 are atop view, a perspective view, and a cross-sectional view of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 2, respectively.

FIG. 39 is a perspective view of cartridge assembly packaging in an expanded configuration, respectively.

FIG. 40A is a top view, FIG. 40B is a left side elevation view, FIG. 40C is a front elevation view, FIG. 40D is a bottom view, FIG. 40E is a right side elevation view, and FIG. 40F is a back view of the cartridge assembly packaging of FIG. 39 in an assembled configuration.

FIG. 41A is a schematic block diagram of a vaporizer system, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 41B is a schematic illustration of a portion of the vaporizer pen of FIG. 41A, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 42 is a perspective view of an electronic vapor delivery system, according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 43-48 are various views of the electronic vapor delivery system of FIG. 42.

FIG. 49 is a perspective view of the electronic vapor delivery system of FIG. 42 in an exploded configuration.

FIGS. 50-55 are various views of a cartridge assembly of the electronic delivery system of FIG. 42.

FIG. 56 is a perspective view of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 50 in an exploded configuration.

FIG. 57 is a perspective view of the mouthpiece assembly of FIG. 50 in an exploded configuration.

FIGS. 58-63 show various views of a mouthpiece of the mouthpiece assembly of FIG. 57.

FIG. 64 is a cross-sectional view of the outer housing and the elastomeric plug of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 42.

FIGS. 65-69 are various views of the outer housing of FIG. 64.

FIG. 70 is a perspective view of the lower subassembly of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 56 in an exploded configuration.

FIG. 71 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 56 taken along line B-B in FIG. 105.

FIGS. 72 and 73 are a side view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of a silicone cap of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 42.

FIGS. 74, 75, and 76 are a side view, top view, and cross-sectional view, respectively, of a chimney component of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 42.

FIGS. 77, 78, and 79 are a side view, a cross-sectional view, and a top view, respectively, of a wick assembly of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 42, respectively.

FIG. 80 is a perspective view of the wick assembly of FIG. 77 in a configuration in which the coils are contacting pins.

FIGS. 81-86 are various views of an upper portion of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 42.

FIGS. 87-92 are various views of the intermediate portion of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 42.

FIGS. 93 and 94 are a side view and a top view, respectively, of a contact pin of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 42.

FIGS. 95 and 96 are a top view and a side view, respectively, of a first upper filter of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 42.

FIGS. 97 and 98 are a top view and a side view, respectively, of a lower filter of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 42.

FIGS. 99-104 are various views of a lower portion of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 42.

FIGS. 105 and 106 are a front view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 42 in an assembled configuration.

FIG. 107 is a perspective view of a bracket assembly of the electronic vapor delivery system of FIG. 42 in an exploded configuration.

FIGS. 108-114 are various views of a pen housing of the electronic vapor delivery system of FIG. 42.

FIGS. 115-119 are various views of a cap of the electronic vapor delivery system of FIG. 42.

FIG. 120 is a cross-sectional view of the cap of FIG. 115 taken along line A-A in FIG. 115.

FIG. 121 is an enlarged view of the portion labeled Detail A in FIG. 120.

FIGS. 122-127 are various views of a bracket of the electronic vapor delivery system of FIG. 42.

FIG. 128 is a cross-sectional view of the electronic vapor delivery system of FIG. 42 in an assembled configuration.

FIG. 129 is a cross-sectional view of an upper portion of the electronic vapor delivery system of FIG. 42 in an assembled configuration.

FIGS. 130 and 131 are perspective views of a bracket assembly of a pen assembly in an assembled and an exploded configuration, respectively, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 132 is an exploded view of a pen assembly, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 133 is a chart showing example indicators that can be produced by the vaporizer system of FIG. 130.

FIG. 134 is a perspective view of a cartridge assembly in an assembled configuration, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 135 is a perspective view of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 134 in a first exploded configuration.

FIG. 136 is a perspective view of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 134 in a second exploded configuration.

FIGS. 137 to 142 are various views of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 134 in an assembled configuration.

FIGS. 143 to 145 are various views of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 134 in an assembled configuration.

FIG. 146 is a view of a portion of an underside of a mouthpiece component of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 134.

FIGS. 147 and 148 are perspective views of a heating subassembly of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 134 in an assembled and an exploded configuration, respectively.

FIGS. 149 to 151 are a cross-sectional front view, a left side view, and a right side view of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 134.

FIG. 152 is a top view of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 134.

FIG. 153 is a perspective view of the bottom of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 134.

FIG. 154 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 134.

FIG. 155 shows various views of a top tray of a tray system, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 156 shows a perspective view of the top tray of FIG. 155.

FIG. 157 shows various views of a bottom tray of the tray system of FIG. 155, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 158 shows a perspective view of the bottom tray of FIG. 157.

FIG. 159 is a side view of the bottom tray of FIG. 157 prior to a filling operation.

FIGS. 160 and 161 are a side view and a cross-sectional side view, respectively, of the bottom tray of FIG. 157 and the top tray pf FIG. 155 prior to coupling.

FIG. 162A is a perspective view of the top tray of FIG. 155 coupled to the bottom tray of FIG. 157.

FIG. 162B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X-X in FIG. 162A.

FIG. 163 is a perspective view of a tray system with the top tray of FIG. 155 decoupled from the bottom tray of FIG. 157 after being coupled as shown in FIGS. 162A and 162B.

FIG. 164 shows various views of a cartridge assembly packaging in an open configuration, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 165A is a top view, FIG. 165B is a front elevation view, FIG. 165C is a side elevation view, and FIG. 165D is a rear elevation view of the cartridge assembly packaging in an assembled configuration.

FIG. 166 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge assembly, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 167 is a top perspective view of a heater included in the cartridge assembly of FIG. 166.

FIG. 168 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge assembly, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 169 is a top perspective view of a heater included in the cartridge assembly of FIG. 166.

FIG. 170 is a side perspective view of a cartridge assembly, according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 171 is a side cross-sectional view of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 170.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As the popularity of, and commercial interest in, electronic vapor delivery systems (also referred to as “vapor devices” or “vaporizers”) such as electronic cigarettes (“e-cigs”) continues to grow, their manufacture and distribution is becoming more globally widespread. Not every substance, however, has the same viscosity and optimal vaporization temperature. Additionally, as vaporizers become more popular, they may be more likely to be obtained and actuated by unintended users, raising security concerns. Furthermore, drawing vapor through a mouthpiece of a vaporizer often requires significant effort (e.g., the production of significant negative pressure via sucking) by a user. Systems and methods for improved electronic vapor delivery, including smoother vapor drawing, improved security, and temperature optimization, for example, are set forth herein.

FIG. 1A is a schematic block diagram of a vaporizer system 100 (e.g., an electronic vapor delivery system) including a cartridge 110 and a vaporizer pen 140, according to an embodiment. The cartridge 110 can also be referred to as a “cartridge assembly,” a “cartridge portion,” a “capsule,” a “capsule assembly,” or a “pod”. The vaporizer pen 140 can also be referred to as a “pen assembly,” a “pen portion” or a “vaporizer body”.

The cartridge 110 includes a processor 132, a heating assembly 134, an input/output module 136 (referred to herein as “I/O”), a reservoir 138, fluidic channels 131, a mouthpiece 133, a first identifier 135, a memory 137, optionally one or more expansion chambers 139, electronics 121A, an optional membrane 163, and one or more optional sensors 161, all disposed within or coupled to a cartridge housing of the cartridge 110. The vaporizer pen 140 includes a light sensor 191 (e.g., an RGB sensor), a draw sensor 123 (e.g., an airflow sensor or a pressure sensor), a power supply 124, a processor 125 (e.g., a microcontroller), an input/output module 126 (referred to herein as “I/O”), one or more indicators 128, and electronics 121B, all disposed within or coupled to a pen housing of the vaporizer pen 140. The vaporizer pen 140 can be reusable and includes an interface (e.g., including a portion of the electronics 121B) configured to electrically engage with the cartridge 110. The interface can include, for example, connectors (e.g., pogo pins) coupled to or included in the processor 125 (that may be coupled to the other electronics 121B) and configured to engage with the cartridge 110 such that the processor 132 of the cartridge 110 is configured to receive information from the processor 125 of the vaporizer pen 140 (e.g., based on, for example, data received via the light sensor 191) and operational power from the power supply 124 of the vaporizer pen 140. The vaporizer pen 140 (i.e., the pen housing and its contents) can also be referred to as a “battery portion.”

The cartridge 110 can be manufactured, shipped and/or sold separately from the vaporizer pen 140, and assembled by a user to form the vaporizer system 100. To assemble the vaporizer system 100, a user may, prior to use (e.g., upon purchase of a new cartridge 110), connect the cartridge 110 with the vaporizer pen 140. The cartridge 110 and the vaporizer pen 140 can be configured to be mechanically connected, for example by one or more of screw attachment, press-fit attachment, snap-fit attachment, magnetic attachment, or any other suitable connection means. As can be inferred from the foregoing, the vaporizer pen 140 can be considered the reusable portion of the vaporizer system 100, and the cartridge 110 can be considered a disposable or “replaceable” portion of the vaporizer system 100. When the vaporizer pen 140 is coupled to the cartridge 110, under control of the processor 132 of the cartridge 110, the cartridge 110 can draw operational power from the power supply 124 of the vaporizer pen 140 (e.g., to power the heating assembly 134) via the interface.

The mouthpiece 133 of the cartridge 110 can comprise one or more of: ceramic, heat-resistant plastic, anodized aluminum, or any other suitable material. The reservoir 138 (also referred to as a precursor reservoir) can be in fluid communication with at least one of the mouthpiece 133, the one or more chambers 139 (e.g., vapor expansion chambers), and the fluidic channels 131, to facilitate the triggering of carrier heating and drawing of vapor in response to a user's sucking/drawing on the mouthpiece during use, for example using the draw sensor 123. For example, the processor 132 of the cartridge 110 can be configured to activate the heating assembly 134 to heat the carrier in response to the processor 132 receiving a signal from the draw sensor 123 (e.g., via the processor 125 of the vaporizer pen 140) indicating that the draw sensor 123 sensed a change of pressure within the device 101 beyond a threshold change in pressure or a drop in pressure within the device 101 below a threshold pressure. Thus, when a user draws on an opening of the mouthpiece 133 causing a change in pressure within the device 101 that is sensed by the draw sensor 123, the processor 132 can activate the heating assembly 134.

The membrane(s) 163 can be disposed on an outer surface of the cartridge 110 (e.g., within an opening defined by a housing of the cartridge 110) and arranged such that carrier material and/or additive can be supplied to the reservoir 138 via the membrane(s) 163 (e.g., via insertion of a needle through the membrane). The membrane(s) 163 can include a valved impermeable or semi-permeable material, for example comprising a rubber, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), etc. The membrane(s) 163 can be resealable (e.g., automatically after removal of a needle).

The heating assembly 134 includes a heating element and heater control circuitry configured to control the heating element. The heating element can include a coil heater, rod-shaped heater, pancake heater, chemical heater, a ceramic heater, and/or any other heater that is sized, dimensioned, and constituted of material suitable for heating the carrier material. In some implementations, the optional electronics 121A and/or the electronics 121B can include one or more of: a GPS receiver, one or more antennae, or a transmitter or transceiver for wireless (e.g., Bluetooth or LTE) communication with a command center (e.g., a cloud-based server, a centralized server and/or the like) and/or other remote compute device (such as a mobile device such as a smartphone or table) (e.g., as an alternative method of communicating with the command center regarding identifiers and activation as described herein and/or to communicate various statuses of the cartridge 110 such as oil level, draw frequency, draw duration, etc.). The sensor(s) 161 can include one or more of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a position sensor, an orientation sensor, etc.

The first identifier 135 can be a visual identifier and can include any suitable data configured to identify the cartridge 110. The first identifier 135 can be represented via any suitable visual image, such as, for example, a serial number, a barcode, and/or a QR code such that the cartridge 110 may be identified and/or recognized by an external device (e.g., a fill station of a manufacturing system and/or a mobile device having a reader). In some implementations, the first identifier 135, displayed as a visual image, can be disposed on an outer surface of the cartridge 110 (e.g., a front surface, a side surface, or a back surface). For example, the first identifier 135 can be displayed on a label affixed to an outer surface of the cartridge 110. In some implementations, the first identifier 135 can be disposed on or included in a package containing the cartridge 110. In some implementations, the first identifier 135 can be scanned or read one or more of: during (or upon completion of) manufacturing, during (or upon completion of) filling, or when in possession of a user (e.g., scanned by a mobile device of the user, for example using a camera thereof, via a software application stored thereon). The first identifier 135 can thus be used for one or more of registration, identification, or validation/activation of the cartridge 110 (and/or a component thereof). In some implementations, the first identifier 135 can be unique to the particular cartridge 110 with which it is associated (i.e., each cartridge 110 configured to couple to the vaporizer pen 140 can have a distinct first identifier 135). In some implementations, the first identifier 135 can be unique to a particular subset of cartridges (e.g., cartridges sharing a common characteristic such as fill contents or fill date). In some implementations, the first identifier 135 can be generated as a randomized code. In some implementations, the first identifier 135 can include or be associated with a backup code. For example, the label on the cartridge 110 can include a first identifier 135 including both a QR code and a serial number. If the mobile device does not scan the QR code, or if the user prefers to input the serial number manually rather than scan the QR code, the user can input the serial number manually on a particular webpage to proceed with information gathering regarding the cartridge 110 and/or with the activation process. In some embodiments, rather than being disposed on the cartridge as a visual or visible identifier, the first identifier 135 can be digitally accessible. For example, in some embodiments, the first identifier 135 can be stored on a near-field communication (NFC) chip and can be transmitted to NFC-equipped devices through an NFC transmission. In some embodiments, the first identifier 135 can be stored in a memory of the cartridge 130 (e.g., the memory 137 or in a separate memory on a chip) and the cartridge 130 can be Bluetooth low energy (BLE) and/or Long Term Evolution (LTE) enabled for transmission of the first identifier 135 to the compute device 110.

The processor 132 of the cartridge 110 can include one or more of: a general purpose processor, a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a controller, a microcontroller, a state machine and so forth. Under some circumstances, a “processor” may refer to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc. The term “processor” may refer to a combination of processing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core or any other such configuration. The processor 125 of the vaporizer pen 140 can include one or more of: a general purpose processor, a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a controller, a microcontroller, a state machine and so forth. Under some circumstances, a “processor” may refer to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc. The term “processor” may refer to a combination of processing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core or any other such configuration. The processor 132 can be in electronic communication with the memory 137 and can be configured to read information from and/or write information to the memory 137. In some embodiments, the processor 132 and the memory 137 can be included on a common tracking component or in a control assembly of the cartridge 110. The tracking component or control assembly may be, for example, an integrated circuit (e.g., Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs)).

In some embodiments, the processor 132 can be configured to be loaded with a firmware during a manufacturing phase of the processor 132 or of the cartridge 130 such that the firmware can be programmatically used to perform authentication of the capsule 132 using one or more cryptographic methods. The processor 132 can include a second identifier (also referred to as a cartridge key) stored in the memory 137 that can be used to identify the cartridge 130 in addition to the first identifier 135. For example, in some implementations, the second identifier can include a code that can be stored in the memory 137. The firmware of the processor 132 can include an authentication module and can be configured to access the stored code to verify that a third identifier (also referred to as a key indicator) (e.g., a color, a sequence of colors, and/or a flashing sequence of color(s)) that may be included in or indicated by a compute device presentation read by the light sensor 122 from the display 114 of the mobile device 114 and provided to the processor 132 corresponds to the second identifier. For example, the processor 132 can compare the second identifier stored in the memory 137 of the tracking component to the third identifier from the display 114 received by the processor 132 via the vaporizer pen 120 and can determine whether or not to activate the cartridge 130 based on whether the third identifier is based on (e.g., matches via a direct comparison, is a transformation of, is a derivative of, or corresponds to a one-way hash function of) the second identifier. If the processor 132 determines that the third identifier is based on the second identifier, the processor 132 can activate the cartridge 130 such that the processor 132 can activate the heating assembly 134 in response to a user drawing on the mouthpiece 133 (e.g., using operational powered provided from the power supply 124 of the vaporizer pen 120 to the processor 132). If the processor 132 does not determine that the third identifier is based on the second identifier are a match, the cartridge 130 will not be activated such that the processor 132 is not able to activate the heating assembly 134 in response to a user drawing on the mouthpiece (even if operational power is available to due to the processor 132 being electrically coupled to the power supply 124 of the vaporizer pen 120). In some implementations, the second identifier can include a digital signature (also referred to as an authentication signature) stored in the memory 137 (e.g., of the tracking component such as a chip) of the cartridge 130 that can be based on a private key, and the processor 132 can determine whether to activate the cartridge 130 such that the processor 132 can activate the heating assembly 134 in response to a user drawing on the cartridge 130 based on a similar method as described with respect to authenticating and validating a tracking component in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2020/0085105 to Mladen Barbaric et al., filed on Sep. 18, 2019 and entitled Methods and Systems for Vaporizer Security and Traceability Management, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2020/0113246 to Mladen Barbaric et al., filed on Oct. 16, 2019 and entitled Variable-Viscosity Carrier Vaporizers with Enhanced Thermal and Hydrodynamic Properties, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties, and/or U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/129,237 to Mladen Barbaric et al., filed on Dec. 22, 2020 and entitled Methods and Systems for Activation of a Drug Delivery Device, attached as an Appendix to the Specification.

The memory 137 can include any electronic component capable of storing electronic information. The term memory may refer to various types of processor-readable media such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), flash memory, magnetic or optical data storage, registers, etc. Memory is said to be in electronic communication with a processor if the processor can read information from and/or write information to the memory. Memory that is integral to a processor is in electronic communication with the processor. Although not shown in FIG. 1A, the vaporizer pen 140 can also include any memory needed such that the vaporizer pen 140 is operational to perform the functions of the vaporizer pen 140 described herein. The memory of the vaporizer pen 140 may be the same or similar in structure and/or function to the memory 137.

The power supply 124 of the vaporizer pen 140 can include any suitable battery or fuel cell, for example having high-drain characteristics. In some implementations, the vaporizer pen 140 can include a mechanical interface (e.g., a button) as part of the I/O 126 that the user can actuate to trigger the heating and vaporization of the carrier. The input/output module 126 can include one or more of: a push-button control for causing vapor generation (as an alternative to activating the heating assembly 134 based on the draw sensor 123), a battery indicator, an electromechanical connector for charging and/or data communication, a light source (e.g., one or more light-emitting diodes), etc. The indicator(s) 128 can include one or more of: an illumination source (e.g., one or more light-emitting diodes), a speaker, a display screen, a vibration component (e.g., a vibration motor or a piezoelectric vibrating element), etc. In some embodiments, one or more of the indicator(s) 128 can be included in or controlled by a component of the input/output module 126.

The memory 137 can include a second identifier of the cartridge 110 (e.g., stored on the memory 137 during manufacturing of the cartridge 110). A command center can include a database in a memory of the command center associating the first identifier, the second identifier, and fill data associated with the cartridge 110. In some embodiments, the second identifier is unique to only one cartridge 110. In some embodiments, the second identifier can be used in more than one cartridge 110. In some embodiments, the second identifier can be used in more than one cartridge 110, but used in only a small portion of manufactured cartridges 110 (e.g., less than 5%, less than 1%). The fill data can include, for example, one or more of: carrier ingredients, carrier formulation, nicotine concentration, nicotine plant genetics, nicotine provenance data (e.g., the tobacco plant(s) from which the nicotine was derived, the grow location of the nicotine plant(s), the grow and/or harvesting date of the nicotine plant(s), etc.) cannabinoid concentration(s), cannabinoid provenance data (e.g., the cannabis plant(s) from which the cannabinoid(s) were derived, the grow location of the cannabis plant(s), seed information associated with the cannabis plant(s), the date on which the cannabis seeds were planted, the grow and/or harvesting date of the cannabis plant(s), the dispensary from which the cannabinoid(s) were obtained, etc.), active ingredient (e.g., drug) concentration, extraction method(s) (and details thereof) used when converting the cannabis plant(s) into carrier material, inactive ingredient concentration, functionality of the vaporizer (e.g., physics of vapor generation, sequence of steps performed by the vaporizer when activated, etc.), details regarding effects within/on the user when the vapor is inhaled, and/or the like.

In some embodiments, rather than including the mobile device as the compute device, the system could include a compute device in the form of a laptop or desktop computer of the user that is configured to have the same structure and/or function as described herein with respect to the mobile device.

As discussed above, in some embodiments, the cartridge 110 will not operate when coupled to the vaporizer pen 140 unless the cartridge 110 has first been validated and activated. In use, a user can use a mobile device to read the first identifier 135 disposed on the outer surface of the cartridge 110. For example, the mobile device (e.g., a smartphone) can include a reader (e.g., a camera and related software application stored on the mobile device) to read the first identifier 135 (e.g., a QR code). In some embodiments, in response to reading the first identifier 135, the mobile device can communicate with the command center to retrieve information associated with the cartridge 110 (e.g., based on or including the fill data 152) by sending data including the first identifier 135 to the command center. In response to receiving the information associated with the cartridge 110, the mobile device can present a presentation (e.g., a webpage or an application) on a display of the mobile device (e.g., automatically) including at least some of the information associated with the cartridge 110. Thus, the user can view information associated with the cartridge 110, such as a source of the contents of the reservoir 138, concentration, dosage, and/or ingredients of the contents of the reservoir 138, flavor data of the contents of the reservoir 138, etc.

In some embodiments, the presentation on the display of the mobile phone can include an interaction feature (e.g., a touch button on the screen) configured for user interaction. If, after reviewing the presentation, the user desires to activate the cartridge 110, the user can select the interaction feature (e.g., press on the button). In response to the user selecting the interaction feature, the mobile device can send a cartridge activation request message to the command center. The command center can respond by sending instructions to the mobile device to present a visual third identifier on the display of the mobile device. The visual third identifier can be based on (e.g., derived from or a derivation of) the second identifier that is associated with the first identifier 135 in the memory 146 of the command center. The visual third identifier can include a particular color or series of colors displayed over a portion or all of the display of the mobile device. The visual third identifier can be based on a conversion of the second identifier stored as a code of any base (e.g., a binary code) in the command center to a base-N code (e.g., a base-6 code), for example, that can be communicated through a series of colors and/or series of flashes of one or more colors. In some embodiments, rather than the command center first sending instructions to the mobile device to present a presentation on the display of the mobile device including information associated with the cartridge 110 and/or sending instructions to display the third identifier in response to the user selecting the interaction feature, the mobile device can send the cartridge activation request message to the command center in response to initially scanning the first identifier 135 and the mobile device can send the instructions to present the third identifier with and/or instead of the instructions to present information associated with the cartridge 110.

The user can engage the cartridge 110 with the vaporizer pen 140 (e.g., insert the cartridge 110 into an interior space of the vaporizer pen 140 to engage with an interface of the vaporizer pen 140 to establish a mechanical and electrical connection between the cartridge 110 and the vaporizer pen 140). With the cartridge 110 engaged with the vaporizer pen 140, the user can arrange the vaporizer pen 140 against the display of the mobile device such that the light sensor 191 can read the display of the mobile device. For example, the side of the vaporizer pen 140 on which the light sensor 191 is disposed can be placed adjacent a screen of the display such that the light sensor 191 is aligned with the visual third identifier to read the color(s) and/or series of color(s) flashed and/or displayed on the display of the mobile device. In some embodiments, the presentation includes instructions for the user as to how to arrange the vaporizer pen 140 relative to the display of the mobile device prior to the presentation of the visual third identifier.

Upon the light sensor 191 reading the visual third identifier, the processor 125 of the vaporizer pen 140 can communicate the content of the third identifier to the processor 132 of the cartridge 110. The processor 132 of the cartridge 110 can determine (e.g., using operational power from the power supply 124) if the code provided via the third identifier corresponds to the second identifier saved on the memory 137. If the third identifier is confirmed to be based on (e.g., correspond to or be associated with via, for example, being matched via a direct comparison, being a transformation of, being a derivative of, or corresponding to a one-way hash function of) the second identifier, the processor 132 can transition the cartridge 110 from a deactivated status to an activated status (e.g., activate the cartridge 110). Upon activation, the cartridge 110 can be used by the user for vaporization of the contents of the reservoir 138. For example, the processor 132 can initiate the heating assembly 134 (e.g., in response to a signal from the draw sensor 123) using operational power from the power supply 124 of the vaporizer pen 140 to power the heating assembly 134. In some embodiments, after activating, the cartridge 110 can be used with other vaporizer pens 140 than the vaporizer pen 140 used to activate the cartridge 110. In some embodiments, the visual third identifier can also include fill information, heating instructions, and/or other information associated with the contents of the reservoir 138. For example, the visual third identifier can include a heating profile and a rate of release of the carrier material and/or one or more ingredients of the carrier material (e.g., based on the heating profile) associated with the cartridge 110 in addition to including the code associated with the third identifier such that the processor 125 of the vaporizer pen 140 can write the heating profile and rate of release on the memory 137 of the cartridge 110 or can send instructions to the processor 132 to write the heating profile and rate of release on the memory 137 of the cartridge 110. Thus, upon activation of the cartridge 110, the heating assembly 134 can heat the contents of the reservoir 138 according to the heating profile and can provide indications to the user via the indicators 128 (e.g., LED-based or haptic) representing characteristics of the cartridge 110 (e.g., fill level of the reservoir 138) and/or characteristics of usage of the cartridge 110 (e.g., draw strength of a draw on the mouthpiece 133 based on, for example, an amount of an ingredient of the vaporized carrier material drawn by the user).

In some embodiments, the command center can provide instructions to display the visual third identifier to the mobile device only if the user has an active subscription status (i.e., only if the subscription status of the user has been validated). For example, upon the user reading the first identifier 135 with the reader of the mobile device, the mobile device can send the first identifier 135 to the command center with a user identifier and/or a mobile device identifier associated with the user and the mobile device, respectively. The user identifier and/or the mobile device identifier may be based on, for example, a log-in or account number assigned to the user or the mobile device usable to identify an account associated with the user and/or the mobile device. The command center can determine if the user identifier and/or the mobile device identifier are associated with an active subscription. If the user identifier is associated with an active subscription, the command center can proceed with sending the instructions to display the visual third identifier on the display of the mobile device. If the user identifier and/or the mobile device identifier are not associated with an active subscription (e.g., a previous subscription has lapsed or a new subscription needs to be established), the command center can send a communication to the mobile device including instructions to display a prompt for the user to subscribe or resubscribe (e.g., submit funds and/or create or update an account having a subscription). Once the user has taken the steps required to change the subscription status stored in the command center from inactive to active (e.g., via engagement with the mobile device), the mobile device can communicate the instructions to display the visual third identifier on the display of the mobile device to the mobile device.

In some embodiments, the processor 132 of the cartridge 110 can include a fraud mitigation feature to avoid a brute force activation in which a user may attempt to activate the cartridge 110 by aligning the light sensor 191 with a display displaying or flashing a color or series of colors (e.g., a randomized display). The fraud mitigation feature may include a lock-out feature such that, in the event of a certain number of failed activation attempts (e.g., one, two, three) in which the light sensor 191 was aligned with a display but the processor 132 did not identify a match between the second identifier and the data or code transmitted from the display via the light sensor 191, the processor 132 can pause or lock for a predetermined period of time (e.g., thirty seconds, two minutes, three minutes) before another activation attempt can be initiated. In some embodiments, the predetermined period of time can progressively increase with each failed activation attempt, such that the first pause of lock period is shorter than the duration of the second, which is shorter than the duration of the third, etc. For example, the first pause period can be thirty seconds, the second can be two minutes, the third can be ten minutes, the fourth can be an hour, the fifth can be six hours, etc. In some embodiments, such as in severe abuse cases, the lockout period can be permanent.

In some embodiments, the sensor(s) 161 and/or the light sensor 191 may be configured to read an indication generated by a compute device (e.g., a mobile device or a remote server). For example, the compute device can include an indication generator configured to present the indication (e.g., as all or a portion of a compute device presentation). In some embodiments, the indication generator of the compute device can include a display (e.g., liquid-crystal display (LCD)), organic light-emitting diode (OLED), active-matrix organic light emitting diodes (AMOLED), Super AMOLED, a thin film transistor technology (TFT) LCD, an in-place switching (IPS) LCD, a resistive touchscreen LCD, a capacitive touchscreen LCD display) configured to generate a visual or optical indication. In some embodiments, the indication generator can be a speaker configured to generate an auditory indication. In some embodiments, the indication generator can be a vibration component (e.g., a vibration motor or a piezoelectric vibrating element) configured to generate a vibratory indication. Thus, the indication can be at least one of a visual indication, an auditory indication, or a vibratory indication.

In some embodiments, a visual indication generated by the compute device can include a sequence of visual images. In some embodiments, each visual image of the sequence of visual images is entirely a uniform color. In some embodiments, each visual image of the sequence of visual images is one of red, green, or blue. In some embodiments, each visual image of the sequence of visual images is one of red, green, blue, and black. In some embodiments, each visual image of the sequence of visual images is one of any suitable number of colors (e.g., two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine). For example, the sequence of visual images can include six non-black colors and black. At least one visual image of the sequence of visual images can be a different color than at least one of a preceding or a subsequent visual image in the sequence. In some embodiments, in addition to or as an alternative to a sequence of images of different colors, the sequence can include a sequence or series of images having various tonal values (e.g., a sequence of greyscale images). In some embodiments, the sequence of visual images can include one or more images including a graphical arrangement.

In some embodiments, the visual indication can include an image including a pattern, or a sequence of images including a pattern. In some embodiments, the visual indication can include any suitable combination of any of the images described herein. In some embodiments, each image of the visual indication displayed on the display of the compute device has a larger area than the surface area of the portion of the device 100 (e.g., the cartridge 110 and/or the vaporizer pen 140) contacting the display of the visual indication when the device 100 is properly disposed adjacent the compute device for the sensing. In some embodiments, an auditory indication generated by the compute device includes a sequence of sounds. Each sound in the sequence of sounds can have the same or different durations, tones, frequencies, and/or durations of non-auditory periods between sounds in the sequence of sounds. In some embodiments, a vibratory indication generated by the compute device includes a sequence of vibrations. Each vibration in the sequence of vibrations can have the same or different durations, frequencies, amplitudes, and/or durations of non-vibratory periods between vibrations in the sequence of vibrations. In some embodiments, the indication can be formed by power pulses provided by the compute device to the device 100 and sensed by the sensor(s) 161 and/or 191.

In some embodiments, the sensor(s) 161 and/or the light sensor 191 can be any suitable sensor configured to sense the indication generated by the compute device 110. For example, in some embodiments, the sensor(s) 161 and/or the light sensor 191 can be a light sensor (e.g., an RGB sensor) configured to sense a visual indication. In some embodiments, the sensor(s) 161 and/or the light sensor 191 can be an auditory sensor configured to sense an auditory indication. In some embodiments, the sensor(s) 161 and/or the light sensor 191 can be a vibration sensor configured to sense a vibratory indication. In some embodiments, the sensor(s) 161 and/or the light sensor 191 can be coupled to an outer surface of the a housing of the cartridge 110 or the vaporizer pen 140 and can be configured to sense the indication generated by the indication generator of the compute device when the device 100 (e.g., the sensor sensor(s) 161 and/or the light sensor 191) is placed adjacent to the compute device (e.g., when the sensor(s) 161 and/or the light sensor 191 is placed in contact with the compute device, such as adjacent the indication generator (e.g., a display) of the computer device). In some embodiments, the device 100 can include a flat surface (e.g., a flat elongated side surface) that can be placed in contact with a display screen of the compute device. The sensor(s) 161 and/or the light sensor 191 can be disposed within or can be configured to sense through the flat surface or through an opening in the flat surface. In some embodiments, the vaporizer pen 140 may be configured to reach the signal or indication generated by the compute device (e.g., a mobile phone).

In some embodiments, the device 100 can include a lock, for example, a mechanical or electronic lock. The operation of the device 100 can be a locking or unlocking operation. The lock can optionally be a mechanical lock. The lock status of the device 100 can be a lock status of the mechanical lock and the mechanical lock can be in a locked configuration when the lock status is locked, and the mechanical lock can be in an unlocked configuration when the lock status is unlocked. In some embodiments, the interior space of a housing of the vaporizer pen 140 and/or the cartridge 110 can be inaccessible when the mechanical lock is in the locked configuration and can be accessible when the mechanical lock is in the unlocked configuration.

In some embodiments, the device 100 will not unlock, operate, or perform one or more particular operations unless the device 100 has first been activated, validated and/or instructed (e.g., via data or instructions provided via the indication generated by the indication generator of the compute device). In some embodiments, a calibration sequence can be presented in conjunction with the indication. For example, the calibration sequence and the indication can both be presented as part of a compute device presentation presented by the indication generator. For example, a calibration sequence can be displayed on a display of the compute device prior to the display of a color, sequence of colors, and/or flashing sequence of color(s) (e.g., associated with a key indicator) of a visual indication on the display of the compute device. The calibration sequence can be used to ensure that the indication sensed by the sensor(s) 161 or light sensor 191 of the device 100 is accurately understood by the processor 132 and/or 125 regardless of the variation or distortion in the indication generator compared to other indication generators (e.g., variation in color, brightness, and/or tint of a display of the compute device, variation related to the speaker of the compute device, and/or variation related to the vibration component of the compute device). For example, the calibration sequence can include a predetermined sequence of colors (e.g., including each color used in the indication (e.g., in the portion of the compute device presentation associated with the key indicator)). The processor 125 and/or 132 can be configured to recognize the colors in the calibration sequence based on the predetermined sequence. The processor 125 and/or 132 can be configured to understand the indication (e.g., to identify the key indicator in the portion of the compute device presentation associated with the key indicator) based on the colors in the calibration sequence. In some embodiments, the compute device presentation can include a delimiter at the beginning and end of the sequence (e.g., prior to the calibration sequence and after the indication) such that the device 100 can identify the beginning and end of the compute device presentation. In some embodiments, the compute device presentation can be repeatedly generated by the indication generator (e.g., for a duration of time or number of times) to give the device 100 sufficient opportunity to sense the compute device presentation with the sensor(s) 122 and/or light sensor 191.

In some embodiments, the light sensor 191 is configured to read the indication generated by the compute device, and the processor 125 of the vaporizer pen 140 is configured to interpret a signal received from the light sensor 191 that is indicative of the indication. The processor 125 may communicate a signal to the processor 132 of the cartridge 110 to unlock, that may be based at least in part on information received from the cartridge 110. In some embodiments, the processer 125 of the vaporizer pen may be configured to communicate information regarding the indication sensed by the light sensor 191 to the processor 132 of the cartridge 110. The processor 132 may be configured to analyze the information received from the processor 125, for example, based on data stored in a memory 137 of the cartridge 110 and unlocks or activates the cartridge 110 if the received information matches the stored information. In some embodiments, the sensor(s) 161 of the cartridge 110 may be configured and generate a signal communicated to the processor 125. The process 125 may be configured to determine information corresponding to the indication, and in response to the information matching information stored on the memory 137, activate or unlock the cartridge 110. In some embodiments, the sensor(s) 161 and the light sensor 191 each be configured to read a portion of the indication generated by the compute device (e.g., a visual indication read by the light sensor 191, and a audio and/or haptic indication read by the sensor(s) 161 or any other combination), and in response to each of the indication matching an information stored in a memory 137 of the cartridge 110 as determined by the processer 125 and/or the processor 137, unlock or activate the cartridge 110. Various systems and methods for generating indicators and identifying authenticating cartridges are described in PCT Application No. PCT/CA2021/051881, filed Dec. 22, 2021, and entitled “Methods and Systems for Activation of a Drug Delivery Device,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

In some embodiments, a device 100 can be associated with more than one user (e.g., in the memory 137) such that each user's images, biometric data, or personal data can be used to unlock or operate the device 100. Thus, users sharing a household can both use the device 100. In some embodiments, voice recognition can be used to identify if a user is the same user as previously registered or validated by the command center. In some embodiments, the device 100 rather than or in addition to the compute device can include a sensor configured to collect the biometric or personal data (e.g., a microphone, camera, fingerprint sensor, and/or a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor for SpO₂ measurements that may be integrated on into the vaporizer pen 140 or cartridge assembly 110 housings to assess changes in lung and/or heath health and may generate alerts if an anomaly in lung and/or heart function is detected). The processor 125 and/or 132 of device 100 can be configured to compare the collected data to stored identity data on the device 100, or the device 100 can provide the collected data to the compute device for comparison analysis. In some embodiments, the device 100 may also include the device may include a wide area network (WAN) connectivity module and/or a global positioning system (GPS) module and use the data to assess identity by way of pattern tracking, or to assess location where is ma be desirable to deactivate the device 100.

In some embodiments, the cartridge 110 and the vaporizer pen 140 are configured such that, when the cartridge 110 is engaged with the vaporizer pen 140 to form a vaporizer device 101 and the cartridge 110 has been activated, when a user sucks, or “draws,” on the mouthpiece, the resulting change in pressure within the vaporizer device is measured by the draw sensor 123. In response to the draw sensor 123 sensing a change in pressure (e.g., above a threshold change in pressure or to a threshold pressure level), the processor 125 of the vaporizer pen 140 can communicate the change in pressure to the processor 132 of the cartridge 110 (e.g., via the interface of the vaporizer pen 140). In some embodiments, the draw sensor 123 may be configured to be used periodically by the user as a spirometer. For example, the user may blow into an opening of the cartridge 110 without inserting the cartridge 110 into the vaporizer pen 140, for example, to determine exhalation pressure of the user's lungs as in indicator of the user's lung function.

The processor 132 of the cartridge 110 can then actuate the heating assembly 134 to pass a current through the heating element that is in contact with, or in sufficiently close proximity to, the carrier material or a wick material containing at least a portion of the carrier material, so as to cause the volatilization of a portion of the carrier material. One or more characteristics of the current or affecting the delivery of the current passed through the heating element (e.g., voltage, wattage) can be controlled by the processor 132 based on, for example, an ambient temperature measured by a temperature sensor of the sensor(s) 161, a resistance of the heating element, and/or a heating profile or target temperature range associated with the carrier material (e.g., as determined by the processor 132 and/or provided to the processor 132 and/or stored in the memory 137 prior to use).

The volatilized carrier material, or vapor, travels toward the mouthpiece via one or more of the expansion chamber(s) and/or one or more of the fluidic channels until it exits the mouthpiece opening vaporizer for inhalation by the user. In some embodiments, the cartridge 110 and/or the vaporizer pen 140 can be coupled to the mobile device (e.g., a mobile phone, tablet, or computer) via, for example, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, such that the mobile device can control one or more operations of the cartridge and/or the vaporizer pen 140. For example, the mobile device can lock and/or unlock the cartridge 110 such that the processor 132 does not actuate the heating assembly 134 when locked and the processor 132 can actuate the heating assembly 134 when unlocked.

FIG. 1B is a schematic illustration of an example of the relationships between and characteristics of some the components of the cartridge 110 coupleable to the vaporizer pen 140 (referred to as a device in FIG. 1B). As shown, the processor 132 of the cartridge 110 is a microcontroller (MCU) that can includes the memory 137 (not shown). The processor 132 is electrically coupled to the heating circuit of the heating assembly 134. The cartridge 110 includes a field-effect transistor (FET) circuit 163 and a low-dropout regulator (LDO) 165. The FET circuit 163 can control the operation of the heating circuit of the heating assembly 134 under the control of the MCU 132, and may be coupled to or included in the processor 132 or a tracking component or chip including the processor 132. As shown, the processor 132 can be configured to be electrically coupled to the vaporizer pen 120 for transmission of power and communication from the device via four pogo pin connectors (e.g., of the vaporizer pen 120). The processor 132 operates using power drawn from the vaporizer pen 140 and controls the supply of power from the vaporizer pen 140 to the other components of the cartridge 110 (e.g., the heating circuit of the heating assembly 134).

FIG. 1C is a schematic illustration of the components of the vaporizer pen 140 coupleable to the cartridge 110 (referred to as a pod in FIG. 1C). As shown, the processor 125 of the vaporizer pen 140 is a microcontroller (MCU). The processor 125 is electrically coupled to the draw sensor 123 (represented as an air flow sensor), the light sensor 191 (e.g., an RGB sensor), a vibration motor 167 (which can be included in the indicator(s) 128), and an indicator 128 (e.g., an LED). Additionally, the vaporizer pen 140 also includes the power supply 124 (e.g., a Li-polymer battery) configured to provide power to the cartridge 110 via the four pogo pin connectors 169 of the vaporizer pen 140. The power supply 124 is also electrically coupled to a charger 171 that is coupled to a USB-C receptacle 173 such that the power supply 124 can be charged to increase the level of power in the power supply 124 via the USB-C 173 receptacle. The vaporizer pen 140 also includes a low-dropout regulator (LDO) 175 and is configured to provide power to the processor 125 for operational power of the vaporizer pen 140.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of a vaporizer system 200 (e.g., electronic vapor delivery system) in an assembled and an exploded configuration, respectively. The system 200 may be the same or similar in structure and/or function to any of the systems described herein, such as, for example, the vaporizer system 100 described above with respect to FIG. 1A. For example, the system 200 includes a cartridge assembly 210 and a pen assembly 240 (also referred to as a vaporizer pen). The cartridge assembly 210 may be the same or similar in structure and/or function to the cartridge 110 described above, and the pen assembly 240 may be the same or similar in structure and/or function to the vaporizer pen 140 described above. The pen assembly 240 includes a pen housing 242 and a bracket assembly 250 (shown in FIG. 10). The pen assembly 240 also includes indicator cover element 246 (e.g., translucent portions configured such that light transmitted from indicator features 257 (e.g., LEDs) of the control assembly 258 described below may be visible through the indicator cover elements 246). Furthermore, in some implementations, the pen housing 242 may define an inlet 244 in the sidewall of the pen housing 242 such that air may be drawn into an interior of the system 200 via the inlet 244. In some implementations, the pen housing 242 may define one or more inlets 244 in any suitable location on the pen housing 242, such as on opposite sides of the pen housing 242. In some implementations, the pen housing 242 may not define an inlet 244 in the sidewall of the pen housing 242.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are a front view and a back view, respectively, of the pen housing 242. As shown in FIG. 4, the front of the pen housing 242 includes a light sensor 291 (e.g., an RGB sensor). FIGS. 6 and 7 are a top view and a bottom view, respectively, of the pen assembly 240. As shown in FIG. 7, the bottom of the pen housing 242 may define a bottom opening 241 such that a charging device may be reversibly engaged with a power supply of the system (e.g., power supply 284 discussed below). FIGS. 8 and 9 are a left side view and a right side view, respectively, of the pen assembly 240.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are perspective views of the bracket assembly 250 of the pen assembly 240 in an assembled and an exploded configuration, respectively. As shown in FIG. 11, the bracket assembly 250 includes a cap 252, a connection assembly 256 (e.g., a flexible PCB assembly), and a bracket 280. The bracket assembly 250 also includes a power supply 284 and a control assembly 258 (e.g., a PCB). The bracket assembly 250 also includes a magnet 282, a vibration motor 288, a battery bracket cover 289, and a light sensor cushion 291A. The power supply 284 can include any suitable battery or fuel cell, for example having high-drain characteristics. The control assembly 258 may include, for example, a printed circuit board. The control assembly 258 may include a memory and a processor.

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the pen assembly 240 with the bracket assembly 250, the indicator cover element 246, and the light sensor 291 separated from the pen housing 242.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are perspective views of the cap 252 of the bracket assembly 250 in an assembled and an exploded configuration, respectively. The cap 252 includes a cap base 261 defining a number (e.g., four) of openings 251. The openings 251 may be configured to receive connectors 259 (described below) of the connection assembly 256. The cap 252 can also include a silicone airflow sensor cover 247 that is configured to be mated with an airflow sensor 247 of the bracket assembly 250 (also referred to herein as a “draw sensor”) and to be partially passed through an opening of the cap base 261. The cap 252 also includes a sealing ring 270 (e.g., an O-ring) configured to form a seal between the cap base 261 and an inner surface of the pen housing 242. The cap 252 also includes the magnet 282, which can be received within a recess of the cap base 261.

FIG. 15 is a chart 202 showing example indicator light colors and sequences that can be provided by the indicator features 257 of the control assembly 258 to indicate particular functions and states of the electronic vapor delivery system 200. The chart 202 also indicates particular sequences of haptic feedback that can be provided via the vibration motor 288 under the control of the control assembly 258.

FIG. 16 shows various views of the outside of a package 204 in an assembled configuration. The package 204 is configured to house the electronic vapor delivery system 200. FIG. 17 shows an exploded view of the package 204. The package 204 includes a box upper portion 204A, a quick start guide 204B, a device tray 204C, a charging cable 204D (e.g., a USB-C charging cable), a box lower portion 204E, and sealing stickers 204F. The device tray 204C can include a recess configured to receive the pen assembly 240.

FIGS. 18 and 19 are perspective views of the cartridge assembly 210 in an assembled and an exploded configuration, respectively. The cartridge assembly 210 includes a mouthpiece component 222 (also referred to as a mouthpiece) and an outer housing 224. As shown in FIG. 19, the cartridge assembly 210 also includes a heating subassembly 230 including a control assembly 231, a wick assembly 266, a wick assembly housing 267, a base 234, and a lower housing portion 236.

The mouthpiece 222 defines a mouthpiece opening 222A. The outer housing 224 includes an upper wall including an upper surface and sidewalls. The upper surface of the outer housing 224 is configured, in combination with a lower surface of the mouthpiece 222 when the mouthpiece 222 is coupled to the outer housing 224, to define a first channel 278A and a second channel 278B such that air and vapor follow a flow path to the mouthpiece opening 222A including the first channel 278A and the second channel 278B. The upper surface can be monolithically formed with the sidewalls of the outer housing 224. The first channel 278A can be disposed parallel to the second channel 278B and can be fluidically coupled via a curved channel portion also collectively defined by the upper surface of the outer housing 224 and the lower surface of the mouthpiece 222. The first channel portion 278A can be separated from the second channel portion 278B by a wall portion 225A. The outer housing 224 defines an air inlet 287, an elastomeric plug 228, and detent receiving openings 277 configured to receive detents 277B of the lower housing portion 236 such that the lower housing portion 236 can be secured to the outer housing 224. The air inlet 287 is defined in a sidewall of the outer housing 224 (e.g., between the elastomeric plug 228 and one of the detents 277). When the cartridge 210 is coupled to the vaporizer pen 240, the air inlet 287 can align with the inlet 244 in the pen housing 242.

The elastomeric plug 228 can be a resealable membrane that is configured to reseal after being pierced with a filling needle (e.g., to fill the reservoir R). Although the elastomeric plug 228 is shown as being disposed in a side portion of the sidewall of the outer housing 224, in some embodiments the elastomeric plug 228 can be disposed in front or back portion of the sidewall of the outer housing 224.

The wick assembly housing 267 is configured to receive the wick assembly 266 within a recess of the wick assembly housing 267 such that a bottom surface of an interior of a cup portion of the wick assembly 266 can be accessed through an opening of the wick assembly housing 267. As shown in FIG. 33, sidewalls of the cup portion of the wick assembly 266 can be disposed in the recess of the wick assembly housing 267. The opening of the wick assembly housing 267 can be sized to control the rate at which carrier material travels from the reservoir R into the wick assembly 266. For example, the opening can be 2 mm long by 1 mm wide. The wick assembly housing 267 can be formed of any suitable material, such as a food grade elastomeric membrane material such as silicone. The wick assembly housing 267 can include a flange portion disposed around the perimeter of the wick assembly housing 267 and configured to function as a sealing ring (e.g., an O-ring) to seal the wick assembly housing 267 relative to the base 234 (e.g., an inner surface of the base 234 defining the space within which the wick assembly 266 and the wick assembly housing 267 are disposed and a groove for receiving the sealing ring of the wick assembly housing 267).

The control assembly 231 can the same or similar in structure and/or function to the control assembly described above with respect to FIG. 1A including the processor 132 and the memory 137 of the cartridge 110. For example, the control assembly 231 can include an integrated circuit (e.g., an Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs)) and can be configured to control the operation of the cartridge 210 based on information and using power provided to the control assembly 231 by the vaporizer pen 240.

Additionally, the control assembly 231 can be configured to activate the cartridge 210 for use similarly as described above with respect to the cartridge 110. Although not shown, a first identifier (e.g., QR code, barcode, and/or serial number) can be included on an outer surface of the cartridge 210 and can be readable by a reader, such as a camera and related software application stored on a compute device of a user, such as a mobile device (e.g., a smartphone). The control assembly 231 can include a second identifier (e.g., a code) stored (e.g., written) on a memory of the control assembly 231 that is different from the first identifier. The control assembly 231 can be configured to compare the second identifier with an identifier provided to the control assembly 231 (e.g., by and/or via the vaporizer pen 240) such that the control assembly 231 will only activate the cartridge 210 and allow heating of the wick assembly 266 if the second identifier matches the identifier provided via the vaporizer pen 240. The provided identifier can be, for example, provided to the vaporizer pen 240 and/or read by the vaporizer pen 240 via the light sensor 291 of the vaporizer pen 240. For example, a compute device (e.g., the compute device used to read the first identifier on the outer surface of the cartridge 210) can display an identifier (e.g., a third identifier corresponding to the second identifier or configured to transmit a signal including the second identifier) on a display of the compute device. The compute device can be instructed to display the identifier by, for example, a command center (e.g., a server) in response to the compute device sending the first identifier or data associated with the first identifier to the server. The light sensor 291 of the vaporizer pen 240 can be disposed adjacent to the screen to read the identifier (e.g., sense the color and/or series of colors displayed on the screen). The vaporizer pen 240 can then transmit the identifier and/or data included in the identifier to the control assembly 231 (e.g., via the control assembly 258 and the connectors 259). The control assembly 231 can determine if the identifier and/or data included in the identifier provided by the vaporizer pen 240 to the control assembly 231 corresponds to the second identifier stored on the memory of the control assembly 231. If so, the control assembly 231 can activate the cartridge 210 (e.g., such that the cartridge 210 can be used to heat carrier material when coupled to the vaporizer pen 240 and/or other vaporizer pens). In some embodiments, the data included in the identifier provided by the compute device and read by the light sensor 291 can include information such as a heating profile and/or a release rate of the carrier material or an ingredient of the carrier material (e.g., based on the heating profile) such that the control assembly 231 can control the wick assembly 266 according to the heating profile and/or can send instructions to the control assembly 258 of the vaporizer pen 240 to deliver one or more indications via the indicator lights 246 and/or the vibration motor 288 to the user to alert the user to one or more conditions of use of the device 100, such as is shown in chart 202 in FIG. 15.

FIGS. 20 to 25 are various views of the cartridge assembly 210 in an assembled configuration. Specifically, FIG. 20 is a back view, FIG. 21 is a right side view, FIG. 22 is a left side view, FIG. 23 is a front view, FIG. 25 is a bottom view, and FIG. 24 is a top view. FIGS. 26 to 28 are various views of the cartridge assembly 210 in an assembled configuration with the outer housing 224 shown as being transparent. For example, FIG. 26 is a back view, FIG. 27 is a side view, and FIG. 28 is a front view. As shown, the base 234 of the heating subassembly 230 is disposed within the outer housing 224 and secured in place by the lower housing portion 236 secured to the outer housing 224. The reservoir R is collectively defined by the sidewalls and upper wall of the outer housing 224 in combination with the heating subassembly 230 and the elastomeric plug 228. Thus, the elastomeric plug 228 can be used to deliver carrier material to the reservoir R, and the carrier material can exit the reservoir R by traveling away from the mouthpiece via the heating subassembly 230.

FIGS. 29 and 30 are perspective views of the heating subassembly 230 in an assembled and an exploded configuration, respectively. As shown in FIG. 30, the wick assembly 266 includes a coil with two end portions 263 extending away from the wick component and configured to be coupled to the control assembly 231 such that the control assembly 231 can control power to the wick assembly 266 via the coil.

The wick assembly 266 can include a cup portion and a heating element (e.g., a coil) coupled to and/or disposed within (e.g., partially or fully embedded within) the cup portion and configured to heat a cup portion. The cylindrical cup portion can include a sidewall (e.g., cylindrical or tubular) and can have a porous bottom. In some embodiments, a wick component can include a flexible wick portion and can be wrapped around the outer surface of the cup portion such that the flexible wick component forms an outer surface of the wick assembly 266. In some embodiments, the wick assembly 266 may be formed of ceramic, stainless steel (e.g., 303F stainless steel), and cotton. For example, the cup portion can be formed of ceramic, the flexible wick portion can be formed of cotton, and the heating element (e.g., the coil) can be formed of stainless steel. The cup portion can be configured to receive carrier material into the interior of the cup portion via an open top of the cup portion. The carrier material is configured to be vaporized and removed from the bottom surface of the cup portion and to travel laterally away from the bottom surface of the cup portion of the wick assembly 266.

FIGS. 31 and 32 are perspective views of the lower housing portion 236 coupled to the magnet 237 and uncoupled from the magnet 237, respectively. As shown, the lower housing portion 236 defines a recess configured to receive the magnet 237 and a passageway 236A for fluidic communication with the draw sensor 247 (e.g., airflow sensor) of the pen assembly 240 when the cartridge assembly 210 is operatively coupled to the pen assembly 240. The lower housing portion 236 defines an opening 236B configured to receive a connector use to program the control assembly 231 (e.g., load or update firmware). The lower housing portion also defines four openings 276 configured to receive connectors 259 of the connection assembly 256 when the cartridge assembly 210 is operatively coupled to the pen assembly 240 such that the connectors 259 contact the control assembly 231 such that the control assembly 231 is communicatively coupled to the pen assembly 240 and can receive operative power from the pen assembly 240.

FIGS. 33 to 35 are a cross-sectional front view, a left side view, and a right side view of the cartridge assembly 210 with the outer housing 224 shown as being transparent, respectively. FIG. 36 is a top view of the cartridge assembly 210 with the mouthpiece 222 shown as being transparent. FIG. 37 is a perspective view of the bottom of the cartridge assembly 210. FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge assembly 210.

The outer housing 224 (which can be monolithically formed) defines a first flow path portion 224A, a second flow path portion 224B, and a third flow path portion 224C (also referred to as fluidic channels). The heating subassembly 230 defines a first flow path portion 234A, a second flow path portion 234B, a third flow path portion 234C, and a passageway 236A (also referred to as fluidic channels). The first flow path portion 234A can be defined by the base 234 and/or by the base 234 in combination with the wick assembly housing 267 and/or the wick assembly 266. The second flow path portion 234B can be defined by the base 234 and/or the base 234 in combination with the wick assembly housing 267 and/or the wick assembly 266. The third flow path portion 234C can be defined by the base 234.

The first flow path portion 224A of the outer housing 224 extends from the inlet 287 to the first flow path portion 234A of the heating subassembly 230. The second flow path 224B of the outer housing 224 extends from the second flow path portion 234B of the heating subassembly 230 to the first channel 278A. The third flow path 224C of the outer housing portion 224 extends from the passageway 236A to the second channel 278B. The first flow path portion 234A of the heating subassembly 230 can extend from the first flow path 224A of the outer housing 224 to the wick assembly 266. The second flow path portion 234B of the heating subassembly 230 can extend from the wick assembly 266 to the second flow path 224B of the outer housing 224. Thus, when a user draws on the mouthpiece opening 222A, air can be pulled through the inlet 287, through the first flow path portion 224A, through the first flow path portion 234A into contact with the wick assembly 266, through the second flow path portion 234B, through the second flow path portion 224B, through the first channel 234A, through the second channel 234B, and out of the mouthpiece opening 222A. When the cartridge assembly 210 is coupled to the pen assembly 240, the mouthpiece opening 222A is in fluid communication with the draw sensor 247 of the pen assembly 240 via a portion of the second channel 234B, the third flow path portion 224C, the third flow path portion 234C, the passageway 236A, and the opening in the airflow sensor cover 247 of the pen assembly 240. Thus, when the user draws on (e.g., applies suction to) the mouthpiece opening 222A, in addition to pulling air from the inlet 287, air is also pulled away from the draw sensor 247 along a flow path that includes the opening in the airflow sensor cover 247, the passageway 236A, the third flow path portion 234C, the third flow path portion 224C, and the portion of the second channel 234B such that the draw sensor 247 can sense a change in air pressure due to the user drawing on the mouthpiece opening 222A.

As shown, the fluid pathway from the inlet 287, contacting the bottom surface of the cup portion of the wick assembly 266, and then out of the mouthpiece opening 222A is non-overlapping with the fluid pathway from the draw sensor 247 to the mouthpiece opening 222A. Therefore, in the event of a clog including carrier material along the fluid pathway from the inlet 287 (e.g., in the area beneath the cup portion of the wick assembly 266), the user will still be able to activate the draw sensor 247 by applying suction to the mouthpiece opening 222A. Thus, the user can actuate the control assembly 231 to actuate the wick assembly 266 to heat and vaporize the clog to reopen the fluid path from the inlet 287.

As shown in FIG. 33, the cross-sectional area of the fluid path from the inlet 287 to the mouthpiece opening 222A increases in size as fluid flows from the inlet 287 to the mouthpiece opening 222A. For example, the intake opening 287 has a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the portion of the fluid path passing underneath the wick assembly 266. The cross-sectional area of the portion of the fluid path passing underneath the wick assembly 266 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the second flow path 224B. The cross-sectional area of the second flow path 224B is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the first channel 278A. The first channel 278A has a smaller cross-sectional area than a cross-sectional area of the second channel 278B. This, pressure is reduced as air flows from the inlet 287 through the cartridge 210 and out of the mouthpiece opening 222A such that large particles are not pulled from the bottom of the cup portion of the wick assembly 266 due to a sufficiently large pressure differential. As a result, the vapor produced by the cartridge 210 does not include large particles that may drip.

As shown in FIG. 36, the cartridge 210 can be formed with no permeable filters due to the first channel 278A and the second channel 278B formed by the upper surface of the outer housing 224 and the bottom surface of the mouthpiece 222. The space between the upper surface of the outer housing 224 and the bottom surface of the mouthpiece 222 forms a pathway to the mouthpiece opening that causes any large particles that may be present in fluid traveling therethrough to contact a wall forming the space and remain in the space rather than exit through the mouthpiece opening 222A. Although FIG. 36 shows the space as including the first channel 278A and the second channel 278B coupled to each other via a curved portion to navigate around the wall portion 225A before reaching the mouthpiece opening 222A, the space can define any suitable torturous or labyrinth-style flow path. The portions of the outer housing 224 and the mouthpiece 222 forming the first channel 278A and the second channel 278B, including the wall portion 225A and any side, upper, and lower portions, can be formed of rigid plastic.

As shown in FIG. 37 and described above with respect to FIG. 25, the lower housing portion 236 defines four openings 276. Specifically, the first opening 276A and the second opening 276B can be configured to receive a first and second connector 259 configured to operatively engage the control assembly 231 (e.g., provide a communication line between the control unit 258 of the pen assembly 240 and the control assembly 231 of the cartridge 210). The third opening 276C and the fourth opening 276D can be configured to receive a third and fourth connector 259 configured to operatively engage the control assembly 231 of the cartridge 130 such that power can be provided between the power supply 284 of the pen assembly 240 and the control assembly 231 of the cartridge 130. The lower housing portion defines a fifth opening 236B via which firmware can be downloaded to the control assembly 231.

The user may draw fluid through the mouthpiece opening 222A by applying the user's mouth to the mouthpiece assembly and applying negative pressure to the mouthpiece opening 222A (e.g., via by sucking). The change in pressure within the airflow path from the mouthpiece 222A will trigger the draw sensor 247. The control assembly 231 of the cartridge 210 can receive an indication of the negative pressure from the draw sensor 247 (e.g., via from the control assembly 258 of the vaporizer pen 240 and the connectors 259 in contact with the control assembly 231). In response to the negative pressure being sufficiently low (e.g., below a threshold pressure) or the pressure changing a sufficient amount (e.g., above a threshold change in pressure), the control assembly 231 may actuate heater control circuitry of the control assembly 231 such that a current is passed from the control assembly 231, through the coil of the wick assembly 266 (e.g., via one of the end portions 263), to heat the wick assembly 266 to a particular temperature. In some embodiments, the current provided to the coil of the wick assembly 266 may be based, at least in part, on the duration of suction applied by the user to the mouthpiece opening 222A and on the particular heating profile assigned to the carrier material in the reservoir R and written on the memory of the control assembly 231. For example, the heating profile may include a temperature ramp up portion, a temperature body portion in which the temperature is maintained within a threshold temperature range, and a temperature ramp down portion.

With the coil of the wick assembly 266 heated to a particular temperature according to the heating profile and in contact with the wick containing at least a portion of the carrier material, the coil may vaporize a portion of the carrier material. The vaporized carrier material, or vapor, travels from the cup portion of the wick assembly 266, through the second flow path 234B, through the second flow path 224B, through the first channel 278A, through the second channel 278B, and out of the mouthpiece opening 222A. If a user draws harder on (e.g., applies more suction to) the mouthpiece opening 222A than is necessary for the control assembly 231 to activate the wick assembly 266, more air will be drawn through the inlet 287, passed the bottom of the cup portion of the wick assembly 266, and out of the mouthpiece 222A, but vaporized carrier material (e.g., vapor) will be drawn out of the mouthpiece opening 222A at the same rate as if a user was applying less suction to the mouthpiece opening 222A due to the rate of vaporized carrier material passing from the cup portion of the wick assembly 266 being controlled by the construction and heating profile of the wick assembly 266. In some embodiments, after a preset draw duration (e.g., a duration of suction applied to the mouthpiece opening 222A), the control assembly 231 will discontinue applying current to the wick assembly 266 (e.g., as prescribed by the heating profile), and any additional suction applied to the mouthpiece opening 222A will draw only air through the cartridge 210.

In some embodiments, the control assembly 231 can track how much carrier material has been vaporized using an on-board oil counter feature programmed into the control assembly 231. The oil counter feature can track how much carrier material remains in the reservoir or has been vaporized via the wick assembly 266 based on, for example, a flow rate of the carrier material (e.g., based on temperature), the heating profile, and duration of draws applied to the mouthpiece opening 222A by the user. In some embodiments, the flow rate of the carrier material and heating profile can be provided to (e.g., written on) the control assembly 231 during the cartridge activation process (e.g., via an identifier provided by a compute device and read by the light sensor 291 of the vaporizer pen 240 as described above). The oil counter feature can determine the volume of carrier material vaporized and drawn from the cartridge 210 per draw and total. In some embodiments, the control assembly 231 can provide instructions to the control assembly 258 of the vaporizer pen 240 to indicate an oil level and/or a low oil level to a user via haptic feedback (e.g., using the vibration motor 288) and/or visual feedback (e.g., via the indicator features 257).

FIG. 39 is a perspective view of a cartridge assembly packaging 206 in an expanded configuration. FIG. 40 includes various views of the cartridge assembly packaging 206 in an assembled configuration. As shown, the packaging 206 can provide a recessed portion (e.g., formed by a transparent portion) configured to receive the cartridge assembly 210. The packaging 206 includes a perforated vertical strip that can be separated from the remainder of the packaging to unfold the packaging 206. The packaging 206 can also include a portion with perforated edges that is configured to be folded or removed from the remained of the packaging 206 to expose the recessed portion for removal of the cartridge assembly.

FIG. 41A is a schematic block diagram of a vaporizer system 300 (e.g., an electronic vapor delivery system) including a cartridge 310 and a vaporizer pen 340, according to an embodiment. The cartridge 110 can also be referred to as a “cartridge assembly,” a “cartridge portion,” a “capsule,” a “capsule assembly,” or a “pod”. The vaporizer pen 140 can also be referred to as a “pen assembly,” a “pen portion” or a “vaporizer body”. The vaporizer system 300 can be the same or similar in structure and/or function to any of the vaporizer systems described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2020/0085105 to Mladen Barbaric et al., filed on Sep. 18, 2019 and entitled Methods and Systems for Vaporizer Security and Traceability Management and/or U.S. Patent Publication No. 2020/0113246 to Mladen Barbaric et al., filed on Oct. 16, 2019 and entitled Variable-Viscosity Carrier Vaporizers with Enhanced Thermal and Hydrodynamic Properties. The cartridge 310 and the vaporizer pen 340 can collectively include components that are the same or similar in structure and/or function to the components of the vaporizer systems 100 and/or 200 described above. For example, the cartridge 310 includes a mouthpiece 302, a precursor reservoir 304, one or more fluidic channels 306A, one or more chambers 306B, a heating element 320, membrane(s) 318, an optional input/output (I/O) module 311A, optionally one or more identifier(s) 319, optional sensor(s) 314, and optionally additive(s) 316, all disposed within a cartridge housing 301B. The one or more identifiers 319 can include a tracking component 328. The vaporizer pen 340 includes fluidic channels 306B, a power supply 308, memory 310, input/output module 311B, electronics 322, a processor 324, an input/output (I/O) module 311B, and optional indicator(s) 312, all disposed within a pen housing 301A. The memory 310, the electronics 322, and the processor 324 can all be included in a control assembly, and can be optionally configured to communicate with a remote server 350 and/or a remote compute device 355. The vaporizer pen 340 (i.e., the pen housing 301A and its contents) can also be referred to as a “battery portion” of the vaporizer 300. The cartridge 310 can be manufactured, shipped and/or sold separately from the vaporizer pen 340, and assembled by a user to form the vaporizer system 300.

FIG. 41B is a schematic illustration of an example of the relationships between and characteristics of some the components of the vaporizer pen 340 coupleable to the cartridge 310 (referred to as a pod in FIG. 41B). As shown, the processor 324 of the cartridge 310 includes a microcontroller (MCU) and a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) device. The processor 324 is electrically coupled to the draw sensor 323 (represented as pressure sensor), and an LED driver 128A configured to control the operation of the indicator features 128 (e.g., RGB LEDs) via a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) connector 356. Additionally, the vaporizer pen 340 also includes the power supply 308 (e.g., a Li-polymer battery) configured to provide power to the cartridge 310 via the four pogo pin connectors 369 of the vaporizer pen 340. The power supply 308 is also electrically coupled to a charger 371 that is coupled to a charger integrated circuit 373 such that the power supply 308 can be charged to increase the level of power in the power supply 308 via a USB receptacle. The vaporizer pen 340 also includes a step down DC/DC converter 375 and is configured to provide power from the power supply 308 to the processor 324 for operational power of the vaporizer pen 340. As shown, the vaporizer pen 340 can also include a chip antenna, crystals, and a one wire master integrated circuit.

FIG. 42 is a perspective view of an electronic vapor delivery system 400. The system 400 may be the same or similar in structure and/or function to any of the systems described herein, such as, for example, the electronic vapor delivery system 400 described above. For example, the system 400 includes a cartridge assembly 410 and a pen assembly 440. The cartridge assembly 410 may be similar in structure and/or function to the cartridge assembly 310 described above, and the pen assembly 440 may be similar in structure and/or function to the pen assembly 340 described above.

FIGS. 43-48 are various views of the electronic vapor delivery system 400. Specifically, FIG. 43 is a front view, FIG. 44 is a back view, FIG. 45 is a right view, FIG. 46 is a left view, FIG. 47 is a top view, and FIG. 48 is a bottom view, respectively, of the electronic vapor delivery system 400.

FIG. 49 is a perspective view of the electronic vapor delivery system 400 in an exploded configuration. As shown, the pen assembly 440 includes a pen housing 442 and a bracket assembly 450. The pen assembly 440 also includes indicator cover elements 446 (e.g., translucent portions configured such that light transmitted from indicator features 457 may be visible through the indicator cover elements 446). Furthermore, in some implementations, the pen housing 442 may define an inlet 444 in the sidewall of the pen housing 442 such that air may be drawn into an interior of the system 400 via the inlet 444. In some implementations, the pen housing 442 may define one or more inlets 444 in any suitable location on the pen housing 442, such as on opposite sides of the pen housing 442. In some implementations, the pen housing 442 may not define an inlet 444 in the sidewall of the pen housing 442.

FIGS. 50-55 are various views of the cartridge assembly 410. Specifically, FIG. 50 is a front view, FIG. 51 is a back view, FIG. 52 is a left view, FIG. 53 is a right view, FIG. 54 is a top vie, and FIG. 55 is a bottom view of the cartridge assembly 410. FIG. 56 is a perspective view of the cartridge assembly 410 in an exploded configuration. As shown in FIG. 56, the cartridge assembly 410 includes a mouthpiece assembly 420 and a bracket cartridge assembly 430. FIG. 57 is a perspective view of the mouthpiece assembly 420 in an exploded configuration. As shown, the mouthpiece assembly 420 includes a mouthpiece component 422, an outer housing 424, and an elastomeric plug 428. The mouthpiece component 422 defines an elongated mouthpiece opening 422A. The mouthpiece assembly 420 is configured to receive the lower subassembly 430 within an interior of the mouthpiece assembly 420. The lower subassembly 430 is configured to seal with an interior surface of the outer housing 424 such that a reservoir is defined inside the outer housing 424. Fluid such as a carrier material can be added to the reservoir via the elastomeric plug 428. The outer housing 424 defines an inlet 428A configured such that air can be drawn into the interior of the outer housing 424 via the inlet 428A.

The mouthpiece assembly 420 also includes a first filter 478A and a second filter 478B. Each of the first filter 478A and the second filter 478B can be formed of, for example, cotton. The first filter 478A is configured to be engaged with the mouthpiece 422 and/or the outer housing 424. The second filter 478B is configured to be engaged with the outer housing 424 (e.g., with an upper or top surface of the outer housing 424) such that a space is defined between the first filter 478A and the second filter 478B through which air can flow. As shown in FIG. 57, the second filter 478B can define an opening 499. The opening 499 can be, for example, an opening extending through a center of the second filter 478B and can be configured to receive a portion of a chimney portion of the outer housing 424. Fluid can flow through the opening 499, through the space between the second filter 478B and the first filter 478A, and through the mouthpiece opening 422A. In some embodiments, the fluid can flow through the space between the second filter 478B and the first filter 478A to the mouthpiece opening 422A without passing or fully passing through the material of the first filter 478A and the second filter 478B, but droplets above a threshold size can attach to the first filter 478A and/or the second filter 478B and be thus prevented from traveling through the mouthpiece opening 422A.

FIGS. 58-63 show various views of the mouthpiece 422. Specifically, FIG. 58 is a top view, FIG. 59 is a bottom view, FIG. 60 is a cross sectional view, FIG. 61 is a side view, FIG. 62 is a back view, and FIG. 63 is a planar view of a portion of the top surface of the mouthpiece 422. As shown, the mouthpiece 422 includes a number of protrusions 428B such that, when the cartridge assembly 410 is engaged with the pen assembly 450, a gap 422B (including any suitable number of segments between protrusions 428B and flange 428C of the outer housing 424) is defined between the mouthpiece 411 and the pen housing 442 such that air can be drawn through the gap 422B and through the inlet 428A.

FIG. 64 is a cross-sectional view of the outer housing 424 and the elastomeric plug 428. FIGS. 65-69 are various views of the outer housing 424. Specifically, FIG. 65 is a front view, FIG. 66 is a back view, FIG. 67 is a top view, FIG. 68 is a bottom view, and FIG. 69 is a side view. As shown, the outer housing 424 includes a flange 428C along an upper front edge of the outer housing 424. The outer housing 424 also includes a chimney portion 428D including two tabs extended upward from the upper surface of the outer housing 424.

FIG. 70 is a perspective view of the lower subassembly 430 in an exploded configuration. As shown in FIG. 70, the lower subassembly 430 (also referred to as an interface assembly) includes a lower portion 436, an intermediate portion 434A, and an upper portion 434B. The lower subassembly 430 includes a sealing ring 476A (e.g., an O-ring) configured to seal the lower portion 436 relative to the inner walls of the outer housing 424. The lower portion 436 is configured to receive and engage with an underside of the intermediate portion 434A, and the intermediate portion 434A is configured to receive and engage with an underside of the upper portion 434B. The intermediate portion 434A may be formed of, for example, silicone. The lower subassembly 430 includes a tracking component 431, magnets 437 (e.g., two magnets), contact pins 479, a wick assembly 466, a chimney component 467, and a silicone cap 468. The chimney component 467 may be formed of a metal such as, for example, brass. The wick assembly 466 can include a wick component and a heating element (e.g., a coil) coupled to and/or disposed within (e.g., partially or fully embedded within) the wick component and configured to heat the cylindrical portion. In some embodiments, the wick component can include a flexible wick portion and a cylindrical portion defining a central passageway. The flexible wick portion can be wrapped around the outer surface of the cylindrical portion such that the flexible wick portion forms an outer surface of the wick assembly 466. In some embodiments, the wick assembly 466 may be formed of ceramic, stainless steel (e.g., 303F stainless steel), and cotton. For example, the cylindrical portion can be formed of ceramic, the flexible wick portion can be formed of cotton, and the heating element (e.g., the coil) can be formed of stainless steel. The chimney component 467 can define a number of openings 469 (e.g., two, three, or four openings) such that the reservoir defined by the mouthpiece assembly 420, the housing 424, and the lower subassembly 430 is in fluid communication with an outer surface of the wick assembly 466 via the openings 469 when the wick assembly 466 is disposed within an interior of the chimney component 467. Thus, carrier material can travel from the reservoir, through the openings 469, through the flexible wick portion, and into the ceramic portion of the wick assembly 466. When the heating element is heated (e.g., via the contact pins 479), the temperature of the ceramic portion rises and the carrier material within the ceramic portion can heat and transition to vapor. Air can be drawn through the central passageway of the wick assembly 466, combine with heated vapor inside the wick assembly 466, and travel to the mouthpiece opening 422A via the chimney component 467. The lower subassembly 430 also includes a first lower filter 466A, a first upper filter 466B, and a second upper filter 466C.

The tracking component 431 may be, for example, an integrated circuit (e.g., Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs)). The tracking component 431 may be configured to communicate with a control assembly 458 (described below) of the pen assembly 440 when the cartridge assembly 410 is operatively coupled to the pen assembly 440. For example, the tracking component 431 may include contacts configured to be engaged with connectors 459 (described below) (e.g., pogo pins) coupled to or included in a control assembly 458 (described below) (e.g., a printed circuit board) such that the control assembly may access information contained in the tracking component 431. The tracking component 431 may be configured to contain information related to the cartridge assembly 410. In some implementations, the tracking component 431 may contain cartridge identification information corresponding to the cartridge assembly 410 such that the pen assembly 440 may recognize the cartridge identification information. The pen assembly 440 may be configured to wirelessly communicate with a remote server to transmit the cartridge identification information and receive additional information about the cartridge assembly 410 and/or operation instructions with respect to the cartridge assembly 410 based, at least in part, on the cartridge identification information. The pen assembly 440 may be configured to operate or not operate based, at least in part, on the cartridge identification information. For example, the pen assembly 440 may be configured to operate or not operate depending on whether the cartridge identification information matches and/or is within range of an expected value of the pen assembly 440 (e.g., if the cartridge assembly 410 is an appropriate correct cartridge assembly 410, includes a particular carrier material or volume of carrier material, and/or has been engaged with the pen assembly 440 or another pen assembly 440 previously).

In some implementations, the tracking component 431 may contain information related to the specific carrier material disposed in the reservoir defined by the top surface of the upper portion 434B and the inner surface of the outer housing 424. In some implementations, the tracking component 431 may contain information specifying a particular temperature to which the coil 464 (described below) of the wick assembly 460 should be heated via applying a particular current to the coil 464. The particular temperature may be based, at least in part, on the specific carrier material disposed in the reservoir. For example, a first carrier material may achieve optimal vaporization characteristics at a first temperature and a second carrier material may achieve optimal vaporization characteristics at a second temperature. The tracking component 431 may be programmed (e.g., by a seller of the system 400 or the cartridge assembly 410) based on the carrier material in the reservoir such that the tracking component 431 contains information associated with the particular temperature to which the coil 464 is to be heated. In some implementations, the tracking component 431 may contain information specifying a particular heating profile for the coil 464. For example, the heating profile may have a particular ramp-up temperature curve, a particular temperature, duration, and amplitude of modulation, and/or a particular ramp-down temperature curve. The particular temperature and/or heating profile may be based, at least in part, on the particular substance and/or viscosity of the carrier material in the cartridge assembly 410.

FIG. 71 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge assembly 410 (taken along line B-B in FIG. 105). As shown, the first filter portion 478A can be disposed at an angle relative to the second filter portion 478B. The first filter portion 478A can be disposed such that the first filter portion 478A does not obstruct the mouthpiece opening 422A.

FIGS. 72 and 73 are a side view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of the silicone cap 468. FIGS. 74, 75, and 76 are a side view, top view, and cross-sectional view, respectively, of the chimney component 467. FIGS. 77, 78, and 79 are a side view, a cross-sectional view, and a top view, respectively, of the wick assembly 466, respectively. As shown, the wick assembly 466 includes a coil having first and second ends 463. FIG. 80 is a perspective view of the wick assembly 466 in a configuration in which the coils are contacting the pins 479.

FIGS. 81-86 are various views of the upper portion 434B. Specifically, FIG. 81 is a front view, FIG. 82 is a first cross-sectional view, FIG. 83 is a side view, FIG. 84 is a second cross-sectional view, FIG. 85 is a bottom view, and FIG. 86 is a top view, respectively, of the upper portion 434B. FIGS. 87-92 are various views of the intermediate portion 434A. Specifically, FIG. 87 is a front view, FIG. 88 is a first cross-sectional view, FIG. 89 is a side view, FIG. 90 is a second cross-sectional view, FIG. 91 is a bottom view, and FIG. 92 is a top view, respectively, of the intermediate portion 434A.

FIGS. 93 and 94 are a side view and a top view, respectively, of the contact pin 479. FIGS. 95 and 96 are a top view and a side view, respectively, of a first upper filter 466B, which can be the same or similar as the second upper filter 466C. FIGS. 97 and 98 are a top view and a side view, respectively, of a lower filter 466A. FIGS. 99-104 are various views of the lower portion 436. Specifically, FIG. 99 is a top view, FIG. 100 is a bottom view, FIG. 101 is a front view, FIG. 102 is a first cross-sectional view, FIG. 103 is a side view, and FIG. 104 is a second cross-sectional view, respectively, of the lower portion 436. FIGS. 105 and 106 are a front view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of the cartridge assembly 410 in an assembled configuration.

FIG. 107 is a perspective view of the bracket assembly 450 in an exploded configuration. The bracket assembly 450 includes a cap 452, a connection assembly 456, and a bracket 480. The bracket assembly 450 also includes a power supply 484 and a control assembly 458. The power supply 484 can be coupled to the bracket 480 via tape 484A. The bracket assembly 450 also includes a number of magnets 482 (e.g., two magnets).

The power supply 484 can include any suitable battery or fuel cell, for example having high-drain characteristics. A power supply cushion 484B can be disposed between the power supply 484 and the bracket 480. The control assembly 458 may include, for example, a printed circuit board such as a flexible printed circuit board. The control assembly 458 may include a memory and a processor. The memory and the processor can have the same or similar characteristics to any other memory or processor, respectively, described herein. The control assembly 458 may also include one or more of: a GPS receiver, an antenna, heater control circuitry, and/or a transceiver for wireless (e.g., Bluetooth) communication with a command center or other remote compute device (such as a mobile device of a user). The control assembly 458 may also include one or more of: a pressure sensor 447, a temperature sensor, a position sensor, an orientation sensor, etc.

As described above and similarly to the control assembly 258 of the system 200, the control assembly 458 can include connectors 459 (e.g., pogo pins) coupled to or included in the control assembly 458. The connectors 459 are configured to project through openings in the cap 452 such that, when the cartridge assembly 410 is engaged with the pen assembly 440, two of the connectors 459 project through openings in the lower portion 436 and into operative contact with the tracking component 431 and two of the connectors 459 project through openings in the lower portion 436 and into operative contact with the contact pins 479. Thus, the control assembly 458 can communicate with the tracking component 431 and control operation of the wick assembly 466 via the connectors 459.

FIGS. 108-114 are various views of the pen housing 442. Specifically, FIG. 108 is a right side view, FIG. 109 is a back view, FIG. 110 is a left side view, FIG. 111 is a cross-sectional view, FIG. 112 is a front view, FIG. 113 is a top view, and FIG. 114 is a bottom view. FIGS. 115-119 are various views of the cap 452. Specifically, FIG. 115 is a top view, FIG. 116 is a bottom view, FIG. 117 is a side view, FIG. 118 is a front view, and FIG. 119 is a opposite side view from FIG. 117, respectively, of the cap 452. FIG. 120 is a cross-sectional view of the cap 452 taken along line A-A in FIG. 115. FIG. 121 is an enlarged view of the portion labeled Detail A in FIG. 120. FIGS. 122, 123, and 124 are a front view, a top view, and a bottom view, respectively, of the bracket 480. FIGS. 125, 126, and 127 are a first side view, a back view, and a second side view, respectively, of the bracket 480.

FIG. 128 is a cross-sectional view of the electronic vapor delivery system 400. FIG. 129 is a cross-sectional view of an upper portion of the electronic vapor delivery system 400. In use, before coupling the cartridge 410 to the vaporizer pen 440, carrier material may be introduced into the reservoir defined by the outer housing 424, the plug 428, and the upper housing 434 by removing or piercing the plug 428 and adding carrier material to the reservoir. If the plug 428 has been removed, the plug 428 may be engaged with the outer housing 424 to seal the reservoir 495. The carrier material may flow through the openings 469 in the chimney component 467 into the wick assembly 466, including the portion of the wick assembly 466 disposed in contact with or adjacent to the coil 464. The user may draw fluid through the mouthpiece opening 422A by applying the user's mouth to the mouthpiece assembly and applying negative pressure to the mouthpiece opening 422A (e.g., via by sucking). The negative pressure may be sufficiently low to trigger the pressure sensor 447. In response to receiving an indication of negative pressure from the pressure sensor 447, the control assembly 458 may actuate heater control circuitry of the control assembly 458 such that a current is passed through the connectors 459 and through the coil 464 until the coil 464 is heated to a particular temperature (e.g., according to a heating profile associated with and/or assigned to the cartridge 410).

With the coil 464 heated to the particular temperature and in contact with the wick assembly 466 (e.g., a ceramic cylinder) contacting at least a portion of the carrier material, the coil 464 may vaporize a portion of the carrier material. The vaporized carrier material, or vapor, travels from the interior of the cap 492, through the chimney component 467, through the chimney portion 428D of the outer housing 424, through the expansion space defined between the upper surface of the outer housing 424 and the bottom surface of the mouthpiece 422 (e.g., between the filter 478A and the filter 478B), and out of the mouthpiece opening 422A. As the vapor exits the mouthpiece opening 422A, the user may inhale the vapor.

Due to the gap 422B maintained between the mouthpiece 422 and the pen housing 442 by the flange 428C and the projections 428B, suction applied by the user will draw air through the gap 422B, into the inlet 428C into the space between the upper surface of the outer housing 424 and the bottom surface of the mouthpiece 422, and out of the mouthpiece opening 422A. Thus, if a user applies more suction to the mouthpiece opening 422A

If a user draws harder on (e.g., applies more suction to) the mouthpiece opening 422A than is necessary for the pressure sensor 447 to cause the control assembly 458 to apply current to the wick assembly 466, more air will be drawn through the inlet 428C and back out of the mouthpiece opening 422A, rather than more air contacting the wick assembly 466 (e.g., traveling through a center of a ceramic cylinder of the wick assembly 466) and out of the chimney. Thus, vaporized carrier material (e.g., vapor) will be drawn out of the mouthpiece opening 422A at the same rate regardless of the suction applied to the mouthpiece opening 422A, as long as the suction is sufficiently high to trigger the pressure sensor 447. In some embodiments, after a preset draw duration (e.g., a duration of suction applied to the mouthpiece opening 422A such as three or four seconds), the control assembly 458 will discontinue applying current to the wick assembly 466 (e.g., as prescribed by the heating profile, which may include a temperature ramp up, a body, and a temperature ramp down period), and any additional suction applied to the mouthpiece opening 422A will draw only air through the cartridge 410.

FIGS. 130-132 and 134-154 are various views of portions of a vaporizer system. The vaporizer system 500 may be the same or similar in structure and/or function to any of the systems described herein, such as, for example, the vaporizer system 100 described above with respect to FIG. 1A and/or the vaporizer system 200 described above with respect to FIGS. 2-40. For example, the system includes a cartridge assembly 510 and a pen assembly 540. The cartridge assembly 510 may be the same or similar in structure and/or function to the cartridge 110 and/or the cartridge 210 described above, and the pen assembly 540 may be the same or similar in structure and/or function to the vaporizer pen 140 and/or the vaporizer pen 240 described above. The pen assembly 540 includes a pen housing 542 and a bracket assembly 550. The pen assembly 540 also includes indicator cover element 546 (e.g., translucent portions configured such that light transmitted from indicator features 557 (e.g., LEDs) of the control assembly 558 described below may be visible through the indicator cover elements 546). Furthermore, in some implementations, the pen housing 542 may define an inlet 544 in the sidewall of the pen housing 542 such that air may be drawn into an interior of the system via the inlet 544. In some implementations, the pen housing 542 may define one or more inlets 544 in any suitable location on the pen housing 542, such as on opposite sides of the pen housing 542. In some implementations, the pen housing 542 may not define an inlet 544 in the sidewall of the pen housing 542.

FIGS. 130 and 131 are perspective views of the bracket assembly 550 of the pen assembly 540 in an assembled and an exploded configuration, respectively. As shown in FIG. 131, the bracket assembly 550 includes a cap 552, a connection assembly 556 (e.g., a flexible PCB assembly), and a bracket 580. The cap 552 can be the same or similar in structure and/or function to the cap 252. The bracket assembly 550 also includes a power supply 584 and a control assembly 558 (e.g., a PCB). The bracket assembly 550 also includes a magnet 582, a vibration motor 588, a battery bracket cover 589, and a light sensor cushion 591A. The power supply 584 can include any suitable battery or fuel cell, for example having high-drain characteristics. The control assembly 558 may include, for example, a printed circuit board. The control assembly 558 may include a memory and a processor. The bracket assembly 550 can also include tape 584A (e.g., polyimide film electrical tape) used to secure the power supply 584 to the bracket 580.

FIG. 132 is an exploded view of the pen assembly 540 with the bracket assembly 550, an indicator cover element 546, and a light sensor 591 separated from the pen housing 542.

FIG. 133 is a chart 502 showing example indicator light colors and sequences that can be provided by indicator features 557 of the control assembly 558 (which may be the same or similar in structure and/or function to indicator features 257) to indicate particular functions and states of the electronic vapor delivery system 500. The chart 502 also indicates a particular sequence of haptic feedback that can be provided via the vibration motor 588 under the control of the control assembly 558.

FIG. 134 is a perspective view of the cartridge assembly 510 in an assembled configuration. The cartridge assembly 510 includes a mouthpiece component 522 (also referred to as a mouthpiece) and an outer housing 524. FIG. 135 shows the cartridge assembly 510 with the mouthpiece component 522 separated from the outer housing 524. FIG. 136 is a perspective view of the cartridge assembly 510 in an exploded configuration. As shown in FIG. 136, the cartridge assembly 510 also includes a heating subassembly 530 including a control assembly 531, a wick assembly 566, a wick assembly housing 567, a base 534, and a lower housing portion 536.

The mouthpiece 522 defines a mouthpiece opening 522A. The outer housing 524 includes an upper wall including an upper surface and sidewalls. The upper surface of the outer housing 524 is configured, in combination with a lower surface of the mouthpiece 522 when the mouthpiece 522 is coupled to the outer housing 524, to define a first channel 578A and a second channel 578B such that air and vapor follow a flow path to the mouthpiece opening 522A including the first channel 578A and the second channel 578B. The upper surface can be monolithically formed with the sidewalls of the outer housing 524. The first channel 578A can be disposed parallel to the second channel 578B and can be fluidically coupled via a curved channel portion also collectively defined by the upper surface of the outer housing 524 and the lower surface of the mouthpiece 522. The first channel portion 578A can be separated from the second channel portion 578B by a wall portion 525A. The outer housing 524 defines an air inlet 587 and detent receiving openings 577 configured to receive detents 577B of the lower housing portion 536 such that the lower housing portion 536 can be secured to the outer housing 524. The air inlet 587 is defined in a sidewall of the outer housing 524. When the cartridge 510 is coupled to the vaporizer pen 540, the air inlet 587 can align with the inlet 544 in the pen housing 542.

The wick assembly housing 567 is configured to receive the wick assembly 566 within a recess of the wick assembly housing 567 such that a bottom surface of an interior of a cup portion of the wick assembly 566 can be accessed through an opening of the wick assembly housing 567. Sidewalls of the cup portion of the wick assembly 566 can be disposed in the recess of the wick assembly housing 567. The opening of the wick assembly housing 567 can be sized to control the rate at which carrier material travels from the reservoir R into the wick assembly 566. For example, the opening can be 2 mm long by 1 mm wide. The wick assembly housing 567 can be formed of any suitable material, such as a food grade elastomeric membrane material such as silicone. The wick assembly housing 567 can include a flange portion disposed around the perimeter of the wick assembly housing 567 and configured to function as a sealing ring (e.g., an O-ring) to seal the wick assembly housing 567 relative to the base 534 (e.g., an inner surface of the base 534 defining the space within which the wick assembly 566 and the wick assembly housing 567 are disposed and a groove for receiving the sealing ring of the wick assembly housing 567).

The control assembly 531 can the same or similar in structure and/or function to the control assembly described above with respect to FIG. 1A including the processor 132 and the memory 137 of the cartridge 110. For example, the control assembly 531 can include an integrated circuit (e.g., an Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs)) and can be configured to control the operation of the cartridge 510 based on information and using power provided to the control assembly 531 by the vaporizer pen 540.

Additionally, the control assembly 531 can be configured to activate the cartridge 510 for use similarly as described above with respect to the cartridge 110. Although not shown, a first identifier (e.g., QR code, barcode, and/or serial number) can be included on an outer surface of the cartridge 510 and can be readable by a reader, such as a camera and related software application stored on a compute device of a user, such as a mobile device (e.g., a smartphone). The control assembly 531 can include a second identifier (e.g., a code) stored (e.g., written) on a memory of the control assembly 531 that is different from the first identifier. The control assembly 531 can be configured to compare the second identifier with an identifier provided to the control assembly 531 (e.g., by and/or via the vaporizer pen 540) such that the control assembly 531 will only activate the cartridge 510 and allow heating of the wick assembly 566 if the second identifier matches the identifier provided via the vaporizer pen 540. The provided identifier can be, for example, provided to the vaporizer pen 540 and/or read by the vaporizer pen 540 via the light sensor 591 of the vaporizer pen 540. For example, a compute device (e.g., the compute device used to read the first identifier on the outer surface of the cartridge 510) can display an identifier (e.g., a third identifier corresponding to the second identifier or configured to transmit a signal including the second identifier) on a display of the compute device. The compute device can be instructed to display the identifier by, for example, a command center (e.g., a server) in response to the compute device sending the first identifier or data associated with the first identifier to the server. The light sensor 591 of the vaporizer pen 540 can be disposed adjacent to the screen to read the identifier (e.g., sense the color and/or series of colors displayed on the screen). The vaporizer pen 540 can then transmit the identifier and/or data included in the identifier to the control assembly 531 (e.g., via the control assembly 558 and the connectors 559). The control assembly 531 can determine if the identifier and/or data included in the identifier provided by the vaporizer pen 540 to the control assembly 531 corresponds to the second identifier stored on the memory of the control assembly 531. If so, the control assembly 531 can activate the cartridge 510 (e.g., such that the cartridge 510 can be used to heat carrier material when coupled to the vaporizer pen 540 and/or other vaporizer pens). In some embodiments, the data included in the identifier provided by the compute device and read by the light sensor 591 can include information such as a heating profile and/or a release rate of the carrier material or an ingredient of the carrier material (e.g., based on the heating profile) such that the control assembly 531 can control the wick assembly 566 according to the heating profile and/or can send instructions to the control assembly 558 of the vaporizer pen 540 to deliver one or more indications via the indicator lights 546 and/or the vibration motor 588 to the user to alert the user to one or more conditions of use of the device 100, such as is shown in chart 502 in FIG. 133.

The cartridge assembly 510 also includes an elastomeric plug 528 configured to engage with the outer housing 524 to plug an opening 524D defined in an upper surface of the housing 524. The opening 524D is defined through the upper surface of the outer housing 524 and in fluid communication with the reservoir R of the cartridge assembly 510. At least a portion of the opening 524D can be defined by a cylindrical portion projecting upward from the upper surface of the outer housing 524. As shown in FIGS. 136 and 152, the wall portion 525A may extend from opposing sides of the cylindrical portion defining the opening 524D. In some embodiments, rather than being cylindrical, the portion defining the opening 524D can be any suitable shape.

FIGS. 137 to 142 are various views of the cartridge assembly 510 in an assembled configuration. Specifically, FIG. 137 is a back view, FIG. 138 is a right side view, FIG. 139 is a left side view, FIG. 140 is a front view, FIG. 142 is a bottom view, and FIG. 141 is atop view. FIGS. 143 to 145 are various views of the cartridge assembly 510 in an assembled configuration with the outer housing 524 shown as being transparent. For example, FIG. 143 is a back view, FIG. 144 is a side view, and FIG. 145 is a front view. As shown, the base 534 of the heating subassembly 530 is disposed within the outer housing 524 and secured in place by a lower housing portion 536 secured to the outer housing 524. The reservoir R is collectively defined by the sidewalls and upper wall of the outer housing 524 in combination with the heating subassembly 530 and the elastomeric plug 528. Thus, the elastomeric plug 528 can be used to deliver carrier material to the reservoir R, and the carrier material can exit the reservoir R by traveling away from the mouthpiece via the heating subassembly 530. FIG. 146 is a view of a portion of an underside of the mouthpiece component 522 including the elastomeric plug 528.

FIGS. 147 and 148 are perspective views of the heating subassembly 530 in an assembled and an exploded configuration, respectively. As shown in FIG. 148, the wick assembly 566 includes a coil with two end portions 563 extending away from the wick component and configured to be coupled to the control assembly 531 such that the control assembly 531 can control power to the wick assembly 566 via the coil. The wick assembly 566 can be the same or similar in structure and/or function to the wick assembly 266.

FIGS. 149 to 151 are a cross-sectional front view, a left side view, and a right side view of the cartridge assembly 510 with the outer housing 524 shown as being transparent, respectively. FIG. 152 is a top view of the cartridge assembly 510 with the mouthpiece 522 shown as being transparent. FIG. 153 is a perspective view of the bottom of the cartridge assembly 510. FIG. 154 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge assembly 510.

The outer housing 524 (which can be monolithically formed) defines a first flow path portion 524A, a second flow path portion 524B, and a third flow path portion 524C (also referred to as fluidic channels). The heating subassembly 530 defines a first flow path portion 534A, a second flow path portion 534B, a third flow path portion 534C, and a passageway 536A (also referred to as fluidic channels). The first flow path portion 534A can be defined by the base 534 and/or by the base 534 in combination with the wick assembly housing 567 and/or the wick assembly 566. The second flow path portion 534B can be defined by the base 534 and/or the base 534 in combination with the wick assembly housing 567 and/or the wick assembly 566. The third flow path portion 534C can be defined by the base 534.

The first flow path portion 524A of the outer housing 524 extends from the inlet 587 to the first flow path portion 534A of the heating subassembly 530. The second flow path 524B of the outer housing 524 extends from the second flow path portion 534B of the heating subassembly 530 to the first channel 578A. The third flow path 524C of the outer housing portion 524 extends from the passageway 536A to the second channel 578B. The first flow path portion 534A of the heating subassembly 530 can extend from the first flow path 524A of the outer housing 524 to the wick assembly 566. The second flow path portion 534B of the heating subassembly 530 can extend from the wick assembly 566 to the second flow path 524B of the outer housing 524. Thus, when a user draws on the mouthpiece opening 522A, air can be pulled through the inlet 587, through the first flow path portion 524A, through the first flow path portion 534A into contact with the wick assembly 566, through the second flow path portion 534B, through the second flow path portion 524B, through the first channel 534A, through the second channel 534B, and out of the mouthpiece opening 522A. When the cartridge assembly 510 is coupled to the pen assembly 540, the mouthpiece opening 522A is in fluid communication with the draw sensor 547 of the pen assembly 540 via a portion of the second channel 534B, the third flow path portion 524C, the third flow path portion 534C, the passageway 536A, and the opening in the airflow sensor cover 547 of the pen assembly 540. Thus, when the user draws on (e.g., applies suction to) the mouthpiece opening 522A, in addition to pulling air from the inlet 587, air is also pulled away from the draw sensor 547 along a flow path that includes the opening in the airflow sensor cover 547, the passageway 536A, the third flow path portion 534C, the third flow path portion 524C, and the portion of the second channel 534B such that the draw sensor 547 can sense a change in air pressure due to the user drawing on the mouthpiece opening 522A.

As shown, the fluid pathway from the inlet 587, contacting the bottom surface of the cup portion of the wick assembly 566, and then out of the mouthpiece opening 522A is non-overlapping with the fluid pathway from the draw sensor 547 to the mouthpiece opening 522A. Therefore, in the event of a clog including carrier material along the fluid pathway from the inlet 587 (e.g., in the area beneath the cup portion of the wick assembly 566), the user will still be able to activate the draw sensor 547 by applying suction to the mouthpiece opening 522A. Thus, the user can actuate the control assembly 531 to actuate the wick assembly 566 to heat and vaporize the clog to reopen the fluid path from the inlet 587.

As shown in FIG. 149, the cross-sectional area of the fluid path from the inlet 587 to the mouthpiece opening 522A increases in size as fluid flows from the inlet 587 to the mouthpiece opening 522A. For example, the intake opening 587 has a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the portion of the fluid path passing underneath the wick assembly 566. The cross-sectional area of the portion of the fluid path passing underneath the wick assembly 566 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the second flow path 524B. The cross-sectional area of the second flow path 524B is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the first channel 578A. The first channel 578A has a smaller cross-sectional area than a cross-sectional area of the second channel 578B. This, pressure is reduced as air flows from the inlet 587 through the cartridge 510 and out of the mouthpiece opening 522A such that large particles are not pulled from the bottom of the cup portion of the wick assembly 566 due to a sufficiently large pressure differential. As a result, the vapor produced by the cartridge 510 does not include large particles that may drip.

As shown in FIG. 152, the cartridge 510 can be formed with no permeable filters due to the first channel 578A and the second channel 578B formed by the upper surface of the outer housing 524 and the bottom surface of the mouthpiece 522. The space between the upper surface of the outer housing 524 and the bottom surface of the mouthpiece 522 forms a pathway to the mouthpiece opening that causes any large particles that may be present in fluid traveling therethrough to contact a wall forming the space and remain in the space rather than exit through the mouthpiece opening 522A. Although FIG. 152 shows the space as including the first channel 578A and the second channel 578B coupled to each other via a curved portion to navigate around the wall portion 525A before reaching the mouthpiece opening 522A, the space can define any suitable torturous or labyrinth-style flow path. The portions of the outer housing 524 and the mouthpiece 522 forming the first channel 578A and the second channel 578B, including the wall portion 525A and any side, upper, and lower portions, can be formed of rigid plastic.

As shown in FIG. 153, the lower housing portion 536 defines four openings 576. Specifically, the first opening 576A and the second opening 576B can be configured to receive a first and second connector 559 configured to operatively engage the control assembly 531 (e.g., provide a communication line between the control unit 558 of the pen assembly 540 and the control assembly 531 of the cartridge 510). The third opening 576C and the fourth opening 576D can be configured to receive a third and fourth connector 559 configured to operatively engage the control assembly 531 of the cartridge 130 such that power can be provided between the power supply 584 of the pen assembly 540 and the control assembly 531 of the cartridge 130. The lower housing portion defines a fifth opening 536B via which firmware can be downloaded to the control assembly 531. The lower housing portion 536 also defines an opening to the passageway 536A.

As shown in FIG. 154, the mouthpiece 522 can include a projection configured to be inserted into an interior of the elastomeric plug 528 when the elastomeric plug 528 is disposed within the opening 524D. Thus, the reservoir R can be filled with carrier material through the opening 524D when the mouthpiece 522 is separated from the outer housing 524 (e.g., prior to coupling the mouthpiece 522 to the outer housing 524). In some embodiments, the reservoir R can be filled via a needle extended through the elastomeric plug 528, which may be resealable. In some embodiments, the reservoir R can be filled via a needle extended through the opening 524D prior to engagement of the elastomeric plug 528 with the outer housing 524. After filling, the opening 524D can be sealed by the elastomeric plug 528 and then retained in place by the mouthpiece 522.

The user may draw fluid through the mouthpiece opening 522A by applying the user's mouth to the mouthpiece assembly and applying negative pressure to the mouthpiece opening 522A (e.g., via by sucking). The change in pressure within the airflow path from the mouthpiece 522A will trigger the draw sensor 547. The control assembly 531 of the cartridge 510 can receive an indication of the negative pressure from the draw sensor 547 (e.g., via from the control assembly 558 of the vaporizer pen 540 and the connectors 559 in contact with the control assembly 531). In response to the negative pressure being sufficiently low (e.g., below a threshold pressure) or the pressure changing a sufficient amount (e.g., above a threshold change in pressure), the control assembly 531 may actuate heater control circuitry of the control assembly 531 such that a current is passed from the control assembly 531, through the coil of the wick assembly 566 (e.g., via one of the end portions 563), to heat the wick assembly 566 to a particular temperature. In some embodiments, the current provided to the coil of the wick assembly 566 may be based, at least in part, on the duration of suction applied by the user to the mouthpiece opening 522A and on the particular heating profile assigned to the carrier material in the reservoir R and written on the memory of the control assembly 531. For example, the heating profile may include a temperature ramp up portion, a temperature body portion in which the temperature is maintained within a threshold temperature range, and a temperature ramp down portion.

With the coil of the wick assembly 566 heated to a particular temperature according to the heating profile and in contact with the wick containing at least a portion of the carrier material, the coil may vaporize a portion of the carrier material. The vaporized carrier material, or vapor, travels from the cup portion of the wick assembly 566, through the second flow path 534B, through the second flow path 524B, through the first channel 578A, through the second channel 578B, and out of the mouthpiece opening 522A. If a user draws harder on (e.g., applies more suction to) the mouthpiece opening 522A than is necessary for the control assembly 531 to activate the wick assembly 566, more air will be drawn through the inlet 587, passed the bottom of the cup portion of the wick assembly 566, and out of the mouthpiece 522A, but vaporized carrier material (e.g., vapor) will be drawn out of the mouthpiece opening 522A at the same rate as if a user was applying less suction to the mouthpiece opening 522A due to the rate of vaporized carrier material passing from the cup portion of the wick assembly 566 being controlled by the construction and heating profile of the wick assembly 566. In some embodiments, after a preset draw duration (e.g., a duration of suction applied to the mouthpiece opening 522A), the control assembly 531 will discontinue applying current to the wick assembly 566 (e.g., as prescribed by the heating profile), and any additional suction applied to the mouthpiece opening 522A will draw only air through the cartridge 510.

To manufacture and fill the cartridge 510, or any of the cartridges described herein, with carrier material, a tray system may be used. For example, FIG. 155 shows various views of a top tray 590A (also referred to as a cap tray) of a tray system. The top tray 590A includes a set of recesses, with each recess of the set of recesses shaped to receive a mouthpiece 522 with an upper surface of each mouthpiece 522 facing away from the opening of each recess. For example, FIG. 156 shows a perspective view of the top tray 590A having a subset of the set of recesses each engaged with a distinct mouthpiece 522. In some embodiments, the top tray 590A can be formed of polystyrene, such as high density expanded polystyrene.

FIG. 157 shows various views of a bottom tray 590B of the tray system. The bottom tray 590B includes a set of recesses, with each recess of the set of recesses shaped to receive an outer housing 524 (including the components disposed within the outer housing shown, for example, in FIG. 136) with the bottom of the outer housing 524 facing away from the opening to the recess. The number of recesses defined by the top tray 590A can correspond to the number of recesses defined by the bottom tray 590B. FIG. 158 shows a perspective view of the bottom tray 590B having a subset of the set of recesses each engaged with a distinct outer housing 524. As shown in FIG. 159, after disposing an outer housing 524 in each recess of the bottom tray 590B, a needle can be inserted through each opening 524D and carrier material can be introduced into the reservoir of each outer housing 524 via the needle (e.g., from a container fluidically coupled to the needle). As shown in FIGS. 160 and 161, after filling each outer housing 524, the top tray 590A, having been filled with mouthpieces 522, can be coupled to the bottom tray 590B such that each recess of the top tray 590A is aligned with a respective recess of the bottom tray 590B. As a result, with the top tray 590A coupled to the bottom tray 590B as shown in FIG. 162A, each mouthpiece 522 can be coupled to a respective outer housing 524 as shown in FIG. 162B, which is a cross-section taken along the line X-X in FIG. 162A. As a result of the top tray 590A being coupled to the bottom tray 590B, flanges or detents of the mouthpiece 522 can be urged into engagement with openings defined by the outer housing 524 such that the mouthpiece 522 is retained by the outer housing when the top tray 590A is separated from the bottom tray 590B as shown in FIG. 163. Additionally, the engagement between the mouthpiece 522 and the outer housing 524 causes the elastomeric plug 528 to fill the opening 524D and seal the reservoir R. Thus, in some embodiments, each mouthpiece 522 can be coupled to a respective outer housing 524 to seal and cap the outer housing 524 using the top tray 590A and the bottom tray 590B without the use of an external fixture. In some embodiments, the bottom tray 590B can be formed of polystyrene, such as high density expanded polystyrene.

Any number of recesses may be defined in the bottom tray 590B and the top tray 590A, for example, in a range of 30 to 120 recesses, inclusive (e.g., 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, or 120 recesses, inclusive). In some embodiments, the bottom tray 590B may have an identifier (e.g., a bar code or QR code) defined on a surface thereof. The identifier may include information of the devices formed by coupling the outer housings 524 to their respective mouthpieces 522. Such information may include, but is not limited to serial numbers of the devices, device sizes, volumes, etc. In some embodiments, assembling the devices may also include scanning the identifier to determine the information related to each of the devices, and associate fill data (i.e., information related to the substance that is, or will be filled in the devices) with the corresponding identifier of each of the devices.

In some embodiments, each of the outer housings 524 may define an opening in a top portion thereof. In some embodiments, the opening may not be filled with a seal or elastomer, which may facilitate a larger needle to be inserted through the opening, thus allowing rapid filling of each outer housing 524. In some embodiments, a robot having two degrees, or three degrees freedom of motion may be used to move the needle autonomously through the opening of each of the outer housings 524 that are disposed in the bottom tray 590B, and fill each of the outer housings 524 with any of the substances (e.g., carrier materials) described herein. The top tray 590A holding the mouthpieces may then flipped upside down and pressed against the bottom tray 590B to attach the mouthpieces 522 to corresponding outer housings 524 such that the elastomeric plug 528 of each mouthpiece 522 fits into the opening of a respective outer housing 524. For example, each of the top tray 590A and the bottom tray 590B may include a top surface and a bottom surface. For coupling the mouth pieces 522 to the outer housings 524, the top tray 590A is oriented such that the top surface of the top tray 590A faces the top surface of the bottom tray 590B. The set of recesses of the top tray 590A are aligned with corresponding recesses of the bottom tray 590B and the top tray 590A and bottom tray 590B coupled together to couple the mouthpieces 522 to corresponding outer housings 524. In some embodiments, the assembled devices may be manually or autonomously disposed in a transparent package (e.g., a clamshell package) to allow the identifier to be scanned through the package (e.g., a by a customer, at a point of sale, and/or for tracking the device(s) during delivery).

The mouthpieces 522 may engage and be coupled to the outer housings 524 using any suitable coupling mechanism, for example, a friction-fit connection, a snap-fit connection (e.g., via protrusions, ledges, notches, detents, indents, etc.) or any other suitable coupling mechanism. However, an uncoupling force for uncoupling the top tray 590A from the bottom tray 590B after coupling the two together to couple the mouthpieces 522 to the outer housings 524 may be weaker than an uncoupling force to uncouple the top tray 590A to the bottom tray 590B. Thus, moving the top tray 590A distal from the bottom tray 590B after they have been coupled together may result in uncoupling of the top tray 590A from the bottom tray 590B without the mouthpieces 522 being uncoupled from the outer housings 590B.

FIG. 164 includes various views of a cartridge assembly packaging 506 in an open configuration. FIG. 165 includes various views of the cartridge assembly packaging 506 in an assembled configuration. As shown, the packaging 506 can provide a recessed portion (e.g., formed by a transparent portion) configured to receive the cartridge assembly 510.

FIG. 166 is a side cross-sectional view of a cartridge assembly 610, according to an embodiment. The cartridge assembly 610 can be the same or similar in structure and/or function to any of the cartridge assemblies described herein. The cartridge assembly 610 includes a mouthpiece 622 coupled to an outer housing 624. FIG. 166 shows the cartridge assembly 610 with the mouthpiece component 622, a control assembly 631, a base 634, a lower housing portion 636, a wick assembly 666, and a wick assembly housing 667. FIG. 167 shows a top perspective view of the wick assembly 666. The wick assembly 666 includes wick assembly coils 663 that extend into a second flow path portion 634B as described with respect to cartridge assembly 510. The cartridge assembly 610 may be substantially similar to the cartridge assembly 510 and include similar components as described in detail with respect to the cartridge assembly 510. However, different from the cartridge assembly 510, the wick assembly 666 of the cartridge assembly 610 includes a top portion 666a that is structured to be disposed within an aperture defined by the wick assembly housing 667 such that top radially outer edge of the top portion 666a is substantially aligned with a rim of the aperture defined by the wick assembly housing 667. Inner surfaces of the top portion 666a may be tapered outwards, for example, to facilitate the vaporizing of the carrier material. In some embodiments, the wick assembly 666 may include a heater, for example, a ceramic heater or stainless steel heater, as previously described.

FIG. 168 is a side cross-sectional view of a cartridge assembly 710, according to an embodiment. The cartridge assembly 710 can be the same or similar in structure and/or function to any of the cartridge assemblies described herein. The cartridge assembly 710 includes a mouthpiece 722 coupled to an outer housing 724. FIG. 168 shows the cartridge assembly 710 with the mouthpiece component 722, a control assembly 731, a base 734, a lower housing portion 736, and a heating assembly 730 including a wick assembly 766, and a wick assembly housing 767. FIG. 169 shows a top perspective view of the wick assembly 766. The wick assembly 766 includes wick assembly coils 763 that extends into a second flow path portion 734B as described with respect to cartridge assembly 510. The cartridge assembly 710 may be substantially similar to the cartridge assembly 510 and include similar components as described in detail with respect to the cartridge assembly 510. However, different from the cartridge assembly 510, the wick assembly 766 of the cartridge assembly 710 includes a top surface 766a that is substantially flat, and is structured to be positioned below an aperture defined in the wick assembly housing 767. Moreover, the aperture may have a larger width relative to the aperture of the wick assembly housing 766 that may allow a larger volume of the carrier material to contact the wick assembly 766 leading to faster vaporization. In some embodiments, the width of the aperture may be shaped or sized such that a flow of a carrier material through the aperture and therefore, a top surface of the wick assembly 766 corresponds to material properties of the carrier material (e.g., a viscosity or density of the carrier material) such that a desired vaporization rate of the carrier material is obtained.

FIG. 170 is a side perspective view of a system 700 that includes the cartridge assembly 710 inserted into a pen housing 742 of a vaporizer pen 740; and FIG. 171 is another side cross-section view of the cartridge assembly 710 that includes a heating assembly 730. In some embodiments, the outer housing 724 (which can be monolithically formed) defines a first flow path portion 724A, a second flow path portion 724B, and a third flow path portion (not shown). The heating subassembly 730 defines a first flow path portion 734A, a second flow path portion 274B, a third flow path portion (not shown), and a passageway 736A. The first flow path portion 734A can be defined by the base 734 and/or by the base 734 in combination with the wick assembly housing 767 and/or the wick assembly 766. The second flow path portion 734B can be defined by the base 734 and/or the base 734 in combination with the wick assembly housing 767 and/or the wick assembly 766. The third flow path portion can be defined by the base 734. Moreover, the passageway 736A is in fluid communication with a draw sensor 747. The system 700 may be substantially similar to any of the systems that include a vaporizer pen and a cartridge assembly and that show various flow paths though a vaporizer pen and a cartridge assembly, described herein (e.g., the embodiments shown in FIG. 33 and FIG. 149.

However, different from the other systems described herein, the pen housing 742 defines a small notch or slot 744 at an edge of a sidewall of the pen housing 742 to allow air to enter the pen housing 742. Moreover, different from the cartridge assembly 510, the outer housing 724 of the cartridge assembly 710 defines an air inlet 787 that is structured as a small gap between an edge of a sidewall of the outer housing 724 that is proximate to and coupled to the mouthpiece component 722 to allow air to enter (e.g., when a user draws on the mouthpiece component 722). Moreover, the notch 744 is configured to be aligned with the gap 787 when the cartridge assembly 710 is installed in the vaporizer pen 740. In some embodiments, mouthpiece component 722 and/or the outer housing 724 may be structured such that a natural gap exists between the mouthpiece component 722 and the outer housing 724 to allow air to enter. In such embodiments, the air inlet 787 may be excluded. The air inlet 787 and/or natural gap between the mouthpiece component 722 and the outer housing 724 may beneficially reduce noise produced during inhalation, which may be preferred by the user.

Some embodiments described herein relate to a computer storage product with a non-transitory computer-readable medium (also can be referred to as a non-transitory processor-readable medium) having instructions or computer code thereon for performing various computer-implemented operations. The computer-readable medium (or processor-readable medium) is non-transitory in the sense that it does not include transitory propagating signals per se (e.g., a propagating electromagnetic wave carrying information on a transmission medium such as space or a cable). The media and computer code (also can be referred to as code) may be those designed and constructed for the specific purpose or purposes. Examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include, but are not limited to, magnetic storage media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape; optical storage media such as Compact Disc/Digital Video Discs (CD/DVDs), Compact Disc-Read Only Memories (CD-ROMs), and holographic devices; magneto-optical storage media such as optical disks; carrier wave signal processing modules; and hardware devices that are specially configured to store and execute program code, such as Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), Read-Only Memory (ROM) and Random-Access Memory (RAM) devices. Other embodiments described herein relate to a computer program product, which can include, for example, the instructions and/or computer code discussed herein.

Some embodiments and/or methods described herein can be performed by software (executed on hardware), hardware, or a combination thereof. Hardware modules may include, for example, a general-purpose processor, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and/or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Software modules (executed on hardware) can be expressed in a variety of software languages (e.g., computer code), including C, C++, Java™, Ruby, Visual Basic™, and/or other object-oriented, procedural, or other programming language and development tools. Examples of computer code include, but are not limited to, micro-code or micro-instructions, machine instructions, such as produced by a compiler, code used to produce a web service, and files containing higher-level instructions that are executed by a computer using an interpreter. For example, embodiments may be implemented using imperative programming languages (e.g., C, Fortran, etc.), functional programming languages (Haskell, Erlang, etc.), logical programming languages (e.g., Prolog), object-oriented programming languages (e.g., Java, C++, etc.) or other suitable programming languages and/or development tools. Additional examples of computer code include, but are not limited to, control signals, encrypted code, and compressed code.

Various concepts may be embodied as one or more methods, of which at least one example has been provided. The acts performed as part of the method may be ordered in any suitable way. Accordingly, embodiments may be constructed in which acts are performed in an order different than illustrated, which may include performing some acts simultaneously, even though shown as sequential acts in illustrative embodiments. Put differently, it is to be understood that such features may not necessarily be limited to a particular order of execution, but rather, any number of threads, processes, services, servers, and/or the like that may execute serially, asynchronously, concurrently, in parallel, simultaneously, synchronously, and/or the like in a manner consistent with the disclosure. As such, some of these features may be mutually contradictory, in that they cannot be simultaneously present in a single embodiment. Similarly, some features are applicable to one aspect of the innovations, and inapplicable to others.

In addition, the disclosure may include other innovations not presently described. Applicant reserves all rights in such innovations, including the right to embodiment such innovations, file additional applications, continuations, continuations-in-part, divisionals, and/or the like thereof. As such, it should be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functional, features, logical, operational, organizational, structural, topological, and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by the embodiments or limitations on equivalents to the embodiments. Depending on the particular desires and/or characteristics of an individual and/or enterprise user, database configuration and/or relational model, data type, data transmission and/or network framework, syntax structure, and/or the like, various embodiments of the technology disclosed herein may be implemented in a manner that enables a great deal of flexibility and customization as described herein.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

As used herein, in particular embodiments, the terms “about” or “approximately” when preceding a numerical value indicates the value plus or minus a range of 10%. Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range is encompassed within the disclosure. That the upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges can independently be included in the smaller ranges is also encompassed within the disclosure, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included in the disclosure.

The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the embodiments, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.”

The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the embodiments, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.

As used herein in the specification and in the embodiments, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the embodiments, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e., “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the embodiments, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.

As used herein in the specification and in the embodiments, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.

In the embodiments, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, Section 2111.03.

While specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been outlined above, many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the embodiments set forth herein are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Where methods and steps described above indicate certain events occurring in a certain order, those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure would recognize that the ordering of certain steps may be modified and such modification are in accordance with the variations of the invention. Additionally, certain of the steps may be performed concurrently in a parallel process when possible, as well as performed sequentially as described above. The embodiments have been particularly shown and described, but it will be understood that various changes in form and details may be made.

Claims

1-26. (canceled)

27. A system, comprising: a pen assembly; anda cartridge assembly configured to be removably coupled to the pen assembly, the cartridge assembly comprising: a mouthpiece defining a mouthpiece opening,a housing including an upper wall and a sidewall, anda heating subassembly,wherein the upper wall and the sidewall of the housing in combination with the heating subassembly define a reservoir, the sidewall and the heating subassembly defining a first flow path between an inlet of the housing and a bottom surface of a portion of the heating subassembly, the sidewall of the housing further defining a portion of a second flow path away from the heating subassembly toward the mouthpiece opening.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein a first channel, a second channel, and a curved channel portion are collectively defined by an upper surface of the upper wall of the housing and a lower surface of the mouthpiece, the first channel disposed parallel to the second channel and fluidically coupled via the curved channel portion.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the inlet is defined through the sidewall of the housing of the cartridge assembly.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the inlet includes a gap defined on an edge of the sidewall of the housing of the cartridge assembly that is proximate to the mouthpiece.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the pen assembly includes a pen assembly housing, the pen assembly housing defining a notch configured to be aligned with the inlet when the cartridge assembly is coupled to the pen assembly.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein: the pen assembly includes a pen assembly housing, andthe mouthpiece includes a plurality of protrusions such that, when the cartridge assembly is coupled with the pen assembly, each protrusion from the plurality of protrusions engage the pen assembly housing such that a gap is defined between the pen assembly housing and the mouthpiece to allow air to be drawn therethrough.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the housing of the cartridge assembly includes a flange along an upper front edge thereof, the flange configured to engage the pen assembly housing when the cartridge assembly is coupled to the pen assembly.

34. The system of claim 27, wherein a gap is defined between a portion of the housing and the mouthpiece, the gap forming the inlet.

35. The system of claim 27, wherein: the first flow path includes a first flow path portion of the housing and a first flow path portion of the heating subassembly, the first flow path portion of the housing extending between the inlet and the first flow path portion of the heating subassembly,the second flow path includes a second flow path portion of the housing and a second flow path portion of the heating subassembly, the second flow path portion of the housing extending between the second flow path portion of the heating subassembly and a space defined between an upper surface of the upper wall of the housing and a lower surface of the mouthpiece, andthe cartridge assembly defines a third flow path including a passageway defined by the heating subassembly and a third flow path portion defined by the housing, the third flow path portion defined by the housing disposed between the passageway of the heating subassembly and the space defined between the upper surface of the upper wall of the housing and the lower surface of the mouthpiece.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the first flow path portion of the heating subassembly extends from the first flow path portion of the housing to a wick assembly included in the heating subassembly, and the second flow path portion of the heating subassembly extends from the wick assembly to the second flow path portion of the housing.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein the space defined between the upper surface of the upper wall of the housing and the lower surface of the mouthpiece includes a first channel, a second channel, and a curved channel portion each collectively defined by an upper surface of the upper wall of the housing and a lower surface of the mouthpiece, the first channel disposed parallel to the second channel and fluidically coupled via the curved channel portion, the pen assembly including a draw sensor configured such that, when the cartridge assembly is coupled to the pen assembly, the mouthpiece opening is in fluid communication with the draw sensor via the third flow path, the third flow path including a portion of the second channel, the third flow path portion of the housing, a third flow path portion of the heating subassembly, the passageway of the heating subassembly, and an opening defined in an draw sensor cover of the draw sensor.

38. The system of claim 35, wherein the second flow path extends from the bottom surface of the heating subassembly to the mouthpiece opening and does not overlap with the third flow path.

39. The system of claim 35, wherein the first flow path is fluidically coupled to the mouthpiece opening via the second flow path, and a cross-sectional area along the first flow path and the second flow path increases in size from the inlet to the mouthpiece opening.

40. The system of claim 27, wherein the cartridge assembly includes an elastomeric plug disposable within an opening to the reservoir defined in the upper wall of the housing so as to seal the opening to the reservoir.

41. The system of claim 35, wherein the third flow path portion defined by the housing and the passageway of the heating subassembly are disposed in parallel and are coupled to each other via a third flow path portion defined by the heating subassembly.

42. The system of claim 35, wherein the space defined between the upper surface of the upper wall of the housing and the lower surface of the mouthpiece includes a first channel fluidically coupling the second flow path portion defined by the housing to the mouthpiece opening and a second channel fluidically coupling the third flow path portion defined by the housing to the mouthpiece opening.

43. The system of claim 35, wherein the first flow path portion of the housing, the second flow path portion of the housing, and the third flow path portion of the housing are disposed in parallel.

44. The system of claim 35, wherein a maximum cross-sectional area of the second flow path portion of the housing is greater than a maximum cross-sectional area of the first flow path portion of the housing.

45. The system of claim 35, wherein the second flow path portion of the housing is coupled to the mouthpiece opening via the space defined between the upper surface of the upper wall of the housing and the lower surface of the mouthpiece.

46. The system of claim 27, wherein the pen assembly includes a pen housing, the pen housing defining a plurality of inlets.