Patent Application
20220151293
Medicinal and therapeutic compounds may be administered in a variety of ways. For example, such compounds may be administered intravenously, transdermally, or orally. Oral administration of medicinal and therapeutic compounds may be in the form of a pill, a liquid, an aerosol, a tincture, an oil, and/or a vapor. The vapor may be created by super-heating an oil that includes a medicinal and/or therapeutic compound. The vapor may be inhaled, and the medicinal/therapeutic compound may be absorbed into the bloodstream via the lungs. The vapor may be generated by an electronic device with a resistive element. The resistive element may be placed in contact with the oil that includes the medicinal and/or therapeutic compound. The resistive element may be heated by passing a current through the resistive element. As the resistive element is heated, oil near the element may be vaporized. The resulting vapor may be directed through a conduit via which the vapor may be inhaled.
The present description will be understood more fully when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of various examples of vaporizer pen cases. The description is not meant to limit the vaporizer pen cases to the specific examples. Rather, the specific examples depicted and described are provided for explanation and understanding of vaporizer pen cases. Throughout the description the drawings may be referred to as drawings, figures, and/or FIGs.
Vaporizer pen cases as disclosed herein will become better understood through a review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures. The detailed description and figures provide merely examples of the various embodiments of vaporizer pen cases. Many variations are contemplated for different applications and design considerations; however, for the sake of brevity and clarity, all the contemplated variations may not be individually described in the following detailed description. Those skilled in the art will understand how the disclosed examples may be varied, modified, and altered and not depart in substance from the scope of the examples described herein.
A conventional vaporizer pen may include various components that may be disconnected from each other and/or interchanged. For example, the vaporizer pen may include a battery, a heating coil, and/or a container for oil. The battery may be a rechargeable battery. The heating coil may be disposed in the container for the oil or may be separate from the container for the oil. When the heating coil is separate from the container, the container may include a heat transfer mechanism that transfers heat from the heating coil to the oil in the container. The heating coil may be electronically coupled to the battery. A switch may close a circuit formed by the battery and the heating coil. The switch may be a manual switch or may be automatic, such as by closing in response to suction. The container may be coupled to a vapor and/or air conduit. The conduit may enable vapor generated by heating the oil to be drawn from the container.
Because the various components of the vaporizer pen may be disconnected from each other and/or interchanged, it may be difficult to keep track of and/or organize the components. Additionally, having loose components may present a health and/or safety risk. At least some oils used with vaporizer pens may include medical and/or therapeutic compounds that present a health risk when improperly used. Such compounds may present a health and/or safety risk to individuals who are not prescribed the compounds. Such compounds may present a health and/or safety risk to individuals under a certain age, such as children. The electronic components may also present a safety risk. The heating coil may reach temperatures upwards of 200° C. An individual that is not properly trained on how to use the vaporizer pen may get injured improperly using the vaporizer pen.
Implementations of vaporizer pen cases described below may address some or all of the problems described above. A vaporizer pen case may include an enclosure, a battery receptacle within the enclosure, a pod receptacle within the enclosure, a charging battery within the enclosure, an electronic locking mechanism that locks the enclosure closed, a communication device within the enclosure, and a processing device within the enclosure. The processing device may be electronically coupled to the charging battery to control charging of a vaporizer pen battery inserted into the battery receptacle. The processing device may be electronically coupled to the communication device. The communication device may communicate with a mobile device. The processing device may communicate with the mobile device via the communication device to control settings of the processing device. The mobile device may control charging of the vaporizer pen battery via the communication device and/or the processing device. The processing device may communicate via the communication device with a separate processing device in the vaporizer pen to control various settings of the vaporizer pen. The processing device may control the locking mechanism. The mobile device may control the electronic locking mechanism via the communication device and/or the processing device.
The vaporizer pen case may enable a user to store the various components of the vaporizer pen securely. The vaporizer pen case may prevent unauthorized access to vaporizer pods, which may contain medical and/or therapeutic compounds that may be harmful if used by a person for whom they are not intended. The vaporizer pen case may enable consolidation of the various components of the vaporizer pen so that a user can conveniently carry such components and have them readily available on-demand. The vaporizer pen case may enable a user to control various settings of the vaporizer pen via a mobile device such as a smartphone. The vaporizer pen case may enable charging of the vaporizer pen battery while the user is on-the-go.
The device network 100 may include the vaporizer pen case 102, the vaporizer pen 104, a mobile device 106, a computer 108, and/or a cloud server 110. The elements of the device network 100 may be communicatively coupled via the network communication links 112. The network communication links 112 may be wired connections and/or wireless connections.
The device network 100 may include a personal area network (PAN), a near-me area network (NAN), a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), an internet area network (IAN), and/or a public Internet network. The device network 100 may include two or more network types. For example, the device network 100 may include the PAN, the NAN, and the Internet. In another example, the device network 100 may include the LAN and the Internet. The device network 100 may include a point-to-point topology, a daisy chain topology, a bus topology, a star topology, a ring topology, and/or a mesh topology. The device network 100 may include a hybrid topology including two or more types of network topologies. For example, the device network 100 may include a mesh topology and a star topology. In another example, the device network 100 may include a point-to-point topology and a star topology.
The term “metropolitan” may refer to a geographic region having homes, buildings, offices, and/or campuses. The term “remote” may refer to a device being accessible by another, physically distinct device via a network communication link. The term “remote” may also refer to non-adjacent locations. The term “local” may refer to a device being connected via a closed and/or private network connection to another device. The term “local” may also indicate physical location within a same room, within a same building, on a same campus, and/or in a same metropolitan area, and so forth.
In various embodiments, the device network 100 may be situated in a single location, such as in a room, in a user's home, within an office building, and so forth. For example, all networked elements of the device network 100 may be physically located in the same room as each other, in the user's home, within an office building, and so forth. In various other embodiments, the device network 100 may be situated across two or more locations, such as across two rooms, between a user's home and an office building, across buildings on different campuses from each other, across different metropolitan areas, and so forth. For example, some of the networked elements of the device network 100 may be situated in the user's home, and some of the networked elements may be situated in a data center in a different city and/or country from the user's home. In another example, some of the networked elements may be situated in a medical office, some of the networked elements may be situated in a data center, and some of the networked elements may be mobile, accompanying the user as the user moves and travels from one location to another. In one example, the vaporizer pen case 102, the vaporizer pen 104, and/or the mobile device 106 may accompany the user; the computer 108 may be located in the user's home or at the user's workplace; and the cloud server 110
The network communication link 112 may be direct or indirect. A direct link may include a link between two devices where information is communicated from one device to the other without passing through an intermediary. For example, the direct link may include a Bluetooth™ connection, a Zigbee® connection, a Wifi Direct™ connection, a near-field communications (NFC) connection, an infrared connection, a wired universal serial bus (USB) connection, an ethernet cable connection, a fiber-optic connection, a firewire connection, a microwire connection, and so forth. In another example, the direct link may include a cable on a bus network. “Direct,” when used regarding a network communication link, may refer to any of the aforementioned direct communication links.
An indirect link may include a link between two or more devices where data may pass through an intermediary, such as a router, before being received by an intended recipient of the data. For example, the indirect link may include a wireless fidelity (WiFi) connection where data is passed through a WiFi router, a cellular network connection where data is passed through a cellular network router, a wired network connection where devices are interconnected through hubs and/or routers, and so forth. The cellular network connection may be implemented according to one or more cellular network standards, including the global system for mobile communications (GSM) standard, a code division multiple access (CDMA) standard such as the universal mobile telecommunications standard, an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) standard such as the long term evolution (LTE) standard, and so forth. “Indirect,” when used regarding a network communication link, may refer to any of the aforementioned indirect communication links.
Various of the elements of the device network 100 may include electronic processing devices. A processing device may include various electronics for storing and/or processing electronic signals. The processing device may include a processing component and/or a memory component. The processing component may have non-transitory and/or transitory memory, and the memory component may have non-transitory and/or transitory memory. For example, the processing component may have transitory memory and the memory component may have persistent memory. The processing component may generate an output based on an input. For example, the processing component may receive an electronic and/or digital signal from the measurement component. The processing component may send the signal to the memory component, and the memory component may store the signal. The processing component may read the signal and perform one or more tasks with the signal, such as determining an amount of current and/or voltage associated with the signal. The processing component may read from the memory component a quantity of the analyte corresponding with the amount of current and/or voltage. The processing component may transmit a value associated with the quantity of the analyte to the user interface, and the user interface may display the value to the user. In an embodiment, the processing component may transmit data such as the value and/or the amount of the current and/or voltage to the communication device, which may transmit the data to another device.
In various embodiments, the processing device may include a processor, a microprocessor, a computer processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a vision processing unit, a tensor processing unit, a neural processing unit, a physics processing unit, a digital signal processor, an image signal processor, a synergistic processing element, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a sound chip, a multi-core processor, and so forth. As used herein, “processor,” “processing component,” “processing device,” and/or “processing unit” may be used generically herein to refer to any or all of the aforementioned specific devices, elements, and/or features of the processing component.
Various elements of the device network 100 may include electronic communication devices. A communication device may include a networking chip, one or more antennas, one or more communication ports, and so forth. The communication device may generate radio frequency (RF) signals and transmit the RF signals to one or more of the antennas. The communication device may receive and/or translate the RF signals. The communication device may transceive the RF signals. The RF signals may be broadcast and/or received by the antennas. The communication device may generate electronic signals and transmit the RF signals to one or more of the communication ports. The communication device may receive the RF signals from one or more of the communication ports. The electronic signals may be transmitted to and/or from a communication hardline by the communication ports. The communication device may generate optical signals and transmit the optical signals to one or more of the communication ports. The communication device may receive the optical signals and/or may generate one or more digital signals based on the optical signals. The optical signals may be transmitted to and/or received from a communication hardline by the communication port, and/or the optical signals may be transmitted and/or received across open space by the communication device.
The communication device may include hardware and/or software for generating and communicating signals over a direct and/or indirect network communication link. For example, the communication device may include a USB port and a USB wire, and/or an RF antenna with Bluetooth™ programming installed on a processor, such as the processing component, coupled to the antenna. In another example, the communication device may include an RF antenna and programming installed on a processor, such as the processing component, for communicating over a Wifi and/or cellular network. As used herein, “communication device” and/or “communication component” may be used generically herein to refer to any or all of the aforementioned elements and/or features of the communication device.
The vaporizer pen case 102 may include an enclosure 206 that defines a compartment 208. The enclosure may include a first section 206a, a second section 206b, and a transition section 206c between the first section 206a and the second section 206b. The transition section 206c may enable the first section 206a and the second section 206b to fold together to close the compartment 208. The transition section 206c may enable the first section 206a and the second section 206b to fold apart to open the compartment 208.
The enclosure 206 may for formed of metal, plastic, leather, rubber, silicone, a natural textile, a synthetic textile, and so forth. The enclosure 206 may be formed of a combination of materials. For example, the enclosure 206 may include a rigid frame made of plastic with a pliable jacket made of leather, silicone, and so forth. The first section 206a and the second section 206b may be formed of a rigid plate wrapped in a pliable jacket, and the transition section 206c may be formed of a pliable material. The pliable material may be the same as the material that forms the pliable jacket. The pliable material may be different from the material that forms the pliable jacket. The transition section 206c may be a hinge formed of a rigid material. The rigid material that forms the transition section 206c may be the same as the material that forms the rigid plate in the first section 206a and the second section 206b. The rigid material that forms the transition section 206c may be different from the material that forms the rigid plate.
The vaporizer pen case 102 may include the battery receptacle 202. The battery receptacle 202 may be positioned within the compartment 208 of the enclosure 206. The battery receptacle 202 may be configured in shape and/or size to receive and/or hold the vaporizer pen 104. The battery receptacle 202 may be configured in shape and/or size to receive and/or hold a battery 210 of the vaporizer pen 104 separate from a pod 212 of the vaporizer pen 104. The battery receptacle 202 may include an open end 202a configured to receive the vaporizer pen 104 and/or the battery 210. The battery receptacle 202 may include a closed end 202b. The battery receptacle 202 may include a wall 202c extending between the open end 202a and the closed end 202b. The closed end 202b, the wall 202c, and a wall of the enclosure 206 may retain the vaporizer pen 104 and/or the battery 210 within the battery receptacle 202.
The battery receptacle 202 may include charging electronics configured to charge the battery 210 as the vaporizer pen 104 and/or the battery 210 is seated in the battery receptacle 202. For example, the charging electronics may include electrical contacts positioned at the closed end 202b of the battery receptacle 202 that face inwards in the battery receptacle 202. The electrical contacts may be positioned such that corresponding contacts on the battery 210 connect with the electrical contacts to enable charging of the battery 210. The charging electronics may include a wireless charging coil similarly positioned in the battery receptacle 202 to align with a corresponding charging coil attached to the battery 210. The wireless charging coil may be adjacent to the closed end 202b, the wall 202c, and/or the wall of the enclosure 206.
The vaporizer pen case 102 may include the pod receptacle 204. The pod receptacle 204 may be positioned within the compartment 208. The pod receptacle 204 may be configured in shape and/or size to receive and/or hold the vaporizer pod. For example, the pod receptacle 204 may include an open end 204a, a closed end 204b, and a wall 204c. The open end 204a may be configured to receive the pod vaporizer pod 212. The wall 204c may extend between the open end 204a and the closed end 204b. The closed end 204b, the wall 204c, and/or a wall of the enclosure may retain the vaporizer pod 212 within the pod receptacle 204.
The battery receptacle wall 202c and/or the pod receptacle wall 204c (i.e. the receptacle walls) may be fixed to the enclosure 206. Either of the receptacle walls may be actuatable, e.g. may be hinged. Either of the receptacle walls may be at least partially extendable from the enclosure 206. For example, either of the receptacle walls may include an elastic section and/or an accordion section. A pull on the receptacle wall may extend the receptacle wall from the enclosure 206, creating space between the object stored within the receptacle (e.g. the battery 210, the vaporizer pod 212, and so forth). This may allow the object to be grasped to be removed from the receptacle.
The vaporizer pen case 102 may include various other additional receptacles 214 for holding various vaporizer pen components. For example, the vaporizer pen case 102 may include a receptacle for holding a battery charger 216. The battery charger may be a wall-plug charger, a USB charger, and so forth. The vaporizer pen case 102 may include a receptacle for holding a spare battery 210. The vaporizer pen case 102 may include a receptacle for holding other spare vaporizer components such as pods, coils, and so forth.
The receptacles may be on the same portion of the enclosure 206 or different portions of the enclosure 206. For example, the battery receptacle 202 may be on the first section 206a of the enclosure 206 and the pod receptacle 204 may be on the second section 206b of the enclosure 206. The battery receptacle 202 and the pod receptacle 204 may both be on the first section 206a or the second section 206b of the enclosure 206. The receptacles may be defined by various walls formed of a material that is the same and/or different from the material that forms the enclosure 206. For example, the walls that define one or more of the receptacles may be formed of a rigid plastic with a flexible material covering the plastic. One or more of the walls that device one or more of the receptacles may be formed of a pliable and/or flexible material.
In an open configuration of the vaporizer pen case, the battery receptacle 202 may be defined by the open end 202a, the closed end 202b, and a wall of the enclosure 206 such as a wall of the first section 206a or a wall of the second section 206b. In the open configuration of the vaporizer pen case, the pod receptacle 204 may be defined by the open end 204a, the closed end 204b, and the wall of the enclosure 206 such as a wall of the first section 206a or a wall of the second section 206b. In the open configuration, a side of the receptacles may be open such that the battery 210 or the pod 212 may be removed through the open side. In a closed configuration of the vaporizer pen case, the battery receptacle 202 may be defined by the open end 202a, the closed end 202b, a wall of the first section 206a of the enclosure, and a wall of the second section 206b of the enclosure. In the closed configuration of the vaporizer pen case, the pod receptacle 204 may be defined by the open end 204a, the closed end 204b, the wall of the first section 206a of the enclosure, and the wall of the second section 206b of the enclosure. In the closed configuration, the receptacles may be enclosed on at least two sides by the two sections of the enclosure 206.
The receptacles may be further defined by ridges 218 formed on inside walls of the enclosure 206, such as on an inside wall of the first section 206a and/or on an inside wall of the second section 206b. The ridges 218 may be approximately perpendicular to the inside wall of the enclosure 206 and/or may be shaped similar to a shape of a corresponding vaporizer pen component (e.g. the ridges that define the battery receptacle 202 may be shaped similar to the battery 210, and so forth). The receptacles may have dimensions such as length, width, and/or depth that approximately match the dimensions of the corresponding vaporizer pen components. The dimensions of the receptacles may be such that the corresponding components are held in the receptacles by a friction fit (i.e. friction between a component and the surrounding ridges is sufficient to prevent the component from falling out of the receptacle under its own weight and or a greater force). The friction fit may be loose enough to allow the components to be removed from the receptacles by hand.
In one example of the vaporizer pen case 102, the first section 206a of the enclosure 206 may include a first side 220a of the electronic locking mechanism. The second section 206b of the enclosure 206 may include a second side 220b of the electronic locking mechanism. The electronic locking mechanism may include an electronically actuated latch and a catch. The electronic locking mechanism may include an electromagnetic lock. The vaporizer pen case 102 may include a clasping mechanism that holds the vaporizer pen case 102 closed without locking the vaporizer pen case 102 closed. The clasping mechanism may include a catch and latch, a magnet, a strap with a snap, and so forth.
The enclosure 206 may be a rigid housing with various cavities formed in the housing for holding the components of the vaporizer pen 104. For example, the battery receptacle 202 may be a cavity formed in the enclosure 206 and/or defined by various walls of the enclosure 206. The battery receptacle 202 may be configured to hold and/or retain the vaporizer pen 104 and/or the battery 210 (i.e. the battery 210 separate from the vaporizer pen 104) within the enclosure 206. The battery receptacle 202 may further be configured to charge the battery 210 as the battery 210 is seated in the battery receptacle 202.
As another example, the pod receptacle 204 may be a cavity formed in the enclosure 206. The pod receptacle 204 may be formed in the enclosure 206 on a same side of the enclosure 206 as the battery receptacle 202 (e.g. the open end 202a of the battery receptacle 202 and the open end 204a of the pod receptacle 204 may be on the same side of the enclosure as each other). The pod receptacle 204 may be formed in the enclosure in a different portion of the enclosure 206 from the battery receptacle 202 (e.g. the open end 202a of the battery receptacle 202 and the open end 204a of the pod receptacle 204 are on different sides of the enclosure 206 from each other). The pod receptacle 204 may be defined by various walls of the enclosure 206. The battery receptacle 202 and the pod receptacle 204 may share a wall (e.g. may be disposed on opposite sides of the wall from each other, the wall may extend across the battery receptacle 202 and the pod receptacle 204 with the same side of the wall facing the battery receptacle 202 and the pod receptacle 204, and so forth). The pod receptacle may be configured to hold the vaporizer pod 212.
The vaporizer pen case 102 may include the battery receptacle lid 302 and/or the pod receptacle lid 304 (i.e. the lids). The lids may be rigid and/or made of the same material as the enclosure 206. The lids may be attached to the enclosure 206, such as by hinges, so that the lids are attached to the enclosure 206 in an open configuration. The vaporizer pen case 102 may include separate lids for the battery receptacle 202 and the pod receptacle 204, or the vaporizer pen case 102 may include one lid for both the battery receptacle 202 and the pod receptacle 204. For example, the battery receptacle lid 302 and the pod receptacle lid 304 may be configured to actuate separately from each other (i.e. open and/or close independently).
In a closed configuration of the battery receptacle lid 302, the battery receptacle lid 302 may be closed so that, when the battery 210 and/or the vaporizer pen 104 is within the battery receptacle 202, the battery 210 and/or the vaporizer pen 104 is secured within the battery receptacle 202. In a closed configuration of the pod receptacle lid 304, the pod receptacle lid 302 may be close so that, when the vaporizer pod 212 is within the pod receptacle 204, the vaporizer pod 212 is secured within the pod receptacle 204. In a closed configuration of the single lid, the single lid may be closed so that, when the battery 210 and/or the vaporizer pen 104 is within the battery receptacle 202, and/or when the vaporizer pod 212 is within the pod receptacle 204, the battery 210 and/or the vaporizer pen 104 is secured within the battery receptacle 202, and/or the vaporizer pod 212 is secured within the pod receptacle 204.
In an open configuration of the battery receptacle lid 302, the battery receptacle lid 302 is open so that, when the battery 210 and/or the vaporizer pen 104 is within the battery receptacle 202, the battery 210 and/or the vaporizer pen 104 is removable from the battery receptacle 202. In an open configuration of the pod receptacle lid 304, the pod receptacle lid 304 may be open so that, when the vaporizer pod 212 is within the pod receptacle 204, the vaporizer pod 212 is removable from the pod receptacle 204. In an open configuration of the single lid, the single lid may be open so that the battery 210 and/or the vaporizer pen 104 is removable from the battery receptacle 202, and/or so that the vaporizer pod 212 is removable from the pod receptacle 204.
The lids may include the first side 220a of the electronic locking mechanism, and the enclosure 206 may include the second side 220b of the locking mechanism 220. The lids and the enclosure may include the clasping mechanism that secures the lids closed without locking the lids closed. In an example, the battery receptacle lid 302 may include the clasping mechanism and the enclosure 206 may include a corresponding side of the clasping mechanism that engages with the portion of the clasping mechanism on the battery receptacle lid 302 when the battery receptacle lid 302 is in the closed configuration. The pod receptacle lid 304 may include the first side 220a of the electronic locking mechanism and the enclosure 206 may include the second side 220b of the locking mechanism 220 so that the first side 220a and the second side 220b lock together in the closed configuration of the pod receptacle lid 304. As another example, the battery receptacle lid 302 and the pod receptacle lid 304 may both include separate instances of the first side 220a of the electronic locking mechanism. The enclosure 206 may include corresponding instances of the second side 220b of the electronic locking mechanism. As another example, the single lid may include the first side 220a of the locking mechanism and the enclosure may include the second side 220b of the locking mechanism so that, when the single lid is closed, the first side 220a and the second side 220b may engage to lock the single lid closed. The electronic locking mechanism may be unlocked while the lids are closed to enable transition of the lids from the closed configuration to the open configuration. The apparatus may include an electronic lock physically attached to the enclosure and the lid, where the electronic lock is configured to lock the lid in the closed configuration.
The pod receptacle 204 may be configured to enable visual identification of a type of the vaporizer pod 212 (i.e. what type and/or concentration of the compound is in the vaporizer pod 212) as the vaporizer pod 212 is seated in the pod receptacle 204. For example, the vaporizer pod 212 may include an identifying band on the vaporizer pod 212. The identifying band may have a distinct color and/or design that distinguishes the contents of the vaporizer pod 212 from different vaporizer pod 212 contents. A depth of the pod receptacle 204 may be less than a length from a bottom of the vaporizer pod 212 to a position of the identifying band on the vaporizer pod 212. As another example, the pod receptacle 204 and/or a wall of the enclosure 206 adjacent to the pod receptacle 204 may include the window 306 through which at least a portion of the vaporizer pod 212 may be visible. The window 306 may be at least partially transparent. The window 306 may be sufficiently transparent to allow a color and/or design on the vaporizer pod to be visually identified through the window 306.
The vaporizer pen case 102 may include a user input device 308. The user input device 308 may include a button, a switch, a slider, a resistive touch surface, a capacitive touch surface, an acoustic wave touch surface, an optical wave touch surface, and so forth. The user input device 308 may be communicatively coupled to various internal electronic components of the vaporizer pen case 102 such as a processing device. The processing device may be configured to receive an input from the user input device 308 and execute one or more various instructions associated with the input. For example, the user input device 308 may include a touch-sensitive slider. Input received at the processing device from the touch-sensitive slider may indicate a dosage level for the vaporizer pen 104. The processing device may, based on the input, determine a dosage adjustment for the vaporizer pen 104. The processing device may cause the dosage adjustment to be transmitted to the vaporizer pen 104, such as through a communication device in the vaporizer pen case 102.
The vaporizer pen case 102 may include a signal output device 310. The signal output device 310 may include a visual signal output device such as a light-emitting diode (LED). The signal output device 310 may include an audio signal output device such as a speaker. The processing device may be configured to generate a signal that is output by the signal output device 310. For example, the LED may emit a color of light corresponding to a charge level of an internal battery of the vaporizer pen case 102. The LED may emit a color of light and/or may flash a pattern corresponding to a charging status of the vaporizer pen case 102 and/or the battery 210. The LED may emit a color of light corresponding to a dosage level selected via the user input device 308. As another example, the speaker may emit a sound notifying a user of a location of the vaporizer pen case 102. The speaker may emit a sound that corresponds to a setting input to the processing device via the user input device 308.
In one example, the user input device 308 may include the touch-sensitive slider and the signal output device 310 may include the LED. The touch-sensitive slider and the LED may be positioned on the same face of the enclosure 206 as each other. The touch-sensitive slider and the LED may be aligned such that a directionality of the touch-sensitive slider is directly towards and directly away from the LED. The touch-sensitive slider and the LED may be positioned on different faces of the enclosure 206 from each other. For example, the LED may be positioned on a front face of the enclosure 206 (i.e. a widest face of the enclosure 206) and the touch-sensitive slider may be positioned on a side face of the enclosure 206 (i.e. a narrowest face of the enclosure 206).
The user input device 308 may include a biometric scanner such as a fingerprint reader, a camera, and so forth. A processing device of the vaporizer pen case 102 may include biometric identification software such as iris-scanner software, facial recognition software, and so forth. The user input device 308 may thereby enable secure, authenticated access to the components of the vaporizer pen 104 stored in the vaporizer pen case 102. Unauthorized access to the vaporizer pen case 102 may be prevented by requiring biometric authentication to unlock the electronic locking mechanism.
The battery receptacle 202 may include the charging battery 402 (e.g. the charging battery 402 may be adjacent to battery receptacle 202, electronically coupled to electrical contacts 406 in the battery receptacle 202, and so forth). The charging battery 402 may store electrical charge and may, when the battery 210 is seated in the battery receptacle 202, charge the battery 210. The charging battery may power the internal case electronics 404 of the vaporizer pen case 102. The charging battery may be recharged via the internal case electronics 404 of the vaporizer pen case 102. The charging battery may, in one example, be adjacent to the closed end 202b of the battery receptacle 202.
The battery receptacle 202 may include a first catch 408 that engages with a corresponding second catch 410 on the vaporizer pen battery. The first catch 408 and the second catch 410 may retain the battery 210 within the battery receptacle 202 by engaging with each other so that jostling of the vaporizer pen case 102 does not cause the battery 210 to become dislodged from the battery receptacle 202. The catches may resist a force that would pull the battery 210 from the battery receptacle 202 while allowing the battery 210 to be removed from the battery receptacle 202 by hand. The catches may further create, as the battery 210 is inserted into the battery receptacle 202, tactile feedback that indicates the battery 210 is secured within the battery receptacle 202.
The wireless charging device 412 may include a pen-side coil 412a and a charging-side coil 412b. The pen-side coil 412a may be housed in a housing of the battery 210 of the vaporizer pen 104. The pen-side coil 412a may be physically and electronically coupled to the battery 210. The pen-side coil 412a may be disposed in the housing of the battery 210 such that, when the battery 210 is seated in the battery receptacle 202, the pen-side coil 412a is aligned with the charging-side coil 412b. The charging-side coil 412b may be disposed in the battery receptacle 202 and/or adjacent to a wall of the battery receptacle 202, such as the closed end 202b of the battery receptacle 202. The charging-side coil 412b may be electronically coupled to the charging battery 402 and/or the internal case electronics 404 of the vaporizer pen case 102.
The internal case electronics 404 may be physically coupled to the enclosure 206. The internal case electronics 404 may be housed within the enclosure 206, such as within a cavity in the enclosure 206. The internal case electronics 404 may include a processing device 502, a communication device 504, the electronic locking mechanism, the charging battery 402, a location sensor 506, the user input device 308, the signal output device 310, a proximity sensor 508, and an electronics port 510. The components of the internal case electronics 404 may be electronically and/or communicatively coupled to each other via, for example, a printed circuit board, wiring, and so forth. The components of the internal case electronics 404 may be separate devices and/or may be implemented as various capabilities of a single device. For example, the location sensor 506 may include a GPS sensor or may include programming on the processing device 502 that determines the location of the vaporizer pen case 102 based, for example, on an IP address of a network the processing device 502 is connected to. As another example, the proximity sensor 508 may be an ultrasonic transceiver and/or may be implemented as programming on the processing device 502 that determines proximity to another device based on a signal strength of a signal from the device, triangulation, and so forth.
The processing device 502 may be configured to receive an instruction to lock or unlock the electronic locking mechanism. The instruction may be received via the communication device 504 (e.g. from a remote device such as the mobile device 106). The instruction may be received via the user input device 308. The processing device 502 may be configured to unlock or lock the electronic locking mechanism based on the instruction. The processing device may be configured to control charging of the battery 210 via the charging battery 402. For example, the processing device 502 may be configured to regulate an amount of current passed from the charging battery 402 through the battery 210. The processing device 502 may be configured to switch charging of the battery 210 on and off while the battery 210 is seated in the battery receptacle 202. The processing device 502 may be configured to determine a charge level of the battery 210 and/or the charging battery 402.
The processing device 502 may be configured to pair with the vaporizer pen 104. For example, the vaporizer pen 104 may include an internal radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag. The processing device 502 may pair with the vaporizer pen 104 by reading the RFID tag and confirming the vaporizer pen 104 is associated with the vaporizer pen case 102. The processing device 502 may be configured to control dosing of the compound in the vaporizer pod 212 via the vaporizer pen 104. If the processing device 502 confirms the vaporizer pen 104 is associated with the vaporizer pen case 102, the processing device 502 may proceed with instructions for setting the dosage level for the vaporizer pen 104. The dosage level may be received via the communication device 504 (e.g. from a remote device such as the mobile device 106) and/or via the user input device 308. The dosage level may correspond to an amount of a vaporizable compound to be vaporized by the vaporizer pen 104. For example, the dosage level may be set by setting an amount of current delivered from the battery 210 of the vaporizer pen 104 to the heating coil of the vaporizer pen 104. The vaporizer pen 104 may include internal processing and communication devices that communicate. The processing device 502 may set the dosage level for the vaporizer pen 104 by communicating with the processing and communication devices of the vaporizer pen 104 via the communication device 504.
The electronics port 510 may be a physical port that enables physical coupling of the internal case electronics 404 to another device such as the mobile device 106, and so forth. The electronics port 510 may be a male or female end of a USB port, a mini-USB port, a micro-USB port, a Lightning® port, and so forth. The electronics port 510 may deliver power to the charging battery 402 to charge the charging battery 402. The electronics port 510 may deliver power from the charging battery 402 to, for example, the vaporizer pen 104 via a hardwire power connection. The electronics port 510 may communicate data to and/or from the processing device 502 and/or the communication device 504.
The processing device 502 may be configured to execute one or more of the elements of the method 600. The method 600 may include receiving a pairing request from a mobile device (e.g. the mobile device 106) (block 602). The request may be received, for example, at the processing device 502 via the communication device 504. The pairing request may include an identifier associated with a vaporizer pen (e.g. the vaporizer pen 104) and/or a vaporizer pod (e.g. the vaporizer pod 212). The identifier may correspond to a compound in the vaporizer pod. The method 600 may include verifying that the vaporizer pen and/or the vaporizer pod is associated with the device receiving the request (block 604). For example, the device may include the vaporizer pen case 102 and/or the processing device 502. The method 600 may include pairing with the mobile device upon verifying the vaporizer pen and/or the vaporizer pod is associated with the device receiving the request (block 606).
The method 600 may include receiving a dosage level and/or heat setting from the mobile device (block 608). The method 600 may include determining a resistance and/or current associated with the dosage level and/or heat setting (block 610). The dosage level and/or heat setting may correspond to an amount of current delivered to the heating coil of the vaporizer pen. In some examples, the resistance level of the heating coil may be adjustable. The dosage level and/or heat setting may, in such examples, correspond to a resistance of the heating coil. The method 600 may include communicating the dosage level and/or heat setting to the vaporizer pen (e.g. communicating the amount of current and/or the resistance level) (block 612).
In some examples, the dosage level and/or heat setting may be received via a user interface on the vaporizer pen case associated with the processing device (e.g. the user input device 308 on the vaporizer pen case 102 associated with the processing device 502). The processing device may be configured to receive the input via the user interface, determine the input is a request to adjust a setting of a vaporizer pen paired with the processing device (e.g. the vaporizer pen 104), and transmit the adjustment to the vaporizer pen via a communication device (e.g. the communication device 504).
The method 700 may be implemented by a processing device of a vaporizer pen case such as the processing device 502. The method 700 may include receiving a request for a location of the vaporizer pen case (block 702). The request may be received via a communication device such as the communication device 504 from a mobile device such as the mobile device 106, the computer 108, the cloud server 110, and so forth. The method 700 may include identifying a location of the vaporizer pen case (block 704). The location may be identified, for example, by the location sensor 506. The location may be identified by detecting a signal strength of the device requesting the location. The location may be identified by determining a location of a network to which the vaporizer pen case is connected.
The method 700 may include generating a notification of the location of the vaporizer pen case (block 706). The notification may include one or more types of notification. For example, the method 700 may include emitting the notification via an audio or visual signal from the vaporizer pen case (block 708). The notification may, for example, be emitted by a signal generator physically coupled to and/or disposed on the vaporizer pen case (e.g. the signal output device 310). The method 700 may include transmitting the notification to the requesting device (block 710). For example, the notification may include an RF signal transmitted to the requesting device with the location encoded in the signal.
The method 800 may be implemented by a processing device of the vaporizer pen case such as the processing device 502. The method 800 may include receiving authorization to initiate a payment (block 802). The authorization may be received, for example, via an input device on the vaporizer pen case (e.g. the user input device 308). The method 800 may include transmitting an encrypted request for payment method information from a mobile device (block 804). The encrypted request may be transmitted via a communication device (e.g. the communication device 504). The mobile device may be paired with the requesting device (e.g. the processing device 502 may make the request of the mobile device 106). The requesting device may be pre-authorized at the mobile device to receive the payment method information. For example, the mobile device may have an application installed thereon that stores a register of authorized requesting devices. The application may have access to payment method information stored on the mobile device. When the mobile device receives the request for the payment information, the application may check the register for the requesting device, encrypt the payment method information, and transmit the encrypted payment method information to the requesting device. The payment method information may, for example, be encrypted according to a technical standard for electronic payment such as the EMV standard, the contactless payment card standard, and so forth.
The method 800 may include receiving the payment method information (block 806). The payment method information may be received via the communication device. The method 800 may include wirelessly transmitting the payment method information to a merchant device (block 808). For example, the payment method information may be transmitted via the communication device. The payment method information may be transmitted via NFC and/or RFID.
The method 900 may be implemented by a processing device of the vaporizer pen case such as the processing device 502. The method 900 may include pairing with a mobile device (block 902). The pairing may include an authentication step, such as using a camera on the mobile device to scan a QR code on the vaporizer pen case. The pairing may be restricted by being performed via a wired connection between the vaporizer pen case (e.g. via the electronics port 510) and the mobile device. The pairing may be at least partially performed using a communication device (e.g. the communication device 504). The method 900 may include pairing with an internal processing device of the vaporizer pen (block 904). The internal processing device may be coupled to the battery of the vaporizer pen (e.g. the battery 210). The internal processing device may be housed with the battery. Pairing with the vaporizer pen may be performed wirelessly and/or via a hardwire connection with the vaporizer pen. For example, a data port of the vaporizer pen case and a data port of the vaporizer pen may be physically engaged (e.g. plugged together, and so forth).
The method 900 may include receiving an update for the vaporizer pen from the mobile device (block 906). The mobile device may download the update from a remote server (e.g. the cloud server 110) and transmit the update to the vaporizer pen case. The update may be received wirelessly such as via the communication device, and/or the update may be received via the data port (e.g. a hardwire connection between the mobile device and the vaporizer pen case). The update may be an update to software and/or firmware of the vaporizer pen. The method 900 may include installing the update on the internal processing device of the vaporizer pen (block 908). The update may be installed wirelessly and/or via a hardwire connection.
The method 1000 may be implemented by a processing device of the vaporizer pen case such as the processing device 502. The method 1000 may include receiving an age-authenticated request to unlock an electronic locking mechanism of the vaporizer pen case (e.g. the electronic locking mechanism) (block 1002). For example, the request may be associated with a user profile for an application. The user profile may include the user's age. The method 1000 may include verifying the authentication (block 1004). For example, the request may be received from a mobile device. The processing device of the vaporizer pen case may independently communicate with a remote server that stores user profile information to verify the user profile is real and/or accurate. The method 1000 may include, when the user profile is verified, unlocking the electronic locking mechanism of the vaporizer pen case to grant the user access to the vaporizer pen components (block 1006). When the user profile is not verified and/or is determined to be fake, the vaporizer pen case may remain locked closed. The vaporizer pen case may enter a lock-out mode. Authentication by a user profile that has already been authenticated by the vaporizer pen case may enable the vaporizer pen case to exit the lock-out mode.
The method 1100 may be implemented by a processing device of the vaporizer pen case such as the processing device 502. The method 1100 may include receiving a proximity notification from a proximity sensor (e.g. the proximity sensor 508) (block 1102). The proximity notification may be generated by the proximity sensor in response to an authorized mobile device being within a threshold proximity of the vaporizer pen case. The proximity may be based on distance and/or based on a network the vaporizer pen case is connected to. For example, the distance may be within inches and/or within feet. The proximity may be based on the vaporizer pen case and the authorized mobile device being connected to the same network. The method 1100 may include verifying the mobile device is authorized, such as by comparing a device ID of the mobile device to a register of authorized devices (block 1104). The method may include unlocking an electronic locking mechanism of the vaporizer pen case in response to receiving the proximity notification and verifying the mobile device is authorized (block 1106).
A feature illustrated in one of the figures may be the same as or similar to a feature illustrated in another of the figures. Similarly, a feature described in connection with one of the figures may be the same as or similar to a feature described in connection with another of the figures. The same or similar features may be noted by the same or similar reference characters unless expressly described otherwise. Additionally, the description of a particular figure may refer to a feature not shown in the particular figure. The feature may be illustrated in and/or further described in connection with another figure.
Elements of processes (i.e. methods) described herein may be executed in one or more ways such as by a human, by a processing device, by mechanisms operating automatically or under human control, and so forth. Additionally, although various elements of a process may be depicted in the figures in a particular order, the elements of the process may be performed in one or more different orders without departing from the substance and spirit of the disclosure herein.
The foregoing description sets forth numerous specific details such as examples of specific systems, components, methods, and so forth, in order to provide a good understanding of several implementations. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, however, that at least some implementations may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known components or methods are not described in detail or are presented in simple block diagram format in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present implementations. Thus, the specific details set forth above are merely exemplary. Particular implementations may vary from these exemplary details and still be contemplated to be within the scope of the present implementations.
Related elements in the examples and/or embodiments described herein may be identical, similar, or dissimilar in different examples. For the sake of brevity and clarity, related elements may not be redundantly explained. Instead, the use of a same, similar, and/or related element names and/or reference characters may cue the reader that an element with a given name and/or associated reference character may be similar to another related element with the same, similar, and/or related element name and/or reference character in an example explained elsewhere herein. Elements specific to a given example may be described regarding that particular example. A person having ordinary skill in the art will understand that a given element need not be the same and/or similar to the specific portrayal of a related element in any given figure or example in order to share features of the related element.
It is to be understood that the foregoing description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many other implementations will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading and understanding the above description. The scope of the present implementations should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
The foregoing disclosure encompasses multiple distinct examples with independent utility. While these examples have been disclosed in a particular form, the specific examples disclosed and illustrated above are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter disclosed herein includes novel and non-obvious combinations and sub-combinations of the various elements, features, functions, and/or properties disclosed above both explicitly and inherently. Where the disclosure or subsequently filed claims recite “a” element, “a first” element, or any such equivalent term, the disclosure or claims is to be understood to incorporate one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more of such elements.
As used herein “same” means sharing all features and “similar” means sharing a substantial number of features or sharing materially important features even if a substantial number of features are not shared. As used herein “may” should be interpreted in a permissive sense and should not be interpreted in an indefinite sense. Additionally, use of “is” regarding examples, elements, and/or features should be interpreted to be definite only regarding a specific example and should not be interpreted as definite regarding every example. Furthermore, references to “the disclosure” and/or “this disclosure” refer to the entirety of the writings of this document and the entirety of the accompanying illustrations, which extends to all the writings of each subsection of this document, including the Title, Background, Brief description of the Drawings, Detailed Description, Claims, Abstract, and any other document and/or resource incorporated herein by reference.
As used herein regarding a list, “and” forms a group inclusive of all the listed elements. For example, an example described as including A, B, C, and D is an example that includes A, includes B, includes C, and also includes D. As used herein regarding a list, “or” forms a list of elements, any of which may be included. For example, an example described as including A, B, C, or D is an example that includes any of the elements A, B, C, and D. Unless otherwise stated, an example including a list of alternatively-inclusive elements does not preclude other examples that include various combinations of some or all of the alternatively-inclusive elements. An example described using a list of alternatively-inclusive elements includes at least one element of the listed elements. However, an example described using a list of alternatively-inclusive elements does not preclude another example that includes all of the listed elements. And, an example described using a list of alternatively-inclusive elements does not preclude another example that includes a combination of some of the listed elements. As used herein regarding a list, “and/or” forms a list of elements inclusive alone or in any combination. For example, an example described as including A, B, C, and/or D is an example that may include: A alone; A and B; A, B and C; A, B, C, and D; and so forth. The bounds of an “and/or” list are defined by the complete set of combinations and permutations for the list.
Where multiples of a particular element are shown in a FIG., and where it is clear that the element is duplicated throughout the FIG., only one label may be provided for the element, despite multiple instances of the element being present in the FIG. Accordingly, other instances in the FIG. of the element having identical or similar structure and/or function may not have been redundantly labeled. A person having ordinary skill in the art will recognize based on the disclosure herein redundant and/or duplicated elements of the same FIG. Despite this, redundant labeling may be included where helpful in clarifying the structure of the depicted examples.
The Applicant(s) reserves the right to submit claims directed to combinations and sub-combinations of the disclosed examples that are believed to be novel and non-obvious. Examples embodied in other combinations and sub-combinations of features, functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in the present application or in a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to the same example or a different example and whether they are different, broader, narrower, or equal in scope to the original claims, are to be considered within the subject matter of the examples described herein.
