Method, system and device for inductively charging batteries in electronic cigarettes

A system, a method, and a device for inductive charging of batteries in electronic articles, and more particularly for the inductive charging of batteries in electronic cigarettes. In one embodiment, a charging system for an electronic cigarette can comprise a pack comprising a pack battery electrically coupled to a charging coil. The pack can be configured to hold an electronic cigarette battery and the charging coil can be configured to charge the electronic cigarette battery.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to a system, a method, and a device inductively charging the batteries of electronic articles, and more particularly for inductively charging the batteries in an electronic cigarette.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarette (eCigs) and personal vaporizers (PVs), are electronic inhalers that vaporize or atomize a liquid solution into an aerosol mist that may then be delivered to a user. A typical eCig has two main parts—a housing holding a battery and a cartomizer. The housing holding the battery typically includes a rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery, a light emitting diode (LED), and a pressure sensor. The cartomizer typically includes a liquid solution, an atomizer and a mouthpiece. The atomizer typically includes a heating coil that vaporizes the liquid solution.

For safety reasons, the rechargeable battery is not directly connected to external contacts. Instead, a diode and a field effect transistor (FET) are connected in series with the battery connection. When a FET is used, the FET is turned on once a charging process is detected for the eCig. The eCig may be charged by placing the eCig in a charging station that is configured to receive the particular eCig. The charging station may include a charging circuit that is configured to supply power to the eCig to charge the battery.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure provides systems, methods, devices, and computer programs for charging a battery in an electronic cigarette.

In one embodiment, a charging system for an electronic cigarette comprises a pack comprising a pack battery electrically coupled to a charging coil. The pack can be configured to hold an electronic cigarette battery and the charging coil can be configured to charge the electronic cigarette battery.

In another embodiment, an electronic cigarette comprises a body, a power supply unit disposed within said body, a sensor electrically connected to the power supply unit, and a charging coil electrically connected to the power supply unit. The charging coil can be configured to interact with an external inductive charging coil to charge the power supply unit.

In another embodiment, an electronic charging system comprises an electronic cigarette comprising a body, a power supply unit disposed within said body, a sensor electrically connected to the power supply unit, and a charging coil electrically connected to the power supply unit. The charging coil can be configured to interact with an external inductive charging coil to charge the power supply unit. The electronic charging system can further comprise a charging mat comprising a mat coil. The charging mat can be configured to inductively charge the electronic cigarette.

Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the disclosure may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the detailed description and drawings. Moreover, it is to be understood that the foregoing summary of the disclosure and the following detailed description, drawings, and attachment are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the disclosure as claimed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

FIG. 1Ashows a structural overview of an electronic cigarette (eCig)100constructed according to the principles of the disclosure. The eCig100may be disposable or reusable. The eCig100may have a multi-body construction including two or more bodies. For example, the eCig100may be a reusable eCig including a first body100A and a second body100B and/or the like, that may be easily connected to and disconnected from each other anytime without using any special tools. For example, each body may include threaded parts. Each body may be covered by a different housing. The second body100B may contain consumable material, such as, e.g., smoking liquid and/or the like. When the consumable material is fully consumed, the second body100B may be disconnected from the first body100A and replaced with a new one. Also, the replacement second body100B may be a different flavor, strength, type and/or the like. Alternatively, the eCig100may have a single body construction, as shown inFIG. 2. Regardless of the construction type, the eCig100may have an elongated shape with a first end102and a second end104, as shown inFIG. 2, which may be similar to a conventional cigarette shape. Other non-conventional cigarette shapes are also contemplated. For example, the eCig100may have a smoking pipe shape or the like.

The eCig100may include an air inlet120, an air flow path122, a vaporizing chamber124, a smoke outlet126, a power supply unit130, a sensor132, a container140, a dispensing control device141, a heater146, and/or the like. Further, the eCig100may include a controller, such as, e.g., microcontroller, microprocessor, a custom analog circuit, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD) (e.g., field programmable gate array (FPGA) and the like) and/or the like and basic digital and analog circuit equivalents thereof, which is explained below in detail with reference toFIG. 1B. The air inlet120may extend from, for example, an exterior surface of the housing110as shown inFIG. 2. The air flow path122may be connected to the air inlet120and extending to the vaporizing chamber124. The smoke outlet126may be connected to the vaporizing chamber124. The smoke outlet126may be formed at the second end104of the eCig100and connected to the vaporizing chamber124. When a user sucks the second end104of the eCig100, air outside the air inlet120may be pulled in and moved to the vaporizing chamber124via the air flow path122, as indicated by the dotted arrows inFIG. 1A. The heater146may be a solid state heater shown inFIG. 5or the like, and located in the vaporizing chamber124. The container140may contain the smoking liquid and connected to the vaporizing chamber124. The container140may have an opening connected to the vaporizing chamber124. The container140may be a single container or a group of containers, such as, e.g., containers140A,140B and the like, that are connected to or separated from each other.

The dispensing control device141may be connected to the container140in order to control flow of the smoking liquid from the container140to the vaporizing chamber124. When the user is not smoking the eCig100, the dispensing control device141may not dispense the smoking liquid from the container140. The dispensing control device141may not need any electric power from, for example, the power supply unit130and/or the like, for operation.

The power supply unit130may be connected to one or more components that require electric power, such as, e.g., the sensor132, the heater146, and the like, via a power bus160. The power supply unit130may include a battery (not shown), such as, e.g., a rechargeable battery, a disposable battery and/or the like. The power unit130may further include a power control logic (not shown) for carrying out charging of the battery, detecting the battery charge status, performing power save operations and/or the like. The power supply unit130may include a non-contact inductive recharging system such that the eCig100may be charged without being physically connected to an external power source. A contact charging system is also contemplated

The sensor132may be configured to detect the user's action for smoking, such as, e.g., sucking of the second end104of the eCig100, touching of a specific area of the eCig100and/or the like. When the user's action for smoking is detected, the sensor132may send a signal to other components via a data bus144. For example, the sensor132may send a signal to turn on the heater146. Also, the sensor132may send a signal to the active dispensing device142(if utilized) to dispense a predetermined amount of the smoking liquid to the vaporizing chamber124. When the smoking liquid is dispensed from the container140and the heater146is turned on, the smoking liquid may be mixed with the air from the air flow path122and vaporized by the heat from the heater146within the vaporizing chamber124. The resultant vapor (i.e., smoke) may be pulled out from the vaporizing chamber144via the smoke outlet126for the user's oral inhalation, as indicated by solid arrows inFIG. 1A. In order to prevent the smoke generated in the vaporizing chamber144from flowing towards the air inlet120, the air flow path122may include a backflow prevention screen or filter138.

When the user's action for smoking is stopped, the sensor132may send another signal to turn off the heater146, the active dispensing device142, and/or the like, and vaporization and/or dispensing of the smoking liquid may stop immediately. In an alternative embodiment, the sensor132may be connected only to the power supply unit130. When the user's action for smoking is detected, the sensor132may send a signal to the power supply unit130. In response to the signal, the power supply unit130may turn on other components, such as, e.g., the heater146and the like, to vaporize the smoking liquid.

In an embodiment, the sensor132may be an air flow sensor. For example, the sensor132may be connected to the air inlet120, the air flow path122, and/or the like, as shown inFIG. 1A. When the user sucks the second end104of the eCig100, some of the air pulled in from the air inlet120may be moved towards the sensor132, which may be detected by the sensor132. Additionally or alternatively, a capacitive sensor148may be used to detect the user's touching of a specific area of the housing100. For example, the capacitive sensor148may be formed at the second end104of the eCig100. When the eCig100is moved to the user's mouth and the user's lip touches the second end104, a change in capacitance may be detected by the capacitive sensor148, and the capacitive sensor148may send a signal to activate the heater146and the like. Other types of sensors are also contemplated for detecting the user's action for smoking, including, for example, an acoustic sensor, a pressure sensor, a touch sensor, an optical sensor, a Hall Effect sensor, an electromagnetic field sensor, and/or the like.

The eCig100may further include a communication unit136for wired (e.g., Serial Peripheral Interface or the like) and/or wireless communications with other devices, such as, e.g., a pack200(not shown) for the eCig100, a computer310(not shown) and/or the like. The communication unit136may also connect the eCig100to a wired network (e.g., LAN, WAN, Internet, Intranet and/or the like) and/or a wireless network (e.g., a WIFI network, a Bluetooth network, a cellular data network and/or the like). For example, the communication unit136may send usage data, system diagnostics data, system error data, and/or the like to the pack, the computer, and/or the like. To establish wireless communication, the communication unit136may include an antenna and/or the like. The eCig100may include a terminal162for wired communication. The terminal162may be connected to another terminal, such as, e.g., a cigarette connector of the pack or the like, in order to exchange data. The terminal140may also be used to receive power from the pack or other external power source and recharge the battery in the power supply unit130.

When the eCig100has a multi-body construction, the eCig100may include two or more terminals162to establish power and/or data connection therebetween. For example, inFIG. 1A, the first body100A may include a first terminal162A and the second body100B may include a second terminal162B. The first terminal162A may be connected to a first power bus160A and a first data bus144A. The second terminal162B may be connected to a second power bus160B and a second data bus144B. When the first and second bodies100A and100B are connected to each other, the first and second terminals162A and162B may be connected to each other. Also, the first power bus160A and the first data bus144A are connected to the second power bus160B and the second data bus144B, respectively. To charge the battery in the power supply unit130, exchange data and/or the like, the first body100A may be disconnected from the second body100B and connected to the pack or the like, which may, in turn, connect the first terminal162A to the cigarette connector216of the pack or the like. Alternatively, a separate terminal (not shown) may be provided to the eCig100for charging and/or wired communications with an external device.

The eCig100may further include one or more user interface devices, such as, e.g., an LED unit134, a sound generator (not shown), a vibrating motor (not shown), and/or the like. The LED unit134may be connected to the power supply unit130via the power bus160A and the data bus144A, respectively. The LED unit134may provide a visual indication when the eCig100is operating. Additionally, when there is an issue and/or problem within the eCig100, the integrated sensor/controller circuit132may control the LED unit134to generate a different visual indication. For example, when the container140is almost empty or the battery charge level is low, the LED unit134may blink in a certain pattern (e.g., blinking with longer intervals for thirty seconds). When the heater146is malfunctioning, the heater146may be disabled and control the LED unit134may blink in a different pattern (e.g., blinking with shorter intervals for one minute). Other user interface devices may be used to show a text, image, and/or the like, and/or generate a sound, a vibration, and/or the like.

In the eCig100shown inFIG. 1A, the sensor132alone may not be able to control the user interface devices, the communication unit136, the sensors132and148and/or the like. Furthermore, it may not be possible to carry out more complex and sophisticated operations with the sensor132alone. Thus, as noted above, a controller, such as, e.g., microcontroller, microprocessor, a custom analog circuit, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD) (e.g., field programmable gate array (FPGA) and the like) and/or the like and basic digital and analog circuit equivalents thereof, may be included the eCig100. For example,FIG. 1Bshows a structural overview of another eCig100′ constructed according to the principles of the disclosure. The eCig100′ may include a controller170, a signal generator172, a signal to power converter174, a voltage sensor176, a current sensor178, a memory180, and/or the like. Further, the eCig100′ may include a power interface130A′, a charge/discharge protection circuit130B′, a battery130C′, one or more sensors (e.g., sensor132A, sensor132B and/or the like), a user interface134′, a communication interface136′, a heater146′ and/or the like, which may be similar to the components of the eCig100shown inFIG. 1A. Two or more components may be integrated as a single chip, a logic module, a PCB, or the like, to reduce size and manufacturing costs and simplify the manufacturing process. For example, the controller170and a sensor132A may be integrated as a single semiconductor chip.

The controller170may perform various operations, such as, e.g., heater calibration, heating parameter adjustment/control, dosage control, data processing, wired/wireless communications, more comprehensive user interaction, and/or the like. The memory180may store instructions executed by the controller170to operate the eCig100′ and carry out various basic and advanced operations. Further, the memory180may store data collected by the controller170, such as, e.g., usage data, reference data, diagnostics data, error data, and/or the like. The charge/discharge protection circuit130B′ may be provided to protect the battery130C′ from being overcharged, overly discharged, damaged by an excessive power and/or the like. Electric power received by the power interface130A′ may be provided to the battery130C′ via the charge/discharge protection circuit130B′. Alternatively, the controller170may perform the charge/discharge protection operation when the charge/discharge protection circuit130B′ is not available. In this case, the electric power received by the power interface130A′ may be provided to the battery130C′ via the controller170.

The signal generator172may be connected to the controller170, the battery130C′ and/or the like, and may configured to generate a power control signal, such as, e.g., a current level signal, a voltage level signal, a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal and the like, to control the power supplied to the heater146′. Alternatively, the power control signal may be generated by the controller170. The converter174may be connected to the signal generator172or the controller170to convert the power control signal from the signal generator172to an electrical power provided to the heater146. With this configuration, the power from the battery130C′ may be transferred to the heater146′ via the signal generator172or via the signal generator172and the converter174. Alternatively, the power from the battery130C′ may be transferred to the signal generator172via the controller170and transferred to the heater146directly or via the signal to power converter174.

The voltage sensor176and the current sensor178may be provided to detect an internal voltage and current of the heater146′, respectively, for heater calibration, heating parameter control and/or the like. For example, each heater146may have a slightly different heating temperature, which may be caused by a small deviation in resistance. To produce a more consistent unit-to-unit heating temperature, the integrated sensor/controller circuit132may measure a resistance of the heater146and adjust heating parameters (e.g., an input current level, heating duration, voltage level, and/or the like) accordingly. Also, the heating temperature of the heater146may change while the heater146is turned on. The integrated sensor132/controller170circuit may monitor a change in resistance while the heater146is turned on and adjust the current level in a real-time basis to maintain the heating temperature at substantially the same level. Further, the integrated sensor132/controller circuit170may monitor whether or not the heater146is overheating and/or malfunctioning, and disable the heater146for safety purposes when the heating temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature range and/or the heater146or other component is malfunctioning.

FIGS. 3A and 3Billustrate an embodiment of an inductive charging system for an eCig. The charging system comprises a charging mat304, at least one mat coil305, an eCig300, and at least one eCig coil302. The charging mat304is configured such that when an eCig300with an eCig coil302is placed on the charging mat304the at least one mat coil305electrically interacts with the eCig coil302to charge a battery (not shown) included within the eCig300This would allow a user to charge the battery in an eCig300while not in use without having to otherwise attach the battery to a power source. By simply placing the eCig300on top of the charging mat304the eCig300can recharge. For optimal charging of the eCig300a central axis of the eCig coil302can be substantially parallel to the central axis of the mat coil305. In some embodiments the eCig coil302is a first eCig coil and the eCig300can also comprise a second eCig coil301where the second eCig coil301has a central axis offset from that of the first eCig coil302. In other embodiments the eCig300can include a plurality of eCig coils where each coil comprises a central axis that is offset from the other coils present within the eCig300. The offset axes in the embodiment of the eCig300with a plurality of eCig coils would increase the ability of the eCig300to electrically couple to the mat coil305with in the charging mat304.

In yet another embodiment, the eCig300can comprise a weight303that is disposed within the eCig300and can be configured such that when the eCig300is placed on the charging mat304the eCig coil302will properly align with the mat coil305. In yet another embodiment the charging mat304can be configured such that the eCig300will sit on the charging mat304so that the eCig coil302will be properly aligned with the mat coil305for charging of the eCig300.

FIGS. 4A and 4Billustrate another embodiment of the disclosure where a pack402comprises a charging coil403with a large enough space in the center of the coil such that the charging coil403can surround an outer circumference of an eCig400placed within the pack402. The eCig400can also comprise a receiving coil401. In one embodiment the receiving coil401can be placed on an end of the eCig400and configured such that the eCig400can be placed within the pack402and the charging coil will surround the eCig400and the receiving coil401. This can allow for the eCig400to be recharged while resting within the pack402without relying on any type of direct electrical connection. The type of arrangement described inFIGS. 4A and 4Bcould also be present in a docking station or other charging stations. A recharging system that like described herein would keep the electrical system of the eCig400and the pack402free from exposure to elements that may corrode or otherwise degrade the performance of the eCig400and the pack402. In another embodiment the pack402can comprise multiple charging coils403and can be configured to charge multiple eCigs400at one time.

A “computer,” as used in this disclosure, means any machine, device, circuit, component, or module, or any system of machines, devices, circuits, components, modules, or the like, which are capable of manipulating data according to one or more instructions, such as, for example, without limitation, a processor, a microprocessor, a central processing unit, a general purpose computer, a super computer, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a palmtop computer, a notebook computer, a desktop computer, a workstation computer, a server, or the like, or an array of processors, microprocessors, central processing units, general purpose computers, super computers, personal computers, laptop computers, palmtop computers, notebook computers, desktop computers, workstation computers, servers, or the like.

A “server,” as used in this disclosure, means any combination of software and/or hardware, including at least one application and/or at least one computer to perform services for connected clients as part of a client-server architecture. The at least one server application may include, but is not limited to, for example, an application program that can accept connections to service requests from clients by sending back responses to the clients. The server may be configured to run the at least one application, often under heavy workloads, unattended, for extended periods of time with minimal human direction. The server may include a plurality of computers configured, with the at least one application being divided among the computers depending upon the workload. For example, under light loading, the at least one application can run on a single computer. However, under heavy loading, multiple computers may be required to run the at least one application. The server, or any if its computers, may also be used as a workstation.

A “network,” as used in this disclosure means, but is not limited to, for example, at least one of a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a personal area network (PAN), a campus area network, a corporate area network, a global area network (GAN), a broadband area network (BAN), a cellular network, the Internet, or the like, or any combination of the foregoing, any of which may be configured to communicate data via a wireless and/or a wired communication medium. These networks may run a variety of protocols not limited to TCP/IP, IRC or HTTP.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying sequences of instructions to a computer. For example, sequences of instruction (i) may be delivered from a RAM to a processor, (ii) may be carried over a wireless transmission medium, and/or (iii) may be formatted according to numerous formats, standards or protocols, including, for example, WiFi, WiMAX, IEEE 802.11, DECT, 0G, 1G, 2G, 3G or 4G cellular standards, Bluetooth, or the like.

The terms “including,” “comprising” and variations thereof, as used in this disclosure, mean “including, but not limited to,” unless expressly specified otherwise.

Although process steps, method steps, algorithms, or the like, may be described in a sequential order, such processes, methods and algorithms may be configured to work in alternate orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be described does not necessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. The steps of the processes, methods or algorithms described herein may be performed in any order practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously.