Abstract:
An electronic cigarette case with sterilization function is provided in the present invention, said electronic cigarette case comprises a microcontroller and a power supply module that are both built in the electronic cigarette case; wherein, the electronic cigarette case further comprises a sterilization module connected with the microcontroller; wherein, said sterilization module is configured to sterilize under the control of said microcontroller, and said sterilization module includes an ozone generator or a negative ion generator; said microcontroller is configured to control said sterilization module to start working or stop working When implementing the electronic cigarette case with sterilization function, the following advantageous effects can be achieved: the electronic cigarette case, and electronic cigarettes and cigarette holders stored in the electronic cigarette case can be sterilized, which ensures the safety of users of the electronic cigarette case.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No. 201320158372.8 filed in P.R. China on Apr. 1, 2013, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of electronic cigarettes, and more particularly, relates to an electronic cigarette case with sterilization function. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    At present, many consumers of electronic cigarettes use electronic cigarette cases to store battery poles and cigarette holders of electronic cigarettes. Some electronic cigarette cases can charge rechargeable electronic cigarettes. However, no electronic cigarette case has the function of sterilizing cigarette holders received therein. Because there is liquid tobacco tar in cigarette holders stored in electronic cigarette cases, when a cigarette holder that is not used or is returned to an electronic cigarette case before running out is stored in the electronic cigarette case for a long time, or a use environment of the electronic cigarette case is damp, the cigarette holder may breed bacteria. Cigarette holders directly contact with mouth cavities of smokers. If a cigarette holder breeding bacteria is contacted and sucked by a smoking user, health of the user may be adversely affected, and the user may be ill. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    To solve the drawbacks that the electronic cigarette case which is used to store cigarette holder without sterilization function. The objective of the present invention is to provide an electronic cigarette case with sterilization function. 
         [0005]    The technical solutions of the present invention for solving the technical problems are as follows: 
         [0006]    An electronic cigarette case with sterilization function, comprising a microcontroller and a power supply module that are both built in the electronic cigarette case; said power supply module connected with said microcontroller; 
         [0007]    wherein, the electronic cigarette case further comprises a sterilization module connected with the microcontroller; 
         [0008]    wherein, said sterilization module is configured to sterilize under the control of said microcontroller, and said sterilization module includes an ozone generator or a negative ion generator; 
         [0009]    said power supply module is configured to provide power to the microcontroller and the sterilization module; and 
         [0010]    said microcontroller is configured to control said sterilization module to start working or stop working 
         [0011]    Advantageously, said electronic cigarette case further comprises a display module and an input module that are both connected with the microcontroller; said input module is configured to receive input signals from users and transmit said input signals to the microcontroller to control the sterilization module to start working or stop working; and said display module is configured to display working statuses of microcontroller. 
         [0012]    Advantageously, a box body of said electronic cigarette case includes a plurality of interfaces; said interfaces are connected with microcontroller, and configured to be connected with external devices and transmit external signals to the microcontroller or transmit the microcontroller&#39;s control signals to the external devices connected with said interfaces. 
         [0013]    Advantageously, said external devices include any one or more of a sterilization module, a display module, and an input module; and said interfaces and said external devices are set one-to-one correspondingly. 
         [0014]    Advantageously, said input module of the electronic cigarette case is connected with said microcontroller via the one of said interfaces corresponding to the input module; and said input module is a key input module or a touch pad input module. 
         [0015]    Advantageously, said display module of the electronic cigarette case is connected with said microcontroller via the one of said interfaces corresponding to the display module. 
         [0016]    Advantageously, said sterilization module of the electronic cigarette case is positioned outside of the electronic cigarette case; and said sterilization module is connected with said microcontroller via the one of said interfaces corresponding to the sterilization module. 
         [0017]    Advantageously, said input module of the electronic cigarette case is fixed on a box body of said electronic cigarette case and is connected with said microcontroller; and said input module is a key input module or a touch pad input module. 
         [0018]    Advantageously, said display module of electronic cigarette case is fixed on the box body of said electronic cigarette case and is connected with said microcontroller. 
         [0019]    Advantageously, said sterilization module is received inside electronic cigarette case. 
         [0020]    Advantageously, said electronic cigarette case further comprises: an over-voltage detecting module, an over-current detecting module, a low-voltage detecting module, and battery pole charging module that are all connected to the microcontroller; 
         [0021]    wherein, said over-voltage detecting module is configured for over-voltage detection of circuits of the electronic cigarette case, and transmits over-voltage detection results to the microcontroller; said over-current detecting module is configured for over-current detection of the circuits of the electronic cigarette case, and transmits over-current detection results to the microcontroller; said low-voltage detecting module is configure for low-voltage detection of the power supply module, and transmits low-voltage detection results to the microcontroller; said battery pole charging module is configured to charge the battery pole; 
         [0022]    wherein, said microcontroller controls the circuits of the electronic cigarette case according to the over-voltage detection results of the over-voltage detecting module or the over-current detection results of the over-current detecting module to protect the circuits of the electronic cigarette case from over-voltage and over-current, and further protects the power supply module from low-voltage according to the low-voltage detection results of the low-voltage detecting module. 
         [0023]    Advantageously, said over-voltage detecting module, said over-current detecting module, said low-voltage detecting module, and said battery pole charging module are all received in the electronic cigarette case. 
         [0024]    Advantageously, said microcontroller is a single-chip microcomputer or a CPU. 
         [0025]    Advantageously, said power supply module is a battery. 
         [0026]    When implementing the electronic cigarette case with sterilization function, the following advantageous effects can be achieved: the electronic cigarette case, and electronic cigarettes and cigarette holders stored in the electronic cigarette case can be sterilized, which ensures the safety of users of the electronic cigarette case. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]    The present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments in the following, in the accompanying drawings: 
           [0028]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an electronic cigarette case with sterilization function in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is a circuit diagram of an electronic cigarette case with sterilization function in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  is a circuit diagram of an electronic cigarette case with sterilization function in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  is the structural illustration of the electronic cigarette case with sterilization function in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0032]    The various features of the invention will now be described with reference to the figures. 
         [0033]    In the present invention, a sterilization module is received inside an electronic cigarette case. The sterilization module can be timely actuated by a microcontroller or manually actuated by users, and then sterilize the electronic cigarette case and cigarette holders and battery poles stored in the electronic cigarette case. By the sterilization of the sterilization module, safety of users of the electronic cigarette case can be ensured. 
         [0034]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an electronic cigarette case with sterilization function in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of the present invention, a sterilization module  107  is built in the electronic cigarette case. The sterilization module  107  is configured to sterilize the electronic cigarette case and cigarette holders and battery poles stored in the electronic cigarette case. 
         [0035]    In the embodiment of the present invention, the electronic cigarette case comprises: a power supply module  101 , a display module  104 , an input module  105 , a microcontroller  106 , a sterilization module  107 , an over-voltage detecting module  103 , a over-current detecting module  108 , a low-voltage detecting module  109 , and a battery pole charging module  102 . Wherein, the power supply module  101  is connected with both the battery pole charging module  102  and the microcontroller  106 . The over-voltage detecting module  103 , the over-current detecting module  108 , the low-voltage detecting module  109 , the display module  104 , the input module  105 , and the sterilization module  107  are all connected with the microcontroller  106 . 
         [0036]    The power supply module  101  is configured to provide power to the microcontroller  106 , the sterilization module  107  and other modules that need power. The power supply module  101  can be a battery. 
         [0037]    The sterilization module  107  is configured to sterilize under the control of the microcontroller  106 . The sterilization module  107  can be an ozone generator or a negative ion generator. 
         [0038]    The input module  105  is configured to receive input signals from users to control the sterilization module  107  to start working or stop working The input module  105  can be a key module or a touch pad input module. 
         [0039]    The display module  104  is configured to display work statuses of the microcontroller  106 , for example, to display that the electronic cigarette case is in the condition of charging a battery pole. 
         [0040]    The over-voltage detecting module  103  is configured for over-voltage detection of circuits of the electronic cigarette case, and transmits over-voltage detection results to the microcontroller  106 . 
         [0041]    The over-current detecting module  108  is configured to for over-current detection of circuits of the electronic cigarette case, and transmits over-current detection results to the microcontroller  106 . 
         [0042]    The low-voltage detecting module  109  is configured for low-voltage detection of the power supply module, and transmits low-voltage detection results to the microcontroller  106 . 
         [0043]    The battery pole charging module  102  is configured to charge battery poles. The microcontroller  106  is configured to control the sterilization module  107  to sterilize according to input signals received from the input module or preset sterilization times, and to control circuits of the electronic cigarette case according to the over-voltage detection results of the over-voltage detecting module  103  and the over-current detection results of the over-current detecting module  108 , thereby protecting the circuits of the electronic cigarette case from over-voltage and over-current. The microcontroller  106  is also configured to protect the power supply module  101  from low-voltage according to the low-voltage detection results of the low-voltage detecting module  109 . In the embodiment of present invention, the microcontroller  106  is a single-chip microcomputer or a CPU. 
         [0044]    In the embodiment of present invention, the working principle of electronic cigarette case with sterilization function is: when a preset sterilization time comes or a user starts the sterilization function through the input module  105 , the microcontroller  106  starts working and outputs control signals to the sterilization module  107 . Then the sterilization module  107  starts working When the sterilization module  107  starts working, the microcontroller  106  starts timing. After a preset working time, the microcontroller  106  outputs control signals to control the sterilization module  107  to stop working The preset sterilization time and the preset working time can be set according to actual situations. For example, the preset sterilization time can be once every twenty four hours, and the preset working time can be ten minutes. 
         [0045]    In addition, when the sterilization module  107  is working, users can stop the sterilization module  107  through the input module  105 . 
         [0046]    In the embodiment of present invention, the microcontroller  106  is a single-chip microcomputer with a type of Sn8P2711B, and other types of single-chip microcomputers or CPUs with similar function can also be selected. In the single-chip microcomputer with the type of Sn8P2711B, a first pin is VDD configured to be connected to power; a tenth pin is VSS configured to be grounded; a second pin is P0.2/Xout; a third pin is P0.4/RST/Vpp; a fourth pin is P5.3/BZ1/PWM1; a fifth pin is P5.4/BZ0/PWM0; a sixth pin is P4.0/AIN0/AVrefH; a seventh pin is P4.1/AIN1; an eighth pin is P4.2/AIN2; and a ninth pin is P4.4/AIN4. In the embodiment of the present invention, the fourth pin is selected to be the one connected with the sterilization module  107 , because this pin outputs pulses and can control the sterilization module  107  to start working or stop working using the pulses. Furthermore, by controlling the duty ratio of the pulses, the start time or stop time can be controlled. Similarly, the fifth pin can also be selected to be the one connected with the sterilization module  107 . Other pins of the microcontroller  106  are connected with other modules or circuits as needed. 
         [0047]      FIG. 2  is a circuit diagram of an electronic cigarette case with sterilization function in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment, the sterilization module  107  is an ozone generator. The first pin of the microcontroller  106  is connected with the power supply module  101 . The tenth pin of the microcontroller  106  is grounded. The second pin of the microcontroller  106  is connected with the battery pole charging module  102 . Through the second pin of the microcontroller  106 , the battery pole charging module  102  can be controlled to charge battery poles or stop charging the battery poles. The fifth pin of the microcontroller  106  is connected with the display module  104  to output signals to the display module  104  and make the display module  104  display difference conditions. The sixth pin of the microcontroller  106  is connected with the low-voltage detecting module  109 . When the voltage of the power supply module  101  detected by the low-voltage detecting module  109  is lower than a preset voltage value, the microcontroller  106  controls the power supply module  101  to stop providing power, thereby protecting the power supply module  101  from low voltage. The seventh pin of the microcontroller  106  is connected with the input module  105  to receive external input signals. The eighth pin of the microcontroller  106  is connected with the over-voltage detecting module  103 . When a voltage detected by the over-voltage detecting module  103  exceeds another preset voltage value, the microcontroller  106  can protect the circuits from over-voltage through the eighth pin. The ninth pin of the microcontroller  106  is connected with the over-current detecting module  108 . When a current detected by the over-current detecting module  108  exceeds a preset current value, the microcontroller  106  can protect the circuits from over-current through the ninth pin. The fourth pin is connected with the ozone generator  1071 . By the signals of the fourth pin, the ozone generator  1071  is controlled to start working or stop working When the ozone generator  1071  is working, it generates ozone to sterilize the electronic cigarette case, the battery poles and the cigarette holders. 
         [0048]    In the first embodiment of the present invention, the connection relations between the pins of the microcontroller  106  and the modules are just exemplary. The connection relations can be adjusted based on actual requirements. Corresponding to different microcontrollers  106 , the connections relations are different. 
         [0049]    The ozone generator  1071  can use any one of the below methods to produce ozone: corona discharge method, ultraviolet irradiation, plasma jet method, electrolysis method. 
         [0050]      FIG. 3  is a circuit diagram of an electronic cigarette case with sterilization function in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the sterilization module  107  is a negative ion generator  1072 . The fourth pin of the microcontroller  106  is connected with the negative ion generator  1072 . By the signals of the fourth pin, the negative ion generator  1072  is controlled to start working or stop working When the negative ion generator  1072  is working, it generates negative ion to sterilize. In the second embodiment of the present invention, the connection between other pins of the microcontroller  106  and other modules is the same as the first embodiment. 
         [0051]    In addition, the sterilization module  107  can be an ultraviolet generator or other devices that can sterilize. 
         [0052]    In the second embodiment of the present invention, the connection relations between the pins of the microcontroller  106  and the modules are just exemplary. The connection relations between can be adjusted based on actual requirements. Corresponding to different microcontrollers, the connections relations are different. 
         [0053]      FIG. 4  is the structural illustration of the electronic cigarette case with sterilization function in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. See  FIG. 4 , the electronic cigarette case  10  comprises a box cover  23  and a box body  24 . A battery pole  20  and a cigarette holder  21  are received in the box body  24  of the electronic cigarette case  10 . The box body  24  of the electronic cigarette case  10  defines a plurality of interfaces  22 . Each of the interfaces  22  has one end connected with the microcontroller  106 . The interfaces  22  are configured to be connected with external devices and transmit external signals to the microcontroller  106 . The interfaces  22  are also configured to transmit control signals from the microcontroller  106  to external devices connected therewith. The external devices can include any one or more of a sterilization module  107 , a display module  104  and an input module  105 . In the embodiment of the present invention, the number of the interfaces  22  is three, and they are set one-to-one correspondingly with external devices. That is, the interfaces  22  include a sterilization interface connected with the sterilization module  107 , a display interface connected with the display module  104 , and an input interface connected with the input module  105 . The sterilization interface, the display interface, and the input interface are respectively connected with a sterilization device (e.g., an ozone generator, a negative ion generator or other devices that can sterilize) which is positioned outside of the electronic cigarette case  10 , a display device, and an output/input device such as a key board. 
         [0054]    The microcontroller  106 , the power supply module  101 , the over-voltage detecting module  103 , the over-current detecting module  108 , the low-voltage detecting module  109 , and the battery pole charging module  102  are all received inside the box body  24  of the electronic cigarette case  10 . 
         [0055]    The input module  105  can be fixed on the box body  24  of the electronic cigarette case  10 , and can also be connected with the electronic cigarette case  10  via the one of said interfaces  22  corresponding to the input module  105 . 
         [0056]    The display module  104  is fixed on the box body of the electronic cigarette case  10 , and can also be connected with the electronic cigarette case  10  via the one of said interfaces  22  corresponding to the display module  104 . The display module  14  can be a diode or a display screen. The display module  104  can display different working statuses of the electronic cigarette case  10 . For example, when the sterilization module  107  of the electronic cigarette case  10  starts working, the diode lights or the display screen displays characters such as “sterilizing”. 
         [0057]    The sterilization module  107  can be received inside of the electronic cigarette case  10 , and can also be connected with the electronic cigarette case  10  via one of said interfaces  22  corresponding to the sterilization module  107 . If the sterilization module  107  is received inside of the electronic cigarette case  10 , the location of the sterilization module  107  can be set based on different types of the electronic cigarette case  10 . When the sterilization module  107  begins to sterilize, the box cover  23  of the electronic cigarette case  10  should be closed to make the electronic cigarette case  10  have a sealed environment to sterilize. If the sterilization module  107  is connected with the electronic cigarette case  10  via one of the interfaces  22 , the box body  24  of the electronic cigarette case  10  should define holes. The sterilization module  107  can input ozone or negative ion to the electronic cigarette case  10  via the holes to sterilize. The location of the holes can be set based on actual conditions in order to get the best sterilization effect. If the sterilization module  107  is an ozone generator  1071 , the electronic cigarette case  10  should be designed as partly sealing to protect the battery hole  20 , the cigarette holder  21  or the inner wall of the electronic cigarette case  10  from oxidation as like. For example, a part of the cigarette holder  21  of the electronic cigarette case  10  that is the most in need of sterilization can be sealing, so that ozone output from the ozone generator  1071  only sterilizes in the sealing condition. In this way, other parts of the electronic cigarette case  10  can be protected effectively. In addition, the concentration of ozone should be limited in a predetermined range, thereby avoiding damaging the electronic cigarette case  10  and the battery hole  20  and the cigarette holder  21  stored in the electronic cigarette case  10 . The concentration of ozonecan be controlled by controlling the working time of ozone generator  1071 . The working time of the ozone generator  1071  can be set according to power of the ozone generator  1071 , so that the concentration of ozone can achieve the purpose of sterilization, and does not damage the electronic cigarette case  10  and the battery hole  20  and the cigarette holder  21  stored in the electronic cigarette case  10  severely. 
         [0058]    In the present invention of electronic cigarette case with sterilization function, the sterilization module  107  is built in the electronic cigarette case  10 . Thus, the electronic cigarette case  10  and the battery hole  20  and the cigarette holder  21  stored in the electronic cigarette case  10  can be sterilized, and users can use safely. 
         [0059]    In the embodiment of the present invention, the power supply module  101 , the display module  104 , the input module  105 , the over-voltage detecting module  103 , the over-current detecting module  108 , the low-voltage detecting module  109 , the battery pole charging module  102 , the ozone generator  1071  and the negative ion generator  1072  can all use prior art. 
         [0060]    Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the pubic specific embodiment, should be comprise all embodiments that fall with the range of claims. Under the teaching of the present invention, skilled in the art can make various changes and equivalents without departing from the scope of the present invention.