Patent Publication Number: US-2017360090-A1

Title: Smart Phone E-Cigarette

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for vaporizing substances for inhalation, and, more particularly, to apparatus and methods for powering and controlling such function from a smart phone or other mobile device. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Invention of the modern e-cigarette, otherwise referred to as a personal vaporizer, is typically attributed to Hon Lik, whose 2003 development has seen rapid commercialization. In an e-cigarette, a substance is atomized for inhalation either ultrasonically or by means of a heating element. The atomized substance can then be inhaled by a user. Configurations of the e-cigarette are known that have a power source integral with the e-cigarette itself, or, alternatively, the e-cigarette may draw the power required to produce vapor from an external power source such as a battery. 
     Several suggestions have been advanced for use of an e-cigarette in conjunction with a mobile phone. One is described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,197,726, to Stanimirovic, where a protective case designed to envelop a mobile phone contains a battery and an e-cigarette element, allowing for the battery to power both the e-cigarette and the mobile phone. A combination of a cellphone and a vaporizer, marketed as a “cellular vaping phone,” is described at https://store.vaporcade.com/collections/Jupiter. Finally, in US Published Patent Application 2015/0181945, to Tremplay (hereinafter, Tremplay &#39;945), an e-cigarette having its own integral power source is controlled remotely by an external communication device, such as a smartphone or computer. Tremplay &#39;945 is incorporated herein by reference. 
     Prior suggestions for the use of e-cigarettes in conjunction with phones have been deficient in that they have either required a dedicated and customized phone device, or else have provided, or required, a separate power source. Those deficiencies are overcome in the present invention, as described below. 
     SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with embodiments of the invention, apparatuses and methods are provided for vaporizing a substance for inhalation by a user. One method has steps of: 
     coupling an e-cigarette cartridge that includes a vaporizer to a control module; 
     coupling the control module to a mobile device; 
     coupling electrical power from the mobile device to the control module; 
     coupling electrical power from the control module to the e-cigarette cartridge; and 
     vaporizing the substance within the e-cigarette cartridge. 
     In accordance with alternate embodiments of the invention, coupling the e-cigarette cartridge to the control module may include coupling the e-cigarette cartridge by insertion directly into the control module. Methods may also have a step of sensing that the substance is being inhaled by a user. Coupling the control module to the mobile device may include coupling the control module by insertion of an electrical connector directly to the mobile device. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the method may also include controlling performance characteristics of the e-cigarette cartridge by instructions derived from the mobile device. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a system is provided for vaporizing a substance, where the system has an e-cigarette cartridge with no integral power source and a control module, having no integral power source either, for receiving the e-cigarette cartridge. The control module has an electrical connector specifically adapted for connection to a mobile device and for deriving power therefrom. The e-cigarette cartridge may also include a receptacle volume for retaining the substance for vaporization. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, an e-cigarette cartridge is provided for use in a system, wherein the e-cigarette cartridge has a receptacle volume for containing a substance to be vaporized, a sensor for detecting inhalation through the e-cigarette cartridge by a user and generating a sensor signal, a connector for coupling the sensor signal to a control module, and a vaporizer for vaporizing the substance upon receipt of a control signal from the control module. The e-cigarette cartridge may also have a heating element for vaporizing the substance. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing features of the invention will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description, taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a disposable e-cigarette cartridge and a control module coupled to a mobile device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a disposable e-cigarette cartridge and a control module in a decoupled configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, while  FIG. 2B  is a side view of the components of  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an e-cigarette assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  show side views of the disposable e-cigarette cartridge and the control module of  FIG. 2A , in decoupled and coupled configurations, respectively; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic cutaway illustration of components of an e-cigarette assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Definitions 
     The term “mobile device,” as used herein and in any appended claim, shall refer to a member of the class of consumer products that includes computing devices small enough to be hand-held, having, at least, a display screen with touch input and/or a miniature keyboard. The term “mobile device” shall encompass smart phones, tablets, phablets, etc., without limitation. 
     The term “vaporizer” shall encompass any structure that causes molecules in either a liquid or a solid phase to be given off such that they are either in a gaseous phase or else suspended in a gas. Thus, when droplets are formed that are suspended in air constituting a mist or a smoke, they may be said to have been “vaporized,” as the term is used in the present document. Examples of vaporizers, in accordance with the foregoing definition, include atomizers, particularly ultrasonic atomizers, heating coils, ovens, etc. 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment is shown schematically of a smart phone e-cigarette assembly, designated generally by numeral  10 . Smart phone e-cigarette assembly  10  has no integral source of power, but, instead, derives all electrical power from a power source  102  that is integral with a mobile device  104 . As defined above, various consumer devices, such as a smart phone, may serve as mobile device  104  for purposes of practicing the present invention. 
     Components of the smart phone e-cigarette assembly  10 , in accordance with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , include an e-cigarette cartridge  12 , coupled, by means of coupler  18  to a control module  14 . Control module  14  is coupled, in turn, to mobile device  104  via a cell phone prong  16 . E-cigarette cartridge  12 , which may be disposable, provides for vaporization and inhalation of a vaporized substance that is dispensed from the e-cigarette cartridge  12 . The substance to be vaporized may be supplied in cartridge  12 , as further discussed below with reference to  FIG. 5 . Electrical power is conveyed to e-cigarette cartridge  12  from mobile device  104  to control module  14  via cell phone prong  16  and from control module  14  to e-cigarette  12  via coupler  18 . 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  show exploded views, in perspective and from one side, of smart phone e-cigarette assembly  10 , including cartridge  12  and control module  14 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Tang  13  may be provided to engage detent  15 , thereby securing the coupling of cartridge  12  to control module  14 , however it is to be understood that all mechanisms for coupling cartridge  12  to control module  14  are within the scope of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of smart-phone e-cigarette assembly  10 , including component parts cartridge  12  and control module  14 . A lumen  11  (otherwise referred to as an “outlet”) allows a user (not shown) to draw substance that has been vaporized inside e-cigarette cartridge  12  as described below with reference to  FIG. 5 . 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  are side views of smart-phone e-cigarette assembly  10 , including component parts cartridge  12  and control module  14  in decoupled and coupled states, respectively. Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a schematic cutaway view is shown of smart-phone e-cigarette assembly  10 , including component parts cartridge  12  and control module  14 . A substance  50  is supplied within a receptacle volume  52  of cartridge  12 . The substance may include nicotine oil dissolved in propylene glycol, for example. The present invention is not limited by the range of substances that may be vaporized within the scope of the invention. Substance  50  may be supplied in either solid or liquid form, where “liquid” includes the case where the substance is suspended within a liquid or solid matrix of a different material composition than that of substance  50 . Substance  50  is vaporized when vaporizer  54  is energized. Vaporizer  54  may be a heating element such as a heat coil, for example, or an ultrasonic atomizer, and is not limited within the scope of the present invention. Vaporizer  54  is energized by application of electrical power derived from mobile device  104  via phone prong  16  and coupler  18 , as switched by controller  60 . Notably, neither cartridge  12  nor control module  14  contains any integral power source, nor is an external power source provided, other than mobile device  104  itself. In the prior art, it has always been understood that a source of power external to the mobile device would be necessary to provide the functionality of vaporizing a substance  50 . 
     Controller  60  is adapted to switch current, and, additionally, includes a microprocessor for receiving commands from mobile device  104  via phone prong  16 . Controller  60  may implement a subset or all of the control or reporting functionalities described by Tremplay &#39;945, singly or in combination, as programmed from mobile device  104 . Communication of control functions between mobile device  104  and controller  60  preferably uses standard mobile device hardware interface protocols, such as the Apple External Accessory framework, for example, described at developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/ExternalAccessory/Reference/ExternalAccessoryFrameworkReference/, which in incorporated herein by reference. Functionalities may include controlling performance characteristics of the e-cigarette cartridge by instructions derived from the mobile device. 
     Additional features that may be provided, in accordance with alternate embodiments of the present invention, include sensor  56  that detects a pressure differential when a user draws vaporized substance  51  via lumen  11 . A sensor that may be used for this functionality is an electronic cigarette pressure sensor supplied by Weifang Qinyi Electron Science &amp; Technology Co., Ltd. of Weifang City, Shandong, China. Additionally, an LED lamp  62  may be provided, in either cartridge  12  or control module  14 , that may be illuminated by controller  60  under specified circumstances, such as when vaporized substance  51  is drawn through lumen  11 . 
     The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be merely exemplary; numerous variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All such variations and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the present invention as defined in any appended claims.