TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is directed to personal vaporizing devices, such as electronic cigarettes. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a vaporizer, a consumable container therefor, a vaporizer system thereof comprising the vaporizer and the consumable container, a method of obtaining information by the vaporizer about the consumable container, and a method of providing a plurality of consumable containers to be connected to a vaporizer.

BACKGROUND

Electronic cigarettes are an alternative to conventional cigarettes. Instead of generating a combustion smoke, they vaporize a liquid, which can be inhaled by a user. The liquid typically comprises an aerosol-forming substance, such as glycerin or propylene glycol that creates the vapor. Other common substances in the liquid are nicotine and various flavorings.

The electronic cigarette is a hand-held inhaler system, comprising a mouthpiece section, a liquid store, and a power supply unit. Vaporization is achieved by a vaporizer or heater unit which typically comprises a heating element in the form of a heating coil and a fluid transfer element. The vaporization occurs when the heater heats up the liquid in the wick until the liquid is transformed into vapor. The electronic cigarette may comprise a chamber in the mouthpiece section, which is configured to receive disposable consumables in the form of capsules. Capsules style consumable container comprising the liquid store and the vaporizer are often referred to as “cartomizers”. Different types of e-liquid solutions with different flavors or substances require different settings of the vaporizer, such as heating time and temperature. There is also a need for customers to only consume the authentic consumable, from an authentic container. Information exchange between the consumable container and the vaporizer is thus necessary.

The current vaporizers use data communication to identify the consumable container. For example, CN 11095991 A discloses an electronic cigarette including a tobacco/cigarette rod and a cartridge inserted into the tobacco rod. The cartridge includes a PCB module with an authentication circuit. The tobacco/cigarette rod 12 includes pins and a main control module. When the cartridge is coupled to the tobacco/cigarette rod, the connectors contact the contact pads of the lower end of the PCB module. Further, the main control module detects data information of the authentication circuit 112 electrically connected to the connectors in the PCB module to identify the cartridge.

However, the electronic cigarette and the cartridge provided in the prior art is complex in structure. Having a complex IC module in the cartridge also increases the cost of the consumable container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a smoking article for an aerosol generation device, which solves some of or all of the above problems.

A 1st embodiment of the invention is directed to a vaporizer configured to be connected to a consumable container for vaporizing a consumable contained in the consumable container, the vaporizer comprising a detector configured to detect at least two magnetic properties of the consumable container located at different regions of the consumable container, when the vaporizer is connected to the consumable container, and determine information about the consumable container based on the detected magnetic properties, wherein the detector comprises at least two hall sensors, each of which is capable of detecting one of the magnetic properties . With this arrangement, the vaporizer can firmly hold the consumable container in a magnetic fit, while at the same time obtaining the information about the consumable container from the magnetic property of the magnetic unit in a simple and economical way.

According to a 2nd embodiment, in the 1st embodiment, the detector is configured to detect a region in which a magnet or a ferritic unit made of ferritic material of a predetermined magnetic property is located in the consumable container.

According to a 3rd embodiment, in any one of the preceding embodiments, the magnetic property is a magnetic flux density.

According to a 4th embodiment, in any one of the preceding embodiments, the at least two hall sensors are configured to read information about the consumable container from a combination of the detected magnetic properties of the consumable container.

According to a 5th embodiment, in the preceding embodiment, the hall sensors are arranged in the proximity of the surface being connected to the vaporizer when the vaporizer is connected to the consumable container.

According to a 6th embodiment, in any one of the preceding embodiments, the information relates to the type of consumable container and/or a vaporizer setting relating to the consumable container.

According to a 7th embodiment, in any one of the preceding embodiments, the vaporizer is configured to authenticate the consumable container based on the information.

According to an 8th embodiment, in any one of the preceding embodiments, the detector comprises a processor and/or memoiy.

A 9th embodiment of the invention is directed to a consumable container configured to be connected to a vaporizer for vaporizing a consumable contained in the consumable container, the consumable container comprising a ferritic unit made of ferritic material and having different magnetic properties on different regions thereof, or at least two magnetic units with different magnetic properties separately arranged at different regions in the proximity of the surface being connected to the vaporizer when the vaporizer is connected to the consumable container in such a way that the different magnetic properties can be detected by at least two hall sensors comprised by the vaporizer without moving the consumable container with respect to the hall sensors. Preferably, the ferritic unit or the magnetic units are configured in a way such that the consumable container can be firmly held by the vaporizer in a magnetic fit.

With these arrangements, the structure of the vaporizer having the ferritic material can serve as a magnetic unit representing information; or multiple pieces or complex information can be represented by two or more magnetic units.

According to a 10th embodiment, in the preceding embodiment, the magnetic unit is a magnet or comprises a ferritic material.

According to an nth embodiment, in the 9th or 10th embodiments, at least two of the magnetic units have different magnetic flux densities.

According to a 12th embodiment, in the 9th to nth embodiments, the ferritic material is magnetic alloy.

With this arrangement, at least part of the consumable container is made of magnetic alloy, which is cheap and solid, and has a magnetic property easy to adjust during manufacturing by just changing the percentage of the magnetic elements therein.

A 13th embodiment of the invention is directed to a vaporizing system, comprising a vaporizer according to any one of the 1st to 8th embodiments and a consumable container, preferably according to any one of the 9th to 12th embodiments.

A 14th embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of determining information about a consumable container according to any one of the 9th to 12th embodiments in a vaporizer according to any one of the 1st to 8th embodiments, comprising the steps of: detecting a magnetic property of the consumable container by a detector comprised by the vaporizer; and determining the information about the consumable container based on the detected magnetic property wherein the detector comprises at least two hall sensors, which are located at different regions of the vaporizer, the hall sensors are configured to detect the magnetic properties of a ferritic unit made of ferritic material, or two or more magnetic units comprised by the consumable container, which are located in close proximity of the surface being connected to the vaporizer and correspondingly to the regions of the vaporizer having the at least two hall sensors, when the vaporizer is connected to the consumable container.

A 15th embodiment of the invention is directed to a vaporizer system comprising a plurality of consumable containers according to any one of the 9th to 12th embodiments configured to be connected to a vaporizer according to any one of the 1st to 8th embodiments, wherein at least some of the plurality of consumable containers have different magnetic properties such that the detector comprised by the vaporizer can detect the different magnetic properties when the vaporizer is connected to the consumable container. Preferably, the detector comprises at least two hall sensors, which are located at different regions of the vaporizer, the hall sensors are configured to detect the magnetic properties of a ferritic unit made of ferritic material, or two or more magnetic units comprised by the consumable container, which are located in close proximity of the surface being connected to the vaporizer and correspondingly to the regions of the vaporizer having the at least two hall sensors, when the vaporizer is connected to the consumable container.

With this arrangement, more complex and pieces of information can be represented by the different arrangements of the magnetic properties.

According to a 16th embodiment, in the 15th embodiment, the magnetic property of each of the plurality of consumables corresponds to the type of consumable container and/or a vaporizer setting relating to the consumable container. According to a 17th embodiment, in the 15th or 16th embodiment, each of the plurality of consumable containers comprises at least one magnetic unit and the magnetic units of at least some of the plurality of consumable containers have a magnetic flux density which is different from the magnetic flux density of magnetic units comprised by other consumable containers.

According to an 18th embodiment, in any one of the 15th to 17th embodiments, each of the plurality of consumable containers comprises at least one magnetic unit, and the magnetic units of at least some of the plurality of consumable containers are arranged at a region within a connecting base of the consumable container which is different from the region of magnetic units comprised by other consumable containers.

According to a 19th embodiment, in any one of the 15th to 18th embodiments, each of the plurality of consumable containers comprises at least two magnetic units having different magnetic flux density from each other.

According to a 20th embodiment, in any one of the 15th to 19th embodiments, a magnetic unit is a magnet.

According to a 21st embodiment, in any one of the 15th to 19th embodiments, a magnetic unit comprises a ferritic material.

Preferred embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figures la to ic: show a schematic perspective view, a schematic perspective side view and an exploded schematic perspective view of an electronic cigarette according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Figures 2a to 2c: show schematic views of consumable containers from the perspective of an insertion direction and a side direction according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

Figures 3a to 3I1: show schematic perspective views of a consumable container and a vaporizer device according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

Figures 4a and 4b: show schematic perspective views of consumable containers according to other embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described hereinafter and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

As used herein, the term “vaporizer system”, “inhaler” or “electronic cigarette” may include an electronic cigarette configured to deliver an aerosol to a user, including an aerosol for smoking. The illustrated embodiments of the vaporizer system in this invention are schematic, and it is also possible to combine some of the parts to single units, which will be apparent to a person skilled in the art.

Figures la, ib and ic show an electronic cigarette 3 for vaporizing e-liquid, which can be used as a substitute for a conventional cigarette. The electronic cigarette 3 comprises a vaporizer device 1 and a consumable container 2. The electronic cigarette 3 has an elongated shape in a side view and a substantially elongated square shape with fillet corners from a top view. The vaporizer device 1 comprises a power supply unit, an electrical circuitry, an LED light 110, a magnetic detector, and a container seating 102 (shown in broken lines in figures la and ib), which is configured to receive a removable consumable container 2 comprising e-liquid. The magnetic detector preferably comprises at least one hall sensor 105 and an operation unit, which is a PCB module having a processor and/or memory and is connected to the hall sensor 105. The e-liquid may comprise an aerosol-forming substance such as propylene glycol and/or glycerol and may contain other substances such as nicotine and acids etc. The e-liquid contained in the consumable container 2 may also comprise different types of flavorings such as tobacco, menthol or fruit flavor.

In figure 2a, the container seating 102 (shown as the square with broken lines) can be seen in greater detail from an insertion direction. In this embodiment, the container seating 102 is in the form of a cavity configured to receive the container 2 and have a shape corresponding to the shape of the connecting portion of the consumable container 2. More specifically, in some embodiments, the shape of the cross-section of the container seating 102 and the shape of the cross-section of the lower portion 201 of the consumable container 2 are substantially an elongated square with fillet corners. The container seating 102 is configured to hold the consumable container 2 firmly in a magnetic fit. With this configuration, the container 2 can be fixedly attached to the device for use, and specifically for guiding the right position of the container in the vaporizer 1 by means of the magnetic when attaching to the vaporizer 1. Preferably, the magnetic properties of the magnetic units or ferritic unit are configured with a specific magnet poles corresponding to its position in the vaporizer 1. In other words, the container seat 102 of the vaporizer 1 is configured with different magnet poles in different regions thereof, preferably the position of the hall sensors, corresponding to the magnetic properties of the container, such that it can guide the right installation position or insertion direction of the container 2. To strengthen the fixation of the container 2 to the vaporizer 1, for instance, interference fit, screw fit, bayoneted fit or snap fit elements may also be arranged in the seating 102. The container seating 102 further comprises a pair of electrical connectors 104 configured to engage with corresponding power terminals 204 on the consumable container 2.

Figure 2b illustrates a schematic cross section perspective view from a perspective which is perpendicular to the insertion direction of the consumable container. Figure 2c illustrates a schematic cross section view from a perspective which parallel to the insertion direction of the consumable container. In the embodiments of figures 2b and 2c, the hall sensors 105 (shown as squares of broken lines) maybe arranged close to the consumable container seating 102. In other words, the hall sensors 105 maybe arranged around the cavity of the container seating 102. According to figure 2a, at least one of the one or more hall sensors 105 is arranged substantially close to the bottom of the container seating 102, namely is arranged in the proximity of the surface being connected to the vaporizer i or the surface being connected to the container 2. More specifically, the hall sensors 105 may be arranged around the central axis C perpendicular to the bottom surface 121 of the container seating 102 and arranged on a virtual plane that is parallel to the bottom surface 121. According to figure 2c, the at least one hall sensor 105 is arranged under the container seating 102 or above the bottom surface 121 of the consumable container 102. Although not illustrated in the figures, in other embodiments, the one or more hall sensors 105 may be arranged at a position close to the opening of the container seating 102; in other words, at an end of the vaporizer device 1 which receives the consumable container. In yet another embodiment, the hall sensors 105 may be arranged under and close to the center axis C of the bottom surface 121 of the container seating 102. The arrangement of the hall sensors may be at any position of the vaporizer device 1 that is adjacent to a corresponding position of a magnetic unit 205, preferably adjacent to the corresponding positions of each one of the magnetic units, which may be comprised in the consumable container, when the vaporizer 1 is fixedly and firmly connected to the consumable container 2. Although multiple hall sensors are illustrated in figures 2b and 2c, the number of the hall sensors 105 comprised by the detector can be any number that is apparent to a person skilled in the art, such as but not limited to at least one hall sensor 105, preferably at least two hall sensors 105, more preferably at least three hall sensors 105, even more preferably at least four hall sensors 105, most preferably at least six hall sensors 105.

Figure 3a illustrates a schematic perspective view of a consumable container 2 according to an embodiment of this invention. The consumable container comprises an upper portion 202, a lower portion 201 and a base portion 203, which are combined by, for example, friction fit or ultrasonic welding. The upper portion 202 comprises a mouthpiece portion 2021 with a vapor outlet. The mouthpiece portion 2021 may have a tip-shaped form to correspond to the ergonomics of the user’s mouth. On the opposite side of mouthpiece portion 2021, the base portion 203 is located at one end of the lower portion 201, which is configured to provide and connect the power terminals 204 arranged on the bottom surface 221 thereof to the electrical connectors 104 of the vaporizer device 1 when the consumable container 2 is inserted into the vaporizer 1. The base portion 203 is also configured to provide one or more magnetic properties containing one piece of information, which is derived from the combination of the IO detected multiple magnetic properties, about the consumable container 2 and/or the vaporizer 1, or multiple pieces of information from in a way such that each piece of the information is derived from each of the magnetic property separately or different combinations of the magnetic properties. The magnetic property also provides the magnetic fit, which helps the container 2 to be attached firmly to the container seating 102. The base portion 203 maybe housed by a metallic plate, through which, in the embodiments where magnet units are comprised in the base portion 203, the magnetic property can transfer to the hall sensors 105. The container housing 2013 may be made of a transparent material, whereby the liquid level of the container 2 is visible to the user. The container housing 2013 maybe formed in a polymeric or plastic material, such as polyester. The lower portion may also comprise a vaporizing unit and elements well known to the skilled person, such as a tubular vapor channel, liquid uptake portions, a heating element and a fluid transfer element. In other embodiments, the magnetic property may also be configured in the upper portion 202 and close to a surface of the upper portion which substantially connects the vaporizer 1 when the consumable container 2 is inserted into the vaporizer 1.

Hereinafter, the embodiments providing a plurality of consumable containers configured to be connected to a vaporizer are discussed together with figures 3a to 4b.

Example 1

According to figures 3a and 3b, a magnetic unit 205 is arranged in the proximity of a surface being connected to the vaporizer when the vaporizer is connected to the consumable container. In other words, the magnetic unit 205 is located correspondingly to the region of hall sensors comprised in the vaporizer 1, when the vaporizer 1 is fixedly connected to the consumable container 2. More specifically, a magnet 205 with a first predetermined Tesla value, such as 0.2 Tesla, is arranged at a region in the base portion 203 and is close to the bottom surface 221 and/or the surrounding surface 222 of the base portion 203. As shown in figure 3a, the magnet 205 (shown as a square with broken lines) is arranged at a long side of the base portions. A hall sensor 105 comprised by the detector is arranged at a position in the vaporizer 1 which corresponds to the position of the magnet 205 in a first consumable container 2, which is above and close to the bottom surface 121 of the cavity of the container seating 102 and is located at a long side of the vaporizer 1.

The first predetermined Tesla value is registered in a table stored in the operation unit comprised by the detector, which is configured to check the table stored therein against the obtained magnetic data from the hall sensor 105. The first predetermined Tesla value may represent the authentication information. In other embodiments, it may be stored as information about the vaporizer 1 or the consumable container 2, such as the types thereof, corresponding setting data of the vaporizer for the container etc.

A second consumable container 2, having a magnet 205 at the same region with a second predetermined Tesla value which is different from the first predetermined Tesla value is provided. The second predetermined Tesla value may represent the information that the inserted consumable container 2 is another type of consumable container 2 containing e-liquid with different ingredients, which requires a different setting of the vaporizer 1, such as a predetermined heating profile or heating duration time.

Example 2

According to figures 3c and 3d, a similar consumable container 2 and vaporizer 1 as the ones in Example 1 are provided. The consumable container 2 and the vaporizer 1 in Example 2 further comprises side orientation-aligning elements configured to limit the insertion orientation of the container 2 to the vaporizer 1. More specifically, a notch protrusion 207 is extended from the upper portion 202 to the lower portion 201 on one side of the consumable container 2, and a corresponding indentation 107 having the corresponding shape to the protrusion 207 is provided at the opening of the container seating 102 of the vaporizer 1.

A first consumable container 2 comprising a magnet 205 with a first predetermined Tesla value at a first region, which is at the same position as the one in Example 1, and a second consumable container 2 having a magnet 205 with a first predetermined Tesla value at a second region, which is different from the first region, are provided.

Since the hall sensor 105 is arranged at the same position as in Example 1, when the second consumable container 2 is inserted, the hall sensor 105 senses a different magnetic flux density, which is a third predetermined Tesla value. The third predetermined Tesla value is predetermined with a different piece of information in the table stored in the operation unit. As a consequence, with the same magnet model having a same Tesla value, different kinds of information can be represented with different arrangements of regions of the magnet model in the consumable container 2.

Example ,2

According to figures 3e and 3f, a similar consumable container 2 and vaporizer 1 as the ones in Example 2 are provided.

In addition to the hall sensor at a first region, the vaporizer 1 further comprises a hall sensor 105 at a second region different from the first region, and the second region corresponds to the second region of the magnet in the consumable container 2.

In Example 3, the first predetermined Tesla value may represent first information, such as the authentication of the consumable, and the regions of the magnet 205 in the container 2 may represent the types of the consumable containers 2.

Example 4

According to figures 3g and 3I1, the consumable container 2 comprises a magnet 205 with the first predetermined Tesla value at a first region and another magnet 205 with the second predetermined Tesla value at a second region.

The vaporizer 1, which has the same arrangement of hall sensors 105 as the Example 3, and the sensors 105 are configured to sense the magnetic flux densities from both the magnetic units 205, and the arrangement as such may represent different pieces of information, and preferably a piece of information derived from the combination of the detected magnetic properties, about the consumable container 2 in the table stored in the vaporizer 1.

Similar to the hall sensor 105, at least one magnet 205 may be arranged close to the surrounding surface 222 and the bottom surface 221 of the base portion 203. In other words, the magnetic units 205 are located at different regions of the consumable container 2, which correspond to the regions of hall sensors comprised in the vaporizer 1, when the vaporizer 1 is fixedly connected to the consumable container 2. In other words, the magnetic properties can be read by the sensors 105 without moving the consumable container 2 with respect to the regions of the vaporizer 1, which are located with the multiple hall sensors 105. Having the magnetic fit, the magnetic properties maybe detected only when the position of the magnets to the sensors 205 are relatively fixed. The number of the magnets 205 comprised in the container 2 maybe any number that is apparent to a person skilled in the art, such as but not limited to, at least two magnets 205, preferably at least three magnets 205, more preferably at least four magnets 205, most preferably at least six magnets 205.

Example 5

According to figure 4a, the base portion 203 is made of or comprises a ferritic material, specifically a ferritic unit or ferritic piece made of ferritic material, and preferably magnetic alloy. Similar to Example 4, the ferritic material has different magnetic properties at the different regions thereof. Preferably, the outer surface 222 and/ or the bottom surface 221 of the base portion 203 is made of or comprises a ferritic material.

Different base portions with different magnetic flux densities from the ferritic material maybe provided with the consumable containers. The different magnetic flux densities may represent different information items about the consumable container 1, for example, each magnetic property represents a piece of information, and preferably a piece of information about the consumable container 1, which is derived from the combination of the detected magnetic properties.

The base portion 203 may be assembled or molded together by ferritic material pieces

250 with different magnetic flux densities. Preferably, according to figure 4b, the ferritic material pieces are assembled together in a direction which is perpendicular to the insertion direction, so that the different ferritic material pieces 205 may have the arrangements as any one of the arrangements in Examples 1 to 4.

During the determination of the information by the vaporizer 1 about the consumable container 2 of any of the above or combinations of the above embodiments, the vaporizer 1 may first detect a magnetic property of the consumable container by the hall sensor 205 comprised therein, and then determine the information about the consumable container 2 based on the detected magnetic property by the operation unit.

A plurality of consumable containers 2 configured to be connected to a vaporizer 1 and the vaporizer 1 may be provided, packed and/ or sold as any of the above embodiments or any combinations of the above embodiments; and at least some of the plurality of consumable containers have different magnetic properties such that the detector comprised by the vaporizer can detect the different magnetic properties when the vaporizer is connected to the consumable container. The vaporizer 1 comprises at least two hall sensors 105, which are located at different regions of the vaporizer 1, and each of the plurality of consumable containers 2 comprises a ferritic unit made of ferritic material preferably having different magnetic flux densities at different regions thereof, or two or more magnetic units 205, preferably having different magnetic flux densities, and located at different regions of the consumable container 2, which correspond to the regions of the hall sensors in the vaporizer 1, when the vaporizer 1 is fixedly connected to the consumable container 2. In some embodiments, during the manufacturing of the above consumable containers 2, the one or more magnets 205 may be inserted into the base portion before the assembling of the base portion 203 to the other parts of the consumable container 2. In other embodiments, the base portion 203 is molded by ferritic material or assembled by ferritic material pieces 205, and then the assembled or molded base portion is assembled to the other parts of the consumable container 2.