CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/196,523, filed June 3, 2021, and entitled “Vaporizer Device with Capsule,” the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The current subject matter described herein relates generally to vaporizer devices, such as portable, personal vaporizer devices for generating and delivering an inhalable aerosol from one or more vaporizable materials, and more particularly relates to heating in a vaporizer device.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Vaporizing devices, including electronic vaporizers or e-vaporizer devices, allow the delivery of vapor and aerosol containing one or more active ingredients by inhalation of the vapor and aerosol. Electronic vaporizer devices are gaining increasing popularity both for prescriptive medical use, in delivering medicaments, and for consumption of nicotine, tobacco, other liquid-based substances, and other plant-based smokeable materials, such as cannabis, including solid (e.g., loose-leaf or flower) materials, solid/liquid (e.g., suspensions, liquid-coated) materials, wax extracts, and prefilled pods (cartridges, wrapped containers, etc.) of such materials. Electronic vaporizer devices in particular may be portable, self-contained, and convenient for use.

SUMMARY

[0004] Aspects of the current disclosure relate to heating in a vaporizer device for improved aerosol production.

[0005] According to some aspects, a vaporizer device includes a capsule and a vaporizer body. The capsule may contain a vaporizable material. The capsule may include a core including at least a portion of the vaporizable material. The vaporizable material may include a concentrate. The capsule may also include a shell encapsulating the concentrate. The vaporizer body may include a vessel configured to receive the capsule, a heating needle positioned within the vessel, and a mouthpiece. The heating needle is configured to pierce the capsule and heat the concentrate to generate an aerosol. The mouthpiece is configured to deliver the generated aerosol to a user of the vaporizer device.

[0006] In some aspects, the shell includes at least a second portion of the vaporizable material that is configured to be heated to generate at least a portion of the aerosol.

[0007] In some aspects, the heating needle includes a heating element positioned within an interior of the heating needle.

[0008] In some aspects, the heating needle is coupled to a heating element.

[0009] In some aspects, the heating element includes a resistive wire.

[0010] In some aspects, the heating needle includes an inductive heating system.

[0011] In some aspects, the inductive heating system includes: a ferrous rod positioned within an interior of the heating needle and a resistive wire wrapped around at least a portion of the heating needle.

[0012] In some aspects, the heating needle includes a beveled edge configured to pierce the capsule.

[0013] In some aspects, the heating needle includes a plurality of openings configured to draw the vaporizable material into a vaporization chamber. The heating needle is configured to vaporize the vaporizable material in the heating chamber to form at least a portion of the aerosol.

[0014] In some aspects, the plurality of openings are positioned along a side of the heating needle.

[0015] In some aspects, the heating needle includes an interior reservoir. The interior reservoir may define the vaporization chamber.

[0016] In some aspects, the plurality of openings are aligned with the interior reservoir to draw the vaporizable material into the interior reservoir.

[0017] In some aspects, the heating needle is configured to heat at least a first portion of the vaporizable material positioned external to the heating needle to reduce a viscosity of the vaporizable material without vaporizing the first portion of the vaporizable material. The heating needle is configured to vaporize at least a second portion of the vaporizable material positioned within the interior of the heating needle to generate the aerosol.

[0018] In some aspects, the heating needle extends from a base of the vessel.

[0019] In some aspects, the heating needle is releasably coupleable to the vessel.

[0020] In some aspects, the heating needle extends from a lid of the vaporizer body.

[0021] In some aspects, the concentrate is a cannabis concentrate. [0022] According to some aspects, a method includes receiving, by the vaporizer device, the capsule containing the vaporizable material. The method may also include piercing, by the heating needle of the vaporizer device, the capsule. The method may also include activating the heating needle, thereby causing the vaporizable material to be drawn into an interior of the heating needle to be vaporized.

[0023] According to some aspects, a vaporizer body includes a vessel configured to receive a capsule containing a vaporizable material, a heating needle positioned within the vessel, and a mouthpiece. The capsule includes a core including at least a portion of the vaporizable material, and a shell encapsulating the concentrate. The vaporizable material includes a concentrate. The heating needle is configured to pierce the capsule and heat the concentrate to generate an aerosol. The mouthpiece is configured to deliver the generated aerosol to a user of the vaporizer device.

[0024] In some aspects, the shell includes at least a second portion of the vaporizable material that is configured to be heated to generate at least a portion of the aerosol.

[0025] The details of one or more variations of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. The claims that follow this disclosure are intended to define the scope of the protected subject matter.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0026] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, show certain aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein and, together with the description, help explain some of the principles associated with the disclosed implementations. In the drawings:

[0027] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a vaporizer body consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;

[0028] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating features of a vaporizer body consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;

[0029] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a vaporizer body and a capsule consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;

[0030] FIGS. 4A and 4B schematically illustrate a vaporizer body and a capsule consistent with implementations of the current subject matter; [0031] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a portion of a vaporizer body consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;

[0032] FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a portion of a vaporizer body consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;

[0033] FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a portion of a vaporizer body consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;

[0034] FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a portion of a vaporizer body consistent with implementations of the current subject matter; and

[0035] FIG. 9 is an example method of heating a vaporizable material of a capsule consistent with implementations of the current subject matter.

[0036] When practical, similar reference numbers denote similar structures, features, or elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Implementations of the current subject matter include devices relating to vaporizing of one or more materials for inhalation by a user. The term “vaporizer” may be used generically in the following description and may refer to a vaporizer device, such as an electronic vaporizer. Vaporizers consistent with the current subject matter may be referred to by various terms such as inhalable aerosol devices, aerosolizers, vaporization devices, electronic vaping devices, electronic vaporizers, vape pens, etc. Examples of vaporizers consistent with implementations of the current subject matter include electronic vaporizers, electronic cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or the like. In general, such vaporizers are often portable, hand-held devices that heat a vaporizable material to provide an inhalable dose of the material. The vaporizer may include a heater configured to heat a vaporizable material which results in the production of an aerosol, or one or more gas-phase components, derived from the heating of the vaporizable material. A vaporizable material may include liquid and/or oil-type plant materials, or a semi-solid like a wax, or plant material such as leaves or flowers, either raw or processed. In some implementations, the aerosol may contain atomized liquid droplets of the vaporizable material that are entrained within the one or more gas-phase components. Additionally and/or alternatively, the gas-phase components of the vaporizable material may condense after being vaporized such that the aerosol is formed in a flowing air stream that is deliverable for inhalation by a user. The vaporizers may, in some implementations of the current subject matter, be particularly adapted for use with a concentrate material and/or an oil- based vaporizable material, such as cannabis-derived oils although other types of vaporizable materials may be used as well.

[0038] Aspects of the current subject matter relate to a vaporizer device that vaporizes concentrates contained or otherwise provided in one or more capsules. The capsules may allow for a greater number and/or variety of concentrate material to be vaporized. For example, the capsules may contain cannabis concentrates including distillate, wax, shatter, budder, butane hash oil, and the like. The vaporizable material may additionally and/or alternatively include one or more liquids, such as oils, extracts, aqueous or other solutions, etc., of one or more substances that may be desirably provided in the form of an inhalable aerosol. The vaporizable material may additionally and/or alternatively include a gel material or form a soft-gel. In some instances, the capsules are provided in one or more of a cartridge (also referred to as a vaporizer cartridge or pod) and a reusable vaporizer device body (also referred to as a vaporizer device base, a body, a vaporizer body, or a base), which may be employed with a suitable vaporizable material (where suitable refers in this context to being usable with a device whose properties, settings, etc. are configured or configurable to be compatible for use with the vaporizable material). In such configurations, the cartridge may be inserted into the vaporizer body, and then the vaporizable material may be heated which results in the inhalable aerosol.

[0039] Aspects of the current subject matter relate to heating of the vaporizable material stored in the vaporizer device (e.g., in a capsule, a vaporizer cartridge, and/or the like). For example, as the vaporizable material (e.g., the concentrate) is heated, the vaporizable material may liquefy. The liquefied vaporizable material may be drawn to and/or contact the heater to generate the aerosol for inhalation by the user. As heating of a vaporizable material is directly correlated with aerosol production, adequate heating of the vaporizable material aids in providing a user a consistent and desired experience. A greater variability in the heating of the vaporizable material when a user puffs on the vaporizer device results in a greater variability in the amount of aerosol produced by the vaporizer device, which may lead to an inconsistent, unsatisfying, and/or undesirable user experience. Greater variability in the heating of the vaporizable material may also make it more difficult to control and/or monitor a precise amount of generated aerosol. Moreover, variability in aerosol production correlates to variability in dosage, which may be of particular concern in medicinal applications. Additionally and/or alternatively, when using porous materials, such as wicks, inconsistent dosing of the vaporizable material over a long period of time can lead to inconsistent volumetric efficiency and poor heating of the vaporizable material. Aspects of the current subject matter provide for improved heating of the vaporizable material for improved aerosol production.

[0040] Vaporization of the vaporizable material of the capsules described herein allows for smaller dosing formats of concentrates. For example, the capsules may contain a predetermined amount of vaporizable material. Since the quantity of the vaporizable material within the capsule is known, the user can more easily control the amount of vaporizable material that is vaporized and inhaled. Such configurations improve the consistency of the amount of vaporizable material that is vaporized and make it easier to control a precise amount of vaporizable material that is vaporized and ultimately consumed by the user. Such configurations may also improve the efficiency of heating the vaporizable material, as the full amount of vaporizable material defining the capsule (including a shell and/or interior of the capsule) can be vaporized.

[0041] Additionally and/or alternatively, the vaporizing the vaporizable material stored within a capsule allows for a significant reduction in waste associated with using and packaging the vaporizable material. For example, the capsule structure allows for the entirety of the consumable (e.g., the capsule) to be vaporized and converted to the aerosol. In some implementations, the capsule is heated without the use of a separate transport and/or containment mechanism, such as a vaporizer cartridge or other adaptor that can be coupled to a vaporizer body so that the heater, as part of the vaporizer cartridge or vaporizer body, can heat the vaporizable material. Such configurations help to reduce and/or eliminate waste, such as the vaporizer cartridge and/or packaging for holding the vaporizer cartridge. Such configurations may improve the sustainability of use of the vaporizer device. Additionally and/or alternatively, in some implementations of the current subject matter, the heating element is removed from the packaging used to hold the vaporizable material. For example, the heating element (e.g., a heating needle) may be releasably coupleable to the vaporizer body. This allows for the heating element to be reused, further reducing and/or eliminating waste.

[0042] Additionally and/or alternatively, the capsule and/or the vaporizer device described herein may provide an improved user experience. For example, the capsule and/or the vaporizer device described herein may make it easier for the user to load the concentrates into the vaporizer body for heating, as no tools or adaptors would be needed for transporting the vaporizable material into the vaporizer body. Also, as noted above, each capsule may contain a dose of the vaporizable material. As a result, the user may not need to measure the vaporizable material when loading the vaporizable material into the vaporizer body. Such configurations may also reduce or eliminate cleaning, loading, and/or maintenance of the vaporizer device. For example, since the vaporizable material is contained within the capsule, the vaporizable material may be easily loaded into the vaporizable material without spilling or placing the vaporizable material on the wrong portion of the vaporizer device. Accordingly, the vaporizer device and capsule consistent with implementations of the current subject matter decrease waste, improves the user experience, allows for more precise dosing of the vaporizable material, allows for a wider variety of vaporizable materials to be vaporized, and/or the like.

[0043] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example of a vaporizer device 10, consistent with implementations of the current subject matter. The vaporizer device 10 includes a vessel 12 contained within a vaporizer body 14, and further includes a heating element 16 that is configured to elevate a temperature of the vessel 12 and/or within the vessel 12 to a level and/or range that is suitable for vaporizing concentrates or other vaporizable materials stored within a capsule, as described herein. The vessel 12 may be positioned within a cavity of the vaporizer body 14 of the vaporizer device 10.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 1, the vaporizer device 10 may include or be coupled with a heater, such as a heating needle 100. The heating needle 100 may extend from a base end of the vessel 12. The heating needle 100 may be releasably coupleable from the vaporizer device 10, such as from the base end of the vessel 12. For example, the heating needle 100 may be removed and/or coupled to the vaporizer device 10. This may allow for cleaning and/or the like. The heating needle 100 may additionally and/or alternatively be coupled to and/or extend from a lid 22 (described in more detail below) of the vaporizer device 10.

[0045] The heating needle 100 may form at least a part of the heating element 16. For example, the heating needle 100 may be heated, may include the heating element 16, and/or may be coupled to the heating element 16. The heating needle 100 may be configured to contact at least a portion of the vaporizable material (e.g., concentrate) to heat the vaporizable material. In some implementations, the heating needle 100 includes a piercing edge 102. The piercing edge 102 may be beveled (see FIGS. 3-4), flat, curved, and/or the like. The piercing edge 102 may be configured to pierce or otherwise puncture a capsule (not shown) of vaporizable material to contact the vaporizable material. The heating needle 100 may include one or more materials, such as stainless steel, aluminum, glass, ceramic, titanium, copper, diamond-like carbon, a ferrous material, and/or a conductive metal or a combination thereof. The heating needle 100 may additionally and/or alternatively include a plating material that coats the material of the heating needle 100. The heating needle 100 may additionally and/or alternatively include a porous wick material, such as a ceramic, a silica, cotton, or the like.

[0046] In some implementations, the vaporizer device 10 includes a lid 22 that closes and/or fits over at least a portion of an open end of the vaporizer body 14 of the vaporizer device that includes the vessel 12, forming an air chamber. The lid 22 is configured to enclose the vessel 12, such as when the capsule of vaporizable material is positioned within the vessel 12. In some implementations, the heating needle 100 extends from the lid 22. Such configurations may improve the reusability, the ease of maintenance, and/or the replaceability of the heating needle 100.

[0047] When the heating element 16 is activated, the vaporizer device 10 heats and vaporizes the concentrate when the capsule is deposited or otherwise placed within the vessel 12, and pierced by the heating needle 100. Heat transfer occurs between the vessel 12, the heating element 16, and/or the heating needle 100 and the concentrate contained therein. For example, upon contact with the heated interior surface of the vessel 12 and/or the heating needle 100, the concentrate may rapidly vaporize and mix with air in the air chamber to form an aerosol. The aerosol travels through an air path 17 through the vaporizer body 14 and exits from the vaporizer device through a mouthpiece 18. The mouthpiece 18 is configured to enable a user to draw, for example through inhalation, the aerosol from the vaporizer device. The vaporizer device 10 may have an elongated cylindrical shape, with the vessel 12 at a distal end of the vaporizer device 10 and the mouthpiece 18 at a proximal end of the vaporizer device 10, the proximal end opposite the distal end. The mouthpiece 18 may be positioned at an opposite end of the vaporizer body 14 from the vessel 12 and the heating needle 100 and/or may be positioned at a same end of the vaporizer body 14 as the vessel and the heating needle 100.

[0048] The vaporizer body 14 and/or the lid 22 may include one or more apertures configured to allow air to enter into the vessel 12 from, for example, outside of the vaporizer device 10. A user inhaling from the mouthpiece 18 of the vaporizer device 10 causes an intake of air into the reservoir. The incoming air mixes with the vapor generated by the vaporization of the contents of the capsule to form an aerosol. The resulting air flow carries the aerosol through the air path 17 to the mouthpiece 18 where the aerosol is delivered to the user. As described herein, the heating needle 100 may pierce through all or a portion of a thickness of the capsule. This allows the vaporizable material to pass into a vaporization chamber 106 through a plurality of openings 104 in the heating needle 100. For example, the heating needle 100 may pierce through an entire thickness of the capsule, leaving the end of the heating needle 100 exposed and air to flow through an air opening 103 at the end of the heating needle 100, such as at the piercing edge 102, through the vaporization chamber 106. Additionally, and/or alternatively, the heating needle 100 may pierce through a portion of the thickness of the capsule, leaving the end of the heating needle 100 positioned within the capsule and air to flow through an air opening 103 in an exposed side of the heating needle 100. The vaporizable material positioned within the vaporization chamber 106 may be heated and vaporized to generate the aerosol. The air flow through the heating needle 100 carries the aerosol entrained within the air flow through the air path 17 to the mouthpiece 18 where the aerosol is delivered to the user.

[0049] The lid 22 and/or vaporizer body 14 may include one or more mechanisms, for example, snaps, latches, grooves, threading, magnets, clips, quick connect, sliding mechanisms, quarter turn release, friction fit, and the like, configured to position and/or secure the lid 22 against the vaporizer body 14.

[0050] An outer shell 20 (which may include all or a portion of the vaporizer body 14) or cover of the vaporizer device 10 may be made of various types of materials, including for example aluminum (e.g., AL6063, AL6061), stainless steel, glass, ceramic, titanium, plastic (e.g., Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), Nylon, Polycarbonate (PC), Polyether Sulfone (PESU), and the like), fiberglass, carbon fiber, and any hard, durable material.

[0051] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating components of the vaporizer device 10 a vaporizer body or housing 14 consistent with implementations of the current subject matter. Included in the vaporizer body 14 is a controller 128 that includes at least one processor and/or at least one memory configured to control and manage various operations among the components of the vaporizer device 10 described herein.

[0052] Heater control circuitry 130 of the vaporizer body 14 controls the heating element 16 and/or the heating needle 100, which may include, form a part of, and/or otherwise be coupled to the heating element 16. The heating element 16 may generate heat to provide vaporization of the vaporizable material. For example, the heating element 16 may include a heating coil, resistive wire (e.g., a resistive heater), inductive heating system, or other heating element in thermal contact with the vaporizable material, as described in further detail below.

[0053] A battery 124 is included in the vaporizer body 14, and the controller 128 may control and/or communicate with a voltage monitor 131 which includes circuitry configured to monitor the battery voltage, a reset circuit 132 configured to reset (e.g., shut down the vaporizer device 10 and/or restart the vaporizer device 10 in a certain state), a battery charger 133, and a battery regulator 134 (which may regulate the battery output, regulate charging/discharging of the battery, and provide alerts to indicate when the battery charge is low, etc.). The controller 128 may regulate the power flow (e.g., an amount or current and/or a voltage amount) to control a temperature at which the heating element 16 heats the vaporizable material contained in the capsule.

[0054] The controller 128 may control and/or communicate with optics circuitry 135 (which controls and/or communicates with one or more displays such as LEDs 136 which can provide user interface output indications), a pressure sensor 137, an ambient pressure sensor 138, an accelerometer 139, and/or a speaker 140 configured to generate sound or other feedback to a user.

[0055] The pressure sensor 137 may be configured to sense a user drawing (e.g., inhaling) on the mouthpiece 18 and activate the heater control circuitry 130 of the vaporizer body 14 to accordingly control the heating element 16. In this way, the amount of current supplied to the heating element 16 may be varied according the user’s draw (e.g., additional current may be supplied during a draw, but reduced when there is not a draw taking place). The ambient pressure sensor 138 may be included for atmospheric reference to reduce sensitivity to ambient pressure changes and may be utilized to reduce false positives potentially detected by the pressure sensor 137 when measuring draws from the mouthpiece 18.

[0056] The accelerometer 139 (and/or other motion sensors, capacitive sensors, flow sensors, strain gauge(s), or the like) may be used to detect user handling and interaction, for example, to detect movement of the vaporizer body 14 (such as, for example, tapping, rolling, and/or any other deliberate movement associated with the vaporizer body 14). The detected movements may be interpreted by the controller 128 as one or more predefined user commands. For example, one particular movement may be a user command to gradually increase the temperature of the heating element 16 as the user intends to begin using the vaporizer device 10

[0057] The vaporizer body 14, as shown in FIG. 2, includes wireless communication circuity 142 that is connected to and/or controlled by the controller 128. The wireless communication circuity 142 may include a near-field communication (NFC) antenna that is configured to read from and/or write to a tag, and the like. Alternatively or additionally, the wireless communication circuity 142 may be configured to automatically detect the capsule when the capsule is coupled with and/or inserted into the vaporizer body 14. [0058] The wireless communication circuitry 142 may include additional components including circuitry for other communication technology modes, such as Bluetooth circuitry, Bluetooth Low Energy circuitry, Wi-Fi circuitry, cellular (e.g., LTE, 4G, and/or 5G) circuitry, and associated circuitry (e.g., control circuitry), for communication with other devices. For example, the vaporizer body 14 may be configured to wirelessly communicate with a remote processor (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet, a computer, wearable electronics, a cloud server, and/or processor based devices) through the wireless communication circuitry 142, and the vaporizer body 14 may through this communication receive information including control information (e.g., for setting temperature, resetting a dose counter, etc.) from and/or transmit output information (e.g., dose information, operational information, error information, temperature setting information, charge/battery information, etc.) to one or more of the remote processors.

[0059] The vaporizer body 14 may include a haptics system 144, such as an actuator, a linear resonant actuator (LRA), an eccentric rotating mass (ERM) motor, or the like that provide haptic feedback such as a vibration as a “find my device” feature or as a control or other type of user feedback signal. For example, using an app running on a user device (such as, for example, a user device), a user may indicate that he/she cannot locate his/her vaporizer device 10. Through communication via the wireless communication circuitry 142, the controller 128 sends a signal to the haptics system 144, instructing the haptics system 144 to provide haptic feedback (e.g., a vibration). The controller 128 may additionally or alternatively provide a signal to the speaker 140 to emit a sound or series of sounds. The haptics system 144 and/or speaker 140 may also provide control and usage feedback to the user of the vaporizer device 10; for example, providing haptic and/or audio feedback when a particular amount of a vaporizable material has been used or when a period of time since last use has elapsed. Alternatively or additionally, haptic and/or audio feedback may be provided as a user cycles through various settings of the vaporizer device 10. Alternatively or additionally, the haptics system 144 and/or speaker 140 may signal when a certain amount of battery power is left (e.g., a low battery warning and recharge needed warning) and/or when a certain amount of vaporizable material remains. Alternatively or additionally, the haptics system 144 and/or speaker 140 may also provide usage feedback and/or control of the configuration of the vaporizer device 10 (e.g., allowing the change of a configuration, such as target heating rate, heating rate, etc.). [0060] The vaporizer body 14 also includes the connection (e.g., USB-C connection, micro-USB connection, and/or other types of connectors) 118 for coupling the vaporizer body 14 to a charger to enable charging the internal battery 124. Alternatively or additionally, electrical inductive charging (also referred to as wireless charging) may be used, in which case the vaporizer body 14 would include inductive charging circuitry to enable charging. The connection 118 at FIG. 2 may also be used for a data connection between a computing device and the controller 128, which may facilitate development activities such as, for example, programming and debugging.

[0061] The vaporizer body 14 may also include a memory 146 that is part of the controller 128 or is in communication with the controller 128. The memory 146 may include volatile and/or non-volatile memory or provide data storage. In some implementations, the memory 146 may include 8 Mbit of flash memory, although the memory is not limited to this and other types of memory may be implemented as well.

[0062] The vaporizer device 10 also includes a vaporizing assembly of vapor generating components. The vapor-generating components may include the heating element 16 configured to heat the vaporizable material to a sufficient temperature that it may vaporize. The vapor-generating components may be arranged as an atomizer or cartomizer or oven. The vapor may be released to a vaporization chamber where, in some implementations, the gas phase vapor may condense, forming an aerosol cloud having liquid vapor particles with particles having a diameter of average mass of approximately 0.1 micron, 1 micron, 2 microns or greater. In some cases, the diameter of average mass may be approximately 0.1 - 2 microns.

[0063] In some implementations, the heating element 16 of the vaporizing assembly may cause the vaporizable material to be converted from a condensed form (e.g., a solid, a liquid, a solution, a gel, a concentrate, a suspension, a part of an at least partially unprocessed plant material, etc.) to the gas phase. After conversion of the vaporizable material to the gas phase and/or generation of the aerosol from the vaporizable material, and depending on the type of vaporizer, the physical and chemical properties of the vaporizable material, and/or other factors, at least some of the gas-phase vaporizable material may condense to form particulate matter in at least a partial local equilibrium with the gas phase as part of an aerosol, which may form some or all of an inhalable dose provided by the vaporizer device 10 for a given puff or draw on the vaporizer device 10. It will be understood that the interplay between gas and condensed phases in an aerosol generated by a vaporizer may be complex and dynamic, as factors such as ambient temperature, relative humidity, chemistry, flow conditions in airflow paths (both inside the vaporizer and in the airways of a human or other animal), mixing of the gas-phase or aerosol-phase vaporizable material with other air streams, etc., may affect one or more physical parameters of an aerosol.

[0064] FIG. 3 illustrates an example vaporizer body 14 and capsule 160, consistent with implementations of the current subject matter. FIGS. 4 A and 4B illustrate an example vaporizer body 14 with capsule 160 pierced by the heating needle 100 of the vaporizer body 14, consistent with implementations of the current subject matter. For example, as shown in FIG. 4 A, the capsule 160 may be fully pierced by the heating needle 100 such that the air opening 103 of the heating needle 100 is exposed. As described in more detail below, this may allow for airflow through the heating needle 100 to facilitate the vaporization of the vaporizable material stored within the capsule 160. Additionally, and/or alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4B, the capsule 160 may be partially pierced by the heating needle 100. For example, the capsule 160 may be pierced on one side by the heating needle 100, and at least one air opening 103, positioned on at least one side of the heating needle 100 allows for airflow through the heating needle 100 to facilitate the vaporization of the vaporizable material stored within the capsule 160.

[0065] The capsule 160 may contain an individual dose of a vaporizable material. Additionally and/or alternatively, the capsule 160 can be selected to accommodate a mass and/or a volume of the vaporizable material, such as the concentrate or solution intended for vaporization, to be stored within the capsule. For example, the dose (or contents of the capsule 160) of the vaporizable material may include approximately 25 to 1000 mg, 25 to 50 mg, 50 to 75 mg, 75 to 100 mg, 100 to 200 mg, 200 to 300 mg, 300 to 400 mg, 400 to 500 mg, 500 to 600 mg, 600 to 700 mg, 700 to 800 mg, 800 to 900 mg, 900 to 1000 mg, other ranges therebetween, or greater. The individual dose may include an amount of the concentrate or other vaporizable material expected to be delivered from a single draw or inhale from the vaporizer device 10 and/or from multiple draws or inhales from the vaporizer device 10, such as a predetermined number of draws and/or inhales (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, or more draws and/or inhales). This allows for a precise amount of vaporizable material to be vaporized and thus, inhaled by the user, during one or more sessions. This may improve the user experience and/or allow the user to more easily control the amount of vaporizable material that is vaporized and inhaled during a session. This may also improve the efficiency of heating the vaporizable material. [0066] The capsule 160 may include a core 162 and a shell 164. The core 162 and/or the shell 164 may include at least a portion of the vaporizable material, such as a concentrate. The concentrate may include, for example, cannabis concentrates such as wax, shatter, budder, butane hash oil, and the like. The capsule 160 allows for a variety of concentrate materials to be used with the vaporizer body 14 and for vaporization to generate an inhalable aerosol.

[0067] In some implementations, the capsule 160 includes a soft-gel capsule. In some implementations, the core 162 may additionally and/or alternatively include solid, semi-solid, liquid, and/or oil-type plant materials, or a semi-solid like a wax, or plant material such as leaves or flowers, either raw or processed. The core 162 may additionally and/or alternatively include one or more liquids, such as oils, extracts, aqueous or other solutions, etc., of one or more substances that may be desirably provided in the form of an inhalable aerosol. The vaporizable material may additionally and/or alternatively include a gel material.

[0068] The shell 164 may surround or otherwise encapsulate the core 162. For example, the shell 164 may include one or more materials, such as the vaporizable material, that encapsulates or otherwise surrounds or protects the core 162. The shell 164 may include the same material as the core 162. The shell 164 may include a vaporizable material that is the same material as the core 162, but in a different state (e.g., semi-solid rather than a liquid, or the like).

[0069] The shell 164 may be pierceable. For example, the shell 164 may be pierceable in a manner such that the shell 164 is not resealable after it is pierced. The shell 164 may be pierced or ruptured by the heating needle 100 of the vaporizer body 14 to cause the shell 164 to release the core 162 and/or for the core 162 to be exposed to the heating needle 100. For example, the capsule 160 may be pierced to release and/or expose the vaporizable material, such as the vaporizable material of the core 162, when the capsule 160 is pressed against the heating needle 100, contacts the heating needle 100, and/or the like.

[0070] In some implementations, the shell 164 is at least partially melted or otherwise liquefied to release and/or expose the core 162 and/or to form at least a portion of the vaporizable material, such as a second portion of the vaporizable material that is configured to be heated to generate at least a portion of the aerosol. For example, as noted above, the capsule 160 may be pierced to release the core 162 (e.g., vaporizable material stored within the shell 164). As described in more detail below, the heating needle 100 may heat the vaporizable material. The heat exposure may cause the vaporizable material of the core 162 to liquefy and/or have a reduced viscosity. Additionally and/or alternatively, the heat exposure may cause the shell 164 to melt (e.g., substantially or at least partially melt, liquefy, and/or the like), thereby forming a second portion of the vaporizable material that may be vaporized to generate the inhalable aerosol for delivery to the user. For example, the heating needle 100 and/or the vessel 12 may be heated to a first temperature of approximately 40 ^° C to 60 ^° C, 35 ^° C to 40 ^° C, 40 ^° C to 45 ^° C, 45 ^° C to 50 ^° C, 50 ^° C to 55 ^° C, 55 ^° C to 60 ^° C, 60 ^° C to 65 ^° C, or greater, to liquefy the vaporizable material and/or to melt the shell 164. In some implementations, the heating needle 100 and/or the vessel 12 may be heated to a second temperature of approximately 180 ^° C to 380 ^° C, 150 ^° C to 180 ^° C, 180 ^° C to 200 ^° C, 200 ^° C to 250 ^° C, 250 ^° C to 300 ^° C, 300 ^° C to 350 ^° C, 350 ^° C to 400 ^° C, or greater, to vaporize the vaporizable material to generate the aerosol. As described herein, melting and/or liquefying the shell 164 may include changing a state of the shell 164, such as from sold to liquid, semi-solid to liquid, a liquid of high viscosity to a liquid of low viscosity, and/or the like. The capsule 160 described herein may improve the efficiency of heating the vaporizable material, as the full amount of vaporizable material defining the capsule 160 (including the shell 164 and/or interior core 162) can be vaporized. Additionally and/or alternatively, the vaporizing the vaporizable material stored within the capsule 160 allows for a significant reduction in waste associated with using the vaporizable material.

[0071] The capsule 160 may have one or more shapes. For example, the capsule 160 may be pill-shaped, spherical, cylindrical, oval-shaped, rectangular, or the like. The capsule 160 may be compressible. For example, the shell 164 may be compressed to a certain extent without being pierced.

[0072] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A-4B, the vaporizer body 14 may include the mouthpiece 18, the vessel 12, the lid 22, the heating needle 100, and the air path 17. The mouthpiece may deliver the generated aerosol to a user of the vaporizer device 10. The lid 22 may cover at least a portion of the vessel 12. For example, the lid 22 may be removable, slidable, rotatable, and/or the like to expose the interior of the vessel 12 for positioning of the capsule 160 within the vessel 12, and/or to cover at least a portion of the vessel 12 in use. In some implementations, the lid 22 includes one or more openings to allow air to enter the vessel 12 to mix with the heated and/or vaporized vaporizable material. As described herein, the heating needle 100 may extend from the lid 22 in some implementations.

[0073] The vessel 12 may be configured to receive the capsule 160, such as when the lid 22 is in an opened position in which the interior of the vessel 12 is exposed. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the heating needle 100 extends from a base end of the vessel 12 opposite an open end of the vessel 12.

[0074] As described herein, the heating needle 100 is configured to pierce the capsule 160 and heat the vaporizable material (e.g., the concentrate) contained in and/or forming the capsule 160, such as the core 162 and/or the shell 164. To pierce the capsule 160, the heating needle 100 includes a piercing edge 102. The piercing edge 102 may be beveled (see FIGS. 3- 4), flat, curved, and/or the like. The piercing edge 102 may be configured to pierce a capsule (not shown) of vaporizable material to contact the vaporizable material. The heating needle 100 may include one or more materials, such as stainless steel, aluminum, glass, ceramic, titanium, copper, diamond-like carbon, a ferrous material, and/or a conductive metal or a combination thereof. The heating needle 100 may also include a plating material that coats the material of the heating needle 100.

[0075] The heating needle 100 is configured to heat at least a first portion of the vaporizable material positioned external to the heating needle to reduce a viscosity of the vaporizable material without vaporizing the first portion of the vaporizable material. Additionally and/or alternatively, the heating needle 100 is configured to vaporize at least a second portion of the vaporizable material positioned within the interior of the heating needle 100 to generate the aerosol. In some implementations, as the vaporizable material of the core 162 is heated and becomes entrained in the generated aerosol, the shell 164 may collapse around the remaining portion of the vaporizable material of the core 162.

[0076] For example, the heating needle 100 may include a plurality of openings 104 (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or more openings). In some implementations, the plurality of openings 104 are positioned along a side of the heating needle 100. The plurality of openings 104 may draw the vaporizable material (e.g., the core 162 and/or the shell 164) into a vaporization region or chamber 106 of the heating needle 100 positioned within an interior of the heating needle 100, where the vaporizable material is vaporized to generate an aerosol. The plurality of openings 104 may be sized and/or shaped to encourage the flow of the heated and/or liquefied vaporizable material from the core 162 and/or the shell 164 of the capsule 160 into the vaporization chamber 106, such as via capillary action. Thus, in some implementations, the heating needle 100 may be used in place of a porous wi eking material and/or may form a wicking material. Additionally and/or alternatively, the heating needle 100 may include a wick or porous material positioned within the heating needle 100 to draw the heated and/or liquefied vaporizable material from the core 162 and/or the shell 164 of the capsule 160 into the vaporization chamber 106, such as via capillary action.

[0077] In some implementations, the heating needle 100 includes an interior reservoir that defines the vaporization chamber 106. Additionally and/or alternatively, the plurality of openings 104 may be aligned with the interior reservoir to more easily draw the vaporizable material into the interior reservoir. In some implementations, the interior reservoir stores the heated and/or liquefied vaporizable material to be further heated and vaporized by the heating needle 100.

[0078] As described herein, the heating needle 100 may include, form a part of, and/or otherwise be coupled to a heating element 16. The heating element 16 may generate heat to provide vaporization of the vaporizable material. For example, the heating element 16 may include a heating coil, resistive wire (e.g., a resistive heater), inductive heating system, or other heating element in thermal contact with the vaporizable material, as described in further detail below. In some implementations, the heating element 16 is positioned within an interior of the heating needle 100. Additionally and/or alternatively, the heating element 16 may be positioned externally relative to the heating needle 100.

[0079] FIGS. 5-8 illustrate examples of the heating needle 100, consistent with implementations of the current subject matter. For example, FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the heating needle 100 comprising the vaporization chamber 106. In this example, the vaporization chamber 106 surrounds at least a portion of a heating core 107 which includes or is otherwise coupled to the heating element 16. The heating core 107 may be cylindrical and may be separated from an outer wall of the heating needle 100 by an air gap. In this configuration, the heating core 107 causes at least some of the vaporizable material from the core 162 and/or the shell 164 of the capsule 160 to liquefy (e.g., have a reduced viscosity) and be drawn into the vaporization chamber 106 via the plurality of openings 104. The heating core 107 may further heat (e.g., by applying heat at the same or increased temperature) the liquefied vaporizable material stored within the vaporization chamber 106, thereby causing the stored vaporizable material to vaporize to generate the aerosol for delivery to the user via the air path 17 and/or the mouthpiece 18. The heating core 107 may further heat the liquefied vaporizable material stored within the vaporization chamber 106 as the vaporizable material is drawn into the vaporization chamber 106 and/or after a period of time (e.g., 1 to 5 seconds, 5 to 10 seconds, 10 to 15 seconds, 15 to 20 seconds, 20 to 30 seconds, and/or the like). [0080] FIG. 6 illustrates another example of the heating needle 100, consistent with implementations of the current subject matter. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the heating needle 100 includes a resistive wire 108. The resistive wire 108 may include or otherwise be coupled to the heating element 16, and in some implementations may include a resistive coil. The resistive wire 108 may be positioned within an interior of the heating needle 100. In this configuration, the resistive wire 108 causes at least some of the vaporizable material from the core 162 and/or the shell 164 of the capsule 160 to liquefy (e.g., have a reduced viscosity) and be drawn into the vaporization chamber 106 via the plurality of openings 104. The resistive wire 108 may further heat (e.g., by applying heat at the same or increased temperature) the liquefied vaporizable material stored within the vaporization chamber 106, thereby causing the stored vaporizable material to vaporize to generate the aerosol for delivery to the user via the air path 17 and/or the mouthpiece 18. The resistive wire 108 may further heat the liquefied vaporizable material stored within the vaporization chamber 106 as the vaporizable material is drawn into the vaporization chamber 106 and/or after a period of time (e.g., 1 to 5 seconds, 5 to 10 seconds, 10 to 15 seconds, 15 to 20 seconds, 20 to 30 seconds, and/or the like).

[0081] FIG. 7 illustrates another example of the heating needle 100, consistent with implementations of the current subject matter. In this example, the vaporization chamber 106 is defined by a portion of the interior of the heating needle 100, such as a strip or section of the heating needle 100. The heating needle may cause at least some of the vaporizable material from the core 162 and/or the shell 164 of the capsule 160 to liquefy (e.g., have a reduced viscosity) and be drawn into the vaporization chamber 106 via the plurality of openings 104. The plurality of openings 104 may be aligned with the vaporization chamber 106. The heating needle 100 may further heat (e.g., by applying heat at the same or increased temperature) the liquefied vaporizable material stored within the vaporization chamber 106, thereby causing the stored vaporizable material to vaporize to generate the aerosol for delivery to the user via the air path 17 and/or the mouthpiece 18. The heating needle 100 may further heat the liquefied vaporizable material stored within the vaporization chamber 106 as the vaporizable material is drawn into the vaporization chamber 106 and/or after a period of time (e.g., 1 to 5 seconds, 5 to 10 seconds, 10 to 15 seconds, 15 to 20 seconds, 20 to 30 seconds, and/or the like).

[0082] FIG. 8 illustrates another example of the heating needle 100, consistent with implementations of the current subject matter. In this example, the vaporization chamber 106 may defined by a portion of the interior of the heating needle 100, such as a strip or section of the heating needle 100, although other configurations are contemplated. The heating needle 100 in this example may include an induction heating system 110. The induction heating system 110 may include a ferrous rod or core 114 and a resistive wire or coil 112. The ferrous rod may be positioned within an interior of the heating needle 100. In some implementations, the ferrous rod 114 is aligned along a longitudinal axis of the heating needle 100. The resistive wire 112 may wrap around at least a portion of the heating needle 100. In some implementations, the resistive wire 112 wraps around at least a portion of the vessel 12. In some implementations, the resistive wire 112 does not contact the vaporizable material and/or the heating needle 100. Upon activation of the inductive heating system 110, such as when the user draws from the vaporizer device 10, power is supplied to the resistive wire 112, creating an electromagnetic field. This causes at least some of the vaporizable material from the core 162 and/or the shell 164 of the capsule 160 to liquefy (e.g., have a reduced viscosity) and be drawn into the vaporization chamber 106 via the plurality of openings 104. The inductive heating system 110 may further heat (e.g., by applying heat at the same or increased temperature) the liquefied vaporizable material stored within the vaporization chamber 106, thereby causing the stored vaporizable material to vaporize to generate the aerosol for delivery to the user via the air path 17 and/or the mouthpiece 18. The inductive heating system 110 may further heat the liquefied vaporizable material stored within the vaporization chamber 106 as the vaporizable material is drawn into the vaporization chamber 106 and/or after a period of time (e.g., 1 to 5 seconds, 5 to 10 seconds, 10 to 15 seconds, 15 to 20 seconds, 20 to 30 seconds, and/or the like).

[0083] Referring back to FIGS. 4 A and 4B, the vaporizer device 10 may include one or more air paths 400. For example, air may flow along the air path 400 into the vessel 12 of the vaporizer body 14, into and through at least a portion of the heating needle 100 where the air mixes with the vaporized vaporizable material to generate the aerosol, and to the mouthpiece 18 where the aerosol is delivered to the user.

[0084] Consistent with implementations of the current subject matter, the heating needle 100 may fully and/or partially pierce the capsule 160. For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, the capsule 160 may be fully pierced by the heating needle 100 such that the air opening 103 of the heating needle 100 is exposed. In this configuration, the vaporizable material is wicked (e.g., via capillary action gravity, and/or the like) by the plurality of openings 104 and/or a wick positioned within the heating needle 100, causing the liquefied vaporizable material to pass into the vaporization chamber 106 of the heating needle. As shown in FIG. 4 A, the air path 400 may extend through the vaporizer body, such as through one or more openings in the lid 22, allowing air to pass into the vessel 12. The air path 400 may extend through the exposed air opening 103 of the heating needle 100, allowing air to flow along the air path 400 into the heating needle, through the vaporization chamber 106 where the air mixes with the vaporized vaporizable material to form the aerosol, and to the mouthpiece 18 where the aerosol is delivered to the user.

[0085] Additionally and/or alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4B, the capsule 160 may be partially pierced by the heating needle 100, such that the piercing edge 102 of the heating needle 100 is positioned within the capsule 160. In this configuration, the vaporizable material is wicked (e.g., via capillary action gravity, and/or the like) by the plurality of openings 104 and/or a wick positioned within the heating needle 100, causing the liquefied vaporizable material to pass into the vaporization chamber 106 of the heating needle. As shown in FIG. 4B, the air path 400 may extend through the vaporizer body, such as through one or more openings in the lid 22, allowing air to pass into the vessel 12. The air path 400 may extend through at least one air opening 103 (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, six, or more air openings 103) positioned on at least one side of the heating needle 100, allowing air to flow along the air path 400 into the heating needle 100. The air path 400 then extends through a gap between a heating element (e.g., the heating core shown in FIG. 5, the resistive wire 108 shown in FIG. 6, and/or the like) of the heating needle 100 and an outer wall of the heating needle 100, through the vaporization chamber 106 where the air mixes with the vaporized vaporizable material to form the aerosol, and to the mouthpiece 18 where the aerosol is delivered to the user.

[0086] Accordingly, the vaporizer device 10 and capsule 160 consistent with implementations of the current subject matter decrease waste, improve the user experience, allow for more precise dosing of the vaporizable material, allow for a wider variety of vaporizable materials to be vaporized, and/or the like.

[0087] FIG. 9 illustrates an example method 1000 of heating a vaporizable material of a capsule 160, using the vaporizer device 10 described above, consistent with implementations of the current subject matter. At 1002, the vaporizer body 14 may receive a capsule (e.g., the capsule 160) of the vaporizable material. As described herein, the capsule 160 may include the core 162 and/or the shell 164. At 1004, the heating needle (e.g., the heating needle 100) of the vaporizer body 14 may pierce the capsule to release and/or expose at least some of the contained vaporizable material (e.g., concentrate). At 1006, the heating needle may be activated. For example, the vaporizer body may detect a user using the vaporizer body as described herein. At 1008, power may be supplied to the heating needle (e.g., the heating element 16, the heating core 107, the resistive wire 108, and/or the inductive heating system 110), thereby causing the vaporizable material, such as the vaporizable material from the core 162 and/or the shell 164 of the capsule 160 described herein, in thermal contact with the heating needle 100, and/or stored within the vaporization chamber 106, to be vaporized and delivered to the user.

[0088] In some examples, the vaporizable material may include a viscous liquid such as, for example a cannabis oil and/or concentrate. In some variations, the cannabis oil comprises between 0.3% and 100% cannabis oil extract. The viscous oil may include a carrier for improving vapor formation, such as, for example, propylene glycol, glycerol, medium chain triglycerides (MCT) including lauric acid, capric acid, caprylic acid, caproic acid, etc., at between 0.01% and 25% (e.g., between 0. 1% and 22%, between 1% and 20%, between 1% and 15%, and/or the like). In some variations the vapor-forming carrier is 1,3-Propanediol. A cannabis oil may include a cannabinoid or cannabinoids (natural and/or synthetic), and/or a terpene or terpenes derived from organic materials such as for example fruits and flowers. For example, any of the vaporizable materials described herein may include one or more (e.g., a mixture of) cannabinoid including one or more of: CBG (Cannabigerol), CBC (Cannabichromene), CBL (Cannabicyclol), CBV (Cannabivarin), THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin), CBDV (Cannabidivarin), CBCV (Cannabichromevarin), CBGV (Cannabigerovarin), CBGM (Cannabigerol Monomethyl Ether), Tetrahydrocannabinol, Cannabidiol (CBD), Cannabinol (CBN), Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid (THCA), Cannabidioloc Acid (CBDA), Tetrahydrocannabivarinic Acid (THCV A), one or more Endocannabinoids (e.g., anandamide, 2-Arachidonoylglycerol, 2-Arachidonyl glyceryl ether, N-Arachidonoyl dopamine, Virodhamine, Lysophosphatidylinositol), and/or a synthetic cannabinoids such as, for example, one or more of: JWH-018, JWH-073, CP-55940, Dimethylheptylpyran, HU-210, HU-331, SR144528, WIN 55,212-2, JWH-133, Levonantradol (Nantrodolum), and AM-2201. The oil vaporization material may include one or more terpene, such as, for example, Hemiterpenes , Monoterpenes (e.g., geraniol, terpineol, limonene, myrcene, linalool, pinene, Iridoids), Sesquiterpenes (e.g., humulene, farnesenes, farnesol), Diterpenes (e.g., cafestol, kahweol, cembrene and taxadiene), Sesterterpenes, (e.g., geranylfarnesol), Triterpenes (e.g., squalene), Sesquarterpenes (e.g, ferrugicadiol and tetraprenylcurcumene), Tetraterpenes (lycopene, gamma-carotene, alpha- and beta-carotenes), Polyterpenes, and Norisoprenoids. For example, an oil vaporization material as described herein may include between 0.3-100% cannabinoids (e.g., 0.5-98%, 10-95%, 20-92%, 30-90%, 40-80%, 50-75%, 60-80%, etc.), 0-40% terpenes (e.g., 1-30%, 10-30%, 10-20%, etc.), and 0- 25% carrier (e.g., medium chain triglycerides (MCT)).

[0089] In any of the oil vaporizable materials described herein (including in particular, the cannabinoid-based vaporizable materials), the viscosity may be within a predetermined range. The range may be between, at room temperature (23° C) about 30 cP (centipoise) and 115 kcP (kilocentipoise), between 30cP and 200 kcP, although higher viscosities and/or lower viscosities may be implemented as well. For example, the viscosity may be between 40 cP and 113 kcP at room temperature. Additionally, and/or alternatively, the range may be between, at approximately 25 ° C about 1,000 kcP (kilocentipoise) and 5,000 kcP, between 2,500 kcP and 5,000 kcP, between 5,000 kcP and 7,500 kcP, and/or the like, although higher viscosities and/or lower viscosities may be implemented as well. Outside of this range, the vaporizable material may fail in some instances to wick appropriately to form a vapor as described herein. In particular, it is typically desired that the oil may be made sufficiently thin to both permit transporting at a rate that is useful with the apparatuses described herein, while also limiting leaking (e.g., viscosities below that of ~30 cP at room temperature might result in problems with leaking).

[0090] Although the disclosure, including the figures, described herein may described and/or exemplify these different variations separately, it should be understood that all or some, or components of them, may be combined.

[0091] Although various illustrative embodiments are described above, any of a number of changes may be made to various embodiments. For example, the order in which various described method steps are performed may often be changed in alternative embodiments, and in other alternative embodiments one or more method steps may be skipped altogether. Optional features of various device and system embodiments may be included in some embodiments and not in others. Therefore, the foregoing description is provided primarily for exemplary purposes and should not be interpreted to limit the scope of the claims.

[0092] When a feature or element is herein referred to as being “on” another feature or element, it can be directly on the other feature or element or intervening features and/or elements may also be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being “directly on” another feature or element, there are no intervening features or elements present. It will also be understood that, when a feature or element is referred to as being “connected”, “attached” or “coupled” to another feature or element, it can be directly connected, attached or coupled to the other feature or element or intervening features or elements may be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being “directly connected”, “directly attached” or “directly coupled” to another feature or element, there are no intervening features or elements present. Although described or shown with respect to one embodiment, the features and elements so described or shown can apply to other embodiments. References to a structure or feature that is disposed “adjacent” another feature may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature.

[0093] Terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. For example, as used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items and may be abbreviated as “/”.

[0094] Spatially relative terms, such as, for example, “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature’s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures is inverted, elements described as “under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “under” can encompass both an orientation of over and under. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Similarly, the terms “upwardly”, “downwardly”, “vertical”, “horizontal” and the like are used herein for the purpose of explanation only unless specifically indicated otherwise.

[0095] Although the terms “first” and “second” may be used herein to describe various features/elements (including steps), these features/elements should not be limited by these terms, unless the context indicates otherwise. These terms may be used to distinguish one feature/element from another feature/element. Thus, a first feature/element discussed below could be termed a second feature/element, and similarly, a second feature/element discussed below could be termed a first feature/element without departing from the teachings provided herein.

[0096] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” and “comprising” means various components can be co-jointly employed in the methods and articles (e.g., compositions and apparatuses including device and methods). For example, the term “comprising” will be understood to imply the inclusion of any stated elements or steps but not the exclusion of any other elements or steps.

[0097] As used herein in the specification and claims, including as used in the examples and unless otherwise expressly specified, all numbers may be read as if prefaced by the word “about” or “approximately,” even if the term does not expressly appear. The phrase “about” “or “approximately” may be used when describing magnitude and/or position to indicate that the value and/or position described is within a reasonable expected range of values and/or positions. For example, a numeric value may have a value that is +/- 0.1% of the stated value (or range of values), +/- 1% of the stated value (or range of values), +/- 2% of the stated value (or range of values), +/- 5% of the stated value (or range of values), +/- 10% of the stated value (or range of values), etc. Any numerical values given herein should also be understood to include about or approximately that value, unless the context indicates otherwise.

[0098] The examples and illustrations included herein show, by way of illustration and not of limitation, specific embodiments in which the subject matter may be practiced. As mentioned, other embodiments may be utilized and derived there from, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, are possible.

[0099] In the descriptions above and in the claims, phrases such as, for example, “at least one of’ or “one or more of’ may occur followed by a conjunctive list of elements or features. The term “and/or” may also occur in a list of two or more elements or features. Unless otherwise implicitly or explicitly contradicted by the context in which it used, such a phrase is intended to mean any of the listed elements or features individually or any of the recited elements or features in combination with any of the other recited elements or features. For example, the phrases “at least one of A and B;” “one or more of A and B;” and “A and/or B” are each intended to mean “A alone, B alone, or A and B together.” A similar interpretation is also intended for lists including three or more items. For example, the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C;” “one or more of A, B, and C;” and “A, B, and/or C” are each intended to mean “A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A and B and C together.” Use of the term “based on,” above and in the claims is intended to mean, “based at least in part on,” such that an unrecited feature or element is also permissible.

[0100] The implementations set forth in the foregoing description do not represent all implementations consistent with the subject matter described herein. Instead, they are merely some examples consistent with aspects related to the described subject matter. Although a few variations have been described in detail herein, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, further features and/or variations can be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, the implementations described above can be directed to various combinations and sub-combinations of the disclosed features and/or combinations and sub combinations of one or more features further to those disclosed herein. In addition, the logic flows depicted in the accompanying figures and/or described herein do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. The scope of the following claims may include other implementations or embodiments.