Electronic cigarette system

Abstract

An e-vaping system comprising: (a) a disposable e-vaping device comprising the following non-user replaceable items: (i) a heating element; (ii) a rechargeable battery; and (iii) a liquid reservoir providing liquid to the heating element; and (b) an automatic liquid filling device comprising: (i) a first aperture or port configured to receive a liquid bottle or container containing an aerosolizable liquid; (ii) a second aperture or port configured to receive the e-vaping device; (iii) an electronic liquid level sensing subsystem; (iv) a liquid filling subsystem configured to pump liquid from the liquid bottle or container to the liquid reservoir in the e-vaping device; and (v) a battery charging subsystem. The disposable e-vaping device is configured to: (i) be sold to an end user having a pre-filled liquid reservoir and a pre-charged battery such that the device can be used immediately; (ii) automatically refilling and recharging at the liquid filling device without disassembly; (iii) during the entire normal operating life of the device, maintenance is performed as a single or integrated device without disassembly.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to electronic cigarette systems. Electronic cigarette systems provide an inhalable aerosol, which may contain nicotine or other substances; they are often used as a substitute for combustible cigarettes and are widely regarded as much less harmful than combustible cigarettes. The term "electronic cigarette (vaping)" should be broadly interpreted to cover any electronic device designed to deliver an inhalable vapor; it includes devices that heat atomizable liquid and also heat-not-burn (HnB) devices, which heat tobacco-derived substances (called "cast leaves") in cigarettes such as "tobacco sticks". It includes devices that deliver inhalable nicotine as well as other substances, such as terpenes, drugs, vitamins and plant extracts. Background Art

[0002] E-cigarette devices come in a variety of form factors; the simplest use a small pod attached to a slim body that houses a battery and simple control electronics. The pod is pre-filled with atomizable liquid (often called e-cigarette liquid) at the factory and includes a small reservoir of the liquid (typically 0.7mL to 1.3mL), a small wick, and a heating element in contact with the wick; when the user inhales, a small pressure switch is activated, which in turn causes an electric current to heat the heating element and generate an aerosol that is inhaled. When all the atomizable liquid is consumed, the pod is replaced by the user with a new pod.

[0003] Electronic cigarette devices are used to aerosolize nicotine and other substances. Most conventional electronic cigarette devices have poor temperature control; for example, one so-called temperature control method used in many conventional electronic cigarette devices is to deliver a fixed amount of power to a heating element; this method does not directly measure or control the temperature of the heating element.

[0004] Closed-loop temperature control for electronic cigarette devices was previously disclosed in our PCT / GB2019 / 052922, the contents of which are incorporated by reference.

[0005] A recent trend in the e-cigarette market has been the emergence of a “modern disposable” category of e-cigarette devices: “modern disposable” e-cigarette devices are pre-filled with liquid and fully charged at retail; they are designed not to allow refilling - for example, the tip cannot be replaced with a new pre-filled tip. Likewise, they are not designed for recharging. In contrast, with a conventional “modern disposable” device, once the liquid in the tip is used up, the entire device is discarded; it can be considered a single-use device. Similarly, if the device runs out of power, the entire device is discarded. Unlike conventional pre-filled pod or tip-based systems, in which the user replaces the pre-filled pod or tip with a new tip once the liquid in the tip is used up, with modern disposable devices, the device does not need to be disassembled at all, so once the liquid is used up, the entire device is discarded. Modern disposable e-cigarette devices can be considered “one-piece” devices because consumers perceive them as a one-piece device with no user-replaceable parts and no charging functionality: this is in contrast to “pod”-based devices that have user-replaceable pods or tips and are rechargeable.

[0006] Modern disposables are very convenient for users, as there is no need to disassemble and recharge, and are easy to understand and use. Like cigarettes, they are ready to use immediately and are thrown away once used up. But they are very harmful to the environment and are very wasteful: the lithium-ion battery in modern disposable devices is charged once by the manufacturer, and then once all the liquid is used up (usually after 150-300 puffs), the entire device is thrown away, even though the battery can be recharged and reused many times.

[0007] Because modern disposables are designed to be inexpensive, disposable items, the quality of the heating elements and associated control circuits can be poor, potentially resulting in harmful emissions; often, they have no actual temperature control circuitry at all, but rather simple power control circuitry, which can cause the heating elements to reach excessively high temperatures, generating potentially harmful emissions. The main consumer appeal of modern disposable devices is the convenience of being able to use them right out of the box and easily select different flavors at a retail store, all without requiring user setup, without having to exchange used pods or tips for new ones (a somewhat cumbersome and potentially troublesome process), and without requiring charging. Modern disposables face bans in several countries because of their very negative environmental impact and marketing practices designed to attract underage users. Summary of the invention

[0008] The present invention is an electronic cigarette system, comprising:

[0009] (a) A disposable electronic cigarette device comprising the following non-user replaceable items: (i) a heating element; (ii) a liquid reservoir for supplying liquid to the heating element;

[0010] (b) An automatic liquid filling device, comprising: (i) a first hole or port configured to receive a liquid bottle or container containing an atomizable liquid; (ii) a second hole or port configured to receive an electronic cigarette device; (iii) an electronic liquid level sensing subsystem; (iv) a liquid filling subsystem configured to pump liquid from the liquid bottle or container to a liquid reservoir in the electronic cigarette device; and (v) a battery charging subsystem for charging a battery in the electronic cigarette device;

[0011] The disposable electronic cigarette device is configured as follows:

[0012] (i) sold to an end user with a pre-filled liquid reservoir and pre-charged battery so that the device is immediately ready for use;

[0013] (ii) automatically refilled and recharged at a liquid filling device without disassembly;

[0014] (iii) be maintainable as a single or integrated unit throughout the normal operating life of the unit without requiring disassembly by replacement of heating elements or liquid reservoirs.

[0015] The present invention is implemented in a disposable electronic cigarette device, which we describe in more detail in Section B. We describe one form, a 1-piece refillable tube or strip device: the device is a cylindrical tube or strip tube device. We also describe a 1-piece refillable disposable electronic cigarette device that is not tube-shaped but bottle-shaped or box-shaped; we call it a "1-piece refillable box or bottle" device.

[0016] Both variants are hybrid disposable electronic cigarette devices that do not need to be disassembled by the user in normal use, and can also be refilled and recharged multiple times. In essence, these electronic cigarette devices look like conventional modern disposable electronic cigarette devices (e.g., modern disposable electronic cigarette devices in tube or strip or bottle / box form); each electronic cigarette device is retailed at a similar price to conventional modern disposable electronic cigarette devices because their structure is very similar to conventional modern disposable electronic cigarette devices; each electronic cigarette device is sold pre-filled and fully charged, just like conventional modern disposable electronic cigarette devices; each electronic cigarette device is sold in retail stores with a variety of different liquid flavors, just like conventional modern disposable electronic cigarette devices. Therefore, each variant has all the key attributes that make conventional modern disposable electronic cigarette devices so attractive to consumers. However, unlike conventional modern disposable electronic cigarette devices, and somewhat contradictory for devices that are superficially so similar to conventional modern disposable electronic cigarette devices that are discarded after their initial, factory-provided liquid or power is used up, each variant is inherently refillable and rechargeable if the consumer uses an optional low-cost liquid refill and recharge base.

[0017] Each variant can be refilled and recharged at least ten times before having to be discarded like regular modern disposables, for example because the heater element has deteriorated. As these variants are not inherently disposable devices, but can be refilled and recharged multiple times, they should not be affected by the ban on the sale of single-use e-cigarette devices, which are being launched in several markets.

[0018] In the context of the present embodiment, the term "disposable electronic cigarette device" refers to an electronic cigarette device that: (a) is a one-piece or integrated electronic cigarette device sold to an end user, which has (i) a liquid reservoir including a pre-filled amount of liquid and (ii) a pre-charged battery, so that the end user can use the device to smoke electronic cigarettes immediately after purchase; and (b) is configured not to be disassembled by replacing the heater element or liquid reservoir in normal use, but to remain as a one-piece or integrated device throughout the service life of normal use. Therefore, a "disposable electronic cigarette device" is not meant to be disassembled when the liquid is used up in normal use, which is different from a typical pod-based electronic cigarette device, in which the user must regularly replace the device's tip or pod with a new tip or pod. A "disposable electronic cigarette device" can have a battery that can be removed by the user at the end of its service life, such as when the device is discarded, to facilitate recycling.

[0019] Conventional "disposable electronic cigarette devices" are discarded after the liquid or charge is used up when they are sold; however, by implementing the present invention, end users can also have the option of refilling and recharging the "disposable electronic cigarette device" multiple times, greatly reducing its environmental impact and improving user convenience.

[0020] We sometimes refer to this device as a "hybrid" disposable electronic cigarette device, because it combines the attributes of both a single-use electronic cigarette device and also an electronic cigarette device designed for multiple use, with multiple recharging sessions and multiple refilling sessions. A hybrid disposable electronic cigarette device embodying the present invention is never disassembled by replacing the heater element or the liquid reservoir, and even after multiple refilling and recharging, these components are not replaced: this is different from a pod-based electronic cigarette device, in which the pod or the tip, and therefore the heater element and liquid reservoir in these tips, are replaced when their pre-filled liquid is used up, but the main body including the rechargeable battery is not replaced.

[0021] We describe automatic liquid refill systems in a series of patents and patent applications, the contents of which are incorporated by reference: PCT / GB2015 / 050574, PCT / GB2015 / 050573, PCT / GB2015 / 050571, PCT / GB2016 / 052700, PCT / GB2019 / 052922, US 9,247,773, US10,624,394, US10,130,119, and US11,083,228 and US2021-0337878. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0023] Figure 1-Figure 7 are graphs showing the resistance versus temperature behavior of heating elements used in electronic cigarette devices; these graphs conceptually describe the steps taken to control the heating elements.

[0024] Figure 8A-B is a flow chart showing the logical operations taken to control a heating element using dual-loop, closed-loop temperature control.

[0025] Fig. 9 is a graph of temperature versus time showing the temperature of the heating element over time for a conventional fixed power system (dark line rising sharply) and a dual circuit closed loop temperature control system (light line remaining stable).

[0026] Figure 10A-10B A refillable tubular hybrid disposable electronic cigarette device is shown that is refillable and disposable; it is typically discarded after being refilled ten times with liquid (approximately 1.5mL to 2mL); the heating element cannot be replaced, but the device can safely vaporize approximately 20mL of liquid before deteriorating and being discarded.

[0027] Fig.11 , Fig. 12A , Fig. 12B , Fig.13A , Fig. 13B , Fig.14A , Fig. 14B and Fig.15 A tabletop refilling device for refilling and recharging a refillable tubular hybrid disposable electronic cigarette device is shown, which is refilled in one port of the refilling device and then inverted and inserted into another port in the refilling device to recharge its battery.

[0028] Figure 16A-16BA variation of a refillable tubular hybrid disposable e-cigarette device is shown, which has both a refill hole and recharge contacts at the tip of the device. It is refilled and recharged at a refill device having a single port that can both refill and recharge the e-cigarette device.

[0029] Fig.17 , Fig.18 , Fig.19 , Fig. 20 , Fig.21A , Fig.21B and Fig. 22 A refilling and recharging filling device with a single port is shown, as well as a refillable tubular electronic cigarette device in various states.

[0030] Figure 23A-23D The interaction sequence is shown: picking up the refill bottle and inserting it upside down into a port of the refill base; then picking up the refillable tubular e-cigarette device and inserting it upside down into a second port of the refill base.

[0031] Fig.24 A larger refill device for use in a bar, restaurant or store is shown; it can dispense nine different flavored liquids.

[0032] Figure 25A-Figure 25D A 10 mL refill bottle is shown.

[0033] Figure 26A-26B is a view of a second variation of a hybrid disposable electric cigarette device, namely a bottle-shaped or box-shaped device.

[0034] Fig. 27 is a view of a bottle- or box-shaped disposable electronic cigarette device body showing separate interior compartments for a rechargeable battery and a liquid reservoir / heater assembly.

[0035] Fig.28 A disposable electronic cigarette device in the form of a bottle or box is shown with the housing removed, exposing key internal components and structures.

[0036] Fig.29 yes Fig.28 An exploded view of a disposable e-cigarette device is shown.

[0037] Fig.30 The interaction sequence is shown as: pick up the refill bottle and insert it upside down into the port in the refill base; then pick up the bottle-shaped or box-shaped disposable electronic cigarette device and insert it into the second port in the refill base.

[0038] Figure 31A-Figure 31B It is a side view and a top view of a bottle-shaped or box-shaped disposable electronic cigarette device.

[0039] Integer index referenced in the figure

[0040] E-cigarette device charging contacts 101

[0041] Electronic cigarette device body 102

[0042] Electronic cigarette device suction head 103

[0043] Silicone filling valve in the tip 104

[0044] Liquid reservoir in the tip 105

[0045] Automatic liquid refilling and recharging device or base 110

[0046] First port 111 in the base for refilling the bottle

[0047] Liquid refill container 112

[0048] Tube in base connecting refill bottle and electric pump 113

[0049] Electric peristaltic pump in base 114

[0050] Liquid filling nozzle in base 115

[0051] A second port 116 in the base for refilling the electronic cigarette device

[0052] Electrical contact pins 117 in the base

[0053] Capacitive sensing board 118 in base

[0054] Refill bottle 120

[0055] Small removable sticker for refill bottle 121

[0056] A first port 122 in the base for refilling the bottle

[0057] A second port 123 in the base for refilling the electronic cigarette device

[0058] A third port 124 in the base for recharging the electronic cigarette device

[0059] A second port 130 in the base for refilling the electronic cigarette device

[0060] Electronic cigarette device 131

[0061] Status light ring around the refill port in the base 132

[0062] Refill bottle 133

[0063] Electronic cigarette device 140

[0064] A third port 141 in the base for recharging the electronic cigarette device

[0065] Status light ring around the recharging port in the base 142

[0066] Electronic cigarette device inverted when refilling 151

[0067] Electronic cigarette device 152 upright when recharging

[0068] Refill opening 161 in the tip

[0069] Recharging contacts 162 in the suction head

[0070] Electronic cigarette device suction head 163

[0071] Small window 164 inside the tip

[0072] Refilling device or dock 170 with combined refill and recharging port

[0073] First port 171 in base for refilling bottle

[0074] Refill bottle 172

[0075] Second port in base for refilling and recharging 173

[0076] Electronic cigarette device 174

[0077] Refill bottle 181

[0078] Refill and recharge port 182

[0079] Refill nozzle 183

[0080] Charging contacts 184

[0081] Electronic cigarette device suction head 190

[0082] Window 191 in the interior of the tip

[0083] Charging contacts 192

[0084] Combined refill and recharge port 193

[0085] Annular, cylindrical open foam liquid storage tank 200

[0086] Mesh resistance heater 201

[0087] Cotton sheet 202 for delivering liquid to mesh heater

[0088] A cylindrical metal tube 203 located inside the foam reservoir and housing the heater

[0089] Silicone base 204 beneath open foam liquid reservoir

[0090] Air channels 205 through silicone base

[0091] Filling needle penetrates narrow channel or passage 206

[0092] Charging contacts 208

[0093] Status light ring in refill and recharging base 211

[0094] Refill and recharge port 212 in base

[0095] Refill bottle 213

[0096] Status light ring in refill and recharging base 221

[0097] Status light ring quarter segment 222

[0098] Refill bottle 230

[0099] Refill bottle port in base 231

[0100] Refilling and recharging base 232

[0101] Electronic cigarette device 233

[0102] Refill and recharge port in base 234

[0103] Liquid refilling and recharging unit 240 for use in a bar, club or retail store

[0104] Nine liquid refill ports 241

[0105] 100mL Liquid Refill Bottle 242

[0106] Silicone or paper covers for electronic cigarette device tips 243

[0107] Three recharging ports in base 244

[0108] Payment card contact / proximity reader 245

[0109] Bottle cap 250

[0110] The circular hole in the center of the top of the bottle cap 251

[0111] The groove in the bottle cap is used to guide and secure the bottle in place in the base 252

[0112] Silicone or rubber diaphragm seal 253

[0113] Threaded refill neck 254

[0114] Flange set on the neck of the refill bottle 255

[0115] Refill bottle, main body 256

[0116] Locking stud in cap 257

[0117] Mouthpiece 260 of a disposable electronic cigarette device in a box or bottle shape

[0118] Top section 261 of a box-shaped or bottle-shaped disposable electronic cigarette device

[0119] The main body shell 262 of the box-shaped or bottle-shaped disposable electronic cigarette device

[0120] The base section 263 of a box-shaped or bottle-shaped disposable electronic cigarette device

[0121] Battery 264

[0122] PCB 265

[0123] A gap 266 separating the rear of the PCB from the liquid reservoir compartment

[0124] Metal pipe or chimney 267

[0125] Liquid delivery pad 268

[0126] Cylindrical foam liquid reservoir 269

[0127] Battery chamber 270

[0128] Cylindrical chamber 271 of cylindrical foam liquid reservoir

[0129] PCB guide groove 272

[0130] External body wall 273

[0131] Air inlet 280 in the base of the electronic cigarette device

[0132] A pair of holes 281 through which the liquid filling nozzle passes

[0133] Steam nozzle 290 in the top section of the electronic cigarette device

[0134] Silicone top plug 292

[0135] Two small holes in the silicone top plug 293

[0136] Air channels 294 in the inner silicone base section

[0137] Internal silicone base section 295

[0138] Pressure sensor 296

[0139] Dual silicone channels through which the liquid filling nozzle passes 297

[0140] Steam escape hole in silicone plug 298

[0141] Internal "O" ring in internal silicone base section 299 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0142] The detailed description describes various embodiments of the present invention and is divided into the following sections:

[0143] Section A: Closed-Loop Temperature Control

[0144] Section 1: Overview of a closed feedback loop temperature control system used in one embodiment of the present invention

[0145] Part II: Dual Control Loop Approach

[0146] Part III: Overview of the main features of closed-loop temperature control

[0147] Subchapter B: Next Generation Disposable Products - 1-piece refillable tube or strip disposable e-cigarette devices and 1-piece refillable cartridge or bottle disposable e-cigarette devices

[0148] Section C: Dynamic battery charging based on liquid fill level in the e-cigarette device

[0149] Section D: Always-On Data Connection; AyrLock Features

[0150] Section E: Recycling Polypropylene Nicotine Bottles

[0151] Section F: Key Characteristics

[0152] Section A: Closed-Loop Temperature Control

[0153] In this section, we describe a closed-loop temperature control system for an electronic cigarette device using a resistance-based heating element.

[0154] Section A. Part I: Overview of a Closed Feedback Loop Temperature Control System Used in One Embodiment of the Invention

[0155] The closed-loop temperature system implemented by the present invention precisely controls the temperature of the heating element. Precise temperature control is important because: (i) it ensures safety (if the temperature is too high, carbonyls and other dangerous substances, such as metals, may be generated in the inhaled vapor); (ii) it prevents unpleasant burnt taste; (iii) it provides consistent nicotine delivery at the desired strength in each puff; and (iv) it results in better taste and also results in better taste lasting for more puffs. Note that the temperature control can be fixed during the puff, or changed during the puff or during the process to provide the best experience.

[0156] A typical e-cigarette device consists of a main body and a removable or fixed tip, the main body housing the battery and control electronics; the tip is pre-filled (at the factory) with an aerosolizable liquid (e.g., a typical mixture of nicotine, propylene glycol, and vegetable glycerin). The tip includes a heating element and a porous barrier that separates the heating element from the liquid in the tip; the liquid passes through the porous barrier (e.g., by capillary action) and comes into contact with the heating element, and evaporates when heated to a typical 270°C, forming an inhalable vapor. For modern disposable products (and the disposable e-cigarette devices described in Section B), the battery and liquid reservoir are located in an integrated device, and the liquid reservoir is in a liquid-sealed compartment in the device. There is no removable tip. The system described in Section A can be used for e-cigarette devices in which the tip is removable, as well as for e-cigarette devices without a removable tip; these systems are independent of the device form factor.

[0157] In one embodiment of a closed feedback loop temperature control system, the electronic cigarette device is programmed with a target or set point temperature for the heated atomizer (e.g., 270°C); the device automatically infers the current temperature of the heater / atomizer (many times per second) by calculating the real-time resistance of the heating element based on the real-time values ​​of voltage and current sent to the heating element (automatically generated by a power management chip in the device).

[0158] Since the device is programmed with the temperature coefficient of resistance of the heating element or a derived parameter or data set, the device can infer the real-time temperature of the heating element from the real-time resistance of the heating element. The device sends the set point / target temperature of the heating element and the current or real-time temperature of the element as input to a PID (proportional-integral-derivative) controller: The PID controller varies the PWM (pulse width modulation) duty cycle of the power delivered to the heating element so that the real-time temperature of the heating element quickly reaches the set point temperature and then automatically tracks the set point temperature. In practice, this requires very careful tuning of the PID parameters during the design phase through trials and experiments until the following requirements are met:

[0159] Starting from a cold state, reach the target set point temperature quickly enough at startup.

[0160] Sufficiently small overshoot when the target set point temperature is first reached.

[0161] Maintain the real-time temperature close enough to the set-point temperature.

[0162] Sufficiently high nicotine (or any desired aerosolized substance) yield.

[0163] The yield level of nicotine etc. in the inhaled vapor is sufficiently stable and consistent.

[0164] No burning smell from inhaled vapor, including under dry vapor conditions (i.e. when there is no liquid to be atomized)

[0165] Good quality steam taste or experience

[0166] • Good quality vapor taste or experience over many puffs (e.g. 300 puffs).

[0167] Different types or designs of atomizer coils or heating plates, etc. may require very different closed-loop temperature control parameters, including PID parameters. The closed feedback loop temperature control method implemented by the present invention is applicable to a variety of resistance-based heating elements: heating coils around ceramic or placed on or in ceramic or other wicking materials; heating coils around cotton or placed on or in ceramic or other wicking materials; metal mesh, flat plates (e.g., bent flat 316L stainless steel) placed on or in ceramic or other wicking materials; resistive films placed on or in ceramic or other wicking materials; sintered metal plates placed on or in ceramic or other wicking materials; resistive layers coated on ceramics; and other heating element designs, such as graphene or other carbon-based heaters, and other wicking materials, including non-cotton wicking materials. Note that cotton-based wicking materials when dry (i.e., without or without sufficient e-liquid) can burn when heated to above about 120°C, so to eliminate the problem of wicking materials burning when dry, it is preferred to select non-cotton wicking materials that do not burn at the temperature reached by the heating element when dry (and this temperature is generally the same regardless of whether there is e-liquid). Section C introduces another method that even allows the use of cotton (and other wicking materials) as the wicking material.

[0168] For conventional power-based control systems (i.e., systems that apply fixed power to the heating element), maintaining good temperature control typically requires complex and careful design of the entire heating element and ceramic system, resulting in a high cost for the entire system that is typically not suitable for low-cost disposable electronic cigarette devices or for generating high profits in more complex devices. Because the control method in the embodiments described in this Section A is software-based, the cost is very low; the software can run on a low-cost microcontroller and is particularly relevant to improving performance, consistency, and preventing combustion and the production of dangerous carbonyl compounds, etc., in low-cost electronic cigarette devices (including disposable products) using simple heating elements.

[0169] In higher cost (i.e., higher cost to the consumer) e-cigarette devices, it allows the use of lower cost heating elements, and these cheaper types of heating elements can now provide performance and safety as good as higher cost ceramic systems, thereby significantly improving the profitability of the manufacturer. Low cost heating elements can be made of, for example, thin stainless steel sheets (usually with curved shapes) or thin wires: the thermal mass is very low, so the temperature of the heating element can fluctuate rapidly when power is applied; this makes it very challenging to design an effective closed feedback loop temperature control system that works well even with heating elements with very low thermal mass. The present embodiment addresses this challenge.

[0170] In the following section of Section A, we will explain the operation of one embodiment of a closed feedback loop temperature control system in more detail.

[0171] Step 1: The first step is to have the PV (personal electronic cigarette or atomizer) device measure the base resistance of the heating element (e.g., coil / mesh / plate, etc.) in the tip attached to the body of the PV. Note that when we use the term "tip," we are not implying that the tip is detachable; we are simply using it to refer to the heating element. Due to production variations, this resistance can vary from tip to tip (i.e., device to device, there are no detachable tips), so the resistance of each specific tip, and therefore the resistance of each specific heating element, must be automatically determined.

[0172] This is accomplished by the PV detecting when a tip (also called a pod) is inserted into the body of the e-cigarette device (the body includes the battery, control electronics, and air pressure sensor) (usually pressed onto the end of the PV body at the factory or at the end user), and then measuring the coil / mesh / plate resistance of a specific heating element in that tip during a brief pulse of power to the heating element. For modern disposable devices described later in Section B, the tip and body are part of a one-piece PV device, and the tip is not removable - so there is no need to first detect when the tip is inserted, and the process can start with the heating element resistance measurement. For simplicity, we will refer to measuring the parameters of the "tip" in this Section A, but more accurately and appropriately, when the device is a one-piece disposable e-cigarette device, we will refer to measuring the parameters of the specific heating element.

[0173] The ADC in the power management chip in the PV records the instantaneous V and I many times per second during this power burst; with each measurement the instantaneous resistance is calculated (Ohm's law); we make five consecutive resistance measurements to generate an average resistance value for this particular heating element.

[0174] The device may also measure the ambient temperature (using circuitry in the PV device). Alternatively, we may simply assume that this initial characterization step is performed at ambient temperature (e.g. 25°C); this is appropriate for PVs that do not have an inherent ability to measure ambient temperature; this may be the case for low-cost e-cigarette devices (such as disposable products).

[0175] Given the ambient temperature (or assumptions about the temperature when doing this initial resistance characterization), we have key data points that define the behavior of the resistance of this particular heating element with respect to temperature, such as Figure 1 shown.

[0176] For the multiple use variants described in Section B of single use disposable e-cigarette devices, this initial resistance characterization process will be performed at the factory where the entire PV device is assembled. For devices with user replaceable tips, this process can be performed at the factory where the device is assembled, and will also be performed each time the user places a new tip on the PV body. In addition, during production, we can (optionally) calibrate the measurements of resistance (i.e., I and V) using a standard load. This way, we can ensure that the resistance of the coil / mesh, etc. is isolated from any resistance in the PV circuit.

[0177] The tip or device may also include a chip that records the data of the heating element; this data may include the resistance characteristic. If so, then when the user places the tip on the device, the resistance characteristic does not need to be repeated; instead, the resistance measurement is simply read by the PV electronics and used by the PV.

[0178] Step 2: The material used for the heating element has a known temperature coefficient of resistance; the device manufacturer or designer typically tests and measures this parameter independently for a large number of heating element samples; in practice, these values ​​may deviate from the published data sheet values. The temperature coefficient of resistance (to a first order approximation) is a straight line, so if we have only one data point, e.g., a measured resistance at a known temperature as in Step 1, we can plot the actual resistance of a particular tip versus temperature (e.g., Figure 2 shown).

[0179] Step 3: The PV device can calculate or look up the resistance of the tip or heating element relative to the temperature at any point on the line, so the device can easily deduce the resistance value of the tip or heating element at the operating set point temperature by simple linear extrapolation.

[0180] The temperature set point is typically 250°C or 270°C, but can be set in software regardless, and is therefore easily changed to accommodate (i) different atomizing liquids or (ii) consumer preferences. While deviating from the explanation of the closed-loop control algorithm, it is worth noting that a user may wish to take a very "hot" puff (e.g., the first time), with high nicotine and a large vapor cloud, in which case a high temperature may be used, and a few minutes later may want to adjust their e-cigarette device to produce a gentler inhalation with minimal vapor cloud, in which case the device will automatically use a lower set point temperature. The PV device may include a simple "boost" or "intensity" type button, which the user selects to cause the device to automatically increase the set point temperature, and / or a "discrete" button for decreasing the set point temperature. Alternatively, a slide control may be used, allowing the user to set a variable set point temperature. One use case is worth mentioning: one challenge faced by users when using e-cigarette devices is excessive nicotine consumption or continuous puffing; cigarettes have a natural endpoint when they burn out, usually after 10-15 puffs or about 3 minutes. But there is no equivalent endpoint in conventional liquid-based e-cigarette devices. However, because the embodiment can accurately change the set point temperature, the set point can be automatically increased after a preset number of inhalations or time to indicate to the user that a set number of inhalations have been taken or that they have been vaping for a period of time to help them avoid overuse. For example, some users place special importance on the last inhalation of a cigarette and they derive special pleasure from it; the system can mimic this user experience; for example, after every 10 inhalations, the set point temperature can be increased to produce a stronger, warmer inhalation, signaling to the user that this is the 10th inhalation and therefore the user can stop vaping to simulate the experience of smoking a full cigarette. Alternatively, the user can set the device so that after a set time, such as after 5 minutes of regular vaping, the device produces a stronger, more effective inhalation. By experientially rewarding the user for a stronger, more effective inhalation, the user is more likely to accept the signal to stop vaping than providing a non-rewarding signal (such as a tactile vibration).

[0181] Now let’s go back to the explanation of the closed-loop control algorithm: In addition to knowing the possible resistance of this particular tip (i.e., heating element) at the set-point temperature, we can also infer by linear extrapolation the possible resistance at some other temperature, such as Figure 3 As shown, in the Ayr system we set this to 0°C and call this resistance R0. We will see later that we use this R0 value to enable us to normalize the outputs from different heating elements, in effect compensating for the fact that different heating elements can have different absolute resistance values ​​at the same temperature.

[0182] Therefore, R0 is the resistance value of that particular heating element (e.g., coil / mesh / plate, etc.) at 0°C. It can be any temperature, but for convenience and clarity, we choose 0°C. R0 provides us with a stable point, and should be consistent for that particular pod or heating element, regardless of the ambient temperature when the initial resistance data point was created, and regardless of the resistance vs. temperature behavior of that tip or heating element; as mentioned above, we will explain in detail why this is important later in this section.

[0183] As mentioned above, the linear extrapolation of the resistance at the measured temperature to the resistance at 0°C assumes that the actual relationship between temperature and resistance is linear. In reality, the relationship is slightly nonlinear; we can capture this shape in a lookup table, filling in temperature / resistance pairs; this allows a more accurate R0 to be generated for each specific pod.

[0184] There is additional concern here: the temperature of the heating element may be different from the temperature measured in the PV (e.g. the tip may have been taken from a very warm storage area), so before we accept a new R0 value, an additional check is needed to ensure that the heating element resistance is stable (and since it is now physically connected to the PV, it should be at the same temperature as the PV): specifically, we need 30s of stable resistance measurements (not varying by more than 1%), and then generate R0 from those stable measurements.

[0185] In steps 1-3, we have now completed the automatic resistance versus temperature characterization of a particular tip or heating element (which we will refer to as "Tip A"). This process is automatically repeated for each tip or heating element. Different tips or heating elements have sufficiently different resistance versus temperature behavior; characterizing each individual heating element significantly improves the accuracy of the closed-loop temperature control algorithm.

[0186] Step 4: We now look at what happens during a single puff or inhalation using this tip A.

[0187] When the user sucks on the tip, inhalation is detected (e.g., by a simple pressure drop sensor or a more complex MEMS-based pressure sensor). The device then initiates a measurement and power application cycle (using a PWM system) that repeats every 16ms. This 16ms cycle is divided into 256 PWM time slots; the ADC in the power management chip records the instantaneous V and I multiple times during each time slot; for each measurement, the instantaneous resistance is calculated (Ohm's law); the device makes 5 consecutive resistance measurements to generate an average resistance value.

[0188] Therefore, as long as power is supplied, the device will measure the instantaneous V and I many times in many of the 256 time slots. We set a minimum number of time slots at which measurements are made; we currently use 11 time slots, but this is determined by experimentation for each specific type of heating element.

[0189] The time slots for measurement can be spread over the entire 16ms period; the timing of the instantaneous V and I measurements can be asynchronous with the timing of the time slots. However, the device is set up to require 5 resistance measurements in the 16ms period to generate a valid real-time resistance; from this valid real-time resistance, the device can infer the real-time temperature of the heating element, such as Figure 4 shown.

[0190] The calculation of how much power to apply is determined by the PID closed-loop temperature control algorithm; the inputs to the PID are the set-point temperature and the inferred real-time temperature: the difference between these two determines how much power is delivered to the heating element via a PID-based feedback controller, such as Figure 5 The output of the PID controls the PWM duty cycle; the goal is to reach the desired set point temperature within a fraction of a second without significantly exceeding that temperature, and to maintain the heating element at that temperature as long as the unit is powered.

[0191] The name of the algorithm, PID, defines three different settings that combine, namely proportional, integral, and derivative, to determine how to calculate the power to be applied. Integral is used to track slow changes in the resistance of the coil / mesh / plate, etc. (e.g., when the coil / mesh / plate, etc. is roughly at the correct temperature); derivative is used to track sudden or large changes (e.g., when the user takes their first puff), and proportional is used to mix (smooth) the two. What usually happens is that when the user takes their first inhalation and the temperature control algorithm starts, the device finds that the coil / mesh / plate is relatively cold, such as at ambient room temperature, and the PID output ensures that power is applied for all 256 time slots in each 16ms cycle, essentially applying all the power available in the battery. After a few hundred milliseconds, the temperature of the coil / mesh / plate approaches the set temperature, and the PID output causes the number of time slots in which power is applied to decrease, thereby reaching a steady state.

[0192] The PID calculation is optimized (usually through extensive empirical tuning for each new heating element at design time) so that the temperature rises as sharply as possible without overshooting, and then stabilizes for the remainder of the puff duration to maintain consistent vapor production. Thus, the power curve is a large peak at the beginning, rises as quickly as possible, and then decays exponentially to a steady state to maintain temperature during the puff.

[0193] Alternatively, instead of using any of the 256 time slots spread over the entire set of 256 time slots to measure the instantaneous resistance of the heating element, the device can be configured to use only a predefined set of time slots exclusively to measure the atomizer temperature: for example, the algorithm could use the first x time slots (11 is probably the minimum for most heating element designs) to make a single (indirect) measurement of the temperature of the coil / mesh / plate, using the instantaneous V and I data from the ADC in the power management chip, from which it calculates the resistance and from which it infers the temperature. This x number can vary depending on how accurately we wish to measure, but we try to make it as small as possible, since measuring resistance is done by passing current through the heating element, so the heating element heats up; whether the remaining 245 time slots are powered depends on how much and how quickly we want the coil / mesh / plate to heat up. So this means that we check the temperature of the coil / mesh / plate every 16ms during a puff.

[0194] Regardless of how the V / I measurement is made within a time slot, if the measured real-time resistance indicates that the actual heating element temperature is well below the temperature set point, the PID changes the PWM duty cycle to use all available time slots to apply power. As we approach the set point temperature, the number of time slots used to apply power decreases gradually per cycle; in a typical steady state, approximately 100-200 time slots are used per 16ms cycle to maintain the temperature of the heating element at the set point.

[0195] At the end of each 16ms cycle, a final set of 5 resistance measurements are taken to generate an average resistance that the PID closed-loop temperature control algorithm uses to set the initial real-time temperature for the next cycle.

[0196] We explained earlier that different heating elements can have different resistance vs. temperature graphs, i.e., lines that are parallel but have different Y-intercepts. Recall that we measure the resistance of all tips or heating elements at a known (or assumed) temperature (usually ambient temperature). For each tip or heating element, the device infers the resistance of each tip at a fixed temperature; we use 0°C, but other temperatures can be used. We then characterize the resistance of each tip at this fixed temperature, e.g., for tip A, it is R at 0°C. A , for tip B, it is R at 0°C B ,like Figure 6 shown.

[0197] Now, we need to normalize all the tips or heating elements so that the actual inferred real-time temperature sent to the PID by each tip is consistent with each other, i.e. taking into account that different tips have different resistance vs. temperature Y-intercepts and eliminating that inconsistency. We do this by subtracting the R0 value of each tip or heating element from the measured resistance value of that tip. So for tip A, we subtract R A , and for tip B, we subtract R B The effect is to shift the Y intercept of each line downward so that both pass through the same resistance value at 0°C, as Figure 7 For tip B, we move it downward more than tip A because R B Greater than R A .

[0198] So, this normalized inferred temperature is actually sent to the PID; this ensures that we can measure the effectiveness of the temperature control algorithm across different heating elements (e.g., maintaining accuracy of set point temperature; level and consistency of nicotine or other substance vaporization; absence of any burnt taste in the vapor) while taking into account the inherent variation in resistance relative to temperature response of each individual tip or heating element.

[0199] Chapter A, Part II: Dual Control Loop Approach

[0200] For some heating element or atomizer designs, the closed-loop temperature control algorithm described above may prove to be insufficiently accurate; this may apply, for example, to situations where the heating element has a very low thermal mass, and / or where, for example, the heating plate may significantly heat the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir during normal operation (the stored liquid is typically in thermal contact with the heating element, but must pass through a porous material to physically reach the heating element), resulting in the overall thermal system being complex and difficult to model, with liquid-to-gas phase changes that may be highly localized.

[0201] For very complex environments (i.e., those that are difficult to model and control, not necessarily physically complex), we use the closed-loop temperature control algorithm described above, but supplement it with an additional closed-loop control system; it is a dual control loop system.

[0202] The dual control loop system is not limited to complex environments; it is also particularly useful in low-cost disposable e-cigarette devices because it is able to achieve a high level of consistent and safe performance even when using low-cost conventional heating elements such as simple coils wrapped around cotton or ceramic, or mesh elements within concentric foam surrounds, or thin flat stainless steel heating plates.

[0203] It is also particularly suitable for liquid refillable devices that can be automatically refilled on a tabletop base or box (such as disclosed in PCT / GB2019 / 052922 and Section E below) because it not only enables a high level of consistency and safety performance, but also significantly enhances the service life of the heating element used (even low-cost heating elements such as simple coil systems or thin flat stainless steel heating plates or meshes) because it eliminates excessive heating element temperatures that may lead to the generation of residues (which may appear as baked-on dark brown residues) that significantly reduce the life of the heating element. For example, a typical heating element in a conventional PV tip may last for 300 puffs before its performance deteriorates below an acceptable threshold. Using the dual control loop system described in this section, the same heating element can last for more than 2000 puffs. This in turn has important implications for the economics of refillable systems: the primary consumable is the liquid refill bottle (typically a 10mL bottle, where required to comply with European Union (EU) law); since this can be a simple polypropylene or glass blown bottle, it is very cheap to manufacture; this makes such an automatically refillable system the most cost-effective and therefore profitable way to supply liquid nicotine. The secondary consumable is the tip; if a dual circuit system is used, each tip can potentially last 10 times longer than a conventional tip. This is effectively the equivalent of a 10mL bottle plus 1 tip, replacing 30 or more conventional pre-filled tips, each with a liquid capacity of less than 2mL, or 5 complete 1-piece disposable PVs. The environmental and sustainability advantages are significant.

[0204] In one embodiment, the closed loop temperature control algorithm described in the first section above still acts as an inner control loop, attempting to adjust the duty cycle in each 16 ms group of 256 time slots, but now it is supplemented by an outer control loop, namely a PID closed loop power control algorithm.

[0205] In this outer control loop, the system can regulate, for example, to a power set point (e.g., average power per puff) instead of the temperature set point used in the inner control loop. The system measures the average power over the puffs, and if the average power is below the power set point, the system increases the temperature set point used by the inner control loop (closed-loop temperature control algorithm) for the next puff. During the next puff, the closed-loop temperature control algorithm operates to increase the duty cycle. The system again measures the average power over the next puff, and if the average power is below the power set point, the system automatically increases the temperature set point for the next puff; if the average power is above the power set point, the system automatically decreases the temperature set point for the next puff.

[0206] We calculate the average power as follows. The system again uses the instantaneous V and I generated by the system MCU for each time slot that transmits power; the system calculates the instantaneous power (V×I) multiple times for a defined period of time (e.g., one full puff, or some other amount, such as a 16ms period, or a set number of 16ms periods).

[0207] Example: Assume the power target or set point is 7.2W; if the actual average power used in a single puff (or other defined time period) is lower by an amount we call the power "error", then we increase the temperature set point measured in degrees Celsius in the inner temperature control loop above by a factor K p , for example 5 times the power "error". Note that K p The magnitude of the factor is typically determined through testing and experimentation and depends on the specific design of the heating element.

[0208] Thus, if the average power of the measured puffs is 7.0W and the power error is 0.2W, then we increase the temperature set point for the next puff (or another time period) by 5×0.2, or 1°C. If the temperature set point was initially 270°C, then the temperature for the next puff would be set to 271°C. If the average power of the measured puffs is 8.0W, and the power error is 0.8W, for the next puff we decrease the temperature set point by 5×0.8, or 4°C, or 264°C.

[0209] Note that the temperature set point can be set at a level necessary to deliver a target amount of nicotine; thus, the PV can be switched between different temperature set points to deliver different nicotine strengths (the higher the temperature set point, the more nicotine delivered).

[0210] The system also limits the expected temperature set point to within an acceptable range:

[0211] Below 280℃: Prevent burning.

[0212] Above 200 / 220°C: ensure evaporation of liquid.

[0213] Note also that there is no need for any dry vapor detection in this system: even in dry vapor conditions, the control loop operates in exactly the same way as when e-liquid is present, namely simply keeping the heating element at the set temperature (done at every 16ms cycle rate) and keeping the power at the set power (done with every puff): there are no temperature spikes (typically well over 400°C) that would be present in a conventional system under dry vapor conditions, the system simply delivers a constant amount of power regardless of how hot the atomizer gets.

[0214] In the above description, we use the average power per puff to describe the closed loop power control algorithm. If the power or other quantity over a shorter period of time (e.g., a fixed number of time slots or a full 16ms period) less than a single puff is used in the closed loop power control algorithm, finer granularity and control can be achieved.

[0215] Dual loop control system Fig. 8A and Figure 8B Shown in.

[0216] Earlier, we described and defined a dual-loop control system; note that control loops with two, three, or more control loops are within the scope of this definition. We also looked at nicotine. We also used the term “liquid”: this term includes propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin-based liquids, as well as oils, or any other state or form of atomizable substances, including complex mixtures of plant leaves and binders used in heat-not-burn systems.

[0217] In one embodiment, the system dynamically controls the thermal profile (e.g., variable temperature set point and / or power set point) during a single puff or inhalation (or "inhale"). The thermal profile may be controlled to optimize any one or more of the following: flavor and / or dosage and / or strength and / or vapor density and / or plume size and / or overall experience, taking into account user preferences and / or liquid supplier preferences.

[0218] Similarly, the system can control the thermal curve (e.g., temperature set point and / or power set point) during the course or session of a puff or inhalation; for example, the thermal curve can be managed to provide an initial high intensity (e.g., a higher temperature set point and / or power set point than the baseline), gradually decrease to normal intensity over the course of ten puffs, and then increase again at the last puff. Or the thermal curve (and intensity curve) can be set to start low, then increase to a peak in the middle of the session, and then decrease to the end of the session. Or the thermal curve can be set to change in a way to ensure consistency of experience during the session; for example, as the liquid heats up during rapid, intense inhalation, some liquids and / or atomizer designs may have significant thermal inertia, in which case it may be necessary or desirable to gradually decrease the temperature set point and / or power set point throughout the course of the session to ensure that there is no overheating, but rather a consistent intensity level is enjoyed throughout the session.

[0219] In addition, conventional disposable electronic cigarette devices are typically characterized by good flavor for the first ten or twenty puffs, followed by a rapid weakening of the flavor in the following few puffs; using the embodiments described herein, the device can provide consistent flavor for potentially hundreds of puffs by automatically compensating for the factor that weakens the flavor after the first ten or twenty puffs.

[0220] Furthermore, conventional disposable products are often characterized by very high concentrations of flavoring agents, which may have negative toxicological effects; this is sometimes done to overcompensate for the rapid degradation of heating element performance, which may be associated with the rapid accumulation of residue on the heating element because the heating element becomes too hot. Utilizing the embodiments described herein, the device can provide a consistent, high-quality flavor without the use of conventionally employed high concentrations of flavoring agents.

[0221] Different users will find different experience profiles that meet their needs; likewise, the same user may wish to vary the intensity profile for different sessions.

[0222] Additionally, the system could control the thermal profile over the duration of a multi-week smoking cessation program, gradually reducing the strength of nicotine, etc. (or other relevant parameters) to ease the transition away from dependence.

[0223] Because the present system is software implemented in the electronic cigarette device, control schemes (eg, temperature set points and / or power set points or any other parameters affecting the operation of one or more control loops) can be easily set and changed.

[0224] The control scheme can be set for a specific type of liquid by writing the control scheme to a chip or memory, which can be (i) on the device, or (ii) on a pre-filled liquid cartridge or tip that contains the liquid and is designed to fit on the end of the PV, or (iii) on a pre-filled liquid bottle that is used to automatically refill the liquid in the cartridge or tip on the end of the PV. The end user can make changes on the e-cigarette device, where the device includes some kind of user interface, or via a connected smartphone application.

[0225] Fig. 9 1 shows how a dual-loop control system performs in practice. The darker line 90 shows the temperature of the heating element (temperature on the y-axis) during a single puff or inhalation using a conventional control scheme that provides constant power (6.4W) to the heating element. During the puff process, the temperature of the heating element first rises rapidly and continues to rise during the inhalation, rising to more than 300°C, which is above the normal safety threshold. Not only is the heating element temperature not constant, but it is different for each puff (not shown). The lighter line 91 shows the temperature of the heating element when one of the above-mentioned dual-loop temperature control methods is implemented: it is clear that the temperature of the heating element rises rapidly to the target temperature, in this case 220°C, and remains constant at this temperature throughout the puff process. The temperature never rises to a level that could compromise safety.

[0226] Compared with conventional methods, we can summarize the performance advantages of the dual-loop temperature control method as follows:

[0227] ·Non-combustible; no carbonyl and aldehyde

[0228] Better vapor output (e.g. higher nicotine content)

[0229] Better puff consistency (e.g., a consistent user experience with each puff)

[0230] Can be used for any length of puffs and dynamically adjusted according to the user's needs or distribution in a single puff and / or multiple puffs.

[0231] For use with low cost stainless steel acid etched atomizers, with either cotton or foam wicks.

[0232] It can also be applied to various other materials as long as we have enough temperature coefficient of resistivity. Materials include: SS304, SS 316, S 316L, SS 321, SS 430, SS904L, gold, silver, copper, titanium, tungsten, nickel Ni200, NiFe 30, Invar36, nickel DH, Nifethal 70, Nifethal 50, zirconium. The materials can also be extended to graphene and other carbon-based materials.

[0233] · Implemented software: low implementation cost and fast modification speed.

[0234] Most atomizers implement the software at no additional material cost.

[0235] It can be implemented in a typical pod-based e-cigarette device, for example, where the pod is pre-filled with liquid when provided to the end user, and the e-cigarette device battery is a rechargeable battery; the user replaces the pod with a new pod filled with liquid from the factory when the pod is exhausted, and recharges the battery regularly. Using the above temperature control system, the service life of the heating element in a typical pod can be extended from a few hundred puffs to a few thousand puffs, thereby making it possible to refill those pods multiple times using the automatic liquid refilling system described in PCT / GB2019 / 052922.

[0236] • It may also be implemented in low-cost, disposable, one-piece devices, thereby enhancing the safety of those devices, and also extending the useful life of the heating elements used in those devices.

[0237] It can also be implemented in a one-piece disposable electronic cigarette device that can be refilled and reused multiple times (see Section B below), greatly reducing the environmental harm caused.

[0238] Allows the user to select steam output (eco, low, medium, high, etc.)

[0239] • Enables the device to automatically implement different steam output profiles (e.g. high for first draw, high for 10th draw, etc.).

[0240] Enable the device to automatically optimize the heating element temperature to suit the specific liquid being used, taking into account one or more of the following factors: flavor (salt-based or not), PV / VG ratio, to provide the best user experience.

[0241] Enables the device to deliver consistent, high-quality flavor over hundreds of puffs.

[0242] Enables the device to provide consistent, high-quality flavor without requiring excessively high concentrations of flavoring agents.

[0243] Enabling the device to automatically increase or change the temperature of the heating element after a set number of inhalations or for a set period of time to provide a signal to the user indicating nicotine consumption, for example by "rewarding" the user with an inhalation to encourage the user to stop using the device.

[0244] Section A, Part III: Summary of key features of dual-loop and closed-loop temperature control

[0245] Embodiments of the present invention use one or more of the following key features. Note that any one or more key features can be combined with each other when compatible, and any one or more optional features can be combined with any one or more other compatible optional features when compatible, as well as with any one or more key features.

[0246] We divide these key features into two groups: first, A. Dual-loop key features, and second, B. Closed-loop temperature control algorithm key features.

[0247] To summarize:

[0248] A. Dual-circuit key features

[0249] Key Feature 1: Temperature control is handled by an inner control loop, and power control is handled by an outer control loop.

[0250] Key feature 2: Internal and external dual-loop control system

[0251] Key feature 3: Independent dual-loop control system

[0252] Key Feature 4: Dual-loop control system with error correction

[0253] Key Feature 5: Dual-loop control system with liquid temperature rise compensation.

[0254] Key Feature 6: One-shot PV with dual-loop control

[0255] Key Feature 7: Refillable PV with Dual-Circuit Control

[0256] Key Feature 8: Replaceable Tips PV with Dual Circuit Control

[0257] Key Feature 9: Control system implementing dual-loop control.

[0258] Key Feature 10: Method for enhancing the performance of an electronic cigarette device using dual-loop control.

[0259] B. Key features of closed-loop temperature control algorithm

[0260] Key Feature 11: The PV automatically measures the resistance of the heating element in that PV.

[0261] Key Feature 12: PV automatically measures ambient temperature.

[0262] Key Feature 13: PV automatically normalizes resistance data to be consistent between different heating elements.

[0263] Key Feature 14: PV automatically infers the resistance value of the heating element at 0°C.

[0264] Key Feature 15: The closed-loop temperature control algorithm compensates for changes in resistance of the various heating elements with respect to temperature.

[0265] We will now describe each of these key characteristics in detail. Note that any of these key characteristics can be used in combination with one or more other compatible key characteristics.

[0266] A. Dual-circuit key features

[0267] Key feature 1: Internal and external dual-loop control system

[0268] A dual loop control system uses a closed loop temperature control algorithm (which uses measured / inferred heating element temperature and also set point temperature as control inputs) as one loop, and also uses a second control loop that does not use temperature as a control input.

[0269] We can summarize it as:

[0270] An electronic cigarette system comprising a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, the algorithm configured to adjust a PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to generate an inhalable vapor;

[0271] Wherein, the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a second closed-loop control algorithm, taking parameters other than temperature as inputs, and operating as a second control loop.

[0272] Optional Features

[0273] The closed loop temperature control algorithm is the inner loop, and the closed loop control algorithm is the outer loop.

[0274] • The closed loop control algorithm is the outer loop, and the closed loop power control algorithm is the inner loop.

[0275] Key Feature 2: Temperature control is handled by an inner control loop, and power control is handled by a second control loop.

[0276] The second control loop may use power as a control input (eg, using measured / inferred power and a power set point as a control input).

[0277] We can summarize it as:

[0278] An electronic cigarette system comprising a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, the algorithm configured to adjust a PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to generate an inhalable vapor;

[0279] The microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a closed-loop power control algorithm to operate as a second control loop.

[0280] Optional Features

[0281] • The closed-loop temperature control algorithm is the inner loop, and the closed-loop power control algorithm is the outer loop.

[0282] • The closed-loop temperature control algorithm is the outer loop, and the closed-loop power control algorithm is the inner loop.

[0283] Key feature 3: Independent dual-loop control system

[0284] A second control loop (such as, but not limited to, a power control loop) may be independent of the closed-loop temperature control and provide an output or signal used by the closed-loop temperature control loop.

[0285] We can summarize it as:

[0286] An electronic cigarette system comprising a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, the algorithm configured to adjust a PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to generate an inhalable vapor;

[0287] Wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a second closed-loop control algorithm, the second closed-loop control algorithm being configured to operate as an independent control loop of the closed-loop temperature control algorithm and to generate an output used by the closed-loop temperature control algorithm.

[0288] Optional Features

[0289] The closed loop temperature control algorithm is the inner loop, and the closed loop control algorithm is the outer loop.

[0290] Key Feature 4: Dual-loop control system with error correction

[0291] The closed-loop temperature control algorithm may not be sufficiently accurate or consistent in practice, or the level of nicotine (or other substance) delivered may not be high enough; a second closed-loop control algorithm may then correct for the error in set-point temperature tracking.

[0292] We can summarize it as:

[0293] An electronic cigarette system comprising a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, the algorithm configured to adjust a PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to generate an inhalable vapor;

[0294] wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a second closed-loop control algorithm;

[0295] And wherein the closed-loop temperature control algorithm operates to track a set point temperature of the heating element, and the second closed-loop control algorithm operates to correct errors in the closed-loop temperature control algorithm in tracking the set point temperature.

[0296] Optional Features

[0297] The closed loop temperature control algorithm is the inner loop, and the closed loop control algorithm is the outer loop.

[0298] Key Feature 5: Dual-loop control system with liquid temperature rise compensation

[0299] In Key Feature 4, we note that the closed-loop temperature control algorithm may not be sufficiently accurate or consistent in practice, or may not deliver sufficiently high levels of nicotine (or other substances);

[0300] This may occur if the temperature increase of the stored nebulizable liquid in thermal contact with the heating element is not adequately accounted for by the closed loop temperature control algorithm operating alone.

[0301] We can summarize it as:

[0302] An electronic cigarette system comprising a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, the algorithm configured to adjust a PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to generate an inhalable vapor;

[0303] wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a second closed-loop control algorithm;

[0304] And wherein the second closed-loop control algorithm operates to correct errors or inaccuracies in temperature tracking of the closed-loop temperature control algorithm caused by an increase in temperature of stored atomizable liquid in thermal contact with the heating element.

[0305] Optional Features

[0306] The closed loop temperature control algorithm is the inner loop, and the closed loop control algorithm is the outer loop.

[0307] Key Feature 6: One-shot PV with dual-loop control

[0308] One important PV form factor in which the present invention may be implemented is a disposable e-cigarette device, such as conventional disposable e-cigarette devices (sold pre-filled and not refillable or rechargeable) and also the refillable and rechargeable disposable e-cigarette devices described in Section B (disposable e-cigarette devices in the form of 1-piece refillable tubes or strips and 1-piece refillable boxes or bottles).

[0309] We can summarize it as:

[0310] A disposable electronic cigarette device comprising a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, the algorithm configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element in the device, the heating element configured to generate an inhalable vapor;

[0311] The device also includes a liquid reservoir that (i) is configured to provide aerosolizable liquid to the heating element and (ii) is non-user replaceable;

[0312] And wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a closed-loop power control algorithm, operating as an outer loop of the closed-loop temperature control algorithm.

[0313] Optional Features

[0314] • The liquid reservoir is configured to be user-refillable (eg, includes a liquid refill port).

[0315] A disposable electronic cigarette device includes a battery that is configured to be rechargeable by the user (e.g., includes external electrical contacts to the battery)

[0316] The disposable electronic cigarette device includes a battery charger circuit.

[0317] The liquid reservoir is configured to be non-refillable by the user (e.g., does not include a liquid refill port)

[0318] A disposable electronic cigarette device includes a battery that is configured to be non-rechargeable by the user (e.g., does not include external electrical contacts to the battery and does not include a battery charger circuit)

[0319] Key Feature 7: Refillable PV with Dual-Circuit Control

[0320] Another important PV form factor in which the present invention may be applied is an automatically refillable electronic cigarette device.

[0321] We can summarize it as:

[0322] A refillable electronic cigarette device comprising a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, the algorithm configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element in the device, the atomizing element configured to generate an inhalable vapor;

[0323] The device also includes a liquid reservoir configured to provide the heating element with aerosolizable liquid and automatically refillable with liquid from an additional external liquid tank, bottle, or refill container;

[0324] And wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a closed-loop power control algorithm, operating as an outer loop of the closed-loop temperature control algorithm.

[0325] Key Feature 8: Replaceable Tips PV with Dual Circuit Control

[0326] Another important PV form factor in which the present invention may be implemented is a PV with user-replaceable, pre-filled tips.

[0327] We can summarize it as:

[0328] An electronic cigarette device comprising a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, the algorithm configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element in the device, the atomizing element configured to generate an inhalable vapor;

[0329] wherein the device includes a liquid reservoir configured to provide atomizable liquid to the heating element and which is replaceable by a user but not refillable by a user;

[0330] Wherein, the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a closed-loop power control algorithm and operates as an outer loop of the closed-loop temperature control algorithm.

[0331] Key feature 9: Control system implementing dual-loop control

[0332] Another aspect is the control system.

[0333] We can summarize it as:

[0334] A control system for an electronic cigarette device, the control system comprising a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, the algorithm configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element in the device, the heating element configured to generate an inhalable vapor;

[0335] Wherein, the device comprises a liquid reservoir configured to provide an atomizable liquid to the heating element;

[0336] And wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a closed-loop power control algorithm, operating as an outer loop of the closed-loop temperature control algorithm.

[0337] Key Feature 10: Method for enhancing the performance of electronic cigarette devices using dual-loop control

[0338] The final aspect is methods of enhancing the performance of electronic cigarette devices.

[0339] We can summarize it as:

[0340] A method for enhancing the performance of an electronic cigarette device, the method comprising the following steps:

[0341] (a) using a microcontroller or chip in a device programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, the algorithm being configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element in the device, the heating element being configured to generate an inhalable vapor; the device comprising a liquid reservoir configured to provide an aerosolizable liquid to the heating element;

[0342] Wherein, the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a closed-loop power control algorithm and operates as an outer loop of the closed-loop temperature control algorithm.

[0343] Optional features for key feature 10. Note that any of these optional features may also be combined with one or more other compatible optional features.

[0344] The enhanced performance includes increasing the number of puffs that can be provided by the heating element compared to an electronic cigarette device not implementing the method.

[0345] The enhanced performance includes enhanced maintenance of the real-time temperature to the set-point temperature compared to an electronic cigarette device not implementing the method.

[0346] The enhanced performance includes increasing the amount of nicotine or other substance per puff compared to an electronic cigarette device not implementing the method.

[0347] The enhanced performance includes increasing the stability or consistency of the level of nicotine or other substance delivered per puff compared to an electronic cigarette device not implementing the method.

[0348] The enhanced performance includes eliminating any burnt taste in the inhaled vapor compared to an electronic cigarette device not implementing the method.

[0349] Enhanced performance includes reduced power consumption and thus extended usage that can be provided by a rechargeable battery compared to an electronic cigarette device not implementing the method.

[0350] • Enhanced performance includes reduced power consumption and thus enabling the use of smaller batteries compared to electronic cigarette devices not implementing the method.

[0351] The enhanced performance includes maintaining the flavor of the vapor for more puffs compared to an electronic cigarette device not implementing the method.

[0352] The enhanced performance includes generating a flavor for the vapor at a lower concentration of the flavorant compared to an electronic cigarette device not implementing the method.

[0353] Optional features for any one or more of the dual circuit key features (key features 1-10 above). Note that any of these optional features may also be combined with one or more other compatible optional features.

[0354] The external control loop automatically adjusts to the power set point.

[0355] • The power set point is the average power per puff or other parameter, such as a fraction of a puff, a 16 ms period or a set number of 16 ms periods.

[0356] The system measures the average power or other parameter across puffs and if the average is below the power set point, the system automatically raises the temperature set point used by the internal control loop (closed loop temperature control algorithm) for the next puff or other amount.

[0357] During the next puff or other parameter, the closed-loop temperature control algorithm operates to increase the duty cycle, and the system again measures the average power or other parameter in the next puff, and if the average power is below the power set point, the system increases the temperature set point for the next puff or other parameter; and if the average power is above the power set point, the system decreases the temperature set point for the next puff or other parameter.

[0358] The system calculates the average power by using the instantaneous V and I generated by the system MCU for one or more time slots during which power is transmitted;

[0359] The system calculates the instantaneous power (V x I) multiple times for a defined period of time, such as for an entire single puff, or some other parameter, such as a partial puff, a 16 ms cycle, or a set number of 16 ms cycles.

[0360] If the actual average power used in a single puff or other parameter is lower by a certain amount (called power "error"), the system will increase the temperature set point by a preset factor K in the internal temperature control loop p .

[0361] ·K p The magnitude of the factor is determined through testing and experimentation and depends on the specific design of the heating element.

[0362] ·K p For 5

[0363] ·K p Between 2 and 10

[0364] The system is configured to limit the expected temperature set point to within an acceptable range:

[0365] oBelow 280°C: prevent burning.

[0366] o Above 200 / 220°C: ensure evaporation of the liquid.

[0367] Heating elements

[0368] The heating element is a resistance-based heating element with a known or measurable temperature coefficient of resistivity.

[0369] Heating elements include resistance based heating coils, meshes or layers.

[0370] • The heating element consists of a resistance-based heating coil, mesh or layer in contact with a porous substance such as ceramic or foam.

[0371] Heating elements include resistance based heating plates or cylindrical meshes.

[0372] The heating element consists of a flat stainless steel plate made of 316L stainless steel for resistance based heating.

[0373] Closed loop temperature control

[0374] The set point / target temperature and the current or real time temperature are used as inputs to a PID controller which varies the PWM duty cycle of the power delivered to the atomizing element so that the real time temperature of the atomizing element automatically tracks the set point temperature.

[0375] Set point / target temperature configurable by the user.

[0376] • The set point / target temperature may be user configurable and / or factory configurable to suit different types of aerosolizable liquids, such as a higher temperature for nicotine.

[0377] • Set point / target temperature configurable by the user to control the strength or level of vaporized substance (eg nicotine).

[0378] • Set point / target temperature configurable by the user to control the density or range of the generated steam cloud.

[0379] The system does not have a dry steam detection process.

[0380] • The system has no process for determining the level of liquid feeding the atomizing element.

[0381] Form Factor

[0382] ·E-cigarette systems are disposable, non-refillable, non-rechargeable electronic cigarette devices.

[0383] The e-cigarette system is a refillable and rechargeable disposable e-cigarette device, an example of which is described in Section B (e.g., a 1-piece refillable tube or strip device or a 1-piece refillable box or bottle device)

[0384] ·Electronic cigarette systems are electronic cigarette devices that can be automatically refilled.

[0385] The e-cigarette system is not a one-piece device but includes a user-replaceable tip.

[0386] Advantages

[0387] ·Non-combustible; no carbonyl and aldehyde

[0388] Better vapor output (e.g. higher nicotine content)

[0389] Better puff consistency (e.g., a consistent user experience with each puff)

[0390] Can be used for any length of puffs and dynamically adjusted according to the user's needs or distribution in a single puff and / or multiple puffs.

[0391] For use with low cost stainless steel acid etched atomizers, with either cotton or foam wicks.

[0392] It can also be applied to various other materials as long as we have enough temperature coefficient of resistivity. Materials include: SS304, SS 316, S 316L, SS 321, SS 430, SS904L, gold, silver, copper, titanium, tungsten, nickel Ni200, NiFe 30, Invar36, nickel DH, Nifethal 70, Nifethal 50, zirconium. The materials can also be extended to graphene and other carbon-based materials.

[0393] · Implemented software: low implementation cost and fast modification speed.

[0394] Most atomizers implement the software at no additional material cost.

[0395] It can be implemented in a typical pod-based e-cigarette device, for example, where the pod is pre-filled with liquid when provided to the end user, and the e-cigarette device battery is a rechargeable battery; the user replaces the pod with a new pod filled with liquid from the factory when the pod is exhausted, and recharges the battery regularly. Using the above temperature control system, the service life of the heating element in a typical pod can be extended from a few hundred puffs to a few thousand puffs, thereby making it possible to refill those pods multiple times using the automatic liquid refilling system described in PCT / GB2019 / 052922.

[0396] • It may also be implemented in low-cost, disposable, one-piece devices, thereby enhancing the safety of those devices, and also extending the useful life of the heating elements used in those devices.

[0397] It can also be implemented in a one-piece disposable electronic cigarette device that can be refilled and reused multiple times (see, for example, the embodiment in Section B), greatly reducing the environmental harm caused.

[0398] Allows the user to select steam output (eco, low, medium, high, etc.)

[0399] • Enables the device to automatically implement different steam output profiles (e.g. high for first draw, high for 10th draw, etc.).

[0400] Enables the device to automatically optimize the heating element temperature for the specific liquid being used, taking into account one or more of the following factors: flavor (whether salt-based), PV / VG ratio, to provide the best user experience

[0401] Enables the device to deliver consistent, high-quality flavor over hundreds of puffs.

[0402] Enables the device to provide consistent, high-quality flavor without requiring excessively high concentrations of flavoring agents.

[0403] Enabling the device to automatically increase or change the temperature of the heating element after a set number of inhalations or for a set period of time to provide a signal to the user indicating nicotine consumption, for example by “rewarding” the user with an inhalation to encourage the user to stop using the device

[0404] Enables the device to provide consistent, high-quality flavor without requiring excessively high concentrations of flavoring agents.

[0405] Enabling the device to automatically increase or change the temperature of the heating element after a set number of inhalations or for a set time to provide a signal to the user indicating nicotine consumption, for example by prompting the user to stop using the device through a final "reward" inhalation.

[0406] B. Key features of closed-loop temperature control algorithm

[0407] Note that these key features are also typically used in combination with any one or more of the above dual-loop key features and optional features, but do not have to be so and can also be used in a single closed loop control system. Note that any of these key features can be used in combination with one or more other compatible key features.

[0408] Key Feature 11: The PV automatically measures the resistance of the heating element in that PV

[0409] An electronic cigarette system comprising a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, the algorithm configured to adjust a PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to generate an inhalable vapor;

[0410] Therein, the system automatically measures the resistance of a heating element in or used by the PV, and the closed loop temperature control algorithm uses that resistance value.

[0411] Optional features:

[0412] • When a nozzle including a heating element is attached to the body of the PV, the system automatically measures the resistance of the heating element.

[0413] Key Feature 12: PV automatically measures ambient temperature

[0414] An electronic cigarette system comprising a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, the algorithm configured to adjust a PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to generate an inhalable vapor;

[0415] Among other things, the system automatically measures or uses a value for ambient temperature when measuring the resistance of a heating element in the PV to create data points to establish a line or curve of resistance versus temperature for that particular heating element.

[0416] Key Feature 13: PV automatically normalizes resistance data to be consistent between different heating elements.

[0417] An electronic cigarette system comprising a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, the algorithm configured to adjust a PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to generate an inhalable vapor;

[0418] Among other things, the system automatically calculates or derives a resistance value for a heating element given a set point temperature and also a second temperature, and uses that second resistance value to normalize the operation of a closed-loop temperature control algorithm so that the input to a PID controller is consistent between different heating elements having different resistance versus temperature behaviors.

[0419] Optional features:

[0420] The second temperature is 0°C.

[0421] Key Feature 14: PV automatically infers the resistance value of the heating element at 0°C

[0422] An electronic cigarette system comprising a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, the algorithm configured to adjust a PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to generate an inhalable vapor;

[0423] Therein, the system automatically calculates or infers the resistance value of the heating element for a given set point temperature and also 0°C.

[0424] Key Feature 15: The closed-loop temperature control algorithm compensates for changes in resistance of the various heating elements with respect to temperature.

[0425] An electronic cigarette system comprising a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, the algorithm configured to adjust a PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to generate an inhalable vapor;

[0426] Among other things, the algorithm is configured to compensate for the inherent variations in resistance of different heating elements with respect to temperature response.

[0427] Optional features for all closed-loop temperature control algorithm key features 11-15 include one or more of the following. Note that any of these optional features may be used in combination with one or more other compatible optional features.

[0428] Heating elements

[0429] The heating element is a resistance-based heating element with a known or measurable temperature coefficient of resistivity.

[0430] Heating elements include resistance based heating coils, meshes or layers.

[0431] • The heating element comprises a resistance-based heating coil, mesh or layer in contact with a porous substance such as ceramic.

[0432] Heating elements include resistance based heating plates or cylindrical meshes.

[0433] The heating element consists of a resistively heated flat stainless steel plate made from 316L stainless steel.

[0434] Closed loop temperature control

[0435] The set point / target temperature and the current or real time temperature are used as inputs to a PID controller which varies the PWM duty cycle of the power delivered to the atomizing element so that the real time temperature of the atomizing element automatically tracks the set point temperature.

[0436] Set point / target temperature configurable by the user.

[0437] • The set point / target temperature may be user configurable and / or factory configurable to suit different types of aerosolizable liquids, such as a higher temperature for nicotine.

[0438] • Set point / target temperature configurable by the user to control the strength or level of vaporized substance (eg nicotine).

[0439] • Set point / target temperature configurable by the user to control the density or range of the generated steam cloud.

[0440] The system does not have a dry steam detection process.

[0441] • The system has no process for determining the level of liquid feeding the atomizing element.

[0442] Dual loop control

[0443] The microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a closed loop power control algorithm, operating as a second control loop.

[0444] The microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a second closed loop control algorithm that takes parameters other than temperature as input and operates as a second control loop.

[0445] The microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a second closed-loop control algorithm configured to operate as an independent control loop of the closed-loop temperature control algorithm and to generate an input to the closed-loop temperature control algorithm.

[0446] The closed-loop temperature control algorithm operates to track a set point temperature of the heating element, and the second closed-loop control algorithm operates to correct errors in the closed-loop temperature control algorithm in tracking the set point temperature.

[0447] The second closed-loop control algorithm operates to correct for errors or inaccuracies in temperature tracking of the closed-loop temperature control algorithm caused by an increase in the temperature of stored nebulizable liquid in thermal contact with the nebulizing element.

[0448] Form Factor

[0449] The electronic cigarette system is a disposable, non-refillable, non-rechargeable electronic cigarette device.

[0450] The electronic cigarette system is a refillable and rechargeable disposable electronic cigarette device described in Section B (a 1-piece refillable tube or strip device and a 1-piece refillable box or bottle device)

[0451] The electronic cigarette system is an electronic cigarette device that can be automatically refilled.

[0452] The electronic cigarette system includes a user-replaceable tip.

[0453] Subchapter B: Next Generation Disposable Products - One-Piece Refillable Tube or Strip Disposable E-Cigarette Devices and One-Piece Refillable Cartridge or Bottle Disposable E-Cigarette Devices

[0454] Disposable e-cigarette devices are designed not to allow replacement of the liquid reservoir with a new, full reservoir; instead, once the liquid in the reservoir is used up, the entire device is discarded. Unlike conventional pre-filled tips or pod-based systems, where the user replaces the pre-filled tip with a new tip once the liquid in the tip is used up, with disposable devices, there is no disassembly of the device or charging of the battery in the device; once the liquid is used up or the battery is exhausted, the entire device is discarded.

[0455] Disposable e-cigarette devices are very convenient for the user, as there is no need to disassemble or recharge them, and are therefore very easy to understand and use. But they are very harmful to the environment and very wasteful: the entire lithium-ion battery is charged once by the manufacturer, and once all the liquid is used up or the battery is dead (usually after 150-300 puffs), the entire device is discarded, although if a simple and almost zero-cost battery charger circuit is added, the battery can be recharged and reused many times.

[0456] Because they are designed as inexpensive, disposable items, the heating elements and control circuits may be of poor quality, potentially producing harmful emissions.

[0457] In this Section B, we describe a hybrid disposable electronic cigarette device (i.e., having a fixed and non-replaceable heating element and liquid reservoir, and thus not removable by the user in normal use) that is also refillable and rechargeable. Essentially, it looks like a conventional disposable electronic cigarette device; it has a similar retail price point as a conventional disposable electronic cigarette device; it is sold pre-filled and fully charged like a conventional disposable electronic cigarette device; it is sold pre-filled and fully charged in a variety of different liquid flavors like a conventional disposable electronic cigarette device. Thus, it has all the key attributes that make conventional disposable electronic cigarette devices so attractive to consumers. However, unlike conventional disposable electronic cigarette devices, it is essentially refillable and rechargeable for consumers who purchase and use an optional low-cost refilling and recharging device. We describe this simple optional accessory dock that both refills and recharges the device; the user simply plugs the electronic cigarette device into a port on the dock to refill and recharge. Thus, automatic refilling and recharging is very easy, neat, and simple.

[0458] The hybrid disposable electronic cigarette device can also use the heating element temperature control system described above (Section A) to maximize the service life of the heating element and optimize the safety and quality of its vapor. Such a "next generation" disposable electronic cigarette device is generally safe for at least 10 times the number of uses of a conventional disposable electronic cigarette device (e.g., 3500 puffs compared to a typical 350 puffs).

[0459] It may also implement the dynamic charging system described in Section C, and use the data connection system described in Section D, and include recycled polypropylene components that are recycled using the scheme described in Section E.

[0460] In conventional cartridge-based e-cigarette systems, the user must remove the used cartridge from the main body of the e-cigarette device, open a pack of new cartridges, and then replace the used cartridge with the new cartridge: this is somewhat inconvenient for users who are accustomed to the extreme convenience of conventional disposable e-cigarette devices. In this Section B, we describe a low-cost, easy-to-use e-cigarette system for hybrid disposable e-cigarette devices (e-cigarette devices sold in pre-filled liquid and pre-charged form), so that users can start using them immediately after purchase; once the device stops functioning (usually when the battery power is too low), the user only needs to discard the entire device, and the cost is low enough. But in addition, using the system described in this Section B, the hybrid disposable device can be simply docked with a small and simple home desktop or retail countertop base or unit without disassembly, and then automatically refills the liquid reservoir in the device with liquid, and also charges the rechargeable lithium-ion battery in the device.

[0461] In one embodiment, the base is supplied with liquid from a 10mL (or larger, if local regulations permit) bottle of conventional size and shape that is inserted into the base. A single 10mL bottle is then the only consumable item that is used to deliver the same amount of liquid as five complete disposable products, thereby saving a large amount of items that would otherwise go to landfill. A single 10mL bottle may have a diameter and height that may be the same as an industry standard 10mL refill bottle used to manually refill electronic cigarette devices with liquid. Therefore, it can be manufactured and filled on a conventional liquid filling production line without making significant changes to the discs used to secure and move the bottles through the filling line. However, the appearance of the bottle may be different from that of the industry standard 10mL refill bottle, with a more premium finish and appearance. In addition, the cap structure and sealing structure in the bottle are different from those of the industry standard 10mL refill bottle, as described below.

[0462] In one embodiment, using the dual circuit temperature system described in Section A, we extend the life (and enhance safety) of a single low-cost heating element to 3500 puffs: what would normally require the consumption of ten or eleven complete disposable e-cigarette devices to provide that number of puffs can now be achieved using only a single hybrid disposable e-cigarette device and two 10 mL bottles of liquid.

[0463] Fig. 10A Shown is a relatively minor change we make to a typical tube-type disposable electronic cigarette device to turn it into a hybrid disposable electronic cigarette device that can be refilled and recharged by the user. In this variation, we place the charging contacts 101 at the end of the device opposite the tip; two concentric circular contacts 101 are used. The disposable electronic cigarette device uses a lithium-ion rechargeable battery in the body 102, and in addition to the external contacts, a very low-cost power management chip or circuit (not shown) is added to control the charging process. Fig. 10B At the tip 103, we include a small silicone fill valve 104 through which a small needle in a refill device or other liquid filling device (not shown) can pass; the liquid reservoir 105 is then fed directly by the small needle. In some tip designs, the liquid reservoir 105 is located in the tip 103 itself and is located in the center of the tip, and the vapor flows upward through channels 106, which can be located on either side of the central liquid reservoir; this is Fig. 10BThe arrangement shown. However, other designs of the suction head and the steam channel are also possible; for example, some disposable electronic cigarette devices use a sponge or foam soaked in liquid in the part of the body 102 near the suction head; then, we use a small silicone channel or valve in the side wall of the body, usually located at the base of the suction head, and directly leading to the sponge or foam; the liquid is injected directly into the sponge or foam through the channel or valve, so that the liquid in the sponge or foam can be replenished with minimal risk of dripping, because the sponge or foam retains the liquid (usually by capillary action); this variant is as shown in FIG. Fig. 20 shown.

[0464] Fig.11 An automatic liquid refilling and recharging device or base 110 for a hybrid disposable electronic cigarette device is shown. This is a small (less than 75mm in length) base with a flat base and can be placed stably on a table; it is designed for home-based refilling and recharging of electronic cigarette devices. The refilling and recharging can also be a fully portable unit (not shown, but described in, for example, PCT / GB2015 / 050573, PCT / GB2016 / 052700 and PCT / GB2019 / 052922, the contents of which have been incorporated by reference). The refilling device has a first hole 111, into which a 10mL liquid refill container 112 has been inserted. The liquid refill container 112 can be made of polypropylene, or if a more advanced bottle is preferred, made of glass or metal or other advanced materials. Tube 113 extends from the first hole to a small electric peristaltic pump 114 (powered by plugging into a mains power source or USB-C power source, such as a laptop's USB-C cable connection), which is connected to a filling nozzle 115 in a second port 116, into which the user docks the electronic cigarette device when a refill is required; the length of the filling nozzle is about 24mm. The second port 116 includes a capacitive sensing plate 118, which measures the change in capacitance of the liquid reservoir of the inserted electronic cigarette device as the peristaltic pump 114 pumps liquid into the liquid reservoir of the inserted electronic cigarette device via the filling nozzle 115. Each capacitive sensing plate 118 is separated by an insulating layer from a back plate that is connected to ground (via the USB connection that powers the base); the back plate protects the capacitive sensing plates 118 from objects outside the second port; without these ground shielding plates, a hand placed close to the base may affect the capacitance reading.

[0465] The liquid level sensing electronics in the refilling device 110 interpret the capacitive signal from the capacitive sensor plate 118 and shut off the pump when the desired fill level is reached. The fill level can be fixed (for example, the pump 114 shuts off when the fill level in the electronic cigarette device reaches 1.5 mL). Refilling 1.5 mL typically takes less than 10 seconds, which is very convenient for the user. As previously mentioned, there is no need to remove the tip from the body or disassemble the electronic cigarette device in any way. The filling device also includes a third port for recharging the electronic cigarette device; this includes electrical contact pins 117 that engage with circular contacts 101 on the electronic cigarette device. It is also possible to combine the refilling and recharging functions into a single port, which will be explained later (see Figure 17-Figure 22 ).

[0466] We will now look at the use and operation of the system from the user's perspective. Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B The figure shows how the user inserts a 10 mL refill bottle with the refill base. Fig. 12A As shown, the 10 mL refill bottle 120 is equipped with a small removable sticker 121. The user tears it off, revealing a small air hole (not shown) in the wall of the bottle 120. During automatic refilling, the air hole allows air to enter the bottle as liquid is pumped out of the bottle. The refilling device includes a first port 122 into which the bottle 120 is screwed or pushed. The lid or cap of the bottle includes a small opening that is located above a septum seal secured in the neck of the bottle; when the bottle is sold, the lid or cap is securely secured to the neck, with a safety feature that prevents the lid or cap from being removed during normal use. When the bottle 120 is pushed in or screwed on, the needle in the first port 122 passes through a single slit in the septum seal in the neck of the bottle 120, as shown in FIG. Fig. 12B As shown, the needle passes through an opening in the cover or cap. The refill base also includes a second port 123 into which the electronic cigarette device is inserted for automatic refilling, and a third port 124 into which the electronic cigarette device is inserted for automatic recharging.

[0467] like Fig.13AAs shown, the refill device includes a second port 130 into which the electronic cigarette device 131 is inserted for automatic refilling. When the electronic cigarette device tip is inserted into the port 130 with the tip facing downward, the liquid reservoir capacitance is detected using a liquid level sensing subsystem, and if the system detects that the liquid level or amount in the liquid reservoir is below a threshold, the automatic operation of the peristaltic pump is triggered. In another variation, the automatic refilling can be triggered or started by the user selecting a button or other control; in any case, once the liquid level system detects that enough liquid has been pumped into the liquid reservoir of the electronic cigarette device, the refilling automatically stops; it is this automatic stopping of filling, rather than starting filling, that makes it an "automatic" liquid refilling system. In the embodiment shown, the liquid fill level or amount is set to 1.5mL, and if the detected liquid level or amount in the liquid reservoir is less than 1.5mL, the pump is started; once the level or amount of 1.5mL is reached, the pump stops.

[0468] Fig.13A A refillable "tube" style e-cigarette device is shown, in the shape of a cylindrical tube. One approach is to provide a 2 mL reservoir in the e-cigarette device and set the fill level to approximately 1.5 mL, as described above.

[0469] Later in this description, we will describe a refillable cartridge or bottle-style e-cigarette device; such a device may also have a 2mL internal liquid reservoir and a fill level of approximately 1.5mL. Thus, each variant may have a 2mL internal liquid reservoir and be fully refillable with liquid from a 10mL liquid refill bottle inserted into the refill base, with the fill level set below the maximum capacity to reduce the risk of leakage.

[0470] However, a larger internal liquid reservoir in the electronic cigarette device itself is also possible, for example 5mL to 10mL; this larger reservoir can be filled with only the amount of liquid permitted by local regulations in the country of sale. Thus, a single design of an electronic cigarette device may have a 5mL internal reservoir that is pre-filled with 2mL of liquid at the factory when configured to be sold in regions where the maximum amount of liquid allowed in a disposable electronic cigarette device or pre-filled cartridge or tip is 2mL at retail (such as the UK and the EU). However, when configured to be sold in regions where larger amounts are allowed at retail, the electronic cigarette device of the same design can be pre-filled with 5mL at the factory.

[0471] Another variation could see the same e-cigarette device with a larger internal liquid reservoir (e.g. 5mL to 10mL), when configured to be sold in regions that limit pre-filled e-cigarette devices to 2mL of liquid, such as the UK and EU, pre-filled with only 2mL of liquid at the factory, but the end user could set their refill base to refill the device to a maximum value, e.g. to 4.5mL for a 5mL reservoir, because regulations in these regions limit the amount of liquid in retail devices, but do not prevent the end user from personally refilling the device with a larger amount of liquid. If the device is to be sold in a region where there is no restriction on the capacity of the internal reservoir, it can be pre-filled at the factory to the maximum level, e.g. for a 5mL capacity reservoir, it can be filled at the factory and can also be filled to 4.5mL when refilling using the base.

[0472] Similarly, the liquid capacity of a liquid refill bottle or container may be limited to 10mL, with local regulations specifying this as the maximum retail capacity of an e-liquid bottle, but it may be larger, such as 20mL or 100mL: Different jurisdictions have different regulations on the size of refill bottles; the system is designed to be completely flexible so that it can be easily used in multiple jurisdictions without major changes to its design or operation.

[0473] Return to the attached figure, such as Fig. 13B As shown, the light ring 132 around the opening of the second port 130 lights up white to show the user that refilling is in progress. During filling, small bubbles can actually be seen moving upward through the liquid in the liquid bottle 133. When refilling is complete (usually within 10 seconds), the color of the light ring 132 changes to green.

[0474] like Fig.14A and Fig. 14B As shown, the refill device also includes a third port 141, into which the electronic cigarette device 140 is inserted for automatic recharging; since the charging contacts in the electronic cigarette device 140 are on the base, the electronic cigarette device 140 is placed upright (e.g., the tip is exposed). The port 141 also includes a light ring 142, which lights up white during charging and turns green once charging is complete.

[0475] Fig.15 The refill device is shown to simultaneously automatically electronically fill one electronic cigarette device 151 that is inverted, and also automatically recharge another electronic cigarette device 152 that is upright rather than inverted.

[0476] Fig.16AA variation is shown in which the electronic cigarette device includes a refill hole 161 and a recharging contact 162 at the tip 163. This variation is used in conjunction with a refilling device that includes a single socket in the base for refilling and recharging. It is particularly useful when using the dynamic charging method described in Section C. In this variation, the tip includes a small window 164 through which the liquid in the tip can be seen. Fig. 16B A side view of this variant is shown.

[0477] Fig.17 The refilling device of this variant is shown: the refilling device 170 has a first port 171 into which has been inserted a 10 mL liquid bottle 172. The refilling device 170 includes a second port 173 for refilling liquid and recharging the electronic cigarette device 174. The refilling device 170 includes a light ring 175 that illuminates to show the status of refilling and recharging.

[0478] Fig.18 is a top view of the refill device showing a 10 mL bottle 181 and a refill and recharge port 182 including a refill nozzle 183 , charging contacts 184 , and a capacitive sensor plate (not shown) for a level sensing system and a portion of the side of the refill port 182 .

[0479] Fig.19 The tip 190 of the electronic cigarette device is shown located just above the combined refill and recharging port 193. The tip 190 includes a window 191 inside the tip that enables the user to view the liquid in the tip reservoir. When the device needs to be recharged, an LED light in the tip 190 will illuminate, illuminating the window 191. Charging contacts 192 are shown. When the electronic cigarette device has been refilled to the safe maximum number of times, the circuit in the electronic cigarette device causes the LED light to flash or change to a specific color; if a dual circuit temperature control is used in this electronic cigarette device, twenty complete refills can usually be performed safely, so the LED can be set to flash red after twenty refills are completed, for example. A simple counter in the electronic cigarette device counts each time a refill is performed and sends a signal when the safe maximum is reached.

[0480] Fig. 20 yes Fig.19. The tip is located above a main body (not shown) which includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and a power management microcontroller and an air pressure sensor to detect inhalation. The tip includes the following components: an annular open foam liquid reservoir 200; the reservoir is pre-filled with liquid at the factory. The foam reservoir 200 feeds liquid to a mesh heater 201 via a cotton sheet 202 located in the foam reservoir 200. The mesh heater 201 is located within a cylindrical metal (or braided fabric) tube 203, which is itself mounted on a silicone base 204, which also serves to support and seal the foam liquid reservoir 200. An air channel 205 passes upward through the silicone base 204 and the mesh heater 201 and reaches an opening in the tip. The structure differs from conventional pipette tips in that it includes two narrow tubes or channels 206A and 206B formed in the silicone cap 207; these tubes extend all the way (not shown) to the surface of the pipette tip, allowing a pair of thin filling needles (not shown) in the liquid refilling device to enter the narrow tubes or channels 206A and 206B and inject liquid directly into the cylindrical foam reservoir 200 via the tubes 206A and 206B. The filling needles can usually penetrate the foam reservoir very deeply (e.g., several millimeters). By using two filling tubes, the foam reservoir is filled more evenly, so the liquid level sensing system in the filling device can more reliably measure the liquid level in the pipette tip. When the filling needle is withdrawn from the tubes or channels 206A and 206B, any excess liquid on the needle is removed by the silicone walls of the tubes or channels 206A and 206B, and the tubes or channels 206A and 206B are sealed closed to prevent any liquid from leaking from the liquid reservoir 200. The structure differs from conventional nozzles in that it also includes charging contacts 208 for recharging the lithium-ion battery.

[0481] Fig.21A and Fig.21B How the status light ring 211 around the combined refill and recharge port 212 in the refill and charging base works is shown. When the electronic cigarette device is first inserted into the port 212, the liquid refill device measures the liquid level in the electronic cigarette device; this usually takes no more than 3 seconds. Once the measurement is completed, if refilling is required, the refill device automatically begins to refill the electronic cigarette device from the refill bottle 213. The light ring 211 flashes white to show that refilling is in progress; once refilling is complete, it becomes a continuous white band.

[0482] Fig. 22 It shows how the light ring 221 is divided into four quadrants, gradually lighting up red as recharging is taking place; it typically takes 8 minutes to charge the built-in rechargeable battery in the electronic cigarette device to 25%, so a full recharge takes about 30 minutes; once charging is complete, the entire light strip turns green. Fig. 22 In FIG. 1 , only one of the quarter segments 222 is shown illuminated.

[0483] Figure 23A-23D The operation sequence is shown; Fig.23A As shown, the user first inverts the liquid refill bottle 230 and then pushes it down into the refill bottle port 231 in the base 232, as shown in FIG. Fig. 23B Then, as Fig.23C As shown, the user inverts the electronic cigarette device 233 and pushes it into the second port 234 in the base; during filling and charging, as shown in FIG. Fig.23D As shown, the bottle 230 and the electronic cigarette device 233 are placed upside down in the base 232.

[0484] Fig.24 A retail or point of sale liquid refill and recharging unit 240 is shown. It is designed for use in clubs, bars or shops. The refill unit 240 has nine refill ports 241, each offering a different liquid flavor. Each refill port has the same components as the home base described above, namely a refill nozzle and a capacitive liquid level sensing board with a grounded shield plate and a light ring. The unit takes liquid bottles 242 that are much larger than the home base, typically 50-100mL bottles. Small silicone or paper covers 243 are provided for the user to place on the tips to keep them clean. These disposable tip covers 243 are typically made of absorbent material to absorb any e-cigarette liquid drips. A UV-C light may also be included in the point of sale unit to irradiate the tips, thereby destroying any pathogens.

[0485] The unit also includes three recharging ports 244; a combined refill and recharging port may also be used. The refill unit 240 includes a payment card reader 245; the unit is activated by touching the payment card reader to pay for the refill. The user can move the electronic cigarette device between the different refill ports to mix the flavors, such as placing it in the "cherry" port 246 for a few seconds and then into the wild fruit port 247 to complete the refill.

[0486] Refill bottles or containers

[0487] Figure 25A-Figure 25D A refill bottle or container is shown. Fig.25AIn the figure, we see a bottle cap 250; it has a circular hole 251 in the center of its top surface: as will be explained later, a needle or rod in the refill base passes through this hole 251. The bottle has a body 256 and a neck, the neck having a threaded or bayonet fitting 254 and a set of flanges 255. A silicone (or other suitable material, such as rubber) septum seal 253 has a single slit cut along the diameter for sealing the neck of the bottle. The flexible seal 253 includes a single slit that is configured to be penetrated by the filling nozzle in the base and allows air to enter the bottle when liquid is withdrawn from the bottle. The seal 253 includes two layers; the upper layer (closest to the hole 251) is made of a harder material than the lower layer; this structure provides an effective seal around the needle or rod in the base and quickly reseals when the bottle is withdrawn from the base, preventing liquid from leaking into the base. The outer edge of the flexible septum seal is located at the top edge of the neck of the bottle so that it is rigidly supported and does not deform when the seal is penetrated by the filling nozzle in the refill device.

[0488] exist Fig.25B and Fig.25C In the figure, the internal structure of the cap 250 is visible; it includes short posts 257, which will rise and pass over the flange 255 in the neck of the bottle when the cap 250 is screwed onto the bottle body 256 in the liquid filling factory, so that the cap can be tightened; the design of the short posts prevents the cap from being screwed off the bottle because they act as a one-way ratchet. The bottle cannot then be refilled by the user; this is important to maintain the integrity of the system.

[0489] Fig.25D is a cross-sectional view of a bottle with the cap 250 fully screwed onto the body 256. The central hole 251 is shown, which is directly above the septum seal 253, which is securely mounted into the bottle opening by a compression friction fit, with the flange located on the top surface of the bottle opening. The cap threads 254 engage with matching threads in the bottle neck; the locking stud 257 in the cap locks against the flange 255, preventing the cap from being twisted off, thereby preventing the user from refilling with unauthorized liquids.

[0490] In use, the cap 250 is provided with an adhesive label for covering the hole 251 to keep the septum seal 253 clean. When the bottle is to be placed in the refilling base, the user removes this label and inverts the bottle, then places the bottle upside down and guides the bottle into place by aligning the groove 252 in the cap with the matching ridge in the bottle port of the base; the user presses the bottle down, and this causes the needle or rod in the base to pierce the pre-cut slit in the septum seal 253, so that the liquid in the bottle is sucked out of the bottle by a small electric peristaltic pump in the base and pumped into the liquid reservoir in the electronic cigarette device. The groove 252 ensures that the bottle is rotationally fixed and stable when inserted into the base, thereby preventing damage that may be caused to the liquid delivery needle if the bottle is twisted when docked.

[0491] Note that body 256 is a standard blown polypropylene bottle, manufactured and filled by the tens of millions; this ensures that the bottle is inexpensive to manufacture and can be processed by standard high speed liquid handling equipment in a typical plant.

[0492] 1-piece refillable box or bottle-shaped disposable e-cigarette device

[0493] We will now describe a second variant of the disposable electronic cigarette device, namely a box-shaped or bottle-shaped disposable electronic cigarette device.

[0494] Fig.26A The electronic cigarette device is shown in a generally box-like or bottle-like shape; it includes a mouthpiece 260 formed in a top section 261, all made of molded plastic. The mouthpiece 260 is press-fitted to a single injection molded plastic (or plastic extrusion) main body shell 262, which in turn is press-fitted to an injection molded plastic base section 263. Fig.26B shows the main internal features, but before describing these features, we will first turn to Fig. 27 , in which the internal structure of the body 262 is shown; the body 262 comprises a one-piece injection molded (or extruded) plastic piece, which includes an outer body wall 273, which is shaped as semi-circular ends and generally flat sides, tapering inwardly toward the base to aid release or ejection from low-cost molds. The body 262 is also formed with a cylindrical chamber 271, which is a compartment for a hollow cylindrical foam liquid reservoir, with a heating element passing through the central hollow portion. Note that the body (particularly the cylindrical chamber 271) is made of plastic so as not to affect the operation of the capacitive sensing liquid level sensing system in the base; this uses capacitive measuring plates that partially surround the cylindrical chamber 271; as mentioned above, these plates are supported by a grounded shield plate (not shown), and thus detect the liquid level in the foam reservoir inside the chamber 271, minimizing interference from objects outside the chamber.

[0495] The body 262 also includes a battery chamber 270, which is shown with a battery 264 in place. Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries can be sold by size, and the battery chamber 270 can accommodate battery expansion. The PCB 265 is vertically mounted and seals the battery chamber 270 without any additional physical barriers, which also demonstrates the compressive strength of the body 262; the PCB 265 slides into the body 262 along the guide slot 272; Fig. 27 The PCB 265 is shown not reaching the base of the compartment 270 to more clearly show the side rails 272; in fact, the PCB 265 extends along the entire length of the rails 272 to completely seal the battery chamber 270. All components on the PCB 265 face the battery 264 to avoid interfering with the capacitive liquid level sensing system; the PCB 265 implements all control functions of the electronic cigarette device, including PWM power control; it can implement the temperature control algorithm described above in Section A. The top of the PCB 265 can be a light or a group of lights to provide feedback to the user (e.g., operating at the correct temperature or needing to be recharged), which can be seen through a small hole in the top section 261, and can also be a tactile feedback device (e.g., a subtle vibration when the device is ready for use or is about to run out of power, etc.).

[0496] A gap 266 then separates the back side of the PCB (which has no components) from the cylindrical chamber 271; the purpose of this gap is to ensure minimal interference between the battery 264 and PCB 265 and the capacitive level sensing system in the refill base, which measures the capacitance of the material inside the cylindrical chamber 271, which changes as the liquid level in the foam reservoir (not shown) changes.

[0497] The body 262 rests on a plastic injection molded base 263. With this design of the body 262, it is possible to quickly slide the key components into the body, namely the battery 264, the PCB 265 and the foam core 269 with internal heating elements 267, 268. It is also important that these components are easily removed for recycling: in practice, an automatic or manual recycling machine will remove the top section 261 and the base section 263, leaving only the body section 262, including the battery 264, the PCB 265 and the foam core 269 with internal heating elements 267, 268. Pushing the rod into the battery compartment 270 pushes the battery out; since the PCB 265 will in practice be connected to the battery 264 via tape, the PCB 265 is also removed, moving down the guide rails 272. The battery 264 and the PCB 265 can then be easily separated for recycling. Another rod is pushed into the cylindrical chamber 271, pushing out the foam reservoir 269 with internal heating elements 267, 268; these can then be disposed of safely, or recycled if possible. The plastic body 262 itself can then be recycled (see, e.g., "Section E: Recycling Propylene Nicotine Bottles" for one way to accomplish this; the body is actually the nicotine container, as the cylindrical chamber 271 acts as a nicotine liquid storage container). Conventional electronic cigarette devices do not have compartments similar to the compartments 270, 271 in this embodiment, which makes automatic, quick disassembly for recycling more difficult.

[0498] Note that the embodiments described in this section include batteries that are built-in and not user-removable. In some countries, there is regulatory pressure to require electronic cigarette devices to include removable batteries to facilitate battery recycling. Since in a box or bottle-shaped electronic cigarette device, the battery can actually be easily removed from the body, this design may be well compliant with this form of regulatory requirements. The battery can also be clipped or fixed in place in a way that the user can unfasten it, enabling the user to remove the battery for recycling after the battery is scrapped.

[0499] Now back to Fig.26B , we see the device with the wall elements of the body 262 removed, but showing the battery 264 and PCB 265. The cylindrical foam liquid reservoir 269 is shown as translucent to reveal the internal heater structure (in reality, the foam core is opaque). The internal heater structure is located in a generally cylindrical cavity that runs through the central long axis of the cylindrical foam liquid reservoir 269; it includes a metal or fabric tube or chimney 267 and a cotton sheet 268 that extends into the foam liquid reservoir 269 and draws liquid from the reservoir; the heating element within the chimney contacts the cotton sheet and thus produces steam when it is resistively heated; the heating element can be any suitable and safe heating element as previously described (e.g., mesh, wound wire, etc.).

[0500] Fig.28 yes Fig.26B 280 , which leads to an internal airway that leads to the base of the metal tube 267 so that air is drawn out and past the heating element in the metal tube 267 when the user inhales. Also shown is a pair of small circular holes 281 (approximately 0.8 mm in diameter) through which a liquid filling nozzle or a rod in the refill base can pass; these holes lead to a channel (about 24 mm in length) into which the filling nozzle enters. The filling nozzle penetrates the foam liquid reservoir 269 by at least 5 mm so that liquid can be fed directly into the foam liquid reservoir 269.

[0501] Fig.29 yes Fig.26B and Fig. 27 Exploded view of the arrangement. The new feature now visible is the internal silicone base section 295 located within the base section 263; the silicone section 295 includes an air channel 294 that enables air drawn in from the air inlet 280 to trigger activation of the pressure sensor 296 and then pass upward through the metal or fabric tube that houses the heating element and the steam nozzle 290 in the top section 261. The pressure sensor 296 also includes the recharging circuit required for the rechargeable battery, so that only two external electrical contacts are required, and these contacts are connected to the recharging circuit, which in turn powers the battery and the pressure sensor. The battery provides all power for the PCB components as well as the heater element. The silicone section 295 also includes a dual channel 297 through which the liquid feed nozzles (not shown, but typically 24mm in length and designed to penetrate significantly into the foam) in the deck (not shown) or liquid from these nozzles pass. When the nozzle is withdrawn from the device, the silicone channel wipes the liquid off the nozzle so that the nozzle does not leave any liquid at the base of the filling base port. The silicone passage also seals and closes when the nozzle is withdrawn, thereby providing a liquid-tight seal for the foam reservoir. The silicone base section 295 also has an integral "O" ring 299 for sealing the base of the cylindrical compartment 271 containing the foam-based liquid reservoir and heater. Thus, the silicone section 295 provides a number of different functions: a lower seal for the liquid compartment 271; a seal for the liquid injection holes 281, 297; a seal for the pressure sensor 296; a seal around the charging contacts (not shown); and an air seal for the base section 263.

[0502] Fig.29Also shown is a silicone top plug 292 with an integral "O" ring above the cylindrical compartment 271 housing the cylindrical foam liquid reservoir 269, which seals the compartment 271 but allows steam to escape through holes 298 in the silicone plug 292 and into the steam nozzle 290 in the top section 261. The silicone top plug 292 also includes two small holes 293 to allow air to escape (for equalizing air pressure during liquid filling) and also for electrical leads connected to the electronics in the PCB 265 to pass through and down to the heater element in the metal tube 267. Separate holes for electrical leads may also be provided. The base section 263 also includes external charging contacts (not shown) that connect to the charging contacts in the base and provide power to the battery 264 via the charging circuit on the PCB 265.

[0503] Fig.30 A typical interaction sequence is shown, similar to the sequence of Figure 23, but using a box or bottle style disposable electronic cigarette device.

[0504] Fig.31A A side view of the device is shown; the sides are shown as parallel, but may be tapered or angled to facilitate demoulding from a simple mold. Fig.31B is a top view showing that the shapes of the base and body are asymmetrical so that there is only one way to dock correctly; this protects the liquid filling nozzle in the base from damage associated with improper docking.

[0505] Box or bottle type disposable electronic cigarette device than Figure 10- Fig.24 The tube or stick style device described in has some advantages. It is filled into the base of the device, so there is no need to invert the e-cigarette device; this can be more hygienic, especially for refill bases used in bars and clubs (such as Fig.24 The electrical charging contacts on the device can be located farther from the liquid filling hole than a tube or stick type device. It is also physically larger than a tube or stick type device, allowing for a larger foam liquid reservoir, a larger battery, a larger PCB, greater tolerances for insert components, and is therefore easy to manufacture quickly.

[0506] We can summarize it as:

[0507] A disposable electronic cigarette device system comprising an electronic cigarette device having a liquid reservoir substantially filled with a liquid and configured such that the liquid reservoir cannot be replaced by a user, and further comprising a rechargeable battery;

[0508] The electronic cigarette device is also configured to be automatically refilled with liquid and recharged by being inserted or docked (integrally rather than detached) to an automatic liquid refilling and recharging device that can be connected or inserted into a liquid refill bottle or container.

[0509] Section F describes key features of this embodiment. Other features of the system have been described in Sections A, C, D, and E, including key features and optional features described in or related to those sections.

[0510] Section C: Dynamic battery charging based on liquid fill level in the e-cigarette device

[0511] If there is liquid in the liquid reservoir of the electronic cigarette device while the heating element is heating, and the heating element is located on the cotton wick material, the cotton wick material will not burn if the electronic cigarette device uses the closed loop temperature control system described above. However, if the liquid is exhausted, the cotton material may heat above its combustion temperature because the temperature of the heating element is continuously maintained at a level above the combustion temperature of the cotton; the cotton will burn, causing the inhaled vapor to produce an unpleasant taste.

[0512] To prevent the cotton (or other substrate or wicking material) from burning, one embodiment of the system can automatically ensure that the heating element cannot be heated when the cotton or other wicking substrate is dry. One way to achieve this is to ensure that there is always liquid in the chamber when the heating element is heated, or in other words, to ensure that the battery is exhausted before the liquid in the liquid reservoir is exhausted, without the need to detect dry cotton or other dry vapor conditions. This is particularly useful for low-cost disposable devices, because the cost and complexity of the circuitry to detect dry vapor conditions may be prohibitive.

[0513] In this Section C, we describe how this is accomplished in a refillable e-cigarette device. A refillable e-cigarette device may have a tip that can be removed by the end user for refilling or replaced at the end of its useful life (typically after 3,500 puffs), or it may be a "disposable" e-cigarette device in which the tip is designed not to be removed by the end user from the body of the e-cigarette device (which contains the battery and electronics). Disposable e-cigarette devices have been described in Section B above.

[0514] In the first approach, the electronic cigarette system (typically a recharging and refilling device, which may be a tabletop device, for example, as shown in PCT / GB2019 / 052922 or Section B of this specification) automatically ensures that the available charge in the battery (i.e. the energy stored in the battery to send an electric current to the heating element) is insufficient to vaporize substantially all of the liquid contained in the reservoir of the electronic cigarette device (the liquid reservoir may be in a pod or tip, or may be in the body of the electronic cigarette device). This ensures that a "dry vapor" condition does not occur.

[0515] To do this, the system designer performs statistical calculations, backed up by previous real-world testing, to determine the battery capacity / liquid capacity of the liquid reservoir. The calculations need to account for variations in battery capacity (e.g. between different units), variations in the amount of charge available from the battery, variations in the liquid fill level, variations in the amount of charge used to vaporize the liquid under all conditions of temperature, pressure, etc., suction strength, liquid vaporization energy, circuit variations, etc. So in practice, when designing this system, the system designer performs this calculation, backs it up with real-world testing, and then leaves some margin for error.

[0516] In the second approach, the e-cigarette system can use a switch to automatically shut down the battery after it has dispensed a certain amount of power with a high degree of confidence that this amount of power is not enough to vaporize all of the liquid stored in the liquid container. The second approach can be used for both liquid refillable devices and devices that have a pre-filled liquid reservoir and are not designed to be user refillable. The advantage of the second approach is that the results are guaranteed to be unaffected by changes in battery capacity due to wear and aging / charge cycles, but in reality we do not intend for the product to have a long service life, so this may not be a big issue. Making the battery smaller also helps with commercial and environmental costs.

[0517] The first method meets the full liquid and battery charge criteria, but we must also consider partial liquid refills, i.e., the liquid reservoir is not completely filled for some reason. That is, it is not possible to partially fill the liquid reservoir but fully charge the battery. Now, this will not happen under normal circumstances, as an automatic liquid fill will take a fraction of the battery charge time, but it is not impossible to happen, especially if the filling receptacle is separate from the charging, as described in Section B.

[0518] Currently, the liquid reservoir in an electronic cigarette device can be partially refilled in a refill base, the device removed from the base's refill receptacle and placed in a charging receptacle (see Section B), and then fully charged. Essentially, using a three-port base (see Figure 11-Figure 15 ), the level sensing is done in a dedicated refill receptacle, and then the unit is moved to a dedicated charging receptacle, so once charged there is no way to know exactly how much liquid is in the pod, and therefore we cannot modify the thermal cycle. We could simply assume that the last measured level in the pod is the level in the pod when the pod is placed in the dedicated recharging receptacle, but this is a weak assumption that will fail in practice.

[0519] One solution is to combine refilling and recharging into one socket (see Section B, Figure 17-Figure 24 and Fig.30 ) so that we can control both at the same time, including using the level sensing in the base to know how much liquid is in the pod when we recharge. Figure 17-Figure 24 and Fig.30The Section B design shown, means we have to place the refill liquid and rechargeable battery at the same end of the atomizer (i.e. the mouth end).

[0520] We can achieve this in two different ways:

[0521] a) The system automatically refills first, and only starts charging once the pod is fully filled. This will make the entire refill / recharge process slightly longer, but it is a safe way to ensure the pod is always full.

[0522] b) Or we do both at the same time, knowing that under normal circumstances the pod will always be refilled before the battery is recharged.

[0523] The problem with b) is that for some reason the pod may not refill, most likely because there is not enough liquid in the refill capsule. Therefore, the system includes an algorithm to start the process, but only recharges in proportion to the progress of the liquid level measurement.

[0524] As a result, in a cartridge or strip vape device, battery charging and pod refilling takes place at the mouth end of the atomizer, so we must ensure that:

[0525] a) The user cannot draw liquid from the refill valve in the pod while vaping, and the user cannot feel the valve when the pod is in their mouth.

[0526] b) Although the user's mouth / saliva shorts the battery charging terminals, the user will not receive an electric shock from the battery charging terminals, and the user cannot feel the battery terminals in their mouth while smoking the e-cigarette.

[0527] Item a) requires mechanical design to avoid this.

[0528] These problems do not occur with box-type or bottle-type electronic cigarette devices (see Figures 26-31).

[0529] To keep the atomizer as cheap as possible, we have the battery charging circuit in the base. This means that, to prevent item b) from happening, we include an electronic switch in the battery circuit to prevent any energy from flowing back out of the atomizer when vaping, but of course still allow power to flow into the battery when charging.

[0530] We can summarize it as:

[0531] An electronic cigarette system comprises (i) a battery charging subsystem configured to recharge a battery in an electronic cigarette device, wherein the electronic cigarette device includes a liquid reservoir that provides liquid to a heating element in the electronic cigarette device; (ii) an automatic liquid filling device configured to automatically refill the liquid reservoir in the electronic cigarette device; and (iii) an electronic liquid level sensing subsystem configured to automatically sense or measure the liquid level or amount in the reservoir;

[0532] and wherein the battery charging subsystem is configured to control the amount of charge or energy delivered to or stored in the battery based on data from the fluid level sensing subsystem.

[0533] Optional features include one or more of the following:

[0534] Battery Charging Subsystem

[0535] The battery charging subsystem is configured to control the amount of charge or energy delivered to or stored in the battery so that the charge or energy in the battery will be substantially depleted or drop below a threshold required to drive the heating element above a set temperature before the liquid reservoir is depleted of liquid.

[0536] The battery charging subsystem is configured to monitor the charge level of the rechargeable battery and the amount or level of liquid in the liquid reservoir, and regulate the amount of electricity delivered to or stored in the battery so that the battery stops operating due to exhaustion or falling below a preset charge level before the amount of liquid in the liquid reservoir falls below a preset amount, thereby preventing dry burning and atomization.

[0537] The battery charging subsystem is configured to control the amount of charge or energy stored in the battery so that the battery ceases to provide power sufficient to cause the wicking element to combust before the liquid reservoir is depleted of liquid.

[0538] The battery charging subsystem includes the main control circuit in the automatic liquid filling device.

[0539] The battery charging subsystem comprises the main control circuit in the electronic cigarette device.

[0540] The battery charging subsystem is configured with a control algorithm that implements a statistical calculation that determines the ratio of the battery capacity to the fluid capacity of the fluid reservoir.

[0541] The calculations take into account one or more of the following variations between different devices: battery capacity, variations in the amount of power available from the battery, variations in the measurement of the liquid fill level, variations in the amount of power used to evaporate the liquid under all conditions of temperature, pressure, etc., suction strength, liquid evaporation energy, circuit variations.

[0542] The battery charging subsystem is configured with a control algorithm that causes a switch to automatically shut down the battery after a certain amount of charge has been dispensed from the battery and it is known that this amount of charge is insufficient to vaporize all of the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir when the liquid reservoir has been filled to a set level or amount.

[0543] Other features of the system are described in Sections A, B, D and F, including key features and optional features described in or related to these sections.

[0544] Section D: Always Connected

[0545] In this Section D, we describe a connected e-cigarette or HNB vaporizer that is data-connected and does not require user setup (e.g., no need to create an account or log into the user's Wi-Fi or set up a Bluetooth connection). Instead, the device automatically connects when it is first turned on; it includes a simple, very low-cost, low-power network transceiver, and can automatically connect and send / receive data over a low-power network, such as a low-power wide area network, such as a LoRaWAN network provided by multiple operators (e.g., Helium, TTN, Senet, and MachineQ (Comcast)). This approach is particularly useful for disposable vaporization devices, i.e., e-cigarette devices with pre-filled liquid reservoirs and pre-charged batteries to be sold to end users, so that the end user can (i) use the device for vaping immediately after purchase, and (ii) can discard the device after the pre-charged battery is exhausted, or (iii) automatically recharge and refill the device on a refilling device. For disposable devices, the main consumer appeal is the convenience of being able to use these devices right out of the box, with no user setup required and without having to swap out old tips for new ones (a somewhat tedious and potentially troublesome process). Users of disposable e-cigarette devices are unlikely to bother connecting the device to an app on a smartphone or a web browser-based application or a Wi-Fi network, so it has been assumed that disposable e-cigarette devices would not be connected devices.

[0546] “Always connected” devices that implement the features described in this Section D enable device manufacturers, consumers, or other entities to: (i) understand how and where devices are used; (ii) allow consumers to find lost devices; (iii) establish a direct manufacturer / device supplier relationship with individual consumers, such as automated supply of replacement devices or liquid bottles when they are nearly empty, subscription-based supply of devices or liquids; and (iv) implement location-based disabling capabilities (e.g., within a school boundary or within a school area (e.g., restrooms, common rooms), there may be a LoRaWAN transmitter that sends a “disable” signal to all devices when they are within range of the transmitter). Finally, location-based disabling capabilities are particularly valuable for disposable e-cigarette devices, as this category is extremely popular among underage users (e.g., school-age children), which has caused great concern not only for responsible manufacturers but also for public health authorities.

[0547] This section introduces the LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) connectivity demonstrator. The demonstrator focuses on the connectivity provided by the LoRaWAN network provided by multiple operators such as Helium, TTN, Senet and MachineQ (Comcast). The LoRaWAN network is based on the LoRa technology developed by Semtech, a semiconductor supplier headquartered in San Francisco. The technology uses sub-GHz unlicensed frequency bands for wireless communication, so the coverage of each access point is larger than the corresponding high-frequency 4G, 5G mobile cellular. The LoRaWAN network is designed for IoT, M2M communications, where devices transmit small data packets to the Internet infrequently, usually through remote monitoring devices.

[0548] LoRaWAN network providers can be divided into public geographically larger networks and private smaller wide area networks (usually in buildings). Public networks consist of private access points set up with operators on a pay-per-use basis. Access points are usually connected to the owner's Wi-Fi for wide area connectivity. Therefore, network coverage can be uneven and tends to be located in densely populated centers. However, network coverage is expanding.

[0549] We will consider the Helium network in this study; one of the largest LoRaWAN networks is operated by Helium. It operates on a pay-per-use basis, where each 24-bit data packet costs 0.00001USD to send. Once a device ID is set on the network, it will connect when in range, with no user input required.

[0550] We have demonstrated this using the development kit: we connected the board to the Helium network to transmit dummy data from the device and receive it in the cloud. The board transmitted ambient data instead of vape data, but other than that, the principle is the same. The next step is to generate pseudo-puff packets to add more realism to the demonstration, and then finally integrate the hardware into an vape device. The next section shows the ambient data being interpreted by a web service called mydevice.com. In our application, we will strip off the desired data received by the Helium network and forward it to our server for processing, just as we are doing now.

[0551] The Helium data packet contains, among other information, the following.

[0552] • Device ID - will uniquely identify the device.

[0553] The latitude and longitude of the base station.

[0554] Time and date of transmission.

[0555] RSSI (Signal Strength) - The device signal received by the base station.

[0556] Payload - Device data (24 bits).

[0557] Latitude / longitude is specific to the base station, not the device. Therefore, RSSI or triangulation of RSSI with the base station can give a more accurate reading of the device's location when uploading data.

[0558] Assume that the data is transmitted immediately after it is generated, so that the location of the base station can indicate the location of the device. However, if the data is generated when the device is not in the vicinity of the base station, then the data can be stored and uploaded when the device comes into range again. Of course, the location of the base station is not a good indicator of the location of the device, but at least the difference between the transmission time and the recorded data time will be different and indicate that the location is unknown.

[0559] The maximum payload is 24 bits, the first two bits are defined for all types of data, and the following 22 bits may vary depending on the data type.

[0560] • Sequence (1 bit) - Increment the sequence to check if there are any missing.

[0561] Data Type (1 bit) - The following pump data structure.

[0562] Data (per puff)

[0563] Puff duration (1 bit)

[0564] Unix time (5 bits)

[0565] Liquid Type / Flavor (1 bit)

[0566] Battery level (1 bit)

[0567] Plate / coil / mesh temperature (1 bit)

[0568] Power used (1 bit)

[0569] Tank liquid level (1 bit)

[0570] Capsule liquid level (1 bit)

[0571] Number of puffs (1 bit)

[0572] Liquid flavor / type (1 bit)

[0573] We can summarize it as:

[0574] An electronic cigarette device includes a low-power wide area network chip or circuit, configured to enable the device to automatically receive and / or send electronic cigarette related data through the low-power wide area network without the user having to set up or configure the device to send data.

[0575] Optional features include one or more of the following:

[0576] The electronic cigarette device automatically transmits or broadcasts electronic cigarette related data without user interaction.

[0577] The electronic cigarette device automatically and without user interaction transmits or broadcasts electronic cigarette related data as an advertising signal, or other signals that do not require a pre-established data connection with a receiver in a low-power wide area network.

[0578] Data related to e-cigarettes describes how the devices are used.

[0579] Data related to e-cigarettes describe how long the device was used.

[0580] The location of the LPWAN receiver receiving data from the vaping device defines the location where the vaping device is used, for example for analytics and “find my device” functionality.

[0581] E-cigarette related data includes e-cigarette consumption data, defining the type of liquid or other tobacco or HnB (heat not burn) substances consumed.

[0582] E-cigarette related data includes e-cigarette consumption data, which defines whether the amount of vaporizable substance (such as liquid or tobacco or HnB (heat not burn) substance) remaining in the e-cigarette device is below a threshold.

[0583] Vaping-related data include puff-related data, including the time and duration of puffs.

[0584] The electronic cigarette device is configured to receive a deactivation signal from a local transmitter, which automatically causes the device to cease operation.

[0585] The deactivation signal is sent by a transmitter with a limited range so that the device ceases to operate in a specified area, such as a school, a room or area within a school, a bus, a train, or other environment where vaping or smoking is not permitted.

[0586] · The electronic cigarette device is a disposable electronic cigarette device.

[0587] Other features of the system are described in Sections A, B, D, and E, including key features and optional features described in or related to these sections.

[0588] AyrLock TM

[0589] Another variant is a connected e-cigarette or HNB atomizer device, which specifically addresses the very serious problem of underage use and use in environments where e-cigarettes are prohibited, etc. We call this the "AYRLock" system. Atomizer devices equipped with AYRLock technology are data-connected without any user setup; it receives a signal from a Bluetooth beacon (or a similar device that emits a radio signal that other devices can receive), and the device automatically disables the e-cigarette when it is in range or within a preset time (e.g. 2 hours or 12 hours, the time can be set by the signal and therefore changed or fixed in the device by the administrator). Therefore, the device includes a low-cost receiver chip (e.g. a Bluetooth receiver chip) that is set to react to a specific signal sent by the Bluetooth beacon and is programmed to stop the device from vaping when this beacon signal is detected. There is no need to pair the atomizer device with any Bluetooth beacon. Bluetooth receiver chips are much cheaper than LoRaWAN chips; the former usually cost only a few cents, while the latter currently cost several dollars.

[0590] Bluetooth BLE beacons are very cheap (e.g., less than $5), so they can be widely deployed in schools and other areas where vaping is prohibited at low cost. Beacons can be battery powered, so they are very easy to install, and have a limited transmission range, so they are unlikely to disturb people outside school grounds or other areas where vaping is prohibited, etc. It can easily be made into a directional signal, blocked or shielded from areas affected by the deactivation signal.

[0591] Since beacons are so cheap and easy to install, institutions such as schools can install multiple beacon units in hazardous areas of the school (bike sheds, toilets, staff lounges, etc.). Administrators can easily check the transmission strength of the beacon using just their mobile phone, so they can easily move it to the best position. Beacons can be omnidirectional or directional; the latter helps avoid beacon signals leaking into the street or other public areas where regular users can, for example, smoke e-cigarettes.

[0592] The beacon signal must contain some information indicating that it is part of the Ayrlock system, detectable by the atomizer, such as a MAC address from a specific (known) range, the advertising name itself, or data in the beacon advertising transmission, etc. The current demonstrator uses a specific range of MAC addresses. Commercially available beacons are programmable, so at least one of these features could be easily added to a generic beacon, or a specific pre-programmed beacon could be purchased.

[0593] There is a BLE central device (chip plus antenna) inside the atomizer that is used to scan for beacon signals at regular intervals. Once detected, it should stop its own atomization, for example, stop the coil from firing. Once it detects that there is no beacon signal, it can release the lock and allow normal vaping. If someone tries to vape while a signal broadcast from a beacon is detected, the device may sound an alarm or disable itself.

[0594] Beacons could also log (or send to an administrator (e.g. a principal / hostess app)) the MAC address of any vaporizer attempting to vape on the premises to help identify the vaper and estimate the location of the vaporizer based on RSSI and beacon location. Bluetooth mesh may be required to send the signal to a phone with the app installed. The MAC address of the vaporizer attempting to vape could be captured by the beacon and then theoretically traced back to a batch of goods, theoretically to the store that sold it, and if GDPR allows, to a credit card.

[0595] The user may attempt to shield the nebulizer device from receiving the "off" signal from the beacon, for example, by covering the device with metal foil or otherwise shielding the wireless signal. Since Bluetooth signals are ubiquitous in most places, if the device cannot detect a Bluetooth signal at all, the device may infer that it is being shielded in some way and then automatically disable itself, for example, when no Bluetooth signal is detected at all, or for a set time (30 minutes, 2 hours, etc.). This feature can be further enhanced by detecting the sudden loss of signal when the nebulizer is shielded. If the device detects the absence of any Bluetooth signal, it can also sound an alarm and disable itself.

[0596] Owners / managers of restricted areas must purchase beacons and place them in appropriate locations to maximize coverage of the area while limiting interference with vaping outside the area. There are two complicating factors: First, the BLE transmission range is very short and difficult to predict. It is affected by obstacles (such as walls and doors) as well as reflections, dead zones, etc. Therefore, large areas with many obstructions may require more than one beacon, or just one beacon placed near areas where there is a known risk of unwanted vaping. It may be advantageous to "map" the signal strength to identify the best location to locate the beacon.

[0597] The second complication is that BLE can sometimes reach too far: the area where the signal can be received should be limited so as not to affect legal uses outside of restricted areas. There are several possible solutions, including careful positioning of beacons, careful positioning of directional beacons, adjusting their transmit power, and adding a time delay from receiving a beacon signal to actually prohibiting vaping to allow passersby to continue vaping while briefly passing by the beacon's transmit signal.

[0598] Another issue is beacon battery life: Batteries will eventually die of course, and since beacons are likely to be placed in places that are not easily accessible (to prevent tampering), the battery life should be long enough to allow the system to be maintained with relative ease. Many beacons have a guaranteed battery life of 3 years, and depending on the size of the batteries used in the final system, this may be longer.

[0599] In addition to the basic system for stopping vaping, several enhancements can be added:

[0600] 1. The beacon can be modified to have enhanced functionality, as well as peripheral functionality, to enable it to connect to a nebulizer and capture the nebulizer's details, such as its MAC address. This information can be stored within the beacon and then read back by the appropriate agency and used to try to detect what kind of nebulizer is in the area, or what kind of nebulizer is being attempted.

[0601] 2. As additional features, you can further understand its sales location, manufacturer, sales time, purchaser, etc.

[0602] 3. Beacons can also capture statistics such as the number of vaping attempts, the location and time of the vaping attempt, whether it is real-time, etc. Special applications can download these statistics and take action based on them.

[0603] 4. The application can also be used to manage the system and monitor status, such as checking for battery failure, tamper detection, real-time alerts for vaping attempts, etc.

[0604] 5. Multiple beacons can be connected together to share data and allow a wider area to be managed from one central point.

[0605] 6. The atomizer itself can be equipped with an alarm device, such as a light or sound, to indicate that someone is trying to vape in a restricted area. This will also help avoid confusion when using e-cigarettes legally near restricted areas.

[0606] 7. Cost - While the cost of a BLE central unit is not prohibitive, especially in high volumes, it is an additional cost. Therefore, this system may be best suited for refillable / rechargeable vaporizers, as the cost, as well as the environmental impact, can be spread over a longer lifespan.

[0607] 8. Atomizers usually have relatively large batteries to be able to heat the coil, but BLE scanning uses some power. So the scan rate can be adjusted to reduce the impact, which is another reason to be able to charge the atomizer battery.

[0608] We can summarize it as:

[0609] The nebulizer device includes a low-power, short-range wireless chip or circuit configured to enable the device to receive a deactivation signal from a local transmitter or beacon and process the signal to automatically disable itself or cease operation.

[0610] Optional features include one or more of the following:

[0611] Low-power, short-range wireless chips are Bluetooth or BLE chips.

[0612] • A deactivation signal is a directional signal that is blocked or shielded from areas that are not affected by the deactivation signal.

[0613] The device is configured to stop operating upon receipt of a deactivation signal or after a preset time or duration, such as 30 minutes or 1 hour.

[0614] The device is configured to cease operation if it fails to detect any wireless signal, in order to prevent the device's electromagnetic shielding from successfully defeating the deactivation signal.

[0615] The device is configured to generate an alert, such as visual, audio and / or tactile, when disabling itself.

[0616] The device is configured to transmit a signal when it automatically disables itself or causes itself to cease operation.

[0617] The device is configured to send its MAC address to a local transmitter or beacon when automatically disabling itself or causing itself to cease operation.

[0618] We can also summarize as:

[0619] A low-power, short-range wireless transmitter or beacon is configured to broadcast a deactivation signal that, when received by an electronic cigarette device, automatically stops the electronic cigarette device from operating.

[0620] Optional features include one or more of the following:

[0621] A low-power, short-range wireless transmitter is a Bluetooth or BLE transmitter or beacon.

[0622] The deactivation signal is a directional signal that is blocked or shielded from areas not affected by the deactivation signal. The deactivation signal is configured to stop the electronic cigarette device from operating for a preset time or duration, such as 30 minutes or 1 hour.

[0623] The transmitter or beacon is configured to log (or send to an administrator - e.g. a principal / hostess app) the MAC address of any atomizer attempting to vape within the premises.

[0624] The transmitter or beacon is configured to be placed in an environment where vaping is not permitted, such as a school, a portion of a school, or near a school.

[0625] Transmitters or beacons are configured to be placed in environments where vaping is not permitted, such as buses, airplanes, or trains.

[0626] • The transmitter or beacon is located in the portable device.

[0627] Section E: Recycling of Propylene Nicotine Bottles

[0628] Nicotine e-cigarette liquids are typically a mixture of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, and nicotine salts, and are usually provided to consumers in bottles (e.g., 10 mL) designed to fit on the end of an e-cigarette device or in pre-filled tips. These bottles and tips are produced in very large quantities (over 100 million), but normal recycling technologies cannot handle nicotine-contaminated polypropylene, so these bottles and tips are sent to landfills; this is a very large and growing environmental problem. Until now, there has been no recognized method to make pure polymer from nicotine-contaminated polymer containers. In this Section E, we describe one such method. It repurposes a polymer purification process that was once used to purify polypropylene containing food residues and residual perfume components.

[0629] The method includes obtaining recycled polypropylene and contacting it with a fluid solvent at high temperature and pressure to produce extracted recycled polypropylene. The extracted recycled polypropylene is dissolved in a solvent at high temperature and pressure to produce a polypropylene solution, which is purified by contacting the polypropylene solution with a solid medium at high temperature and pressure to produce a purer polypropylene solution. The purer polypropylene is then separated from the purer polypropylene solution.

[0630] More specifically, we disclose:

[0631] 1. A method for purifying a recycled polypropylene nicotine container, comprising:

[0632] (a) obtaining recycled polypropylene, wherein the recycled polypropylene is selected from the group consisting of post-consumer use polymers, post-industrial use polymers, and combinations thereof;

[0633] (b) contacting the recovered polypropylene with a first fluid solvent having a normal boiling point of less than about 70° C. at a temperature of about 80° C. to about 220° C. and a pressure of about 150 psig (1.03 MPa) to about 15,000 psig (103.42 MPa) to produce an extracted recovered polypropylene;

[0634] (c) dissolving the extracted recovered polypropylene in a solvent selected from the group consisting of a first fluid solvent, a second fluid solvent, and mixtures thereof at a temperature of about 90° C. to about 220° C. and at a pressure of about 350 psig (2.41 MPa) to about 20,000 psig (137.90 MPa) to produce a polypropylene solution;

[0635] (d) purifying the polypropylene solution by contacting the polypropylene solution with a solid medium at a temperature of about 90° C. to about 220° C. and a pressure of about 350 psig (2.41 MPa) to about 20,000 psig (137.90 MPa) to produce a purer polypropylene solution; and

[0636] e. separating purer polypropylene from the purer polypropylene solution;

[0637] The second fluid solvent has the same chemical composition as the first fluid solvent or a different chemical composition.

[0638] We incorporate by reference the contents of the following patents and applications and repurpose the inventions disclosed therein for the specific purpose of purifying recycled polypropylene nicotine containers, such as the nicotine containers for use as refill bottles for automatic liquid refill systems disclosed in PCT / GB2015 / 050571, PCT / GB2016 / 05270 and PCT / GB2019 / 052922, the contents of which are also incorporated by reference: US9834621, US9982066, US9890225, US9695259, US9803035, US10450436, US10442912, US10465058, US10435532, US20190390031, US20190390032, US20190390033, US20190390034.

[0639] Section F Key Features

[0640] In this Section F, we summarize the following key features A -P of the above-described disposable electronic cigarette devices and systems.

[0641] A. Refillable and rechargeable disposable electronic cigarette devices

[0642] B. Disposable electronic cigarette devices with a charging limit

[0643] C. Disposable electronic cigarette device with flexible liquid channel

[0644] D. A disposable electronic cigarette device having a nozzle, including a refill port and recharging contacts

[0645] E. A disposable electronic cigarette device having a base with a refill port

[0646] F. A disposable electronic cigarette device having a base with charging contacts

[0647] G. A disposable electronic cigarette device having a vertically mounted PCB (printed circuit board) that separates the battery from the liquid reservoir compartment

[0648] H. Disposable electronic cigarette device with multifunctional internal silicone base section

[0649] I. Tracking refillable disposable e-cigarette devices

[0650] J. Disposable electronic cigarette device with always-connected function

[0651] K. Refilling base for disposable electronic cigarette device with bottle and device port

[0652] L. A retail refilling station for a disposable electronic cigarette device having multiple bottles and device ports

[0653] M. Refill bottle with septum seal for electronic cigarette device refilling system

[0654] N. Refill bottle with chip for electronic cigarette device refilling system

[0655] O. Inverted refill bottle filling for electronic cigarette device refilling system

[0656] P. Disposable electronic cigarette device refilling system

[0657] Note that any of these primary feature APs may be combined with any one or more of the other compatible primary feature APs.

[0658] Key Features

[0659] A. Refillable and rechargeable disposable electronic cigarette devices

[0660] A disposable electronic cigarette device, comprising: a liquid reservoir substantially filled with a liquid and configured such that the liquid reservoir cannot be replaced by a user, and further comprising a rechargeable battery;

[0661] The device is also configured to be automatically refillable with liquid and rechargeable by integrally (rather than detachably) inserting or docking into an automatic liquid filling and recharging device.

[0662] B. Disposable electronic cigarette devices with a charging limit

[0663] 1. A disposable electronic cigarette device, comprising a liquid reservoir and a rechargeable battery, wherein the liquid reservoir is configured to be automatically refilled with liquid multiple times at an automatic liquid filling device, and the rechargeable battery is configured to be automatically recharged multiple times at the automatic liquid filling device;

[0664] And wherein the maximum charge stored in the rechargeable battery is controlled so that it is insufficient to vaporize substantially all of the liquid in the liquid reservoir, thereby preventing any dry vapor condition from occurring.

[0665] C. Disposable electronic cigarette device with flexible liquid channel

[0666] 1. A disposable electronic cigarette device configured to be integrally inserted or docked into an automatic liquid filling device, and to be refilled with liquid and recharged multiple times without any disassembly;

[0667] And wherein the electronic smoking device comprises at least one flexible or deformable liquid hole or channel leading to a liquid reservoir in the electronic smoking device, the flexible or deformable liquid channel or hole being configured to open only when penetrated by a filling nozzle and otherwise sealing the liquid reservoir.

[0668] D. A disposable electronic cigarette device having a nozzle, including a refill port and recharging contacts

[0669] 1. A disposable electronic cigarette device configured to be automatically refilled with liquid and automatically recharged multiple times without any disassembly when integrally inserted or docked into an automatic liquid filling device;

[0670] The device includes a tip housing the heating element and further including at least one steam outlet hole located in or near the tip; and the tip also includes (i) at least one hole directly connected to a liquid reservoir in the tip or the device body and (ii) charging contacts connected to a rechargeable battery in the device.

[0671] E. A disposable electronic cigarette device having a base with a liquid refill port

[0672] 1. A disposable electronic cigarette device configured to be automatically refilled with liquid and automatically recharged multiple times without any disassembly when integrally inserted or docked into an automatic liquid filling device;

[0673] And the device includes a first compartment that houses a liquid reservoir and a heating element; and a second compartment that houses a rechargeable battery; and a base section on which the first and second compartments are each mounted; and wherein the base section includes (i) at least one hole or channel leading to the liquid reservoir.

[0674] F. A disposable electronic cigarette device having a base with charging contacts

[0675] 1. A disposable electronic cigarette device configured to be automatically refilled with liquid and automatically recharged multiple times without any disassembly when integrally inserted or docked into an automatic liquid filling device;

[0676] And the device includes a first compartment that houses a liquid reservoir and a heating element; and a second compartment that houses a rechargeable battery; and a base section on which the first and second compartments are each mounted; and wherein the base section includes (i) charging contacts that connect to the rechargeable battery in the device.

[0677] G. A disposable electronic cigarette device having a vertically mounted PCB (printed circuit board) that separates the battery from the liquid reservoir compartment

[0678] 1. A disposable electronic cigarette device configured to be automatically refilled with liquid and automatically recharged multiple times without any disassembly when integrally inserted or docked into an automatic liquid filling device;

[0679] and the device comprises a first compartment housing a liquid reservoir and a heating element; and a second compartment housing a rechargeable battery; and a base section to which the first and second compartments are each mounted;

[0680] And wherein, the PCB separates the first compartment from the second compartment and provides pressure resistance for the electronic cigarette device.

[0681] H. Disposable electronic cigarette device with multifunctional internal silicone base section

[0682] 1. A disposable electronic cigarette device configured to be automatically refilled with liquid and automatically recharged multiple times without any disassembly when integrally inserted or docked into an automatic liquid filling device;

[0683] and the device comprises a first compartment housing a liquid reservoir and a heating element; and a second compartment housing a rechargeable battery; and a base section to which the first and second compartments are each mounted;

[0684] And wherein the base section is a silicone inner base section that includes an air channel that enables air drawn in from an air inlet in the electronic cigarette device to trigger activation of the pressure sensor and then pass upward through the heating element, and is also configured to provide the following functions: as a lower seal for the liquid reservoir; as a seal around the liquid injection hole; as a seal for the pressure sensor; as a seal around the charging contacts; and as an air seal for the outer base section in which or on which the inner base section is located.

[0685] I. Tracking refillable disposable e-cigarette devices

[0686] 1. A disposable electronic cigarette device sold to an end user, having a liquid reservoir pre-filled with liquid and a pre-charged battery, and configured so that the liquid reservoir cannot be replaced by the user;

[0687] The device is configured to be automatically refilled with liquid and automatically recharged multiple times without any disassembly by integral insertion or docking into an automatic liquid filling device;

[0688] And the device includes a subsystem for tracking the number of times the device is refilled and / or recharged, or is capable of tracking these numbers to ensure that a preset maximum number of these numbers is not exceeded.

[0689] J. Disposable electronic cigarette device with always-connected function

[0690] 1. A disposable electronic cigarette device including a low power wide area network chip or circuit, configured to enable the device to automatically send electronic cigarette related data through the network without the user configuring the device to send data.

[0691] 1. A vaporizer device including a low-power, short-range wireless chip or circuit configured to enable the device to receive a deactivation signal from a local transmitter or beacon and process the signal to automatically disable itself or cease operation.

[0692] 1. A low-power, short-range wireless transmitter or beacon configured to broadcast a deactivation signal that, when received by an electronic cigarette device, automatically stops the operation of the electronic cigarette device.

[0693] For any one or more of the aforementioned key features AJ, optional features include any one or more of the following. Note that any one of these optional features can be combined with any one or more other compatible optional features.

[0694] Electronic cigarette device

[0695] The electronic cigarette device is configured to automatically refill with liquid at least ten times while continuing to operate safely with no obvious visible damage to the heating element in the device.

[0696] The electronic cigarette device includes a dual closed-loop temperature control system that regulates the temperature of the tip heating element to a set-point temperature, and the device is configured to automatically refill with liquid at least twenty times while continuing to operate safely, with no obvious visible damage to the heating element in the device.

[0697] The electronic cigarette device is configured so that the electronic cigarette device is discarded as a whole only after multiple repeated liquid refilling and recharging events.

[0698] During one continuous liquid refilling process, the electronic cigarette device can automatically and completely refill to a liquid level or amount between 1.5mL and 2mL in the liquid reservoir.

[0699] The electronic cigarette device is a disposable electronic cigarette device that is sold to an end-user with a pre-filled liquid reservoir and a pre-charged battery so that the end-user can use the device in normal use immediately after purchase and can discard the device after the pre-charged battery is exhausted in normal use.

[0700] The electronic cigarette device includes electrical contacts that connect to a rechargeable battery in the device, and the electrical contacts are located at the end or side of the device opposite to the end to which the fixed nozzle is attached.

[0701] The electronic cigarette device includes electrical contacts connected to a rechargeable battery in the device, and the electrical contacts are located on the fixed nozzle.

[0702] The electronic smoking device or the liquid refilling and recharging device is configured to automatically provide a visual and / or audible and / or tactile indication when the electronic smoking device should be discarded.

[0703] The electronic cigarette device includes a counter chip or circuit that increases or decreases with each refill, such that if the counter reaches a preset threshold, further refills may be inhibited.

[0704] The electronic cigarette device is sold pre-filled and fully charged.

[0705] The e-cigarette device is sold pre-filled and fully charged with a variety of different liquid flavors.

[0706] The electronic cigarette devices are sold pre-filled and fully charged, with different electronic cigarette devices being pre-filled with a variety of different liquid flavors, each flavored liquid bottle or container being configured to engage with a liquid refilling and recharging device, and one flavored electronic cigarette device being configured to visually match the particular flavored liquid bottle or container.

[0707] The electronic cigarette devices are sold pre-filled and fully charged, with different electronic cigarette devices being pre-filled with a variety of different types of liquids, such as nicotine, with each type of liquid bottle or container being configured to engage with a liquid refilling and recharging device, and with each type of electronic cigarette device being configured to visually match that particular type of liquid bottle or container.

[0708] The electronic cigarette device is cylindrical or bar-shaped.

[0709] The electronic cigarette device is box-shaped or bottle-shaped, ie, generally rectangular, box-shaped or bottle-shaped, with a mouthpiece extending from a top surface.

[0710] The electronic cigarette device is box-shaped or bottle-shaped and asymmetrical in the horizontal plane, so that it can only be placed into the refilling and recharging base in one orientation.

[0711] Tips

[0712] The electronic cigarette device comprises a tip housing a heating element and a liquid reservoir, and a body housing a battery, and the tip is fixed to the body of the electronic cigarette device during manufacture of the device and is configured to be non-detachable from the body in normal use.

[0713] The electronic cigarette device includes a nozzle that houses the heating element, and the nozzle is fixed to the body of the electronic cigarette device and is configured not to be removed or replaced by the end user in normal use.

[0714] The nozzle includes a heating element, which includes a foam core, a ceramic core, a cotton core or a sponge core.

[0715] The fixed suction head comprises a heating element which is a ceramic based heating element, a metal coil, a metal mesh, a flat metal sheet, a metal mesh or a metal sheet with flat sections.

[0716] The fixed tip includes a liquid-filled aperture to a liquid reservoir, such as a channel in a silicone plug, configured to open to receive a nozzle from a liquid-filled subsystem and remove liquid from the sides of the nozzle as the nozzle is withdrawn through the aperture.

[0717] The fixed tip includes a liquid filling aperture, such as a channel in a silicone plug, configured to open to receive a nozzle from the liquid filling subsystem and to close when the nozzle is removed to substantially prevent leakage from a reservoir filled by the nozzle.

[0718] The fixed tip includes two liquid filling apertures, such as a pair of channels in a silicone plug, configured to open to receive a nozzle from a liquid filling subsystem and seal around the nozzle, and to fully or partially close the seal when the nozzle is removed.

[0719] The fixed tip includes two liquid filling holes around a centrally located steam outlet hole.

[0720] The fixed tip includes a liquid filling hole located in the middle of the front face, or located at a surface defining the end of the tip and leading to the liquid reservoir, and a steam outlet hole located on each side of the liquid filling hole, through which the user inhales steam.

[0721] The stationary nozzle includes electrical contacts that connect to the rechargeable battery.

[0722] Liquid reservoir

[0723] The liquid reservoir is located within the tip of the electronic smoking device, wherein the tip houses the heating element and is fixed to the body of the electronic smoking device during device manufacture.

[0724] The liquid reservoir is located entirely within the tip, or partially within the tip and partially within the body of the electronic cigarette device.

[0725] • The liquid reservoir is or includes a sponge or other liquid absorbent material configured to store substantially all of the liquid in the liquid reservoir.

[0726] When the liquid reservoir is at least partially within the body of the electronic cigarette device, it is configured to directly supply the liquid by injecting the liquid directly into the liquid reservoir through a nozzle in the liquid refilling and recharging device.

[0727] • The liquid reservoir is or comprises a substantially hollow cylindrical open cell foam or sponge surrounding a heating element located inside the cylindrical foam or sponge.

[0728] Disposable electronic cigarette devices in boxes or bottles

[0729] The electronic cigarette device comprises a body housing a heating element and a liquid reservoir in a first compartment and a rechargeable battery in a second compartment.

[0730] • The first and second compartments are mounted on the base section.

[0731] • The base section is a silicone inner base section.

[0732] • The first compartment comprises a foam-based liquid reservoir.

[0733] The PCB separates the first compartment from the second compartment and also provides pressure resistance for the main body of the electronic cigarette device.

[0734] The electronic cigarette device includes one or more liquid filling holes in the base of the device.

[0735] The electronic cigarette device includes charging contacts in the base.

[0736] The electronic cigarette device comprises one or more straight channels leading from the liquid filling aperture to the liquid reservoir and configured to enable one or more liquid filling nozzles to penetrate to reach the liquid reservoir and, for example, penetrate into the foam, for example, by at least 4 mm.

[0737] The channel is open only when the nozzle penetrates, and is sealed closed when the nozzle is withdrawn.

[0738] • Channels are formed in the silicone base section.

[0739] The silicone inner base section includes air channels that enable air drawn in from an air intake in the electronic cigarette device to trigger activation of the pressure sensor and then pass upward through the heating element.

[0740] Silicone The inner base section is made of silicone and has several functions: as a lower seal for the liquid reservoir; as a seal around the liquid injection hole; as a seal for the pressure sensor; as a seal around the charging contacts; and as an air seal for the outer base section in or on which the inner base section is located.

[0741] Connectivity

[0742] The electronic cigarette device will automatically send or broadcast electronic cigarette related data through the low-power wide area network without user interaction.

[0743] The electronic cigarette device automatically and without user interaction transmits or broadcasts electronic cigarette related data as an advertising signal or other signal that does not require a pre-existing data connection with a receiver in a low power wide area network.

[0744] Data related to e-cigarettes describes how the devices are used.

[0745] Data related to e-cigarettes describe how long the device was used.

[0746] The location of the LPWAN receiver receiving data from the vaping device defines the location where the vaping device is used, for example for analytics and “find my device” functionality.

[0747] E-cigarette related data includes e-cigarette consumption data, defining the type of liquid or other tobacco or HnB (heat not burn) substances consumed.

[0748] E-cigarette related data includes e-cigarette consumption data, which defines whether the amount of vaporizable substance (such as liquid or tobacco or HnB (heat not burn) substance) remaining in the e-cigarette device is below a threshold.

[0749] Vaping-related data include puff-related data, including the time and duration of puffs.

[0750] The electronic cigarette device is configured to receive a deactivation signal from a local transmitter, which automatically causes the device to cease operation.

[0751] The deactivation signal is sent by a transmitter with a limited range so that the device ceases to operate in a specified area, such as a school, a room or area within a school, a bus, a train, or other environment where vaping or smoking is not permitted.

[0752] The deactivation signal is a Bluetooth or BLE signal.

[0753] • A deactivation signal is a directional signal that is blocked or shielded from areas that are not affected by the deactivation signal.

[0754] The device is configured to cease operation for a preset time or duration, such as 30 minutes or 1 hour.

[0755] The device is configured to cease operation if it fails to detect any wireless signal, in order to prevent the device's electromagnetic shielding from successfully defeating the deactivation signal.

[0756] The device is configured to generate an alert, such as audio and / or tactile, when disabling itself.

[0757] The device is configured to transmit a signal when it automatically disables itself or causes itself to cease operation.

[0758] The device is configured to send its MAC address to a local transmitter or beacon when automatically disabling itself or causing itself to cease operation.

[0759] Closed loop temperature control

[0760] The electronic cigarette device includes a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a second closed-loop control algorithm that takes a parameter other than temperature as an input and operates as a second control loop.

[0761] The electronic cigarette device comprises a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to generate an inhalable vapor; wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a closed-loop power control algorithm operating as a second control loop.

[0762] The electronic cigarette device includes a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, the algorithm being configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element, the heating element being configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a second closed-loop control algorithm, the algorithm being configured to operate as an independent control loop of the closed-loop temperature control algorithm and to produce an output used by the closed-loop temperature control algorithm.

[0763] The electronic cigarette device comprises a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a second closed-loop control algorithm; and wherein the closed-loop temperature control algorithm is used to track a set point temperature of the heating element, and the second closed-loop control algorithm is used to correct errors in the closed-loop temperature control algorithm's tracking of the set point temperature.

[0764] The electronic cigarette device includes a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a second closed-loop control algorithm; and wherein the second closed-loop control algorithm is used to correct errors or inaccuracies in temperature tracking of the closed-loop temperature control algorithm caused by an increase in the temperature of the stored atomizable liquid in thermal contact with the heating element.

[0765] The electronic cigarette device includes a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element in the device, the atomizing element being configured to produce an inhalable vapor; the device also includes a liquid reservoir configured to provide an atomizable liquid to the heating element and can be automatically refilled with liquid from an additional external liquid tank, bottle or refill container; and wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a closed-loop power control algorithm and operates as an external loop of the closed-loop temperature control algorithm.

[0766] The electronic cigarette device comprises a control system for the electronic cigarette device, the control system comprising a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, the algorithm being configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element in the device, the heating element being configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the device comprises a liquid reservoir configured to provide an atomizable liquid to the heating element; and wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a closed-loop power control algorithm, operating as an external loop of the closed-loop temperature control algorithm.

[0767] The electronic cigarette device comprises a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the device automatically measures the resistance of a heating element in or used by the PV and the closed-loop temperature control algorithm uses the resistance value.

[0768] The electronic cigarette device includes a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the electronic cigarette device automatically measures or uses the value of the ambient temperature when measuring the resistance of the heating element in the PV to create data points to establish a resistance versus temperature line or curve for that particular heating element.

[0769] The electronic cigarette device comprises a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the electronic cigarette device automatically calculates or derives the resistance value of the heating element at a given set point temperature and a second temperature, and uses the second resistance value to normalize the operation of the closed-loop temperature control algorithm so that the input of the PID controller remains consistent between different heating elements with different resistance relative to temperature behaviors.

[0770] The electronic cigarette device comprises a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to generate an inhalable vapor; wherein the electronic cigarette device automatically calculates or derives the resistance value of the heating element at a given set point temperature and 0°C.

[0771] The electronic cigarette device comprises a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, the algorithm being configured to adjust a PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element, the heating element being configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the algorithm is configured to compensate for inherent variations in resistance of different heating elements with respect to temperature response.

[0772] The electronic cigarette device comprises a closed loop temperature control algorithm as described above and is adapted to automatically fully refill the liquid at least twenty times and the heating element does not include a noticeable burnt area even at the twentieth refill of the liquid.

[0773] K. Refilling base for disposable electronic cigarette device with bottle and device port

[0774] 1. An automatic liquid filling device configured to automatically refill and recharge an electronic cigarette device, the device having an exposed upper surface, the upper surface including at least two ports or holes, a first port or hole configured to receive a liquid bottle, and a second port or hole configured to receive an electronic cigarette device;

[0775] The automatic liquid filling device includes (i) an electric or electronic pump configured to pump liquid from a bottle to the electronic smoking device and (ii) a battery charging subsystem configured to charge a battery in the electronic smoking device.

[0776] L. A retail refilling station for a disposable electronic cigarette device having multiple bottles and device ports

[0777] 1. An automatic liquid filling device configured to automatically refill and recharge an electronic cigarette device, the device having an upper surface including a plurality of ports or apertures, each port or aperture including at least one refill nozzle or system connected to a liquid refill bottle or container and configured to receive an electronic cigarette device;

[0778] The automatic liquid filling device includes (i) one or more electric or electronic pumps configured to pump liquid from each refill bottle or container to the electronic cigarette device inserted into the port or aperture.

[0779] For one or more of the key features KL, the optional features include one or more of the following: Please note that any of these optional features can also be combined with one or more other compatible optional features.

[0780] Automatic liquid filling device

[0781] An automated liquid filling device includes a capacitive sensor board with a grounded shield board.

[0782] The automatic liquid filling device is automatic in that it is configured to automatically detect when to start and stop filling the electronic cigarette device.

[0783] The automatic liquid refill device has an exposed upper surface including at least two ports or holes, a first port or hole configured to receive a liquid bottle and a second port or hole configured to receive an electronic cigarette device.

[0784] The automatic refill device has an upper surface including a plurality of second ports or apertures, each port or aperture including at least one refill nozzle or system connected to a liquid refill bottle or container and configured to receive an electronic cigarette device.

[0785] Each refill nozzle is configured to be long enough to penetrate a foam reservoir in an electronic cigarette device.

[0786] An automatic liquid filling device includes (i) a first hole or port configured to receive a liquid bottle or container containing an aerosolizable liquid, and (ii) a second hole or port configured to receive an electronic cigarette device, the second hole or port including sensors for a liquid level sensing subsystem and a liquid filling subsystem, and (iii) an electric or electronic pump configured to pump liquid from the liquid bottle or container to the liquid filling subsystem.

[0787] The automatic liquid filling device comprises charging contacts arranged to connect with charging contacts in the electronic cigarette device, in the second aperture or port or in the third port or aperture.

[0788] • The automatic liquid filling device is configured such that the second port or aperture comprising the liquid level sensing system also comprises charging contacts arranged to connect with charging contacts in the electronic cigarette device.

[0789] The automatic liquid filling device is configured with a single port or hole for liquid refilling and recharging the electronic cigarette device, and the automatic liquid filling device automatically refills first and only starts charging when the liquid reservoir is completely full or filled to a preset threshold.

[0790] The automatic liquid filling device is configured with a single port or hole for refilling liquid and recharging the electronic cigarette device, and the automatic liquid filling device performs refilling and recharging simultaneously, and regulates recharging according to liquid level measurement to charge proportionally.

[0791] • The automatic liquid filling device includes a planar base and is configured to be positioned on a planar surface.

[0792] • An automatic liquid filling device is a personal tabletop or desktop device that is configured to refill only a single electronic cigarette device at a time and includes only one second port or aperture.

[0793] • The automatic liquid filling device is configured to refill two or more electronic cigarette devices at a time and includes two or more second ports or apertures.

[0794] • The first port or aperture is configured to receive an inverted liquid bottle.

[0795] The automatic liquid filling device includes a plurality of first ports or apertures, each first port or aperture being configured to receive a bottle or container of liquid, and at least some of the bottles are liquids of different flavors.

[0796] The automatic liquid filling device includes a plurality of first ports or apertures, each first port or aperture being configured to receive a liquid bottle or container to enable the liquid filling device to dispense liquids having different flavors, nicotine strengths or liquid types, such as nicotine.

[0797] The automatic liquid filling device is configured for use in a retail environment, such as a shop, bar, club or restaurant, and includes a contactless payment reader.

[0798] The electronic cigarette device includes a counter chip or circuit that increments or decrements a counter each time the device is refilled, and the automatic liquid filling device reads the counter and inhibits further refilling of the device if the counter reaches a preset threshold.

[0799] Liquid Level Sensing Subsystem

[0800] The automatic liquid filling device includes a liquid level sensing subsystem configured to measure data related to the liquid level or amount in a liquid reservoir in the electronic cigarette device.

[0801] • The liquid level sensing subsystem is implemented in the liquid refilling device.

[0802] ·The liquid level sensing subsystem is implemented in the electronic cigarette device.

[0803] The liquid level sensing subsystem is a capacitive liquid level sensing subsystem, including a capacitive sensor plate with a grounded shield plate disposed in the second port or hole.

[0804] When the electronic cigarette device is positioned in the second port or aperture of the liquid refill device, the capacitive sensing plate with the grounded shielding plate is arranged in the second port or aperture to at least partially surround the liquid reservoir.

[0805] Electric or electronic pump

[0806] · Electric pumps or electronic pumps are peristaltic pumps.

[0807] The electric or electronic pump is configured to draw or reversely pump liquid from a tube or line connecting the pump and the electronic smoking device after the electronic smoking device is withdrawn from the liquid filling device.

[0808] The electric or electronic pump is configured to reverse pump or pump the liquid back into the liquid bottle or container.

[0809] The electric or electronic pump is configured to pump the liquid back into the liquid bottle or container whenever the electronic cigarette device is removed from the automatic liquid filling device.

[0810] The electric or electronic pump is configured to pump the liquid back or into the liquid bottle or container to reduce or minimize the amount of liquid in the liquid connection tube to and from the pump, thereby reducing or minimizing flavor mixing or contamination when the liquid bottle or container is changed to a different flavor or type of liquid.

[0811] M. Refill bottle with septum seal for electronic cigarette device refilling system

[0812] 1. A liquid refill bottle or container comprising (i) a cap that can be attached to the bottle or container but cannot be removed from the container during normal use, and (ii) a flexible septum seal located within the cap or located within or on the neck or mouth of the bottle or container, located below the bottle cap, the flexible septum seal being configured to open only when penetrated by a filling nozzle in a refill base, otherwise completely sealing the neck or mouth of the liquid refill bottle or container.

[0813] N. Refill bottle with chip for electronic cigarette device refilling system

[0814] 1. A liquid refill bottle or container comprising (i) a cap attachable to the bottle or container but not removable from the container in normal use and (ii) a flexible seal on or around the mouth of the bottle or container;

[0815] And the liquid bottle or container also includes a security chip or other unique identifier that can be checked or verified by the automatic refill base before liquid is automatically withdrawn from the bottle or container.

[0816] O. Inverted refill bottle filling for disposable electronic cigarette device refilling system

[0817] 1. A liquid refill bottle or container comprising (i) a cap that is attachable to the bottle or container but cannot be removed from the container during normal use, and the cap includes an aperture located above a flexible seal so that a filling nozzle in a refill device can penetrate the seal through the aperture in the cap while the cap is secured to the bottle or container.

[0818] For one or more of the previous key features MO, optional features include one or more of the following. Note that any of these optional features may also be combined with one or more other compatible optional features.

[0819] Liquid bottles or containers

[0820] • Configured to be inverted for insertion into an automated liquid filling device so that the seal or cap engages a nozzle in the automated liquid filling device.

[0821] The seal is a diaphragm seal.

[0822] • The seal is secured to the neck of the bottle and the cap is screwed onto the neck.

[0823] Liquid bottles or containers are of standard size and shape and are also suitable for use in manually filled electronic cigarette devices that cannot be automatically refilled.

[0824] The liquid bottle or container is a liquid bottle or container of standard 10mL size and shape.

[0825] When the automatic liquid filling device is configured for use in a retail environment, each liquid bottle or container has a size of 50 mL or larger, such as at least 100 mL.

[0826] • Liquid bottles or containers include an air hole that is sealed by a user-removable sticker or label.

[0827] • The liquid bottle or container includes a liquid seal, such as a septum seal, configured to be penetrated by a needle or other liquid conduit in a liquid filling device, which is connected to an electric or electronic pump.

[0828] • The flexible seal includes a single slit configured to be penetrated by the filling nozzle and to allow air to enter the bottle as liquid is drawn from the bottle.

[0829] The flexible seal includes a plurality of slits configured to be penetrated by the filling nozzle and to allow air to enter the bottle as liquid is drawn from the bottle.

[0830] • The flexible diaphragm seal consists of two layers, where the upper layer is made of a harder material than the lower layer (closer to the liquid in the bottle).

[0831] • The flexible diaphragm seal comprises multiple layers, wherein the upper layer is made of a harder material than the lower layer.

[0832] • The flexible septum seal is rigidly supported by a flange or structure within the bottle to control deformation of the septum seal when the seal is penetrated by the filling nozzle.

[0833] The flexible diaphragm seal is securely fastened to the neck of the bottle or container, preventing removal of the seal and thereby preventing refilling of the bottle or container through the open neck.

[0834] A liquid bottle or container is sealed with a cap that includes a safety feature to prevent removal of the cap during normal use and also includes a hole that exposes a flexible septum seal so that a filling nozzle can penetrate the septum seal when the cap is secured to the bottle or container.

[0835] The cap is configured to lock onto the bottle or container and cannot be removed from the bottle or container by the user during normal use.

[0836] The liquid bottle is a polypropylene bottle made from recycled polypropylene from other liquid bottles containing aerosolizable liquids (e.g., nicotine liquids).

[0837] The liquid bottle is a glass bottle made of recycled glass from other liquid bottles containing aerosolizable liquids (e.g., nicotine liquids).

[0838] Liquid bottles or containers are cylindrical polypropylene bottles or containers of standard size and shape for manual filling of electronic cigarette devices that cannot be automatically refilled.

[0839] A liquid bottle or container configured to engage or dock with an automatic liquid filling device to refill a hybrid disposable but refillable electronic cigarette device that is sold to an end user with a pre-filled liquid reservoir and a pre-charged battery so that the end user can, in normal use, (i) use the electronic cigarette on the device immediately after purchase, and (ii) discard the device after the pre-charged battery is exhausted, or (iii) automatically recharge and refill the device at the automatic liquid refilling device to which the liquid bottle or container engages or docks.

[0840] P. Disposable electronic cigarette device refilling system

[0841] 1. An electronic cigarette device, comprising:

[0842] (a) A disposable electronic cigarette device comprising the following non-user replaceable items: (i) a heating element; (ii) a liquid reservoir for supplying liquid to the heating element;

[0843] (b) An automatic liquid filling device, comprising: (i) a first hole or port configured to receive a liquid bottle or container containing an atomizable liquid; (ii) a second hole or port configured to receive an electronic cigarette device; (iii) an electronic liquid level sensing subsystem; (iv) a liquid filling subsystem configured to pump liquid from the liquid bottle or container to a liquid reservoir in the electronic cigarette device; and (v) a battery charging subsystem for charging a battery in the electronic cigarette device;

[0844] Wherein, the disposable electronic cigarette device is configured as follows:

[0845] (i) sold to an end user with a pre-filled liquid reservoir and pre-charged battery so that the device is immediately ready for use;

[0846] (ii) automatically refilled and recharged at a liquid filling device without disassembly;

[0847] (iii) be maintainable throughout the normal operating life of the device as a single or integrated unit without requiring disassembly by replacement of heating elements or fluid reservoirs.

[0848] For key feature P, optional features include one or more of the following: Note that any one of the optional features can be used in combination with one or more other compatible optional features.

[0849] Disposable electronic cigarette devices in boxes or bottles

[0850] The electronic cigarette device comprises a body housing a heating element and a liquid reservoir in a first compartment and a rechargeable battery in a second compartment.

[0851] • The first and second compartments are mounted on the base section.

[0852] • The base section is a silicone inner base section.

[0853] • The first compartment comprises a foam-based liquid reservoir.

[0854] The PCB separates the first compartment from the second compartment and also provides pressure resistance for the main body of the electronic cigarette device.

[0855] The electronic cigarette device includes one or more liquid filling holes in the base of the device.

[0856] The electronic cigarette device includes charging contacts in the base.

[0857] The electronic cigarette device comprises one or more straight channels leading from the liquid filling aperture to the liquid reservoir and configured to enable one or more liquid filling nozzles to penetrate to reach the liquid reservoir and, for example, penetrate into the foam, for example, by at least 4 mm.

[0858] The channel is open only when the nozzle penetrates, and is sealed closed when the nozzle is withdrawn.

[0859] • Channels are formed in the silicone base section.

[0860] The silicone inner base section includes air channels that enable air drawn in from an air intake in the electronic cigarette device to trigger activation of the pressure sensor and then pass upward through the heating element.

[0861] Silicone The inner base section is made of silicone and has several functions: as a lower seal for the liquid reservoir; as a seal around the liquid injection hole; as a seal for the pressure sensor; as a seal around the charging contacts; and as an air seal for the outer base section in or on which the inner base section is located.

[0862] Battery Charging Subsystem

[0863] The battery charging subsystem is configured to control the charge or energy delivered to or stored in the battery so that the charge or energy in the battery will be substantially depleted or drop below a threshold required to drive the heating element above a set temperature before the liquid reservoir is depleted of liquid.

[0864] The battery charging subsystem is configured to monitor the charge level of the rechargeable battery and the amount or level of liquid in the liquid reservoir, and regulate the amount of electricity delivered to or stored in the battery so that the battery stops operating due to exhaustion or falling below a preset level before the amount of liquid in the liquid reservoir falls below a preset amount, thereby preventing dry burning and atomization.

[0865] The battery charging subsystem is configured to control the charge or energy stored in the battery so that the battery stops providing power sufficient to cause the wicking element to combust before the liquid reservoir is depleted of liquid.

[0866] The battery charging subsystem includes the main control circuit in the automatic liquid filling device.

[0867] The battery charging subsystem comprises the main control circuit in the electronic cigarette device.

[0868] Automatic liquid filling device

[0869] The automatic liquid filling device is automatic in that it is configured to automatically detect when to start and stop filling the electronic cigarette device.

[0870] An automated liquid filling device includes a capacitive sensor board with a grounded shield board.

[0871] An automatic liquid filling device includes (i) a first hole or port configured to receive a liquid bottle or container containing an aerosolizable liquid, and (ii) a second hole or port configured to receive an electronic cigarette device, the second hole or port including a liquid level sensing subsystem and a liquid filling subsystem, and (iii) an electric or electronic pump configured to pump liquid from the liquid bottle or container to the liquid filling subsystem.

[0872] The automatic liquid filling device comprises charging contacts arranged to connect with charging contacts in the electronic cigarette device, the third port or the aperture.

[0873] • The automatic liquid filling device is configured such that the second port or aperture comprising the liquid level sensing system also comprises charging contacts arranged to connect with charging contacts in the electronic cigarette device.

[0874] The automatic liquid filling device is configured with a single port or hole for liquid refilling and recharging the electronic cigarette device, and the automatic liquid filling device automatically refills first and only starts charging when the liquid reservoir is completely full or filled to a preset threshold.

[0875] The automatic liquid filling device is configured with a single port or hole for refilling liquid and recharging the electronic cigarette device, and the automatic liquid filling device performs refilling and recharging simultaneously, and regulates recharging according to liquid level measurement to charge proportionally.

[0876] • The automatic liquid filling device includes a planar base and is configured to be positioned on a planar surface.

[0877] • An automatic liquid filling device is a personal tabletop or desktop device that is configured to refill only a single electronic cigarette device at a time and includes only one second port or aperture.

[0878] • The automatic liquid filling device is configured to refill two or more electronic cigarette devices at a time and includes two or more second ports or apertures.

[0879] • The first port or aperture is configured to receive an inverted liquid bottle.

[0880] • The automatic liquid filling device comprises a plurality of first ports or apertures, each first port or aperture being configured to receive a liquid bottle or container.

[0881] The automatic liquid filling device includes a plurality of first ports or apertures, each first port or aperture being configured to receive a liquid bottle or container to enable the liquid filling device to dispense liquids having different flavors, nicotine strengths or liquid types, such as nicotine.

[0882] The automatic liquid filling device is configured for use in a retail environment, such as a shop, bar, club or restaurant, and includes a contactless payment reader.

[0883] Liquid Level Sensing Subsystem

[0884] The liquid level sensing subsystem is configured to measure data related to the liquid level or amount in the liquid reservoir in the electronic cigarette device.

[0885] • The liquid level sensing subsystem is implemented in the liquid refilling device.

[0886] ·The liquid level sensing subsystem is implemented in the electronic cigarette device.

[0887] The liquid level sensing subsystem is a capacitive liquid level sensing subsystem, including a capacitive sensing plate with a grounded shielding plate disposed in the second port or hole.

[0888] When the electronic cigarette device is positioned in the second port or aperture of the liquid refill device, the capacitive sensing plate with the grounded shielding plate is arranged in the second port or aperture to at least partially surround the liquid reservoir.

[0889] Electric or electronic pump

[0890] · Electric pumps or electronic pumps are peristaltic pumps.

[0891] The electric or electronic pump is configured to draw liquid from a tube or line connecting the pump and the electronic smoking device after the electronic smoking device is withdrawn from the liquid filling device.

[0892] The electric or electronic pump is configured to reverse pump or pump the liquid back into the liquid bottle or container.

[0893] The electric or electronic pump is configured to pump the liquid back into the liquid bottle or container whenever the electronic cigarette device is removed from the automatic liquid filling device.

[0894] The electric or electronic pump is configured to pump the liquid back or into the liquid bottle or container to reduce or minimize the amount of liquid in the liquid connection tube to and from the pump, thereby reducing or minimizing flavor mixing or contamination when the liquid bottle or container is changed to a different flavor or type of liquid.

[0895] Liquid bottles or containers

[0896] A liquid bottle or container comprising (i) a cap that is attachable to the bottle or container but cannot be removed from the container during normal use, and the cap includes an aperture exposing a flexible seal so that a filling nozzle in a refill device can penetrate the seal through the aperture in the cap while the cap is secured to the bottle or container.

[0897] A liquid bottle or container comprising (i) a cap that can be attached to the bottle or container but cannot be removed from the container during normal use, and (ii) a flexible septum seal located in the neck or mouth of the bottle or container, located below the bottle cap, the flexible septum seal being configured to open only when penetrated by a filling nozzle in a refill base, and otherwise completely sealing the neck or mouth of the liquid refill bottle or container.

[0898] The liquid bottle or container includes (i) a cap that is attachable to the bottle or container but cannot be removed from the container during normal use and (ii) a flexible seal around the bottle or container mouth; and the liquid bottle or container also includes a security chip or other unique identifier that can be checked or verified by the automatic refill base before liquid is automatically withdrawn from the bottle or container.

[0899] Liquid bottles or containers are of standard size and shape and are also suitable for use in manually filled electronic cigarette devices that cannot be automatically refilled.

[0900] The liquid bottle or container is a liquid bottle or container of standard 10mL size and shape.

[0901] When the automatic liquid filling device is configured for use in a retail environment, each liquid bottle or container has a size of 50 mL or larger, such as at least 100 mL.

[0902] • Liquid bottles or containers include an air hole that is sealed by a user-removable sticker or label.

[0903] • The liquid bottle or container includes a liquid seal, such as a septum seal, configured to be penetrated by a needle or other liquid conduit in a liquid filling device, which is connected to an electric or electronic pump.

[0904] The liquid seal includes a single slit configured to be penetrated by the filling nozzle and to allow air to enter the bottle as liquid is drawn from the bottle.

[0905] • The liquid seal comprises two layers, where the upper layer is made of a harder material than the lower layer.

[0906] • The liquid seal is rigidly supported by a flange or structure within the bottle to control deformation of the seal when it is penetrated by the filling nozzle.

[0907] The flexible diaphragm seal is securely fastened to the neck of the bottle or container, preventing removal of the seal and thereby preventing refilling of the bottle or container through the open neck.

[0908] A liquid bottle or container is sealed with a cap that includes a safety feature to prevent removal of the cap during normal use and also includes a hole that exposes a flexible septum seal so that a filling nozzle can penetrate the septum seal while securing the cap to the bottle or container.

[0909] The cap is configured to lock onto the bottle or container and cannot be removed from the bottle or container by the user during normal use.

[0910] The liquid bottle is a polypropylene bottle made from recycled polypropylene from other liquid bottles containing aerosolizable liquids.

[0911] Tips (for cylindrical or strip devices, not for box or bottle devices, which do not have tips)

[0912] The tip is fixed to the body of the electronic cigarette device and is configured to be non-removable or replaceable by the end user.

[0913] The tip is fixed to the body of the electronic cigarette device so that the electronic cigarette device is an integrated device that does not need to be disassembled for any purpose such as refilling or battery charging during normal use.

[0914] The nozzle includes a heating element, which includes a foam core, a ceramic core, a cotton core or a sponge core.

[0915] The fixed suction head comprises a heating element which is a ceramic based heating element, a metal coil, a metal mesh, a flat metal sheet or a metal sheet with flat sections.

[0916] The fixed tip includes a liquid fill aperture, such as a flexible diaphragm seal, configured to open to receive a nozzle from the liquid fill subsystem and seal around the nozzle, and seal closed when the nozzle is removed.

[0917] The fixed tip includes a liquid filling hole located in the middle of the front face, or located at a surface defining the end of the tip and leading to the liquid reservoir, and a steam outlet hole located on each side of the liquid filling hole, through which the user inhales steam.

[0918] The stationary nozzle includes electrical contacts that connect to the rechargeable battery.

[0919] Liquid reservoirs in cylindrical or strip-shaped devices

[0920] The liquid reservoir is completely inside the tip.

[0921] The liquid reservoir is at least partially located within the body of the electronic cigarette device.

[0922] • The liquid reservoir is or includes a sponge or other liquid absorbent material configured to store substantially all of the liquid in the liquid reservoir.

[0923] When the liquid reservoir is at least partially located within the body of the electronic smoking device, the filling device supplies liquid to the liquid reservoir through a hole or port in a side wall of the electronic smoking device (eg, a side wall within the body of the electronic smoking device).

[0924] • The liquid reservoir is or comprises a substantially hollow cylindrical open cell foam or sponge surrounding a heating element located inside the cylindrical foam or sponge.

[0925] Connectivity

[0926] The electronic cigarette device will automatically send or broadcast electronic cigarette related data through the low-power wide area network without user interaction.

[0927] The electronic cigarette device automatically and without user interaction transmits or broadcasts electronic cigarette related data as an advertising signal or other signal that does not require a pre-existing data connection with a receiver in a low power wide area network.

[0928] Data related to e-cigarettes describes how the devices are used.

[0929] Data related to e-cigarettes describe how long the device was used.

[0930] The location of the LPWAN receiver receiving data from the vaping device defines the location where the vaping device is used, for example for analytics and “find my device” functionality.

[0931] E-cigarette related data includes e-cigarette consumption data, defining the type of liquid or other tobacco or HnB (heat not burn) substances consumed.

[0932] E-cigarette related data includes e-cigarette consumption data, which defines whether the amount of vaporizable substance (such as liquid or tobacco or HnB (heat not burn) substance) remaining in the e-cigarette device is below a threshold.

[0933] Vaping-related data include puff-related data, including the time and duration of puffs.

[0934] The electronic cigarette device is configured to receive a deactivation signal from a local transmitter, which automatically causes the device to cease operation.

[0935] The deactivation signal is sent by a transmitter with a limited range so that the device ceases to operate in a specified area, such as a school, a room or area within a school, a bus, a train, or other environment where vaping or smoking is not permitted.

[0936] The electronic cigarette device includes a low-power, short-range wireless chip or circuit configured to enable the device to receive a deactivation signal from a local transmitter or beacon and process the signal to automatically disable itself or cease operation.

[0937] Low-power, short-range wireless chips are Bluetooth or BLE chips.

[0938] • A deactivation signal is a directional signal that is blocked or shielded from areas that are not affected by the deactivation signal.

[0939] The device is configured to stop operating upon receipt of a deactivation signal or after a preset time or duration, such as 30 minutes or 1 hour.

[0940] The device is configured to cease operation if it fails to detect any wireless signal, in order to prevent the device's electromagnetic shielding from successfully defeating the deactivation signal.

[0941] The device is configured to generate an alert, such as visual, audio and / or tactile, when disabling itself.

[0942] The device is configured to transmit a signal when it automatically disables itself or causes itself to cease operation.

[0943] The device is configured to send its MAC address to a local transmitter or beacon when automatically disabling itself or causing itself to cease operation.

[0944] Electronic cigarette device

[0945] The electronic cigarette device is a disposable electronic cigarette device that is sold to an end-user with a pre-filled liquid reservoir and a pre-charged battery so that the end-user can use the device for puffing immediately after purchase and can discard the device once the pre-charged battery is exhausted during normal use.

[0946] The electronic cigarette device includes electrical contacts that connect to a rechargeable battery in the device, and the electrical contacts are located at the end or side of the device opposite to the end to which the fixed nozzle is attached.

[0947] The electronic cigarette device includes electrical contacts connected to a rechargeable battery in the device, and the electrical contacts are located on the fixed nozzle.

[0948] The electronic cigarette device implements any of the key features defined in Section A, Part III and any of the optional features defined in Section A, Part III.

[0949] The electronic cigarette device includes a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a second closed-loop control algorithm that takes a parameter other than temperature as an input and operates as a second control loop.

[0950] The electronic cigarette device comprises a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to generate an inhalable vapor; wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a closed-loop power control algorithm operating as a second control loop.

[0951] The electronic cigarette device includes a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, the algorithm being configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element, the heating element being configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a second closed-loop control algorithm, the algorithm being configured to operate as an independent control loop of the closed-loop temperature control algorithm and to produce an output used by the closed-loop temperature control algorithm.

[0952] The electronic cigarette device comprises a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a second closed-loop control algorithm; and wherein the closed-loop temperature control algorithm is used to track a set point temperature of the heating element, and the second closed-loop control algorithm is used to correct errors in the closed-loop temperature control algorithm's tracking of the set point temperature.

[0953] The electronic cigarette device comprises a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a second closed-loop control algorithm; and wherein the second closed-loop control algorithm is used to correct errors or inaccuracies in temperature tracking of the closed-loop temperature control algorithm caused by an increase in the temperature of the stored atomizable liquid in thermal contact with the heating element.

[0954] The electronic cigarette device comprises a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, the algorithm being configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element in the device, the heating element being configured to produce an inhalable vapor; the device further comprising a liquid reservoir configured to provide an aerosolizable liquid to the heating element and being non-user replaceable or user refillable; and wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a closed-loop power control algorithm, operating as an external loop of the closed-loop temperature control algorithm.

[0955] The electronic cigarette device includes a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element in the device, the atomizing element being configured to produce an inhalable vapor; the device also includes a liquid reservoir configured to provide an atomizable liquid to the heating element and can be automatically refilled with liquid from an additional external liquid tank, bottle or refill container; and wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a closed-loop power control algorithm and operates as an external loop of the closed-loop temperature control algorithm.

[0956] The electronic cigarette device comprises a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, the algorithm being configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element in the device, the atomizing element being configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the device comprises a liquid reservoir configured to provide an atomizable liquid to the heating element and being user replaceable but not user refillable; wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a closed-loop power control algorithm, operating as an external loop of the closed-loop temperature control algorithm.

[0957] The electronic cigarette device comprises a control system for the electronic cigarette device, the control system comprising a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, the algorithm being configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element in the device, the heating element being configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the device comprises a liquid reservoir configured to provide an atomizable liquid to the heating element; and wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a closed-loop power control algorithm, operating as an external loop of the closed-loop temperature control algorithm.

[0958] The electronic cigarette device comprises a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the device automatically measures the resistance of a heating element in or used by the PV and the closed-loop temperature control algorithm uses the resistance value.

[0959] The electronic cigarette device includes a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the electronic cigarette device automatically measures or uses the value of the ambient temperature when measuring the resistance of the heating element in the PV to create data points to establish a resistance versus temperature line or curve for that particular heating element.

[0960] The electronic cigarette device comprises a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the electronic cigarette device automatically calculates or derives the resistance value of the heating element at a given set point temperature and a second temperature, and uses the second resistance value to normalize the operation of the closed-loop temperature control algorithm so that the input of the PID controller is consistent between different heating elements with different resistance relative to temperature behaviors.

[0961] The electronic cigarette device comprises a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to generate an inhalable vapor; wherein the electronic cigarette device automatically calculates or derives the resistance value of the heating element at a given set point temperature and 0°C.

[0962] The electronic cigarette device comprises a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, the algorithm being configured to adjust a PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element, the heating element being configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the algorithm is configured to compensate for inherent variations in resistance of different heating elements with respect to temperature response.

[0963] The electronic cigarette device comprises a closed loop temperature control algorithm as described above and is adapted to automatically fully refill the liquid at least ten times and the heating element does not include a noticeable burnt area even at the tenth liquid refill.

[0964] The electronic cigarette device comprises a closed loop temperature control algorithm as described above and is adapted to automatically fully refill the liquid at least twenty times and the heating element does not include a noticeable burnt area even at the twentieth refill of the liquid.

[0965] appendix

[0966] This appendix is ​​the product specification for a box-shaped or bottle-shaped disposable electronic cigarette device, as described in Section B and shown in Figures 26-31.

[0967] Atomizer (PV)

[0968] Refillable atomizer - pre-filled with 2ml of liquid

[0969] Rechargeable 500mAh battery

[0970] 600 puffs (one puff per second)

[0971] Stainless steel mesh coil inside cotton core

[0972] Foam liquid core

[0973] AYR temperature control provides:

[0974] oControlled consistent steam

[0975] oNo burning during puffing

[0976] oMore consistent flavor

[0977] Safety - coil is turned off during charging

[0978] Fill / charge low indicator light (flashing warning)

[0979] EOL indicator (flashing warning) will not prevent the user from suctioning

[0980] ·2 small liquid injection points on the base

[0981] Mouthpiece

[0982] ·1 sticker label to wrap the main body

[0983] Compact size - A×B×C

[0984] The atomizer is packaged in an aluminum foil seal and comes with a cardboard box and warranty leaflet.

[0985] How does it work?

[0986] The atomizer can be activated with just a puff, no button required

[0987] · During use, if the charge drops to 30% or less, the LED will flash orange during and for 3 seconds after a puff. When the charge is 10% or less, the indicator light will remain on during and for 3 seconds after a puff.

[0988] EOL indication, when the PV is within 10% of the end of its useful life (3000 puff seconds), the EOL indicator (red LED) will flash during and within 3 seconds after a puff. When the EOL is reached, it will light continuously during and within 3 seconds after a puff attempt

[0989] To refill, simply place the atomizer into its USB powered dock where it automatically recharges and refills.

[0990] Base

[0991] USB-C power dock

[0992] Front LED lights

[0993] LED light in the bottle mouth illuminates the liquid

[0994] Compact size - A×B×C

[0995] 1 port for inserting the nebulizer. The nebulizer can only be inserted in one direction

[0996] ·1 port for 10ml liquid bottle

[0997] ·accommodate:

[0998] o Micro liquid pump to pump liquid from bottle to nebulizer

[0999] oSmart electronic products

[1000] o Refill nozzle inserted into the atomizer

[1001] o 2 charging contacts

[1002] o 1 liquid nozzle

[1003] o Function to lock the bottle into the base

[1004] The dock is sold in a cardboard box with a USB cable and user manual / warranty sheet.

[1005] How does it work?

[1006] · Plug in USB

[1007] Wait for the green light to come on

[1008] Remove the seal from the entire bottle

[1009] ·Invert it and insert into the bottle port

[1010] Locks into place

[1011] Insert the atomizer mouthpiece upwards

[1012] The 2 nozzles in the base are inserted into the 2 holes in the bottom of the atomizer and pass through the integrated silicone seal.

[1013] Capacitive level sensing is accomplished by 2 integrated metal plates.

[1014] The light on the front of the base will flash red during filling

[1015] Once charged, the indicator light will flash orange

[1016] When fully charged, the indicator light turns solid green.

[1017] Pull out the atomizer and you can use it

[1018] bottle

[1019] Standard 10ml bottle with ratchet neck

[1020] Silicone seals

[1021] PP cap with holes

[1022] Bright tear-off seal

[1023] 10ml e-cigarette liquid - 50:50 PG / VG, with different flavors and nicotine concentrations.

[1024] · 1 sticker label to wrap around the bottle.

[1025] The bottle is sold in a standard-sized cardboard box with a clear indication that it is unique to the AYR system.

[1026] How does it work?

[1027] ·Seal protects the seal from potential damage and leakage during transportation.

[1028] Once the bottle is inserted into the nozzle with the cap down, the pump will move the liquid from the bottle into the atomizer

[1029] Air is able to return to the seal from around the same seal on the nozzle. Negative pressure draws air in when needed.

[1030] When the liquid is full, a small light illuminates the neck of the bottle to facilitate viewing of the liquid level.

[1031] overall

[1032] All 3 products sold separately.

Claims

1. An electronic cigarette system, comprising: (a) A disposable electronic cigarette device that includes the following non-user replaceable items: (i) a heating element; (ii) a liquid reservoir for providing liquid to the heating element; (b) An automatic liquid filling device, comprising: (i) a first hole or port configured to receive a liquid bottle or container containing an atomizable liquid; (ii) a second hole or port configured to receive the electronic cigarette device; (iii) an electronic liquid level sensing subsystem; (iv) a liquid filling subsystem configured to pump liquid from the liquid bottle or container to the liquid reservoir in the electronic cigarette device; and (v) a battery charging subsystem for charging a battery in the electronic cigarette device; The disposable electronic cigarette device is configured as follows: (i) sold to an end user with a pre-filled liquid reservoir and pre-charged battery, so that the device is ready for immediate use; (ii) automatically refilling and recharging at the liquid filling device without disassembly; (iii) be maintainable as a single or integrated device throughout the normal operating life of the device without requiring disassembly by replacing either the heating element or the liquid reservoir. Disposable electronic cigarette devices in boxes or bottles 2. The electronic cigarette system according to claim 1, wherein: The disposable electronic cigarette device includes a body housing a heating element and the liquid reservoir in a first compartment and housing a rechargeable battery in a second compartment.

3. The electronic cigarette system according to claim 2, wherein: The first and the second compartments are mounted on a base section.

4. The electronic cigarette system according to claim 3, wherein: The base section is a silicone inner base section.

5. The electronic cigarette system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein: The first compartment includes a foam-based liquid reservoir.

6. The electronic cigarette system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein: The PCB separates the first compartment from the second compartment and also provides pressure resistance for the main body of the electronic cigarette device.

7. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The electronic cigarette device includes one or more liquid filling holes in the base of the device.

8. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The electronic cigarette device includes charging contacts in a base of the device.

9. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The electronic cigarette device comprises one or more straight channels leading from the liquid filling hole to the liquid reservoir and configured to enable one or more liquid filling nozzles to penetrate to reach the liquid reservoir and, for example, penetrate into the foam, for example, by at least 4 mm.

10. The electronic cigarette system according to claim 9, wherein: The channel is open only when penetrated by the nozzle and is sealed closed as soon as the nozzle is withdrawn.

11. The electronic cigarette system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein: The channels are formed in the silicone inner base section.

12. The electronic cigarette system according to claim 11, wherein: The silicone inner base section includes an air passage that enables air drawn in from an air inlet in the electronic cigarette device to trigger activation of the pressure sensor and then pass upward through the heating element.

13. The electronic cigarette system according to claim 11 or 12, wherein: The silicone inner base section serves several functions: as a lower seal for the liquid reservoir; as a seal around the liquid injection hole; as a seal for the pressure sensor; as a seal around the charging contacts; and as an air seal for the outer base section in or on which the inner base section is located. Battery Recharging Subsystem 14. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The battery recharging subsystem is configured to control the charge or energy delivered to or stored in the battery so that the charge or energy in the battery will be substantially depleted or drop below a threshold required to drive the heating element above a set temperature before the liquid reservoir is depleted of liquid.

15. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The battery recharging subsystem is configured to monitor the charge level of the rechargeable battery and the amount or level of liquid in the liquid reservoir, and adjust the amount of electricity delivered to or stored in the battery so that the battery stops operating due to exhaustion or falling below a preset level before the amount of liquid in the liquid reservoir falls below a preset amount, thereby preventing dry burning and atomization.

16. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The battery recharging subsystem is configured to control the charge or energy stored in the battery so that the battery ceases to provide power sufficient to combust a wicking element associated with the heating element before the liquid reservoir is depleted of liquid.

17. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The battery recharging subsystem includes a main control circuit in the automatic liquid filling device.

18. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The battery recharging subsystem comprises a main control circuit in the electronic cigarette device. Automatic liquid filling device 19. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The automatic liquid filling device is automatic because it is configured to use the liquid level sensing subsystem to automatically detect when to start and stop filling the electronic cigarette device.

20. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The automatic liquid filling device includes (i) a first hole or port configured to receive a liquid bottle or container containing an atomizable liquid, and (ii) a second hole or port configured to receive the electronic cigarette device, the second hole or port including a liquid level sensing subsystem and a liquid filling subsystem, and (iii) an electric or electronic pump configured to pump liquid from the liquid bottle or container to the liquid filling subsystem.

21. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The automatic liquid filling device is configured such that the second port or aperture comprising the liquid level sensing system further comprises charging contacts arranged to connect with charging contacts in the electronic cigarette device.

22. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The automatic liquid filling device is configured with a single port or hole for liquid refilling and also recharging the electronic cigarette device, and the automatic liquid filling device automatically refills first and only starts charging when the liquid reservoir is completely full or filled to a preset threshold.

23. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The automatic liquid filling device is configured with a single port or hole for liquid refilling and also recharging the electronic cigarette device, and the automatic liquid filling device refills and recharges simultaneously, and regulates the recharging to charge proportionally based on the liquid level measurement.

24. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The automatic liquid filling device is configured to receive liquid from an inverted liquid bottle.

25. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The automatic liquid filling device is a personal tabletop or desktop device that is configured to refill only a single electronic cigarette device at a time and includes only one liquid filling port or aperture.

26. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The automatic liquid filling device is configured to refill two or more electronic cigarette devices at a time and includes two or more liquid filling ports or holes.

27. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The automatic liquid-filling device includes a plurality of liquid-filling ports or apertures, each of which is configured to receive a liquid bottle or container to enable the liquid-filling device to dispense liquids having different flavors, different nicotine strengths, or different liquid types, such as nicotine or CBD liquids.

28. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of claims 26 or 27, wherein: The automatic liquid filling device is configured for use in a retail environment, such as a shop, bar, club or restaurant, and includes a contactless payment reader. Liquid Level Sensing Subsystem 29. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The liquid level sensing subsystem is configured to measure data related to the liquid level or amount in the liquid reservoir in the electronic cigarette device.

30. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The liquid level sensing subsystem is implemented in the liquid refilling device.

31. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The liquid level sensing subsystem is a capacitive liquid level sensing subsystem including a capacitive sensing plate with a grounded shield disposed in or around the liquid refill port or aperture of the refill device. Electric or electronic pump 32. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The liquid filling subsystem is an electric or electronic peristaltic pump.

33. The electronic cigarette system of claim 32, wherein: The electric or electronic pump is configured to draw liquid from a tube or line connecting the pump and the electronic smoking device after the electronic smoking device is withdrawn from the liquid-filled device.

34. The electronic cigarette system of claim 33, wherein: The electric or electronic pump is configured to pump the liquid back or into the liquid bottle or container.

35. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in claim 33 or 34, wherein: The electric or electronic pump is configured to pump liquid back into the liquid bottle or container whenever the electronic cigarette device is removed from the automatic liquid filling device to reduce or minimize the amount of liquid in the liquid connection tube to and from the pump, thereby reducing or minimizing flavor mixing or contamination when the liquid bottle or container is replaced with a different flavor or different type of liquid. Liquid bottles or containers 36. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The liquid bottle or container includes (i) a cap configured to be attached to the bottle or container but not removed from the container during normal use, and wherein the cap includes a hole on its top surface exposing a flexible seal so that the seal is penetrated by a filling nozzle in a refilling device through the hole in the cap while the cap is secured to the bottle or container.

37. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The liquid bottle or container includes (i) a cap configured to be attached to the bottle or container but not removed from the container during normal use, and (ii) a flexible liquid, such as a septum seal in the cap or in the neck or mouth of the bottle or container below the cap, the flexible septum seal being configured to open only when penetrated by a filling nozzle in the refill base, otherwise completely sealing the neck or mouth of the liquid refill bottle or container.

38. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The liquid bottle or container includes (i) a cap that can be attached to the bottle or container but not removed from the container during normal use, and (ii) a flexible seal around the mouth of the bottle or container; and the liquid bottle or container also includes a security chip or other unique identifier that is checked or verified by the automatic refill base before liquid is automatically withdrawn from the bottle or container.

39. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The liquid bottle or container is of a standard size and shape for the type used in manually filling electronic cigarette devices that cannot be automatically refilled.

40. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The liquid bottle or container is a liquid bottle or container of standard 10 mL size and shape.

41. The electronic cigarette system according to any one of claims 1 to 39, wherein: The automatic liquid filling apparatus is configured for use in a retail environment, the or each liquid bottle or container being of a size of 50 mL or greater, for example at least 100 mL.

42. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The liquid bottle or container includes an air hole that is sealed by a user removable sticker or label.

43. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The liquid bottle or container includes a liquid seal, such as a septum seal, configured to be penetrated by a needle or other liquid conduit in the liquid-filling device, the needle or other liquid conduit being connected to the electric or electronic pump.

44. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The liquid bottle or container includes a liquid seal including a single slit configured to be penetrated by a filling nozzle and to allow air to enter the bottle as liquid is withdrawn from the bottle.

45. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein: The liquid bottle or container includes a liquid seal comprising two or more layers, wherein an upper layer is made of a harder material than a lower layer.

46. ​​An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The liquid bottle or container includes a liquid seal that is rigidly supported by a flange or structure in the bottle to control deformation of the seal when the seal is penetrated by the filling nozzle.

47. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The liquid bottle or container includes a flexible septum seal that is securely secured in the neck of the bottle or container, preventing removal of the seal and, therefore, refilling of the bottle or container through its open neck.

48. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The liquid bottle or container is sealed with a cap that includes a safety feature to prevent the cap from being removed during normal use and also includes a hole that exposes the flexible septum seal so that the septum seal can be penetrated by the filling nozzle while securing the cap to the bottle or container.

49. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The bottle is closed with a cap that is configured to be attached to the bottle or container by, for example, screws or bayonet threads, but not removed from the container during normal use, and wherein the cap includes a hole exposing the flexible seal, the hole being centered on the exposed top surface of the cap.

50. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The liquid bottle or container is a polypropylene bottle made from polypropylene recycled from other liquid bottles containing nebulizable liquids. Connectivity 51. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The electronic cigarette device automatically sends or broadcasts data related to the electronic cigarette through a low-power wide area network without user interaction.

52. The electronic cigarette system of claim 51, wherein: The electronic cigarette device automatically and without user interaction transmits or broadcasts electronic cigarette related data as an advertising signal or other signal that does not require a pre-existing data connection with a receiver in the low power wide area network.

53. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in claim 51 or 52, wherein: The electronic cigarette related data describes how to use the device.

54. The electronic cigarette system of claims 51-53, wherein: The electronic cigarette related data describes when the device is used.

55. The electronic cigarette system of claims 51-54, wherein: The location of the LPWAN receiver receiving data from the vaping device defines the location of use of the vaping device, for example for analysis and "find my device" functionality.

56. The electronic cigarette system of claims 51-55, wherein: The electronic cigarette related data includes electronic cigarette consumption data, defining the type of liquid or other tobacco or HnB (heat not burn) substance consumed.

57. The electronic cigarette system of claims 51-56, wherein: The electronic cigarette related data comprises electronic cigarette consumption data defining whether the amount of vaporizable substance, such as liquid or tobacco or HnB (heat not burn) substance remaining in the electronic cigarette device is below a threshold value.

58. The electronic cigarette system of claims 51-57, wherein: The electronic cigarette related data includes puff related data, including the time and duration of puff.

59. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The electronic cigarette device is configured to receive a deactivation signal from a local transmitter, the signal automatically causing the device to cease operation.

60. The electronic cigarette system of claim 59, wherein: The deactivation signal is sent by a transmitter having a limited range, causing the device to cease operation in a limited area, such as a school, a room or area within a school, or a bus, or a train, or other environment where e-cigarettes or smoking are not allowed.

61. The electronic cigarette system of claims 59-60, wherein: The electronic cigarette device includes a low-power, short-range wireless chip or circuit configured to enable the device to receive a deactivation signal from a local transmitter or beacon and process the signal to automatically disable itself or stop itself from functioning.

62. The electronic cigarette system of claim 61, wherein: The low-power, short-range wireless chip is a Bluetooth or BLE chip.

63. The electronic cigarette system of claims 59-62, wherein: The deactivation signal is a directional signal that blocks or shields an area that is not affected by the deactivation signal.

64. The electronic cigarette system of claims 59-63, wherein: The device is configured to cease operation upon receipt of the deactivation signal or within a preset time or duration, such as 30 minutes or 1 hour.

65. The electronic cigarette system of claims 59-64, wherein: The device is configured to cease operation if it fails to detect any wireless signal, in case the EM shield of the device successfully defeats the deactivation signal.

66. The electronic cigarette system of claims 59-65, wherein: The device is configured to generate an alert, such as visual, audio and / or tactile, when disabling itself.

67. The electronic cigarette system of claims 59-66, wherein: The device is configured to send a signal when it automatically disables itself or causes itself to cease functioning.

68. The electronic cigarette system of claims 59-67, wherein: The device is configured to send its MAC address to the local transmitter or beacon when automatically disabling itself or causing itself to cease operation. Electronic cigarette device 69. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The electronic cigarette device is further configured not to be disassembled during normal use, but to remain as a one-piece or integrated device throughout its service life of normal use including multiple refilling and recharging events.

70. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The electronic cigarette device includes a microcontroller or chip, which is programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, and the algorithm is configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of the power delivered to the heating element, and the heating element is configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a second closed-loop control algorithm, which takes parameters other than temperature as input.

71. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein: The electronic cigarette device includes a microcontroller or chip, which is programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, and the algorithm is configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of the power delivered to the heating element, and the heating element is configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a closed-loop power control algorithm, which operates as a second control loop.

72. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The electronic cigarette device includes a microcontroller or chip, which is programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, and the algorithm is configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of the power delivered to the heating element, and the heating element is configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a second closed-loop control algorithm, which is configured to operate as an independent control loop of the closed-loop temperature control algorithm and produce an output used by the closed-loop temperature control algorithm.

73. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The electronic cigarette device includes a microcontroller or chip, which is programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, and the algorithm is configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of the power delivered to the heating element, and the heating element is configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a second closed-loop control algorithm; and wherein the closed-loop temperature control algorithm is used to track the set point temperature of the heating element, and the second closed-loop control algorithm is used to correct errors in the tracking of the set point temperature by the closed-loop temperature control algorithm.

74. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The electronic cigarette device includes a microcontroller or chip, which is programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, and the algorithm is configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element, and the heating element is configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the microcontroller or chip is also programmed with a second closed-loop control algorithm; and wherein the second closed-loop control algorithm is used to correct errors or inaccuracies in the temperature tracking of the closed-loop temperature control algorithm, which errors or inaccuracies are caused by the increase in temperature of the stored atomizable liquid in thermal contact with the heating element.

75. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The electronic cigarette device comprises a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, the algorithm being configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the device automatically measures the resistance of the heating element in or used by the PV, and the closed-loop temperature control algorithm uses the resistance value.

76. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein: The electronic cigarette device includes a microcontroller or chip programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, the algorithm being configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the electronic cigarette device automatically measures or uses the value of the ambient temperature when measuring the resistance of the heating element in the PV so as to create data points to establish a line or curve of the resistance of the particular heating element relative to temperature.

77. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein: The electronic cigarette device includes a microcontroller or chip, which is programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, and the closed-loop temperature control algorithm is configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element, and the heating element is configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the electronic cigarette device automatically calculates or derives the resistance value of the heating element for a given set point temperature and also a second temperature, and uses the second resistance value to normalize the operation of the closed-loop temperature control algorithm so that the input of the PID controller is consistent between different heating elements with different resistance relative to temperature behaviors.

78. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The electronic cigarette device includes a microcontroller or chip, which is programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, and the algorithm is configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of the power delivered to the heating element, and the heating element is configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the electronic cigarette device automatically calculates or derives the resistance value of the heating element for a given set point temperature and 0°C.

79. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The electronic cigarette device includes a microcontroller or chip, which is programmed with a closed-loop temperature control algorithm, the algorithm is configured to adjust the PWM duty cycle of power delivered to a heating element, and the heating element is configured to produce an inhalable vapor; wherein the algorithm is configured to compensate for the inherent variation in resistance of different heating elements relative to temperature response.

80. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The electronic cigarette device includes a closed-loop temperature control algorithm as described above, and is adapted to be automatically fully refilled with liquid at least ten times, and the heating element does not include a noticeable burnt area even at the tenth liquid refill.

81. An electronic cigarette system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein: The electronic cigarette device includes a closed-loop temperature control algorithm as described above, and is adapted to be automatically fully refilled with liquid at least twenty times, and the heating element does not include a noticeable burnt area even at the twentieth liquid refill.

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