Wind speed assisted control of evaporator

Abstract

An evaporator apparatus and method for detecting inspiration through an evaporator using a heating element is provided. The resistive heater (603) of the evaporator (600) may be used as a heater and as an anemometer for detecting inspiration. Alternatively or additionally, a separate resistive heater (609) may be included in the air path (607) through the evaporator to detect user inspiration through the evaporator. The heating control mechanism utilizes already existing heating elements in terms of wind speed dependencies related to idle and in use of the evaporator (in use suggesting suction / suction on the evaporator by a user). Using this information, a controller of the evaporator controls heating of the evaporator accordingly as needed.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the patent application with application number 202211723182.6 filed on August 4, 2017 and invention name “Wind speed auxiliary control of evaporator”.

[0002] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0003] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 371,463, filed August 5, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Background Art

[0004] In recent years, electronic vaporization devices, including electronic cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vaporizing devices, etc. (referred to herein as "vaporizers" or "vaporizer devices"), have become increasingly popular. One reason for their popularity is that vaporizers produce fewer carcinogens when burned and smoked than conventional cigarettes and / or other inhalable products.

[0005] E-cigarettes are typically battery-powered vaporizers that simulate the feeling of smoking without actually burning tobacco. Instead of inhaling cigarette smoke, users inhale an aerosol, often called steam, released by a heating element that atomizes a vaporizable material, which can be a liquid solution, a solid, a wax, or a combination of these. Users activate the vaporizer by puffing or pressing a button. Some vaporizers look like traditional cigarettes, but there are many variations.

[0006] In many e-cigarettes on the market today, a user-activated button or user-suck sensor is employed to activate the vaporizer's heating element. In some cases, a manual activation mechanism (e.g., a button, trigger, or other control requiring a separate action or input from the user to cause activation of the heating element) may be undesirable to initiate heating. For example, requiring the use of a button or other manual activation mechanism can prevent a user from easily synchronizing when they manually activate heating and when they take a puff. Furthermore, if further user action or input (e.g., pressing a button a second time, etc.) is required to switch off from vaporization mode or otherwise reduce power to the heating element, the user is more likely to forget to turn the heater off, resulting in the heater being left on for longer than desired. Maintaining the heating element at an unnecessarily elevated heating level when no airflow is occurring can lead to charring of the vaporizable material and higher levels of degradation products in the inhaled aerosol. This can also result in faster discharge of the battery or other power source used to power the heating element, potentially requiring less time between recharges.

[0007] In the case of user-induced suck-activated heating on a vaporizer (e.g., a user "puffing" on the vaporizer or otherwise inhaling to draw air through the vaporizer and past the heating element), the heater can be activated, typically by a pressure sensor or the like, when airflow consistent with a user sucking (inhaling) onto the vaporizer's mouthpiece is detected. Unfortunately, due to potential issues with conventional sensors, this user-suck-triggered activation is not always reliably implemented. In at least some vaporizers that utilize user-suck activation of the heating element, a pressure sensor is provided in communication with the air path. For example, a microphone sensor can be used as the pressure sensor. Such microphone pressure-sensing components are often well-suited for vaporizing devices because they tend to be small, very sensitive, and relatively inexpensive. However, they can be less reliable and may degrade over time. These microphone sensors detect the deflection of a delicate membrane and output a change in capacitance. Delicate membranes are typically designed to vibrate in the presence of sound and / or pressure waves in the air and therefore readily deflect under the negative pressure induced by a user's suck. However, such membranes typically degrade with repeated use, potentially leading to a less repeatable user experience, loss of sensitivity to certain puff events, and / or even complete cessation of operation.

[0008] While microphone-based sensing mechanisms can be acceptable for controlling heating within vaporizers, their lifespan can be further compromised by the fact that such sensors are not designed to function within the vaporizer environment. Microphone membranes are typically designed to function in a relatively clean and dry environment. In contrast, the environment within or around a vaporizer can be humid, and the membrane may be exposed to aerosols, particulates, heat, moisture and / or non-moisture liquids, and / or other complex environmental factors whenever it is in use. Furthermore, over time, residue from the vaporized material may deposit on the membrane. This residue may saturate the membrane sensor and may completely inhibit membrane deflection, rendering the membrane sensor (and, by extension, the vaporizer's heating control) ineffective. To mitigate these issues, vaporizer manufacturers have attempted to isolate the microphone from the air path using long and / or circuitous paths. However, these paths can present design challenges, as they typically must be very narrow to prevent contaminants from quickly reaching the sensor. Unfortunately, the narrow path can become clogged with sticky materials, which can prevent the microphone from detecting negative pressure events imparted by a user inhaling or otherwise "puffing" on the device. If the material being evaporated has a low viscosity, it may not be possible to prevent the pressure differential from reaching the microphone membrane. However, the fluid may eventually saturate the pressure sensor through capillary action, resulting in a decrease in the sensor's sensitivity or even a complete loss of sensitivity. Summary of the Invention

[0009] Aspects of the current subject matter relate to regulating heat within an evaporator device.

[0010] A heating control method consistent with embodiments of the present subject matter involves monitoring one or more parameters of a heating element configured to heat a vaporizable material, and utilizing the monitored parameters in a wind speed correlation to determine whether the vaporizer is idle and when it is in use. When a user initiates an inhalation event at the vaporizer's mouthpiece, a greater volume of air passes through the heating element. The surge of air flowing through the heating element at the start of a puff results in additional heat loss from the heating element relative to stagnant air surrounding the heating element. This cooling effect of air flowing around and / or through the heating element causes a change in one or more parameters of the heating element. Using information regarding changes in one or more parameters, according to aspects described herein, the vaporizer control can determine whether a user has initiated and / or terminated an inhalation event on the vaporizer and, accordingly, control the power delivered to the heating element so that the heating element varies between at least a first, lower (e.g., standby) temperature and a second, higher (e.g., activation or vaporization) temperature.

[0011] The details of one or more variations of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the following description. Other features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. Although certain features of the presently disclosed subject matter have been described for illustrative purposes in relation to evaporator devices, it should be readily understood that these features are not intended to be limiting. The claims that follow this disclosure are intended to define the scope of the protected subject matter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate certain aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein and, together with the description, help explain some principles associated with the disclosed embodiments. In the drawings:

[0013] Figure 1A and Figure 1B Features related to detecting power changes and temperature changes for regulating heat within an evaporator device consistent with embodiments of the current subject matter are respectively shown;

[0014] Figure 2 Features related to detecting the end of inhalation by a user of a vaporizer device are shown consistent with embodiments of the current subject matter;

[0015] Figure 3 shows temperature characteristics when inhalation is detected during cooling of an evaporator device consistent with an embodiment of the current subject matter;

[0016] Figure 4 shows temperature and power characteristics associated with detecting the end of a user's inhalation during heating of a vaporizer device consistent with embodiments of the current subject matter;

[0017] Figure 5 Features of an exemplary evaporator device consistent with embodiments of the current subject matter are shown;

[0018] Figure 6 Features of additional exemplary evaporator devices consistent with embodiments of the current subject matter are shown;

[0019] Figure 7 Features of another exemplary evaporator device consistent with embodiments of the current subject matter are shown;

[0020] Figure 8 Features of yet another exemplary evaporator device consistent with embodiments of the current subject matter are shown;

[0021] Figure 9 Features of a controller that may be adapted to regulate heat within an evaporator device consistent with embodiments of the current subject matter are shown;

[0022] Figure 10 A process flow diagram illustrating features of a method of regulating heat within an evaporator device consistent with embodiments of the current subject matter is shown; and

[0023] Figure 11 A process flow diagram illustrating additional features of a method of regulating heat within an evaporator device consistent with embodiments of the current subject matter is shown.

[0024] Indeed, similar reference numerals indicate similar structures, features, or elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Embodiments of the present subject matter include methods and apparatus related to generating vapor from a vaporizable material and controlling the heat transferred to the vaporizable material. The term "vaporizer" is used generically in the following description to refer to a vaporizer device. Examples of vaporizers consistent with embodiments of the present subject matter include electronic vaporizers, electronic cigarettes, and e-cigarettes. Typically, such vaporizers are portable, often handheld devices that heat a vaporizable material to provide an inhalable dose of the material. The vaporizable material used with a vaporizer can be a liquid, gel, paste, solid, or any material having any other physical consistency.

[0026] An evaporator having features consistent with certain embodiments of the current subject matter includes a heating control mechanism for controlling heating within the evaporator. The heating control mechanism consistent with embodiments of the current subject matter can provide certain advantages, such as being less susceptible to particle or residue deposits, which can typically occur with conventional heating control mechanisms for evaporators.

[0027] Generally, a vaporizer having features consistent with certain embodiments of the current subject matter includes a device body integrated with or connectable to a mouthpiece, at least one heating element (e.g., a heater such as a resistive heater), a controller (e.g., a microcontroller unit), and a power source.

[0028] The heating element can be configured to transfer thermal energy to the vaporizable material (e.g., through one or more of conductive heat transfer, convective heat transfer, and radiative heat transfer), thereby heating the vaporizable material so that vapor escaping from the vaporizable material can be inhaled by a user through the mouthpiece. Unlike flow sensors using the aforementioned pressure sensor (e.g., having a microphone membrane), vaporizers having features consistent with various possible embodiments of the present subject matter can employ a heating element for vaporization and / or optionally a second heating element or otherwise heated component of the vaporizer to detect puffs (suction and air flow generated by a user taking a puff on the vaporizer), for example, to adjust the power supplied to the vaporizable material based on whether a puff has been detected (or not detected) within a certain time range.

[0029] The heating element may be a resistive heating element that also functions as an anemometer and causes the vaporizable material to vaporize. Thus, in addition to providing heat to the vaporizable material, the resistive heating element may also be used to sense air flow as air passes through the heater. In some cases, the heating element may experience a drop in surface temperature, and the microcontroller may record the change in surface temperature of the heating element as air flows over the heating element.

[0030] As used herein, the term "anemometer" or "wind speed" refers to a system and method for measuring the temperature change of air flow and anemometer wire elements when air flows through the anemometer wire element. Typically, hot wire anemometers use very thin wires (about a few microns) that are electrically heated to a temperature higher than the ambient air temperature. The air flowing through the wire cools the wire. Since the resistance of most metals depends on the temperature of the metal (tungsten is a common choice for hot wire), the relationship between the resistance of the wire and the air flow rate can be obtained. There are multiple implementations, and hot wire devices can be further classified as CCA (constant current anemometer), CVA (constant pressure anemometer) and / or CTA (constant temperature anemometer). Therefore, the voltage output of these anemometers is the result of a certain circuit in the device that attempts to keep a specific variable (current, voltage or temperature) unchanged according to Ohm's law (V=IR). As described herein, one or more parameters of a heating element within a vaporizer (e.g., applied current, applied voltage, temperature, resistance, power required to maintain the heating element at a given temperature, etc.) can be monitored, and changes in these parameters that match a predetermined pattern can be interpreted as indicating that a puff has been initiated and / or ceased, such that the temperature maintained by the heating element can be varied between at least two different set points. For example, when no puff is detected (and optionally, when no puff is detected for a set period of time and / or based on some other criteria), the heating element can be maintained at a first temperature, which in some examples may be referred to as a standby temperature. When the start of a puff is detected (and optionally, some time after the start of a puff), the heating element can be raised to a second temperature, which in some examples may be referred to as a vaporization or evaporation temperature. As used herein, the term "one or more parameters of a heating element" is intended to refer to either or both the actual heating element itself, which may be a component of the heating circuit to which power is applied such that the resistance of the heating element converts the applied electrical power into heat, and other components that are part of the heating circuit. In some embodiments of the current subject matter, those other components may include a power source or supply, one or more integrated circuits, resistors, capacitors, conductive elements for connecting to other components of the heating circuit, a microcontroller or other processor, and the like.

[0031] The amount of air flow through the heating element can be correlated with the use of the evaporator. The heating element of the evaporator described herein can be located in the air flow path through the evaporator. This can allow for accurate sensing and measurement of air flow and effective cooling of the heating element.

[0032] When the vaporizer is not in use, the amount of air flowing over the heating element is negligible. When a user draws air (e.g., puffs) on the device's mouthpiece, the amount of air flowing over the heating element typically changes significantly. Changes in air flow over the heating element affect the amount of power required to maintain a specific temperature for the heating element. When the vaporizer is turned on or in use, when no air is flowing over the heating element, a certain amount of power is required to maintain the base or standby temperature of the heating element. If there is no increase in air flow over the heating element, the power required to maintain this temperature reaches a certain steady-state value. When the heating element is already at the standby temperature and there is air flow over it (e.g., when a user puffs on the vaporizer), the additional air flow over the heating element cools the heating element by a certain amount. Generally, a small amount of airflow over the heating element has less impact on the heating element than a larger amount of airflow. This relationship can be pre-programmed into the microcontroller. A change (or drop) in the temperature of the heating element and / or a change in some other measurable parameter of the heating element, such as current draw, voltage, resistance, power required to maintain a given temperature, etc., can be correlated to the amount of air flow over the heating element and can be used to discern when a user is taking a puff on the vaporizer. In some embodiments, the temperature of the heating element is desirably greater than the ambient air temperature (e.g., such that maintaining the heating element at that temperature under steady-state conditions requires some power delivery from the power supply). A heating control mechanism consistent with certain embodiments of the current subject matter exploits this feature to control heating using components already present in the vaporizer. This approach is advantageous over conventional vaporizers that utilize additional components (e.g., pressure sensors), for example, because the current embodiments are able to detect puffs without additional equipment (thereby reducing cost) and do not utilize sensors that may be susceptible to degradation or failure when exposed to typical vaporizer environmental factors.

[0033] According to some aspects of the present subject matter, when the evaporator is idle, the temperature of the heating element is a preset standby temperature. Generally, the standby temperature should not be so hot that it could cause evaporation or degradation of the vaporizable material while the evaporator is in standby mode. The standby temperature should also not be too low or close to ambient temperature, as an increase in air flow over the heating element would not necessarily result in a proportional or measurable decrease in the temperature of the heating element. In some examples, the standby temperature is between approximately 50 degrees Celsius and 70 degrees Celsius.

[0034] As described above, a heating control method consistent with an embodiment of the present subject matter can involve monitoring one or more parameters of a heating element configured to heat a vaporizable material and utilizing the measured parameters in a wind speed correlation, based on which it can be determined whether the vaporizer is idle (e.g., not drawing puffs) and when it is in use (where in use means that a user is drawing puffs / inhalations on the vaporizer). When a user begins to draw puffs on the mouthpiece of the vaporizer, a greater amount of air passes through the heating element. In standby mode, the heating element is maintained at a predetermined temperature greater than the ambient temperature before a greater amount of air flows into the heating element due to the user's inhalation. The rush of air flowing through the heating element at the beginning of a puff results in additional heat loss from the heating element relative to when the air surrounding the heating element is stagnant. This cooling effect of the air flowing around and / or through the heating element results in a change in one or more parameters of the heating element (as described above). By using information about changes in one or more parameters, the vaporizer control described herein is able to determine whether a user has initiated and / or ended an inhalation event (e.g., a puff) on the vaporizer and accordingly control the power delivered to the heating element such that the heating element varies between at least a first, lower (e.g., standby) temperature and a second, higher (e.g., activation or vaporization) temperature.

[0035] The vaporizer may include a microcontroller configured to receive information about the heating element to determine the status of the vaporizer. The microcontroller may include circuitry, switches, and preprogrammed algorithms for responding to information detected at the heating element. The microcontroller is typically in electrical communication with the heating element, as well as a power source, an on / off switch, and other electronic components that the vaporizer may include (LED display, sound, etc.).

[0036] The microcontroller can be a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller. A PID controller calculates an "error" value as the difference between a measured process variable and a desired set point. Here, one set point (e.g., a predetermined value) is the standby temperature, while a second set point is the evaporation temperature. When the evaporator is turned on, the microcontroller can run a PID control loop to energize the heating element and maintain the heating element at the standby temperature.

[0037] Figure 1AGraph 100 illustrates features associated with detecting changes in power supplied to a vaporizer's heating element, consistent with some embodiments of the present subject matter. As described above, the microcontroller can be configured to periodically measure a parameter of the heating element (singular form is used in the remainder of this disclosure for simplicity of discussion, but as described above, more than one parameter may be used) when the vaporizer is in the ON state and in standby mode at a standby temperature 120. The measured parameter can optionally be the power 110 supplied to the heating element under the control of the microcontroller to maintain the constant temperature 120 of the heating element. The microcontroller can be pre-programmed with the knowledge that a known amount of power is constantly required to maintain the standby temperature when the heating element is at the standby temperature. When the power required to maintain the standby temperature of the heating element exceeds a preset value, the microcontroller can register this difference as associated with a user inhaling on the vaporizer (e.g., the start of a puff 130). This triggers the microcontroller to send a signal to the power supply to increase the power input to the heating element to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the vaporizable material. The microcontroller can be configured to compare the power required to maintain a certain temperature in the heating element when there is a temperature change on the heating element and increase the power to the heating element to reach the vaporization temperature only when the power required to maintain the standby heating element temperature exceeds a preset value. This comparison can be performed digitally, such as by programming the microcontroller to perform an operation (e.g., receiving an input indicating the current power being applied to maintain the setpoint temperature and determining whether the current power being applied indicates that a puff has been initiated), or by hardware, such as an integrated circuit that registers a voltage or other signal when a certain preset condition is met. In some examples, the vaporization temperature to which the heating element is raised when a puff is detected can be, for example, in the range of approximately 100 degrees Celsius to approximately 300 degrees Celsius.

[0038] Consistent with some aspects of the present subject matter, control of the vaporizer's heating element can be established by detecting a power function rather than simply measuring power itself. For example, a trigger condition representing a change in power can include the first derivative of power, the second derivative of power, or some combination thereof. The trigger condition can be an algorithm or mathematical relationship based on one or more of the aforementioned parameters. Control of the heating element can be established by detecting the rate of change (or some other algorithm or mathematical function) of power supplied to the heating element while the vaporizer is at a standby temperature. Similar to the previous example in which the vaporizer records and attempts to maintain the standby or vaporization temperature of the heating element, the microcontroller can be configured to record and read the rate of change of power supplied to the heating element while the vaporizer is in standby mode and at the standby temperature. Measuring the rate of change of power can provide a more detailed picture of the user's inhalation. Typically, when a user begins to inhale on a vaporizer, air flow through the heating element rapidly increases from zero or near zero to a certain maximum, then rapidly decreases as the user stops puffing, with the air flow dropping sharply and becoming near zero when the user stops puffing. The change in air flow can be correlated with the change in power required to maintain the temperature of the heating element. As air flow increases, heat loss from the heating element increases, and the power required to maintain the standby temperature increases. This power variation can follow a complex relationship, making it possible to achieve improved detection of the start of a puff by monitoring one or more derivatives of the delivered power rather than just the current power.

[0039] The power value can be set so that once a preset power value for maintaining a given standby temperature is exceeded, the microcontroller instructs the power supply to increase the power to the heating element, causing the heating element to reach the evaporation temperature. Alternatively, one or more (e.g., a set of) vaporization mode triggering criteria, as described above, can be applied to determine whether a puff has begun and whether the evaporation temperature needs to be increased, thereby causing the microcontroller to increase the power to the heating element. At the end of an inhalation, air flow decreases, and heat loss from the heating element to the flowing air is therefore reduced, requiring less power to maintain the evaporation temperature. Once the power required to maintain the evaporation temperature drops to a preset power value, the microcontroller can instruct the power supply to reduce the amount of power sent to the heating element, causing the heating element temperature to drop to the standby temperature. Alternatively, one or more (e.g., a set of) standby mode triggering criteria, as described above, can be applied to determine whether a puff has ended and whether the evaporation temperature needs to be lowered, thereby causing the microcontroller to reduce the power to the heating element.

[0040] In other words, in the power delivery monitoring embodiments of the present subject matter, the microcontroller is capable of detecting changes in the temperature of the heating element while the heating element is at the standby temperature and adjusting the supplied power accordingly to match the setpoint standby temperature. Once the power required to maintain the standby temperature changes significantly (as measured by some combination of the actual power value, the first derivative of the delivered power, and / or the second derivative of the delivered power matching one or more vaporization mode triggering criteria (e.g., due to a user inhaling on the vaporizer)), the microcontroller determines that a puff is occurring and enters a puff state, increasing the power to the heating element until the heating element is at the vaporization temperature. While the heating element is at the vaporization temperature, the microcontroller is still capable of detecting changes in the temperature of the heating element and adjusting the supplied power accordingly to match the setpoint vaporization temperature. Once the power required to maintain the vaporization temperature changes significantly (as measured by some combination of the actual power value, the first derivative of the delivered power, and / or the second derivative of the delivered power matching one or more (e.g., a set of) standby mode triggering criteria (e.g., due to a user inhaling on the vaporizer)), the microcontroller determines that a puff is no longer occurring, as described below with reference to Figure 2 Discuss in more detail.

[0041] consistent with some aspects of the present topic, and as Figure 1B As shown in graph 150 , the amount of heat and heating time can be controlled by maintaining a constant or near-constant power level 170 to the heating element and detecting changes in temperature 160. In this case, constant power 170 is delivered to the heating element, and changes in heating element temperature 160 (or, alternatively, the temperature of some other component whose temperature changes with changes in air flow) are monitored. The microcontroller can monitor (e.g., continuously, every few seconds, at some other periodicity, etc.) the heating element temperature 160 to determine whether changes in the vaporizer state are necessary. Alternatively, a temperature function, such as the change in temperature or the first and / or second derivatives of the temperature, can be monitored. As air flow through the heating element increases due to user inhalation, the temperature of the heating element decreases. Once the temperature difference between the temperature when there is no significant air flow and the temperature when there is inhalation and air flow over the heating element exceeds a preset temperature difference (e.g., puff initiation 130), the microcontroller instructs the power supply to increase the power to the heating element to reach the vaporization temperature. As the power supply continues to provide a constant evaporation power level to the heating element, the microcontroller continues to measure the temperature (or a function of the temperature) of the heating element while the heating element is at the evaporation temperature. The evaporation temperature may fluctuate slightly due to variations in air flow over the heating element. Once the temperature variation between what can be considered a reference temperature value for evaporation (when there is little to no air flow over the heating element during evaporation) and the measured evaporation temperature is negligible, the microcontroller can signal the power supply to reduce the power supplied to the heating element so that the standby temperature is achieved.

[0042] In other words, in temperature monitoring embodiments of the present subject matter, the microcontroller maintains a constant power delivery level to the heating element while the vaporizer is in standby mode and is capable of detecting changes in the heating element temperature. When some combination of the actual temperature, the first derivative of the temperature, and / or the second derivative of the temperature matches one or more vaporization mode triggering criteria, the microcontroller determines that a puff is occurring and enters a puff state, in which the power to the heating element is increased to a second power level sufficient to bring the heating element to the vaporization temperature. While the heating element is at the vaporization temperature, the microcontroller maintains the second power delivery level and is capable of detecting changes in the heating element temperature. When some combination of the actual temperature, the first derivative of the temperature, and / or the second derivative of the temperature matches one or more standby mode triggering criteria, the microcontroller determines that a puff is not occurring and enters a standby state, in which the power to the heating element is reduced to the first power level sufficient to return the heating element to the standby temperature.

[0043] In some embodiments of the current subject matter, the microcontroller can be configured to detect the resistance within the heating element while providing constant power. Because the resistance of a heating element is a function of temperature, the resistance can be used as an indicator of temperature. Similarly, changes in the resistance of the heating element (and / or changes in one or more rates of change, such as the first derivative, second derivative, etc. of resistance) can be measured and correlated with different states of the vaporizer (e.g., standby mode or evaporation mode). In other embodiments of the current subject matter, changes in the voltage or current required to maintain a given temperature can be used as an indicator of the power or temperature of the heating element and / or some other component exposed to the air flow. Changes in these parameters and / or one or more rates of change of these parameters (e.g., first, second, or other derivatives) can be monitored and compared to trigger conditions indicating the start of a puff (thus requiring a switch to evaporation mode) and / or the end of a puff (thus requiring a switch to standby mode).

[0044] Figure 2 2 is a graph showing the detection of the end of inhalation in the power delivery monitoring embodiment of the present subject matter. Once the heating element is at the evaporation temperature, the microcontroller continues to maintain the power supplied to the heating element to maintain the evaporation temperature 220 (which may have slight variations and / or fluctuations) until the microcontroller detects that the amount of power required to maintain the power to the heating element 210 has dropped below a second predetermined power value, such as Figure 2200 . Just as the start of a puff is detected by comparing one or more parameters (which may include one or more derivatives of these parameters) to one or more vaporization mode triggering criteria, the end of a puff can be detected by comparing one or more parameters (which may include one or more derivatives of these parameters) to one or more standby mode triggering criteria. For example, a decrease in the power required by the heating element can be used as an indication that less power is required at the heating element to maintain the vaporization temperature, which may be related to less air flow over the heating element, resulting in heat loss at the heating element. When a user completes or nearly completes an inhalation on the vaporizer (e.g., at the end of puff 230 ), less air flow is generated over the heating element. Once the power level required to maintain the vaporization temperature drops to a second predetermined power level, the microcontroller can instruct the power supply to reduce the power to the heating element to a level that maintains the standby temperature. In some embodiments of the current subject matter, more complex analysis can be performed that involves more than just the current value of a parameter, such as the required power. For example, when a certain combination (possibly including one or more of the actual power value, the first derivative of the delivered power, and / or the second derivative of the delivered power) matches one or more standby mode triggering criteria (e.g., due to the user ceasing inhalation on the vaporizer), the microcontroller determines that puffing has ceased and enters a standby state, wherein the power to the heating element is reduced until the heating element is at the standby temperature. A more complex analysis (possibly involving the first and / or second derivatives of the delivered power) can more accurately represent the detection of a change in vaporization state. As described above, a similar analysis (not shown) can be performed for the constant power delivery embodiment of the current subject matter.

[0045] In situations such as when subsequent puffs are taken during a cool-down phase before the heating element reaches its standby temperature (e.g., inhalation is initiated after the vaporizer is turned on but before the heating element reaches the standby temperature) or when premature inhalation stops when the microcontroller heats the heating element from the standby temperature to the vaporization temperature, the behavior of the vaporizer may be desirably improved by using one or more vaporization mode triggering criteria and one or more vaporization mode triggering criteria including one or more derivatives of the monitored parameters.

[0046] For example, reference Figure 3, graph 300 shows the temperature characteristics when inhalation is detected during the cooling period. In graph 300, the end of the last puff is represented by point 330, the start of puff is represented by point 340, and the theoretical cooling curve is represented by curve 320. Once the power demand drops below a predetermined value, the microcontroller detects the end of puff 330 and begins to reduce or completely shut down the power to the heating element until the standby temperature is reached. The microcontroller can measure the cooling rate represented by curve 310. When the user stops inhaling, the device is sent into a cooling phase in which the power to the heating element is reduced (or even turned off), but then a subsequent inhalation is started before the standby temperature is reached again, the microcontroller can still determine that the next puff has begun based on monitoring one or more derivatives to identify that the actual cooling profile is faster than the theoretical cooling curve 320.

[0047] In another example, a user may initiate an inhalation after turning on the vaporizer but before the heating element reaches standby temperature. In this case, the microcontroller can be configured to detect the cooling rate of the heating element. If the cooling rate exceeds a preprogrammed value, the microcontroller directs the power supply to increase the power to the heating element, allowing it to quickly reach the vaporization temperature.

[0048] like Figure 4 As shown in the graph 400 of FIG. 4 (where the start of a puff is represented by point 430, the end of a puff is represented by point 440, and the detected end of a puff is represented by point 450), a user may stop midway through an inhalation on the vaporizer (440) while the heating element is being brought up to the vaporization temperature. In that case, the air flow through the heating element is high enough to trigger and maintain the power 410 to reach and maintain the vaporization temperature (T set 420) becomes virtually no air flow through the heating element. In one example, the microcontroller can allow the heating element to reach the evaporation temperature if it does not reach it before the air flow stops, and similarly to what happens when inhalation is not stopped suddenly (see Figure 2 ), once the amount of power required to maintain the evaporation temperature drops below a predetermined threshold, the microcontroller ramps down the power delivered to the heating element. In other examples, the microcontroller can be configured to sense the rate at which power is being drawn to bring the heating element to, or maintain, the evaporation temperature, and immediately reduce the power to maintain the evaporation temperature at the standby temperature. In the latter case, the microcontroller does not have to wait until the change in temperature or power drops beyond a predetermined level before reducing the power to a level that maintains the standby temperature.

[0049] Evaporators having features consistent with certain embodiments described herein can have fast response times for increasing or decreasing power to the heating element. Typically, the time to reach the standby temperature can be less than a few seconds. Once a predetermined threshold power or threshold temperature change is reached, the time to reach the evaporation temperature can be rapid (e.g., less than 30 seconds, less than 20 seconds, less than 10 seconds, less than 5 seconds, less than 3 seconds, less than 2 seconds, less than 1 second, etc.).

[0050] As described above, a vaporizer having features consistent with certain embodiments described herein may include an ON / OFF switch. The ON / OFF switch may provide a clear signal to the microcontroller that the vaporizer should be in standby mode. In other cases, the vaporizer may include an accelerometer for determining when the device should be placed in standby mode. Based on the motion detected by the accelerometer compared to a reference acceleration measurement, the microcontroller predicts when the user is likely to intend to use the vaporizer. The accelerometer may be programmed to sense certain types of motion associated with using the vaporizer, or may be programmed to detect a certain motion or combination of motions that indicates the user intends to use the vaporizer (e.g., rotating the vaporizer or other intentional motion).

[0051] Because using an accelerometer to determine when the vaporizer should be placed in standby mode based on sensed motion may have difficulty distinguishing general movement of the vaporizer from movement associated with a user desiring to begin using the vaporizer, it may be advantageous to couple the presence of the accelerometer with or utilize alternative sensing mechanisms. In some cases, additional modes of sensing a user's intent to use the vaporizer may utilize capacitive sensing, lip sensing, timing, touch sensing, or any combination thereof.

[0052] In some aspects of the current subject matter, a capacitive sensing mechanism can be incorporated into the vaporizer in conjunction with an accelerometer or incorporated into the vaporizer itself. The capacitive sensing mechanism can be disposed in or around the mouthpiece of the vaporizer. The capacitive sensing mechanism can be used to determine whether a user's lips are contacting the mouthpiece. The capacitive sensing mechanism can distinguish between a user's lips pressing against the capacitive sensing mechanism as compared to other types of skin contact. When the capacitive sensing mechanism detects the presence of the user's lips, it signals a microcontroller to turn on the vaporizer and also places the device in standby mode. In examples where the vaporizer includes an on / off switch, the capacitive sensing mechanism can be used to assist in triggering the microcontroller to bring the heating element to a standby temperature. In some examples, once the capacitive sensing mechanism senses the presence of the user's lips, the microcontroller can signal a power supply to quickly provide power to heat the heating element, thereby utilizing the vaporizer's wind speed-related sensing capabilities as described above.

[0053] In some aspects consistent with certain embodiments of the present subject matter, when the evaporator is switched to the ON state, the heating element continues to heat at the standby temperature. Typically, heating may be stopped only when the evaporator is in the OFF state. In most cases, the amount of power required to maintain the standby temperature is only a few milliwatts, and thus, maintaining the evaporator at the standby temperature is not a significant drain on the power supply.

[0054] Typically, the heating element can be a resistive heating element that can create a wind speed correlation between the air flow over the heating element and the changes in temperature and power required to maintain that temperature, even though the air flow cools the heating element. The heating element can be placed transverse to the air flow through the evaporator to most accurately correlate the air flow (due to user inhalation) with the power required to maintain the predetermined temperature.

[0055] Figure 5 1 illustrates features of an exemplary vaporizer device 500 consistent with embodiments of the current subject matter. Although the vaporizer 500 typically includes a cover, Figure 5 The cover is shown removed to better show the internal components of the vaporizer 500. The vaporizer 500 includes a nozzle 508 disposed on the proximal end of the vaporizer 500. A heating element 503 is also contained within the vaporizer 500, wherein the heating element 503 is in electrical contact with a microcontroller 505. The vaporizer 500 also includes a power supply 504, which is electrically connected to both the microcontroller 505 and the heating element 503. In this example, the heating element 503 is wound around the wick 502, while in other examples, the heating element can be other structures suitable for heating the vaporizable material. Typically, the heating element 503 is in thermal contact or communication with the wick 502, and the wick 502 can be saturated with a vaporizable fluid containing an active compound or substance. In other examples, the wick 502 only needs to be in contact with the heating element 503 so that when the heating element 503 is at the vaporization temperature, the vaporizable material retained within the wick 502 can evaporate.

[0056] The vaporizer 500 may further include a reservoir 501 for holding vaporizable material, such as Figure 5As shown. In this example, wick 502 is in fluid communication with the liquid held by reservoir 501, so that as the vaporizable material evaporates, wick 502 is able to draw more vaporizable material to wick 502 through capillary action and diffusion. In some cases, fluid reservoir 501 can be removed from the rest of vaporizer 500, while in other cases, fluid reservoir 501 can be permanently located within vaporizer 500. In other examples, the vaporizer can completely lack a reservoir containing fluid and the wick can be disposable and pre-loaded with vaporizable material. The advantage of having a wick that can be replaced each time after all the vaporizable material is gone is that there is no residue left over from each previous vaporization, which can become harmful over time.

[0057] Defined airflow paths 507 may be positioned through the evaporator 500 to ensure that airflow flows transversely across the heating element 503 to precisely control heating within the evaporator 500 .

[0058] When a user inhales from the vaporizer, air flows toward the user's mouth, transporting the vaporized material or aerosol. The vaporizer typically includes at least one vent for introducing air flow. The air flow path is predefined within the vaporizer. The vent is typically located at the distal end of the vaporizer so that when the user inhales on the vaporizer, air will enter the device and flow over the heating element, providing a means for delivering the vaporized material to the user and for regulating the amount of power provided to the heating element. In some examples, the at least one vent may also include an air flow regulator or valve for controlling the maximum amount of air flow that can flow to the heating element. In other examples, the at least one vent may further include a filter to minimize the entry of ambient particles into the evaporator, thereby reducing the deposition of foreign particles on the inner surface of the evaporator over time.

[0059] The vaporizer can include channels that help direct air flow through the device over the heating element, delivering the vaporized material to the user through the mouthpiece. The channels within the device ensure direct air flow into contact with the heating element. Air flow can flow laterally across the heating element, providing a precise correlation between air flow and heating element temperature changes, resulting in more efficient evaporation.

[0060] The wick can be made of a material capable of absorbing a fluid evaporable material. Through natural capillary action and diffusion, the wick draws fluid from a reservoir containing a wetted material. As the evaporable material evaporates due to energy transferred from the heating element and is removed from the wick, more evaporable material can be drawn into the wick until the evaporable material is depleted from the reservoir. In some instances, the wick is composed of naturally derived fibers (e.g., cotton, linen, bamboo, coconut) or man-made materials (e.g., silica fibers, ceramics, metal mesh, etc.). In some cases, the wick may be for a single use only and need to be replaced after all the evaporable material is depleted.

[0061] The heating element can be electrically connected to the microcontroller and power supply via a connecting circuit. In some cases, the vaporizer can be separated into two pieces, each of which includes a portion of the circuit for electrically connecting the heating element to the microcontroller and power supply. When the two halves of the vaporizer are connected, the circuit forms a complete circuit and can deliver power to the heating element.

[0062] The heating element can be a resistive heating element. The heating element can be a wire wound into a coil of fixed diameter for receiving the core. The heating element can be made of platinum wire, tungsten wire, or other suitable materials that do not degrade or waste gasify at high temperatures. The heating element is typically capable of heating in a temperature range of 30 degrees Celsius to 500 degrees Celsius. In some examples of evaporators, the user can set the evaporation temperature from a range of evaporation temperatures. Having different evaporation temperatures can be useful because different evaporable materials or compositions evaporate best at different temperatures. The evaporation temperature at which the device is operating can be indicated on the evaporator (e.g., a different color light display).

[0063] Typically, the power source may be a battery. The power source may be rechargeable. An indicator on the vaporizer may be provided to indicate whether the battery needs to be recharged and when the battery is fully charged.

[0064] Figure 6 1 shows features of another exemplary vaporizer device 600 consistent with embodiments of the current subject matter. The vaporizer 600 can have a second coil 609 that is separate from the primary heating element 603, such as Figure 6As shown. Consistent with embodiments of the present subject matter, the second coil 609 can function as an anemometer for controlling the power supplied to the heating element 603. While capable of heating, the second coil 609 does not provide the heat required for evaporation; evaporation is provided by the first and main heating elements 603. Similar to the vaporizer 500, the vaporizer 600 generally has three states: an OFF state, an ON / standby state, and an ON / evaporation state. Similar to the device 500, the vaporizer 600 includes a microcontroller 605 for controlling communication, inputs, and outputs between the microcontroller 605, the first heating element 603, the second coil 609, and the power source 604. Furthermore, the vaporizer 600 may include a reservoir 606 for holding a vaporizable fluid, a wick 602, and a nozzle 608. Furthermore, a defined airflow path 607 through the vaporizer 600 ensures that air flows transversely across the first heating element 603 and the second coil 609 for precise control of heating within the vaporizer 600. In some cases, it may be more important for air to flow transversely across the second coil 609 than across the first element 603 because, in this alternative design, the second coil 609 measures the air flow, the change in temperature due to the air flow, and the rate of change of the air flow for use in controlling the power delivered to the first heating element 603. If the air flow were to travel in a non-transverse path across the second coil 609, the detected flow rate could be inaccurate, which could lead to inaccuracies in determining the effect on temperature, and ultimately, could result in insufficient or excessive power being delivered to the heating element 603.

[0065] Similar to vaporizer 500, when vaporizer 600 is turned on, it enters standby mode. Microcontroller 604 directly signals heating element 603 and second coil 609 to heat to the standby temperature. In some cases, only second coil 609 is heated to the standby temperature, while heating element 603 remains at ambient temperature. Similarly, the standby temperature is a temperature above ambient temperature and can be, for example, anywhere between 50 and 70 degrees Celsius. Microcontroller 604 maintains the standby temperature at heating element 603 as long as vaporizer 600 is turned on. Microcontroller 604 also periodically measures the power required to maintain the standby temperature at second coil 609.

[0066] When a user inhales through the mouthpiece 608, air flow over the second coil 609 increases, lowering its temperature, requiring more power to maintain the standby temperature. Once the power required to maintain the standby temperature exceeds a preset value, the microcontroller 604 assumes the user is inhaling through the mouthpiece and begins heating the heating element 603 to raise its temperature to the evaporation temperature. While the heating element 603 reaches and maintains the evaporation temperature, the temperature of the second coil 609 can remain at the standby temperature. The microcontroller 604 continues to supply sufficient power to the heating element 603 to maintain the evaporation temperature until the amount of energy used to maintain the standby temperature of the second coil 609 returns to a value associated with minimal or no air flow over the second coil 609. This corresponds to the user ending a puff or inhalation on the device. At this point, the microcontroller 604 signals the power supply to stop supplying power to the heating element 603 and allow it to reach either the standby temperature or ambient temperature.

[0067] In some cases, the user may suddenly stop inhaling in the middle of an inhalation. In this case, the vaporizer may be in two possible sub-states. In the first sub-state, the heating element has not reached the evaporation temperature, while in the second sub-state, the heating element is at the evaporation temperature. In both cases, when the amount of energy required to maintain the standby temperature of the second coil drops below a preset power value, the microcontroller signals the power supply to stop supplying power to the heating element and allow the heating element to cool to either the standby temperature or the ambient temperature. In other examples, when the vaporizer enters the puff state from the standby state, the temperature of the second coil may also increase to the evaporation temperature along with the heating element. In the latter case, when the power required to maintain the evaporation temperature drops below the preset power value (which occurs when the inhalation ends when there is little air flowing through the second coil), the power required to maintain the evaporation temperature will decrease.

[0068] In other cases, the user may begin inhaling while the vaporizer is in the cooling phase. In this case, upon detecting that the rate of decrease in the heating element temperature or the second coil temperature is greater than a preset value, the microcontroller may skip the cooling phase and switch back to the heating cycle to increase the temperature back to the vaporizing temperature.

[0069] Figure 6 The evaporator 600 shown in FIG is similar to the evaporator 600 shown in FIG. 1 except that a second coil 609 is added. Figure 5The vaporizer 500 operates similarly to the embodiment of the vaporizer 600. An advantage of the vaporizer 600 embodiment is that, because the second coil is downstream of the heating element and the vaporizable material, in most circumstances, the second coil does not come into contact with the vaporizable material or the vapor generated by the heating. Consequently, it is much less likely that residue from the vaporizable material will deposit on the second coil wire over time and adversely affect the heating control and functionality of the vaporizer.

[0070] Consistent with some embodiments of the current subject matter, an evaporator can be configured to evaporate solid materials (e.g., loose leaf type samples). An evaporator suitable for evaporating solid samples can have an oven rather than a wick or wicking material in thermal contact with a heating element, an example of which is shown in FIG. Figure 7 7. The evaporator 700 is shown in a cross-sectional view. The evaporator 700 includes an inner oven 701 having a surrounding oven shell 713 near (e.g., almost adjacent to or adjacent to) a bottom end 730. A lid 710 is fitted or otherwise attached to an outer shell 714 at the bottom end 730. A suction nozzle 708 is fitted or otherwise attached to the outer shell 714 at the top end 720. Inside the outer shell 714 is a structural shell member 712. One or more inner grooves or channels 709 are formed between the outer side wall of the structural shell member 712 and the inner side wall of the outer shell 714 and extend along the length of the outer side wall of the structural shell member 712 and the inner side wall of the outer shell 714. The inner channel 709 extends from the oven 701 to the suction nozzle 708, thereby providing a cooling channel for the vaporizable material to be inhaled by the user. Variations of the evaporator 700 with the oven 701 may be applicable to some aspects of the current subject matter.

[0071] Heating element 703 is in electronic communication with the microcontroller and power supply. Heating element 703 can be a wire device, a hot plate, or any other suitable heater, used to increase the energy input to oven 701 to evaporate the vaporizable material. Similar to vaporizers with a wick configuration, vaporizer 700 for evaporating solid materials can have a wind speed control to regulate heating. The microcontroller contained therein is capable of determining which state the device should be in (e.g., standby or vaporization state) and when to switch from one state to another and back again. Transitions from one state to another are similarly based on periodically measuring changes in the power (or a function thereof) supplied to the heating element relative to a preset power value. State transitions can also be based on periodically measuring fluctuations in the temperature (or a function thereof) relative to a predetermined variance for the temperature, such that if the measured temperature deviation is greater than the predetermined variance, this indicates that the user is currently inhaling on the vaporizer; if the deviation drops to or below the predetermined variance, this indicates that the user is no longer inhaling on the vaporizer. In some other examples, the microcontroller may periodically sample the temperature or rate of change of power to the heating element relative to a preset rate of change value, wherein if the temperature or rate of change of power exceeds a certain preset value, this serves as an indication that the user is taking a puff on the vaporizer; and if the temperature or rate of change of power drops to near or at zero, this serves as an indication that the user is discontinuing inhalation on the vaporizer.

[0072] Devices including an oven in thermal contact with a heating element (e.g., vaporizer 700) can be configured to have a sufficiently low thermal mass so that when a user draws air onto the vaporizer, this in turn causes the temperature of the heating element or surface to drop. If a typical draw has little or no effect on the temperature of the heating element (e.g., the thermal mass is too large), then this advantageous feature of regulating the air flow of the heating element may not be effectively used to regulate the power and heating of the heating element. In order for the heating element to have a low thermal mass, the oven is adapted to be efficiently heated by a heating element having a low thermal mass. These physical requirements of the heating element affect the size and characteristics of the oven.

[0073] As previously mentioned, the vaporizers described herein may include a capacitive sensor for determining when a user may begin inhaling on the vaporizer. The capacitive sensor may be located in and around the mouthpiece, wherein when the user presses their mouth against the capacitive sensor, a microcontroller instructs a power supply to supply more power to the heating element. The capacitive sensor may be used in conjunction with wind speed to determine when a user may begin inhaling on the vaporizer.

[0074] In some embodiments of the current subject matter, wind speed determination can be used by a microcontroller as a diagnostic tool to check whether one or more other sensors are operating correctly. For example, in a vaporizer that uses a pressure sensor as the primary sensor so that heating of the heating element is activated based on detecting airflow consistent with a user drawing on the vaporizer's mouthpiece (e.g., activation triggered by a user sucking), wind speed sensing methods consistent with embodiments of the current subject matter can be used as a verification tool to confirm whether the pressure sensor is functioning properly. For example, if a user of such a vaporizer with a pressure sensor suspects a heating issue (e.g., the vaporizer does not heat when a puff is taken on the vaporizer), the user can activate a diagnostic mode by performing some predetermined action (e.g., shaking the device, pressing a specific button or control, etc.). Once the vaporizer enters diagnostic mode, the user draws through the mouthpiece (the user may be instructed to do so by a signal from the device (e.g., a control light turns on or changes to a specific color), or the user may be pre-informed of the appropriate action to be taken once the vaporizer enters diagnostic mode). Once a puff is taken, the microcontroller determines whether both the pressure sensor and the wind speed sensing method provide signals that cause the temperature of the heating element to increase. If functioning properly, the pressure sensor sends a signal to the microcontroller indicating that the pressure sensor has detected a puff. Utilizing wind speed sensing methods consistent with some embodiments described herein, the microcontroller determines whether one or more diagnostic mode triggering criteria are met for the monitored parameters. The monitored parameter (or parameters) and triggering criteria are similar to those described above. If one or more diagnostic mode triggering criteria are met, this serves as an indication that the user is inhaling on the mouthpiece. If the pressure sensor does not send a signal, this can serve as an indication that the pressure sensor is not operating properly. An alarm can be issued to the user by a signal from the vaporizer (e.g., a control light turns on or changes to a specific warning color, etc.).

[0075] As an alternative to using a pressure sensor for user-suck-triggered activation, wind speed sensing methods consistent with embodiments of the present subject matter can be used as a backup to the pressure sensor. This can be achieved by monitoring one or more parameters of the heating element and determining whether one or more evaporation mode triggering criteria are met for these parameters. Monitoring can be performed periodically based on a predefined schedule (e.g., every 10, 20, or 30 seconds when the evaporator is in standby mode), continuously once the evaporator is in standby mode, or at another interval. In response to determining that one or more evaporation mode triggering criteria are met for these parameters, the controller checks or measures the temperature of the heating element. The temperature reading can be obtained and / or determined after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, allowing the heating element sufficient time to reach the evaporation temperature. The temperature reading can be obtained, for example, using a temperature sensor or by measuring the resistance of the heating element as further described above. If the heating element is at the appropriate evaporation temperature, this indicates that the pressure sensor is functioning properly and has sensed user-suck-triggered activation. However, if the heating element is not at the appropriate evaporation temperature, this may be an indication that the pressure sensor is not functioning properly. In response to this determination, the controller can initiate a backup heating operation to increase power delivery to the heating element to heat it to the evaporation temperature.

[0076] In some embodiments of the current theme, the vaporizer may include a body and a nozzle. Any of these devices may be configured to include a cartridge containing a nozzle and / or a heater and / or a source of vaporizable material. The controller and / or battery may be separately maintained in a body that matches the cartridge. Alternatively, the device may be integrated so that the heater is located in the body together with the controller and other components. For example, in some variations, the body may surround the heating element, microcontroller, and power supply. In some variations, the vaporizer may include a core for drawing out vaporizable material from a reservoir. The vaporizer may include at least one vent for introducing air into the device and above the heating element and vaporizable material when the user draws (through the nozzle). The vaporizer may include one or more channels within the device for circulating air over the heating element and vaporizable material.

[0077] Figure 8Shown are features of an additional exemplary vaporizer device 800 consistent with an embodiment of the current theme. The vaporizer 800 includes a body 810 configured to receive a removable cartridge 820. The body 810 includes a power supply 804 electrically connected to a microcontroller 805. The cartridge 820 includes a suction nozzle 808 disposed on the proximal end of the cartridge 820. The heating element 803 is contained within the cartridge 820. A defined airflow path 807 is located in the cartridge 820 of the vaporizer 800 to ensure that air flow flows transversely through the heating element 803 for precisely controlling the heating within the vaporizer 800. In this embodiment, the air inlet 822 and the air outlet (suction nozzle 808) are all located on the cartridge 820 itself, thereby significantly simplifying the cartridge interface by eliminating the airflow connection and communication between the cartridge 820 and the body 810, thereby only requiring electrical contact between the cartridge 820 and the device body 810.

[0078] Figure 9 Features of a controller are shown that can be adapted to regulate heat within an evaporator device consistent with embodiments of the present subject matter. Block diagram 900 includes a microcontroller 910 coupled (e.g., in communication, electrically connected, or otherwise connected) to a heating element (e.g., heating elements 503, 603, 609, 703, 803 described above). As described above, microcontroller 910 monitors the power and / or temperature function of the heating element. The input can be one or more desired temperature inputs 930 (e.g., a desired evaporation temperature), which are determined and input by a user and used by microcontroller 910 as described above. In addition to the user input, the desired temperature input can be pre-established and input to microcontroller 910.

[0079] Figure 9 Examples consistent with implementations of the current subject matter implement power delivery from a power supply 920 (which may be part of the vaporizer 500 , 600 , 700 , 800 ) to the heating element 503 , 603 , 609 , 703 , 803 . The power supply 920 also provides power to the microcontroller 910 .

[0080] Reference Figure 10 Process flow diagram 1000 illustrates features of a method, which may optionally include some or all of the following. At 1010, a parameter of a heating element of a vaporizer is monitored. At 1020, it is determined that one or more vaporization mode triggering criteria are satisfied for the parameter. The vaporization mode triggering criteria include one or more of a value of the parameter and / or a value of a derivative of the parameter indicating that a user is inhaling on the mouthpiece to cause airflow through the heating element. At 1030, in response to a determination related to the one or more vaporization mode triggering criteria, power delivery to the heating element is increased to heat the heating element to a vaporization temperature.

[0081] Reference Figure 11, process flow diagram 1100 shows features of the method, which may optionally include some or all of the following. At 1110, a diagnostic mode indication may be received from a user of the evaporator. At 1120, a determination is made as to whether a signal is received from a pressure sensor of the evaporator. The signal indicates that the pressure sensor has detected that a user has inhaled on the nozzle of the evaporator to cause an air flow. At 1130, a determination is made as to whether one or more diagnostic mode trigger criteria are met for the monitored parameters. If so, this indicates that the user has inhaled on the nozzle of the evaporator. At 1150, an operational indication is provided to the user in response to determining the operation. For example, if no signal is received from the pressure sensor and if one or more diagnostic mode trigger criteria are met for the monitored parameters, an operational indicator may indicate that the operation failed. If a signal is received from the pressure sensor, this is an indication that the pressure signal is operating normally, and an associated operational indication (e.g., successful operation) may be provided to the user. For example, the operational indicator may be in the form of a control light.

[0082] The following descriptions of example implementations are provided to illustrate various features that may be part of the present subject matter. They are not intended to be limiting.

[0083] Described herein are evaporator devices (e.g., apparatus, systems, and components) and methods for regulating heating within an evaporator by sensing flow across a resistive heater by monitoring the power (e.g., current, voltage, or some combination thereof) required to maintain or achieve the temperature of the resistive heater, or such devices can monitor the temperature of the resistive heater while the applied power is maintained at a predetermined level. For example, the devices and methods described herein can compare the absolute power applied to achieve a target temperature to a threshold power value and / or can compare the rate of change of temperature when a predetermined power is applied. In particular, the evaporation devices and methods described herein can use the same heating element (e.g., a resistive heater) that evaporates a vaporizable material as a flow sensor (e.g., as a wind speed flow sensor) by monitoring the power applied to the heating element.

[0084] For example, a vaporizer may include one or more heating elements (resistive heaters) that are used to vaporize a vaporizable material and that can also be directly monitored, for example using a controller and / or other monitoring circuitry, to monitor the temperature and applied power required to heat the heating elements and compare the applied power and temperature to predetermined values ​​(thresholds). In this way, as will be described in more detail herein, when a user inhales through the vaporizer's mouthpiece to cause air to flow over the heating elements, the device can detect airflow over the heating elements.

[0085] For example, the device can be placed in an "on" state (e.g., turned on) automatically (by sensing that a user is holding the device, and / or by sensing that a lip or hand is touching the device (including a mouthpiece)) or manually (e.g., by switching a control, such as a switch, button, etc.). In the on state, the device can maintain the heating element (resistance heater) at a predetermined temperature, referred to herein as a base temperature or standby temperature (e.g., between 40-80°C, between 45-75°C, between 50-70°C, etc.). The device can then monitor the applied power to detect when the applied power reaches or exceeds a threshold value indicating that air is being drawn across the heating element (inhalation) from the user. Alternatively, a predetermined power (base or standby power level) can be applied and the temperature monitored to determine when the temperature reaches or falls below a threshold trigger temperature (which can be, for example, between 40°C and 70°C), thereby instructing the user to draw air through the device. As used herein, the term "power" can refer to current, voltage, or a combination of current and voltage (e.g., voltage at the current time).

[0086] Generally, the devices and methods described herein are configured to operate with an evaporator, wherein the temperature of a heating element (e.g., a resistive heater) can be determined and used as part of a temperature feedback control (e.g., a PID (proportional-integral-derivative) controller). For example, a controller (e.g., a microcontroller on a PCB) can be configured to monitor the temperature of the heater so that the vaporizable material is heated to a specified temperature. The specified temperature can be a user-provided input. A temperature sensor can communicate with the microcontroller to provide an input temperature to the microcontroller for temperature regulation. The temperature sensor can be a thermistor, a thermocouple, a thermometer, or any other temperature sensor. Alternatively or additionally, the temperature of the heating element (e.g., a resistive heater) can be determined by the resistance of the heating element (without requiring a separate, additional temperature sensor). In any of the variations described herein, the resistance of the heating element (e.g., a resistive heater) can be used instead of the temperature, or in variations where the resistance of the resistive heater is a characteristic of the temperature of the resistive heater, the resistance value can be converted to a temperature. For example, the target resistance can be estimated based on an electrical characteristic of the resistive heater (e.g., the temperature coefficient of resistance, or TCR, of the resistive heater (e.g., a "resistive heating element" or "evaporation element")). As is known in the art, the resistance of a heater can be used to calculate the temperature of the heater (particularly compared to a reference resistance value). Therefore, the resistance of a heater element can be an input to a controller to control the temperature and determine the flow. In some cases, the resistance can be determined by a controller (e.g., a microcontroller) based on measurements from a circuit having at least one resistor of known resistance, such as a Wheatstone bridge circuit. Alternatively, the resistance of the heater element can be measured using a resistive voltage divider in contact with the heater element and a resistor with a known and substantially constant resistance. The measured value of the heater element's resistance (or the difference from the known resistance) can be amplified by an amplifier. The amplifier can be a standard operational amplifier or an instrumentation amplifier. The amplified signal can be substantially noise-free. In some cases, the charging time of the voltage divider between the heater element and the capacitor can be determined to calculate the resistance of the heater element. In some cases, the microcontroller must deactivate the heater element during the resistance measurement. The resistance of the heater element can be a function of the temperature of the heater element, so that the temperature can be determined directly from the resistance measurement. Determining the temperature directly from the heater element resistance measurement rather than from an additional temperature sensor can produce more accurate measurements because the unknown contact thermal resistance between the temperature sensor and the heater element is eliminated. Additionally, the temperature measurement can be determined directly and therefore faster, without the time lag associated with reaching equilibrium between the heating element and the temperature sensor in contact with the heating element.

[0087] In the devices and methods described herein, aspiration (inhalation) can be detected when the device is turned on and the heating element maintained at the base temperature by detecting when the power required to maintain the base temperature (or the base resistance of a resistive heater when resistance is used to control heater temperature) increases above a power threshold, e.g., greater than 2% (e.g., greater than 5%, greater than 7%, greater than 10%, greater than 12%, greater than 15%, etc.) of the steady-state power. The steady-state power used for the base power can be predetermined for the heater device or can be determined empirically based on device operation, or some combination thereof. Equivalently, aspiration from the device's nozzle can be detected when the heating element is maintained at a fixed (base) power and the temperature drops below a threshold, e.g., by 1% or more (e.g., by 2% or more, 5% or more, 7% or more, 10% or more, 15% or more, etc.) of the steady-state temperature. As described above, in some cases, resistance (when resistance is proportional to the temperature of the heating element) can be used more simply instead of temperature, such that aspiration can be determined when the resistance of the heating element, while maintained at the base power, drops below a threshold.

[0088] Typically, the vaporizers described herein may include a body and a nozzle. Any of these devices may be configured to include a cartridge containing a nozzle and / or a resistive heater and / or a source of vaporizable material; the controller and / or battery may be separately held in a body that matches the cartridge. Alternatively, the device may be integrated so that the resistive heater is located within the body together with the controller and other components. For example, in some variations, the body may enclose: a heating element, a microcontroller, and a power supply. In some variations, the vaporizer may include a wick for drawing vaporizable material from a reservoir. The vaporizer may include at least one vent for introducing air into the device and directing it over the heating element and vaporizable material when the user draws (through the nozzle). The vaporizer may include one or more channels within the device for circulating air over the heating element (e.g., a resistive heater, such as a resistance coil) and the vaporizable material.

[0089] Any of the vaporizers described herein may have different states. For example, the vaporizer may be in an OFF state until manually or automatically turned on by a user (by touching the vaporizer to a lip, etc.). The user may manually turn the device on by pressing an ON / OFF switch. Once the vaporization device is in the ON state, a controller (e.g., a microcontroller within the body of the device) may control the power supply to deliver power to the heating element to reach a base (also known as "standby") temperature and monitor the applied power (e.g., current, voltage, etc.), wherein the standby temperature is well below the vaporization temperature of the target vaporizable material. Alternatively, the device may be configured to apply a base (e.g., standby) power to the heater and monitor the temperature (or resistance) of the heater.

[0090] For example, the microcontroller can be programmed to maintain the base temperature by varying the amount of power delivered to the heating element. When a user takes a puff on the vaporizing device's mouthpiece, air is drawn into the vaporizer and past the heating element, where the air cools the heating element by a certain amount. The processor can detect this cooling and either increase the applied power (via a control loop) to maintain the temperature or detect a drop in temperature (e.g., or a corresponding change in resistance) while the power remains constant. In the first case, when the device is controlled to maintain the base temperature, if the power drawn to compensate for the temperature deviation between the heating element and the standby temperature meets or exceeds a predetermined power value (threshold), the controller can recognize this as a user taking a puff and initiate (trigger) an increase in the power applied to the heating element so that the heating element can reach the target vaporization temperature (typically between 100 and 400°C). When the amount of power required to maintain the vaporization temperature drops below a second preset power level, the microcontroller can initiate a cooling mode.

[0091] In any of these variations, puffing can be determined based on the rate of change or acceleration (first or second derivative) of a value (power, temperature, resistance, etc.) rather than the magnitude of the value. Specifically, by comparing the rate of change (or acceleration) of applied energy, resistance, or temperature to a threshold, it is possible to detect when puffing is taking place even while the temperature is being raised from the standby temperature to the evaporation temperature. For example, if the rate of change of temperature from the resting (standby) temperature in standby mode to the evaporation temperature in evaporation or heating mode is slower than a threshold rate value, the user may continue to puff on the mouthpiece; alternatively, if the rate of change is greater than or equal to the threshold value, the user may have stopped puffing, and the controller may return the temperature to the standby value. Once the device is at the temperature for evaporation mode (evaporation temperature), the controller may compare the energy applied to maintain the evaporation temperature to a second threshold value to determine when the user has stopped puffing, allowing the temperature to be returned to the standby level (e.g., when the power required to maintain the temperature at the evaporation temperature drops below the threshold value).

[0092] For example, the controller can be programmed to detect the rate of change in power required to maintain the temperature at the heating element, or the rate of change in the heating element's temperature, and correlate this change with when the user takes a puff or not. As the user takes a puff, the rate of change in power or temperature required to maintain the standby temperature increases. When the microcontroller detects a rate of change above a threshold, it can begin bringing the heating element to the vaporization temperature. When the rate of change in power or temperature required to maintain the vaporization temperature drops below the threshold, the microcontroller can correlate this with the user ceasing to puff and return the heating element temperature to the standby temperature.

[0093] As described above, while allowing the standby temperature to fluctuate while maintaining constant power to the heating element, flow in the standby state can alternatively be detected by the device. Once the user takes a puff on the vaporizing device, the temperature at the heating element will drop, and when the temperature drops below a threshold temperature value, the controller can recognize that the user is taking a puff and trigger heating to the vaporization temperature.

[0094] In some aspects of the present invention, the vaporizing device may include a secondary coil configured to correlate air flow over the secondary coil with temperature or power variations. In this variation, the secondary coil may be positioned downstream of the primary heating coil and away from the generated moisture and / or vapor. The secondary coil is in electrical communication with a microcontroller and a power source.

[0095] The apparatus described herein may include an oven for evaporating solid material. The oven is in thermal contact with a heating element. The temperature of the heating element is controlled in the same manner as a heating element in an evaporation apparatus having a wick.

[0096] The devices described herein may include capacitive sensing for controlling or assisting in controlling the vaporizing heating mechanism. Capacitive sensing may be configured to sense whether a user's lips are in contact with the mouthpiece, which may indicate the user's intent to use the vaporizing device.

[0097] The devices described herein may include an accelerometer. The accelerometer may be programmed to sense certain types of motion that may be used alone or in conjunction with wind speed assisted control to regulate heating within the evaporative device.

[0098] Thus, described herein is a method of controlling a vaporizer, including a method of controlling a vaporization device having a resistive heater configured to vaporize a vaporizable material and detecting inhalation by a user on the vaporization device, the method comprising: maintaining a basal temperature on the resistive heater by applying power to the resistive heater while the vaporization device is on; monitoring the power required to maintain the basal temperature of the resistive heater; increasing the temperature of the resistive heater from the basal temperature to a vaporization temperature when the power required to maintain the basal temperature reaches or exceeds a first power threshold; and vaporizing the vaporizable material in communication with the resistive heater.

[0099] Any of these methods may further include reducing the temperature back to the base temperature once the power required to maintain the evaporation temperature decreases to or below a second power threshold.

[0100] Typically, monitoring the required power may include monitoring one of a voltage or a current applied to the resistive heater. Increasing the temperature may include increasing the power applied to the resistive heater.

[0101] Any of these methods may further include reducing the temperature to the base temperature when a rate of change of power applied to increase the temperature of the resistive heater to the evaporation temperature decreases below a rate of change threshold.

[0102] Any of the methods described herein may include turning on power to the vaporizing device. For example, the methods may include automatically turning on power to the vaporizing device by capacitive sensing a user touch device, automatically turning on power to the vaporizing device when an accelerometer device detects movement of the vaporizing device, etc.

[0103] Monitoring the power required to maintain the base temperature may include monitoring the rate of change of power.

[0104] Also described herein are devices in which the same structure (heater) is used both to vaporize material and to detect flow (e.g., the heater is configured as an anemometer). For example, a vaporization device described herein is configured to detect a user's inhalation on the vaporization device using a resistive heater configured to vaporize vaporizable material, the device comprising: a resistive heater; a mouthpiece; a controller configured to maintain the resistive heater at a base temperature and monitor the power required to maintain the base temperature of the resistive heater, the controller further configured to increase the temperature of the resistive heater to a vaporization temperature when the power required to maintain the base temperature meets or exceeds a first power threshold; a source of vaporizable material in communication with the resistive heater; and a power supply configured to power the controller and the resistive heating element.

[0105] The controller may be further configured to reduce the temperature back to the base temperature once the power required to maintain the evaporation temperature decreases to or below a second power threshold.The controller may be further configured to monitor one of a voltage or a current applied to the resistive heater.

[0106] As described above, any of these devices may include an ON / OFF switch, wherein the controller is configured to maintain the base temperature when the ON / OFF switch is on. The device may include a capacitive sensor configured to automatically turn on the vaporizing device and maintain the base temperature when a user touches the vaporizing device. Alternatively or additionally, the device may include an accelerometer configured to automatically turn on the vaporizing device and maintain the base temperature when the vaporizing device is moved.

[0107] In variations with a base temperature, the base temperature may be, for example, between about 50 and 70 degrees C. In variations with a base power, the base power may be selected so that the normal operating temperature of the heater at the base power is within the temperature range.

[0108] The resistive heater can be a resistive coil (e.g., a coil wound around a core or oven). Thus, in some variations, the apparatus includes a core in thermal communication with the resistive heater.

[0109] Typically, the source of vaporizable material may include a reservoir (eg, a tank, etc.) for holding the vaporizable material.

[0110] The evaporation apparatus may include an oven for evaporating the solid vaporizable material, wherein the oven is in thermal communication with the resistive heater.

[0111] As described above, any of the devices described herein may include a removable cartridge coupled to a (reusable) base. For example, the resistive heater, the nozzle, and the vaporizable material source may be part of a removable cartridge that is in electrical contact with a power source and a controller.

[0112] Also described herein is an apparatus in which a second resistive heater is used in coordination with a resistive heater for evaporating material. The second resistive heater may not be in direct contact with the evaporable material, but may be positioned in a flow path of the (first) resistive heater for evaporating material. For example, an evaporation apparatus may include: a nozzle; an air path extending from the nozzle; a first resistive heater in the air path; a second resistive heater configured to measure air flow through the air path, wherein the second resistive heater is located within the air path; a controller configured to maintain a base temperature on the second resistive heater and to increase the temperature of the first resistive heater to a evaporation temperature when the power required to maintain the base temperature of the second resistive heater exceeds a first power threshold; a source of evaporable material in communication with the first resistive heater; and a power source.

[0113] The second resistive heater may be a coil (eg, a resistance coil) or other wire element. The evaporation device may include a wick in communication with the coil. The source may include a reservoir for holding the vaporizable material.

[0114] The first resistive heater (eg, configured to evaporate material) may be located between the second resistive heater and the nozzle. Alternatively, the second resistive heater (which is not configured to evaporate material) may be located between the first resistive heater and the nozzle.

[0115] As described above, the device may include a removable cartridge comprising a nozzle and other components. For example, the nozzle, air path, first resistive heater, second resistive heater, and vaporizable material source may all be part of a removable cartridge in electrical contact with a power source and controller.

[0116] When a feature or element is referred to as "being located on another feature or element" in this article, it can be directly located on another feature or element, or there can be intermediate features and / or elements. On the contrary, when a feature or element is referred to as "being located directly on another feature or element", there are no intermediate features or elements. It should also be understood that when a feature or element is referred to as "connected", "attached" or "coupled / coupled" to another feature or element, it can be directly connected, attached or coupled / coupled to another feature or element or there can be intermediate features or elements. On the contrary, when a feature or element is referred to as "directly connected", "directly attached" or "directly coupled / coupled" to another feature or element, there are no intermediate features or elements. Although described or shown with respect to one embodiment, the features and elements described or shown in this manner can be applied to other embodiments. Those skilled in the art will also understand that the reference to the structure or feature set "adjacent" to another feature can have a part overlapping with the adjacent feature or being located under the adjacent feature.

[0117] The terms used herein are only used to describe the purpose of specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. For example, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" as used herein are intended to also include the plural forms. It will be further understood that when used in this specification, the terms "include" and / or "comprise" specify that the features, steps, operations, elements and / or devices are present, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, devices and / or groups thereof. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the relevant listed items and can be abbreviated as " / ".

[0118] In the above description and claims, phrases such as “at least one of…” or “one or more of…” may appear followed by a combined list of elements or features. The term “and / or” may also appear in a list of two or more elements or features. Unless otherwise implicitly or explicitly contradicted by the context in which it is used, such a phrase is intended to refer to any listed element or feature alone, or any listed element or feature in combination with any other listed element or feature. For example, the phrases “at least one of A and B,” “one or more of A and B,” and “A and / or B” are each intended to mean “A alone, B alone, or A and B together.” A similar interpretation applies to lists of three or more items. For example, the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” and “A, B and / or C” are each intended to mean “A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A and B and C together.” The use of the term “based on” in a claim or in a claim means “based at least in part on,” so that unrecorded features or elements are also permitted.

[0119] For ease of description, spatial relative terms such as "lower", "below", "upper", "above" etc. may be used herein to describe the relationship between an element or feature and other elements or features as shown in the figures. It should be understood that, in addition to the orientation shown in the figures, spatial relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation. For example, if the device in the figure is reversed, the element described as being "under" or "below" other elements or features will be "oriented" "above" other elements or features. Therefore, the exemplary term "under..." can include both upper and lower orientations. The device can be oriented in other ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relative descriptors used herein are interpreted accordingly. Similarly, unless otherwise expressly stated, the terms "upward", "downward", "vertical", "horizontal", etc. are used herein only for the purpose of explanation.

[0120] Although the terms "first" and "second" may be used herein to describe various features / elements (including steps), these features / elements should not be limited by these terms unless the context indicates otherwise. These terms may be used to distinguish one feature / element from another. Thus, a first feature / element discussed below could be referred to as a second feature / element, and similarly, a second feature / element discussed below could be referred to as a first feature / element without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

[0121] As used in this specification and claims, including as used in the examples and unless otherwise expressly stated, all numbers can be read as beginning with the word "about" or "approximately", even if the term does not appear explicitly. When describing amplitude and / or position to indicate that the value and / or position described is within a reasonable expected value and / or position range, the phrase "about" or "approximately" can be used. For example, a numerical value can be the value (or range of values) + / - 0.1%, the value (or range of values) + / - 1%, the value (or range of values) + / - 2%, the value (or range of values) + / - 5%, the value (or range of values) + / - 10%, etc. Unless the context indicates otherwise, any numerical value given herein should also be understood to include approximately or approximately the value. For example, if the value "10" is disclosed, "about 10" is also disclosed. Any numerical range cited herein is intended to include all subranges contained therein. It should also be understood that, as appropriately understood by those skilled in the art, when a value is disclosed, "less than or equal to the value", "greater than or equal to the value" and the possible range between the values ​​are also disclosed. For example, if a value "X" is disclosed, then "less than or equal to X" and "greater than or equal to X" are also disclosed (e.g., where X is a numerical value). It should also be understood that throughout this application, data is provided in a variety of different formats and that the data represents ending and starting points and ranges for any combination of data points. For example, if a specific data point "10" and a specific data point "15" are disclosed, then it should be understood that greater than, greater than or equal to, less than, less than or equal to, and equal to 10 and 15, as well as between 10 and 15, are also considered disclosed. It should also be understood that every unit between two specific units is also disclosed. For example, if 10 and 15 are disclosed, then 11, 12, 13, and 14 are also disclosed.

[0122] Although various illustrative embodiments have been described above, any changes may be made to the various embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention as described in the claims. For example, the order in which the various described method steps are performed may often be changed in alternative embodiments, and in other alternative embodiments, one or more method steps may be skipped entirely. Optional features implemented by various devices and systems may be included in some embodiments and not included in other embodiments. Because the scope of the invention is set forth in the claims, the foregoing description is provided primarily for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0123] One or more aspects or features of the subject matter described herein can be implemented in digital electronic circuits, integrated circuits, specially designed application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) computer hardware, firmware, software, and / or combinations thereof. These various aspects or features can include embodiments in one or more computer programs executable and / or interpretable on a programmable system comprising at least one programmable processor that can be dedicated or general purpose, coupled to receive data from a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device and to send data and instructions to the storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. A programmable system or computing system can include a client and a server. The client and server are typically remote from each other and typically interact via a communication network. The relationship between the client and server arises by means of computer programs that run on respective computers and have a client-server relationship with each other.

[0124] These computer programs, which may also be referred to as programs, software, software applications, applications, devices or codes, include machine instructions for a programmable processor and may be implemented in high-level procedural languages, object-oriented programming languages, functional programming languages, logic programming languages ​​and / or assembly / machine languages. As used herein, the term "machine-readable medium" refers to any computer program product, device and / or apparatus for providing machine instructions and / or data to a programmable processor, such as a disk, an optical disk, a memory and a programmable logic device (PLD), including a machine-readable medium that receives machine instructions as a machine-readable signal. The term "machine-readable signal" refers to any signal for providing machine instructions and / or data to a programmable processor. A machine-readable medium may store such machine instructions non-temporarily, such as a non-transient solid-state memory or a magnetic hard drive or any equivalent storage medium. A machine-readable medium may alternatively or additionally store such machine instructions in a transient manner, such as a processor cache or other random access memory associated with one or more physical processor cores.

[0125] To provide interaction with a user, one or more aspects or features of the subject matter described herein may be implemented on a computer having a display device (e.g., a cathode ray tube (CRT) or liquid crystal display (LCD) or light emitting diode (LED) monitor for displaying information to the user) and a keyboard and pointing device (e.g., a mouse or trackball) through which the user can provide input to the computer. Other types of devices may also be used to provide interaction with the user. For example, the feedback provided to the user may be any form of sensory feedback, such as visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user may be received in any form, including, but not limited to, acoustic, voice, or tactile input. Other possible input devices include, but are not limited to, touch screens or other touch-sensitive devices, such as single-point or multi-point resistive or capacitive touch pads, voice recognition hardware and software, optical scanners, optical pointers, digital image capture devices and associated interpretation software, and the like.

[0126] The examples and descriptions included herein show, by way of illustration and not limitation, specific embodiments in which the subject matter may be practiced. As described above, other embodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Such embodiments of the subject matter of the present invention may be referred to herein individually or collectively by the term "invention," and if, in fact, more than one invention is disclosed, it is not intended that the scope of this application be voluntarily limited to any single invention or inventive concept but merely for convenience. Therefore, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may replace the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all modifications or variations of various implementations. Upon reading the above description, combinations of the above embodiments, as well as other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. An evaporator comprising: power supply; a heating element configured to generate heat to vaporize the vaporizable material; a nozzle connected to the heating element via a flow path; as well as A controller configured to perform operations including: monitoring parameters of the power supply; determining that one or more vaporization mode triggering criteria are satisfied for the parameter, the vaporization mode triggering criteria comprising one or more of: a value of the parameter and / or a derivative of the parameter indicative of airflow across the heating element caused by a user inhaling on the mouthpiece; and In response to the determination, power delivery is increased to heat the heating element to a vaporization temperature.

2. The evaporator according to claim 1, wherein The monitoring is performed while the heating element is maintained at a standby temperature.

3. The evaporator according to claim 1, wherein The operations further include: determining that one or more standby mode trigger criteria are met for the parameter, the standby mode trigger criteria comprising one or more of: a second value of the parameter and / or a second value of the derivative of the parameter indicating that airflow across the heating element has ceased due to a user no longer inhaling on the mouthpiece; and In response to the determination, power delivery is reduced to cool the heating element to a standby temperature.

4. The evaporator according to claim 3, wherein The operations further include detecting an on-state of the evaporator, and in response to detecting the on-state, providing power to the heating element to bring the heating element to the standby temperature.

5. The evaporator according to claim 1, wherein The parameters include at least one of: temperature, power delivery, voltage, and current of the power supply. The evaporator according to claim 1 , wherein: The parameter comprises the power delivered for maintaining the heating element at the standby temperature, and wherein the evaporation mode triggering criterion comprises a value of at least one of: the delivered power, a first derivative of the delivered power, and a second derivative of the delivered power.

7. The evaporator according to claim 1, wherein The parameter comprises a temperature measured while maintaining power delivery, and the evaporation mode triggering criteria comprises a value of at least one of the temperature, a first derivative of the temperature, and a second derivative of the temperature.

8. The vaporizer of claim 1, further comprising a capacitive sensor configured to automatically turn on the vaporizer upon detecting user contact with the nozzle.

9. The vaporizer of claim 1, further comprising an accelerometer configured to automatically turn on the vaporizer upon detecting motion or a combination of motions of the vaporizer.

10. The evaporator of claim 1, further comprising a source of vaporizable material, wherein the source of vaporizable material comprises an oven for holding the vaporizable material.

11. The evaporator according to claim 1, wherein The heating element, the nozzle, and the source of vaporizable material are part of a removable cartridge in electrical contact with the controller, wherein at least a portion of the flow path is located within the cartridge.

12. A method of heat control in an evaporator, comprising: utilizing a heating element to generate heat to vaporize a vaporizable material, and the vaporizer includes a nozzle connected to the heating element via a flow path; Monitoring the parameters of the power supply of the evaporator by a controller; determining, by the controller, that one or more vaporization mode triggering criteria are satisfied for the parameter, the vaporization mode triggering criteria comprising one or more of: a value of the parameter and / or a derivative of the parameter indicative of airflow across the heating element caused by a user inhaling on the mouthpiece; and In response to the determination, power delivery is increased by the controller to heat the heating element to a vaporization temperature.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein: The monitoring is performed while the heating element is maintained at a standby temperature.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: determining, by the controller, that one or more standby mode trigger criteria are satisfied for the parameter, the standby mode trigger criteria comprising one or more of: a second value of the parameter and / or a second value of the derivative of the parameter indicating that airflow across the heating element has ceased due to a user no longer inhaling on the mouthpiece; and In response to the determination, power delivery is reduced by the controller to cool the heating element to a standby temperature. 15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising detecting, by the controller, an on-state of the evaporator, and in response to detecting the on-state, providing, by the controller, power to bring the heating element to the standby temperature.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein: The parameter comprises the power delivered for maintaining the heating element at the standby temperature, and wherein the evaporation mode triggering criterion comprises a value of at least one of: the delivered power, a first derivative of the delivered power, and a second derivative of the delivered power.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein: The vaporizer further comprises a capacitive sensor configured to automatically turn the vaporizer on upon detecting user contact with the mouthpiece.

18. The method according to claim 12, wherein: The vaporizer further includes an accelerometer configured to automatically turn the vaporizer on upon detecting motion or a combination of motions of the vaporizer.

19. An evaporator comprising: an evaporator body including an inlet air opening through which air enters the evaporator body; a heating element within the evaporator body, the heating element configured to generate heat to vaporize a vaporizable material; a nozzle connected to the heating element via a flow path; a pressure sensor configured to detect air flow of the air; a controller coupled to the pressure sensor, the controller configured to perform operations comprising: receiving a diagnostic mode indication from a user; determining whether a signal is received from the pressure sensor, the signal indicating that the pressure sensor detects a user inhaling on the mouthpiece; determining whether one or more diagnostic mode triggering criteria are satisfied for the monitored parameters, satisfaction of the diagnostic mode triggering criteria indicating that the user is inhaling on the mouthpiece; as well as An operational indication is provided to the user in response to determining whether the signal is received from the pressure sensor and determining whether the set of diagnostic mode triggering criteria is met.

20. A method of heat control in an evaporator, comprising: receiving, by a controller, a diagnostic mode indication from a user of the vaporizer; determining, by the controller, whether a signal is received from a pressure sensor of the vaporizer, the signal indicating that the pressure sensor detects that a user inhales on a nozzle of the vaporizer causing air flow; determining, by the controller, that one or more diagnostic mode triggering criteria are satisfied for the monitored parameters, the satisfaction of the diagnostic mode triggering criteria indicating that a user is inhaling on the mouthpiece of the vaporizer; as well as In response to determining whether the signal is received from the pressure sensor and determining whether the set of diagnostic mode triggering criteria is met, an operational indication is provided to the user via the controller.

21. An evaporator comprising: A removable cartridge comprising: a heating element configured to generate heat to vaporize the vaporizable material; a source of vaporizable material; a flow path for air movement; a nozzle connected to the heating element via the flow path; and a body configured to receive the removable cartridge, the body comprising: power supply; A controller coupled to the heating element when the body receives the removable cartridge, the controller being configured to perform operations comprising: monitoring parameters of the power supply; determining that one or more vaporization mode triggering criteria are satisfied for the parameter, the vaporization mode triggering criteria comprising one or more of: a value of the parameter and / or a derivative of the parameter indicative of airflow across the heating element caused by a user inhaling on the mouthpiece; and In response to the determination, power delivery is increased to heat the heating element to a vaporization temperature.

22. The evaporator according to claim 21, wherein The monitoring is performed while the heating element is maintained at a standby temperature.

23. The evaporator according to claim 21, wherein The operations further include: determining that one or more standby mode trigger criteria are met for the parameter, the standby mode trigger criteria comprising one or more of: a second value of the parameter and / or a second value of the derivative of the parameter indicating that airflow across the heating element has ceased due to a user no longer inhaling on the mouthpiece; and In response to the determination, power delivery is reduced to cool the heating element to a standby temperature.

24. The evaporator according to claim 23, wherein The operations further include detecting an on-state of the evaporator, and in response to detecting the on-state, providing power to bring the heating element to the standby temperature.

25. The evaporator according to claim 21, wherein The parameter comprises the power delivered for maintaining the heating element at the standby temperature, and wherein the evaporation mode triggering criterion comprises a value of at least one of: the delivered power, a first derivative of the delivered power, and a second derivative of the delivered power.

26. The vaporizer of claim 21, further comprising a capacitive sensor configured to automatically turn on the vaporizer upon detecting user contact with the mouthpiece.

27. The vaporizer of claim 21, further comprising an accelerometer configured to automatically turn on the vaporizer upon detecting motion or a combination of motions of the vaporizer.

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