Cartridge-based non-combustion heated vaporizer

Abstract

A vaporizer cartridge is provided that is configured to efficiently and effectively heat non-liquid feedstocks, including vaporizable materials. [Solution] The cartridge (220) can include a heating element (250). The heating element can include an electrically resistive material and can be configured to vaporize the vaporizable material by supplying heat to the vaporizable material. The cartridge can include cartridge contacts (224) in electrical communication with the electrically resistive material. The cartridge contacts can be configured to couple to vaporizer contacts positioned near a cartridge coupling feature that can pass electrical power from a vaporizer device through the electrically resistive material. The electrical power can cause heating of the electrically resistive material and the vaporizable material, resulting in the generation of an aerosol for inhalation by a user. Related systems, methods, and products are also described.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 712,919, entitled "Cartridge-Based Heated Tobacco Vaporizer," filed July 31, 2018, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The subject matter described herein relates to a vaporizer device that includes a system for heating a vaporizable material to generate an inhalable aerosol.

[0003] Background technology Vaporization devices, including electronic vaporizers or e-vaporizer devices, enable the delivery of a vapor containing one or more active ingredients to a user via inhalation of the vapor. Electronic vaporizer devices are becoming increasingly popular for use in prescription medicines, including delivery of solid (e.g., loose-leaf) materials, solid / liquid (e.g., suspensions, liquid coatings) materials, wax extracts, and pre-filled pods (e.g., cartridges, rolled containers) of such materials, as well as for the consumption of other plant-based smokable materials, such as tobacco and cannabis. Notably, electronic vaporizer devices can be portable, stand-alone, and convenient to use.

[0004] In some embodiments, vaporizer cartridges configured to heat vaporizable material (e.g., plant material such as tobacco leaves and / or tobacco leaf portions) require higher temperatures in the internal tobacco region to achieve the minimum temperature required for vaporization. As a result, combustion of the vaporizable material at these higher peak temperatures can produce toxic by-products (e.g., chemical elements or compounds).

[0005] overview Aspects of the present subject matter relate to a cartridge for a vaporizer device. In some embodiments, the cartridge can include a chamber configured to contain a non-liquid vaporizable material. The cartridge can include a heating element. The heating element can include an electrically resistive material and can be configured to vaporize the vaporizable material by supplying heat to the vaporizable material. Here, at least a portion of the heating element can define a portion of the chamber and / or at least a portion of the heating element can be contained within the chamber.

[0006] The cartridge can include cartridge contacts in electrical communication with the electrically resistive material, which can be configured to couple to vaporizer contacts positioned near a cartridge coupling feature that can pass electrical power from a vaporizer device through the electrically resistive material, which can cause heating of the electrically resistive material and the vaporizable material, resulting in the generation of an aerosol for inhalation by a user.

[0007] In some variations, one or more of the following features may optionally be included in any workable combination: The heating element may include cartridge contacts. The cartridge may include a sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material. The sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material may include at least one of a flexible material, a deformable material, and a rigid material. The sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material may include at least one perforation. The sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material may include at least one extension extending away from at least one of a top surface of the sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material and a bottom surface of the sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material.

[0008] The sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material can include a first region having a first density of perforations and a second region having a second density of perforations that is greater than the first density of perforations.

[0009] The heating element can include a non-conductive region. The heating element can include a flexible printed circuit including an electrically resistive material traced onto the flexible material, where the traced electrically resistive material can form a plurality of series heaters. These multiple series heaters can be positioned in parallel. The heating element can include a flexible material with an electrically resistive material extending along the length of the flexible material.

[0010] The cartridge can include a housing, which can include a non-conductive material and can contain at least a portion of the chamber, and the vaporizable material can include nicotine.

[0011] In some embodiments, a system for generating an inhalable aerosol can include a cartridge. The cartridge can include a chamber configured to accommodate a non-liquid vaporizable material. The cartridge can include a heating element. The heating element can include an electrically resistive material and can be configured to vaporize the vaporizable material by supplying heat to the vaporizable material, where at least a portion of the heating element can define a portion of the chamber and / or be housed within the chamber. The cartridge can include cartridge contacts in electrical communication with the electrically resistive material. The cartridge contacts can be configured to couple to vaporizer contacts positioned near a cartridge coupling feature that can pass electrical power from a vaporizer device through the electrically resistive material. The electrical power can cause heating of the electrically resistive material and the vaporizable material, resulting in the generation of an aerosol for inhalation by a user.

[0012] The system can include a device body that can include a cartridge receptacle for receiving the cartridge, and vaporizer contacts configured to mate with cartridge contacts when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receptacle to provide a conductive path between a power source within the device body and a heating element of the cartridge.

[0013] In some embodiments, a method for generating an inhalable aerosol can include coupling cartridge contacts of the vaporizer cartridge to vaporizer contacts of the vaporizer device body to provide a conductive path between a power source of the vaporizer device body and a heating element of the vaporizer cartridge, the conductive path can cause the power source to heat an electrically resistive material of the heating element and a vaporizable material contained within a chamber of the cartridge.

[0014] The method may include heating a heating element that vaporizes a vaporizable material to form an aerosol for inhalation, wherein the heating element defines at least a portion of a chamber and / or the heating element is contained within the chamber of the vaporizer cartridge.

[0015] The details of one or more variations of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

[0016] 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 to explain some of the principles associated with the disclosed embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram of a vaporizer consistent with an embodiment of the present subject matter. [Figure 2A]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge including an embodiment of a heating element having a flexible sheet with narrow conductive traces extending therealong; [Figure 2B] 2B is an end view of the vaporizer cartridge of FIG. 2A showing a flexible sheet of heating elements wrapped around a non-liquid vaporizable material; [Figure 2C] 2B is a top view of the embodiment of the heating element of FIG. 2A showing six series heaters formed in parallel, each series heater section having a plurality of narrow conductive traces oriented horizontally; [Figure 2D] 2B is a top view of the embodiment of the heating element of FIG. 2A, showing six series heaters formed in parallel, each series heater section having multiple narrow conductive traces oriented vertically; [Figure 3A] FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge including another embodiment of a heating element including a perforated conductive material having different resistive regions. [Figure 3B] 3B is a top view of the heating element of FIG. 3A, including an electrically resistive region having a plurality of perforations. [Figure 4A] FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge including another embodiment of a heating element in contact with a non-liquid vaporizable material. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B is a top view of the heating element of the vaporizer cartridge of FIG. [Figure 4C] FIG. 4C is a side view of the heating element of FIG. 4B with sheets of non-liquid vaporizable material bonded to the top and bottom surfaces of the heating element; [Figure 4D] 4C is a top view of another embodiment of the heating element of FIG. 4B, including slits extending along the length of the heating element and intersecting the ends of the heating element. [Figure 4E] 4D, showing the heating element folded at least along the slit; [Figure 4F] 4C is a perspective view of another embodiment of the heating element of FIG. 4B, including at least one extension extending from the upper and / or lower surface of the sheet of the heating element. [Figure 4G] Top view of the heating element of FIG. 4F [Figure 4H]FIG. 4F illustrates an embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge housing for securing the heating element and non-liquid vaporizable material therein. [Figure 5A] FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge including an induction coil and another embodiment of a heating element including a ferrous material. [Figure 5B] 5B is an end view of the vaporizer cartridge of FIG. 5A showing ferrous material interspersed within the non-liquid vaporizable material; [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge including another embodiment of a heating element having an electrically resistive foam structure. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge including conductive plates separated by insulating material and another embodiment of a heating element having an at least partially conductive compound. [Figure 8A] 1 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge; [Figure 8B] 8B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vaporizer cartridge of FIG.

[0018] Where practical, similar structures, features or elements will be designated by similar reference numerals.

[0019] Implementations of the present subject matter include devices related to vaporizing one or more materials for inhalation by a user. For example, various embodiments of vaporizer cartridges, such as single-use disposable cartridges, having various heater element embodiments are described herein. Such vaporizer cartridges can be configured for use with non-liquid vaporizable materials, such as loose-leaf tobacco. The various heater element embodiments described herein can improve the efficiency and quality of heating of the vaporizable material, such as heating the vaporizable material within an optimal heating range. Such an optimal heating range includes a temperature high enough to vaporize the vaporizable material into an aerosol for inhalation, while heating the material below a temperature that produces harmful or potentially harmful by-products.

[0020] In some embodiments, the heating elements described herein can achieve the optimal heating range at a rate that allows the user to have an enjoyable user experience (e.g., not having to wait long periods of time for the heating element to reach the temperature of the optimal heating range). In some embodiments, vaporizer cartridges including such heating elements can be manufactured cost-effectively, thereby making them economically viable as single-use, disposable cartridges. Various vaporizer cartridges and heating elements incorporating one or more of the above features are described in more detail below.

[0021] As noted above, the vaporizable material used in the vaporizer may optionally be provided in a cartridge (e.g., the cartridge may be a portion of a vaporizer that contains the vaporizable material or source material, a portion of a vaporizer that includes the vaporizable material in a reservoir or other container, or a portion of a vaporizer that is refillable with a new cartridge containing additional vaporizable material of the same or a different type when empty or disposable). The vaporizer may be a cartridge-based vaporizer, a cartridge-less vaporizer, or a multi-use vaporizer that can be used with or without a cartridge. For example, a multi-use vaporizer may include a heating chamber (e.g., an oven) configured to receive the source material and directly contain the vaporizable material within the heating chamber, and also configured to receive a vaporizer cartridge 120 or other replaceable device having a reservoir, volume, or the like for at least partially containing a usable amount of source material and for containing or containing the vaporizable material.

[0022] In various implementations, the vaporizer may be configured for use with a solid vaporizable material, which may include plant material that releases a portion of the plant material as vaporizable material (e.g., such that a portion of the plant material remains as waste after the vaporizable material is released for inhalation by the user), or optionally, the vaporizable material itself may be in solid form (e.g., "wax") such that all of the solid material may ultimately be vaporized for inhalation.

[0023] 1 , the vaporizer 100 typically includes a power source 112 (e.g., a battery, which may be a rechargeable battery) and a controller 104 (e.g., a processor capable of executing logic, circuitry, etc.) for controlling the supply of heat to the heating element to convert the vaporizable material from a condensed form (e.g., a solid, liquid, solution, suspension, at least a portion of unprocessed plant material, etc.) to a gas phase. This controller 104 may be part of one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs) consistent with a particular implementation of the present subject matter. In the present subject matter, which generally relates to devices for generating inhalable aerosols by heating without combustion of a source material, the condensed form is typically a plant-based material, at least a portion of which is vaporizable material that can be converted to a vapor upon heating of the plant-based material.

[0024] After conversion of the vaporizable material to the gas phase, depending on the type of vaporizer, the physical and chemical properties of the vaporizable material, and / or other factors, at least a portion of the gas-phase vaporizable material may condense to form particulate matter in at least partial local equilibrium with the gas phase as part of an aerosol that can form part or all of the inhalable dose provided by the vaporizer 100 for a given puff or inhale on the vaporizer. It will be appreciated that the interactions between the gas and condensed phases in the aerosol generated by the vaporizer can be complex and dynamic, depending on factors such as ambient temperature, relative humidity, chemistry, and flow conditions in the airflow path (both within the vaporizer and within the respiratory tract of a human or other animal). Mixing of the gas or aerosol phase vaporizable material with other airflows can affect one or more physical parameters of the aerosol. In some vaporizers, particularly those for delivering more volatile vaporizable materials, the inhalable dose may exist primarily in the gas phase (i.e., condensed-phase particle formation may be very limited).

[0025] As noted above, vaporizers consistent with implementations of the present subject matter may also or alternatively be configured to generate inhalable doses of gas and / or aerosol phase vaporizable material via heating a non-liquid source material containing or including vaporizable material, such as, for example, solid-phase vaporizable material or plant material (e.g., tobacco leaves and / or portions of tobacco leaves). In such vaporizers, the heating element may be part of, otherwise incorporated into, or in thermal contact with the walls of an oven or other heated chamber in which the non-liquid source material containing or including vaporizable material is placed. Alternatively, the heating element or elements may be used to heat air flowing through or passing through the non-liquid source material to cause convective heating of the non-liquid vaporizable material. In yet another example, the heating element or elements may be positioned in intimate contact with the plant material such that direct thermal conduction heating of the source material occurs from within the source material mass (e.g., rather than solely by conduction from the oven walls to the interior). Such non-liquid vaporizable materials may be used with cartridge-based or cartridge-less vaporizers.

[0026] The heating element may be or may include one or more of a conductive heater, a radiant heater, and a convection heater. One type of heating element is a resistive heating element, which may be composed of or at least include a material (e.g., a metal or alloy, e.g., a nickel-chromium alloy, or a non-metallic resistor) configured to dissipate power in the form of heat when an electric current passes through one or more resistive segments of the heating element. In some implementations of the present subject matter, an atomizer may include a heating element including a resistive coil or other heating element wrapped around, positioned within, integrated into a bulk shape, pressed against a hot junction, or otherwise disposed to supply heat to a mass of source material (e.g., a plant-based material such as tobacco) containing vaporizable material. Throughout this disclosure, "source material" generally refers to a portion of a plant-based material (or other condensed form of plant material or other material capable of releasing vaporizable material without combustion) containing vaporizable material that is converted into vapor and / or an aerosol for inhalation. As further described below, other heating element and / or atomizer assembly configurations are also possible.

[0027] The heating element may be actuated in conjunction with a user's puffing (e.g., inhaling, inhaling, etc.) on the vaporizer mouthpiece to cause air to flow from the air inlet, along an air flow path through the heating element and associated mass of source material, optionally through one or more condensation regions or chambers, to an air outlet in the mouthpiece (e.g., a controller, optionally part of the vaporizer body, as discussed below, may pass current from a power source through a circuit including a resistive heating element, optionally part of the vaporizer cartridge, as discussed below). Incoming air passing along the air flow path passes over, passes through, etc., the heating element and source material, whereupon gas-phase vaporizable material is entrained in the air. As described above, the entrained gas-phase vaporizable material can condense as it passes through the remainder of the air flow path such that an inhalable dose of the vaporizable material in aerosol form can be delivered from the air outlet (e.g., within the mouthpiece for inhalation by the user).

[0028] Activation of the heating element may be triggered by automatic detection of a puff based on one or more signals generated by one or more sensors 113, such as, for example, one or more pressure sensors positioned to detect pressure along the air flow path relative to ambient pressure (or optionally to measure changes in absolute pressure), one or more motion sensors in the vaporizer, one or more flow sensors in the vaporizer, a capacitive lip sensor in the vaporizer, etc., or may be triggered in response to detection of user interaction with one or more input devices 116 (e.g., buttons or other tactile control devices on the vaporizer 100) or receipt of a signal from a computing device in communication with the vaporizer, and / or through other efforts to determine that a puff has occurred or is imminent.

[0029] As alluded to above, a vaporizer consistent with implementations of the present subject matter may be configured to connect (e.g., wirelessly or via a wired connection) to a computing device (or optionally two or more devices) that communicates with the vaporizer. To this end, the controller 104 may include communications hardware 105. The controller 104 may also include memory 108. The computing device may be a component of a vaporizer system that also includes the vaporizer 100, and the computing device may itself include communications hardware capable of establishing a wireless communications channel with the communications hardware 105 of the vaporizer 100. For example, a computing device used as part of a vaporizer system may include a general-purpose computing device (e.g., a smartphone, tablet, personal computer, some other portable device such as a smartwatch, etc.) that executes software that generates a user interface to enable a user of the device to interact with the vaporizer. In other embodiments of the present subject matter, such devices used as part of a vaporizer system may be dedicated pieces of hardware, such as a remote control or other wireless or wired device, having one or more physical or soft interface controls (e.g., configurable on a screen or other display device and selectable via user interaction with a touch-sensitive screen or some other input device, such as a mouse, pointer, trackball, cursor buttons, etc.). The vaporizer may also include one or more output 117 features or devices for providing information to a user. For example, the output 117 may include one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to provide feedback to a user based on the status and / or operating mode of the vaporizer 100.

[0030] A computing device that is part of the vaporizer system defined above can be used for any one or more of the following functions: controlling dose (e.g., dose monitoring, dose setting, dose limiting, user tracking, etc.), controlling sessionization (e.g., session monitoring, session setting, session limiting, user tracking, etc.), controlling nicotine delivery (e.g., switching between nicotine vaporizable material and non-nicotine vaporizable material, adjusting the amount of nicotine delivered, etc.), obtaining location information (e.g., locations of other users, retail / commercial location, vaping location, relative or absolute location of the vaporizer itself, etc.), personalizing the vaporizer (e.g., naming the vaporizer, locking / password protecting the vaporizer, adjusting one or more parental controls, associating the vaporizer with a user group, registering the vaporizer with the manufacturer or warranty maintenance organization, etc.), linking social activities with other users (e.g., social media communication, interacting with one or more groups, etc.). The terms "sessionization," "session," "vaporizer session," or "vaporization session" are generally used to refer to a period of time spent using a vaporizer. This period may include duration, number of doses, amount of vaporizable material, and / or the like.

[0031] In examples where a computing device provides signals related to the activation of a resistive heating element, or in other examples where a computing device is coupled to a vaporizer for implementing various control or other functions, the computing device executes one or more sets of computer instructions to provide a user interface and underlying data processing. In one example, user interaction with one or more user interface elements detected by the computing device can cause the computing device to send a signal to the vaporizer 100 to activate the heating element(s) to any full operating temperature for generating an inhalable dose of vapor / aerosol. Other functions of the vaporizer may be controlled by user interaction with a user interface on a computing device in communication with the vaporizer.

[0032] The temperature of a vaporizer's resistive heating element can depend on several factors, including the amount of power supplied to the resistive heating element and / or the duty ratio at which power is supplied, the rate of heat transfer / thermal conductivity to other components of the electronic vaporizer and / or the environment, latent heat loss due to the vaporization of the vaporizable material from the entire atomizer, and convective heat loss due to airflow (e.g., air moving across the heating element or atomizer when a user inhales on an electronic vaporizer). As noted above, to reliably activate or heat the heating element to a desired temperature, vaporizers, in some implementations of the present subject matter, utilize a signal from a pressure sensor to determine when a user is inhaling. The pressure sensor can be positioned in the air flow path and / or connected (e.g., by a passageway or other flow path) to an air flow path connecting an inlet for air entering the device and an outlet through which the resulting vapor and / or aerosol is inhaled by the user, such that the pressure sensor senses pressure changes as air moves from the air inlet through the vaporizer device to the air outlet. In some implementations of the present subject matter, the heating element may be activated in conjunction with a user's puff, for example, by automatic detection of the puff, for example, by a pressure sensor that detects a pressure change in the airflow path.

[0033] Typically, the pressure sensor (as well as any other sensors 113) may be positioned on or coupled to (e.g., electrically or electronically connected via a physical or wireless connection with) the controller 104 (e.g., a printed circuit board assembly or other type of circuit board). To ensure accurate measurements and maintain the durability of the vaporizer, it may be advantageous to provide a resilient seal 121 that isolates the airflow path from other portions of the vaporizer. This seal 121, which may be a gasket, may be configured to at least partially surround the pressure sensor such that the pressure sensor's connection to the vaporizer's internal circuitry is isolated from the portion of the pressure sensor exposed to the airflow path. In the example of a cartridge-based vaporizer, the seal 121 may also isolate portions of one or more electrical connections between the vaporizer body 110 and the vaporizer cartridge 120. Such placement of the seal 121 within the vaporizer 100 can help mitigate potentially destructive effects on the vaporizer components resulting from interaction with environmental factors, such as gas or liquid water, vaporizable materials, or other fluids, and / or can help reduce air leakage from the designed air flow path within the vaporizer. Unwanted air, liquid, or other fluid passage and / or contact circuitry in the vaporizer can cause various undesirable effects, such as fluctuations in pressure measurements, and / or can result in the accumulation of undesirable materials, such as moisture, vaporizable materials, within the vaporizer components, which can cause a reduced pressure signal, degradation of pressure sensors or other components, and / or reduced vaporizer lifespan. Leaks in the seal 121 can also result in a user inhaling air that has passed through portions of the vaporizer device containing or composed of materials that may be undesirable to be inhaled.

[0034] A common class of vaporizers that has gained popularity recently includes a vaporizer body 110 that includes a controller 104, a power source 112 (e.g., a battery), one or more sensors 113, charging contacts, a seal 121, and a cartridge receptacle 118. The cartridge receptacle 118 is configured to receive a vaporizer cartridge 120 for coupling with the vaporizer body 110 via one or more various attachment structures. In some examples, the vaporizer cartridge 120 includes a mouthpiece for delivering an inhalable dose to a user. The vaporizer body 110 can include an atomizer having a heating element 150, or alternatively, the heating element 150 can be part of the vaporizer cartridge 120.

[0035] As noted above, the present subject matter relates to cartridge-based configurations for vaporizers that generate inhalable doses of vaporizable material through heating of the source material. For example, a vaporizer cartridge 120 can include a mass of source material that has been processed and formed to be in direct contact with components of one or more resistive heating elements, and such a vaporizer cartridge 120 can be configured to be mechanically and electrically coupled to a vaporizer body 110 that includes a processor, a power source 112, and electrical contacts for connecting to corresponding cartridge contacts 124 for completing a circuit with the one or more resistive heating elements.

[0036] In a vaporizer in which the power supply 112 is part of the vaporizer body 110 and the heating element 150 is disposed within a vaporizer cartridge 120 configured to mate with the vaporizer body 110, the vaporizer 100 can include electrical connection features (e.g., means for completing a circuit) for completing a circuit including the controller 104 (e.g., a printed circuit board, a microcontroller, etc.), the power supply 112, and the heating element 150. These features can include at least two contacts (also referred to herein as cartridge contacts 124) on one or more exterior surfaces of the vaporizer cartridge 120, as well as at least two contacts (also referred to herein as receptacle contacts 125) optionally disposed on the vaporizer body 110 within the cartridge receptacle 118 of the vaporizer 100. These cartridge contacts 124 and receptacle contacts 125 thereby form an electrical connection when the vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted into and coupled with the cartridge receptacle 118. Other configurations in which the vaporizer cartridge 120 is coupled to the vaporizer body 110 without being inserted into the cartridge receptacle 118 are also within the scope of the present subject matter. It will be understood that references herein to "receptacle contacts" may more generally refer to contacts on the vaporizer body 110 that are not contained within the cartridge receptacle 118 but are nevertheless configured to form electrical connections with the cartridge contacts 124 of the vaporizer cartridge 120 when the vaporizer cartridge 120 and vaporizer body 110 are coupled. The circuits completed by these electrical connections may enable the supply of electrical current to the resistive heating element 150 and may further be used for additional functions, such as, for example, measuring the resistance of the resistive heating element 150 for use in determining and / or controlling the temperature of the resistive heating element 150 based on the thermal resistance coefficient of the resistive heating element 150, or identifying the cartridge based on one or more electrical characteristics of the resistive heating element 150 or other circuitry of the vaporizer cartridge 120.

[0037] In some examples of the present subject matter, the at least two cartridge contacts 124 and the at least two receptacle contacts 125 can be configured to be electrically connected in either of at least two orientations. In other words, one or more circuits required for vaporizer operation can be completed by inserting the vaporizer cartridge 120 into the cartridge receptacle 118 in a first rotational orientation (about an axis along which the end of the vaporizer cartridge 120 with the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receptacle 118 of the vaporizer body 110), whereby a first cartridge contact of the at least two cartridge contacts 124 is electrically connected to a first receptacle contact of the at least two receptacle contacts 125, and a second cartridge contact of the at least two cartridge contacts 124 is electrically connected to a second receptacle contact of the at least two receptacle contacts 125. Additionally, one or more circuits required for vaporizer operation can be completed by inserting the vaporizer cartridge 120 into the cartridge receptacle 118 in a second rotational orientation, whereby a first cartridge contact of the at least two cartridge contacts 124 is electrically connected to a second receptacle contact of the at least two receptacle contacts 125, and a second cartridge contact of the at least two cartridge contacts 124 is electrically connected to a first receptacle contact of the at least two receptacle contacts 125. This feature of the vaporizer cartridge 120 being reversibly insertable into the cartridge receptacle 118 of the vaporizer body 110 is described further below.

[0038] In one example of an attachment structure for coupling the vaporizer cartridge 120 to the vaporizer body 110, the vaporizer body 110 includes detents (e.g., dimples, protrusions, etc.) that protrude inward from the inner surface of the cartridge receptacle. One or more outer surfaces of the vaporizer cartridge 120 may include corresponding recesses (not shown in FIG. 1 ) that can fit and / or snap over such detents when an end of the vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted into the cartridge receptacle 118 of the vaporizer body 110. When the vaporizer cartridge 120 and the vaporizer body 110 are coupled (e.g., by inserting an end of the vaporizer cartridge 120 into the cartridge receptacle 118 of the vaporizer body 110), a detent in the vaporizer body 110 can fit and / or may be otherwise retained within the recess of the vaporizer cartridge 120 to hold the vaporizer cartridge 120 in place when assembled. Such a detent recess assembly can provide sufficient support to hold the vaporizer cartridge 120 in place, ensuring good contact between the at least two cartridge contacts 124 and the at least two receptacle contacts 125 while allowing release of the vaporizer cartridge 120 from the vaporizer body 110 when a user pulls on the vaporizer cartridge 120 with moderate force to remove it from the cartridge receptacle 118. It will be understood that other configurations for coupling the vaporizer cartridge 120 to the vaporizer body 110 are also within the scope of the present subject matter, for example, as discussed in more detail below.

[0039] Furthermore, in contrast to the discussion above about the electrical connection between the vaporizer cartridge 120 and the vaporizer body 110 being reversible, thereby allowing for at least two rotational orientations of the vaporizer cartridge 120 within the vaporizer cartridge 120 receptacle, in some vaporizer devices, the shape of the vaporizer cartridge 120, or at least the shape of the end of the vaporizer cartridge 120 configured for insertion into the cartridge receptacle 118, may have at least second-order rotational symmetry. In other words, the vaporizer cartridge 120, or at least the insertable end of the vaporizer cartridge 120, may be symmetrical through 180 degrees about the axis along which the vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted into the cartridge receptacle 118. In such a configuration, the circuitry of the vaporizer device can support identical operation regardless of which symmetrical orientation of the vaporizer cartridge 120 occurs.

[0040] In some examples, the vaporizer cartridge 120, or at least the end of the vaporizer cartridge 120 configured for insertion into the receptacle of the vaporizer cartridge 120, may have a non-circular cross-section transverse to the axis along which the vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted into the cartridge receptacle 118. For example, the non-circular cross-section may be approximately rectangular, approximately oval (e.g., having a generally elliptical shape), non-rectangular but with two sets of parallel or nearly parallel opposing sides (e.g., having a parallelogram-like shape), or some other shape having at least second-order rotational symmetry. In this context, approximately having a shape indicates that a basic similarity to the described shape is evident, but the sides of the suspected shape need not be perfectly linear, nor the apexes perfectly sharp. Rounding of the edges and / or apexes of the cross-sectional shape is contemplated in the description of any non-circular cross-section referred to herein.

[0041] The at least two cartridge contacts 124 and the at least two receptacle contacts 125 can take a variety of forms. For example, one or both sets of contacts can include conductive pins, tabs, posts, receiving holes for pins or posts, etc. Some types of contacts can include springs or other facilitating features to create better physical and electrical contact between the contacts on the vaporizer cartridge 120 and the vaporizer body 110.

[0042] Described herein are various embodiments of vaporizer cartridges 120 configured to contain and vaporize one or more non-liquid source materials, such as loose-leaf tobacco. Furthermore, such vaporizer cartridge embodiments may be single-use, such that the vaporizable materials cannot be replenished after they are depleted. Therefore, such single-use vaporizer cartridges require inexpensive materials and manufacturing, which is feasible without waste. Furthermore, while it may be desirable to fabricate and manufacture single-use vaporizer cartridges to vaporize non-liquid source materials, it may also be desirable to efficiently and effectively vaporize the vaporizable materials. For example, users who inhale on a vaporizer device typically prefer to inhale the aerosol generated by the vaporizer device immediately after engaging the vaporizer device (e.g., by placing their lips on the mouthpiece, pressing an activation button, etc.). Therefore, the vaporizer cartridge embodiments disclosed herein can advantageously achieve efficient vaporization of the vaporizable materials from the source material to achieve a desired user experience. Additionally, embodiments of the vaporizer cartridge 120 disclosed herein can advantageously provide sufficient heating energy to the source material to cause the release of vaporizable material, such as creating an aerosol form of the vaporizable material for inhalation, while simultaneously limiting heating sufficiently to at least reduce the production of at least one harmful by-product that is undesirable for a user to inhale. To accomplish the above, various embodiments of the heating element are disclosed and described in more detail below.

[0043] Described herein are various embodiments of heating elements configured to heat within a desired temperature range, such as about 250°C or less. Such a temperature range can advantageously vaporize a feedstock, such as processed tobacco, allowing nicotine and volatile flavor compounds to be aerosolized and delivered to a user puff on an associated vaporizer device. Such temperatures within the temperature range can also prevent the production of at least one harmful or potentially harmful by-product. Thus, at least one advantage of the heating assemblies described herein includes improved aerosol quality for inhalation by a user.

[0044] Additionally, various embodiments of the heating elements described herein can efficiently heat to temperatures within a desired temperature range, enabling the associated vaporizer device to achieve a desired user experience for a user inhaling on the vaporizer device. Such efficient heating times can result in efficient power usage, such as battery power, from the vaporizer device. Furthermore, various embodiments of the heating elements described herein can achieve such benefits without requiring an increase in the size of the vaporizer device. In some embodiments, the heating elements can enable more compact vaporizer devices than those currently available. Additionally, embodiments of the heating elements can be fabricated and manufactured at costs that make the vaporizer cartridge economically feasible for single-use applications.

[0045] The heating element embodiments described below can include at least one thermally conductive material, such as carbon, carbon foam, metal, metal foil, aluminum foam, or a biodegradable polymer. The thermally conductive material can transfer energy provided by the vaporizer device (e.g., through contacts between the cartridge and the vaporizer device) to the thermally conductive feature, thereby causing an increase in temperature along at least a portion of the thermally conductive feature, such as for vaporizing a vaporizable substance from a source material. The vaporizer body 110 can include a controller 104 that can control the amount of energy provided to the thermally conductive material, thereby assisting the heating element 150 in reaching a temperature within a desired temperature range.

[0046] In some embodiments, the vaporizer cartridge can include a housing 162 configured to house at least a portion of the vaporizable material 102 and / or the heating element 150 .

[0047] 2A-2B show an embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge 220 including an embodiment of a heating element 250 having a flexible sheet with narrow conductive traces 252 extending therealong. These narrow conductive traces 252 form a resistive heater that can be arranged in series or parallel. The narrow conductive traces 252 can be made from a conductive material, such as any of the conductive materials described herein. The heating element 250 can include at least one cartridge contact 224 in electrical communication with the narrow conductive trace. This cartridge contact 224 can be positioned such that when the vaporizer cartridge 220 is coupled to the vaporizer body, the cartridge contact 224 can engage with a receptacle contact 125 of the vaporizer body (shown in FIG. 1). This allows energy from the vaporizer body to be transferred from the vaporizer body to the narrow conductive trace 224 (via the contact connection between the cartridge contact 224 and the receptacle contact 125), thereby causing the narrow conductive trace 252 to reach a temperature within a desired temperature range.

[0048] In some embodiments, the flexible sheet can be wrapped around a non-liquid source material 202, such as multiple sheets of tobacco, as shown in FIG. 2B. In such a configuration, the heating element 250 can define or be contained within a chamber configured to contain the source material 202. This can increase contact between the source material 202 and the heating element 150, thereby allowing the heating element 150 to efficiently heat and vaporize the vaporizable material from the source material 202. Furthermore, in such a configuration, the temperature gradient across the source material 202 can be minimized (e.g., equal to or less than the width of the tobacco sheet). This allows the heating element 150 to heat to a temperature within a desired temperature range while efficiently vaporizing an acceptable portion (ideally, not necessarily all or substantially all) of the vaporizable material contained within the source material 202 within the chamber.

[0049] 2C and 2D illustrate embodiments of narrow conductive traces 252 of heating element 150. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D, narrow conductive trace 252 can include multiple series heaters in parallel, such as six series heaters positioned in parallel. Additionally, each series heater can be arranged in a horizontal orientation, as shown in FIG. 2C, and / or a vertical orientation, as shown in FIG. 2D. For example, a horizontal orientation can provide a series resistance of approximately 2.18 ohms at 25° C. and 4.09 ohms at 250° C., and a total heater resistance of approximately 0.363 ohms at 25° C. and 0.682 ohms at 250° C. For example, a vertical orientation can provide a series resistance of approximately 2.14 ohms at 25° C. and 4.02 ohms at 250° C., and a total heater resistance of approximately 0.357 ohms at 25° C. and 0.670 ohms at 250° C. Other configurations of narrow conductive traces are within the scope of this disclosure. Figure 2C shows the heating element 150 of Figure 2A with narrow conductive traces 252 formed into six series heaters in parallel, with each series heater portion oriented horizontally.

[0050] 3A-3B show another embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge 320 including another embodiment of a heating element 350 (shown in FIG. 3B) that enables the vaporizer cartridge 320 to include at least some of the advantages described herein, including cost-effective manufacturing, fast heat-up times, vaporization temperatures within a desired temperature range, etc.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 3B , the heating element 350 includes an electrically resistive region 354 made from a conductive material, such as a conductive foil material, that has been treated to increase its electrical resistance in desired portions of the conductive foil (e.g., by perforation, by varying the thickness or other dimension of the conductive cross-section, etc.). In some embodiments, a first portion of this electrically resistive region 354 can include a non-conductive material backing 356 (e.g., a paper material), and a second portion of the electrically resistive region 354 can include an electrically resistive material 358 without the non-conductive material backing 356. Additionally, as noted above, the second portion can include a plurality of perforations 360, which can create electrical resistance along the otherwise more conductive material of the second portion. These perforations 360 can have any number of different shapes and sizes and can be arranged in one or more of a variety of configurations. Furthermore, the electrically resistive second portion can be a conductive material that includes multiple regions with different densities of perforations 360 or other physical modifications, thereby creating regions of different electrical resistance. Such regions of different electrical resistance can affect the temperature reached when the electrically resistive portion is caused to heat (e.g., current creepage is permitted). As shown in Figures 3A and 3B, portions of the heating element 350 that may come into contact with a user and therefore preferably are not heated can comprise only non-conductive material. Other configurations are also within the scope of the present disclosure, such as a heating element having one or more regions comprising non-perforated conductive material, such as for forming cartridge contacts that allow engagement with vaporizer contacts that allow current transfer from a vaporizer device to the heating element to heat the heating element.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 3A , the heating element 350 can be wrapped around a source material 302, such as a non-liquid source material (e.g., one or more tobacco sheets). In such a configuration, the heating element 350 can define a chamber configured to contain the source material 302 or can be contained within a cartridge chamber. This can increase contact between the source material 302 and the heating element 350, thereby enabling the heating element 350 to efficiently heat and vaporize the vaporizable material from the source material 302. Furthermore, in such a configuration, the temperature gradient across the source material 302 can be reduced (e.g., to no more than the width of the tobacco sheet). This allows the heating element 350 to heat to a temperature within a desired temperature range while efficiently vaporizing an acceptable portion (ideally, not necessarily all or substantially all) of the vaporizable material contained within the source material in the chamber.

[0053] 4A-4E show other embodiments of a vaporizer cartridge 420 including other embodiments of a heating element 450 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 4B) that enable the vaporizer cartridge 420 to include at least some of the advantages described herein, including cost-effective manufacturing, fast heat-up times, vaporization temperatures within a desired temperature range, etc.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 4A, the vaporizer cartridge 420 can include a housing 462 having an opening 464 for receiving the heating element 450 and the source material 402. The housing 462 can include a non-conductive material, and the heating element 450 includes a sheet 448 made of a thermally conductive material. As shown in FIG. 4B, the sheet 448 can include a plurality of perforations 460 that can affect the resistance along the sheet 448. Additionally, the sheet can include at least one side extension forming a cartridge contact 424 that can engage with and extend through a through-hole 428 along the housing 462. Such a side extension forming the cartridge contact 424 can be positioned to engage with a corresponding receptacle contact along the vaporizer body, thereby allowing current to flow from the vaporizer body to the heating element 450, which in turn heats the heating element 450 to a temperature within the desired temperature range.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 4C , the heating element 450 can include at least one flat surface against which the source material 402 can directly face, thereby providing efficient heat transfer between the heating element 450 and the source material 402 (e.g., one or more tobacco sheets). Furthermore, such a configuration can minimize the temperature gradient across the source material 402 (e.g., equal to or less than the width of a tobacco sheet). This allows the heating element 450 to heat to a temperature within a desired temperature range while efficiently vaporizing all or substantially all of the vaporizable material contained within the source material 402 within the chamber. Other variations and / or features of the heating element 450 can be included, such as folding the heating element 450 in half with cartridge contacts 424 extending from the distal end (as shown in FIG. 4E ), and / or including an effectively long and thin etched conductive sheet 406 to result in sufficient electrical resistance to achieve rapid and effective heating of the heating element 450 within the desired heating range (e.g., as shown in FIG. 4D ).

[0056] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4F and 4G, one or more extensions 468 can extend from the upper and / or lower surfaces of the thermally conductive sheet 448. Such extensions 468 can be formed when forming the perforations 460 (e.g., via a stamping process in the conductive sheet). These extensions 468 can provide additional surface area that can be more integrated with the source material 402, for example, compared to a flat heating element that does not include such extensions. As shown in FIG. 4H, some embodiments of the housing 462 can include a clamshell configuration such that the heating element 450 (e.g., any of the heating element embodiments shown in FIGS. 4A-4G) can be held within the housing 462 along with at least two tobacco sheets positioned on opposite sides of the heating element 450. This can provide a compact configuration with efficient assembly.

[0057] 5A-5B show another embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge 520 including another embodiment of a heating element 550 having an induction coil and ferrous material 570. For example, the induction coil can be wrapped around the source material, such as directly around a sheet of source material. Additionally, the ferrous material 570 can be mixed with the source material and heated as a result of the interaction of the ferrous material with the electric and / or magnetic fields generated by current passing through the induction coil. The ferrous material mixed with the source material can enable more uniform heat distribution along and / or within the source material, thereby reducing temperature gradients along the source material. This allows the source material to be heated to a temperature within a desired temperature range under the interaction of the field generated by the induction coil, thereby effectively vaporizing the vaporizable material from the source material.

[0058] 6 shows a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge 620 including another embodiment of a heating element 650 having a thermally conductive (but electrically resistive) foam structure 672. For example, a source material may be disposed within this thermally conductive foam structure 672 (e.g., within the pores of an open-cell thermally conductive foam structure). An electric current may be passed through this thermally conductive foam structure 672, such that the source material is uniformly heated, e.g., to a temperature within a desired temperature range, as a result of resistive heating of the thermally conductive foam structure 672. In some embodiments, the thermally conductive foam structure 672 may be made from reticulated carbon foam, aluminum foam, or the like. Other foam structures are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0059] 7 illustrates another embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge 720 including another embodiment of a heating element 750 having conductive plates 774 separated by non-conductive insulating material 776. The conductive plates 774 and the insulating material 776 can define a chamber configured to contain the source material 702. The heating element 750 can further include an at least partially conductive compound 778 that can be contained in the source material 702, thereby creating a bulk resistance from the source material 702. The conductive plates 774 can function to conduct electricity and serve as cartridge contacts that mate with receptacle contacts in a vaporizer body to which the vaporizer cartridge 720 is coupled.

[0060] Any of the heating elements described herein can include contacts (e.g., cartridge contacts) or can be in electrical communication with contacts to allow a vaporizer cartridge to be coupled thereto, thereby transmitting electrical energy from the vaporizer body, which can increase the temperature of the heating element.

[0061] A counter-flow heat exchanger may be implemented in a vaporizer cartridge or vaporizer device to vaporize the vaporizable material from the source material without the need for heating above a desired temperature range. For example, a vaporizer cartridge including a counter-flow heat exchanger is described in more detail below.

[0062] 8A-8B illustrate another embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge 820 including another embodiment of a heating element 850. As shown in FIG. 8A, a thermally conductive material can surround the outer periphery of an outer source material passage 880. The outer source material passage 880 can include a donut-shaped contour with an inner through-hole defining an inner source material passage 882. As shown in FIG. 8B, the inner source material passage 882 can be open at a distal end 884, and the outer source material passage 880 can include an opening at the distal end 884. The inner and outer source material passages can be at least partially filled with source material. An air flow path 886 can extend from the opening to the outer source material passage 880, along at least a portion of the source material passage, through a proximal end 888 of the inner source material passage 882, along the inner source material passage 882, to an outer distal opening of the source material passage, as shown in FIG. 8B. This can allow airflow (e.g., as a result of a user inhaling on the vaporizer device) to flow along outer source material passage 880, thereby causing heating through the thermally conductive material surrounding the periphery of the source material passage. As such, when the heated airflow then flows along inner source material passage 882, the heated airflow can increase the temperature of the source material positioned along inner source material passage 882. This can increase the rate at which the source material contained within the inner source material passage is heated to a desired temperature (e.g., within a desired temperature range) and can help reduce temperature gradients across the source material.

[0063] At least some advantages of this concept may include a reduction in peak temperature along the source material over a wider than desired temperature range. This may result in at least a reduction in unwanted by-products generated during vaporization of the vaporizable material from the source material. This may result in at least a reduction in unwanted by-products generated during vaporization of the vaporizable material from the source material. Additionally, because there is no direct contact between the source material and the vaporizer device, maintenance (e.g., cleaning, etc.) of the vaporizer device may be minimized.

[0064] Although the heating element and air flow path are described herein as being contained within a vaporizer cartridge, any one or more portions of the heating element and air flow path described herein may be contained within a vaporizer device, thereby configuring it to be both reusable and durable.

[0065] Terminology When a feature or element is referred to herein as being "on" another feature or element, the feature or element can be directly on top of the other feature or element, or there may be intervening features and / or elements. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being "directly on" another feature or element, there are no intervening features or elements. Also, when a feature or element is referred to as being "connected," "attached," or "coupled" to another feature or element, it will be understood that the feature or element can be directly connected, attached, or coupled to the other feature or element, or there may be intervening features or elements. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being "directly connected," "directly attached," or "directly coupled" to another feature or element, there are no intervening features or elements.

[0066] Although described or illustrated with respect to one embodiment, the features and elements so described or illustrated may be applicable to other embodiments of the present subject matter. Additionally, those skilled in the art will understand that references to structures or features being located "adjacent" to another feature may have portions that overlap or are underneath the adjacent feature.

[0067] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments or implementations only and is not intended to be limiting. For example, as used herein, the singular indefinite and definite articles are intended to include the plural as well, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Furthermore, it will be understood that the terms "comprises" and / or "comprising," when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items and may be abbreviated as " / ."

[0068] In the above and in the claims, phrases such as "at least one of" or "one or more of" may appear following a sequential list of multiple 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 phrases are intended to mean any of the listed elements or features individually, or any of the listed elements or features in combination with any of the other listed elements or features. For example, the phrases "at least one of A and B," "one or more of A and B," and "A and / or B" are intended to mean "A only, B only, or both A and B," respectively. A similar interpretation is directed to lists containing more than two 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 intended to mean "A only, B only, C only, both A and B, both A and C, both B and C, or both A, B, and C," respectively. The use of the term "based on" above and in the claims is intended to mean "based at least in part on," allowing for unrecited features or elements, etc.

[0069] Spatially relative terms such as "forward," "rear," "below," "belower," "lower," "above," "higher," and the like may be used herein to facilitate the description of the relationship of one element or feature to other elements or features as shown in the figures. It will be understood that spatially relative terms are intended to encompass various orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures were inverted, an element described as "below" or "directly beneath" another element or feature would then be oriented "above" the other element or feature. Thus, the exemplary term "below" can encompass both an above and below orientation. A device may be oriented otherwise (rotated 90 degrees or at another orientation), and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may be interpreted accordingly. Similarly, the terms "upstream," "downstream," "vertically," "horizontally," and the like are used herein for descriptive purposes only, unless otherwise specified.

[0070] Although the terms "first" and "second" may be used herein to describe various features / elements (including steps), these features / elements are not limited by these terms unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. These terms may also be used to distinguish one feature / element from another. Thus, a first feature / element described below could be referred to as a second feature / element, and similarly, a second feature / element described below could be referred to as a first feature / element, without departing from the teachings provided herein.

[0071] Unless otherwise specified, including in the examples, all numbers used in this specification and claims can be read as if they were preceded by the word "about" or "approximately," even if not specifically indicated as such. When describing a size and / or location, these terms "about" or "approximately" may be used to indicate that the stated value and / or location is within a reasonable expected range of that value and / or location. For example, a numerical value may have a value of ±0.1% of the stated value (or value range), ±1% of the stated value (or value range), ±2% of the stated value (or value range), ±5% of the stated value (or value range), ±10% of the stated value (or value range), etc. It will be understood that any numerical value stated in this specification also includes the nuance of "about" or "approximately" in the value, unless otherwise specified by context. For example, if the value "10" is disclosed, it is understood that the meaning of "about 10" is also disclosed. Any numerical range recited herein is intended to include all subranges subsumed therein. It is also understood that when a single value is disclosed, "less than or equal to that value," "greater than or equal to that value," and possible ranges therebetween, as would be appropriate for one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, if a value "X" is disclosed (where X is, for example, a number), "less than or equal to X" as well as "greater than or equal to X" are also disclosed. It is also understood that throughout this application, data is provided in many different formats, and that this data represents endpoints and starting points, extending to ranges for any combination of these data points. For example, if one particular data point "10" and one particular data point "15" are disclosed, it will be understood that greater than, greater than or equal to, less than, less than, less than, and equal to 10 and 15 are also considered to be disclosed, as well as between 10 and 15. It will also be understood that each unit between two particular units is disclosed.For example, if 10 and 15 are disclosed, then 11, 12, 13, and 14 are also disclosed.

[0072] While various exemplary embodiments have been described herein, any number of modifications may be made to the various embodiments without departing from the teachings herein. For example, the order in which the various method steps described are performed may often be changed in alternative embodiments, and in yet other alternative embodiments, one or more method steps may be skipped entirely. Optional features of the various device and system embodiments may be included in some embodiments and not in others. Accordingly, the foregoing description has been provided primarily for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0073] One or more aspects or features of the subject matter described herein may be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, 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 may include implementation in one or more computer programs executable and / or interpretable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor. The at least one programmable processor may be dedicated or general-purpose, coupled to receive data and instructions from a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device, and to transfer data and instructions to the storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. The programmable system or computing system may include clients and servers. Clients and servers are generally remote from each other and typically interact through a communication network. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other.

[0074] These computer programs (which may also be referred to as programs, software, software applications, applications, components, or codes) contain machine instructions for a programmable processor and may be implemented in a high-level procedural language, an object-oriented programming language, a functional programming language, a logic programming language, and / or an assembly / machine language. As used herein, the term “machine-readable medium” refers to any computer program product, apparatus, and / or device, such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a memory, a programmable logic device (PLD), etc., used to provide machine instructions and / or data to a programmable processor and includes a machine-readable medium that receives machine instructions as a machine-readable signal. The term “machine-readable signal” refers to any signal used to provide machine instructions and / or data to a programmable processor. A machine-readable medium may store such machine instructions non-transitoryly, such as a non-transitory solid-state memory or a magnetic hard disk drive or any equivalent storage medium. Alternatively or additionally, the machine-readable medium may store such machine instructions in a transitory manner, such as a processor cache or other random access memory associated with one or more physical processor cores.

[0075] The examples and drawings included herein illustrate, by way of illustration and not limitation, specific embodiments in which the present subject matter may be practiced. As noted above, other embodiments are available and may be derived therefrom, allowing for structural and logical substitutions and changes to be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Such embodiments of the present subject matter may be referred to herein, individually or collectively, by the term "invention," merely for convenience, even when more than one is actually disclosed; this is not intended to intentionally limit the scope of the present application to any single invention or inventive concept. Thus, while specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, any arrangements intended to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments illustrated. The present disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of the various embodiments. Combinations of the above-described embodiments, as well as other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the above description.

Claims

1. 1. A cartridge for a vaporizer device, comprising: The cartridge comprises: a chamber configured to contain a non-liquid vaporizable material; a heating element including an electrically resistive material and configured to vaporize the vaporizable material by supplying heat to the vaporizable material, at least a portion of the heating element defining a portion of the chamber and / or at least a portion of the heating element being contained within the chamber; cartridge contacts in electrical communication with the electrically resistive material; Including, the cartridge contacts are configured to couple to vaporizer contacts positioned near a cartridge coupling feature that can pass electrical power from the vaporizer device through the electrically resistive material, the electrical power causing heating of the electrically resistive material and the vaporizable material, resulting in the generation of an aerosol for inhalation by a user; cartridge.

2. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the heating element includes the cartridge contacts.

3. 3. A cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heating element comprises a sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material.

4. The cartridge of claim 3 , wherein the sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material comprises at least one of a flexible material, a deformable material, and a rigid material.

5. 5. A cartridge according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material includes at least one perforation.

6. 6. The cartridge of claim 3, wherein the sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material further comprises at least one extension extending away from at least one of a top surface of the sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material and a bottom surface of the sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material.

7. 7. A cartridge as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material includes a first region having a first density of perforations and a second region having a second density of perforations greater than the first density of perforations.

8. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the heating element includes a non-conductive region.

9. 9. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the heating element comprises a flexible printed circuit including electrically resistive material traced onto a flexible material, the traced electrically resistive material forming a plurality of series heaters.

10. The cartridge of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of series heaters are positioned in parallel.

11. The cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising a housing, the housing comprising a non-conductive material and containing at least a portion of the chamber.

12. 12. A cartridge according to any preceding claim, wherein the heating element comprises a flexible material with an electrically resistive material extending along the length of the flexible material.

13. 13. A cartridge according to any preceding claim, wherein the vaporizable material comprises nicotine.

14. 1. A system for generating an inhalable aerosol, comprising: The system comprises: A cartridge and The device itself, Including, The cartridge comprises: a chamber configured to contain a non-liquid vaporizable material; a heating element including an electrically resistive material and configured to vaporize the vaporizable material by supplying heat to the vaporizable material, at least a portion of the heating element defining a portion of the chamber and / or at least a portion of the heating element being contained within the chamber; cartridge contacts in electrical communication with the electrically resistive material; Including, the cartridge contacts are configured to couple to vaporizer contacts positioned near a cartridge coupling feature that can pass electrical power from a vaporizer device through the electrically resistive material, the electrical power causing heating of the electrically resistive material and the vaporizable material, resulting in the generation of an aerosol for inhalation by a user; The device body comprises: a cartridge receiving port for receiving the cartridge; vaporizer contacts configured to mate with the cartridge contacts when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receptacle to provide a conductive path between a power source within the device body and a heating element of the cartridge; Including, system.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the heating element includes the cartridge contacts.

16. 16. The system of claim 14 or 15, wherein the heating element comprises a sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material comprises at least one of a flexible material, a deformable material, and a rigid material.

18. 18. The system of claim 16 or 17, wherein the sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material includes at least one perforation.

19. 19. The system of claim 16, wherein the sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material further comprises at least one extension extending away from at least one of a top surface of the sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material and a bottom surface of the sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material.

20. 20. The system of any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material includes a first region having a first density of perforations and a second region having a second density of perforations that is greater than the first density of perforations.

21. 21. The system of any one of claims 14 to 20, wherein the heating element includes a non-conductive region.

22. 22. The system of claim 14, wherein the heating element comprises a flexible printed circuit including electrically resistive material traced onto a flexible material, the traced electrically resistive material forming a plurality of series heaters.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the plurality of series heaters are positioned in parallel.

24. 24. The system of any one of claims 14 to 23, further comprising a housing, the housing comprising a non-conductive material and enclosing at least a portion of the chamber.

25. 25. The system of any one of claims 14 to 24, wherein the heating element comprises a flexible material with an electrically resistive material extending along the length of the flexible material.

26. 26. The system of any one of claims 14 to 25, wherein the vaporizable material comprises nicotine.

27. 1. A method for generating an inhalable aerosol, comprising: The method comprises: coupling cartridge contacts of the vaporizer cartridge to vaporizer contacts of the vaporizer device body to provide a conductive path between a power source of the vaporizer device body and a heating element of the vaporizer cartridge, the conductive path causing the power source to heat an electrically resistive material of the heating element and a vaporizable material contained within a chamber of the vaporizer cartridge; heating the heating element to vaporize the vaporizable material to form an aerosol for inhalation; the heating element defines at least a portion of the chamber, and / or the heating element is contained within the chamber of the vaporizer cartridge; method.

28. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the heating element includes the cartridge contacts.

29. 29. The method of claim 27 or 28, wherein the heating element comprises a sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material.

30. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material comprises at least one of a flexible material, a deformable material, and a rigid material.

31. 31. The method of claim 29 or 30, wherein the sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material includes at least one perforation.

32. 32. The method of any one of claims 29 to 31, wherein the sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material further comprises at least one extension extending away from at least one of a top surface of the sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material and a bottom surface of the sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material.

33. 33. The method of any one of claims 29 to 32, wherein the sheet of thermally conductive, electrically resistive material includes a first region having a first density of perforations and a second region having a second density of perforations that is greater than the first density of perforations.

34. 34. The method of any one of claims 27 to 33, wherein the heating element includes a non-conductive region.

35. 35. The method of any one of claims 27 to 34, wherein the heating element comprises a flexible printed circuit including electrically resistive material traced onto a flexible material, the traced electrically resistive material forming a plurality of series heaters.

36. 36. The method of claim 35, wherein the plurality of series heaters are positioned in parallel.

37. 37. The method of any one of claims 27 to 36, wherein the heating element comprises a flexible material with an electrically resistive material extending along the length of the flexible material.

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