Vaporizer apparatus including adaptive temperature profiling

Abstract

An apparatus (200) is disclosed that includes a heating element (245) configured to vaporize a vaporizable material (102), a sensor (213) configured to detect a duration of a first puff and an interval between the first puff and a second puff that follows the first puff, and a controller (204) configured to adjust a temperature of the heating element based on at least the duration of the first puff and the interval between the first puff and the second puff. Additionally, a method is disclosed that includes adjusting the temperature of the heating element in response to deviations of the duration of the first puff and / or the interval between the first puff and the second puff from a predetermined value so as to deliver a consistent total particulate matter (TPM) with each successive puff.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to Greek Patent Application No. 20200100441, filed July 24, 2020, entitled "ADAPTIVE TEMPERATURE PROFILING," and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 057,696, filed July 28, 2020, entitled "Vaporizer Device Including Adaptive Temperature Profiling," the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Technical Field The subject matter described herein relates generally to vaporizer devices, and more particularly to adaptive temperature profiling for vaporizer devices.

[0003] background Vaporizer devices, which may also be referred to as vaporizers, electronic vaporizer devices, or e-vaporizer devices, can be used to deliver an aerosol (e.g., a vapor and / or condensed phase of material suspended in a stationary or moving mass of air or some other gaseous carrier) containing one or more active ingredients via inhalation of the aerosol by a user of the vaporizer device. For example, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) include a class of vaporizer devices that are battery-powered and can be used to simulate the experience of smoking, but without the combustion of tobacco or other substances. Vaporizers have become increasingly popular for both prescription medical use in delivering medications and for the consumption of tobacco, nicotine, and other plant-based substances. Vaporizer devices can be portable, self-contained, and / or convenient to use.

[0004] In using a vaporizer device, a user inhales an aerosol, colloquially referred to as "vapor." The aerosol may be generated by a heating element. The heating element vaporizes the vaporizable material (e.g., transitions a liquid or solid at least partially to the gas phase). The vaporizable material may be a liquid, solution, solid, paste, wax, and / or any other form suitable for use with a particular vaporizer device. The vaporizable material used with a vaporizer may be provided in a cartridge (e.g., a separable portion of a vaporizer device that contains the vaporizable material). The cartridge includes an outlet (e.g., a mouthpiece) through which the user inhales the aerosol.

[0005] To receive the inhalable aerosol produced by the vaporizer device, a user may activate the vaporizer device, in particular by puffing, by pressing a button, and / or by any other approach. As used herein, puffing may refer to inhalation by a user to draw a volume of air into the vaporizer device so that the vaporized vaporizable material and the air volume mix to produce the inhalable aerosol.

[0006] An approach by which a vaporizer device generates an inhalable aerosol from a vaporizable material includes heating the vaporizable material in a vaporization chamber (e.g., a heater chamber) to convert the vaporizable material to a gas (or vapor) phase. A vaporization chamber can refer to a region or volume within a vaporizer device within which a heat source (e.g., a conductive, convective, and / or radiative heat source) causes the vaporizable material to heat and generate a mixture of air and the vaporizable material, forming a vapor that is inhaled by a user of the vaporizer device.

[0007] In some embodiments, vaporizable material may be drawn from a reservoir through a wicking element (e.g., a wick) into the vaporization chamber. The drawing of vaporizable material into the vaporization chamber may be due, at least in part, to capillary action provided by the wick, as the wick draws the vaporizable material along the wick toward the vaporization chamber.

[0008] The vaporizer device can be controlled by one or more controls, electronic circuitry (e.g., sensors, heating elements), and / or the like located within the vaporizer. The vaporizer device can also communicate wirelessly with an external control device (e.g., a computing device such as a smartphone).

[0009] overview In certain embodiments of the present subject matter, challenges associated with delivering a consistent inhalable dose of a vaporizable material can be addressed by incorporating one or more of the features described herein or equivalent / equivalent approaches as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Aspects of the present subject matter relate to methods and systems for adaptive temperature profiling in vaporizer devices. Adaptive temperature profiling will ensure that a consistent amount of volatiles from the vaporizable material, as measured in the form of total particulate matter (TPM), is delivered with each successive puff.

[0010] In one embodiment, a device is provided that includes a heating element, a sensor, and a controller. The heating element can be configured to heat a vaporizable material. The sensor can be configured to detect a duration of a first puff and an interval between the first puff and a second puff that follows the first puff. The controller can be configured to adjust the temperature of the heating element based on at least the duration of the first puff and the interval between the first puff and the second puff.

[0011] In some variations, one or more of the following features may optionally be included in any workable combination: the heating element is adjustable to a first temperature during the first puff and to a second temperature during the second puff.

[0012] In some variations, the heating element can be maintained at the second temperature during the second puff and at least during a third puff following the second puff.

[0013] In some variations, the heating element is further adjustable to a third temperature following a third puff.

[0014] In some variations, the controller may adjust the temperature of the heating element to achieve a flat total particulate matter (TPM) profile.

[0015] In some variations, a flat TPM profile can correspond to delivering a first TPM with a first puff and a second TPM with a second puff, where the first TPM and second TPM can be within a predetermined TPM range.

[0016] In some variations, the predetermined TPM range may be between 3.5 milligrams and 5 milligrams.

[0017] In some variations, the first TPM and second TPM can correspond to the mass of volatiles contained in the aerosol delivered by the corresponding puff.

[0018] In some variations, the controller can regulate the temperature of the heating element by adjusting at least the output voltage of the device's power supply and / or the duty cycle at which power from the power supply is supplied to the heating element.

[0019] In some variations, the heating element can be positioned adjacent to a vaporizable material receiving portion configured to receive a vaporizable material insert containing a vaporizable material.

[0020] In some variations, the vaporizable material insert may include one or more perforations configured to allow air traveling along the air flow path of the device to pass through the vaporizable material contained within the vaporizable material insert.

[0021] According to another aspect, a method for adaptive temperature profiling is provided, the method including: receiving a vaporizable material into a vaporizable material compartment of a vaporizer device, the vaporizable device further including an airflow path and an adaptive heating system, the airflow path extending along the vaporizable material compartment, the adaptive heating system including a heating element configured to heat the vaporizable material, a sensor configured to detect a duration of a first puff and an interval between the first puff and a second puff following the first puff, and a controller configured to adjust a temperature of the heating element based on at least the duration of the first puff and the interval between the first puff and the second puff; heating the vaporizable material with the heating element to generate an aerosol for delivery to a user; and adjusting the temperature of the heating element in response to deviations of the duration of the first puff and / or the interval between the first puff and the second puff from a predetermined value.

[0022] In some variations, one or more of the following features may optionally be included in any workable combination: the heating element is adjustable to a first temperature during the first puff and to a second temperature during the second puff.

[0023] In some variations, the heating element can be maintained at the second temperature during the second puff and at least during a third puff following the second puff.

[0024] In some variations, the heating element is further adjustable to a third temperature following a third puff.

[0025] In some variations, the controller may adjust the temperature of the heating element to achieve a flat total particulate matter (TPM) profile.

[0026] In some variations, a flat TPM profile can correspond to delivering a first TPM with a first puff and a second TPM with a second puff, where the first TPM and second TPM can be within a predetermined TPM range.

[0027] In some variations, the predetermined TPM range may be between 3.5 milligrams and 5 milligrams.

[0028] In some variations, the first TPM and second TPM can correspond to the mass of volatiles contained in the aerosol delivered by the corresponding puff.

[0029] In some variations, the controller can regulate the temperature of the heating element by adjusting at least the output voltage of the device's power supply and / or the duty cycle at which power from the power supply is supplied to the heating element.

[0030] In some variations, one or more perforations can be formed in the vaporizable material insert containing the vaporizable material before the vaporizable material insert is placed in the vaporizable material compartment, and the one or more perforations can be configured to allow air traveling along the air flow path to pass through the vaporizable material contained in the vaporizable material insert.

[0031] 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 become apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. The claims following this disclosure are intended to define the scope of protected subject matter.

[0032] 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, serve to explain some of the principles associated with the disclosed embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1A] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a vaporizer device consistent with an implementation of the present subject matter. [Figure 1B] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a vaporizer device and vaporizer cartridge consistent with an implementation of the present subject matter. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating another example of a vaporizer device consistent with an implementation of the present subject matter. [Figure 3A] 1 is a perspective view of an example of a vaporizable material insert consistent with an implementation of the present subject matter. [Figure 3B] 10 is a perspective view of another example of a vaporizable material insert consistent with an implementation of the present subject matter. [Figure 3C] 10 is a perspective view of another example of a vaporizable material insert consistent with an implementation of the present subject matter. [Figure 4A] 10 is a graph illustrating an example of a temperature profile consistent with an implementation of the present subject matter. [Figure 4B] 1 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for adaptive thermal profiling consistent with an implementation of the present subject matter. [Figure 4C] 1 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for adaptive thermal profiling consistent with an implementation of the present subject matter. [Figure 5A] 10 is a graph illustrating an example of a variable temperature profile graph consistent with an implementation of the present subject matter. [Figure 5B] 1 is a graph illustrating total particulate matter (TPM) as a function of number of puffs for various example vaporizable material inserts consistent with implementations of the present subject matter. [Figure 5C]10 is another graph illustrating total particulate matter (TPM) as a function of number of puffs for various example vaporizable material inserts consistent with implementations of the present subject matter. [Figure 5D] 10 is another graph illustrating total particulate matter (TPM) as a function of number of puffs for various example vaporizable material inserts consistent with implementations of the present subject matter.

[0034] Like reference numerals, wherever practical to do so, refer to like structures, features, or elements.

[0035] Detailed Description Embodiments of the present subject matter include methods, devices, articles, and systems related to vaporizing one or more materials for inhalation by a user. Exemplary embodiments include vaporizer devices and systems including vaporizer devices. As used in the following description and claims, the term "vaporizer device" refers to either a self-contained device, a device including two or more separable parts (e.g., a vaporizer body including a battery and other hardware, and a cartridge including a vaporizable material), and / or the like. As used herein, a "vaporizer system" can include one or more components, such as a vaporizer device. Examples of vaporizer devices consistent with embodiments of the present subject matter include electronic vaporizers, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), and / or the like. Generally, such vaporizer devices are handheld devices that heat a vaporizable material (e.g., by convection, conduction, radiation, and / or some combination thereof) to provide an inhalable dose of the material. The vaporizable material used with the vaporizer device may be provided in a cartridge (e.g., the portion of the vaporizer that contains the vaporizable material in a reservoir or other container), which may be refillable when empty or may be disposable so that a new cartridge containing the same or a different type of additional vaporizable material can be used. The vaporizer device may be a cartridge-based vaporizer device, a cartridge-free vaporizer device, or a versatile vaporizer device that can be used with or without a cartridge. For example, the vaporizer device may include a heating chamber (e.g., an oven or other area where the material is heated by a heating element) configured to receive the vaporizable material directly within the heating chamber, and / or a reservoir or the like for containing the vaporizable material.

[0036] In some embodiments, the vaporizer device may be configured for use with liquid vaporizable material (e.g., a carrier solution in which active and / or inactive ingredients are suspended or contained in a solution, or the liquid form of the vaporizable material itself), paste, wax, and / or solid vaporizable material. Solid vaporizable material may include plant material that releases a portion of the plant material as vaporizable material (e.g., a portion of the plant material remains as waste after being vaporized for inhalation by a user). Alternatively, the solid vaporizable material may optionally be a solid form of the vaporizable material itself, such that all of the solid material can ultimately be vaporized for inhalation. Liquid vaporizable material may likewise be fully vaporizable or may include a portion of the liquid material that remains after all of the inhalable material has vaporized.

[0037] Referring to the block diagram of FIG. 1A, the vaporizer device 100 can include a power source 112 (e.g., a battery, which may be a rechargeable battery) and a controller 104 (e.g., a processor, circuitry, etc., capable of executing logic). The controller 104 is used to control the heat supply to the atomizer 141. The atomizer 141 converts the vaporizable material 102 from a condensed form (such as a solid, liquid, solution, suspension, at least partially unprocessed portions of plant material, etc.) to a gas phase. The controller 104 can be part of one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs) consistent with certain embodiments of the present subject matter. After the vaporizable material 102 is converted to the gas phase, at least a portion of the vaporizable material 102 in this gas phase can condense to form particulate matter that is in at least partial local equilibrium with the gas phase as part of an aerosol, and this particulate matter can constitute some or all of the inhalable dose provided by the vaporizer device 100 during a single puff or inhalation by a user on the vaporizer device 100. It should be understood that the interactions between the gas and condensed phases in the aerosol produced by vaporizer device 100 can be complex and dynamic due to factors such as ambient temperature, relative humidity, chemistry, flow conditions within the airflow path (both inside the vaporizer and in the respiratory tract of a human or other animal), and / or mixing of the gas or aerosol phase vaporizable material 102 with other airflows, which can affect one or more physical parameters of the aerosol. In some vaporizer devices, particularly those configured to deliver volatile vaporizable materials, the inhalable dose may exist primarily in the gas phase (e.g., condensed phase particle formation may be very limited).

[0038] The atomizer 141 in the vaporizer device 100 can be configured to vaporize the vaporizable material 102. The vaporizable material 102 can be a liquid. The vaporizable material 102 can include, for example, a concentrate, a suspension, a solution, a mixture, and / or the like. The atomizer 141 can include a wicking element (e.g., a wick) configured to transport a predetermined amount of the vaporizable material 102 to a portion of the atomizer 141 that includes a heating element (not shown in FIG. 1A ).

[0039] For example, the wicking element may be configured to draw vaporizable material 102 from a reservoir 140 configured to contain the vaporizable material 102, thereby vaporizing the vaporizable material 102 via heat provided by the heating element. The wicking element may optionally allow air to enter the reservoir 140 to replace the volume of vaporizable material 102 that has been removed. In some embodiments of the present subject matter, capillary action may draw the vaporizable material 102 into the wick for vaporization by the heating element, and the air may return through the wick to the reservoir 140 to at least partially equalize the pressure within the reservoir 140. Other methods of allowing air to return to the reservoir 140 to equalize the pressure are within the scope of the present subject matter.

[0040] As used herein, the term "wick" or "wicking element" includes any material capable of inducing fluid movement via capillary pressure.

[0041] The heating element can include one or more of a conduction heater, a radiant heater, and / or a convection heater. One type of heating element is a resistive heating element, which can include a material (such as 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 embodiments of the present subject matter, the atomizer 141 can include a heating element, which includes a resistive coil or other heating element. The resistive coil or other heating element is wrapped around the wicking element, disposed within the wicking element, integrated into the bulk shape of the wicking element, pressed into thermal contact with the wicking element, or otherwise positioned to provide heat to the wicking element, thereby vaporizing the vaporizable material 102 drawn from the reservoir 140 by the wicking element into a gas and / or condensed phase (e.g., aerosol particles or droplets) for subsequent inhalation by the user. Other wicking element, heating element, and / or atomizer assembly configurations are possible.

[0042] Additionally or alternatively, certain vaporizer devices may be configured to generate inhalable doses of vaporizable material 102 in the gas and / or aerosol phase via heating of the vaporizable material 102. The vaporizable material 102 may be a solid material (such as wax or the like) or plant material (e.g., tobacco leaves and / or tobacco leaf portions). In such vaporizer devices, the resistive heating element may be part of a wall of an oven or other heating chamber in which the vaporizable material 102 is placed, or may otherwise be incorporated into or thermally contact such a wall. Alternatively, the resistive heating element may be used to heat air passing over or through the vaporizable material 102, causing convective heating of the vaporizable material 102. In yet another example, the resistive heating element may be positioned in intimate contact with the plant material such that direct conductive heating of the plant material occurs from within the mass of the plant material, rather than occurring solely by conduction inward from the oven walls.

[0043] The heating element may be activated in conjunction with a user's puffing (e.g., inhalation, inhalation, etc.) on the mouthpiece 130 of the vaporizer device 100 to cause air to flow along an air flow path from the air inlet through the atomizer 141 (e.g., wicking element and heating element). Optionally, air may flow from the air inlet through one or more condensation regions or chambers to an air outlet within the mouthpiece 130. Incoming air traveling along the air flow path travels across or through the atomizer 141, where vaporizable material 102 in the gas phase is entrained in the air. The heating element may be activated via a controller 104. The controller 104 may optionally be part of the vaporizer body 110 discussed herein and may conduct electrical current from a power source 112 to a circuit including the resistive heating element. The circuit including the resistive heating element may optionally be part of the vaporizer cartridge 120 discussed herein. As described herein, the entrained gas-phase vaporizable material 102 may condense as it passes through the remainder of the air flow path, thereby allowing an inhalable dose of vaporizable material 102 in aerosol form to flow out of the air outlet (e.g., mouthpiece 130) for the user to inhale.

[0044] The heating element may be activated by automatic detection of a puff based on one or more signals generated by one or more of the sensors 113. The sensors 113 and the signals generated by the sensors 113 may include one or more of the following: a pressure sensor positioned to detect pressure along the airflow path relative to ambient pressure (or optionally to measure changes in absolute pressure), a motion sensor (e.g., an accelerometer) on the vaporizer device 100, a flow sensor on the vaporizer device 100, a capacitive lip sensor on the vaporizer device 100, detection of interaction between a user and the vaporizer device 100 via one or more input devices 116 (e.g., buttons or other tactile controls on the vaporizer device 100), receiving a signal from a computing device in communication with the vaporizer device 100, and / or other approaches for identifying that a puff has occurred or is imminent.

[0045] As discussed herein, a vaporizer device 100 consistent with embodiments of the present subject matter can be configured to be connected (e.g., via a wireless connection, a wired connection, etc.) to a computing device (or optionally two or more devices) that communicates with the vaporizer device 100. To this end, the controller 104 can include communications hardware 105. The controller 104 can also include memory 108. The communications hardware 105 can include firmware and / or can be controlled by software to implement one or more encryption protocols for communications.

[0046] The computing device may be a component of a vaporizer system that also includes the vaporizer device 100 and may include its own communications hardware capable of establishing a wireless communication channel with the communications hardware 105 of the vaporizer device 100. For example, a computing device used as part of a vaporizer system may include a general-purpose computing device (such as a smartphone, tablet, personal computer, other portable device such as a smartwatch, or the like). The general-purpose computing device executes software that generates a user interface to allow a user to interact with the vaporizer device 100. In other embodiments of the present subject matter, such a device used as part of a vaporizer system may be a dedicated piece of hardware, such as a remote control or other wireless or wired device with 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 other input device such as a mouse, pointer, trackball, cursor buttons, or the like). The vaporizer device 100 may also include one or more outputs 117 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 the user based on the status and / or operating mode of the vaporizer device 100 .

[0047] In examples where a computing device provides signals regarding the activation of the resistive heating element, or in other examples where a computing device is coupled to vaporizer device 100 to perform various control or other functions, the computing device executes one or more sets of computer instructions for providing 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 notify vaporizer device 100 to activate the heating element to reach an operating temperature for producing an inhalable dose of vapor / aerosol. Other functions of vaporizer device 100 can be controlled by interaction between a user and a user interface on a computing device in communication with vaporizer device 100.

[0048] The temperature of the resistive heating element of the vaporizer device 100 can depend on many factors, including the amount of power supplied to the resistive heating element and / or the duty cycle at which power is supplied, heat conduction to other parts of the vaporizer device 100 and / or the environment, latent heat loss due to vaporization of the vaporizable material 102 from the wicking element and / or across the atomizer 141, and convective heat loss due to airflow (e.g., air moving across the heating element or atomizer 141 as a user inhales on the vaporizer device 100). As discussed herein, to ensure activation of the heating element or to heat the heating element to a desired temperature, the vaporizer device 100, in some embodiments of the present subject matter, may utilize a signal from a sensor 113 (e.g., a pressure sensor) to determine when a user is inhaling. Sensor 113 may be disposed within the air flow path and / or connected (e.g., by a conduit or other passageway) to an air flow path that includes an inlet for air to enter vaporizer device 100 and an outlet through which the user inhales the resulting vapor and / or aerosol. Sensor 113 thereby senses changes (e.g., pressure changes) simultaneously with the air passing through vaporizer device 100 from the air inlet to the air outlet. In some embodiments 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, or by sensor 113 detecting a change (such as a pressure change) in the air flow path.

[0049] The sensor 113 may be located on or coupled to the controller 104 (e.g., on a printed circuit board assembly or other type of circuit board) (e.g., electrically or electronically connectable, either physically or via a wireless connection). To accurately perform measurements and maintain the durability of the vaporizer device 100, it may be beneficial to provide a sufficiently resilient seal 127 to isolate the airflow path from other portions of the vaporizer device 100. The seal 127, which may be a gasket, may be configured to at least partially surround the sensor 113, thereby isolating the connection between the internal circuitry of the vaporizer device 100 and the sensor 113 from the portion of the sensor 113 exposed to the airflow path. In one example of a cartridge-based vaporizer, the seal 127 may also isolate a portion of one or more electrical connections between the vaporizer body 110 and the vaporizer cartridge 120. Such placement of seal 127 within vaporizer device 100 can help mitigate potentially destructive effects on vaporizer components resulting from interaction with environmental factors, such as water in the vapor or liquid phase or other fluids, such as vaporizable material 102, and / or reduce air leakage from designated air flow paths within vaporizer device 100. Unwanted air, liquid, or other fluids passing through and / or contacting the circuitry of vaporizer device 100 can cause various undesirable effects, such as altered pressure readings, and / or can result in the accumulation of undesirable materials, such as moisture or excess vaporizable material 102, in portions of vaporizer device 100. The accumulation of such undesirable materials can then result in weakened pressure signals, degradation of sensor 113 or other components, and / or a shortened lifespan of vaporizer device 100. A leak at the seal 127 could also result in the user inhaling air that has passed through a portion of the vaporizer device 100 that contains or is composed of materials that may not be desirable to inhale.

[0050] In some embodiments, the vaporizer body 110 includes a controller 104, a power source 112 (e.g., a battery), one or more sensors 113, charging contacts (such as contacts for charging the power source 112), a seal 127, and a cartridge receptacle 118. The cartridge receptacle 118 is configured to receive a vaporizer cartridge 120 for coupling to the vaporizer body 110 via one or more of a variety of attachment structures. In some examples, the vaporizer cartridge 120 includes a reservoir 140 for containing the vaporizable material 102. The mouthpiece 130 has an aerosol outlet for delivering an inhalable dose to a user. The vaporizer cartridge 120 may include an atomizer 141 having a wicking element and a heating element. Alternatively, one or both of the wicking element and the heating element may be part of the vaporizer body 110. In embodiments in which any portion of the atomizer 141 (e.g., the heating element and / or the wicking element) is part of the vaporizer body 110, the vaporizer device 100 may be configured to supply vaporizable material 102 from a reservoir 140 in the vaporizer cartridge 120 to the portion of the atomizer 141 contained within the vaporizer body 110.

[0051] Cartridge-based configurations for vaporizer devices 100 that generate inhalable doses of non-liquid vaporizable material 102 by heating the non-liquid material are also within the scope of the present subject matter. For example, a vaporizer cartridge 120 can include a mass of plant material that has been processed and formed to directly contact a portion of one or more resistive heating elements. The vaporizer cartridge 120 can be configured to be mechanically and / or electrically coupled to a vaporizer body 110 that includes a controller 104, a power source 112, and one or more receptacle contacts 125a and 125b. The one or more receptacle contacts 125a and 125b are configured to connect to one or more corresponding cartridge contacts 124a and 124b and complete a circuit with one or more resistive heating elements.

[0052] In embodiments of the vaporizer device 100 in which the power supply 112 is part of the vaporizer body 110 and the heating element is disposed within the vaporizer cartridge 120 and configured to be coupled to the vaporizer body 110, the vaporizer device 100 may 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, or the like), the power supply 112, and the heating element (e.g., a heating element internal to the atomizer 141). These features may include one or more contacts (referred to herein as cartridge contacts 124a and 124b) on the bottom surface of the vaporizer cartridge 120 and at least two contacts (referred to herein as receiver contacts 125a and 125b) located near the bottom of the cartridge receiver 118 of the vaporizer device 100. Thus, cartridge contacts 124a and 124b and receiver contacts 125a and 125b form an electrical connection when vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted and mated within cartridge receiver 118. The circuit completed by these electrical connections may enable current to be supplied to the heating element and may be used for additional functions, such as measuring the resistance of the heating element for use in determining and / or controlling the temperature of the heating element based on the temperature coefficient of resistivity of the heating element.

[0053] In some embodiments of the present subject matter, the cartridge contacts 124a and 124b and the receiver contacts 125a and 125b are configurable to be electrically connected in either of at least two directions. In other words, one or more circuits required for operation of the vaporizer device 100 can be completed by inserting the vaporizer cartridge 120 into the cartridge receiver 118 in a first rotational direction (about the axis along which the vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted into the cartridge receiver 118 of the vaporizer body 110) such that the cartridge contact 124a is electrically connected to the receiver contact 125a and the cartridge contact 124b is electrically connected to the receiver contact 125b. Additionally, one or more circuits required for operation of the vaporizer device 100 can be completed by inserting the vaporizer cartridge 120 into the cartridge receiver 118 in a second rotational orientation such that the cartridge contacts 124a are electrically connected to the receiver contacts 125b and such that the cartridge contacts 124b are electrically connected to the receiver contacts 125a.

[0054] In one example of an attachment structure for coupling the vaporizer cartridge 120 to the vaporizer body 110, the vaporizer body 110 includes one or more detents (e.g., dimples, protrusions, etc.) that protrude inward from the interior surface of the cartridge receiver 118, additional material (such as metal, plastic, etc.) formed to include portions that protrude into the cartridge receiver 118, and / or the like. One or more exterior surfaces of the vaporizer cartridge 120 may include corresponding recesses (not shown in FIG. 1A ) that can fit and / or otherwise snap into such detents or protruding portions when the vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted into the cartridge receiver 118 of the vaporizer body 110. When the vaporizer cartridge 120 and vaporizer body 110 are coupled (e.g., by inserting the vaporizer cartridge 120 into the cartridge receiver 118 of the vaporizer body 110), detents or protrusions on the vaporizer body 110 may fit into and / or be otherwise retained within recesses in the vaporizer cartridge 120, holding the vaporizer cartridge 120 in place when assembled. Such an assembly may provide sufficient support to hold the vaporizer cartridge 120 in place to ensure good contact between the cartridge contacts 124a and 124b and the receiver contacts 125a and 125b, while allowing a user to remove the vaporizer cartridge 120 from the vaporizer body 110 if they pull on the vaporizer cartridge 120 with moderate force to unlock it from the cartridge receiver 118.

[0055] In some embodiments, the vaporizer cartridge 120, or at least the vaporizable material insertable end 122 of the vaporizer cartridge 120 configured to be inserted into the cartridge receiver 118, can have a non-circular cross-section transverse to the axis along which the vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted into the cartridge receiver 118. For example, the non-circular cross-section can be generally rectangular, generally elliptical (e.g., having a generally oval shape), non-rectangular (e.g., having a parallelogram-like shape) with two sets of parallel or nearly parallel opposing sides but not rectangular, or other shape with at least second-order rotational symmetry. Generally shaped in this context means that while a basic similarity to the described shape is apparent, the sides of the shape in question need not be perfectly straight and the apexes need not be perfectly sharp. The description of any non-circular cross-section referred to herein contemplates rounding of the edges and / or apexes of the cross-sectional shape.

[0056] The cartridge contacts 124a and 124b and the receiver contacts 125a and 125b 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, and / or the like. Some types of contacts can include springs or other features to facilitate better physical and electrical contact between the contacts on the vaporizer cartridge 120 and the contacts on the vaporizer body 110. The electrical contacts can optionally be gold plated and / or include other materials.

[0057] FIG. 1B illustrates an embodiment of a vaporizer body 110 and a cartridge receptacle 118 into which a vaporizer cartridge 120 can be removably inserted. FIG. 1B illustrates a top view of a vaporizer device 100 showing the vaporizer cartridge 120 positioned for insertion into the vaporizer body 110. When a user puffs on the vaporizer device 100, air may pass between the exterior surface of the vaporizer cartridge 120 and the interior surface of the cartridge receptacle 118 on the vaporizer body 110. The air may then be drawn into the vaporizable material insertable end 122 of the cartridge, pass through a vaporization chamber containing or housing a heating element and a wick, and exit through an outlet in the mouthpiece 130 for delivery of an inhalable aerosol to the user. The reservoir 140 of the vaporizer cartridge 120 may be formed, in whole or in part, from a translucent material to allow the level of vaporizable material 102 inside the vaporizer cartridge 120 to be visible. The mouthpiece 130 may be a separable component of the vaporizer cartridge 120 or may be integrally formed with other components of the vaporizer cartridge 120 (e.g., formed as a unitary structure with the reservoir 140 and / or the like).

[0058] Further to the above discussion regarding the electrical connection between the vaporizer cartridge 120 and the vaporizer body 110 being reversible to allow for at least two rotational orientations of the vaporizer cartridge 120 within the cartridge receiver 118, in some embodiments of the vaporizer device 100, the shape of the vaporizer cartridge 120, or at least the shape of the vaporizable material insertable end 122 of the vaporizer cartridge 120 configured to be inserted into the cartridge receiver 118, may have at least second-order rotational symmetry. In other words, the vaporizer cartridge 120, or at least the vaporizable material insertable end 122 of the vaporizer cartridge 120, may have 180° rotational symmetry about the axis along which the vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted into the cartridge receiver 118. In such a configuration, the circuitry of the vaporizer device 100 can support identical operation regardless of which symmetry orientation of the vaporizer cartridge 120 occurs.

[0059] In some embodiments, vaporizer devices can be configured to heat non-liquid, combustible materials, such as plant leaves or other plant-derived materials, to extract plant-specific flavor aromas and other products as vapor. These plant materials can be chopped and mixed with various plant products, including tobacco, to produce a homogenized composition, in which case nicotine and / or nicotine compounds can be produced and delivered to users of such vaporizer devices in the form of an aerosol. This homogenized composition may contain vaporizable liquids, such as, but not limited to, propylene glycol and glycerol, to increase the vapor density and aerosol produced when heated. Such compositions may also be referred to as vaporizable materials. To avoid the production of harmful or potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs), this type of vaporizer device benefits from a heater with temperature control means. Such vaporizer devices that heat plant leaves or homogenized compositions as described above so that temperatures are maintained below combustion levels are commonly referred to as heat not burn (HNB) devices.

[0060] One type of HNB vaporizer device is relatively sophisticated in that it utilizes relatively strict temperature control to prevent overheating and the associated formation of HPHCs. Such sophisticated technology, which typically requires electronic circuitry including a microprocessor, can be difficult in HNB vaporizer devices due to the inherent non-uniformity of the heated vaporizable material and the associated spatially inconsistent thermal characteristics. Some existing solutions are unable to control local temperatures within the HNB vaporizer device, resulting in a high probability of creating HPHCs and over-temperature regions in the vaporizable material.

[0061] In some embodiments, to heat a non-liquid, flammable material, the vaporizer device may include a compartment that receives a vaporizable material insert. The compartment contains a non-liquid, flammable material that can be heated by the vaporizer device to allow a user to inhale the vapor formed as a result of heating the vaporizable material insert. The vaporizable material insert may include a jacket that forms an interior chamber configured to contain one or more non-liquid, flammable materials. Examples of non-liquid, flammable materials include tobacco, cannabis, and / or the like. In some embodiments, the jacket may completely or substantially contain the non-liquid, flammable material.

[0062] In vaporizer devices configured for use with vaporizable material inserts or pouches, applying the same heating temperature to the vaporizable material insert during each puff can result in aerosols with inconsistent amounts of volatiles being generated from the vaporizable material. The amount of volatiles in the aerosol delivered to a user can be measured in the form of total particulate matter (TPM), which corresponds to the total mass of volatiles, including active and inactive ingredients, in the vaporizable material. Applying the same heating temperature to the vaporizable material insert can cause a decrease in TPM over successive puffs. This phenomenon may be due to uneven depletion of the amount of volatiles present in the vaporizable material. When the vaporizable material is heated to generate the aerosol, the volatiles of the non-liquid vaporizable material are depleted, which may result in a lower percentage of available volatiles near the heater.

[0063] Currently available vaporizer devices designed for use with vaporizable material inserts of non-liquid combustible material may increase their operating temperature at predetermined intervals based on a predetermined expected puff duration. That is, conventional vaporizer devices may apply fixed adjustments to their operating temperature regardless of the duration of each puff or the amount of time between successive puffs. Therefore, if a user takes puffs of varying duration and / or varying time intervals, the vaporizer device may over- or under-deplete volatiles, resulting in poor device performance, inconsistent delivery of total particulate matter (TPM), and / or poor device performance despite tobacco volatiles remaining available within the vaporizable material.

[0064] Consistency in the amount of volatiles present in the aerosol generated by the vaporizer device can be achieved by adjusting the operating or heating temperature of the vaporizer device. This results in a flattened total particulate matter (TPM) profile, in which minimal spikes and drops in total particulate matter are observed across successive puffs. Instead, the flattened total particulate matter profile indicates that the total particulate matter associated with each successive puff is substantially the same. This indicates a consistent amount of volatiles delivered to the user. A flattened total particulate matter profile can be dynamically achieved, for example, based on the puff interval (e.g., a first amount of time between successive puffs) and the puff duration (e.g., a second amount of time corresponding to the length of each individual puff). A shorter puff duration can result in less temperature rise and longer puffing sessions. Thus, if the duration of a puff is shorter than expected (e.g., less than a threshold value), or if the interval between the current puff and the previous puff is longer than expected (e.g., greater than a threshold value), the vaporizer device may be configured to reduce the extent of the subsequent temperature increase.

[0065] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a vaporizer device 200 configured for use with a vaporizable material insert 220 containing a non-liquid, combustible material, such as tobacco, cannabis, and / or the like. Referring to the block diagram of FIG. 2 , the vaporizer device 200 may include a power source 212 (e.g., a battery, which may be a rechargeable battery) and a controller 204 (e.g., a processor, circuitry, etc. capable of executing logic). The controller 204 is used to control the heat supply to a heating element to convert the vaporizable material from a condensed form (such as a solid, liquid, solution, suspension, at least partially unprocessed portions of plant material, etc.) to a gas phase. The controller 204 may be part of one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs). After the vaporizable material is converted to the gas phase, at least a portion of the vaporizable material in the gas phase may condense to form particulate matter that is in at least partial, local equilibrium with the gas phase as part of an aerosol. This particulate matter may constitute some or all of the inhalable dose provided by the vaporizer device 200 during a single puff or inhalation by a user on the vaporizer device 200 .

[0066] The heating element can include one or more of a conduction heater, a radiant heater, and / or a convection heater. One type of heating element is a resistive heating element, which is formed from a material (such as a metal or alloy (e.g., a nickel-chromium alloy), or a non-metal) configured to dissipate power in the form of heat when an electric current is passed through one or more resistive segments of the heating element. In some embodiments of the present subject matter, atomizer 241 can include heating element 245. Heating element 245 can include a resistive coil and / or other type of heating element 245 configured to supply heat to the vaporizable material within vaporizable material insert 220. Heating element 245 can be wrapped around vaporizable material insert 220, disposed within vaporizable material insert 220, integrated into the bulk shape of vaporizable material insert 220, pressed into thermal contact with vaporizable material insert 220, or otherwise positioned relative to vaporizable material insert 220. The heating element 245 provides sufficient heat to vaporize the vaporizable material for subsequent inhalation by a user in the form of a gas and / or condensed phase (e.g., aerosol particles or droplets). Other heating element and / or atomizer assembly configurations are possible.

[0067] The atomizer 241 in the vaporizer device 200 can be configured to generate inhalable doses of vapor and / or aerosol phase vaporizable material through heating of the vaporizable material. The vaporizable material can be a solid material (such as wax or the like) or plant material (e.g., tobacco leaves and / or tobacco leaf portions). In such a vaporizer device, the resistive heating element can be part of the wall of the oven or other heated chamber into which the vaporizable material is introduced, or can be otherwise integrated into or in thermal contact with such a wall. Alternatively, the resistive heating element can be used to heat air passing through or flowing over the vaporizable material, causing convective heating of the vaporizable material. In yet another example, the resistive heating element can be positioned in intimate contact with the plant material so that direct conductive heating of the plant material occurs from within the mass of the plant material, rather than occurring solely by conduction inward from the oven wall.

[0068] Automatic detection of a puff based on one or more signals generated by one or more of sensors 213 may activate heating element 245. Sensors 213 may include, for example, one or more of the following: a pressure sensor configured to detect various pressures (e.g., pressure along the airflow path, ambient pressure, absolute pressure, and / or the like), a motion sensor (e.g., an accelerometer) configured to detect movement of vaporizer device 200, a flow sensor configured to detect airflow along the airflow path and activate the heating element in response thereto, and a capacitive sensor configured to detect an impending or occurring puff. The capacitive sensor may use one or more approaches to determine whether a puff is occurring or imminent, such as detecting contact between the mouthpiece of the vaporizer device 200 and the user's lips, detecting interaction between the user and the vaporizer device 200 via one or more input devices 216 (e.g., buttons or other tactile controls on the vaporizer device 200), receiving a signal from a computing device in communication with the vaporizer device 200, or other suitable approach.

[0069] The sensor 213 may be disposed on or coupled to (e.g., electrically or electronically connected to) the controller 204 (e.g., on a printed circuit board assembly or other type of circuit board) or connected to (e.g., electrically or electronically connected to) the controller 204. To accurately perform measurements and maintain the durability of the vaporizer device 200, it may be beneficial to provide a sufficiently resilient seal to isolate the airflow path from other portions of the vaporizer device 200. The seal, which may be a gasket, may be configured to at least partially surround the sensor 213, thereby isolating the connection between the internal circuitry of the vaporizer device 200 and the sensor 213 from the portion of the sensor 213 exposed to the airflow path. In one example of a vaporizable material insert-based vaporizer, the seal may also isolate a portion of one or more electrical connections between the vaporizer body 210 and the vaporizable material insert 220. Such placement of seals within vaporizer device 200 can help mitigate potentially destructive effects on vaporizer components resulting from interaction with environmental factors and / or reduce air leakage from designated air flow paths within vaporizer device 200. Unwanted air, liquid, or other fluids passing through and / or contacting the circuits of vaporizer device 200 can cause various undesirable effects, such as altered pressure readings, and / or can result in the accumulation of undesirable materials, such as moisture or excess vaporizable material, in portions of vaporizer device 200, which can result in weakened pressure signals, degradation of sensor 213 or other components, and / or a shortened lifespan of vaporizer device 200. Leaks at seals can also result in a user inhaling air that has passed through portions of vaporizer device 200 containing or composed of materials that may not be desirable to inhale.

[0070] As discussed herein, in some embodiments of the present subject matter, vaporizer device 200 is configurable to be connected (e.g., via a wireless connection, a wired connection, etc.) to a computing device (or optionally two or more devices) that communicates with vaporizer device 200. To this end, controller 204 can include communications hardware 205. Controller 204 can also include memory 208. Communications hardware 205 can include firmware and / or be controllable by software to implement one or more cryptographic protocols for communicating with the computing device.

[0071] In some embodiments, the vaporizer body 210 includes a controller 204, a power source 212 (e.g., a battery), one or more sensors 213, charging contacts (such as contacts for charging the power source 212), and a vaporizable material insert receiver 218 configured to receive a vaporizable material insert 220 for coupling to the vaporizer body 210 via one or more of a variety of attachment structures. In some examples, the vaporizer cartridge includes a mouthpiece having an aerosol outlet for delivering an inhalable dose to a user. The vaporizer body 210 can include an atomizer 241 having a heating element, or alternatively, the heating element may be part of the vaporizer cartridge or the vaporizable material insert 220.

[0072] Insert-based configurations for vaporizer devices 200 that generate inhalable doses of solid vaporizable material by heating the solid material are within the scope of the present subject matter. For example, vaporizable material insert 220 can include a mass of plant material that has been processed and formed to be in direct contact with a portion of one or more resistive heating elements.

[0073] In embodiments of the vaporizer device 200 in which the power supply 212 is part of the vaporizer body 210 and the heating element is disposed within the vaporizer cartridge or vaporizable material insert 220 and configured to be coupled to the vaporizer body 210, the vaporizer device 200 can include electrical connection features (e.g., means for completing a circuit) to complete a circuit including the controller 204 (e.g., a printed circuit board, a microcontroller, or the like), the power supply 212, and the heating element (e.g., a heating element internal to the atomizer 241). The circuit completed by these electrical connections can enable the supply of current to the heating element and can be used for additional functions, such as measuring the resistance of the heating element for use in determining and / or controlling the temperature of the heating element based on the temperature coefficient of resistivity of the heating element.

[0074] In some embodiments, the vaporizer device 200 can be configured to receive a vaporizable material insert 220 containing a solid vaporizable material that forms an inhalable aerosol when heated. For example, the vaporizable material insert 220 can include any one or more of the features and / or functions described herein with respect to the vaporizer cartridge. The vaporizer device 200 can include a heating system configured to heat the vaporizable material insert 220 and generate an inhalable aerosol. For example, the heating system can include a heating element, at least one compression plate, and an air flow path. As described in more detail below, the heating system can be configured to receive the vaporizable material insert 220, compress the vaporizable material insert 220 onto the at least one heating element, and dispense the inhalable aerosol into one or more air flow paths for inhalation by a user.

[0075] Various embodiments of such heating systems for vaporizer device 200 are described herein that provide many advantages, including uniform distribution of heat across the vaporizable material of vaporizable material insert 220. This can result in improved production of inhalable aerosol, reduced energy consumption (e.g., reduced average temperature) to generate the inhalable aerosol, and more efficient and effective consumption of the vaporizable material.

[0076] As described above, in some embodiments, the vaporizer device 200 is configured to heat a non-liquid, combustible material, such as tobacco. For example, the vaporizer body 210 can include a vaporizable material insert receiver 218 that receives at least one vaporizable material insert 220. The at least one vaporizable material insert 220 is configured to be heated by the vaporizer body 210, thereby generating an inhalable vapor that is formed as a result of heating the vaporizable material insert 220.

[0077] In some embodiments, the heating system of vaporizer device 200 includes a vaporization chamber or vaporizable material insert receiver 218 that includes a heating element configured to heat vaporizable material insert 220. The heating system may further include at least one compression plate configured to compress vaporizable material insert 220 onto the heating element. An air flow passage may extend through a vaporization compartment contained around vaporizable material insert 220.

[0078] In some embodiments, vaporizable material insert 220 may include a non-vapor permeable barrier (such as cigarette paper) configured to protect the heater from vapor deposits so that cleaning of the heater after use is unnecessary. Various embodiments of the heating system and vaporizable material insert 220 are described in more detail below.

[0079] 3A-3C illustrate various examples of vaporizable material insert 220 that may include at least one perforation or vent hole 330 along the jacket of vaporizable material insert 220. For example, FIGS. 3B and 3C illustrate different airflow configurations that include different densities of at least one vent hole 330 along the top jacket surface of vaporizable material insert 220. The number of at least one vent hole 330 may vary, and / or vaporizable material insert 220 may not include perforations at the top jacket surface, as in FIG. 3A, or at the bottom jacket surface and / or one or more side surfaces.

[0080] In some embodiments, the heating system of vaporizer device 200 may include a cylindrical heating element. The cylindrical heating element may be configured to efficiently and effectively heat vaporizable material insert 220, which has a cylindrical shape. In other embodiments, the heating element may have a slight angle relative to the heater surface and / or cylinder. This angle may increase contact between the heating element surface and vaporizable material insert 220 when vaporizable material insert 220 is inserted onto the heating element, thereby improving the performance of vaporizer device 200. Other heating element shapes and configurations are within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0081] 4A shows a graph illustrating an example of a temperature profile consistent with an implementation of the present subject matter. As shown in FIG. 4A, the temperature profile includes a starting temperature represented by T1 (e.g., a first target temperature for the first puff P1), a constant temperature step temperature represented by T2 (e.g., a second target temperature), a final temperature represented by T3 (e.g., a third target temperature), and a final temperature represented by T4 (e.g., a third target temperature). N The Nth puff P can have a fixed shape defined by four variables, including the Nth puff P N It should be understood that puff P can be any number of puffs following the second puff P2. Furthermore, the second puff and the Nth puff P N may span the duration of the constant temperature phase, with the second puff P2 marking the start of the constant temperature phase and the Nth puff PN marks the end of the constant temperature phase, during which the temperature of vaporizer device 200 (e.g., heating element 245) may be maintained at second temperature T2.

[0082] To achieve a flat total particulate matter (TPM) profile and thus a consistent amount of volatiles delivered from the vaporizable material to the user, the variables T1, T2, T3, and P N may be adjusted sequentially and somewhat independently. For example, the vaporizer device 200 may be configured to operate according to the example temperature profile shown in FIG. 4A to achieve consistent delivery of volatiles from the vaporizable material contained within the vaporizable material insert 220. Adjusting the temperature of the heating element 245 according to the temperature profile shown in FIG. 4A may ensure that the total particulate matter delivered by each puff is within a predetermined total particulate matter (TPM) range. For example, the temperature of the heating element 245 may be adjusted according to the temperature profile shown in FIG. 4A to ensure that the total particulate matter (e.g., mass of volatiles) delivered by each successive puff remains between 3.5 milligrams and 5 milligrams (or other predetermined TPM range).

[0083] FIG. 4B shows a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for determining the values ​​of variables T1, T2, T3, and N to achieve a flat total particulate matter (TPM) profile. As shown in FIG. 4B, the value of first target temperature T1 may be determined by performing one or more tests using vaporizer device 200 operating at different values ​​of first target temperature T1 and adjusting the value of first target temperature T1 based on the total particulate matter (TPM) value measured for each test. For example, if the tests indicate that the total particulate matter is less than a first threshold value (e.g., 3.5 milligrams or another value), the value of first target temperature T1 may be increased, and if the tests indicate that the total particulate matter is greater than a second threshold value (e.g., 5 milligrams or another value), the value of first target temperature T1 may be decreased. The first threshold value (e.g., 3.5 milligrams or another value) and the second threshold value (e.g., 5 milligrams or another value) may define a predetermined total particulate matter (TPM) range. The vaporizer device 200 may be configured to operate according to a temperature profile (e.g., including temperatures T1, T2, and T3) that ensures that the total particulate matter (e.g., mass of volatiles) delivered by each successive puff remains within a predetermined total particulate matter (TPM) range. Thus, if the total particulate matter is greater than a first threshold but less than a second threshold, the value of the first target temperature T1 may be reduced, and / or the power limit may be increased if the first target temperature T1 is not achieved during the first puff P1. Additional tests may be performed with the vaporizer device 200 operating at the adjusted first target temperature T1, and the first target temperature T1 may be further adjusted, as shown in FIG. 4A . The final value of the first target temperature T1 may correspond to a value where the total particulate matter is greater than the first threshold but less than the second threshold, and the first target temperature is achieved during the first puff P1.

[0084] Referring again to FIG. 4B, the second target temperature T2 and the Nth puff P NThe value of T2 may be determined by performing one or more tests with the vaporizer device 200 operating at different values ​​of the second target temperature T2 and adjusting the value of the second target temperature T2 based on the value of total particulate matter (TPM) measured for each test. For example, if the tests indicate that the total particulate matter is less than a first threshold (e.g., 3.5 milligrams or another value), the value of the second target temperature T2 may be increased, and if the tests indicate that the total particulate matter is greater than a second threshold (e.g., 5 milligrams or another value), the value of the second target temperature T2 may be decreased. If the total particulate matter is greater than the first threshold but less than the second threshold, the value of the second target temperature T2 may be increased unless the total particulate matter (TPM) for the fifth puff (or another puff) is greater than the first threshold (e.g., 3.5 milligrams or another value). Additional tests can be performed with the vaporizer device 200 operating at the adjusted second target temperature T2, and the second target temperature T2 can be further adjusted, as shown in FIG. 4A. The final value of the second target temperature T2 can correspond to a value where the total particulate matter is greater than the first threshold and less than the second threshold, and where the total particulate matter associated with the fifth puff (or another puff) is greater than the first threshold. Furthermore, the Nth puff P N The value N may correspond to puffs in which the total particulate matter is below a first threshold (e.g., 3.5 milligrams or another value).

[0085] 4B also illustrates a process for determining the value of the third target temperature T3, which may include conducting one or more tests using the vaporizer device 200 operating at different values ​​of the third target temperature T3 and adjusting the value of the third target temperature T3 based on the total particulate matter (TPM) value measured for each test. For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, if the test indicates that the total particulate matter for the N-15th puff is less than a first threshold (e.g., 3.5 milligrams or another value), the value of the third target temperature T3 may be increased, and if the test indicates that the total particulate matter for the N-15th puff is greater than a second threshold (e.g., 5 milligrams or another value), the value of the third target temperature T3 may be decreased. The final value of the third target temperature T3 may correspond to a value where the total particulate matter for the N-15th puff is less than the second threshold.

[0086] FIG. 4C illustrates a generalized version of a process for determining values ​​for the first target temperature T1, the second target temperature T2, and the third target temperature T3. It should be understood that the example temperature profile illustrated in FIG. 4A can be determined experimentally, for example, using a puff machine in a laboratory setting. The resulting temperature profile and / or corresponding formula can be loaded into a vaporizer device, such as vaporizer device 200. The vaporizer device can be configured to track one or more parameters, such as puff duration, puff interval, and total number of puffs, to maintain consistent total particulate matter (TPM) delivery during each successive puff. It should be understood that in some cases, the total particulate matter (TPM) delivered to the user is not measured by the vaporizer device itself. Instead, consistency in total particulate matter delivery can be achieved by operating the vaporizer device according to a temperature profile associated with a flat total particulate matter profile. For example, the controller 204 of the vaporizer device 200 may control the heating element 245 to be at the first target temperature T1 during the second puff P2 through the Nth puff P1. N Until the second target temperature T2 is reached, the Nth puff P NThe output voltage of power supply 212 can be adjusted and / or the duty cycle at which power from power supply 212 is supplied to heating element 245 can be adjusted so that N is at third target temperature T3 after T1. As explained above, the values ​​of T1, T2, T3, and N associated with consistent total particulate matter (TPM) can be determined experimentally, for example, outside of vaporizer device 200.

[0087] In some implementations of the present subject matter, the temperature profile applied to the vaporizer device 200 can be selected and / or changed based on the ambient pressure surrounding the vaporizer device 200. The boiling point of the vaporizable material can change due to changes in ambient pressure caused, for example, by changes in altitude and / or the like. Therefore, the vaporizer device 200 can be configured to measure the ambient pressure. Furthermore, the vaporizer device 200 can select one of a plurality of temperature profiles based at least on the ambient pressure. Each of these temperature profiles is optimized to deliver a consistent amount of volatiles (e.g., total particulate matter (TPM)) from the vaporizable material at the corresponding ambient pressure. Alternatively and / or additionally, the vaporizer device 200 can change the temperature profile applied to the vaporizer device 200 when heating the vaporizable material based on the ambient pressure. For example, the vaporizer device 200 may increase (or decrease) the temperature specified by the temperature profile applied to the vaporizer device 200 so that the heating element 245 operates at an optimal temperature for delivering a consistent amount of volatiles (e.g., total particulate matter (TPM)) from the vaporizable material at the current ambient pressure.

[0088] 5A-5D provide graphs showing exemplary results of validation testing and testing of various embodiments of the vaporizable material insert 220. FIG. 5A is an exemplary graph of a variable temperature profile for the vaporizer device 200. The graph shows the operating temperature over 15 puffs. To obtain the optimal temperature profile, a baseline test (B1) was conducted over 5-10 runs of the process shown in FIG. 4A. The expected total particulate matter (TPM) delivered over 15 puffs was 60 milligrams, and the corresponding total particulate matter curve was expected to show an early peak and a steady decline. For the baseline measurements, 5-10 runs were conducted at 280 degrees Celsius with a 3-second preheat time and a 30-watt power limit. The vaporizable material insert 220 was configured with 12 vent holes in the sidewall, each with a 1-millimeter diameter. A bypass flow rate with a resistance temperature detector (RTD) setting of approximately 700 Pascals was used.

[0089] Once the baseline total particulate matter profile was obtained, a variable temperature test (B2) was performed to optimize the ignition temperature per puff to flatten the total particulate matter profile of baseline test B1. The goal was to achieve a total particulate matter (TPM) of greater than 3.5 milligrams per puff with a total energy consumption of less than 1,300 joules. Runs were performed using variable temperature per run with a 3-second warm-up time and a 30-watt power limit. Aerosol venting from the vaporizable material insert 220 was investigated. It was anticipated that more vent holes would result in better aerosol venting. Five runs were performed for each of two different vent configurations using the optimized heating profile obtained in variable temperature test B2. An injection flow rate with a resistance temperature detector (RTD) setting of approximately 700 Pascals was used.

[0090] Figure 5B shows the results of the baseline test, tests using various vent configurations, and tests using variable temperature. For the second puff P2, the observed total particulate matter (TPM) ranged between 5 milligrams and 9 milligrams. For the second puff P2, the highest total particulate matter was observed for the baseline configuration (e.g., approximately 9 milligrams), followed by the zero vent configuration (e.g., approximately 8.5 milligrams), the 82 vent configuration (e.g., approximately 8 milligrams), the 42 vent configuration (e.g., approximately 8 milligrams), and the variable temperature configuration (e.g., approximately 5 milligrams). As can be seen from Figure 5B, the variable temperature configuration was associated with the most consistent total particulate matter, with the least variation between approximately 4 milligrams and approximately 5 milligrams.

[0091] Referring to the graph of FIG. 5B, the baseline measurements included eight replicates conducted at 280 degrees Celsius using a vaporizable material insert 220 with 12 vent holes, each with a diameter of 1 mm. Measurements of the zero-vent, 42-vent, and 84-vent configurations each included seven replicates conducted using the baseline temperature profile. Variable temperature measurements included five replicates conducted with an optimal temperature profile selected from previous testing.

[0092] FIG. 5C is a graph of the total particulate matter profile for another configuration of vaporizable material insert 220. The configuration tested and graphed in FIG. 5C is a brick or block of compressed vaporizable material having a square form factor and an outer jacket. The brick of compressed vaporizable material rests on a mesh that is positioned and held between tensioners. The brick of compressed vaporizable material is seated on the mesh and surrounded by air. Five configurations, C1-C5, were tested. Configuration C1 was tested at operating temperatures of 280 degrees Celsius, 300 degrees Celsius, and the highest operating temperature. Configurations C2-C5 were tested at an operating temperature of 300 degrees Celsius.

[0093] FIG. 5D is a graph of the TPM profile for yet another configuration of vaporizable material insert 220. The configuration tested and graphed in FIG. 5D is a cylindrical jacket configured to house a cylindrical filter, the cylindrical filter located proximal to the user and adjacent to a bed of vaporizable material, which is adjacent to the filter located distal to the user. The bed and filter portion of the cylindrical jacket have a heating coil wrapped around the outer diameter of the jacket, and the heating coil is secured to the jacket by a copper bus bar with copper straps and screws. The filter can be immersed in liquid vaporizable material suspended in a solution containing propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin (PG VG). This vaporizable material insert configuration was tested for one minute after adding PG VG to the filter (“same day”) and for one day after adding PG VG to the filter (“overnight”). Additionally, tests were conducted using IQOS cigarettes and Phil's American Blend cigarettes, with both tests conducted several minutes after adding PG VG to the filter ("IQOS" and "Phil," respectively).

[0094] Additional investigations were conducted into the preferred mechanical preload of vaporizable material insert 220. It was expected that a greater mechanical preload would result in better thermal contact between the heating element and vaporizable material insert 220, resulting in higher total particulate matter, but would also result in higher energy consumption than would be the case with a lower mechanical preload. Five runs were conducted for each of two different preload settings, 10 Newtons and 30 Newtons, as enabled by spring selection. The optimized heating profile obtained in variable temperature test B2 was also used for this investigation. An injection flow rate with a resistance temperature detector (RTD) setting of approximately 700 Pascals was used. As can be seen from these tests and results, the most consistent total particulate matter delivery at the lowest operating temperature was achieved by using adaptive temperature profiling. By varying the heating per puff based on the duration of the last puff, the vaporizer system can ensure a consistent total particulate matter delivery with each puff and can operate at a lower temperature, thereby reducing the user's potential exposure to HPHCs.

[0095] Terminology When a feature or element is referred to herein as being "on" another feature or element, the feature or element may 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. It will also be understood that when a feature or element is referred to as being "connected," "attached," or "coupled" to another feature or element, the feature or element may 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.

[0096] Although described or illustrated with respect to one embodiment, the features and elements so described or illustrated may be applicable to other embodiments. Those skilled in the art will also understand that references to structures or features being located "adjacent" to another feature may have overlapping or underlying portions with the adjacent feature.

[0097] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and 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.

[0098] In the above description and in the claims, a conjunctive list of multiple elements or features may be followed by phrases such as "at least one of" or "one or more of." The term "and / or" may also appear within a list of two or more elements or features. Unless implicitly or explicitly contradicted by the context in which the phrase 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 intended for 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. Use of the term "based on" above and in the claims is intended to mean "based at least in part on," so that unrecited features or elements are also acceptable.

[0099] Spatially relative terms such as “front,” “rear,” “bottom,” “below,” “lower,” “upper,” “upper,” and the like may be used herein for ease of description to explain the relationship of one element or feature shown in the figures to another. 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 shown in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures were inverted, elements described as “below” or “below” other elements or features would now be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be oriented differently (rotated 90 degrees or in another orientation), and the spatially relative descriptions used herein may be interpreted accordingly. Similarly, “upstream,” “downstream,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and the like are used herein for descriptive purposes only, unless specifically indicated otherwise.

[0100] 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 dictates otherwise. These terms may also 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 provided herein.

[0101] All numbers used in the specification and claims, including those used in the examples, unless expressly specified otherwise, can be read as if preceded by the term "about" or "approximately," even if the term is not explicitly stated. When describing a degree and / or position, the phrase "about" or "approximately" may be used to indicate that the stated value and / or position is within a reasonable expected range of these values ​​and / or positions. For example, a numerical value may have a value of ±0.1% of the stated value (or range of values), ±1% of the stated value (or range of values), ±2% of the stated value (or range of values), ±5% of the stated value (or range of values), ±10% of the stated value (or range of values), etc. Any numerical value given herein should also be understood to include values ​​near or approximate that value, unless the context dictates otherwise. For example, if the value "10" is disclosed, "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 value is disclosed, "less than or equal to that value," "greater than or equal to that value," and possible ranges therebetween, as would be appropriately understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, are also disclosed. For example, if a value of "X" is disclosed, "less than or equal to X" and "greater than or equal to X" (e.g., X is a numerical value) are also disclosed. It is also understood that throughout this application, data are provided in many different formats, and this data represents endpoints and starting points, covering ranges for any combination of these data points. For example, if a specific data point "10" and a specific data point "15" are disclosed, it is understood that greater than 10 and 15, greater than or equal to 10 and 15, less than 10 and 15, less than or equal to 10 and 15, and equal to 10 and 15 are also considered disclosed, as are values ​​between 10 and 15. It is also understood that each unit between two specified units is disclosed. For example, if 10 and 15 are disclosed, then 11, 12, 13, and 14 are also disclosed.

[0102] While various exemplary embodiments have been described above, any number of modifications can be made to the various embodiments without departing from the teachings herein. For example, the order in which the various described method steps are performed is often changed in alternative embodiments, and one or more method steps may be omitted entirely in other alternative embodiments. Optional features of various embodiments of the apparatus and systems may be included in some embodiments and not included in other embodiments. Accordingly, the foregoing description has been provided primarily for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0103] One or more aspects or features of the subject matter described herein may be embodied 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 the form of one or more computer programs executable and / or interpretable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor, which may be special or general-purpose, coupled to transmit and receive data and instructions from a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. The programmable system or computing system may include clients and servers. The clients and servers are generally remote from each other and typically interact through a communications 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.

[0104] These computer programs, which may also be referred to as programs, software, software applications, applications, components, or code, contain machine instructions for a programmable processor and may be implemented in a procedural high-level 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 used to provide machine instructions and / or data to a programmable processor, such as, for example, a magnetic 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 used to provide machine instructions and / or data to a programmable processor. A machine-readable medium may non-transitory store such machine instructions, such as, for example, a non-transitory solid-state memory or a magnetic hard disk drive or any equivalent storage medium. Alternatively or additionally, a machine-readable medium may temporarily store such machine instructions, such as, for example, a processor cache or other random access memory associated with one or more physical processor cores.

[0105] The examples and drawings included herein illustrate, by way of illustration, not limitation, specific embodiments in which the present subject matter may be practiced. As noted, other embodiments may be utilized and derived from particular embodiments, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may 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, under the term "invention" when more than one is actually disclosed; however, this is for convenience only and 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 configuration intended to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiment presented. The present disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the above description. The use of the term "based on" in the specification and claims is intended to mean "based at least in part on," such that unrecited features or elements are also permissible.

[0106] The subject matter described herein may be embodied in the form of systems, devices, methods, and / or articles, depending on the desired configuration. The embodiments set forth in the foregoing description do not represent all embodiments consistent with the subject matter described herein. Rather, the embodiments set forth in the foregoing description are merely some examples consistent with aspects related to the described subject matter. While several variations have been described in detail herein, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, further features and / or variations may be provided in addition to the features and / or variations described herein. For example, the embodiments described herein may be directed to various combinations and combinations of components of the disclosed features and / or combinations of multiple additional features disclosed herein. Furthermore, the logic flow illustrated in the accompanying drawings and / or described herein does not necessarily require the particular order or sequential order presented to achieve desired results. Other embodiments may also be within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. a heating element configured to vaporize a vaporizable material; a sensor configured to detect a duration of a first puff and an interval between the first puff and a second puff following the first puff; a controller configured to adjust the temperature of the heating element based on at least the duration of the first puff and the interval between the first puff and the second puff; 1. An apparatus comprising:

2. the heating element is adjusted to a first temperature during the first puff and to a second temperature during the second puff; 10. The apparatus of claim 1.

3. the heating element is maintained at the second temperature during the second puff and at least during a third puff following the second puff; 3. The apparatus of claim 2.

4. the heating element is further adjusted to a third temperature following the third puff.

4. The apparatus of claim 3.

5. the controller adjusts the temperature of the heating element to achieve a flat total particulate matter (TPM) profile.

5. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. the flat TPM profile corresponds to delivering a first TPM with the first puff and a second TPM with the second puff; the first TPM and the second TPM are within a predetermined TPM range; 6. The apparatus of claim 5.

7. the predetermined TPM range is between 3.5 milligrams and 5 milligrams; 7. The apparatus of claim 6.

8. The first TPM and the second TPM correspond to the mass of volatiles contained in the aerosol delivered by the corresponding puff.

8. The device according to claim 6 or 7.

9. the control device regulates the temperature of the heating element by adjusting at least the output voltage of a power supply of the device and / or the duty cycle at which power from the power supply is supplied to the heating element; 9. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. the heating element is positioned adjacent to a vaporizable material receiving portion configured to receive a vaporizable material insert containing the vaporizable material; 10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. the vaporizable material insert includes one or more perforations; the one or more perforations are configured to allow air traveling along an air flow path of the device to pass through the vaporizable material contained within the vaporizable material insert.

11. The apparatus of claim 10.

12. receiving a vaporizable material into a vaporizable material compartment of a vaporizer device, the vaporizer device further including an air flow path and an adaptive heating system, the air flow path extending along the vaporizable material compartment, the adaptive heating system: a heating element configured to heat the vaporizable material; a sensor configured to detect a duration of a first puff and an interval between the first puff and a second puff following the first puff; a controller configured to adjust the temperature of the heating element based on at least the duration of the first puff and the interval between the first puff and the second puff; and heating the vaporizable material with the heating element to generate an aerosol for delivery to a user; adjusting the temperature of the heating element in response to the duration of the first puff and / or the interval between the first and second puffs deviating from a predetermined value; A method comprising:

13. the heating element is adjusted to a first temperature during the first puff and to a second temperature during the second puff; 13. The method of claim 12.

14. the heating element is maintained at the second temperature during the second puff and at least during a third puff following the second puff; 14. The method of claim 13.

15. the heating element is further adjusted to a third temperature following the third puff.

15. The method of claim 14.

16. the controller adjusts the temperature of the heating element to achieve a flat total particulate matter (TPM) profile.

16. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15.

17. the flat TPM profile corresponds to delivering a first TPM with the first puff and a second TPM with the second puff; the first TPM and the second TPM are within a predetermined TPM range; 17. The method of claim 16.

18. the predetermined TPM range is between 3.5 milligrams and 5 milligrams; 18. The method of claim 17.

19. The first TPM and the second TPM comprise the mass of volatiles contained in the aerosol delivered by the corresponding puff.

19. The method of claim 17 or 18.

20. the controller regulates the temperature of the heating element by adjusting at least the output voltage of a power supply of the vaporizer device and / or the duty cycle at which power from the power supply is supplied to the heating element; 20. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 19.

21. one or more perforations are formed in the vaporizable material insert containing the vaporizable material before the vaporizable material insert is placed in the vaporizable material compartment; the one or more perforations are configured to allow air traveling along the air flow path to pass through the vaporizable material contained within the vaporizable material insert.

21. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 20.

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