Integrated heater-charger for vaporizer device

Abstract

A system is disclosed that includes a buck-boost converter with first and second configurations. A charging circuit is selectively coupled to the converter and a power source and configured to output a first voltage while electrically coupled to the converter in the first configuration. A heating circuit is selectively coupled to the converter and a heating element and configured to output a second voltage for maintaining a heating element at a target temperature while electrically coupled to the heating element and the converter in the second configuration. In the first configuration, the converter is electrically coupled to the charging circuit and receives a third voltage form the power source and converts is into the first voltage. In the second configuration, the converter is electrically coupled to the heating circuit and receives the third voltage and converts it into the second voltage to maintain the heating element at the target temperature.

Description

INTEGRATED HEATER-CHARGER FOR VAPORIZER DEVICE

[0001] The current application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 729,036 filed December 6, 2024, entitled “INTEGRATED HEATERCHARGER FOR VAPORIZER DEVICE” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The subject matter described herein relates to powering a vaporizer atomizer utilizing a direct-current to direct-current converter.BACKGROUND

[0003] Vaporizer devices, which can also be referred to as vaporizers, electronic vaporizer devices, or e- vaporizer devices, can be used for delivery of an aerosol (for example, a vapor-phase and / or condensed-phase material suspended in a stationary or moving mass of air or some other gas carrier) containing one or more active ingredients by inhalation of the aerosol by a user of the vaporizing device. For example, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) include a class of vaporizer devices that are battery powered and that can be used to simulate the experience of smoking, but without burning of tobacco or other substances. Vaporizers are gaining increasing popularity both for prescriptive medical use, in delivering medicaments, and for consumption of tobacco, nicotine, and other plant-based materials. Vaporizer devices can be portable, self- contained, and / or convenient for use.

[0004] In use of a vaporizer device, the user inhales an aerosol, colloquially referred to as “vapor,” which can be generated by a heating element that vaporizes (e.g„ causes a liquid or solid to at least partially transition to the gas phase) a vaporizable material, which can be liquid, a solution, a solid, a paste, a wax, and / or any other form compatible for use with a specific vaporizer device. The vaporizable material used with a vaporizer can be provided within a cartridge for example, a separable part of the vaporizer device that contains vaporizable material) that includes an outlet (for example, a mouthpiece) for inhalation of the aerosol by a user.

[0005] To receive the inhalable aerosol generated by a vaporizer device, a user may, in certain examples, activate the vaporizer device by taking a puff, by pressing a button, and / or by some other approach. A puff as used herein can refer to inhalation by the user in a manner that causes a volume of air to be drawn into the vaporizer device such that the inhalable aerosol is generated by a combination of the vaporized vaporizable material with the volume of air.

[0006] An approach by which a vaporizer device generates an inhalable aerosol from a vaporizable material involves heating the vaporizable material in a vaporizer atomizer or vaporization chamber (e.g., a heater chamber) to cause the vaporizable material to be converted to the gas (or vapor) phase. A vaporizer atomizer or vaporization chamber can refer to an area or volume in the vaporizer device within which a heat source (for example, a conductive, convective, and / or radiative heat source) causes heating of a vaporizable material to produce a mixture of air and vaporized material to form a vapor for inhalation of the vaporizable material by a user of the vaporization device.

[0007] Vaporizer atomizers can be used to evaporate liquid into aerosol and can require power and temperature control of a heating element, such as a resistive wire coil, to generate consistent vapor and to prevent liquid degradation from exposure to high temperatures. Typically, two parameters related to heating that can be controlled include electrical power to the heating element and temperature of the heating element.

[0008] Charging and heating circuits in vaporizer devices can include large components, such as inductors and capacitors, and can compete for limited space in small form factor devices. Such circuit components can also be costly. And currently- available charging and heating circuits cannot operate efficiently for high-power devices. Yet charging and heating circuits often have similar layouts and use similar configurations of circuit elements.SUMMARY

[0009] In certain aspects of the current subject matter, challenges associated with powering vaporizer devices can be addressed by inclusion of one or more of the features described herein or comparable / equivalent approaches as would be understood by one ofordinary skill in the art. Aspects of the current subject matter relate to methods and system for powering a heating element of a vaporizer device.

[0010] The details of one or more variations of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. The claims that follow this disclosure are intended to define the scope of the protected subject matter. In some variations, one or more of the following features can optionally be included in any feasible combination.

[0011] In an aspect, a system includes a buck-boost converter with a first configuration and a second configuration. In some aspects, a charging circuit can be selectively coupled to the buck-boost converter and a power source. The charging circuit is configured to output a first voltage while electrically coupled to the buck-boost converter in the first configurations. In some aspects, a heating circuit is selectively coupled to the buck-boost converter and a heating element. The heating circuit is configured to output a second voltage for maintaining a heating element at a target temperature while electrically coupled to the heating element and to the buck-boost converter in the second configuration. In the first configuration, the buck-boost converter is electrically coupled to the charging circuit and is configured to receive a third voltage from the power source and convert the third voltage into the first voltage. In the second configuration, the buck-boost converter is electrically coupled to the heating element and is configured to receive the third voltage into the second voltage to maintain the heating element at the target temperature.

[0012] In some aspects, the buck-boost converter is in the first configuration in response to a detection of a connection with the power source and the buck-boost converter is in the second configuration in response to a detection of a cartridge. In certain aspects, the converting the first voltage to the second voltage comprises stepping up or stepping down the first voltage, and converting the second voltage to the third voltage comprises stepping up or stepping down the second voltage. Additionally, stepping up or stepping down the first voltage or the second voltage is performed in response to a control signal from a controller of the system. In certain aspects, the buck-boost converter is a DC-DC converter and the heating element comprises a resistive heating element.

[0013] In some aspects, the system further comprises a power monitor configured to periodically measure a temperature of the heating element. In certain aspects, the charging circuit produces a charging cycle comprising a constant voltage portion of the charging cycle and a constant current portion of the charging cycle. In certain aspects, the charging circuit is electrically decoupled from the buck-boost converter when the buck-boost converter is switched to the second configuration

[0014] In some aspects, the system further comprises a controller that is configured to measure a current through the heating element and a voltage over the heating element, calculate a power and / or a resistance based at least in part on the measured current and voltage, and output a control signal to the buck-boost converter to cause the heating circuit to maintain or modify the heating voltage. In certain aspects, the controller includes analog circuitry forming a closed-loop control. In some aspects, the controller comprises, an analog front end circuitry configured to measure the current through the heating element and the voltage over the heating element, and a digitizer including circuitry configured to output the control signal based on the measured current and the measured voltage.

[0015] In certain aspects, the controller comprises a 4-wire connection to measure voltage over the heating element or a 3 -wire connection to measure voltage over the heating element. In certain aspects, the controller is configured to continuously measure the current and the voltage while power is supplied to the heating element. In some aspects, the first voltage is provided by a battery or a serial charging connection

[0016] One or more of the following features can be included in any feasible combination.

[0017] In another aspect, a method includes setting a buck-boost converter to a first configuration in response to detecting a connection with a power source, wherein in the first configuration, the buck-boost converter is electrically coupled to a charging circuit and power source; transmitting a third voltage from the power source to the buckboost converter; storing, using the charging circuit, a first voltage converted from the third voltage; setting the buck-boost converter in a second configuration in response todetecting a connection with a cartridge, wherein in the second configuration, the buckboost converter is electrically coupled to the heating circuit; transmitting the first voltage to the buck-boost converter to cause the first voltage to be converted into a second voltage; and outputting, using the heating circuit, the second voltage to the heating element to maintain the heating element at a target temperature

[0018] In some aspects, the buck-boost converter is a DC-DC converter and the heating element comprises a resistive heating element. In certain aspects, storing the first voltage comprises producing a charging cycle comprising a constant voltage portion of the charging cycle and a constant current portion of the charging cycle. In certain aspects, the charging circuit is electrically decoupled from the buck-boost converter when the buck-boost converter is set to the second configuration.

[0019] In some aspects, maintaining the heating element at the target temperature comprises, using a controller: measuring a current through the heating element and a voltage over the heating element; calculating a power and / or a resistance based at least in part on the measured current and voltage; and outputting a control signal to the buckboost converter to cause the heating circuit to maintain or modify the second voltage. In some aspects, the controller includes analog circuitry forming a closed-loop control.

[0020] In certain aspects, the controller comprises an analog front end circuitry configured to measure the current through the heating element and the voltage over the heating element and a digitizer including circuitry configured to output the control signal based on the measured current and the measured voltage. In certain aspects, the controller comprises a 4- wire connection to measure voltage over the heating element or a 3-wire connection to measure voltage over the heating element.

[0021] One or more of the following features can be included in any feasible combination.

[0022] The details of one or more variations of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification, show certain aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein and, together with the description, help explain some of the principles associated with the disclosed implementations. In the drawings:

[0024] FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a vaporizer device;

[0025] FIG. IB is a schematic representation of a vaporizer device and vaporizer cartridge;

[0026] FIG. 1C is a front view of a vaporizer device and an embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge;

[0027] FIG. ID is a front view of a vaporizer cartridge coupled to a vaporizer device;

[0028] FIG. IE is a perspective view of a vaporizer cartridge;

[0029] FIG. IF is a perspective view of another embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge coupled to a vaporizer device;

[0030] FIG. 2 is a system block diagram illustrating an example integrated heatercharger circuit, according to some aspects of the current subject matter;

[0031] FIG. 3 is a process flow diagram illustrating an example process according to some aspects of the current subject matter;

[0032] FIG. 4 is a process flow diagram illustrating an example process according to some aspects of the current subject matter; and

[0033] FIG. 5 is a process flow diagram illustrating an example process according to some aspects of the current subject matter.

[0034] When practical, similar reference numbers denote similar structures, features, or elements. Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Implementations of the current subject matter include methods, apparatuses, articles of manufacture, and systems relating to vaporization of one or more materials for inhalation by a user. Example implementations include methods ofpowering vaporizer devices and systems including vaporizer devices. The term “vaporizer device” as used in the following description and claims refers to any of a self- contained apparatus, an apparatus that includes two or more separable parts (for example, a vaporizer body that includes a battery and other hardware, and a cartridge that includes a vaporizable material), and / or the like. Vaporizer devices, which can also be referred to as vaporizers, electronic vaporizer devices, or e-vaporizer devices, can be used for delivery of an aerosol (for example vapor-phase and / or condensed-phase material suspended in a stationary or moving mass of air or some other gas carrier) containing one or more active ingredients by inhalation of the aerosol by a user of the vaporizing device. A “vaporizer system,” as used herein, can include one or more components, such as a vaporizer device. Examples of vaporizer devices consistent with implementations of the current subject matter include electronic vaporizers, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), and / or the like. In general, such vaporizer devices are hand-held devices that heat (such as by convection, conduction, radiation, and / or some combination thereof) a vaporizable material to provide an inhalable dose of the material. The vaporizable material used with a vaporizer device can be provided within a cartridge (for example, a part of the vaporizer that contains the vaporizable material in a reservoir or other container) which can be refillable when empty, or disposable such that a new cartridge containing additional vaporizable material of a same or different type can be used). A vaporizer device can be a cartridge-using vaporizer device, a cartridge-less vaporizer device, or a multi-use vaporizer device capable of use with or without a cartridge. For example, a vaporizer device can include a heating chamber (for example, an oven or other region in which material is heated by a heating element) configured to receive a vaporizable material directly into the heating chamber, and / or a reservoir or the like for containing the vaporizable material. In some implementations, a vaporizer device can be configured for use with a liquid vaporizable material (for example, a carrier solution in which an active and / or inactive ingredient(s) are suspended or held in solution, or a liquid form of the vaporizable material itself), a paste, a wax, and / or a solid vaporizable material. A solid vaporizable material can include a plant material that emits some part of the plant material as the vaporizable material (for example, some part of the plant material remains as waste after the material is vaporized for inhalation by a user) oroptionally can be a solid form of the vaporizable material itself, such that all the solid material can eventually be vaporized for inhalation. A liquid vaporizable material can likewise be capable of being completely vaporized or can include some portion of the liquid material that remains after all of the material suitable for inhalation has been vaporized.

[0036] Implementations of the current subject matter include an integrated heatercharger comprising a heating circuit, a charging circuit, and a buck-boost converter. In an example first configuration, the buck-boost converter can electrically couple to the charging circuit and electrically decouple from the heating circuit when a power source is connected. In an example second configuration, the buck-boost converter can electrically couple to the heating circuit and electrically decouple from the charging circuit when a cartridge is detected. The integrated heater-charger allows sharing of large circuit components, such as inductors and capacitors, saving space and money. And the integrated heater-charger provides a switching mode charger ideal for high-power applications. For example, the integrated heater-charger can support at least 50 W power output.

[0037] Referring to the block diagram of FIG. 1A, a vaporizer device 100 can include a power source 112 (for example, a battery, which can be a rechargeable battery), and a controller 104 (for example, a processor, circuitry, etc. capable of executing logic) for controlling delivery of heat to an atomizer 141 to cause a vaporizable material 102 to be converted from a condensed form (such as a solid, a liquid, a solution, a suspension, a part of an at least partially unprocessed plant material, etc.) to the gas phase. The controller 104 can be part of one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs) consistent with certain implementations of the current subject matter. After conversion of the vaporizable material 102 to the gas phase, at least some of the vaporizable material 102 in the gas phase can condense to form particulate matter in at least a partial local equilibrium with the gas phase as part of an aerosol, which can form some or all of an inhalable dose provided by the vaporizer device 100 during a user’s puff or draw on the vaporizer device 100. It should be appreciated that the interplay between gas and condensed phases in an aerosol generated by a vaporizer device 100 can be complex and dynamic, due to factors such as ambient temperature, relative humidity, chemistry, flowconditions in airflow paths (both inside the vaporizer and in the airways of a human or other animal), and / or mixing of the vaporizable material 102 in the gas phase or in the aerosol phase with other air streams, which can affect one or more physical parameters of an aerosol. In some vaporizer devices, and particularly for vaporizer devices configured for delivery of volatile vaporizable materials, the inhalable dose can exist predominantly in the gas phase (for example, formation of condensed phase particles can be very limited).

[0038] The atomizer 141 in the vaporizer device 100 can be configured to vaporize a vaporizable material 102. The vaporizable material 102 can be a liquid. Examples of the vaporizable material 102 include neat liquids, suspensions, solutions, mixtures, and / or the like. The atomizer 141 can include a wicking element (i.e., a wick) configured to convey an amount of the vaporizable material 102 to a part of the atomizer 141 that includes a heating element (not shown in FIG. 1A).

[0039] For example, the wicking element can be configured to draw the vaporizable material 102 from a reservoir 140 configured to contain the vaporizable material 102, such that the vaporizable material 102 can be vaporized by heat delivered from a heating element. The wicking element can also optionally allow air to enter the reservoir 140 and replace the volume of vaporizable material 102 removed. In some implementations of the current subject matter, capillary action can pull vaporizable material 102 into the wick for vaporization by the heating element, and air can return to the reservoir 140 through the wick to at least partially equalize pressure in the reservoir 140. Other methods of allowing air back into the reservoir 140 to equalize pressure are also within the scope of the current subject matter.

[0040] As used herein, the terms “wick” or “wicking element” include any material capable of causing fluid motion via capillary pressure.

[0041] The heating element can include one or more of a conductive heater, a radiative heater, and / or a convective heater. One type of heating element is a resistive heating element, which can include a material (such as a metal or alloy, for example a nickel-chromium alloy, or a non-metallic resistor) configured to dissipate electrical power in the form of heat when electrical current is passed through one or more resistive segments of the heating element. In some implementations of the current subject matter,the atomizer 141 can include a heating element which includes a resistive coil or other heating element wrapped around, positioned within, integrated into a bulk shape of, pressed into thermal contact with, or otherwise arranged to deliver heat to a wicking element, to cause the vaporizable material 102 drawn from the reservoir 140 by the wicking element to be vaporized for subsequent inhalation by a user in a gas and / or a condensed (for example, aerosol particles or droplets) phase. Other wicking elements, heating elements, and / or atomizer assembly configurations are also possible.

[0042] Certain vaporizer devices may, additionally or alternatively, be configured to create an inhalable dose of the vaporizable material 102 in the gas phase and / or aerosol phase via heating of the vaporizable material 102. The vaporizable material 102 can be a solid-phase material (such as a wax or the like) or plant material (for example, tobacco leaves and / or parts of tobacco leaves). In such vaporizer devices, a resistive heating element can be part of, or otherwise incorporated into or in thermal contact with, the walls of an oven or other heating chamber into which the vaporizable material 102 is placed. Alternatively, a resistive heating element or elements can be used to heat air passing through or past the vaporizable material 102, to cause convective heating of the vaporizable material 102. In still other examples, a resistive heating element or elements can be disposed in intimate contact with plant material such that direct conductive heating of the plant material occurs from within a mass of the plant material, as opposed to only by conduction inward from walls of an oven.

[0043] The heating element can be activated in association with a user puffing (i.e., drawing, inhaling, etc.) on a mouthpiece 130 of the vaporizer device 100 to cause air to flow from an air inlet, along an airflow path that passes the atomizer 141 (i.e., wicking element and heating element). Optionally, air can flow from an air inlet through one or more condensation areas or chambers, to an air outlet in the mouthpiece 130. Incoming air moving along the airflow path moves over or through the atomizer 141, where vaporizable material 102 in the gas phase is entrained into the air. The heating element can be activated via the controller 104, which can optionally be a part of a vaporizer body 110 as discussed herein, causing current to pass from the power source 112 through a circuit including the resistive heating element, which is optionally part of a vaporizer cartridge 120 as discussed herein. As noted herein, the entrained vaporizable material102 in the gas phase can condense as it passes through the remainder of the airflow path such that an inhalable dose of the vaporizable material 102 in an aerosol form can be delivered from the air outlet (for example, the mouthpiece 130) for inhalation by a user.

[0044] Activation of the heating element can be caused by automatic detection of a puff based on one or more signals generated by one or more of a sensor 113. The sensor 113 and the signals generated by the sensor 113 can include one or more of: a pressure sensor or sensors disposed to detect pressure along the airflow path relative to ambient pressure (or optionally to measure changes in absolute pressure), a motion sensor or sensors (for example, an accelerometer) of the vaporizer device 100, a flow sensor or sensors of the vaporizer device 100, a capacitive lip sensor of the vaporizer device 100, detection of interaction of a user with the vaporizer device 100 via one or more input devices 116 (for example, buttons or other tactile control devices of the vaporizer device 100), receipt of signals from a computing device in communication with the vaporizer device 100, and / or via other approaches for determining that a puff is occurring or imminent.

[0045] As discussed herein, the vaporizer device 100 consistent with implementations of the current subject matter can be configured to connect (such as, for example, wirelessly or via a wired connection) to a computing device (or optionally two or more devices) in communication with the vaporizer device 100. To this end, the controller 104 can include communication hardware 105. The controller 104 can also include a memory 108. The communication hardware 105 can include firmware and / or can be controlled by software for executing one or more cryptographic protocols for the communication.

[0046] A computing device can be a component of a vaporizer system that also includes the vaporizer device 100, and can include its own hardware for communication, which can establish a wireless communication channel with the communication hardware 105 of the vaporizer device 100. For example, a computing device used as part of a vaporizer system can include a general-purpose computing device (such as a smartphone, a tablet, a personal computer, some other portable device such as a smartwatch, or the like) that executes software to produce a user interface for enabling a user to interact with the vaporizer device 100. In other implementations of the current subject matter, such adevice used as part of a vaporizer system can be a dedicated piece of hardware such as a remote control or other wireless or wired device having one or more physical or soft (i.e., configurable on a screen or other display device and selectable via user interaction with a touch-sensitive screen or some other input device like a mouse, pointer, trackball, cursor buttons, or the like) interface controls. The vaporizer device 100 can also include one or more outputs 117 or devices for providing information to the user. For example, the outputs 117 can include one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to provide feedback to a user based on a status and / or mode of operation of the vaporizer device 100.

[0047] In the example in which a computing device provides signals related to activation of the resistive heating element, or in other examples of coupling of a computing device with the vaporizer device 100 for implementation of various control or other functions, the computing device executes one or more computer instruction sets to provide a user interface and underlying data handling. In one example, detection by the computing device of user interaction with one or more user interface elements can cause the computing device to signal the vaporizer device 100 to activate the heating element to reach an operating temperature for creation of an inhalable dose of vapor / aerosol. Other functions of the vaporizer device 100 can be controlled by interaction of a user with a user interface on a computing device in communication with the vaporizer device 100.

[0048] The temperature of a resistive heating element of the vaporizer device 100 can depend on a number of factors, including an amount of electrical power delivered to the resistive heating element, conductive heat transfer to other parts of the electronic vaporizer device 100 and / or to the environment, latent heat losses due to vaporization of the vaporizable material 102 from the wicking element and / or the atomizer 141 as a whole, and convective heat losses due to airflow (i.e., air moving across the heating element or the atomizer 141 as a whole when a user inhales on the vaporizer device 100). As noted herein, to reliably activate the heating element or heat the heating element to a desired temperature, the vaporizer device 100 may, in some implementations of the current subject matter, make use of signals from the sensor 113 (for example, a pressure sensor) to determine when a user is inhaling. The sensor 113 can be positioned in the airflow path and / or can be connected (for example, by a passageway or other path) to anairflow path containing an inlet for air to enter the vaporizer device 100 and an outlet via which the user inhales the resulting vapor and / or aerosol such that the sensor 113 experiences changes (for example, pressure changes) concurrently with air passing through the vaporizer device 100 from the air inlet to the air outlet. In some implementations of the current subject matter, the heating element can be activated in association with a user’s puff, for example by automatic detection of the puff, or by the sensor 113 detecting a change (such as a pressure change) in the airflow path.

[0049] The sensor 113 can be positioned on or coupled to (i.e., electrically or electronically connected, either physically or via a wireless connection) the controller 104 (for example, a printed circuit board assembly or other type of circuit board). To take measurements accurately and maintain durability of the vaporizer device 100, it can be beneficial to provide a seal 127 resilient enough to separate an airflow path from other parts of the vaporizer device 100. The seal 127, which can be a gasket, can be configured to at least partially surround the sensor 113 such that connections of the sensor 113 to the internal circuitry of the vaporizer device 100 are separated from a part of the sensor 113 exposed to the airflow path. In an example of a cartridge-based vaporizer, the seal 127 can also separate parts of one or more electrical connections between the vaporizer body 110 and the vaporizer cartridge 120. Such arrangements of the seal 127 in the vaporizer device 100 can be helpful in mitigating against potentially disruptive impacts on vaporizer components resulting from interactions with environmental factors such as water in the vapor or liquid phases, other fluids such as the vaporizable material 102, etc., and / or to reduce the escape of air from the designated airflow path in the vaporizer device 100. Unwanted air, liquid or other fluid passing and / or contacting circuitry of the vaporizer device 100 can cause various unwanted effects, such as altered pressure readings, and / or can result in the buildup of unwanted material, such as moisture, excess vaporizable material 102, etc., in parts of the vaporizer device 100 where they can result in poor pressure signal, degradation of the sensor 113 or other components, and / or a shorter life of the vaporizer device 100. Leaks in the seal 127 can also result in a user inhaling air that has passed over parts of the vaporizer device 100 containing, or constructed of, materials that may not be desirable to be inhaled.

[0050] In some implementations, the vaporizer body 1 10 includes the controller 104, the power source 112 (for example, a battery), one more of the sensor 113, charging contacts (such as those for charging the power source 112), the seal 127, and a cartridge receptacle 118 configured to receive the vaporizer cartridge 120 for coupling with the vaporizer body 110 through one or more of a variety of attachment structures. In some examples, the vaporizer cartridge 120 includes the reservoir 140 for containing the vaporizable material 102, and the mouthpiece 130 has an aerosol outlet for delivering an inhalable dose to a user. The vaporizer cartridge 120 can include the atomizer 141 having a wicking element and a heating element. Alternatively, one or both of the wicking element and the heating element can be part of the vaporizer body 110. In implementations in which any part of the atomizer 141 (i.e., heating element and / or wicking element) is part of the vaporizer body 110, the vaporizer device 100 can be configured to supply vaporizable material 102 from the reservoir 140 in the vaporizer cartridge 120 to the part(s) of the atomizer 141 included in the vaporizer body 110.

[0051] Cartridge-based configurations for the vaporizer device 100 that generate an inhalable dose of a vaporizable material 102 that is not a liquid, via heating of a nonliquid material, are also within the scope of the current subject matter. For example, the vaporizer cartridge 120 can include a mass of a plant material that is processed and formed to have direct contact with parts of one or more resistive heating elements, and the vaporizer cartridge 120 can be configured to be coupled mechanically and / or electrically to the vaporizer body 110 that includes the controller 104, the power source 112, and one or more receptacle contacts 125a and 125b configured to connect to one or more corresponding cartridge contacts 124a and 125b and complete a circuit with the one or more resistive heating elements.

[0052] In an embodiment of the vaporizer device 100 in which the power source 112 is part of the vaporizer body 110, and a heating element is disposed in the vaporizer cartridge 120 and configured to couple with the vaporizer body 110, the vaporizer device 100 can include electrical connection features (for example, means for completing a circuit) for completing a circuit that includes the controller 104 (for example, a printed circuit board, a microcontroller, or the like), the power source 112, and the heating element (for example, a heating element within the atomizer 141). These features caninclude one or more contacts (referred to herein as cartridge contacts 124a and 124b) on a bottom surface of the vaporizer cartridge 120 and at least two contacts (referred to herein as receptacle contacts 125a and 125b) disposed near a base of the cartridge receptacle 118 of the vaporizer device 100 such that the cartridge contacts 124a and 124b and the receptacle contacts 125a and 125b make electrical connections when the vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted into and coupled with the cartridge receptacle 118. The circuit completed by these electrical connections can allow delivery of electrical current to a heating element and can further be used for additional functions, such as measuring a resistance of the heating element for use in determining and / or controlling a temperature of the heating element based on a thermal coefficient of resistivity of the heating element.

[0053] In some implementations of the current subject matter, the cartridge contacts 124a and 124b and the receptacle contacts 125a and 125b can be configured to electrically connect in either of at least two orientations. In other words, one or more circuits necessary for operation of the vaporizer device 100 can be completed by insertion of the vaporizer cartridge 120 into the cartridge receptacle 118 in a first rotational orientation (around an axis along which the vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted into the cartridge receptacle 118 of the vaporizer body 110) such that the cartridge contact 124a is electrically connected to the receptacle contact 125a and the cartridge contact 124b is electrically connected to the receptacle contact 125b. Furthermore, the one or more circuits necessary for operation of the vaporizer device 100 can be completed by insertion of the vaporizer cartridge 120 in the cartridge receptacle 118 in a second rotational orientation such cartridge contact 124a is electrically connected to the receptacle contact 125b and cartridge contact 124b is electrically connected to the receptacle contact 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 (for example, dimples, protrusions, etc.) protruding inwardly from an inner surface of the cartridge receptacle 118, additional material (such as metal, plastic, etc.) formed to include a portion protruding into the cartridge receptacle 118, and / or the like. One or more exterior surfaces of the vaporizer cartridge 120 can include corresponding recesses (not shown in FIG. 1A) that can fit and / or otherwise snap over such detents or protruding portions when the vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted into the cartridgereceptacle 118 on the vaporizer body 110. When the vaporizer cartridge 120 and the vaporizer body 110 are coupled (e.g., by insertion of the vaporizer cartridge 120 into the cartridge receptacle 118 of the vaporizer body 110), the detents or protrusions of the vaporizer body 110 can fit within and / or otherwise be held within the recesses of the vaporizer cartridge 120, to hold the vaporizer cartridge 120 in place when assembled. Such an assembly can provide enough support to hold the vaporizer cartridge 120 in place to ensure good contact between the cartridge contacts 124a and 124b and the receptacle contacts 125a and 125b, while allowing release of the vaporizer cartridge 120 from the vaporizer body 110 when a user pulls with reasonable force on the vaporizer cartridge 120 to disengage the vaporizer cartridge 120 from the cartridge receptacle 118.

[0055] In some implementations, the vaporizer cartridge 120, or at least an insertable end 122 of the vaporizer cartridge 120 configured for insertion in the cartridge receptacle 118, can have a non-circular cross section transverse to the axis along which the vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted into the cartridge receptacle 118. For example, the non-circular cross section can be approximately rectangular, approximately elliptical (i.e., have an approximately oval shape), non-rectangular but with two sets of parallel or approximately parallel opposing sides (i.e., having a parallelogram-like shape), or other shapes having rotational symmetry of at least order two. In this context, approximate shape indicates that a basic likeness to the described shape is apparent, but that sides of the shape in question need not be completely linear and vertices need not be completely sharp. Rounding of both or either of the edges or the vertices of the cross-sectional shape is contemplated in the description of any non-circular cross section referred to herein.

[0056] The cartridge contacts 124a and 124b and the receptacle contacts 125a and 125b can take various forms. For example, one or both sets of contacts can include conductive pins, tabs, posts, receiving holes for pins or posts, 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 vaporizer body 110. The electrical contacts can optionally be gold-plated, and / or include other materials.

[0057] FIG. IB illustrates an embodiment of the vaporizer body 110 and the cartridge receptacle 118 into which the vaporizer cartridge 120 can be releasably inserted. FIG. IB shows a top view of the vaporizer device 100 illustrating the vaporizer cartridge120 positioned for insertion into the vaporizer body 110. When a user puffs on the vaporizer device 100, air can pass between an outer surface of the vaporizer cartridge 120 and an inner surface of the cartridge receptacle 118 on the vaporizer body 110. Air can then be drawn into the insertable end 122 of the cartridge, through the vaporization chamber that includes or contains the heating element and wick, and out through an outlet of the mouthpiece 130 for delivery of the inhalable aerosol to a user. The reservoir 140 of the vaporizer cartridge 120 can be formed in whole or in part from translucent material such that a level of the vaporizable material 102 is visible within the vaporizer cartridge 120. The mouthpiece 130 can be a separable component of the vaporizer cartridge 120 or can be integrally formed with other component(s) of the vaporizer cartridge 120 (for example, formed as a unitary structure with the reservoir 140 and / or the like).

[0058] Further to the discussion above regarding the electrical connections between the vaporizer cartridge 120 and the vaporizer body 110 being reversible such that at least two rotational orientations of the vaporizer cartridge 120 in the cartridge receptacle 118 are possible, in some embodiments of the vaporizer device 100, the shape of the vaporizer cartridge 120, or at least a shape of the insertable end 122 of the vaporizer cartridge 120 that is configured for insertion into the cartridge receptacle 118, can have rotational symmetry of at least order two. In other words, the vaporizer cartridge 120 or at least the insertable end 122 of the vaporizer cartridge 120 can be symmetrical upon a rotation of 180° around an axis along which the vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted into the cartridge receptacle 118. In such a configuration, the circuitry of the vaporizer device 100 can support identical operation regardless of which symmetrical orientation of the vaporizer cartridge 120 occurs.

[0059] FIGs. 1C-1D illustrate example features that can be included in embodiments of the vaporizer device 100 consistent with implementations of the current subject matter. FIGS. 1C and ID show top views of an example of the vaporizer device 100 before (FIG. 1C) and after (FIG. ID) connecting the vaporizer cartridge 120 to the vaporizer body 110.

[0060] FIG. IE illustrates a perspective view of one variation of the vaporizer cartridge 120 holding the vaporizable material 102. Any appropriate vaporizable material102 can be contained within the vaporizer cartridge 120 (for example, within the reservoir 140), including solutions of nicotine or other organic materials.

[0061] FIG. IF shows a perspective view of another example of a vaporizer device 100 including a vaporizer body 110 coupled to a separable vaporizer cartridge 120. As illustrated, the vaporizer device 100 can include one or more outputs 117 (for example, LEDs) configured to provide information to a user based on a status, mode of operation, and / or the like, of the vaporizer device 100. In some aspects, the one or more outputs 117 can include a plurality of LEDs (i.e., two, three, four, five, or six LEDs). The one or more outputs 117 (i.e., each individual LED) can be configured to display light in one or more colors (for example, white, red, blue, green, yellow, etc.). The one or more outputs 117 can be configured to display different light patterns (for example, by illuminating specific LEDs, varying a light intensity of one or more of the LEDs over time, illuminating one or more LEDs with a different color, and / or the like) to indicate different statuses, modes of operation, and / or the like of the vaporizer device 100. In some implementations, the one or more outputs 117 can be proximal to and / or at least partially disposed within a bottom end region 160 of the vaporizer device 100. The vaporizer device 100 may, additionally or alternatively, include externally accessible charging contacts 128, which can be proximate to and / or at least partially disposed within the bottom end region 160 of the vaporizer device 100.

[0062] The current subject matter relates to heating control of a vaporizer atomizer using a direct-current to direct-current (DC-DC) converter and a power monitor that can measure current through the heater and voltage over the heating element to calculate power and resistance. The converter’ s output voltage can be controlled to maintain a target power and / or a target temperature over the heating element. By utilizing a DC-DC converter control, the current subject matter can enable one or more of continuous heater resistance and temperature monitoring while power is varied, providing faster preheat and consistent power profile at low battery voltage and temperature, combining charger and heater control circuits enabling cost and space reduction, compensating for increase in pod contact resistance and improving user experience, allowing for higher heater TCR without overloading the battery when the heating element is near ambient temperature, improving efficiency at low battery voltage, improvingbattery ran time, providing consistent performance at lower temperature; prolonging battery life, and the like.

[0063] FIG. 2 is a system block diagram illustrating an example integrated heatercharger circuit 200 according to some aspects of the current subject matter. The integrated heater-charger 200 can include a buck-boost converter 205, charging circuit 260, heating circuit 250, and power monitor 210. Buck-boost converter 205 can comprise an inductor-based converter which can be utilized to step down the voltage (e.g., buck), step up the voltage (e.g., boost) or regulate within the battery voltage range (e.g., buck-boost).

[0064] The buck-boost converter 205 can electrically couple to a power source 215 (e.g.. VBUS) and to a heating element 225 residing in a vaporizer cartridge. Power source 215 can comprise, for example, a battery or serial charger, such as universal serial bus (USB) power (e.g., USB Type-C).

[0065] The buck-boost converter 205 can be placed in a first (e.g., charging) configuration where it is electrically coupled to charging circuit 260, or in a second (e.g., heating) configuration where it is electrically coupled to heating circuit 250. In some embodiments, placing buck-boost converter 205 in the first configuration electrically decouples heating circuit 250 from buck-boost converter 205. In some embodiments, placing buck-boost converter in the second configuration electrically decouples charging circuit 260 from buck-boost converter 205.

[0066] In the first (e.g., charging) configuration, buck-boost converter 205 can be configured to convert a first (e.g., power source) voltage (e.g., VBUS) to a second (e.g., system voltage). The system voltage can be sufficient to provide battery power (e.g., VBAT) to the vaporizer device as well as change a charging mode of a charging cycle via charge control 290. Charging modes of the charging cycle can comprise a constant current mode, a constant voltage mode, a fast charging mode, or another type of charging mode. Buck-boost converter 205 can convert the first voltage to the second voltage at least in part by stepping up or stepping down the first voltage.

[0067] In the second (e.g., heating) configuration, buck-boost converter 205 can be configured to convert the second voltage (e.g., the system voltage equal to VBAT plus the amount needed to select the charging mode) to a third voltage (e.g., VHEAT+) and toprovide the third voltage to the heating element 225. Buck-boost converter 205 can convert the second voltage to the third voltage at least in part by stepping up or stepping down the third voltage.

[0068] For example, in the first configuration, the charging circuit 260 can be placed to the right of the buck-boost converter 205. Traversing the integrated heater / charger circuit from left to right, buck-boost converter 205 bucks (e.g., steps down) the voltage provided by the charging circuit, to obtain the system voltage. In the second configuration, the heating circuit 250 can be placed to the left of buck-boost converter 260. Traversing the integrated heater circuit from right to left, buck-boost converter 205 boosts (e.g., steps up) the system voltage to obtain the heating voltage.

[0069] The power monitor 210 can electrically couple to the heating element 225. The power monitor 210 can measure a current through the heating element 225, measure a voltage over the heating element (e.g., voltage drop from VHEAT+ to VHEAT-, a heating voltage), calculate a power and / or resistance from the measured current and / or voltage, and output a control signal (e.g., a digital control signal produced by a digitizer) to the - buck-boost converter 205).

[0070] The buck-boost converter 205 can be controlled by the control signal to vary the second voltage (e.g., VHEAT) to maintain a target power or a target temperature over the heating element 225. For example, the control signal can cause the buck-boost converter 205 to step up or step down the voltage to maintain the target power or the target temperature over the heating element 225. By maintaining a target power or a target temperature over the heating element 225 utilizing the converter 205 and power monitor 210, improved vaporizer atomizers can be achieved.

[0071] In some implementations, buck-boost converter 205 can include an energy storage component 240. For example, converter 205 can utilize capacitors as an energy storage component 240 in a bootstrap or a charge-pump topology for high side switching. However, to limit the peak current draw from the power source 215 and as illustrated in FIG. 2, buck-boost converter 205 can include an inductor as an energy storage component 240.

[0072] In some implementations, a closed loop control of the buck-boost converter 205 can be realized with power monitor 210 including analog circuitry tomeasure voltage and current and output analog signal to control the buck-boost converter. In some implementations, the closed loop control (e.g., can be realized with Analog Feedback circuitry that typically includes an Error Amplifier, Reference Voltage, Compensation Network, PWM Generator and Gate Drivers). The power monitor 210 and heating circuit 250 can include a pulse width modulation (PWM) Control Input(PWM_CTRL) to control / modulate the H-Bridge Drive Circuit. I2C can be used to program the integrated circuit to the desired settings. The power monitor 210 along with the Magical Impedance Measurement can measure voltage across the heating element 225 and current through the heating element 225 to calculate the electrical power dissipated in the heating element 225 and the heating element 225 resistance. This can be performed continuously, without interrupting power to the heating element..

[0073] In some implementations, the current subject matter can utilize a 4-wire (Kelvin) connection for accurate voltage measurement over the heating element 225. In some implementations, the current subject matter can utilize a 2-wire pod connection or 3-wire connection.

[0074] Some implementations can allow for higher heater TCR. Higher TCR can provide larger AR / AT signal (change in resistance / change in temperature) and a more accurate temperature measurement. Some implementations can allow for pod contact resistance diagnostic in which variations in the output cur rent can be analyzed to sense increase in contact resistance.

[0075] The heating circuit 250 provides heat to the heating element at least in part by utilizing the third voltage provided by the buck-boost converter 205. In some embodiments, the heating circuit 250 comprises a pulse width modulation circuit, that can be used instead of the buck-boost converter to provide heat to the heating element via pulse-width modulation. In other embodiments, heating circuit 250 can comprise a set of circuit components that provide an alternative method of providing heat (e.g., inductive heating) to the heating element. The heating circuit 250 can be configured to detect a connected cartridge. The detection of a connected cartridge can trigger the coupling of the buck-boost converter 205 with the heating circuit 250.

[0076] The heating circuit 250 can include a feature to disconnect the heater resistor both on the high and low sides, wherein the high side refers to a connection toVheat in the circuit and the low side refers to a connect to ground (GND). The heating circuit 250 can include a stable and accurate current source, and a differential amplifier for baseline and live heater resistance measurement. The heating circuit can comprise one or more components configured to accurately measure heater resistance while heating. The heating circuit 250 can be configured to be low power during standby. The heating circuit can be able to measure output current. The heating circuit 250 can have short circuit protection, thermal overload protection, programmable current limit and / or other safety features. The heating circuit 250 can comprise a feature to control field effect transistors (FETs) or other switching devices to isolate Vheat from the (USB) power source (VBus) during heating. The heating circuit 250 can be able to communicate with other components of the integrated heater / charger using protocols such as inter-integrated circuit (I2C) and serial peripheral interface (SPI).

[0077] The charging circuit 260 can comprise a set of circuit elements to convert the first voltage (e.g., from the power source 245-VBUS) to the second voltage. The charging circuit 260 can be configured to support power via a serial connection (e.g., USB-C), using, for example, standard input voltages such as 5V, 9V, 15V and 20V. The charging circuit 260 can be configured to support single cell battery charging, The charging circuit 260 can be configured to support 2S two cells in series charging, or three cells in series. The charging circuit 260 can support pre-charge, fast charge, constant current and constant voltage operations, which can be programmable using the circuit. The charging circuit can be configured to support a temperature-varying charging profile (e.g., Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA)), which can be programmable.{0078} The charging circuit 260 can be configured to convert a power source voltage (e.g.. VBUS) into a system voltage, which can be used io power the system and charge the battery. For example, charging circuit 260 can be configured to cause the buck-boost converter 205 to step down a VBUS of 20V to 5V where this could be further regulated down to an appropriate voltage to power the system and be used for the constant current source to charge a battery.

[0079] In some implementations, the actual output voltage of the DC-DC converter can be higher, than a calculated amount configured to maintain the targettemperature to compensate for the voltage drop over parasitic resistances in the circuit. In some implementations, a hybrid heater control can be achieved by combining the DC-DC converter with PWM control circuit to improve an overall efficiency of the vaporizer device. For example, PWM can be used at high battery voltage and provide a boost at low battery voltage or low temperature or to compensate for increase in pod contact resistance. The DC-DC converter can be set to operate at a relatively high efficiency (for the DC-DC converter) and can be switched on and off when less than full output power is required. In this manner, the PWM control circuit can supplement the DC-DC converter providing power to the heating element or can solely provide PWM power to the heating element when the DC-DC converter is switched off.

[0080] In some implementations, a method of hybrid heater control includes measuring a power source output voltage (for example a battery output voltage) and selecting an operating circuit (for example by using a controller or by using an automatic voltage switch) for powering a heating element. In some implementations, the method includes powering the heating element with a PWM control circuit at the power source output voltage greater than or equal to a threshold voltage and powering the heating element with a DC-DC converter control circuit when the power source output voltage less than the threshold voltage. In some implementations, a method of hybrid heater control includes measuring a duty cycle of a PWM control circuit (for example by using a controller) powering a heating element, and switching to a DC-DC converter control circuit to power the heating element when the duty cycle is greater than a threshold duty cycle (e.g., a percentage on or off).

[0081] The foregoing sections provide an implementation of a heater / charger circuit. Other implementations can include different orientations or configurations of the heating and / or charging circuit with respect to the buck / boost circuit, can provide different methods of charge control or interface to different types of power sources, or provide heating by alternative methods.

[0082] The following sections describe processes for operating an integrated heater / charger circuit. The processes described can apply to the integrated heater / charger circuit 200. for example, or to another implementation of the heater / charger circuit. For example, process 300 describes a set of operations performed by a charging circuit toconvert a power source voltage into a voltage that can be used to charge a vaporizer device battery and provide charge control. Process 400 describes a set of operations used to heat a heating element of a charged vaporizer device.

[0083] FIG. 3 is a process flow diagram illustrating an example process for charging a vaporizer device using an integrated heater / charger circuit 300 according to some aspects of the current subject matter.

[0084] At 310, a first voltage is generated when a power source is coupled to a vaporizer device, responsive to the integrated heater / charger circuit detecting the connected power source. The power source can be, for example, a battery power source or a USB power source.

[0085] At 320, the buck-boost converter converts the first voltage to a second voltage. The buck-boost converter can convert the first voltage to the second voltage by stepping up or stepping down the first voltage. The second voltage can be, for example, equal to or greater than VBAT.

[0086] At 330, a charge controller can regulate at least a portion of a charge cycle associated with the coupling of the power source to the vaporizer device. The portion of the charge cycle can be a constant current or a constant voltage portion of the charge cycle. Constant current can comprise a portion of the charge cycle where a constant current level is maintained. Constant voltage can comprise a portion of the charge cycle (e.g., after the constant current portion) where a constant voltage (e.g., a voltage that is larger than the power source can produced) is maintained by varying the current.

[0087] FIG. 4 is a process flow diagram illustrating an example process 400 for heating a heating element of a vaporizer device using an integrated heater / charger circuit, according to some aspects of the current subject matter. The process 400 can be performed after the vaporizer device has been charged using the process of FIG. 3.

[0088] At 410, a cartridge is detected to be coupled (e.g., physically connected) to a body of a vaporizer device.

[0089] At 420, the buck-boost converter converts the second voltage to a third voltage. The buck-boost can convert the second voltage to the third voltage by stepping up or stepping down the second voltage. In some embodiments, the charging circuit can be disconnected before converting the second voltage to the third voltage.

[0090] At 430, a voltage across the heating element can be measured periodically. Feedback can be provided as a control signal to the buck-boost converter to cause the buck-boost converter to change the third voltage. Alternatively, the applied power may be varied by fixing the third voltage (Vheat) and changing the duty cycle. FIG. 5 is a process flow diagram illustrating an example process 500 for implementing an integrated heater / charger circuit, according to some aspects of the current subject matter. At 510, the integrated heater / charger circuit sets a buck-boost converter to a first configuration in response to detecting a connection with a power source, In the first configuration, the buck-boost converter is electrically coupled to a charging circuit and power source. The power source may be, for example, a USB (e.g., USB-C) power source. At 520, the integrated heater / charger circuit transmits a third voltage (e.g., 20V 65-V) from the power source to the buck-boost converter. At 530, the integrated heater / charger circuit stores, using the charging circuit, a first voltage converted from the third voltage. The first voltage can be a voltage sufficient to charge a battery of the vaporizer device and to provide charge control (e.g., VBAT and additional voltage headroom). At 540, the integrated heater / charger circuit sets the buck-boost converter in a second configuration in response to detecting a connection with a cartridge. At this time, the buck-boost converter can be disconnected or electrically decoupled from the charging circuit. At 550, the integrated heater / charger transmits the first voltage to the buck-boost converter to cause the first voltage (e.g., the voltage used to charge the battery) to be converted into a second voltage (e.g., a voltage sufficient to heat the heating element element). At 560, the integrated heater / charger outputs the second voltage to the heating element to maintain the heating element at a target temperature (e.g., a temperature sufficient to generate an inhalable aerosol from a vaporizable material).

[0091] The integrated heater / charger circuit provides a spatially efficient system for charging a vaporizer device and operating a heating element of the vaporizer device. The heating circuit and the charging circuit of the integrated heater / charger can share a buck-boost converter and other circuit elements (e.g., passive circuit elements such as capacitors and inductors), reducing both space needed inside the device and overall cost. The integrated heater / charger circuit can also be used in devices with high power requirements, as the charging circuit can use the buck / boost converter to step a high inputvoltage down to a level usable for both heating and charge control. The integrated heater / charger circuit can support various charging modes, including fast charging, constant current charging, and constant voltage charging. Additionally, the integrated heater / charger circuit can support various methods of operating a heating element, including PWM and DC -DC heating.

[0092] The subject matter described herein can be embodied in systems, apparatus, methods, and / or articles depending on the desired configuration. The implementations set forth in the foregoing description do not represent all implementations consistent with the subject matter described herein. Instead, they are merely some examples consistent with aspects related to the described subject matter. Although a few variations have been described in detail above, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, further features and / or variations can be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, the implementations described above can be directed to various combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed features and / or combinations and subcombinations of several further features disclosed above. In addition, the logic flows depicted in the accompanying figures and / or described herein do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other implementations can be within the scope of the following claims.Terminology

[0093] When a feature or element is herein referred to as being “on” another feature or element, it can be directly on the other feature or element or intervening features and / or elements can also be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being “directly on” another feature or element, there are no intervening features or elements present. It will also be understood that, when a feature or element is referred to as being “connected”, “attached” or “coupled” to another feature or element, it can be directly connected, attached or coupled to the other feature or element or intervening features or elements can be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being “directly connected”, “directly attached” or “directly coupled” to another feature or element, there are no intervening features or elements present.

[0094] Although described or shown with respect to one embodiment, the features and elements so described or shown can apply to other embodiments. It will alsobe appreciated by those of skill in the art that references to a structure or feature that is disposed “adjacent” another feature can have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature.

[0095] 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 forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0096] In the descriptions above and in the claims, phrases such as “at least one of’ or “one or more of’ can occur followed by a conjunctive list of elements or features. The term “and / or” can also occur in a list of two or more elements or features. Unless otherwise implicitly or explicitly contradicted by the context in which it used, such a phrase is intended to mean any of the listed elements or features individually or any of the recited elements or features in combination with any of the other recited elements or features. For example, the phrases “at least one of A and B;” “one or more of A and B;” and “A and / or B” are each intended to mean “A alone, B alone, or A and B together.” A similar interpretation is also intended for lists including three or more items. For example, the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C;” “one or more of A, B, and C;” and “A, B, and / or C” are each intended to mean “A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A and B and C together.” Use of the term “based on,” above and in the claims is intended to mean, “based at least in part on,” such that an unrecited feature or element is also permissible.

[0097] Spatially relative terms, such as “forward”, “rearward”, “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper” and the like, can be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature’s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures is inverted, elements described as “under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “under” can encompass both an orientation of over and under. The device can be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptorsused herein interpreted accordingly. Similarly, the terms “upwardly”, “downwardly”, “vertical”, “horizontal” and the like are used herein for the purpose of explanation only unless specifically indicated otherwise.

[0098] Although the terms “first” and “second” can be used herein to describe various features / elements (including steps), these features / elements should not be limited by these terms, unless the context indicates otherwise. These terms can be used to distinguish one feature / element from another feature / element. Thus, a first feature / element discussed below could be termed a second feature / element, and similarly, a second feature / element discussed below could be termed a first feature / element without departing from the teachings provided herein.

[0099] As used herein in the specification and claims, including as used in the examples and unless otherwise expressly specified, all numbers can be read as if prefaced by the word “about” or “approximately,” even if the term does not expressly appear. The phrase “about” or “approximately” can be used when describing magnitude and / or position to indicate that the value and / or position described is within a reasonable expected range of values and / or positions. For example, a numeric value can have a value that is + / - 0.1% of the stated value (or range of values), + / - 1% of the stated value (or range of values), + / - 2% of the stated value (or range of values), + / - 5% of the stated value (or range of values), + / - 10% of the stated value (or range of values), etc. Any numerical values given herein should also be understood to include about or approximately that value, unless the context indicates otherwise. For example, if the value “10” is disclosed, then “about 10” is also disclosed. Any numerical range recited herein is intended to include all sub-ranges subsumed therein. It is also understood that when a value is disclosed that “less than or equal to” the value, “greater than or equal to the value” and possible ranges between values are also disclosed, as appropriately understood by the skilled artisan. For example, if the value “X” is disclosed the “less than or equal to X” as well as “greater than or equal to X” (e.g., where X is a numerical value) is also disclosed. It is also understood that the throughout the application, data is provided in a number of different formats, and that this data, represents endpoints and starting points, and ranges for any combination of the data points. For example, if a particular data point “10” and a particular data point “15” are disclosed, it is understoodthat greater than, greater than or equal to, less than, less than or equal to, and equal to 10 and 15 are considered disclosed as well as between 10 and 15. It is also understood that each unit between two particular units are also disclosed. For example, if 10 and 15 are disclosed, then 11, 12, 13, and 14 are also disclosed.

[0100] Although various illustrative embodiments are described above, any of a number of changes can be made to various embodiments without departing from the teachings herein. For example, the order in which various described method steps are performed can often be changed in alternative embodiments, and in other alternative embodiments, one or more method steps can be skipped altogether. Optional features of various device and system embodiments can be included in some embodiments and not in others. Therefore, the foregoing description is provided primarily for exemplary purposes and should not be interpreted to limit the scope of the claims.

[0101] One or more aspects or features of the subject matter described herein can be realized in digital electronic circuitry, integrated circuitry, specially designed application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) computer hardware, firmware, software, and / or combinations thereof. These various aspects or features can include implementation in one or more computer programs that are executable and / or interpretable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor, which can be special or general purpose, coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. The programmable system or computing system can include clients and servers. A client and server are generally remote from each other and typically interact through a communication network. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other.

[0102] These computer programs, which can also be referred to programs, software, software applications, applications, components, or code, include machine instructions for a programmable processor, and can be implemented in a high-level procedural language, an object-oriented programming language, a functional programming language, a logical programming language, and / or in assembly / machine language. As used herein, the term “machine-readable medium” refers to any computerprogram product, apparatus and / or device, such as for example magnetic discs, optical disks, memory, and Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), used to provide machine instructions and / or data to a programmable processor, 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. The machine-readable medium can store such machine instructions non-transitorily, such as for example as would a non-transient solid- state memory or a magnetic hard drive or any equivalent storage medium. The machine- readable medium can alternatively or additionally store such machine instructions in a transient manner, such as for example, as would a processor cache or other random access memory associated with one or more physical processor cores.

[0103] The examples and illustrations included herein show, by way of illustration and not of limitation, specific embodiments in which the subject matter can be practiced. As mentioned, other embodiments can be utilized and derived there from, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter can be referred to herein individually or collectively by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single invention or inventive concept, if more than one is, in fact, disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose can be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Use of the term “based on,” herein and in the claims is intended to mean, “based at least in part on,” such that an unrecited feature or element is also permissible.

[0104] The subject matter described herein can be embodied in systems, apparatus, methods, and / or articles depending on the desired configuration. The implementations set forth in the foregoing description do not represent all implementations consistent with the subject matter described herein. Instead, they aremerely some examples consistent with aspects related to the described subject matter. Although a few variations have been described in detail herein, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, further features and / or variations can be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, the implementations described herein can be directed to various combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed features and / or combinations and subcombinations of several further features disclosed herein. In addition, the logic flows depicted in the accompanying figures and / or described herein do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other implementations can be within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A system, comprising: a buck-boost converter with a first configuration and a second configuration; a charging circuit selectively coupled to the buck-boost converter and a power source, and configured to output a first voltage while electrically coupled to the buckboost converter in the first configuration; and a heating circuit selectively coupled to the buck-boost converter and a heating element, and configured to output a second voltage for maintaining a heating element at a target temperature while electrically coupled to the heating element and to the buck-boost converter in the second configuration; wherein in the first configuration, the buck-boost converter is electrically coupled to the charging circuit and is configured to receive a third voltage from the power source and convert the third voltage into the first voltage, and wherein in the second configuration, the buck-boost converter is electrically coupled to the heating circuit and is configured to receive the third voltage and convert the third voltage into the second voltage to maintain the heating element at the target temperature.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the buck-boost converter is in the first configuration in response to a detection of a connection with the power source, wherein the buck-boost converter is in the second configuration in response to a detection of a cartridge.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein converting the first voltage to the second voltage comprises stepping up or stepping down the first voltage, and converting the second voltage to the third voltage comprises stepping up or stepping down the second voltage, and wherein stepping up or stepping down the first voltage or the second voltage is performed in response to a control signal from a controller of the system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the buck-boost converter is a DC-DC converter.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the heating element comprises a resistive heating element.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a power monitor configured to periodically measure a temperature of the heating element.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the charging circuit produces a charging cycle comprising a constant voltage portion of the charging cycle and a constant current portion of the charging cycle.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the charging circuit is electrically decoupled from the buck-boost converter when the buck-boost converter is switched to the second configuration.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to: measure a current through the heating element and a voltage over the heating element; calculate a power and / or a resistance based at least in part on the measured current and voltage; and output a control signal to the buck-boost converter to cause the heating circuit to maintain or modify the heating voltage.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller includes analog circuitry forming a closed-loop control.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller comprises: an analog front end circuitry configured to measure the current through the heating element and the voltage over the heating element; and a digitizer including circuitry configured to output the control signal based on the measured current and the measured voltage.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller comprises a 4- wire connection to measure voltage over the heating element or a 3-wire connection to measure voltage over the heating element.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to continuously measure the current and the voltage while power is supplied to the heating element.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first voltage is provided by a battery or a serial charging connection.

15. A method, comprising: setting a buck-boost converter to a first configuration in response to detecting a connection with a power source, wherein in the first configuration, the buck-boost converter is electrically coupled to a charging circuit and power source: transmitting a third voltage from the power source to the buck-boost converter; storing, using the charging circuit, a first voltage converted from the third voltage; setting the buck-boost converter in a second configuration in response to detecting a connection with a cartridge, wherein in the second configuration, the buck-boost converter is electrically coupled to the heating circuit; transmitting the first voltage to the buck-boost converter to cause the first voltage to be converted into a second voltage; and outputting, using the heating circuit, the second voltage to the heating element to maintain the heating element at a target temperature.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the buck-boost converter is a DC-DC converter.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the heating element comprises a resistive heating element.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein storing the first voltage comprises producing a charging cycle comprising a constant voltage portion of the charging cycle and a constant current portion of the charging cycle.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the charging circuit is electrically decoupled from the buck-boost converter when the buck-boost converter is set to the second configuration.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein maintaining the heating element at the target temperature comprises, using a controller: measuring a current through the heating element and a voltage over the heating element; calculating a power and / or a resistance based at least in part on the measured current and voltage; and outputting a control signal to the buck-boost converter to cause the heating circuit to maintain or modify the second voltage.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the controller includes analog circuitry forming a closed-loop control.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the controller comprises: an analog front end circuitry configured to measure the current through the heating element and the voltage over the heating element; and a digitizer including circuitry configured to output the control signal based on the measured current and the measured voltage.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the controller comprises a 4- wire connection to measure voltage over the heating element or a 3-wire connection to measure voltage over the heating element.

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