Vaping Case with Remote Control Circuitry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing personal carrying cases for e-vaping devices lack advanced communication and control features, limiting their functionality in managing device status, charging, and user interaction.

Innovation Solution

A personal carrying case equipped with communication interfaces that establish links with e-vaping devices and remotely located computer devices, allowing for control of device elements, status monitoring, and user interaction through graphical interfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If communication interfaces and control devices are added to the personal carrying case, then device management capability and user interaction are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice management capabilityVSAvoidcase structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The personal carrying case is designed to perform multiple functions: it stores the e-vaping device, charges the power supply section through electrical contacts, and provides remote control capabilities via communication interfaces. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the case a universal device that combines storage, charging, and control functions, thereby improving device management capability without requiring separate dedicated devices for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The control device within the carrying case acts as an intermediary between the user's remote device (smartphone, tablet) and the e-vaping device. It receives control commands through the second communication interface and executes them by controlling elements of the e-vaping device through the first communication interface. This intermediary approach enables sophisticated device management while keeping the case's internal structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If remote control features are implemented, then user interaction and monitoring capabilities are improved, but information transmission requirements and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interaction capabilityVSAvoidinformation transmission requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The control device is configured to receive information from elements of the e-vaping device via the first communication interface and communicate status information to the remote device through the second communication interface. This feedback mechanism allows the system to monitor device status (such as power supply charge level, device operational state) and provide real-time updates to the user, thereby improving ease of operation while managing information transmission requirements through structured data exchange.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Duration of action of moving object

If the carrying case provides charging functionality, then device availability and usage duration are improved, but energy management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevaping capability durationVSAvoidcharging system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The personal carrying case charges the power supply section of the e-vaping device in advance during storage periods when the device is not being used. The electrical contacts within the case automatically establish charging connections, and the control device monitors and manages the charging process. This preliminary action ensures the device is ready for immediate use without requiring separate charging operations, thereby extending effective usage duration while keeping the charging system simple and automatic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3426067B1Personal carrying case for electronic vaping device
Publication Date: 2022.09.28 PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS SA
  • EP3426067B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3426067B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3426067B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A personal carrying case (100) for holding an e-vaping device (101) includes communication interfaces (114) configured to establish communication links (210, 320) with the e-vaping device (101) and a remotely-located computer device (220). Control circuitry (118) included in the case (100) may control an element of the e-vaping device (101) according to a control command received from the computer device (220). The control circuitry (118) may control the e-vaping device element via an e-vaping device communication link (320), and the control circuitry (118) may receive the control command via a computer device communication link (210).