GB2542269B

GB2542269B - Electronic vaporiser system

Info

Publication number: GB2542269B
Application number: GB1614807.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gorilovsky Dmitry
Original assignee: AYR Ltd
Current assignee: AYR Ltd
Priority date: 2015-09-01
Filing date: 2016-09-01
Publication date: 2019-10-16
Anticipated expiration: 2036-09-01
Also published as: GB2542269A; GB201614807D0

Description

ELECTRONIC VAPORISER SYSTEM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The field of the invention relates to an electronic vaporiser system. One example of anelectronic vaporiser system is an e-cigarette, also known as a vapestick, inhalator,modding kit, personal vaporiser (PV), advanced personal vaporiser (APVs) or electronicnicotine delivery system (ENDS). In this specification, we will typically use ‘PV’ or‘vaporiser’ as the generic term for an electronic vaporiser, namely the unit that the useractually places to their lips and inhales from. An electronic vaporiser system includesthis unit. An electronic vaporiser can deliver nicotine as well as other substances, and canbe a consumer electronics device, or a medicinally approved nicotine drug deliverysystem. A PV, in the e-cigarette context, vaporises ‘e-liquid’ or a vaping substance to produce anon-pressurised vapour or mist for inhalation for pleasure or stress-relief, replicating orreplacing the experience of smoking a cigarette. An ‘e-liquid’ or vaping substance is aliquid (or gel or other state) from which vapour or mist for inhalation can be generatedand whose primary purpose is to deliver nicotine or other compounds, such asmedicines. PVs are therefore mass-market consumer products that can be equivalent tocigarettes, and are then typically used by smokers as part of a cigarette reduction orcessation program. The main ingredients of e-liquids for vaping are usually a mix ofpropylene glycol and glycerine. E-liquids can include various flavourings and also comewith varying strengths of nicotine; users on a nicotine reduction or cessation programcan hence choose decreasing concentrations of nicotine, including at the limit zeroconcentration nicotine e-liquid. The term ‘e-liquid’ will be used in this specification asthe generic term for any kind of vaping substance. 2. Description of the Prior Art

Conventional designs of re-fillable e-cigarette are somewhat complex because re-fillingwith e-liquid generally requires the user to unscrew the e-cigarette and to then manually drip onto an atomizing coil a small quantity of e-liquid. The overall user interaction withconventional re-fillable e-cigarettes (covering all aspects of how the user controls, re-fills,re-charges and generally interacts with the device) can therefore be complex and this isreflected in their design, which is often rather technical, with various control buttons.The overall user interaction is rarely intuitively clear. This is very different from thestraightforward and simple (and, to smokers, deeply attractive) ritual of opening a packof conventional cigarettes and lighting up. The complex user interaction thatcharacterizes conventional refillable e-cigarettes has none of the simplicity or attractiveritual of opening a packet of cigarettes and lighting up.

Designing an e-cigarette system that replicates the simplicity of a conventional cigarette isa considerable challenge but is we believe key to the mass-market adoption of e-cigarettes by smokers, and is hence key to delivering on their considerable public healthpotential.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An electronic cigarette vaporiser system that includes an electronic vaporiser, a heatingelement in the electronic vaporiser, and further includes or co-operates with anelectronics module that (i) detects characteristics of the resistance of the heating elementand (ii) uses an inference of temperature derived from that resistance as a control input,in which the electronic vaporiser system includes (a) a user-replaceable closed, e-liquidcartridge that is attached to or integral with the system, but is not user-refillable andincludes no heating element; and (b) an e-liquid reservoir that is separate from the user-replaceable e-liquid cartridge; and (c) an electric or electronic pump that is configured towithdraw e-liquid from the user-replaceable e-liquid cartridge and pump pressurised e-liquid to the e-liquid reservoir; and (d) a heating element that is not in the user-replaceable e-liquid cartridge but is instead in, or in e-liquid communication with, the e-liquid reservoir; and (e) a structure that is configured to enable excess air-pressure arisingfrom the pressurised e-liquid to escape from the e-liquid reservoir and that is non-porousto the pressurised e-liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electronic cigarette vaporiser case with a vaporiserpartially extending from the case;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the electronic cigarette vaporiser case with a vaporiserfully withdrawn from the case

Figures 3 and 4 are cross-sectional schematic views of an electronic cigarette vaporisersystem.

Figure 5 schematically represents the connected nature of the electronic cigarettevaporiser system.

Figures 6 and 7 are exploded views of the electronic cigarette vaporiser system.

Figure 8 is a side view of the major components in the case for the electronic cigarettevaporiser system.

Figures 9A - 9E are views of the major components in the case.

Figure 10 is an exploded view of the major components in the cartridge for theelectronic cigarette vaporiser system.

Figure 11 is a side view of the major components in the cartridge for the electroniccigarette vaporiser system.

Figure 12 is an exploded view of the major components in one design of atomising unit.

Figure 13 is a cross-section view of the major components in the atomising unit.

Figure 14 shows the user-replaceable tip and the atomising unit.

Figure 15 shows the tip and an air pressure equalization valve in the vaporiser.

Figure 16 shows an exploded view of the air pressure equalization valve.

Figure 17 is a cross-section frontal view of the air pressure equalization valve in thevaporiser.

Figure 18 is a cross-section side view of the air pressure equalization valve and atomisingunit in the vaporiser.

Figure 19A is a cross-section side view of the air pressure equalization valve andatomising unit in the vaporiser, showing the air flow pattern; Figure 19B is a perspectiveview of the vaporiser and the air flow pattern; Figure 19C is a perspective view of thevaporiser.

Figures 20 - 25 show a ceramic cell atomizing unit with silicone end-pieces.

Figure 26 is a perspective view of the major elements of the vaporiser, each separated.

Figure 27 is an exploded view of some of the major elements of the main body in thevaporizer, (and hence excluding the atomizing unit and mouthpiece, and the e-liquidfilling mechanism).

Figure 28 is an exploded view of the major elements of the e-liquid filling end of thevaporiser.

Figure 29 is a cross-sectional view of the vaporiser in the case during filling with e-liquid

Figure 30 is a cross-sectional view of the vaporizer showing the filling end.

Figure 31 is a cross-sectional view of the vaporizer with a cotton wick, seen from oneangle.

Figures 32A and 32B is a cross-sectional view of the cotton-wick vaporiser, seen fromtwo different angles.

Figures 33A - 33B are cross-sectional views of a vaporiser which uses a ceramic cellatomizing unit.

Figures 34A and 34B are views of the fully assembled vaporizer.

Figures 35 and 36 are flow charts showing the operation of the system.

Key to integers used in the Figures

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

We will now describe an implementation in the following 4 sections:

Section A: An introduction to the entire system from the user experience perspective

Section B: Overview of some key components in the system

Section C: A concise list of the key features

Section D: A more detailed discussion of these key features

Note that the majority of these features are not the invention; the claims define theinvention.

Section A: An Introduction to the entire system from the user experienceperspective

We will now walk through a high level view of the entire electronic vaporiser systemfrom the user experience perspective. Reference may be made to WO 2015/128665, thecontents of which are incorporated by reference.

Figures 1 and 2 show a perspective view of an electronic vaporiser e-cigarette system.The system includes a case that (i) stores an electronic vaporiser PV, and (ii) also re-fillsthe PV with e-liquid from a small, lOmL, e-liquid closed-cartridge that the user hasslotted into the case, and (iii) also re-charges the battery in the PV. Hence, when the PVis withdrawn from the case, as shown in Figure 2, the electronic vaporiser PV is readyfor use, and (depending on how long it has been stored in the case for) it will also have afull reservoir of e-liquid and a fully charged battery). Re-filling the PV with e-liquid andre-charging the battery in the PV occurs automatically whenever the PV is inserted backinto the case.

The PV includes a series of 6 LEDs along one face. All the LED lights illuminate at thestart of a vaping 'session' and go out (with the light furthest from the vaper going outfirst) indicating the amount left in the vaporiser. The session lasts the typical amount ofa cigarette (8 to 10 puffs). When all the lights go out, you have to return the vaporiser to the case to have another vaping session. This vaping session is typically of equal durationto a standard cigarette and replicates the well understood behaviours, gestures and cuesof smokers. Conventional re-fillable e-cigarettes often have a tank that stores theequivalent of 5 or 10 cigarettes and because they offer no clear beginning and end to avaping session in a way that corresponds to smoking a normal cigarette, it is easy toconsume excess nicotine. It is easier to regulate nicotine consumption (and hence reduceit) using our design of vaporizer because of the way the LEDs progressively extinguish ina way that corresponds to smoking a single cigarette.

The brightness of the LEDs is adjusted according to ambient light intensity (e.g. theLEDs dim automatically in low light), and reduces if in ‘discrete’ mode (‘Discrete’ modeenables a user to vape discretely — e.g. with a reduced volume of vapour and withdimmed or possibly no LED lights illuminated).

Unlike a conventional refillable e-cigarette, the PV includes no physical buttons to pushin order to operate the PV: it is therefore much closer to a conventional cigarette thanother e-cigarettes, which generally include multiple control buttons — something thatmany conventional smokers find off-putting. Since a key objective for this product is tobenefit public health by appealing to smokers so that they can reduce or quit smoking, anover-riding design principle is to make the product as simple as possible, even though itis a refillable device, with the device replicating the form factor, rituals, behaviours, cuesand gestures of conventional smoking. This makes the product appealing to establishedsmokers. For example, the PV can be easily held between two fingers, just like aconventional cigarette — something that is impossible with a conventional refillable e-cigarette that typically includes a large and bulky battery pack.

With the PV stored in its case, full re-filling with e-liquid takes typically 30 seconds to 90seconds. Generally, the PV’s battery will not be fully discharged during a vaping session;the PV is meant to be stored in the case and hence will be regularly topped up. A fullcharge of the PV’s battery might take 1 hour or more, but a top up from say 90%capacity to a full 100% might take a few minutes. Consequently, in a typical usagescenario, a vaper might use the product for vaping the equivalent of a single cigarette,and then replace the PV into the case for an hour or more. Whenever the user retrievesthe PV from the case, it is then fully charged with power and with e-liquid, replicatedtaking a fresh cigarette out its pack.

The end or tip of the PV, which includes the heating element, is a user-replaceablecomponent; the user can pull the tip off and replace it with a new one. This is useful ifthe sort of heating element (e.g. coil and wick) in the tip lasts 2 or 3 months or less, or ifthe tip has been damaged.

The lOmL cartridge in the case stores e-liquid equivalent to approximately 50 - 100cigarettes; it is readily replaced if the user needs to replace the cartridge because he hasrun out of e-liquid or if the user wishes to tty a different flavor or strength of e-liquid.

The cartridge is ‘closed’, meaning that it is sealed after authorized filling with e-liquid andcannot then be re-filled by the end-user: this ensures compliance with safety regulations(such as the European Tobacco Products Regulation 2014/40/EU) and ensures thatonly the highest quality e-liquid from an authorized source is present in the cartridge.Also, because filling of the PV with e-liquid takes place when the PV is inside the case,there is minimal risk of leakage, in contrast with ‘open tank’ systems, which all need to bemanually re-filled. Further, filling is entirely automatic, so the user does not have todisassemble the PV for filling; disassembly is normally required for re-fillable electronicvaporisers. Finally, because the main battery (a 1400mAh battery) and the main e-liquidreservoir (lOmL) is in the portable carrying case, that means that the PV itself needs onlya relatively small battery (120mAh) and relatively small e-liquid reservoir (approx. 0.4mLtotal volume; we fill approximately 0.2mL of this volume with e-liquid): this in turnmeans that the PV itself can be much smaller than conventional re-fillable electronicvaporisers, and in fact be similar in size and shape to a conventional cigarette, and yethave the performance of a device with a much larger battery and e-liquid reservoir. Thismakes the electronic vaporiser system much more appealing to smokers who wish tostop smoking and start vaping (e.g. for health reasons, because vaping does not make yousmell or turn your fingers and teeth yellow) but are put off by conventional designs of re-fillable electronic vaporiser which are often bulky and unattractive. As noted above, aslim, cigarette sized and shaped vaporizer can be held in the same was as a cigarette andthe user can hence replicate the familiar gestures and behaviours associated withconventional smoking.

By having a PV that is cigarette sized (approximately 9.7cm in length, and 1 cm in width)and shaped (approximately cylindrical, or tubular with rounded corners) and is withdrawn from a case that is similar in size to a cigarette packet, this system mimics thebehavioural or ritualistic aspects smoking that are very appealing to smokers — nicotinereduction therapies that ignore these aspects are much less attractive to smokers andhence much less likely to lead to compliance with a smoking cessation program. Thissystem hence replicates the rituals of handling an object similar in size to a packet oftwenty cigarettes, of opening that packet and withdrawing a cigarette; and the tactilefamiliarity of holding a cigarette sized object and inhaling from it. This combination iswe believe key to the large-scale consumer adoption of e-cigarettes. One objective forthis product is to provide a vaping system that is a significantly more effective smokingcessation tool than conventional e-cigarettes.

To re-cap, the electronic vaporiser system shown in Figure 1 and 2 gives a PV with thecompactness and form factor of a conventional cigarette, but with the vapingperformance of a much larger and bulkier re-fillable PV, such as an ‘open tank’ system,because it (i) still accesses a large and powerful battery, but this battery is now displacedto the case and is not part of the vaporiser and (2) still accesses a large, lOmL e-liquidtank, but this is now inside the case and is not part of the vaporiser.

Full dimensions are as follows: • Vaporiser: (mm. width x depth x height) 10 x 10 x 97mm • Vaporiser replaceable tip: 10 x 10 x 24mm • Case: 15.5 x 63 x 117.5mm • Capsule: 12.5 x 26.9 x 55mm.

Figure 3 is a schematic cross-section of the system, showing the key components. Thecase 100 includes a hinged PV holder 2, a battery 5, similar to a mobile phone battery,and a removable cartridge 3 that stores e-liquid. E-liquid is delivered from the cartridge3 using a piezo-electric micro-pump 6 inside the case 100; e-liquid passes into the PVthrough a filling stem 4. The piezo-pump 6 could be mounted on the main electronicsboard in the case 100, or the base of the hinged PV holder 2, or be integrated into thecartridge 3, or even inside the PV itself.

As shown in Figure 4, the electronic vaporiser PV 1 slides in and out from a hingedholder 2 in the re-fill and re-charge case 100; when the PV 1 is stored into the case 100,the hinged holder 2 is closed, fully protecting the PV and ensuring that there is no realpossibility of leakage of e-liquid from the PV into, e.g. a pocket or bag, unlikeconventional electronic vaporiser systems.

When the PV 1 is fully inserted into the holder 2 then the filling stem 4 in case 100protrudes into an aperture in the PV; when the case is fully closed and the user touches acontrol button, panel or switch in the case, or a fully automated mechanism is triggered,then the piezo-electric micro-pump 6 in the case 100 activates and pumps a meteredamount of e-liquid (typically 0.2mL) into the PV, typically to fill up a small 0.2mL -0.6mL e-liquid reservoir in the PV itself. 0.2mL is the approximate quantitycorresponding to a single cigarette, although this quantity is highly variable and dependson many different factors. In any event, a 0.4mL reservoir should generally be equivalentto several cigarettes. It is also possible to design the PV with much larger reservoirs, e.g.2mL or higher, but there are user experience advantages to the PV being broadlyequivalent to a small number of cigarettes, possibly just a single cigarette.

The pump 6 stops pumping when the required amount of e-liquid has been transferred.The PV can then be kept stored in the case, and a small battery in the PV is then re-charged by the main battery in the case whilst the PV is being stored. When the holder 2is hinged open, with a trigger action (i.e. with the user pulling in the base of the hingedholder 2), then the PV 1 is gently and automatically lifted up a few mm from the holderusing an ejection mechanism (e.g. magnetic or spring based) so the user can easily extractit. The PV 1 is then like a completely fresh electronic vaporiser at this time — fully re-filled with e-liquid and its battery fully topped up with charge. Because the relativelysmall capacity battery in the PV is regularly topped up by the main battery in the case, thePV vaping performance is very good and equivalent to that of a much bulkier PV with alarge integrated battery; the latter is the sort of product that many smokers are reluctantto try because they look peculiar and unflattering to many smokers. A non-contactswitch like a Reed switch in the case can detect removal of the PV and also re-insertionof the PV.

Figure 5 shows schematically that the system is digitally connected; the case sends datato an app running on the user’s smartphone, smartwatch, tablet or other computingdevice over short range wireless, such as Bluetooth (RTM). For example, when the casedetects that the level of e-liquid in the cartridge is running low, then it sends a message tothe app on the user’s smartphone, alerting the user to that. The app gives the user theoption of ordering replacement cartridges from an e-fulfillment platform. The casecould also include a 3G, LTE or other form of wireless data module for directcommunication with a remote server. Key features of the app are as follows: • Connects to the case via a Bluetooth (RTM) connection on your Smartphone • From the app you can: o Track your usage o Purchase additional capsules direct to home o Find the nearest shop to you o Set goals — Financial, Health or use related o Adjust basic settings on the vaporiser and case o Get recommendations based on usage and taste o See new flavours as they launch o Receive special promotions o Recommend a friend o Set the system to auto-refill so that you never run out of capsules againand you don’t have to keep on monitoring your level of liquid.

The case includes a USB C port for power and data transfer; the case can only be usedwith authorized chargers that can complete a satisfactory USB C handshake; thiseliminates the danger from using cheap, unauthorized chargers.

The case includes an electronics module that controls the operation of the piezo pumpand also logs usage statistics to improve customer service. The case gathers usagestatistics and other data and sends it over the Internet, via the Bluetooth (RTM)connected smartphone running a dedicated application, or directly, to the manufacturer’sdatabase.

The following data is logged and sent to the factory or manufacturer’s database: • Power-up and power down events for both the case and also the PV (to enable thefrequency and nature of handling to be measured). • Time of all use events (for example, users who always use the device first thing in themorning are likely to be highly addicted to smoking, and so progress with a nicotinereduction program is very useful to track) • System uptime (helps to improve battery usage and estimating liquid usage). • Vape count (i.e. the number and frequency of inhalations). • Vape strength (e.g. the strength of the inhalation). • Battery health. • Charging/discharged/charged events. • Vaping coil temperature. • Vape coil malfunction events. • Other malfunction events. • External temperature (for battery health and for correction of coil heating to ensurethat the coil is at the optimal heating temperature, irrespective of ambient temperature). • E-liquid flavor, strength, ingredients and batch number • Any other information logged by the app: for example, the app could ask the user torank their cigarette craving at various times during the day, both before and after usingthe electronic vaporiser on say a 1 — 10 scale; additionally, the app could ask the user ifthey are also still smoking cigarettes and how many, what times etc., whether any side-effects are experienced, whether the user feels fitter etc. This could provide valuable dataindicating efficacy of the product, especially as part of a smoking reduction program orother clinical trials data that is useful for scientists and regulators. • All data is encrypted and standard data integrity techniques are used to guarantee thatthe data cannot be tampered with and that privacy is maintained.

Because the case is a connected device, it can be remotely locked. For example, if anowner loses the case, or is not in their direct control, or wants to ensure that it cannot beused by anyone else (e.g. children) then it can lock the case from the connectedsmartphone application.

Each capsule includes an authentication chip that is programmed with data such as thedata of filling, batch number of e-liquid, source of e-liquid, tax or duty paid etc. Hence,if a specific batch of e-liquid is found to have contamination, then all cases in the worldcan be sent a message identifying those contaminated batches. The case, which checksthe e-liquid batch number on each cartridge prior to filling from the cartridge, will thennot fill from any cartridge with batch numbers matching the list of contaminatedbatches. Likewise, stolen or counterfeit cartridges, or cartridges for which duty has notbeen properly paid, can be identified by the manufacturer and a message sent to all casesto prevent their use. Finally, since use of e-cigarette electronic vaporisers may beunlawful in some places and countries, then the smartphone application, using thelocation capabilities of its host smartphone, can determine if the device is in a locationwhere electronic vaporiser use is permitted or not and can disable the case and/or PV ifappropriate. This can operate at the country level, or right down to specific buildings,airplanes etc.

Section B: Overview of some key components in the system

Section A looked at the vaping system from the user experience perspective. In thisSection B, we will give an overview of three of the main components in the system, asfollows:

Section Bl: Overview of the fluid transfer system

Section B2: Overview of the e-liquid cartridge

Section B3: Overview of the PV’s atomising coil

Section Bl: Overview of the fluid transfer system

Figure 6 is an isometric exploded view of the system. The case 100 includes a chassisassembly 10 on which all the major components are mounted. Chassis assembly 10 isslid into case assembly 14.

On the chassis assembly are mounted the electronics module on PCB assembly board 11,the piezo micro-pump 6, e-liquid inlet tube 12 that feeds the micro-pump 6 and the hinged PV holder 2 into which the user slides the PV 1. The replaceable lOmL cartridge3 slides into the side of the case 100, engaging against wire spring 13. As will bedescribed later in more detail, the cartridge 3 includes a rubber septum; this is puncturedby needle 7 when the cartridge 3 is fully inserted into the case; needle 7 leads via the thintube 12 to piezo micro-pump 6.

Feed or inlet tube 12 includes a sensor 8 that can detect whether the feed into the piezomicro-pump 6 is liquid or air; this is very useful to know because the piezo-pumpoperates in different modes depending on the viscosity of the material being pumped.For example, if air is entering the piezo pump, then the piezo pump should operate at ahigh frequency, such as between 150 — 400Hz (and preferably 300Hz). But if the pumpis pumping room temperature e-liquid, then the piezo pump should operate at a muchlower frequency, such as 7 — 20 Hz (and preferably 15Hz). If the e-liquid is even moreviscous (for example, the ambient temperature is very cold), then the piezo pump mayneed to operate even more slowly. So being able to automatically alter the cycle time orfrequency of the piezo-pump, based on an automatic assessment of the substance beingpumped, is very useful. One way we can achieve this is for the sensor on the input linethat feeds the piezo-pump to include a pair of electrical contacts on either side of thetube: when there is e-liquid in the portion of the tube around which the sensors areplaced, then there is a large resistance (but one that is measurable by an electronicsmodule in the case); when there is air in that portion, then the resistance is infinite or toohigh to measure. When e-liquid is detected, then that information can be combined withan ambient temperature measurement from a solid-state thermometer in the case tocontrol the piezo-pump so that it operates at its optimal cycle time or frequency. Othersensing methods are possible: for example, a capacitive sensor or an infra-red lightsensor (passing light through the inlet tube and detecting high or low levels of lightabsorption) could readily detect whether there was air or liquid in the piezo-pump inlettube.

Where the piezo pump 6 has twin-piezo actuators, then one problem that can arise isthat each actuator, over time, starts to operate slightly differently. Proper operation ofthe pump requires both actuators to operate identically, delivering exactly the samequantity of liquid for each pumping stroke. Pumping performance can drop significantlyover time because of this mis-match in operation and output. In our system, a microcontroller can independently adjust the phase or timing of each voltage pulse thattriggers a piezo-actuator — so for example, one actuator can be given a slightly longer ormore powerful voltage pulse than the other if that would remedy the imbalance; themicrocontroller can continuously or regularly monitor the efficiency of the entire pump(for example using a small MEMS based flow sensor) and adjust the phase relationshipuntil the optimum pumping performance is achieved. For example, if one actuator isdelivering less e-liquid than the other, then the power delivered to the first actuator canbe increased, e.g. the start of the voltage pulse can be brought forward or the peakvoltage delivered to the first actuator can be increased, all relative to the second actuator.The microcontroller can monitor the pumping performance of the entire unit and adjustthe various parameters until optimal pumping is achieved.

The output tube from the piezo micro-pump 6 leads to a filling stem or tube (not shownin Figure 6, but integer 4 in Figure 9) at the bottom of the hinged holder. This fillingstem engages with a filling aperture in the bottom end (or side) of the PV, as will bedescribed later.

Careful selection of materials is needed for nicotine compatibility — for example, nicotinecan react with some plastics (such as polycarbonates), can leach compounds out of otherplastics and can evaporate through others. Tubing 12 can be made of an inert nicotine-compatible material such as Tygon™ LMT55; the piezo-pump can be the MP6 micro-pump from Bartels Mikrotechnik GmbH with actuators made of polyimide.

Figure 7 is an isometric exploded view of the chassis assembly components from Figure 6. Specifically, Figure 7 shows the hinged PV holder 2, micro-pump 6 mounted on PCBassembly board 11, chassis 10. Figure 7 also shows the trigger latch assembly 15; this ispushed by the user to eject cartridge 3 using the force of wire spring 13. Electricalcontacts are made to ring contacts on the PV via a contacts assembly 16; power and datais transferred via contacts assembly 16.

Figure 8 are orthographic views, front and back, of the fully assembled system, with thecartridge slotted into position, and the hinged holder in the open position.

Figure 9 shows five cross section views (Figures 9A to 9E) of the chassis assembly.Figure 9A shows a top view, including the empty PV holder 2 and a small display panel17 that shows system information using simple graphics (such as battery charge state; e-liquid fill state). A section XX line is drawn and Figure 9B is the side view cross sectionalong the XX line. Main battery 5, hinged PV holder 2 and filling stem 4 are shown. Atthe base of the filling stem 4 is a simple spring-biased stainless steel ball 16 which acts asa stop valve; when piezo-pump 6 pumps e-liquid into the PV, then stainless steel ball 16rises off its seat and permits e-liquid to pass up the filling stem 4. As soon as piezo-pump 6 stops pumping, stainless steel ball 16 sits back down and seals the filling stem,preventing any downstream drops of e-liquid from dripping out. A read/write datacontact 13 contacts the data leads for the security or authenticator chip fixed to thecartridge. Figure 9C shows the PCB assembly board 11 that lies adjacent to the casebattery 5, mounted on chassis assembly 10. Piezo-pump 6 is mounted on the battery 5and is fed e-liquid from e-liquid inlet tube 12. An infra-red sensor 8 is placed around thee-liquid inlet tube 12 and detects whether the inlet tube has air in it at that point, or e-liquid (since the light absorption of e-liquid is far greater that air). The inlet end of the e-liquid inlet tube 12 is connected to a needle 7; in this needle punctures the septum in thecartridge and enables e-liquid to be sucked out from the cartridge by the piezo-pump 6.Figure 9D is a rear view, showing needle 7. Figure 9E is a side view, showing thebattery 5.

Key features of the case are the following: • Case Feature 1: The case includes a piezo-electric pump. The case includes apiezo-electric pump to transfer small but accurate quantities of e-liquid in fromthe cartridge or other parent reservoir to a child reservoir in the PV. • Case Feature 2: The case or PV has a ‘discrete’ mode. In ‘discrete’ mode, the PVreduces the amount of vapour produced, or its density (e.g. by reducing the coiltemperature by 10%) but maintains that temperature within a range where thevaping experience is still good, but vapour quantity or density is reduced. This isuseful for a restaurant or office. • Case Feature 3: The case or PV includes a ‘power mode’ with coil temperaturemonitoring — e.g. to increase the amount of vapour produced, the user canactivate a button or sensor on the PV, but crucially coil temperature is measuredor inferred or limited to ensure that it remains at a safe operating temperature. • Case Feature 4: The case has a PV ejection mechanism: An automatic liftingmechanism (e.g. magnetic or spring-based) that gently lifts the PV up a few mmfrom the case to enable a user to easily grasp it when the case is opened. • Case Feature 5: A non-contact sensor in the case detects PV release from thecase: A non-contact sensor (e.g. a magnetic sensor, such as a reed switch, Halleffect sensor) detects when the PV enters and leaves the charge/re-fill case. • Case Feature 6: A sensor in the feed-line to the fluid transfer mechanism (e.g.piezo pump) detects characteristics of the flow through the feed-line andautomatically alters the operation of the fluid transfer mechanism depending onthe detected or inferred nature of the substance (e.g. air or e-liquid; the viscosityof that e-liquid) passing through the feed-line. • Case Feature 7: Any imbalance in the operation of a piezo-actuator that forms apair of piezo-actuators is detected and the phase or voltage profile delivered tothat actuator is altered so that the imbalance is addressed.

Section D gives further details of each of these features.

Section B2: Overview of the e-liquid Cartridge

Figure 10 is an isometric exploded view of the components in the cartridge. Thecartridge includes a body 20 made of a clear plastic material that is compatible withnicotine storage (such as HDPE — high density polyethylene; PETG - polyethyleneterephthalate; or COC - cyclic olefin copolymers) with two apertures in its top face; thee-liquid inlet aperture 21 to the left side of the body is used when filling the cartridge onan automated or semi-automated filling line: lOmL of e-liquid is passed into the cartridgethrough a filling head and then inert argon gas purges all oxygen from inside the cartridge to prevent oxidation of the nicotine. A bung 22, or other form of seal, thenseals or closes off that aperture 21. A rubber septum 24 sits in aperture 23 and is sealedin place with ring 25 and seals aperture 23, which is the e-liquid outlet aperture. Theseptum 24 is a PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene)/silicone/PTFE disc.

So the cartridge includes two apertures, (a) an outlet aperture 23 being sealed by aseptum 24 designed to be penetrated or punctured by a needle or stem in the case thatwithdraws e-liquid from the cartridge and (b) an inlet aperture 21 being used to fill thecartridge on a filling line and then being covered with a bung or plug 22. Aperture 21enables fast and efficient filling on an automated filling line, reliable sealing of thecartridge to minimize contamination risk and also easy integration of the cartridge withthe case, all at very low cost.

An adhesive, tamper evident strip 26 is then applied over the top of the bung 22 and theseptum 24 and ring 25. The body includes a standard scavenger tube 27 fixed to theoutlet 23 that leads to the rubber septum 24, so that the last droplets of e-liquid in thecartridge can be extracted.

An air pressure valve is included in the cartridge. If no air pressure valve is provided,then, as the cartridge empties, a partial vacuum forms, retarding fluid transfer out of thecartridge. The valve also prevents contaminants from entering the cartridge/reservoir,which hence preserves the condition and stability of the e-liquid. It also permits onlylimited quantities of air to enter the cartridge (e-liquid can deteriorate when exposed tofree flowing air for long periods).

The valve has the following structure. A lid 28 is positioned against one face of thecartridge body. The lid 28 includes a small air hole 29 to allow air to enter and leave aplenum 30 formed by the lid 28 as one face, and ridges in the lid 28 as the sides and aPorex™ PTFE sheet 31 facing the lid as the opposite face. The sheet can be anymaterial that is impermeable to e-liquid but bi-directionally permeable to air, henceenabling air pressure equalization within the cartridge; PTFE is especially suitablebecause it is very stable in the presence of e-liquid, and so introduces no contaminants.The plenum 30 provides for a large surface area for the air/PTFE interface. Othermaterials apart from PTFE are possible; for example, paper coated with PTFE may be suitable. The air-side of the PTFE sheet 31 may include fine strands of polypropylene toincrease the surface area and to facilitate welding to the clear plastic body 20.

Another feature is that each cartridge has its own unique serial number written in a One-Wire flash memory chip or authenticator 32, such as the Maxim DS28E15 security chip.After a cartridge is installed into a case, a microcontroller (MCU) in the case reads itsserial number and verifies that its hash-function is valid. If the verification is good, thecartridge will be used to refill the PV. If not, the MCU in the case will block any liquidusage from such cartridge.

The manufacturer tracks all serial numbers so that if some cartridges are found to bedefective then all cartridges made as part of the same batch can be identified and a signalsent to the case to prevent them being used and to trigger an explanatory message to bedisplayed on the smartphone application. The term microcontroller used in thisspecification includes other forms of processors, microprocessors, ASICs etc.

The MCU can also write-data into the chip 32 — for example the estimated or measuredamount of e-liquid left in the cartridge; this enables cartridges that have been unlawfullyre-filled to be spotted by the MCU (since they can be tracked to have expelledsignificantly more than the known capacity of the cartridge — e.g. lOmL) and can then beprevented from being used.

At manufacture or filling or fulfillment (or a combination of these) data is burnt to thechip that defines flavor, nicotine strength, batch number, date of manufacture, tax paidand any other useful information. The cartridge is then packaged and ready to beshipped. Figure 11 are side, top and front views of the cartridge. The total fluid capacityis 11.6cc.

In addition, the cartridge could include a bag-in-bottle or BiB system — e.g. this wouldallow the contents of the cartridge to be almost completely emptied, avoiding wastage,yet also protecting the contents of the cartridge from oxidation and contaminants. Amaterial like DuPont Surlyn can be used for the inner bag.

Key features of the cartridge are the following: • Cartridge Feature 1: The cartridge or other form of parent reservoir includes anair pressure valve. • Cartridge Feature 2: the cartridge includes a memory chip • Cartridge Feature 3: the cartridge includes two e-liquid apertures, one an inlet, theother an outlet. • Cartridge Feature 4: the cartridge stores the batch number of the e-liquid it isfilled with and can be remotely disabled from using specific batch numbers

Section D describes these features in more detail.

Section B3: Overview of The PV’s Atomising Coil

We will now look at the wick and heating coil assembly. Figure 12 is an isometricexploded view of the components in one type of wick and heating coil assembly. Thewick 35 can take several different forms, such as a ceramic cell like the cCell fromShenzen Smoore Technology Limited, or a more conventional cotton wicking coilarrangement.

Figure 12 shows the latter; it shows a ‘z’ shaped piece of compressed cotton 35 or aporous ceramic with a body arranged longitudinally along the long axis of the PVelectronic vaporiser in a vaporising chamber to interrupt the air flow path through thatchamber. One end of the wick 35 includes an end section, angled at right angles withrespect to the body, and protruding into an e-liquid reservoir; the other end of the wickincludes an end section, also angled at right angles with respect to the body, andprotruding into that e-liquid reservoir. A NiChrome wire heating element 36 is woundaround the wick body 35; other materials for the heating element may also be used, suchas titanium, tungsten and other materials; the key design criteria for material choice is tominimize the risk of any harmful products entering the user’s lungs, particularly as theheating element starts to degrade. Coil assembly 37 is mounted inside tube 38, closed offat one end by body 39 and at the other end by end cap 40, which seals against Ό’ ring 41.Tube 38 forms the inner wall of the e-liquid reservoir; this small reservoir, capacityapproximately 0.2mL, surrounds tube 38. The cotton wick 35 protrudes through a gapin the side of tube 38 into this reservoir, drawing e-liquid in from the reservoir.

The Figure 12 design is especially easy to mass-assemble since it requires very few stepsto complete. Also, because the heating element and wick runs longitudinally through thevaporising chamber, and there is no straight through path for air through the vaporisingchamber, but instead the incoming air has to flow around and over the heating elementand wick, the design provides a good quality vaping experience.

Figure 13 is a cross section through the fully assembled wick and coil assembly. Itshows the e-liquid stainless steel feed pipe 42 (which is connected to the piezo micro-pump during filling and filled with e-liquid from the cartridge) that feeds the concentricreservoir, indicated generally at 44, that surrounds tube 38. E-liquid is pumped into thereservoir 44 and then drawn by the wick into the coil assembly. Air passes from inlet 45and then has to divert up and around the coil and assembly 37; the chamber 43 is theatomizing chamber where heated micro-droplets of e-liquid are carried by the air passingover the coil out through aperture 46. But requiring the airflow to divert up and aroundthe coil assembly, vortices are formed which are more efficient at drawing out the micro-droplets of e-liquid.

As shown in Figure 14, the fully assembled wick and coil assembly 50 is inserted into acoil holder 52 which serves as a mouthpiece; the coil holder 52 can then be press-fittedonto the main tube 51 of the PV that includes the battery, electronics and e-liquid fillingaperture (which is at the end of the PV furthest from the mouthpiece).

The combined mouthpiece/coil holder 52 can be readily removed from the tube andreplaced with a new or different combined mouthpiece/coil holder; hence, as soon asthere is any sign of degradation of the wick or coil, or perhaps the user simply wishes totty a different wick/coil design (since it may deliver different vaping characteristics), thenthe user can simply pull the old coil holder 52 off and insert a new one. Hence, the PVincludes a front section 52 containing a wick and heating assembly but no e-liquidcartridge; the front section is removable to enable a replacement front section to be used,for example once the original wick or heating element starts to degrade. The rest of thePV can be re-used with a fresh front section 52.

Note that because the case has a micro-pump (e.g. piezoelectric or peristaltic or anyother effective, reliable, accurate and low-cost form of pump), it can be used in reverseto fully drain the PV of e-liquid so that if the coil holder is replaced then there will bevery little e-liquid to drip out. Activation of the reverse pumping can be through acontrol on the case, or via an app on a connected smartphone: for example, with the PVstored in the case, then the user opens up the associated app on his smartphone; oneoption is ‘drain PV if replacing coil holder’; when that is activated, then the app sends acontrol signal to the electronics module in the case, which in turn causes the micro-pumpto operate to drain the PV fully. When switching between flavours, it can be useful tovape with a completely unflavoured e-liquid; a ‘cleaning’ routine with unflavoured e-liquid is hence supported.

The PV includes an air pressure valve or device so that excess air can escape from the e-liquid ‘child’ reservoir in the PV. Air needs to escape from the child reservoir in the PVwhen that reservoir is being filled up with e-liquid, and air needs to enter into the childreservoir as e-liquid is consumed in normal use, since otherwise a partial vacuum wouldbe created, which would tend to prevent or retard e-liquid in the child reservoirwicking/entering the atomising coil unit. The PV air pressure relief system, used withthe cotton-type wick of Figures 11 — 13 is shown in Figures 15 — 19.

Figure 15 is an exploded view of the PV tip assembly. The coil wick assembly 50,shown in Figure 12, 13 and 14, is inserted into a cast aluminium alloy LM25 tip casting52; tip casting for the mouthpiece 52 is then inserted into the body 53. Tip castingmouthpiece 52 includes the air pressure relief system; this includes a rounded rectangleshaped membrane 90 on one side of the mouthpiece 52, secured by slug 91. On theopposing face of the casting 52 is a second, circular PTFE membrane 92, secured inplace by slug 93. Instead of a PTFE membrane, other materials are possible; thesematerials must be porous to air, but impermeable to e-liquid. Sintered metal is onealternative material; a porous ceramic could also be used.

Figure 16 shows the Figure 15 construction but from a different viewpoint. Figure 17is a cross-section view through this construction. There is an interference fit betweeneach slug 91, 93 and the body 53; this creates a compressive force on each PTFEmembrane 90, 92, which each sit on bead 95.

Figure 18 is a longitudinal cross-section through the X-X marked in Figure 17. Inaddition to the components shown in Figure 17, we show in this cross-section the e-liquid feed pipe 42 that feeds the reservoir 44. Air is displaced up past each PTFEmembrane 90, 92 and passes along an air vent channel 96, 97, formed in the top of tipcasting 52.

Figure 19A shows the fluid path 98 and the air path 99 (note that air can flow both inand out of the PV through this air path; if the air pressure inside the PV drops (forexample, it is in an airplane flying at high altitude), then air needs to pass into thereservoir 44 to prevent e-liquid leaking out from the PV.

Figure 19B shows a perspective view of the air vent channel 96 formed in the top of tipcasting 52, with the arrows indicating the air escape path 99. Figure 19C shows aperspective Anew of the tip casting 52 with the slug removed.

Where a ceramic cell is used, such as the T28 from Shenzen Smoore, then the cylindricalwall of the ceramic cell itself serves as the air-pressure valve because the wall is itself bi-directionally air-permeable. During pressurised filling of a PV that has a ceramic cell, orif ambient air pressure drops, then air can pass through the wall and into the atomizingchamber which vents to the outside. Conversely, if the ambient air pressure increases,then air can pass into the internal reservoirs in the PV via the ceramic walls — in bothcases, this ensures that air pressure equalization is achieved, and without the need for anadditional air pressure relief system as shown in Figures 15 — 19. A ceramic cell however presents leakage challenges when being filled under pressure, ashappens with the design we are describing. We solve this problem with a pair of siliconewashers, end-caps or ‘O’ rings on either end of the cylindrical ceramic cell. This isshown in Figures 20 - 25.

Referring to Figures 20 — 22, the ceramic cell, such as the T28 cCell from ShenzenSmoore, is a short cylinder 84 of ceramic material enclosing a helical heating wire 88would along the inner bore of the cylinder. The heating wires are connected to a power bush 87. E-liquid is drawn through the porous ceramic walls of the cylinder 84, where itcontacts the heated wires 88 and creates an atomized mist of e-liquid vapour in theatomizing chamber 43, from where it is drawn out by a user’s inhalation. A ceramic cell istypically wrapped in cotton and then placed within a metal tube; e-liquid wets the cotton,forming an ediquid reservoir around the ceramic coil, and is then wicked through theceramic walls. Where the user manually drips e-liquid into this sort of atomizing unit,then it performs well. However, where the e-liquid reservoir around the ceramic coil ispumped under pressure, as it will be with the piezo-pump based system we have beendescribing, then a cotton wrap will leak and will also lead to very uneven wetting of theceramic coil. We solve these problems by providing silicone end-caps 85 and 86 aroundthe ceramic coil 84. The section of the ceramic coil 84 that is not covered by the siliconeend-caps 85 and 86 is approximately 2mm wide, but that is sufficient to receive e-liquidand distribute it evenly through the ceramic walls 84. A cotton strip may also bewrapped around this exposed section of the coil to reduce ingress of e-liquid.

Figure 23 shows a cross-sectional view of the components in the removable and user-replaceable mouthpiece 52, including the ceramic cell 84. The ceramic cell 84, withsilicone end-caps 85, 86 is placed within metal tube 38. Metal tube 38 includes anopposing pair of circular e-liquid inlet apertures (approx. 2mm in diameter) that line upover the section of the ceramic coil 84 that is not covered by the silicone end-caps 85, 86.Metal tube 38 is placed within tip tube 51; the annular region forms an e-liquid reservoir44 around the metal tube 38; an e-liquid feed tube supplies e-liquid into this reservoir 44.A front seal 47 and back seal 49 seal off each end of the reservoir. A silicone rubberstopper 48 closes off one-end of the tube 38, and includes a central aperture 46 throughwhich e-liquid vapour, created in the atomizing chamber 43, can pass. A front tip 89defines the front face of the mouthpiece.

The silicone end caps make the coil more robust and impact resistant because they formprotective silicone barriers. Because silicone is a good thermal insulator, it prevents thetip from getting too hot and burning a user’s lips; it also improves the thermaleffectiveness of the heating element. Instead of silicone, another suitable material, suchas rubber or a soft plastic, or another type of elastomer, could be used. Materialrequirements are that it can (i) form an effective seal around the ceramic unit; (ii)withstand high temperatures; (iii) will not introduce any toxic compounds into the e- liquid and (iv) is easy to mold around the ceramic unit and (v) is thermally insulating.

Figure 24 is an enlarged view cross-sectional view of the ceramic coil 84, silicone end-caps 85, 86 and silicone rubber stopper 48 (but facing in the opposite directioncompared with Figure 23). Figure 25 is an exploded view of all the mouthpiececomponents shown in cross-section in Figure 23.

Figure 26 shows the entire electronic vaporiser PV, with the mouthpiece or coil holder52 at one end (and which includes the components shown in Figure 25); the main bodytube 53, and at the far right hand end the e-liquid filling end, including a check valveassembly 54.

Figure 27 is an exploded view of the main body. It includes an external tube 53, and achassis 55 which holds the main components, including a battery 56 and a fluid tube 42that passes e-liquid from the e-liquid filling end (not shown) up through the main bodyand into the reservoir surrounding the wick and coil assembly (not shown). Within thechassis is a small electronics PCB 58, which includes a small processor or MCU anddigital 1/O; power and data 1/O is via two metal rings sitting round the outside of thetube, as will be described later. PCB 58 can also be placed running above the battery,close to one of the main faces of the external tube 53.

The PCB 58 includes an IMU (inertial measurement unit) to detect when it is being liftedup and out of the case to control and/or track certain behaviours. The IMU isconnected to a microcontroller (MCU) in the PV. The PV can also sense when a user istouching it - e.g. with a capacitive sensor. This provides a control signal to the MCU inthe PV and hence enables movement associated with the user holding the PV to bedistinguished from other movement of the PV.

An airflow sensor 59 is used to detect airflow and to activate the heating element. PCBalso includes a temperature sensor. The airflow sensor 59 can also be used to operate as aspirometer - for example, measuring air flow and/or peak flow when the user is bothsucking and blowing into the PV, and without activating the vaping function. This couldbe very useful for smokers with compromised lung functioning who wish to have asimple way of tracking the improvement in lung function that is very likely associated with giving up smoking; this can be an added motivation to continue with a smokingcessation programme based on using this device. The spirometer data captured by theairflow sensor can be sent to the user’s app and displayed on the smartphone running theapp and also shared with a physician.

The MCU in the PV can measure or estimate coil resistance; if the coil resistance ishigher than some limit we can say that the coil needs to be replaced. Likewise, if theresistance starts to fluctuate, then that is also an indication that the coil needs replacing.

The MCU in the PV directly measures current and voltage delivered to the coil; itcalculates coil resistance from this data. We have empirically mapped resistance totemperature for various coil/atomizing combinations and can store that map with thememory accessible by the MCU, enabling the MCU in the PV to estimate coiltemperature and ensure that it is optimal. This is especially useful during ‘power’ modewhen increased power is delivered to the coil as it then becomes important to be able toensure that the coil temperature is not so high that undesirable compounds are produced.

Another feature is that each specific type of coil (e.g. design, materials, type of heatingcoil etc.) has a unique resistance profile which can be seen when a small current is passedthrough the coil (this is done momentarily before the full current for heating purposes isapplied). This resistance profile is detected by the microcontroller, which in turncompares it to stored profiles to find the best match; the microcontroller then usesknowledge of the likely type of coil being used to ensure that it is used optimally — forexample, different coil types could have different optimal operating temperatures andmaximum safe temperatures. For a typical Kanthal wire coil, we have found that theoptimal temperature is approximately 130°C with a 60% to 40% VG mixture, and arelatively small water component; the MCU is able to determine the coil temperaturethrough empirical mapping of the detected resistance against previously calculated ordirectly measured temperatures; accuracy is approximately +10°C or better. We set themaximum coil temperature at 150°C since temperatures higher than 160°C could beassociated with the release of undesirable contaminants. Different optimal andmaximum temperatures will be a function of the specific coil material and coil assemblydesign (e.g. a ceramic coil can operate at higher temperatures), and the e-liquid beingused. Since the specific type of e-liquid (including flavours, water content, PV/VG mix etc.) being used by the device is known from data in the cartridge, this data is used by theMCU to set the optimal and maximum temperatures.

Another benefit to detecting or inferring the coil temperature is that we can rapidlycompensate for high air-flow rates, which tend to cool a coil down quite quickly, and alsovery cold ambient temperatures. The PV also includes an integral temperature sensormeasuring ambient temperature and feeding that data to the MCU; if the air is at -5°C,then the PV will deliver significantly more power to the coil than if the air temperature is+30°C, in order to achieve optimal 130°C operating temperature. It may trigger a longeror more powerful pre-heat of the coil before the first inhalation is even detected by theair pressure sensor in the PV — for example, when the case is first opened or when thePV is first withdrawn from the case in very cold air, then pre-heat can start rapidly and athigh power to ensure that the coil is at the optimal temperature when the first inhalationis taken.

The MCU in the PV also monitors each inhalation to measure e-liquid consumption andheating coil degradation.

Returning to the specific components shown in Figure 27, a power wire 60 is shown,together with rear electrically insulating spacer 61, power plate 62 connected to thepower wire 60, and front electrically insulating spacer 63. Power plate 62 provides powerfrom battery 56 to the heating coil assembly.

Figure 28 shows an exploded view of the e-liquid filling end, which is the check valveassembly 54 in Figure 26. On check valve body 70 are mounted (moving from right toleft in the Figure) a power ring 71, an insulating ring 72, a second power ring 73, afurther insulating ring 74 and a third power ring 75. Electrical contact pins 76, 77 and78, pass through the rings. Both power and data is sent via these power rings.

Inside the check valve body 70 is the e-liquid filling or stop valve. It includes spring 80mounted on spring guide 79; the spring 80 biases stainless steel 316L ball 81, and ball 81acts as the stop valve.

The e-liquid filling mechanism in the PV is hence a simple aperture or nozzle sealed withspring biased stainless steel 316L ball. When the PV is fully inserted down into thehinged holder, as shown in Figure 29, then a short filling tube or stem or spigot 83 atthe base of the hinged holder pushes the ball 81 off its seat 82, exposing a fluid transferpath up from the filling tube, past the steel ball 81 and up through the PV to the ‘child’reservoir around the wick and coil assembly.

The piezo pump can be activated manually by a user touching a button or other hard orsoft switch on the case; alternatively, the case can be set up to automatically always fillthe PV up whenever the PV is returned to the case and the case shut. In any event, fillingautomatically ends when the electronics in the case determines that the PV has sufficient

J e-liquid; for example, the electronics can monitor the power, current or voltage used bythe micro-pump; this will start to rise as the PV reaches full capacity; the micro-pumpcan then be automatically switched off (or even momentarily switched into reverse towithdraw a small amount of e-liquid from the PV so there is no possibility of overfillingthe PV). A stop valve is included at the base of the spigot 83. This is a simple ball valve that isbiased closed but is pushed open when the PV is fully inserted into the case to enable e-liquid to flow past it. Once the PV is removed, the ball valve returns to its closedposition, preventing any liquid from spilling from the filling tube or spigot 83. This isshown in Figure 9B. A small, spring loaded, damped plug sits around the short filling tube or stem or spigotand causes the PV to be gently raised up when the hinged holder is opened; the PV risesabout 5mm to enable easy extraction from the case, mimicking the ritual of being offereda cigarette from a pack.

Figures 31 and 32A and 32B are various cross-sectional views through the PV that usesa cotton wick. As noted earlier, the PV (whether using a cotton wick or a ceramic cell) isthe approximate same size as an ordinary cigarette, approximately 10cm in length and 1cm in width. The cross-section is square, with rounded corners (a ‘squircle’): this shapeenables a long, rectangular circuit board to be included in the PV and gives more designfreedom for the placement of that PCB: if the PV casing, was circular, then the PCB would likely have to be mounted exactly across a diameter, and that would leave littleroom for a battery. So the square cross-section is a much better shape if a long PCB andbattery is to be included inside the casing since it allows the PCB to be placed very closeto one of the long faces of the PV, hence liberating volume for the battery. Also the PVincludes a narrow pipe to transport e-liquid from the filling end to the reservoir aroundthe heating element; this pipe can be accommodated in the corner of the PV casing justabove the PCB. The square-profiled tube with rounded comers is hence an effectiveshape for including these elements.

The steel ball valve 81 is shown off its seat 82 although in normal vaping it will be biasedagainst and sealing against its seat. When the PV is being filled with e-liquid, then e-liquid passes up past ball valve 81, along fluid tube 57 and into reservoir 44. E-liquidpasses from reservoir 44 along wick 35 into the atomizing chamber. When the userinhales from the PV, then air is drawn in from air inlets in the PV (not shown, buttypically positioned so that air is no drawn over the PCB) and is then sucked from airoutlet 46, activating air pressure sensor 59; the MCU on board 58 then sends power fromthe battery 56 to the heating coil 36, which rises to 130°C and rapidly heats the e-liquidin the wick 35, causing it to vaporise; the vapour is carried out from outlet 46 into theuser’s mouth.

Figures 33A to 33C are cross-sectional views of the PV that uses a ceramic cell 84.Moving from right to left, e-liquid is filled into the PV, moving past stainless steel ballvalve 81, passing along feed tube 42 into e-liquid child reservoir 43 that surrounds theceramic cell 84. E-liquid wicks into the ceramic cell 84 through apertures 57. Vapour isinhaled from outlet aperture 46. The entire mouthpiece unit 52 can be clipped off andon the body 53 if desired, enabling mouthpiece to be replaced if needed. The main PCB58 sits over the battery 56.

Figures 34A and 34B are external views of the ceramic cell-based PV.

Key features of the PV are the following: PV Feature 1: PV includes an air pressure valve PV Feature 2: PV includes a mechanical valve that is pushed up from its seat whenfilling takes place

PV Feature 3: PV or case has an IMU PV Feature 4: The PV includes a touch sensor PV Feature 5: ‘z’ wick heating coil PV Feature 6: PV with replaceable wick and coil PV Feature 7: Pulsed power to the coil PV Feature 8: Detecting coil degradation PV Feature 9: Estimating coil temperature PV Feature 10: Monitoring each inhalation to measure e-liquid consumption and heatingcoil degradation PV Feature 11: Monitoring the coil characteristics to identity the type of coil installed. PV Feature 12: Monitoring external or ambient temperature to ensure the coil is atoptimal operating temperature PV Feature 13: Monitoring airflow to ensure the coil is at optimal operating temperaturePV Feature 14: Using data from cartridge defining the e-liquid to control the heating ofthe coil PV Feature 15: The PV has a squircle cross-section PV Feature 16: Silicone caps to the ceramic cell.

Section D describes these features in more detail.

Figures 35 and 36 are flow charts explaining the operation of the electronic vaporiser.

Whilst this implementation is an electronic vaporiser system, the innovative features canalso be applied in an inhalation system providing substances other than nicotine — forexample, medication, such as asthma medication or any other drug that can be effectivelydelivered into the lungs, and also vitamins, and recreational drugs such as marijuana(where their use is lawful). The term ‘e-liquid’ can hence be generalized to any substance,including any medication, or legally permissible recreational drug.

Section C: Key Features A number of interesting features are present in this electronic cigarette vaporiser system.We list them here, categorised into features relevant to the Case, the Cartridge and thePV. Note that each feature can be used with any one or more of the other features andno single feature is mandatory.

Case Features

Case Feature 1: The case includes a piezo-electric pump

Case Feature 2: The case or PV has a ‘discrete’ mode

Case Feature 3: The case or PV includes a ‘power mode’ with coil temperature monitoring

Case Feature 4: The case has a PV ejection mechanism

Case Feature 5: A non-contact sensor in the case detects PV release from the case

Case Feature 6: Sensor in the piezo pump feed line

Case Feature 7: Correcting any imbalance in the twin actuators in the piezo pump

Cartridge Features

Cartridge Feature 1: The cartridge or other form of parent reservoir includes an airpressure valve

Cartridge Feature 2: The cartridge includes a memory chip

Cartridge Feature 3: The cartridge includes two e-liquid apertures

Cartridge Feature 4: The cartridge stores the batch number of the e-liquid it is filledwith and can be remotely disabled from using specific batchnumbers PV Features PV Feature 1: PV includes an air pressure valve PV Feature 2: PV includes a mechanical valve that is pushed up from its seat when filling takes place

PV Feature 3: PV or case has an IMU PV Feature 4: The PV includes a touch sensor PV Feature 5: ‘z’ wick heating coil PV Feature 6: PV with replaceable wick and coil PV Feature 7: Pulsed power to the coil PV Feature 8: Detecting coil degradation PV Feature 9: Estimating coil temperature PV Feature 10: Monitoring each inhalation to measure e-liquid consumption and heating coil degradation PV Feature 11: Monitoring the coil characteristics to identity the type of coil installed. PV Feature 12: Monitoring external or ambient temperature to ensure the coil is at optimal operating temperature PV Feature 13: Monitoring airflow to ensure the coil is at optimal operating temperature PV Feature 14: Using data from the cartridge defining the e-liquid to control the heating of the coil PV Feature 15: The PV has a squircle cross-section PV Feature 16: Silicone caps to the ceramic ceil

In this section, we describe the key features of this electronic vaporiser system in moredetail and generalise from the specific implementations.

Case Features 1-5

Case Feature 1: The case includes a piezo-electric pump: the case (or the PV or the cartridge) includes a piezo-electric pump to transfer small but accurate quantitiesof e-liquid in from the cartridge or parent reservoir to a child reservoir in the PV. Thisenables mixing from multiple cartridges too. The piezo-electric pump can be used as thefluid transfer mechanism to transfer e-liquid from the cartridge or parent reservoir intothe child reservoir in the PV. It can also be used in reverse to suck back out any residuale-liquid in the PV.

Because the amounts delivered can be accurately metered, this means that the PV (orcase or cartridge or an associated application running on a smartphone) can accurately determine the total consumption of e-liquid and/or the amount of e-liquid remaining ina cartridge and also in the PV itself. This in turn can be used in the automatic re-ordering function — for example, when the system knows that the cartridge is down to itslast 20% by volume of e-liquid, then the app running on the user’s smartphone canprompt the user with a message asking if the user would like to order a replacementcartridge or cartridges. Low-cost piezo-electric pumps used ordinarily for delivering inkin an inkjet printer may be used, as well as more costly pumps, such as those made forpumping blood plasma. Note that the piezo-electric pump is quite a high cost item andso suitable for premium category electronic vaporiser devices. Where minimizing costs iscritical, then a mechanical pumping arrangement, as for example described in WO2015/128665, can be used instead.

The pump operates at low pressure, under lpsi (higher pressures are possible) and has aflow rate of 0.4 — 0.6 mL per minute, and hence will fill a completely empty PV in 60 -90 seconds (or half that if the PV has been used to vape a single session after its lastcomplete filling since it is already half-filled). The pump can be activated manually by auser touching a button or other hard or soft switch on the case; alternatively, the case canbe set up to automatically always fill the PV up whenever the PV is returned to the caseand the case shut. In any event, filling automatically ends when the electronics in the casedetermines that the PV has sufficient ediquid; for example, the electronics can monitorthe power, current or voltage used by the micro-pump; this will start to rise as the PVreaches full capacity; the micro-pump can then be automatically switched off (or evenmomentarily switched into reverse to withdraw a small amount of e-liquid from the PVso there is no possibility of overfilling the PV). The micro-pump can also be operated inreverse, or with rapid forward and reverse pumping, to clear a blockage or clean thesystem.

A sensor can be placed in the inlet tube feeding the piezo-pump to determine if air or e-liquid is about to enter the piezo-pump: the pumping frequency for e-liquid has to besignificantly lower for efficient pumping of e-liquid; or other parameters can also bealtered to ensure pumping effectiveness. Also, the viscosity of the e-liquid affects thepiezo-pump and as the viscosity increases, the pumping frequency should be lowered.The viscosity could be directly measured using an appropriate sensor (e.g. a MEMS sensor) or could be inferred from the ambient temperature and/or the temperature ofthe e-liquid (viscosity is temperature dependent).

We can generalise this feature as follows:

An electronic cigarette vaporiser system including a single piezo-electric pump that bothwithdraws liquid from a cartridge or chamber and also pumps controlled amounts ofliquid into another reservoir in the electronic vaporiser.

Optional features include one or more of the following: • the reservoir surrounds or leads to an atomizing chamber. • the pump is in a case that enables a removable, personal vaporiser to be stored,and a cartridge is attached to or inserted into the case, and the case both re-fillsthe vaporiser with e-liquid and re-charges a battery in the vaporiser. • the cartridge or chamber is removably insertable or attachable to the case. • the cartridge or chamber is removably insertable or integral to the vaporiser • the pump is a piezo-electric pump, for example of the sort used to transfer ink inan inkjet printer or to pump other liquids such as blood plasma • the pump is a piezo-electric pump that can reliably pump liquids across theviscosity range of e-liquids between -10 degrees C and +40 degrees C. • the pump has an input feed line connected to the cartridge and an outputfeedline connected to a filling nozzle that engages with the PV or vaporiserwhen the vaporiser is positioned in the case for re-filling with e-liquid • the pump is included in the vaporiser and the vaporiser also includes thecartridge. • the cartridge is not pressurized to a degree sufficient to expel liquid. • the cartridge is filled with an inert gas at manufacture. • the pump (or its control or driver circuitry) provides data to an electronicsmodule (e.g. MCU in the PV and/or case and/or elsewhere, such as theconnected smartphone) that enables the module to determine, estimate or inferthe amount of liquid pumped from the cartridge or left remaining in thecartridge (e.g. using a knowledge of the total number of pumping cycles and theamount pumped per cycle, or the pumping frequency, duration of pumping and the amount pumped per cycle, or other relevant data; the ambient temperatureand temperature of the e-liquid can also be measured or inferred and that resultalso factored in). • the module uses this data defining the amount of liquid consumed to assesswhether the quantity is within user-defined limits; if the liquid consumed is at orabove the defined limit, the module can cause a warning message to bedisplayed, e.g. on the case, the PV or the connected smartphone application.Note that the device could also be stopped from working entirely if excessivenicotine appears to have been consumed, although that would be an extrememeasure and possibly also counter-productive since it could simply prompt theuser to smoke a cigarette instead. • the pump (or its control or driver circuitry) or a sensor in line with the pumpprovides data to an electronics module that enables the module to determine,estimate or infer when pumping liquid to the reservoir in the personal vaporisershould cease to prevent over-filling the personal vaporiser. o data is the current drawn by the pump or electrical resistance offered bythe pump, or the output of a pressure sensor in line with the pump o electronics module uses the data as well as data relating to the amount ofliquid pumped into the personal vaporiser to determine, estimate or inferwhen pumping liquid to the reservoir in the personal vaporiser shouldcease. • the pump (or its control or driver circuitry) provides data to an electronicsmodule that enables the module to determine, estimate or infer whether thecartridge has been unlawfully filled because it is providing a quantity of liquidthat exceeds the normal capacity of the cartridge. • the pump has a flow rate of between 0.4mL and 0.6 mL per minute. • the pump delivers a pressure of under lpsi (6.9 kPa), or under 5 psi (34.5 kPa), with e-liquid. • the pump is activated by a user touching a panel or button or switch on the case. • the pump can be operated in reverse to withdraw liquid from the personal vaporiser, for example to minimize contamination of liquid when switchingflavours. • the pump can also be operated in reverse, or with rapid forward and reversepumping, to clear a blockage or clean the system. • the pump is activated automatically whenever a personal vaporiser is placed intoa storage or filling mode, e.g. closed into a storage case. • the pump can be prevented from pumping liquid from a specific cartridge in thecase where that cartridge is identified as defective or as including defective orcontaminated e-liquid. • Operating parameters of the pump are automatically altered depending onwhether it is pumping air or e-liquid • Operating parameters of the pump are automatically altered depending on theambient temperature and/or the e-liquid temperature and/or the e-liquidviscosity • The operating parameters include the actuator frequency • the electronic vaporiser system is an e-cigarette system and the liquid is an e-liquid. • the electronic vaporiser is a medicinally approved nicotine drug delivery system. • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette • the electronic vaporiser is filled from a user-replaceable, closed liquid cartridge • the electronic vaporiser is refillable with c-liquid only when inserted, whole andintact and not dis-assembled, into a re-fill case that includes a fluid transfermechanism to transfer liquid into the vaporiser.

Other aspects of this disclosure include the following:

An e-cig system including a piezo-electric micropump operating to extract e-liquid froma user-removable cartridge.

An e-cig system including a piezo-electric micropump operating to transfer e-liquid into areservoir in a PV.

An e-cig system including a peristaltic micropump operating to extract e-liquid from auser-removable cartridge.

An e-cig system including a peristaltic micropump operating to transfer e-liquid into areservoir in a PV.

Note that there may be a single pump to both extract and transfer, or one pump for eachoperation. Another aspect of this disclosure is therefore an electronic vaporiser systemincluding a single piezo-electric pump to withdraw e-liquid from an e-liquid cartridge orchamber and a further piezo-electric pump to pump controlled amounts of e-liquid intoanother reservoir in the electronic vaporiser.

Another aspect of this disclosure is: A storage case for an electronic cigarette vaporiser,in which the case includes: (a) a user-replaceable, closed e-liquid cartridge that slots into or otherwise attachesto the case, the cartridge including a septum that seals an aperture in the body of thecartridge; (b) a needle or stem positioned to puncture or penetrate the septum when thecartridge is moved into position; (c) a piezo-pump connected to the needle or stem to withdraw e-liquid from thecartridge and to pump it to the vaporiser when the vaporiser is positioned in the storagecase and the user either activates a control switch (e.g. on the case, and/or on an app) or (ii) e-liquid filling is started automatically. • The case may include several different cartridges all feeding the pump, via amixer unit.

Another aspect of this disclosure is: A case for storing, re-filling with e-liquid and re-charging an electronic cigarette vaporiser, in which the case includes a piezo-electricpump to transfer quantities of e-liquid to a child reservoir in the personal vaporiser.

Other optional features: • the piezo-electric pump is used in reverse to suck back out any residual e-liquid inthe personal vaporiser. • the amount of e-liquid transferred by the piezo-electric pump is metered. • the metered data enables the total consumption of e-liquid and/or the amount ofe-liquid remaining in a cartridge and also in the personal vaporiser itself to bemeasured or assessed. • the metered data is used in an automatic re-ordering function for new cartridges. • the piezo-electric pump is a piezo-electric pump of the kind used ordinarily fordelivering ink in an inkjet printer or to pump blood plasma. • the electronic vaporiser system is an e-cigarette system. • the electronic vaporiser is a medicinally approved nicotine drug delivery system.

One final aspect relating to this disclosure: A piezo-electric pump adapted to be operableto withdraw e-liquid from an e-liquid cartridge or reservoir and to pump controlledamounts of e-liquid into a reservoir or chamber in an electronic cigarette vaporiser. Theadaptation can be the specific choice of materials used in the piezo-pump, in order forthere to be nicotine compatibility, such as the use of polyimide materials.

Case Feature 2: Case or PV has a ‘discrete’ mode: PV includes a ‘discrete mode’ — e.g. to reduce the amount of vapour produced, the user can activate a button orsensor on the PV (or case, or connected app) and that alters the operation of theoperation of the atomising device in such a way as to decrease the vapour produced — forexample, it could reduce the power used, or increase the VG proportion compared toPG, if that is possible — e.g. the case or PV can mix differing proportions of PG and VG,or alter the frequency or other operational parameters (e.g. duty cycle) of a piezo-electric,thermal bubble jet or ultrasonic atomizer. Consequently, the density or thickness of thevapour produced by the PV can be significantly reduced; this is particularly usefulindoors, when the user might wish to vape very discretely. The strength of the ‘hit’ canalso be decreased too, because the amount of nicotine inhaled will be reduced; this canbe useful where the user wishes to reduce their nicotine consumption.

We can generalise this feature as follows:

An electronic cigarette vaporiser system operable in a ‘discrete’ mode to reduce theamount of vapour produced by a vaporiser that forms part of the system, compared to anormal mode.

Optional features include one or more of the following: • the ‘discrete’ mode causes the vapour produced to be less visible or noticeable,compared to a normal mode. • the system include a button or sensor that, if selected or activated, alters theoperation of the vaporiser in such away as to decrease the vapour produced. • the user can activate a button or sensor on the system (e.g. on the PV, or case) orconnected application running on a connected smartphone or other device, thatalters the operation of an atomising or heating device in such a way as todecrease the vapour produced, compared to a normal mode. • the ‘discrete’ mode involves reducing the power delivered to or used by theatomising or heating unit, compared to a normal mode, e.g. by 10%. • the atomising or heating unit is powered using a pulsed signal and the duty cycleof the pulsed signal is varied to decrease the power, compared to a normal mode, e.g. by 10%. • the pulsed signal is a PWM (pulse width modulated) signal. • the ‘discrete’ mode involves increasing the VG (vegetable glycerin) proportioncompared to PG (propylene glycol) in the e-liquid being vaporised, compared toa normal mode. • the ‘discrete’ mode involves altering the frequency or other operationalparameters (e.g. duty cycle) of a piezo-electric, thermal bubble jet or ultrasonicatomizer. • the ‘discrete’ mode involves reducing the maximum temperature of the heatingelement in the atomizing unit, compared to a normal mode, e.g. by 10%. • a microcontroller in the vaporiser monitors the temperature of the heatingelement, e.g. to ensure that it remains within the range that delivers a goodvaping experience but with lower amounts of vapour. • the electronic vaporiser system is an e-cigarette system. • the electronic vaporiser system is a medicinally approved nicotine drug deliverysystem. • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette and includesno control buttons • the electronic vaporiser has a square or rectangular cross-section with roundedcorners and includes a long PCB inserted lengthwise into the vaporiser • the electronic vaporiser is filled from a user-replaceable e-liquid cartridge • the electronic vaporiser is refillable with e-liquid only when inserted, whole andintact and not dis-assembled, into a re-fill case that includes a fluid transfermechanism to transfer e-liquid into the vaporiser • the electronic vaporiser is filled with c-liquid using a piczo-clcctric pump • the electronic vaporiser includes lights that illuminate to indicate the amount ofe-liquid consumed, and these lights are dimmed or turned off if the vaporiser isin ‘discrete’ mode.

Case Feature 3: Case or PV includes a ‘power mode’ - e.g. to increase the amount of vapour produced, the user can activate a button or sensor on the case or PV,or connected app and that alters the operation of the operation of the atomising devicein such a way as to increase the vapour produced — for example, it may increase thepower used, or increase the frequency or duty cycle of a piezo-electric, thermal bubble jetor ultrasonic atomizer, but whilst monitoring the coil temperature to ensure thatexcessively high temperatures, associated with undesirable compounds in the vapour, arenot reached.

Additionally, or alternatively, the system may increase the PG proportion compared toVG, if that is possible — e.g. the case or PV can mix differing proportions of PG andVG, Consequently, the density or thickness of the vapour produced by the PV can besignificantly increased; the strength of the ‘hit’ can also be increased too, because theamount of nicotine inhaled will be greater.

We can generalise this feature as follows:

An electronic cigarette vaporiser system operable in a ‘power’ mode to increase theamount of vapour produced by a vaporiser that forms part of the system, whilstmonitoring the temperature of a heating element in the vaporiser to ensure that excessively high temperatures, associated with undesirable compounds in the vapourproduced by the heating element, are not reached.

Optional features include one or more of the following: • the system includes a button or sensor that alters the operation of the heatingelement in such a way as to increase the vapour produced, compared to normal. • the button or sensor is on the vaporiser, or a case for the vaporiser, or aconnected application running on a connected smartphone or other device. • the PV includes no ‘power mode’ button. • the PV includes no other control buttons. • the ‘power’ mode involves increasing the PG proportion compared to VG of thee-liquid being vaporised. • the ‘power’ mode involves altering the frequency or other operational parameters(e.g. duty cycle) of a piezo-electric, thermal bubble jet or ultrasonic atomizer,whilst monitoring the temperature of the heating element to ensure it remains ata safe temperature. • the vaporiser includes or co-operates with an electronics module that (i) detectscharacteristics of the resistance of the heating element and (ii) uses an inferenceof temperature derived from that resistance as a control input. • the temperature of the heating element is estimated from data stored in theelectronics module that has been empirically obtained for a specific heating coildesign. • the electronics module controls the power delivered to the heating element toensure that it is no higher than approximately 130°C or 10% above normal • the electronics module controls the power delivered using the resistancemeasurement and does not calculate any derived temperature. • The system includes a ‘discrete’ mode to decrease the amount of vapourproduced by a vaporiser that forms part of the system, compared to normal • the electronic vaporiser system is an e-cigarette system. • the electronic vaporiser is a medicinally approved nicotine drug delivery system. • coil temperature monitoring is achieved as described below (see TV Feature 9’) • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette and includesno control buttons • the electronic vaporiser has a square or rectangular cross-section with roundedcorners and includes a long PCB inserted lengthwise into the vaporiser • the electronic vaporiser is filled from a user-replaceable e-liquid cartridge • the electronic vaporiser is refillable with e-liquid only when inserted, whole andintact and not dis-assembled, into a re-fill case that includes a fluid transfermechanism to transfer e-liquid into the vaporiser • the electronic vaporiser is filled with e-liquid using a piezo-electric pump • the electronic vaporiser includes lights that illuminate to indicate the amount ofe-liquid consumed, and these lights are set to shine more brightly if the vaporiseris in ‘power’ mode, compared to their normal level of brightness.

Case Feature 4: Case has a PV ejection mechanism: The case includes an automatic lifting mechanism (e.g. magnetic or spring-based) that, when the case isopened, gently lifts the PV up a few mm from the case to enable a user to easily grasp itand may also prevent it from falling out if tipped upside down. A mechanical liftingsystem could be a simple pivoting lever that contacts a part of the PV (e.g. its front face);a damped spring is placed under tension if the PV is inserted fully into the case; when thePV is released from the case (e.g. by pushing a release button), then the lever cause thePV to gently rise up by about, for example, 12mm. A magnetic lifting mechanism couldinvolve a permanent magnet at one part of the PV and an adjacent electro-magnet placedin the case and powered by the main battery in the case; slowly energising the electro-magnet when the PV needs to be released causes the PV to gracefully rise up out of thecase.

We can generalise this feature as follows: A case for an electronic cigarette vaporiser, the case including an automatic liftingmechanism (e.g. magnetic or spring-based) that gently lifts the vaporiser up a few mmfrom the case to enable a user to easily grasp the vaporiser and withdraw it from the case.

Optional features include one or more of the following: • the case both re-fills the vaporiser with e-liquid and also re-charges a battery inthe vaporiser. • the lifting mechanism is a pivoting lever that contacts a part of the vaporiser (e.g.its front face) and a damped spring that is placed under tension if the vaporiser isinserted fully into the case, so that when the vaporiser is released from the case,then the lever causes the vaporiser to gently rise up by about, for example,12mm. • the lifting mechanism is a permanent magnet at one part of the vaporiser and anadjacent electro-magnet placed in the case and powered by the main battery inthe case; so that slowly energising the electro-magnet when the PV needs to bereleased causes the vaporiser to gracefully rise up out of the case. • the lifting mechanism is a damped spring that is placed under tension when thevaporiser is inserted fully into the case or the case is closed; and a latch securesthe spring in its tensioned state and releases the spring when the case is opened,enabling the spring to extend, gently lifting the vaporiser up 1 cm approximatelyso that it can be easily grasped. • the case includes a liquid filling nozzle or stem or aperture that engages with thevaporiser and enables e-liquid to pass from a reservoir or cartridge in the caseinto the vaporiser. • the lifting mechanism is automatically activated when the case is opened. • the case includes a hinged holder into which a vaporiser is slid for storage, andthe case is opened by causing the holder to hinge open. • the case includes a sensor to detect when the vaporiser has been withdrawn fromthe case. • if the lifting mechanism is activated, then a signal is sent to the vaporiser to turnthe vaporiser on or otherwise alter its state. • the case is part of an electronic vaporiser system, such as an e-cigarette system. • the case is part of a medicinally approved nicotine drug delivery system. • the case includes a holder for an electronic vaporiser is the same approximatesize as a cigarette • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette and includesno control buttons that could impede smooth ejection from the case. • the electronic vaporiser has a square or rectangular cross-section with roundedcorners and includes a long PCB inserted lengthwise into the vaporiser • the electronic vaporiser is filled from a user-replaceable e-liquid cartridge • the electronic vaporiser is refillable with e-liquid only when inserted, whole andintact and not dis-assembled, into a re-fill case that includes a fluid transfermechanism to transfer e-liquid into the vaporiser • the electronic vaporiser is filled with e-liquid using a piezo-electric pump fluidtransfer mechanism.

Case Feature 5: A non-contact sensor detects PV release from the case: A non-contact sensor (e.g. a magnetic sensor, such as a reed switch, Hall effect sensor etc.)detects when the PV enters and leaves the charge/re-fill case by sensing the presence,proximity or movement of a small magnet or strip of metal in the PV (or some othermechanism for disrupting the local magnetic field around the sensor); a non-contactswitch like a magnetic sensor has the advantage of being robust and reliable and does notaffect the smooth, tactile quality of inserting and withdrawing the PV from the case,unlike physical (e.g. electrical) contacts. Similarly, a light sensor could be used; forexample, a light sensor in the PV could detect when light was incident on the PV,inferring that the PV is now in an open case or no longer in the case at all; alternatively,the case could include a small light sensor facing a LED light source in the case;withdrawal of the PV triggers the light sensor since light from the LED is now incidenton the sensor. Many variants of sensor are possible. When withdrawal of the PV isdetected by the PV, it can automatically start heating the atomising coil so that the PV isat its optimal operational temperature when the user takes his first vape.

We can generalise this feature as follows:

An electronic cigarette vaporiser system that includes a case and a vaporiser that is storedin the case, and the system includes a non-contact sensor that detects release orwithdrawal of the vaporiser from the case.

Other optional features: • when withdrawal of the vaporiser is detected, then the vaporiser electroniccircuitry changes state. • changes state to a ready mode • changes state to a ready or pre-heating mode in which an inhalation detector isactivated. • changes state to a heating mode, in which the atomising unit is at least partlyactivated - so that the vaporiser is fully heated when the first inhalation is taken. • when withdrawal of the vaporiser from the case is detected by the vaporiser orthe vaporiser receives data indicating that the vaporiser has been withdrawn fromthe case, it automatically starts heating the atomising unit so that the vaporiser isat its optimal operational temperature when the user takes his first vape. • the case includes some or all of the non-contact sensor • the vaporiser includes some or all of the non-contact sensor • the sensor is a non-contact magnetic sensor, such as a reed switch, or Hall effectsensor that detects when the PV enters and leaves a charge/re-fill case by sensingthe presence, proximity or movement of a small magnet or strip of metal in thePV or some other mechanism for disrupting the local magnetic field around thesensor. • a light sensor in the PV detects when light is incident on the PV, inferring thatthe PV is now in an open case or no longer in the case at all; • the case includes a small LED light source and sensor; the LED is illuminatedwhen the vaporiser is in the case and light reflected from the vaporiser isdetected by the sensor; withdrawal of the vaporiser triggers the light sensor sincelight is no longer reflected off the vaporiser into the sensor. • Sensor is an IMU in the PV • the case is a re-fill and re-charge case. • the electronic vaporiser system is an e-cigarette system. • the electronic vaporiser is a medicinally approved nicotine drug delivery system. • the case includes a holder for an electronic vaporiser is the same approximatesize as a cigarette • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette and includesno control buttons that could impede smooth ejection from the case. • the electronic vaporiser has a square or rectangular cross-section with roundedcorners and includes a long PCB inserted lengthwise into the vaporiser • the electronic vaporiser is filled from a user-replaceable e-liquid cartridge • the electronic vaporiser is refillable with e-liquid only when inserted, whole andintact and not dis-assembled, into a re-fill case that includes a fluid transfermechanism to transfer e-liquid into the vaporiser • the electronic vaporiser is filled with e-liquid using a piezo-electric pump fluidtransfer mechanism. •

Case Feature 6: sensor in the piezo pump feed line

The e-liquid feed or inlet tube includes a sensor that can detect whether the feed into thepiezo micro-pump is liquid or air; this is very useful to know because the piezo-pumpoperates in different modes depending on the viscosity of the material being pumped.So being able to automatically alter the cycle time or frequency of the piezo-pump, basedon an automatic assessment of the substance being pumped, is very useful.

We can generalise this feature as follows:

An electronic cigarette vaporiser system including a piezo-electric pump that pumps e-liquid into an electronic vaporizer, in which a sensor detects whether air or e-liquid ispresent in the liquid feed line into the piezo-electric pump and adjusts an operatingparameter of the pump accordingly.

Other optional features: • the operating parameter that is adjusted is the frequency of the actuators in thepiezo-pump • the operating parameter that is adjusted is the flow-rate provide by the piezo-pump • the operating parameter that is adjusted is the pressure delivered by the piezo-pump • if the sensor detects that air is entering the piezo pump, then the piezo pump iscontrolled to operate at a high frequency, such as between 150 — 400Hz (andpreferably 300Hz). • if the sensor detects that e-liquid is entering the piezo-pump, then the piezopump is controlled to operate at a lower frequency, such as 7 — 20 Hz (andpreferably 15Hz). • a temperature measurement device provides a further input that is used to adjustone or more of the operating parameters of the piezo-pump • ambient and/or e-liquid temperature is measured by the temperaturemeasurement device • as the temperature measured by the temperature measurement device gets lower,then the piezo pump is operated at a lower frequency. • A viscosity measurement device provides a further input that is used to adjustone or more of the operating parameters of the piezo-pump • As viscosity increases, then the piezo pump is operated at a lower frequency • The sensor includes a pair of electrical contacts on either side of the tube; andwhen there is e-liquid in the portion of the tube around which the sensors areplaced, then there is a large resistance; when there is air in that portion, then theresistance is infinite or too high to measure. • The sensor is a capacitive sensor. • The sensor is an infra-red light sensor. • The piezo-pump and sensor are in the case • The piezo-pump and sensor are in the vaporiser • The piezo-pump and sensor are in a user-replaceable cartridge • the electronic vaporiser is filled from a user-replaceable e-liquid cartridge • the electronic vaporiser is refillable with e-liquid only when inserted, whole andintact and not dis-assembled, into a re-fill case that includes a fluid transfermechanism to transfer e-liquid into the vaporiser •

Where the piezo pump has twin-piezo actuators, then one problem that can arise is thateach actuator, over time, starts to operate slightly differently. Proper operation of thepump requires both actuators to operate identically, delivering exactly the same quantityof liquid for each pumping stroke. Pumping performance can drop significantly overtime because of this mis-match in operation and output. In our system, amicrocontroller can independently adjust the phase or timing or power of each voltagepulse that triggers a piezo-actuator until both actuators are operating together in themost optimal manner.

We can generalise this feature as follows:

An electronic cigarette vaporiser system including a piezo-electric pump with multiplepiezo-actuators, in which a microcontroller independently adjusts the phase or timing orpower of each voltage pulse that triggers a piezo-actuator.

Other optional features: • the microcontroller continuously or regularly monitors the efficiency orperformance of the entire pump and adjusts the phase, timing, or powerdelivered to each piezo-actuator relationship until or so that the optimumpumping performance is achieved. • Pumping performance is measured using a flow sensor, such as a MEMS basedflow sensor • if one actuator is delivering less e-liquid than the other, then the power deliveredto that first actuator is increased, or the power delivered to the other actuator isdecreased. • For the less effective actuator, then the peak voltage delivered to that actuator isincreased, or the peak voltage delivered to the other actuator is decreased. • For the less effective actuator, then the start of the voltage pulse is broughtforward for that actuator, or the start of the voltage pulse for the other actuatoris delayed. • The microcontroller continuously or regularly adjusts the various parametersaffecting each actuator’s performance until optimal pumping from the entirepiezo-pump is achieved. • the piezo-pump is in the case. • the piezo-pump is in the vaporiser. • the piezo-pump is in a user-replaceable cartridge. • the electronic vaporiser is refillable with e-liquid only when inserted, whole andintact and not dis-assembled, into a re-fill case that includes the piezo-pump fluidtransfer mechanism to transfer e-liquid into the vaporiser.

Another aspect of this disclosure is a piezo-electric pump with multiple piezo-actuators,in which a microcontroller independently adjusts the phase or timing or power of eachvoltage pulse that triggers a piezo-actuator in the piezo-pump. A microcontrollercontinuously or regularly monitors the efficiency or performance of the entire pump andadjusts the phase, timing, or power delivered to each piezo-actuator relationship until orso that the optimum pumping performance is achieved.

Cartridge Features 1-4

Cartridge Feature 1: The cartridge or other form or parent reservoir includes anair pressure valve. As the fluid level inside the cartridge/reservoir falls (e.g. becausefluid is being transferred into the child reservoir in the PV), atmospheric pressure forcesopen the air pressure valve to allow air to flow in and ensure equalisation of the airpressure. Air pressure equalisation or normalisation is also important whenever theambient air pressure alters (e.g. when in an aircraft) or the temperature changes, causingthe e-liquid in the cartridge to expand or contract, since it prevents the e-fluid leakagethat might otherwise occur. If no air pressure valve is provided, then, as the cartridgeempties, a partial vacuum forms, retarding fluid transfer out of the cartridge.

The valve also prevents contaminants from entering the cartridge/reservoir, which hencepreserves the condition and stability of the e-liquid.

The cartridge is non-refillable, tamper evident and with an airtight seal to preserve e-liquid stability during transit and storage. The cartridge lid includes a small air hole toallow air to enter and leave a plenum chamber formed by the lid as one face, and ridges in the lid as the sides and a PTFE sheet facing the lid as the opposite face. The PTFEsheet is impermeable to e-liquid but permeable to air, hence enabling the air pressureequalization within the cartridge. The plenum provides for a large surface area for theair/PTFE interface. The PTFE membrane is typically constructed from PTFE Powderthat is sintered and formed into a bulk microporous structure. The membrane is in theform of a rectangle approximately 50 mm x 10 mm, and 0.25mm thick, giving a largesurface area. This is ultrasonically fused with the lid moulding window aperture of asimilar size. The cartridge material is FIDPE, which can be effectively ultra-sonicallywelded to PTFE. Other materials than PTFE may be used if they have the rightproperties of being impermeable to e-liquid, but permeable to air; for example, PTFEcoated paper may be suitable.

Instead of a PTFE sheet, a simple mechanical, e.g. a duckbill valve, could be usedinstead.

We can generalise this feature as follows:

An e-liquid cartridge or other form of parent reservoir designed to supply e-liquid to anelectronic cigarette vaporiser, in which the cartridge includes an air pressure valve.

Other optional features: • the air pressure valve is designed so that as the fluid level inside thecartridge/reservoir falls (e.g. because fluid is being transferred into the childreservoir in the PV), atmospheric pressure enables the air pressure valve to allowair to flow in and ensure equalisation of the air pressure. • the cartridge, in use, engages with a fluid transfer mechanism that extracts e-liquid from the cartridge • valve is air-permeable but impermeable to c-liquid. • valve is an oleophobic material • valve is a hydrophobic or super-hydrophobic material • valve is an air-porous, e-liquid impermeable layer or membrane that permits airpressure equalisation within the cartridge. • valve is an air-porous e-liquid impermeable PTFE layer or membrane. • valve is an air-porous e-liquid impermeable PTFE-coated paper layer ormembrane. • PTFE layer or membrane includes on its air-facing side strands of polypropyleneor another plastic that increases the surface area of the air-interface and/orfacilitates welding to the body of the cartridge • the valve is a mechanical valve, such as a duckbill valve. • the cartridge is non-refillable, tamper evident and with an airtight seal to preservee-liquid stability during storage and transportation. • the cartridge has a lid and that lid includes a small air hole to allow air to enterand leave a plenum chamber formed by (i) the lid as one face of the plenum, and(s) internal ridges in the lid as the sides of the plenum and an air-porous, e-liquidimpermeable sheet facing the lid as the opposite face of the plenum, the sheetbeing in contact with the e-liquid in the cartridge. • the sheet is ultrasonically fused with the lid moulding window aperture of asimilar size. • the Cartridge material is FIDPE, PETG or COC, ultra-sonically welded to PTFE. • the cartridge is not pressurized to a degree sufficient to expel e-liquid. • the cartridge is filled with an inert gas at manufacture. • the cartridge is adapted to be inserted into or attached to a portable, personalstorage and carrying case for the electronic vaporiser and further adapted toengage with a fluid transfer system in the case. • the cartridge is adapted to be inserted into or attached to the electronic vaporiserand further adapted to engage with a fluid transfer system in the vaporiser. • the cartridge includes an integral fluid transfer mechanism • the cartridge is no greater than lOmL in capacity.

We can also generalise beyond an e-liquid cartridge, to a cartridge with any sort of liquid:A cartridge or other form of parent reservoir designed to supply liquid to an electronicvaporiser, in which the cartridge includes an air pressure valve. This cartridge mayinclude each of the features defined above.

Cartridge Feature 2: Cartridge with chip

Most electronic vaporiser e-cigarettes allow users to refill liquid tanks with anything,which results in potentially high toxicity, coil contamination and device malfunctioning.No such manual refilling is possible with the closed cartridge in this system. To verifycompliance and indicate any tampering, each cartridge has its own unique serial numberwritten in a One-Wire flash memory chip (we use the term ‘chip’ to refer to a solid statememory, microcontroller or microprocessor). The chip is a Maxim DS28E15 securitychip or authenticator. After a cartridge is installed, the case reads the cartridge’s serialnumber and verifies whether its hash-function is valid. If the verification is okay, thecartridge will be used to refill the e-cig. If not, the case will block any liquid usage fromthis cartridge. The memory chip is the same sort type of chip used on ink-jet cartridgesand its operation is the same.

The cartridge internal memory stores the liquid level too. For example, the case measuresor infers the quantity of e-liquid pumped from the cartridge and stores a record of theestimated e-liquid left in the cartridge (it assumes the cartridge started with lOmL of e-liquid). The case writes this value into the cartridge. If the cartridge is removed but notentirely used it will keep its last liquid level in memory. The case also stores this liquidlevel. When the cartridge is installed back into the case, then the case will read and usethis number. A cartridge can be transferred to a different case and that new case willread out the correct liquid level for that cartridge and write the new level after some useback into the cartridge.

Reading and storing serial numbers also allows the case to gather usage statistics andsend it over the Internet to the factory database (see above).

Each cartridge has information about when and where it was produced, and any tax dueand when it was paid. Using this information and current time and data from the user'ssmartphone we can detect if liquid in the cartridge is out-of-date or a counterfeit.

We can generalise this feature as follows

An e-liquid cartridge designed to provide e-liquid for an electronic cigarette vaporisersystem, the cartridge including a chip that stores and outputs a unique identity for the cartridge and/or data defining the e-liquid stored in the cartridge, and the cartridge beingadapted to be inserted into or form an integral part of the electronic vaporiser system.

Other optional features: • the cartridge, in use, engages with a fluid transfer mechanism that extracts e-liquid from the cartridge • the cartridge includes an integral fluid transfer mechanism • data stored and output by the chip defines one or more of: flavor, nicotinestrength, manufacturing batch number, date of manufacture or filling, tax data,quantity of e-liquid stored in the cartridge. • the electronic vaporiser system includes a storage case adapted to both re-fill anelectronic vaporiser with e-liquid from the cartridge and also re-charge a batteryin the electronic vaporiser PV; and the chip outputs the unique ID and/or thedata defining the e-liquid stored in the cartridge to a microcontroller ormicroprocessor in the case. • the cartridge is adapted to be inserted into or attached to a portable, personalstorage and carrying case for an electronic vaporiser and further adapted toengage with a fluid transfer system in the case; and the chip outputs the uniqueID and/or the data defining the e-liquid stored in the cartridge to amicrocontroller or microprocessor in the case and the unique ID and/or datacontrols the operation of the fluid transfer system. • the cartridge is adapted to be inserted into or attached to an electronic vaporiserand further adapted to engage with a fluid transfer system in the vaporiser; andthe chip outputs the unique ID and/or the data defining the e-liquid stored in thecartridge to a microcontroller or microprocessor in the case and the unique IDand/or data controls the operation of the fluid transfer system. • cartridge includes an integral fluid transfer mechanism • electronic vaporiser system is an e-cigarette PV. • electronic vaporiser system is a medicinally approved nicotine drug deliverysystem. • the cartridge is non-refillable, tamper evident and with an airtight seal to preservee-liquid stability during storage and transportation. • cartridge includes a data transfer contact or contacts, such as contacts using asingle wire protocol. • cartridge is no larger than 1 OmL in capacity. • cartridge includes two apertures, the first aperture being used to fill the cartridgeon a filling line and then being covered with a bung or plug and the secondaperture being sealed by a septum designed to be penetrated or punctured by aneedle or stem that withdraws e-liquid from the cartridge. • single wire connection is used to read data from the chip. • unique identity the data defining the e-liquid stored in the cartridge is processedby a processor in a device into which the cartridge is inserted or attached (e.g. thecase into which the cartridge is inserted or attached or the vaporiser). • processor in the device receives data from a remote server either permitting thecartridge to be used by the case or preventing it from being used by the device. • processor calculates or determines if the unique identity is valid and sends asignal either permitting a fluid transfer mechanism to work with that cartridge orpreventing it from working with that cartridge. • processor in the device writes data back to the chip. • data written back to the chip includes an estimate or measure of the quantity ofe-liquid remaining in, or provided by, the cartridge. • The estimate or measure is calculated from data from or associated with thepump, such as the number of pumping cycles • The estimate or measure is calculated using the ambient temperature and/or thee-liquid temperature • processor in the device stores the quantity of e-liquid remaining in, or providedby, each cartridge, as defined by the unique identity for the cartridge. • processor in the device reads out from the chip the quantity of e-liquid remainingin, or provided by, the cartridge and compares that with its stored data for thequantity of e-liquid remaining in, or provided by, that cartridge and prevents useof that cartridge if the quantity of e-liquid remaining in, or provided by, thecartridge, as declared by the chip, exceeds the stored data for that cartridge, tomake unauthorized re-filling of the cartridge pointless. • the cartridge is not pressurized to a degree sufficient to expel e-liquid. • the cartridge is filled with an inert gas at manufacture

We can generalise beyond an e-liquid cartridge to a liquid cartridge: A cartridge designedto provide liquid for an electronic vaporiser system, the cartridge including a chip thatstores and outputs (i) a unique identity for the cartridge and (ii) data defining the liquidstored in the cartridge, and the cartridge being adapted to be inserted into or form anintegral part of the electronic vaporiser system.

Cartridge Feature 3: Cartridge with two apertures

Filling of an e-liquid cartridge or cartomizer on an automated or semi-automated lineconventionally requires a fine needle to puncture a rubber seal to that cartridge orcartomizer; when the needle is withdrawn, the rubber seal closes itself. This fillingprocess needs to be done carefully, and this adds to the cost of the process. Filling largenumbers of cartridges needs however to be done very cost-effectively and rapidly. Inour system, we remove the need for a needle to puncture a seal during the filling stage;instead the cartridge is designed to have two apertures: one aperture is used for fillingwith a filling tube — there is no puncturing of a rubber seal. The other does have arubber seal which is punctured, but only when the cartridge is inserted into the re-fillcase. This approach reconciles the need for low-cost, high speed filling with e-liquid onautomated or semi-automated manufacturing lines with minimal adaptation with theneed for reliable storage of the e-liquid in the cartridge and reliable delivery of the e-liquid from the cartridge when inserted into the re-fill case.

We can generalise this feature as follows:

An e-liquid cartridge designed to provide e-liquid for an electronic cigarette vaporiser,the cartridge including: two apertures, the first aperture being used to fill the cartridge on a filling lineand then being covered with a bung or plug or other form of seal and the secondaperture being sealed by a septum or other form of seal that is designed to be penetratedor punctured by a needle or stem that, in use, withdraws e-liquid from the cartridge.

Optional features: • a strip covers one or both apertures. • the strip is adhesive and tamper evident • the strip is peeled off by a user prior to use • alternatively, the strip does not need to be peeled off by a user prior to usebecause it includes gap over the second aperture that is large enough so that afilling needle or stem can pass through that gap to extract e-liquid from thecartridge, but is small enough to show any tampering to the septum or other sealto the second aperture. • the apertures are in one face of the cartridge. • the cartridge is purged with an inert gas prior to filling with e-liquid • the first aperture is sized to enable rapid filling with c-liquid on an automated or semi-automated manufacturing line • the cartridge is not pressurized to a degree sufficient to expel e-liquid. • the cartridge, in use, engages with a fluid transfer mechanism that extracts e- liquid from the cartridge via the needle or stem that penetrates the septum or sealcovering the second aperture in the cartridge. • the cartridge is adapted to be inserted into or attached to a portable, personalstorage and carrying case for an electronic vaporiser and further adapted toengage with a fluid transfer system in the case. • the cartridge is adapted to be inserted into or attached to an electronic vaporiserand further adapted to engage with a fluid transfer system in the vaporiser. • the cartridge includes an integral fluid transfer mechanism • the cartridge is no greater than lOmL in capacity.

We can generalise beyond an e-liquid cartridge to a cartridge with any sort of liquid: Acartridge designed to provide liquid for a vaporiser, the cartridge including: two apertures, the first aperture being used to fill the cartridge on a filling lineand then being covered with a bung or plug or other form of seal and the secondaperture being sealed by a septum or other form of seal designed to be penetrated orpunctured by a needle or stem that, in use, withdraws liquid from the cartridge.

Cartridge Feature 4: the cartridge stores the batch number of the e-liquid it isfilled with and can be remotely disabled from using specific batch numbers

Product safety is vitally important in the e-cigarette and also medicines categories. Whilstevery precaution is taken to ensure that all e-liquids pass all applicable toxicology andother safety standards, it remains possible that contaminants might inadvertently beintroduced, or that research will reveal that an ingredient previously thought safe is infact potentially harmful. Because our cartridges store on a secure chip data that identifiesthe specific batch number of e-liquid used, and a unique ID for that cartridge, andbecause they are designed to work with a connected vaporising system (i.e. one whichcan receive data from a remote server), we can remotely control, without any user inputneeded, the vaporizing system to not use any batch that is considered potentiallyharmful. For example, if a batch is identified as potentially harmful, then we can send asignal from a server that is received by the app running on a user’s smartphone, which inturn is used to send a message to the case with the affected batch number or unique IDs.The case can then store that batch number and/or unique IDs and then compare thebatch number or unique IDs of every cartridge inserted into the case with that storednumber; where there is a match, then the case can disable or prevent use of that affectedcartridge and also write warning data onto the chip of that cartridge to prevent anyfurther use. A warning message can then be displayed on the case and the user’ssmartphone alerting them that a different cartridge should be used instead.

The same approach can be applied to the date of manufacturing data held on thecartridge chip: for example, the microcontroller in the case can check whether the date ofmanufacture is within required tolerance — for example 6 months if the shelf life is 6months and prevent use if the cartridge is older than 6 months.

We can generalise this feature as follows:

An electronic cigarette vaporiser system including a cartridge designed to provide a liquidor other substance for the electronic vaporiser system, the cartridge including a chip thatstores data related to the batch number of the substance stored in the cartridge, and thecartridge being adapted to be inserted into or form an integral part of the electronicvaporiser system.

Optional features: • the electronic vaporiser system reads the data from the cartridge chip andcompares that data with stored data and, depending on the result of thatcomparison, either prevents or permits use of that substance. • the electronic vaporiser system prevents use of that substance by preventing ornot initiating use of a fluid transfer mechanism that would otherwise transfersome of that substance from the cartridge. • the electronic vaporiser system prevents use of that substance by sending a signalto the chip that sets a flag or other marker on the chip that, when read by the • the flag or marker disables or prevents the cartridge from discharging any of thesubstance from the cartridge • the electronic vaporiser system receives a wireless signal that controls thedisablement of a specific cartridge. • the electronic vaporiser system receives a wireless signal that includes batchnumbers that are defective or not to be used. • the wireless signal that controls the disablement of a specific cartridge, batchnumber or range of batch numbers is sent from a connected smartphone app orother personal device, which in turn receives a wireless control signal from aremote control centre. • the data related to the batch number of the substance stored in the cartridge is anumber or other identifier that allows the specific substance in the cartridge to betracked back to its manufacture. • the data related to the batch number of the substance stored in the cartridge is abatch manufacture number • the data related to the batch number of the substance stored in the cartridge is anID, unique to that cartridge • the case or connected smartphone app or other personal device stores the datarelated to the batch number for the cartridge used or inserted into the electronicvaporiser system. • the cartridge is not pressurized to a degree sufficient to expel any substance. • the cartridge is filled with an inert gas at manufacture • the cartridge, in use, engages with a fluid transfer mechanism that extracts thesubstance from the cartridge • the substance is e-liquid. • the chip stores data related to the date of manufacture of the substance stored inthe cartridge and the system reads the date data from the cartridge chip andeither prevents or permits use of that substance depending on that date. • the cartridge is adapted to be inserted into or attached to a portable, personalstorage and carrying case for an electronic vaporiser and further adapted toengage with a fluid transfer system in the case. • the cartridge is adapted to be inserted into or attached to an electronic vaporiserand further adapted to engage with a fluid transfer system in the vaporiser. • the cartridge includes an integral fluid transfer mechanism • cartridge is no larger than 1 OmL in capacity.

We can further generalise the feature as a cartridge that forms part of the electronicvaporiser cigarette system as defined above. PV Features 1-16 PV Feature 1: PV includes an air pressure valve: the PV includes an air pressurevalve or device so that excess air can escape from an e-liquid ‘child’ reservoir in the PV.The ‘child’ reservoir is the reservoir in the PV that is directly filled by a ‘parent’ reservoir;the ‘parent’ reservoir can be an e-liquid cartridge that is removable from the PV or case.This child reservoir is designed to enable an atomizing coil unit to draw in controlledamounts of e-liquid for vaping; e-liquid in the secondary child reservoir is typicallywicked into the atomising coil unit.

So, to re-cap, the parent reservoir, typically a user-removable and replaceable, sealed orclosed e-liquid capsule or cartridge, perhaps of capacity 5mL or lOmL, is slotted into thePV or the re-fill/re-charge case, and a fluid transfer mechanism operates to transfer e-liquid from the capsule or cartridge into the ‘child’ reservoir in the PV, typically 2mL orless (it is 0.2mL in the illustrated implementation). The heating coil unit is arranged to gradually wick or otherwise transfer some of the e-liquid up from the child reservoir innormal vaping operation.

Air needs to escape from the child reservoir in the PV when that reservoir is being filledunder pressure with e-liquid, otherwise excessively high pressures can build up in the e-liquid in the child reservoir, which can lead to leakage as the e-liquid finds a way toescape via the atomising coil unit and hence out through the vapour inhalation aperturesthat are connected to the coil unit. Also, air needs to enter into the child reservoir as e-liquid is consumed in normal use, since otherwise a partial vacuum would be created,which would tend to prevent or retard e-liquid in the child reservoir wicking/entering theatomising coil unit.

Also, if the ambient air pressure changes, for example in an aircraft where the ambientpressure can rapidly fall to significantly lower than sea-level atmospheric pressure, thenthe valve will operate to ensure that the air pressure in the reservoir can rapidly andreliably equalise to ambient air pressure in the aircraft cabin, again preventing leakages ofe-liquid from the PV.

Hence, the PV includes a valve that, for example, equalises the air pressure in the PV toambient air pressure, or alters it to bring it closer to ambient air pressure (‘normalising’)in order to prevent leakage when filling the PV with e-liquid and to ensure correctoperation whilst the PV is consuming e-liquid.

The air-pressure valve or device could have no moving parts, but instead be a barriermade of an air-porous material, such as a sintered polymer or metal, coated with orotherwise including a barrier or layer of an air-porous substance that is not porous to e-liquid, such as an oleophobic material or a hydrophobic or super-hydrophobic material,for example, PTFE or a suitable porous ceramic. The air-pressure valve or device couldbe positioned to allow air to flow out from the ‘child’ reservoir. Equally, it will allow airto flow into the child reservoir as e-liquid is consumed and also as ambient pressure rises(e.g. as an aircraft descends from high altitude). Examples of suitable oleophobicmaterials are sintered phosphor bronze, sintered stainless steel and sintered PU plastic.

Where the vaporizer uses a conventional cotton wick and coil, then the air valve isseparate from the wick. However, where a ceramic coil is used (typically a hollowceramic wicking cylinder with an embedded heating coil wound within the hollow core),then the ceramic material itself acts as the air valve since the ceramic itself is air-permeable.

We can generalise this feature as follows:

An electronic cigarette vaporiser that includes an air pressure valve or device to enableexcess air to escape from an e-liquid reservoir in the vaporizer during pressurized fillingof the vaporizer with e-liquid.

Other optional features: • the reservoir is a child reservoir and is filled by a parent reservoir, the parentreservoir being a cartridge that is removable from the vaporiser or a case thatstores, re-fills and re-charges the vaporiser. • the child reservoir supplies e-liquid designed to enable an atomizing unit to drawin controlled amounts of e-liquid for vaping. • the parent reservoir is a user-removable and replaceable, sealed or closed e-liquidcapsule or cartridge, of capacity lOmL or less, and is slotted into or otherwiseused by the PV or a portable re-fill/re-charge case for the PV, and a fluidtransfer mechanism operates to transfer e-liquid from the capsule or cartridgeinto the child reservoir in the PV, of capacity 3mL or less. • vaporizer includes a ceramic cell (i.e. a ceramic atomizing unit) and the airpressure device is the wall of the ceramic cell. • The ceramic cell includes a cylindrical wicking cylinder with a cylindrical boreand with an embedded heating coil wound within the bore. • reservoir is a chamber arranged outside of the external wall of the ceramic cell • the child reservoir includes (i) one or more small channels and (ii) a second childreservoir ted by the small channel(s) which surrounds the atomising unit andfrom which e-liquid is drawn (e.g. by a wick or other porous member) into theatomising unit (e.g. a heating coil inside an air chamber). • the valve or device permits air to enter into the child reservoir in the vaporiser asliquid is consumed in normal use by the vaporiser. • the valve or device permits air to enter into the child reservoir if the ambient airpressure changes, for example in an aircraft. • the valve or device is a barrier made of an air-porous material, such as a sinteredpolymer or metal, coated with or otherwise including a barrier or layer of an air-porous substance that is not porous to e-liquid. • the barrier or layer of the air-porous substance that is not porous to e-liquid isan oleophobic material or a hydrophobic or super-hydrophobic material. • the valve or device in which the oleophobic material is one of: sinteredphosphor bronze, sintered stainless steel and sintered PU plastic. • the air-porous substance is a PTFE membrane. • the PTFE membrane is compressively secured into an aperture that is connectedto an air passage that leads to the child reservoir. • the valve or device is made of a porous ceramic material. • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette and includesno control buttons • vaporiser is automatically activated when it detects that it has been withdrawnfrom a case that otherwise stores the vaporiser. • the electronic vaporiser has a square or rectangular cross-section with roundedcorners and includes a long PCB inserted lengthwise into the vaporiser • the electronic vaporiser has a squircie cross-section • the electronic vaporiser is only re-fillable from a user-replaceable closed, e-liquidcartridge • the electronic vaporiser is refillable with e-liquid only when inserted, whole andintact and not dis-assembled, into a re-fill case that includes a fluid transfermechanism to transfer e-liquid under pressure into the vaporiser from a user-replaceable closed, e-liquid cartridge • the electronic vaporiser is filled with e-liquid using a piezo-electric pump PV Feature 2: PV includes a mechanical valve that is pushed up from its seatwhen filling takes place: The PV includes a mechanical valve that opens when the PVis being filled — for example, a nozzle or stem from the re-fill case or cartridge is inserted into an e-liquid filling aperture in the PV (or as the PV is inserted into the re-fill case orcartridge) for filling the PV with e-liquid. This causes the valve, situated just behind thee-filling aperture, to be pushed open or rise up from its seat, moving against the biasforce of a small spring, so that e-liquid can freely flow through the nozzle or stem into achild reservoir in the PV.

When the nozzle or stem is withdrawn (e.g. the PV is withdrawn from the re-fill case orthe filling cartridge or capsule withdrawn from its filling position in the PV where thatcapsule fits directly into the PV and there is no separate re-fill and re-charge case) thenthe valve automatically closes by resting back on its seat.

Hence, when the PV is not being actively filled with e-liquid, for example, it is being heldfor vaping, or is stored in a bag, the valve is fully closed and this prevents any e-liquid inthe ‘child reservoir’ in the PV from leaking out into the user’s mouth. The childreservoir here includes a feed pipe that leads into a second child reservoir whichsurrounds the atomising unit and from which e-liquid is drawn (e.g. by a wick or otherporous member) into the atomising chamber (e.g. a heating coil inside an air chamber).

Once the PV is withdrawn from the case, or the stem from the filling ‘parent’ reservoir iswithdrawn from the PV, then the valve sits back down under the biasing force of a smallspring and the valve then re-seals against its seat, preventing leakage of any e-fluid outfrom the child reservoir in the PV. Ensuring that there is no leakage from the e-liquidfilling process is especially important if the filling nozzle or aperture in the PV is at thesame end as the inhalation nozzles, but this solution applies irrespective of where thefilling nozzle or aperture is located.

The stem or nozzle that protrudes from the removable cartridge or other form of parentreservoir, or is connected to the cartridge via a micro-pump, engages with the valve inthe PV to push it off its seat and also passes through a duckbill valve or a series of twoor more duckbill valves; when the stem or nozzle is withdrawn then the duckbill wipesany droplets of e-juice from the stem, ensuring that those droplets are not deposited onany surface from where they could be ingested by the user or leak out from the PV, butare instead retained in a cavity in the PV behind the duckbill valve.

We can generalise this feature as follows: A electronic cigarette vaporiser that includes a mechanical valve that is (i) pushed upfrom its seat to enable automatic filling of the vaporiser with e-liquid from a fluidtransfer mechanism and (ii) returns to seal against its seat at other times when thevaporiser is being vaped or inhaled from (e.g. when filling is complete).

Other optional features: • a nozzle or stem from an e-liquid filling device, such as a re-fill case or removablecartridge, is inserted into the PV for filling the PV with e-liquid and this causesthe valve to be pushed open or rise up from its seat, moving against the biasforce of a small coil spring or other biasing device, so that e-liquid can freely flowfrom the e-liquid filling device through the nozzle or stem into a child reservoirin the PV. • the e-liquid filling device is a re-fill case or removable e-liquid cartridge. • when the nozzle or stem is withdrawn then the valve automatically closes byresting back on its seat. • a child reservoir in the PV is filled when the valve is open and a fluid transfermechanism pumps e-liquid into the PV. • the child reservoir includes a feed pipe that leads into a second child reservoirwhich surrounds an atomising unit and from which e-liquid is drawn (e.g. by awick or other porous member, such as a ceramic cell) into the atomising unit (e.g.a heating element inside an air chamber). • the stem or nozzle in the re-fill case or cartridge and that engages with the valvein the PV to push it off its seat, passes through a duckbill valve or a series of twoor more duckbill valves; when the PV is withdrawn away from the stem or nozzlethen the duckbill wipes any droplets of e-liquid from the stem or nozzle, ensuringthat those droplets are not deposited on any surface from where they could beingested by the user, but are instead retained in a cavity in the PV behind theduckbill valve. • the stem or nozzle in the re-fill case or cartridge etc. and that engages with thevalve in the PV to push it off its seat includes a stop valve to shut off any e-liquidwhen the vaporiser is withdrawn from the stem or nozzle. • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette and includesno control buttons • the electronic vaporiser is automatically activated when it detects that it has beenwithdrawn from a case that stores the vaporiser. • the electronic vaporiser has a square or rectangular cross-section with roundedcorners and includes a long PCB inserted lengthwise into the vaporiser • the electronic vaporiser has a squircle cross-section • the electronic vaporiser is only re-fillable from a user-replaceable closed, e-liquidcartridge • the electronic vaporiser is refillable with c-liquid only when inserted, whole andintact and not dis-assembled, into a re-fill case that includes a fluid transfermechanism to transfer e-liquid into the vaporiser from a user-replaceable closed,e-liquid cartridge • the electronic vaporiser is filled with e-liquid using a piezo-electric pump fluidtransfer mechanism PV Feature 3: PV or case has an IMU: The PV includes an IMU (inertialmeasurement unit) to detect when it is being lifted up and out of the case so it can startheating (e.g. activate the atomising coil); it can also tell if it is left on a table and so canpower down. Movement-related data can be stored and uploaded to a server (forexample, sent over Bluetooth (RTM) to the user’s connected smartphone, which in turnsends it to the server). Movement data can be combined with data from the pressureactivated sensor or switch that detects an inhalation. This data can be useful since itshows how the PV is being used, the duration of a vaping session etc. Fullyinstrumenting the vaporiser in this way, including tracking the time of day of all events,generates data that could be very powerful for scientists and regulators seeking to betterunderstand how these products are being used, as well as to enable designers to improvethe system.

The case also senses its movements using an IMU or accelerometer; the case and the e-cig PV also have capacitive sensors to check if one or both of them are actually in theuser's hand. This allows the case to safely update the PV firmware by detecting that it isnot in the user's hand and laying still, therefore the PV is not going to be removed whichmay corrupt the firmware. This also allows the case to stop any refilling process if it is upside down.

Also, based on the information gathered from device sensors we can calculate users’activity patterns and use it in different use-cases, such as firmware updates, or indicatingbattery and liquid levels with LEDs on the front device panel.

We can generalise this feature as follows:

An electronic cigarette vaporiser that includes an IMU (inertial measurement unit).

Other optional features: • the IMU enables the vaporiser to detect when it is being lifted up and out of acase in which it has been stored so that it can change state. • the change of state is to turn on. • the change of state also includes to start heating an atomising element. • the data from the IMU enables the vaporiser to tell if it is not being used (e.g. hasjust been left on a table) and so can power down. • movement data from the IMU is combined with data from a pressure activatedsensor or switch in the vaporiser that detects an inhalation. • the time of day of all events, including movement events, is recorded. • data collected by the vaporiser is sent from the vaporiser for external storage. • the external storage is a memory in a case in which the vaporiser is stored. • the electronic vaporiser includes data transfer contact(s) that engage with datatransfer contact(s) in the case. • the electronic vaporiser system is an e-cigarette system. • the electronic vaporiser is a medicinally approved nicotine drug delivery system. • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette and includesno control buttons • the electronic vaporiser is automatically activated when it detects that it has beenwithdrawn from a case that otherwise stores the vaporiser. • the electronic vaporiser has a square or rectangular cross-section with roundedcorners and includes a long PCB inserted lengthwise into the vaporiser • the electronic vaporiser has a squircle cross-section • the electronic vaporiser is only re-fillable from a user-replaceable closed, e-liquidcartridge • the electronic vaporiser is refillable with e-liquid only when inserted, whole andintact and not dis-assembled, into a re-fill case that includes a fluid transfermechanism to transfer e-liquid into the vaporiser from a user-replaceable closed,e-liquid cartridge • the electronic vaporiser is connected to, and filled with, e-liquid using a piezo-electric pump fluid transfer mechanism

Another feature is an electronic vaporiser case that includes an IMU (inertialmeasurement unit) to detect when it is being handled. PV Feature 4: The PV includes a touch sensor: The PV and/or the case can sensewhen you are touching it — e.g. with a capacitive sensor. It can be programmed to detectspecific touch inputs and control the PV accordingly. For example, the touch inputs arenot merely to either activate or de-activate the PV, but more sophisticated actions aswell. For example, tap twice on the body of the PV to bring it up to heat; tap three timesto put it to sleep. Or the PV could detect when it is held by at least two fingers, and thenautomatically turn on and start heating. The sensor could detect a touch control inputanywhere on the PV, or at a specific region. Using a capacitive sensor removes the needfor a discrete button. A touch input detected on the case can turn the display panel onthe case on. Specific touch inputs can activate pre-heating of the PV stored in the case,or can (where the case does not include the manually hinged holder but some otherdesign to enable the PV to withdraw or be withdrawn from the case) cause the PV toextend from the case or to be otherwise revealed or made accessible. All touch data canbe stored and uploaded to a server (for example, sent over Bluetooth (RTM) to user’s theconnected smartphone, which in turn sends it to the server). This data can be usefulsince it shows how the PV is being used, the duration of a vaping session etc. Using atouch sensor instead of physical push buttons enables the PV and/or case to be sleekand simple, not dissimilar to a conventional cigarette and its pack.

We can generalise this feature as follows:

An electronic cigarette vaporiser system that includes a touch sensor and is programmedto detect specific multiple different kinds of touch inputs and to control the PVaccordingly, and the touch sensor is included on a vaporiser and/or a case for thevaporiser.

Other optional features: • the touch inputs include one or more of the following: activate or de-activate thevaporiser; turn on or off lights on the vaporiser (these can indicate the amount ofe-liquid consumed ); dim the lights on the vaporiser; alter the colours of the lightson the vaporiser; alter the power delivered to the heating element. • the touch inputs include tapping a defined one or more times; moving a finger orfingers along a surface of the vaporiser or the case in defined pattern or gesture. • the PV detects when it is held by at least two fingers, and then automaticallyturns on the main circuitry (i.e. the circuitry other than that needed for touchsensing) and may also starts heating. • all touch inputs to the vaporiser generate touch data that is stored in thevaporiser and then sent for external storage • the external storage is a memory in a case in which the vaporiser is stored. • the electronic vaporiser includes data transfer contact(s) that engage with datatransfer contact(s) in the case • the touch data is sent over short range wireless (e.g. Bluetooth (RTM)) to theuser’s connected smartphone, which in turn sends it to the server. • the electronic vaporiser system is an e-cigarette system. • the electronic vaporiser is a medicinally approved nicotine drug delivery system. • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette and includesno push-type control buttons • the electronic vaporiser is automatically activated when it detects that it has beenwithdrawn from a case that otherwise stores the vaporiser. • the electronic vaporiser has a square or rectangular cross-section with roundedcorners and includes a long PCB inserted lengthwise into the vaporiser • the electronic vaporiser has a squircle cross-section • the electronic vaporiser is only re-fillable from a user-replaceable closed, e-liquidcartridge • the electronic vaporiser is refillable with e-liquid only when inserted, whole andintact and not dis-assembled, into a re-fill case that includes a fluid transfermechanism to transfer e-liquid into the vaporiser from a user-replaceable closed,e-liquid cartridge • the electronic vaporiser is connected to, and filled with, e-liquid using a piezo-electric pump fluid transfer mechanism • if the case detects that it is touched, then it can activate a display panel on thecase PV Feature 5: ‘z’ wick coil

Designing a specific shape of wick and coil that is both effective and also fast tomanufacture is not straightforward. One design uses a ‘z’ shaped wick.

We can generalise this feature as follows: A wick and coil assembly for a PV electronic cigarette vaporiser, in which the wick has abody around which is arranged a heating element, and in which: (a) the body is arranged longitudinally along the long axis of the PV electronicvaporiser in a vaporising chamber to interrupt the air flow path through that chamber; (b) one end of the wick includes an end section, angled with respect to the body, andprotruding into an e-liquid reservoir; (c) the other end of the wick includes an end section, angled with respect to thebody, and protruding into an e-liquid reservoir.

Other optional features: • one or both end sections of the wick are perpendicular to the body of the wick. • each end sections points in a different direction. • each end section points in the same direction. • a heating coil is wound around the body of the wick. • the assembly is positioned within a tube and the tube forms the inner surface ofan e-liquid reservoir. • the e-liquid reservoir is fed by a user-replaceable cartridge. • the wick is cotton. • the wick is made of a porous ceramic. • the electronic vaporiser system is an e-cigarette system. • the electronic vaporiser is a medicinally approved nicotine drug delivery system. • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette and includesno control buttons • the electronic vaporiser has a square or rectangular cross-section with roundedcorners and includes a long PCB inserted lengthwise into the vaporiser • the electronic vaporiser has a squircle cross-section • the electronic vaporiser is only re-fillable from a user-replaceable closed, e-liquidcartridge • the electronic vaporiser is refillable with e-liquid only when inserted, whole andintact and not dis-assembled, into a re-fill case that includes a fluid transfermechanism to transfer e-liquid into the vaporiser from a user-replaceable closed,e-liquid cartridge • the electronic vaporiser is connected to, and filled with, e-liquid using a piezo-electric pump fluid transfer mechanism PV Feature 6: PV with replaceable wick and coil: the atomizing unit may last lesstime than the other components in the vaporiser, especially if it uses a cotton wick. It isvery useful to be able to replace the tip that includes the atomizing coil with a newatomizing tip.

We can generalise this feature as follows:

An electronic cigarette vaporiser that is not dis-assembled for filling with e-liquid, but isinstead filled from a user-replaceable e-liquid cartridge; and in which the vaporiser includes a front section comprising a wick and heatingassembly but no e-liquid cartridge, the front section being removably fitted to a body ofthe vaporiser to enable a replacement front section to be used, for example once the original wick or heating element starts to degrade, that replacement front section beingsupplied to the end-user with no e-liquid in it.

Optional features include: • front section magnetically latches onto the body of the vaporiser. • front section press-fits onto the body of the vaporiser. • front section screws onto the body of the vaporiser. • wick includes cotton material • wick includes ceramic material • ceramic material is a ceramic cell, with a heating clement inside the ceramic cell • the front section includes an opening or channel or pipe that connects with orjoins with an opening or channel or pipe in the body of the vaporiser andthrough which e-liquid passes. • degradation of the heating element is automatically detected by an electronicsmodule that monitors electrical characteristics of the heating element anddetermines if those characteristics are associated with degradation of the heatingelement. • the electrical characteristics are the resistance of the heating element. • the electronics module generates a signal indicating that the front section shouldbe changed if degradation of the heating element is detected. • a micro-pump operates to drain e-liquid from the wick and heating assembly ifthe front section is to be removed from the body of the vaporiser. • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette and includesno control buttons • the electronic vaporiser is automatically activated when it detects that it has beenwithdrawn from a case that otherwise stores the vaporiser. • the electronic vaporiser has a square or rectangular cross-section with roundedcorners and includes a long PCB inserted lengthwise into the vaporiser • the electronic vaporiser has a squircie cross-section • the electronic vaporiser is only re-fillable from a user-replaceable closed, e-liquidcartridge • the electronic vaporiser is refillable with e-liquid only when inserted, whole andintact and not dis-assembled, into a re-fill case that includes a fluid transfermechanism to transfer e-liquid into the vaporiser from a user-replaceable closed,e-liquid cartridge • the electronic vaporiser is connected to, and filled with, e-liquid using a piezo-electric pump fluid transfer mechanism PV Feature 7: Pulsed power to the coil

Pulse Width Modulation of the coil current is used. PWM is generated by the MCU(microcontroller unit) in the PV and goes to the power switch that commutates currentacross the coil. On receiving a signal from the pressure sensor indicating inhalation, theMCU starts to generate PWM signals with a maximum duty cycle to heat the coil as fastas possible and then it will be decreased to maintain coil temperature in the workingrange according to pre-mapped temperature calculations stored in the MCU. PWM changes from approximately 90% to 1-10% duty cycle for preheat and 0% whenidle.

We can generalise this feature as follows:

An electronic cigarette vaporiser that includes a heating element, a power source and anelectronics module that manages the delivery of power, current or voltage to the heatingelement, in which the electronics module controls or delivers pulses of power, current orvoltage to the heating element.

Other optional features: • pulse is PWM. • pulses are delivered at high switching frequency. • high switching frequency is l-10I<Hz. • PWM changes from approximately 90% to 1-10% duty cycle for preheat and 0%when idle. • pulses extend the battery life of the vaporiser. • power current or voltage is controlled or shaped to minimize the production orrelease of potentially harmful substances. • pulses control the temperature of the heating element to minimize theproduction or release of potentially harmful substances by the vaporiser. • heating element temperature is estimated from the resistance of the heatingelement. • PWM control is used to implement discrete mode vaping (see Case Feature 2), i.e. to reduce the amount of vapour produced by the vaporiser compared to anormal mode. • PWM control is used to implement power mode vaping (see Case Feature 3), i.e.to increase the amount of vapour produced by the vaporiser compared to anormal mode, whilst monitoring the heating element temperature of thevaporiser to ensure that excessively high temperatures, associated withundesirable compounds in the vapour, are not reached. • the electronic vaporiser system is an e-cigarette system. • the electronic vaporiser is a medicinally approved nicotine drug delivery system. • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette and includesno control buttons • the electronic vaporiser is automatically activated when it detects that it has beenwithdrawn from a case that otherwise stores the vaporiser. • the electronic vaporiser has a square or rectangular cross-section with roundedcorners and includes a long PCB inserted lengthwise into the vaporiser • the electronic vaporiser has a squircle cross-section • the electronic vaporiser is only re-fillable from a user-replaceable closed, e-liquidcartridge • the electronic vaporiser is refillable with e-liquid only when inserted, whole andintact and not dis-assembled, into a re-fill case that includes a fluid transfermechanism to transfer e-liquid into the vaporiser from a user-replaceable closed,e-liquid cartridge • the electronic vaporiser is connected to, and filled with, e-liquid using a piezo-electric pump fluid transfer mechanism PV Feature 8: Detecting coil degradation

If the coil resistance will be higher than some limit we can say that the coil needs to bereplaced. Large fluctuations in coil resistance will be treated like a coil malfunction (anmay be due to a bad contact for example).

We can generalise this feature as follows:

An electronic cigarette vaporiser that includes a heating element and further includes orco-operates with an electronics module that (i) detects characteristics of the delivery ofpower, current or voltage to the heating element and (ii) determines if thosecharacteristics are associated with degradation of the heating element.

Other optional features: • a characteristic that is associated with degradation of the heating element is anincrease in the heating element resistance • the heating element resistance is established by the electronics module sending atest current through the heating element that is sufficient to enable ameasurement of resistance to be made • the test current is set at a level or a duration that the temperature of the heatingelement is not raised to a vaping temperature of for example 130 degrees C. • if the electronics module measures a very large resistance of the heating element,above a preset threshold, then that is indicative of a defective heating element • the electronics module stores a record of the measured characteristics anddetermines if those stored records indicate fluctuations that are indicative ofdegradation of the heating element. • The electronics module generates a signal indicating that the heating elementshould be replaced. • The signal causes a visual indication to be given on the vaporiser and/or a caseinto which the vaporiser is stored and/or a device that is wirelessly connected tothe case. • vaporiser includes the power source and the electronics module. • vaporiser is stored in a case that includes the power source and electronicsmodule. • the electronic vaporiser system is an e-cigarette system. • the electronic vaporiser is a medicinally approved nicotine drug delivery system. • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette and includesno control buttons • the electronic vaporiser is automatically activated when it detects that it has beenwithdrawn from a case that otherwise stores the vaporiser. • the electronic vaporiser has a square or rectangular cross-section with roundedcorners and includes a long PCB inserted lengthwise into the vaporiser • the electronic vaporiser has a squircle cross -section • the electronic vaporiser is only re-fillable from a user-replaceable closed, e-liquidcartridge • the electronic vaporiser is refillable with e-liquid only when inserted, whole andintact and not dis-assembled, into a re-fill case that includes a fluid transfermechanism to transfer c-liquid into the vaporiser from a uscr-rcplaccablc closed,e-liquid cartridge • the electronic vaporiser is connected to, and filled with, e-liquid using a piezo-electric pump fluid transfer mechanism PV Feature 9: Estimating coil temperature

Since the system uses a microcontroller MCU to control the overall coil heating process,we can use its calculating capabilities to obtain the coil temperature by indirect methodsusing this MCU. Most of electronic vaporisers on the market have no control over thecoil temperature. Problems arise, such as: • boiling of the e-liquid, with hot drops bursting out of the mouthpiece, • coil overheating due to low liquid level, which leads to high-toxicity fumes

In our system, the MCU measures or infers the coil temperature in the electronicvaporiser via the coil resistance control. It is a much more accurate method because there is no thermal resistance between the coil and the temperature sensor.

Our measurement technique relies on the linear approximation of the dependence ofresistance on temperature in the range from 50 to 200°C. So the MCU directly measurescurrent and voltage delivered to the coil; it calculates coil resistance from this data. Wehave empirically mapped resistance to temperature for various coil/atomizingcombinations. For example, in our laboratory experiments we obtained the empiricalequation for the coil resistance R(T) = -1.714*T + 1.68 using a KangerTech 1.5 Ohmcoil.

We can generalise this feature as follows:

An electronic cigarette vaporiser PV that includes a heating element and further includesor co-operates with an electronics module that (i) detects characteristics of the resistanceof the heating element and (ii) uses an inference of temperature derived from thatresistance as a control input.

Other optional features: • the temperature of the heating element is inferred from data stored in theelectronics module that has been empirically obtained for a specific heatingelement design. • the electronics module controls the power delivered to the heating element toensure that it is no higher than approximately 130°C, plus an error tolerance. • the electronics module controls the power delivered using the resistancemeasurement and does not calculate any derived temperature. • the electronics module applies multiple techniques designed to ensure the heatingelement is at its optimal heating temperature, including estimating heatingelement resistance, and weights the signals from each technique. • the electronic vaporiser system is an e-cigarette system. • the electronic vaporiser is a medicinally approved nicotine drug delivery system. • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette and includesno control buttons • the electronic vaporiser is automatically activated when it detects that it has beenwithdrawn from a case that otherwise stores the vaporiser. • the electronic vaporiser has a square or rectangular cross-section with roundedcorners and includes a long PCB inserted lengthwise into the vaporiser • the electronic vaporiser has a squircle cross-section • the electronic vaporiser is only re-fillable from a user-replaceable closed, e-liquidcartridge • the electronic vaporiser is refillable with e-liquid only when inserted, whole andintact and not dis-assembled, into a re-fill case that includes a fluid transfermechanism to transfer e-liquid into the vaporiser from a user-replaceable closed,e-liquid cartridge • the electronic vaporiser is connected to, and filled with, e-liquid using a piezo-electric pump fluid transfer mechanism PV Feature 10: Monitoring each inhalation to measure e-liquid consumption andheating coil degradation

The electronics module also allows the PV to count each and every draw from theelectronic vaporiser. The PV includes a conventional pressure sensor to determine whenthe user starts and stops inhalation. The MCU counts these start and stop events andmeasures the time between them. This ‘draw’ or ‘inhalation’ time will be used incalculating the e-liquid consumption.

The PV can also estimate when and if the coil needs to be cleaned or replaced with anew one since we can estimate the number of draws a coil should achieve. Also thisvape or inhalation counting allows us to estimate the liquid level in the PV since eachinhalation will use an amount of e-liquid we can approximate or guess; we can alter thatapproximation in light of feedback from other parts of the system, for example we knowquite accurately how much e-liquid is delivered to the PV on its next filling cycle sincethe piezo pump delivers a precise amount of e-liquid for each pumping action and theMCU tracks the number of pumping actions needed to fill the PV each time. So we canuse this information from the case to know how much e-liquid was injected to the PV.

We can generalise this feature as follows:

An electronic cigarette vaporiser that includes a heating element, an air pressure sensorand a microcontroller; in which the microcontroller stores, processes or determines theextent of each inhalation using signals from the air pressure sensor.

Other optional features: • the microcontroller calculates approximate e-liquid consumption from the extentof each inhalation or provides data that enables an external processor to calculateapproximate e-liquid consumption. • the microcontroller calculates when and if the heating element needs to becleaned or replaced based on the number and/or extent of the inhalations made,or provides data that enables an external processor to make this calculation. • the microcontroller calculates the approximate quantity of e-liquid left in thevaporiser based on the calculated approximate e-liquid consumption. • the microcontroller calculates approximate quantity of e-liquid left in thevaporiser based on the calculated approximate e-liquid consumption and alsousing data from other elements in the vaporiser or the case that re-fills thevaporiser. • the extent of an inhalation is a function of one or more of: duration; peak flowrate; average flow rate • the electronic vaporiser system is an e-cigarette system. • the electronic vaporiser is a medicinally approved nicotine drug delivery system. • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette and includesno control buttons • the electronic vaporiser is automatically activated when it detects that it has beenwithdrawn from a case that otherwise stores the vaporiser. • the electronic vaporiser has a square or rectangular cross-section with roundedcorners and includes a long PCB inserted lengthwise into the vaporiser • the electronic vaporiser has a squircie cross-section • the electronic vaporiser is only re-fillable from a user-replaceable closed, e-liquidcartridge • the electronic vaporiser is refillable with e-liquid only when inserted, whole andintact and not dis-assembled, into a re-fill case that includes a fluid transfermechanism to transfer e-liquid into the vaporiser from a user-replaceable closed,e-liquid cartridge • the electronic vaporiser is connected to, and filled with, e-liquid using a piezo-electric pump fluid transfer mechanism PV Feature 11: Monitoring the coil characteristics to identity the type of coil.

It is useful to be able to identify automatically the type of coil (e.g. material of the heatingwire, other characteristics) since different types of coil may have different optimal andalso maximum safe temperatures, and may react differently to the pulsed powertechnique described above.

We can generalise this feature as follows:

An electronic cigarette vaporiser that includes a heating element and a microcontroller; inwhich the microcontroller monitors or measures electrical characteristics of the heatingelement and uses that to automatically identify the type of heating element and as acontrol input.

Other optional features: • the vaporiser is operable to use different types of heating element, with differentelectrical characteristics. • the vaporiser stores a record of different values or profiles of electricalcharacteristics and the type of heating element associated with each value orprofile and can then compare any monitored or measured electricalcharacteristics with that record to determine the likely type of heating elementthat is present in the vaporiser. • the electrical characteristics are monitored or measured by passing a currentthrough the element which is not sufficient to heat the heating element to itsoperating temperature. • the electrical characteristics include the resistance of the heating element. • the microcontroller automatically applies different heating parameter controls,including optimal and maximum operating temperature, depending on the typeof heating element that is identified. • the electronic vaporiser system is an e-cigarette system. • the electronic vaporiser is a medicinally approved nicotine drug delivery system. • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette and includesno control buttons • the electronic vaporiser is automatically activated when it detects that it has beenwithdrawn from a case that otherwise stores the vaporiser. • the electronic vaporiser has a square or rectangular cross-section with roundedcorners and includes a long PCB inserted lengthwise into the vaporiser • the electronic vaporiser has a squirclc cross-section • the electronic vaporiser is only re-fillable from a user-replaceable closed, e-liquidcartridge • the electronic vaporiser is refillable with e-liquid only when inserted, whole andintact and not dis-assembled, into a re-fill case that includes a fluid transfermechanism to transfer e-liquid into the vaporiser from a user-replaceable closed,e-liquid cartridge • the electronic vaporiser is connected to, and filled with, e-liquid using a piezo-electric pump fluid transfer mechanism PV Feature 12: Monitoring external or ambient temperature to ensure the coil isat optimal operating temperature

Conventional electronic vaporisers can perform poorly in cold conditions (e.g. below0°C) because the coil works at below its optimal operating temperature. We include atemperature measuring sensor in the PV or case which measures ambient temperature and controls the power delivered to the coil to take into account the ambienttemperature — e.g. increasing power when it is very cold.

We can generalise this feature as follows:

An electronic cigarette vaporiser that includes a heating element and a microcontroller; inwhich the microcontroller monitors or measures or uses data relating to external orambient temperature and uses that as a control input.

Other optional features: • the control input automatically controls the power delivered to the heatingelement to ensure that the heating element operates at its optimal temperature. • where ambient temperatures are monitored or measured as very cold, then thepower to the heating element is automatically increased to compensate. • where ambient temperatures are monitored or measured as very cold, then a pre-heat function is automatically operated prior to the first inhalation to bring theheating element to its optimal temperature. • the vaporiser includes or co-operates with an electronics module that (i) detectscharacteristics of the resistance of the heating element and (ii) uses an inferenceof temperature derived from that resistance as a control input. • the temperature of the heating element is inferred from data stored in theelectronics module that has been empirically obtained for a specific heatingelement design. • the microcontroller applies multiple techniques designed to ensure the heatingelement is at its optimal heating temperature, including estimating coil resistance,and weights the signals from each technique. • the electronics module controls the power delivered using the resistancemeasurement and does not calculate any derived temperature. • the electronics module controls the power delivered to the heating element toensure that it is no higher than approximately 130°C, plus an error tolerance. • the electronic vaporiser system is an e-cigarette system. • the electronic vaporiser is a medicinally approved nicotine drug delivery system. • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette and includesno control buttons • the electronic vaporiser is automatically activated when it detects that it has beenwithdrawn from a case that otherwise stores the vaporiser. • the electronic vaporiser has a square or rectangular cross-section with roundedcorners and includes a long PCB inserted lengthwise into the vaporiser • the electronic vaporiser has a squircle cross-section • the electronic vaporiser is only re-fillable from a user-replaceable closed, e-liquidcartridge • the electronic vaporiser is refillable with c-liquid only when inserted, whole andintact and not dis-assembled, into a re-fill case that includes a fluid transfermechanism to transfer e-liquid into the vaporiser from a user-replaceable closed,e-liquid cartridge • the electronic vaporiser is connected to, and filled with, e-liquid using a piezo-electric pump fluid transfer mechanism • the electronic vaporiser includes a temperature measuring sensor for measuringambient temperature. • the electronic vaporiser receives data or a control signal from a temperaturemeasuring sensor in a case for the vaporiser. PV Feature 13: Monitoring airflow to ensure the coil is at optimal operatingtemperature

Conventional electronic vaporisers include an air-pressure sensor that acts as a simpleswitch: when air passes over the sensor, the system assumes the user is inhaling and thenimmediately applies power to the heating coil. A very strong inhalation can however leadto the coil cooling down compared to a very mild inhalation. We detect the airflowspeed or pressure drop over the air-pressure sensor and use that as an input to themicrocontroller that controls the power delivered to the heating coil. We can thereforecompensate for a very strong inhalation by applying more power during that inhalationas compared to a very light inhalation. This ensures that the heating coil is kept at itsoptimal heating temperature. This technique can be combined with other techniques designed to ensure the coil is at its optimal heating temperature, such as estimating coilresistance (which has been empirically mapped to coil temperature).

We can generalise this feature as follows:

An electronic cigarette vaporiser that includes a heating element and a microcontroller; inwhich the microcontroller monitors or measures the airflow speed or pressure drop overan air-pressure sensor or other sensor and uses that as an input to control the powerdelivered to the heating element.

Other optional features: • the microcontroller compensates for a very strong inhalation by applying morepower during that inhalation as compared to a very light inhalation. • the microcontroller controls the power to ensure that the heating element is keptat its optimal heating temperature. • the vaporiser includes or co-operates with an electronics module that (i) detectscharacteristics of the resistance of the heating element and (ii) uses an inferenceof temperature derived from that resistance as a control input. • the temperature of the heating element is inferred from data stored in theelectronics module that has been empirically obtained for a specific heatingelement design. • the microcontroller applies multiple techniques designed to ensure the heatingelement is at its optimal heating temperature, including estimating heatingelement resistance, and weights the signals from each technique. • the electronics module controls the power delivered using the resistancemeasurement and does not calculate any derived temperature. • the electronics module controls the power delivered to the heating element toensure that it is no higher than approximately 130°C, plus an error tolerance. • the electronic vaporiser system is an e-cigarette system. • the electronic vaporiser is a medicinally approved nicotine drug delivery system. • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette and includesno control buttons • the electronic vaporiser is automatically activated when it detects that it has beenwithdrawn from a case that otherwise stores the vaporiser. • the electronic vaporiser has a square or rectangular cross-section with roundedcorners and includes a long PCB inserted lengthwise into the vaporiser • the electronic vaporiser has a squircle cross-section • the electronic vaporiser is only re-fillable from a user-replaceable closed, e-liquidcartridge • the electronic vaporiser is refillable with e-liquid only when inserted, whole andintact and not dis-assembled, into a re-fill case that includes a fluid transfermechanism to transfer e-liquid into the vaporiser from a user-replaceable closed,e-liquid cartridge • the electronic vaporiser is connected to, and filled with, e-liquid using a piezo-electric pump fluid transfer mechanism PV Feature 14: Using data from the cartridge that defines the type of e-liquid tocontrol the heating of the coil

Different e-liquids have different optimal temperatures for vaping; for example, thewater content can have a significant impact on the optimal and maximum temperaturesthe heating coil should reach for the best flavor and also to ensure that there is nosignificant risk of harmful products in the vapour. Conventional electronic vaporiserscannot automatically vary the temperature reached by their heating coils to take this intoaccount. Our system can.

We can generalise this feature as follows:

An electronic cigarette vaporiser that includes a heating element for heating an e-liquidand a microcontroller; in which the microcontroller determines the type and/orcharacteristics of the e-liquid being used and uses that as an input to automaticallycontrol the power delivered to the heating element to heat the e-liquid in a mannersuitable for that specific type of e-liquid, or e-liquid with those characteristics.

Other optional features: • the e-liquid is supplied from a cartridge and that cartridge includes a record ofthe type of e-liquid stored in the cartridge and/or its characteristics and themicrocontroller reads that record or is provided data from that record. • the cartridge includes a memory that stores the type of e-liquid the cartridge hasbeen filled with and/or its characteristics and the vaporiser or a case into whichthe cartridge is inserted can read-off that data from the memory. • a variable for the type of e-liquid is the water content of the substance • the vaporiser includes or co-operates with an electronics module that (i) detectscharacteristics of the resistance of the heating element and (ii) uses an inferenceof temperature derived from that resistance as a control input. • the temperature of the heating element is inferred from data stored in theelectronics module that has been empirically obtained for a specific heatingelement design. • the electronics module applies multiple techniques designed to ensure the heatingelement is at its optimal heating temperature, including estimating coil resistance,and weights the signals from each technique. • the electronics module controls the power delivered using the resistancemeasurement and does not calculate any derived temperature. • the electronics module controls the power delivered to the heating element toensure that it is no higher than approximately 130°C, plus an error tolerance. • the electronic vaporiser system is an e-cigarette system and the substance is an e-liquid. • the electronic vaporiser system is a medicinally approved nicotine drug deliverysystem. • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size as a cigarette and includesno control buttons • the electronic vaporiser is automatically activated when it detects that it has beenwithdrawn from a case that otherwise stores the vaporiser. • the electronic vaporiser has a square or rectangular cross-section with roundedcorners and includes a long PCB inserted lengthwise into the vaporiser • the electronic vaporiser has a squircle cross-section • the electronic vaporiser is only re-fillable from a user-replaceable closed, e-liquidcartridge • the cartridge stores a record of the type of substance it stores and/or itscharacteristics on a chip and the vaporiser reads that chip or is provided datafrom that chip. • the electronic vaporiser is refillable with e-liquid only when inserted, whole andintact and not dis-assembled, into a re-fill case that includes a fluid transfermechanism to transfer e-liquid into the vaporiser from a user-replaceable closed,e-liquid cartridge • the electronic vaporiser is connected to, and filled with, e-liquid using a piezo-electric pump fluid transfer mechanism PV Feature 15: The PV has a squircle cross-section

As noted earlier, the PV is the approximate same size as an ordinary cigarette,approximately 10cm in length and 1 cm in width. The cross-section is square, withrounded corners: this shape enables a long, rectangular circuit board to be included (a‘squircle’) in the PV and gives more design freedom for the placement of that PCB: if thePV casing was circular, then the PCB would, if long, likely have to be mounted exactlyacross a diameter, and that would leave little room for a battery. So the square cross-section is a much better shape if a long PCB and battery is to be included inside thecasing. Also the PV includes a narrow pipe to transport e-liquid from the filling end tothe reservoir around the heating element; this pipe can be accommodated in the cornerof the PV casing. Finally, the outer casing of the PV includes a series of small LEDs thatbe lit to show the amount of e-liquid that has been consumed, for example, mimickingthe reducing length of a cigarette as it burns down — hence, with a full reservoir of e-liquid, the entire row of perhaps 5 or 6 LEDs would be illuminated; progressively fewerLEDs are lit as vaping progresses, until only the LED closest to the user’s mouth isilluminated. The LEDs are mounted on a very narrow circuit board: this is cheaper if itis flat since that eases SMT (surface mount technology) manufacture of the LEDs on thePCB. It is also easier to fix a flat PCB against the flat surface of the PV, as opposed to acircular surface. The square-profiled tube with rounded corners is hence an effectiveshape for including these various elements.

We can generalise this feature as follows:

An electronic cigarette vaporiser that is the same approximate size as a cigarette and hasa square or rectangular cross-section with rounded corners and includes a long PCBinserted lengthwise into the vaporiser.

Optional features: • the PCB is not mounted at the mid-point of the cross-section, but at a differentposition closer to a major face of the vaporiser to permit more room for arechargeable battery • the PCB is mounted close and running parallel to a main face of the vaporiser • the cross-section is a squircle • the vaporiser includes a narrow pipe to transport e-liquid from the filling end tothe reservoir around the heating element and this pipe runs along one internalcorner of the vaporiser. • the electronic vaporiser system is an e-cigarette system and the substance is an e-liquid. • the electronic vaporiser system is a medicinally approved nicotine drug deliverysystem. • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size and shape as a cigarette • the electronic vaporiser is the same approximate size and shape as a cigarette andthat vaporiser includes no control buttons. • the electronic vaporiser is automatically activated when it detects that it has beenwithdrawn from a case that otherwise stores the vaporiser. • the electronic vaporiser is only re-fillable from a user-replaceable closed, e-liquidcartridge • the electronic vaporiser is refillable with e-liquid only when inserted, whole andintact and not dis-assembled, into a re-fill case that includes a fluid transfermechanism to transfer e-liquid into the vaporiser from a user-replaceable closed,e-liquid cartridge • the electronic vaporiser is, connected to, and filled with, e-liquid using a piezo-electric pump fluid transfer mechanism • the electronic vaporiser is fillable only from a user-replaceable e-liquid cartridge • the electronic vaporiser is refillable with e-liquid only when inserted, whole andintact and not dis-assembled, into a re-fill case that includes a fluid transfermechanism to transfer e-liquid into the vaporiser PV Feature 16: Silicone caps to the ceramic cell

Heating elements are usually mass-manufactured by a company that specializes in makingjust these units; the fully assembled units are then supplied to the companymanufacturing the vaporizer. The units are then inserted into the main body of thevaporizer on a manufacturing line. In order to minimize leakage of e-liquid from aroundthe edge of the unit, it is normal for their mass-manufacturer to supply them wrapped ina thin layer of cotton material. This provides a seal around the unit, but the seal is notthat effective, especially when the e-liquid is supplied under pressure, because the cottonbecomes saturated quickly and then ceases to prevent leakage. The consequence is thatthe conventional design of a heating element wrapped in cotton is not satisfactory forour purposes.

Instead of cotton material, we provide a pair of silicone end-caps that fit over each endof the heating unit; the heating unit with its silicone end caps can then be press-fittedinside the body of the vaporizer; the silicone forms a tight seal around the unit andprevents unwanted leakage, even when e-liquid is being pumped into the reservoirsurrounding the heating unit under pressure.

This approach is especially useful when a ceramic heating unit is used.

We can generalise as follows: A heating or atomising unit for an electronic cigarette vaporiser, in which the unitincludes a protective elastomer wall or barrier configured to enable (i) the unit to fitinside a body in the vaporizer and to prevent leakage around the outside of the unitwhilst e-liquid is being supplied under pressure to a reservoir surrounding the unit and (ii) e-liquid to pass from the e-liquid reservoir outside of the unit and into the unit.

Optional features include: • the unit is a ceramic cell • the ceramic cell is cylindrical • the protective elastomer wall or barrier is a pair of end caps that fit over each endof the unit • a gap is formed between each end cap through which e-liquid can pass to reachthe outer surface of the ceramic cell and then pass through the ceramic and intothe atomizing chamber in the cell (where there is a heating element). • a cotton material is placed in the gap • The elastomer is chosen to have one or more (and preferably all) of the followingproperties: (i) form an effective seal around the ceramic unit; (ii) withstand hightemperatures (e.g. in excess of 200 degrees C or higher); (iii) will not introduceany toxic compounds into the e-liquid and (iv) is easy to mould around the unit • The elastomer is thermally insulating. • The elastomer is silicone • The elastomer is a rubber • The unit is generally cylindrical and the elastomer forms a thin wall or barrieraround the curved surface of the cylinder • The elastomer forms a thin wall or barrier around one or both ends of the unit • The unit is a ceramic heating unit • The ceramic heating unit includes a cylindrical ceramic wicking material with acentral, hollow bore, with a heating element formed around the central bore. • The unit is manufactured using an insert molding manufacture process • The unit is dropped into a round tool that is about 1mm in radius greater thanthe radius of the unit and the elastomer is poured into the gap to form the wall orbarrier • e-liquid passage holes are formed in the wall or the barrier at locations in the wallor barrier designed to provide controlled delivery of e-liquid

Another feature is an electronic cigarette vaporizer including a heating or atomising unitas defined above.

Note: for each of the generalisations given above, we have focused on an electroniccigarette vaporiser. It would be possible in each case to generalise further to anelectronic vaporiser — i.e. a vaporiser that is not limited to enable nicotine to be inhaled,but other substances, including medicines.

Miscellaneous features

In this section, we list various miscellaneous features that are present in the vapingsystem.

Misc. 1: The PV includes an oleophobic barrier separating the vaporising chamber from the portion of the PV containing the electronics and battery: ThePV includes a washer or other form of barrier that permits air to pass but not e-liquid;the barrier separates the portion of the PV including the battery and the electronics fromthe portion of the PV which e-liquid or vapour comes into contact with. Thewasher/barrier could have no moving parts, but instead be made of an air-porousmaterial, such as a sintered polymer or metal, coated with or otherwise including a layeror barrier of a substance that is air-porous but not porous to e-liquid, such as anoleophobic material or a hydrophobic or super-hydrophobic material. Examples ofsuitable oleophobic materials are sintered phosphor bronze, sintered stainless steel,sintered PU plastic.

Misc. 2: PV has replaceable covers: The PV includes a user replaceable cover to enable customizing of the appearance of the PV. The cover may be a clip on cover.

Misc 3: PV magnetically latches in the case. The PV, or the chassis that holds the PV in the case, is magnetically latched into the case (e.g. one or more magnets areplaced somewhere on the PV or the chassis so that the charging and/or data contacts onthe PV latch reliably to their corresponding contacts in the case). For example, a smallneodymium magnet in the case and a matching magnet or metal item in the PV (or viceversa) ensure that, when the PV is nearly fully inserted into the case, the PV is drawn inthe rest of the way to a secure, final position, which is also the position needed for fluidtransfer from a parent e-liquid reservoir (e.g. the e-liquid cartridge that slots into thecase) to a child reservoir in the PV.

The charging and data transfer contacts in the PV and the case are optimally and securelypositioned in contact with one another. The magnets stop the PV from falling out of thecase if the case is tipped upside down and also eliminate contact bounce — i.e. when thePV is dropped into the case. Furthermore, they ensure that the fluid transfer mechanismis correctly positioned (e.g. the filling aperture or nozzle in the PV is correctly lined up with the filling stem or nozzle from the cartridge or other form of parent reservoir). Inone implementation, one or more small magnets near to the battery and data contactsensure that the corresponding battery and the data contacts in the PV and casemagnetically latch to one another when the PV is fully inserted into the case or thechassis part of the case that holds the PV; the magnets do not need to be placed near tothe contacts but can be positioned anywhere suitable, for example, either at one end ofthe PV, or alternatively are positioned somewhere along the main body of the PV.

Whilst magnetically securing the charging contacts in a PV against the power electrodesin a charging case is known, it is not known to use magnetic latching to ensure that notonly are the power contacts correctly and reliably positioned in relation to each other,but so also are the data contacts and the fluid transfer mechanism. Magnetic latching canbe applied to any one or more of the following: the power contacts, the data contacts,the fluid transfer mechanism. When applied directly to say just the power contacts (e.g.only the power electrodes have adjacent magnets), then the data contacts and the fluidtransfer mechanism can be taken into correct alignment anyway, so it is not necessary tohave multiple magnets in the PV or case.

Equally, a small neodymium magnet in the case and a matching magnet or metal item inthe hinged chassis described earlier (or vice versa) ensure that, when the chassis is nearlyfully closed, the chassis is drawn in the rest of the way to a secure, final position, which isalso the position needed for fluid transfer from a parent e-liquid reservoir (e.g. the e-liquid cartridge that slots into the case) to a child reservoir in the PV. This againeliminates contact bounce, gives a good tactile feel to closing the chassis into the case,and ensures that the power and data connections are properly aligned.

Misc. 4: The replaceable tip of the PV includes its own integral atomising heating element and is separable from the e-juice reservoir in the PV. (Cartomizerscould be said to include a replaceable tip with a heating element, but they include the e-juice reservoir).

Misc. 5: PV has a heated nozzle: Those parts of the PV (especially the nozzle) on which e-liquid vapour might otherwise condense if those parts of the nozzle werecold, are heated using e.g. an electrical heating element. Condensation of the e-liquid vapour on internal components of the PV is a problem if those condensed droplets cantrickle into the user’s mouth. If those components are heated (e.g. using an electricalheating coil in thermal connection with the component(s)), then the possibility ofcondensation forming can be reduced. Heating the components can also be used towarm the e-liquid vapour to a desired temperature; this is especially useful if atomisationof the e-liquid arises using a non-heating system, such as ultrasonic atomisation usingpiezo-electric or other form of droplet-on-demand system.

Misc. 6 The cartridge includes a piezo-electric pump to transfer small but accurately and reliably metered quantities of e-liquid: the piezo-electric pump canbe used as the fluid transfer mechanism to transfer e-liquid from the cartridge or parentreservoir into the child reservoir in the PV. It can also be used in reverse to suck backout any residual e-liquid in the PV. Because the amounts delivered can be accuratelymetered, this means that the PV (or case or associated application running on aSmartphone) can accurately determine the total consumption of e-liquid and/or theamount of e-liquid remaining in a cartridge and also in the PV itself. This in turn can beused in the automatic re-ordering function - for example, when the system knows thatthe cartridge is down to its last 20% by volume of e-liquid, then the app running on theuser’s smartphone can prompt the user with a message asking if the user would like toorder a replacement cartridge or cartridges. Low-cost piezo-electric pumps usedordinarily for delivering ink in an inkjet printer may be used.

Misc. 7: Atomizer is integrated into a removable lid or cap to the cartridge - when the PV engages with the lid/cap, the lid/cap is filled with a small quantity of e-liquid and locks onto the PV; so when the PV is lifted up, the lid is locked into to oneend. Hence, every cartridge comes with its own atomizer.

Misc. 8: The cartridge can be packaged into a container that is the same size as a conventional cigarette pack: this enables distribution through existingcigarette vending machines and point of sale systems.

Misc 9: The case is the same size as a cigarette pack: the case, or its packaging, is the same size as a conventional cigarette pack (e.g. a pack of twenty cigarettes) — e.g. this enables distribution through existing cigarette vending machinesand point of sale systems.

Misc 10. Case includes a removable cover: Case includes a removable, e.g. aclip-on, cover or decorative panel(s) to enable a user to customize appearance; the mainside faces of the case can be removed and a new face press-fitted into position.

Misc 11. PV includes the removable cartridge and a mechanical sealingvalve: The PV includes a removable e-liquid cartridge that slots into or attaches directlyto the PV, without the need for a separate re-fill and re-charge case; a fluid transfermechanism transfers e-liquid from the cartridge to a child reservoir in the PV; that childreservoir feeds e-liquid to a separate atomising unit (i.e. the child reservoir is separatefrom the atomising unit but feeds e-liquid to it via, for example, channels or some othermechanism). The cartridge is similar in structure to the cartridge described elsewhere inthis specification but is not meant for insertion into a re-fill/re-charge case. The e-liquidcartridge is an air-tight, closed unit that cannot be re-filled by a user. The filling or fluidtransfer mechanism is similar too: a micro-pump in the cartridge is activated by movingthe cartridge relative to the rest of the PV to transfer e-liquid from the cartridge to achild reservoir in the PV. The PV includes the mechanical valve described above as thatis lifted off its seat by when the stem or nozzle of the filling device or cartridge isintroduced; this valve prevents leakage of any e-liquid during or after filling the PV childreservoir. The cartridge can remain inside or attached to the PV whilst the PV is beingvaped. The PV can include any of the other features listed above. The cartridge includessome form of air pressure equalisation as otherwise, when the fluid volume diminishes, apartial vacuum will develop behind the fluid retarding its transfer. However if a bellowstype of cartridge is employed the lost volume is automatically compensated for. Thecartridge can include any of the other features listed above.

Misc 12. E-liquid is transferred out of the parent reservoir using a piston orother device that decreases the internal volume of the parent reservoir: Acartridge or other form of parent reservoir stores e-liquid; a plunger, piston or othermeans of reducing the internal volume of the parent reservoir is activated and as theinternal volume decreases, e-liquid is forced out of a nozzle into a child reservoir in the PV. A foil cap seals the nozzle prior to use and is penetrated by a hollow spigot or tubewhen the cartridge is inserted into the device for filling a PV (the device could be a caseor the PV itself).

The plunger, or piston etc. could be forced forwards using a screw being turned within athread inside the reservoir and directly pushing the plunger or piston forward, or a rackand pinion system in which the user turns a thumbwheel as the pinion, which causes theplunger, connected to the rack that is forced forwards as the thumbwheel is turned.

Similarly, there could be a rotary end cap, mounted on a thread external to the reservoir;when the end cap is turned, it drives the plunger or piston forwards.

The plunger, or piston etc. could also be forced forwards using a rotary cam; rotating anend-cap causes a cam follower to push linearly forward against the plunger/piston,forcing that forward.

The plunger, or piston etc. could also move forward inside a tube or other device and beconnected to an outer collar or other device that sits outside of the tube and can bemoved forward along a slot in the tube; as the user drags the collar forward along theslot, the plunger is also forced forwards. The outer collar could also be mounted on athread so that rotating the collar causes it to move forward along the thread, moving theplunger forward as it does so.

Alternatively, the plunger, or piston could include a magnet (e.g. formed as a collar orother device) and then another magnet (e.g. formed as an outer collar that sits outsidethe magnetic collar on the plunger) could move forward, forcing the magnetic collar onthe plunger forward. The outer magnetic collar could be mounted on a thread, so thatturning the outer magnetic collar takes it forward along the thread and hence also takesthe internal magnetic collar and the plunger forward too, decreasing the volume of thechamber and forcing e-liquid out.

In all of the above cases, the piston or plunger moves forward. But equally, the plungercould remain fixed, with the body of the parent reservoir moving in a direction to reducethe internal volume of the parent reservoir. This approach is especially relevant where the parent reservoir is inserted directly into the PV, and not a separate re-fill/re-chargecase.

Also, the plunger or piston can force the e-liquid out of an aperture in the parentreservoir at the end of the cartridge facing the plunger, or anywhere else as well — forexample, the aperture could be in a stem or nozzle that passes through the plunger.

Misc 13. E-liquid is transferred out of a deformable parent reservoir: Acartridge or other form of parent reservoir stores e-liquid; it is connected to a chamber,such as a bellows, whose internal volume can be increased, sucking in e-liquid from theparent reservoir, and then decreased, expelling e-liquid into a child reservoir in the PV.There is a one-way valve at each end of the chamber; one valve opens when the othercloses. So for example, the valve at the cartridge/parent end of the chamber opens to fillthe chamber, whilst the valve at the other end remains closed. If the chamber iscompressed, then the valve at the cartridge/parent end of the chamber shuts, and thevalve at the other end opens, enabling fluid to be transferred to a child reservoir in thePV.

The chamber could be formed for example as a bellows (e.g. made of silicone), withfolds or ridges that move apart when the chamber is expanding and move closer togetherwhen the chamber is contracting.

The chamber could be a simple deformable tube, e.g. a rubber tube; squeezing the tubesquirts e-liquid out from the chamber; allowing the tube to regain its shape causes e-liquid to be sucked into the tube from the parent. Again, there is a one-way valve at eachend of the chamber; one valve opens when the other closes. Another variant, whichremoves the need for one-way valves at each end, is a rotating pump with lobes or vanesthat, as they rotate, force e-liquid through the tube.

Misc 14. Archimedes screw: A cartridge or other form of parent reservoir storese-liquid; an Archimedes screw inside the reservoir, when turned, transfers e-liquidthrough the reservoir & out of a nozzle at one end to the child reservoir in the PV.

Misc 15. Gravity feed: A cartridge or other form of parent reservoir stores e-liquid; a gravity-based fluid transfer mechanism could be used to transfer e-liquid fromthe parent to a child reservoir in the PV. Air pressure equalisation can be achieved byusing an air vent that allows air to enter the reservoir as fluid leaves it, but to preventleakage or passage of any e-liquid. For example, the vent could have no moving parts,but instead be an air-porous material, such as a sintered polymer or metal, coated with alayer or barrier of a substance that is air-porous but not porous to e-liquid, such as anoleophobic material or a hydrophobic material. Various form factors for thecartridge/reservoir are possible, such as a concentric ring shaped to fit around the PV; aspiral tube that wraps around the PV; a serpentine or matrix tube that wraps around thePV.

Claims

1. An electronic cigarette vaporiser system that includes an electronic vaporiser, aheating element in the electronic vaporiser, and further includes or co-operates with anelectronics module that (i) detects characteristics of the resistance of the heating elementand (ii) uses an inference of temperature derived from that resistance as a control input,in which the electronic vaporiser system includes (a) a user-replaceable closed, e-liquidcartridge that is attached to or integral with the system, but is not user-refillable andincludes no heating element; and (b) an e-liquid reservoir that is separate from the user-replaceable e-liquid cartridge; and (c) an electric or electronic pump that is configured towithdraw e-liquid from the user-replaceable e-liquid cartridge and pump pressurised e-liquid to the e-liquid reservoir; and (d) a heating element that is not in the user-replaceable e-liquid cartridge but is instead in, or in e-liquid communication with, the e-liquid reservoir; and (e) a structure that is configured to enable excess air-pressure arisingfrom the pressurised e-liquid to escape from the e-liquid reservoir and that is non-porousto the pressurised e-liquid.

2. The electronic vaporiser system of Claim 1 in which the temperature of theheating element is inferred from data stored in the electronics module that has beenempirically obtained for a specific heating element design.

3. The electronic vaporiser system of Claim 1 or 2 in which the electronics modulecontrols the power delivered to the heating element to ensure that it is no higher thanapproximately 130°C, plus an error tolerance.

4. The electronic vaporiser system of any preceding Claim in which the electronicsmodule controls the power delivered using the resistance measurement.

5. The electronic vaporiser system of any preceding Claim in which the electronicsmodule applies multiple techniques designed to ensure the heating element is at itsoperational heating temperature, including estimating heating element resistance, andweights the signals from each technique.

6. The electronic vaporiser system of any preceding Claim in which the electronicvaporiser system is a nicotine drug delivery system.

7. The electronic vaporiser system of any preceding Claim in which the electronicvaporiser is the approximate size of a cigarette.

8. The electronic vaporiser system of any preceding Claim in which the electronicvaporiser includes no control buttons.

9. The electronic vaporiser system of any preceding Claim in which the electronicvaporiser is automatically activated when it detects that it has been withdrawn from acase that otherwise stores the vaporiser.

10. The electronic vaporiser system of any preceding Claim in which the electronicvaporiser has a square or rectangular cross-section with rounded corners and includes along PCB inserted lengthwise into the vaporiser.

11. The electronic vaporiser system of preceding Claim 9 in which the electronicvaporiser has a squircle cross-section.

12. The electronic vaporiser of any preceding Claim in which the electronic vaporiserthat includes the heating element is refillable with e-liquid when inserted, whole andintact and not dis-assembled, into a re-fill case that includes a fluid transfer mechanismto transfer e-liquid into the vaporiser from the user-replaceable closed, e-liquid cartridge.

13. The electronic vaporiser system of Claim 1 including a case for storing theelectronic vaporiser.

14. The electronic vaporiser system of Claim 13 in which the case includes theelectric or electronic pump.

15. The electronic vaporiser system of Claim 1 in which the electronic vaporiserincludes the electric or electronic pump and the user-replaceable cartridge is removablyinsertable or integral to the vaporiser.