JP7397202B2 - Hookah device - Google Patents

Description

Cross-References to Related Applications This application claims the benefit of each priority and is incorporated by reference in its entirety. European Patent Application No. 20168245.7, filed on April 6, 2020, European Patent Application No. 20168231.7, filed on April 6, 2020, European Patent Application No. 20168231.7, filed on April 9, 2020. 20168938.7, filed June 1, 2020, U.S. Patent Application No. 16/889667, filed October 8, 2020, U.S. Patent Application No. 17/065992, filed December 15, 2020 U.S. Patent Application No. 17/1222025 and U.S. Patent Application No. 17/220189 filed April 1, 2021.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a hookah tobacco device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a hookah device that generates mist using ultrasonic vibrations.

Traditional shisha tobacco is a smoking device that burns crushed tobacco leaves while heating them over charcoal. The heat of charcoal burns crushed tobacco leaves, producing smoke that is passed through a glass chamber and delivered to the user by suction. Cool the hot smoke with water to make it easier to inhale.

Hookah is said to have originated centuries ago in ancient Persia and India. Nowadays, hookah cafes are gaining popularity in various parts of the world, including the United Kingdom, France, Russia, the Middle East, and the United States.

A typical modern hookah consists of a head (with a hole in the bottom), a metal body, a water bowl, and a flexible hose with a mouthpiece. New forms of electronic hookah products are also emerging, such as steam stones and hookah pens. These products are battery- or mains-powered and heat liquids containing chemicals such as nicotine or flavorings to produce smoke, which is then inhaled.

Although many users consider it less harmful than smoking cigarettes, smoking hookah carries many of the same health risks as smoking cigarettes.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved hookah device that attempts to address at least some of the problems described herein.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved hookah device.

According to some arrangements, a hookah device is provided that includes: a plurality of ultrasonic mist generators each provided with a respective mist outlet. A driver device electrically connected to each mist generator and configured to operate the mist generator. a hookah attachment device configured to attach a hookah device to a hookah tobacco; When at least one of the mist generators is activated by the driver device, the mist generated by each activated mist generator flows along the fluid flow path and exits the hookah tobacco device.

In some arrangements, the driver device is electrically connected to each of the mist generating devices by a data bus, such that the driver device identifies and controls each mist generating device using a respective unique identifier for the mist generating devices. configured.

In some arrangements, each mist generator further comprises an identification arrangement, the identification arrangement having an integrated circuit having a memory for storing a unique identifier for the mist generator and an electronic interface for communicating with the integrated circuit. With electrical connections provided.

In some arrangements, the driver device is configured to control each mist generator to activate independently of other mist generators.

In some arrangements, the driver device is configured to control the respective mist generating devices to operate in a predetermined sequence.

In some arrangements, each mist generator is a manifold having a manifold pipe in fluid communication with a mist outlet port of the mist generator, the mist output from the mist outlet port combining within the manifold pipe. A manifold is provided for exiting the hookah device through a manifold pipe.

In some arrangements, the hookah device is comprised of four mist generating devices removably coupled to the manifold at 90 degrees relative to each other.

In some arrangements, each mist generating device is removably attached to the driver device such that each mist generating device is separable from the driver device.

In some arrangements, each mist generator includes: an elongated mist generator housing with an air inlet port and a mist outlet port; a liquid chamber within the mist generator housing; a liquid chamber containing the liquid to be atomized; a sonication chamber disposed within the mist generator housing; and a first portion of the capillary element extending between the liquid chamber and the sonication chamber; A capillary element within the chamber, a second portion of the capillary element within the sonication chamber, wherein the first portion includes the capillary element. an ultrasonic transducer having a generally planar atomization surface disposed within an ultrasonication chamber, such that the plane of the atomization surface is substantially parallel to the longitudinal length of the mist generator housing; An ultrasonic transducer, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is mounted within the mist generator housing. A portion of the second portion of the capillary element overlaps a portion of the atomizing surface, and an ultrasonic transducer vibrates the misting surface to atomize and sonicate the liquid carried by the second portion of the capillary element. The ultrasonic processing device according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic processing device is configured to generate a mist made of a misted liquid and air in the chamber. An air flow arrangement providing an air flow path between the air inlet port, the sonication chamber, and the air outlet port.

In some arrangements, each mist generator includes a transducer holder retained within the mist generator housing, the transducer element holding an ultrasonic transducer and a capillary element superimposed on a portion of the atomization surface. a transducer holder holding a second portion of the capillary element; and a partition providing a barrier between the liquid chamber and the sonication chamber, the partition defining a capillary opening through which a portion of the first portion of the capillary element extends. The apparatus further includes a partition section.

In some arrangements, the capillary element is 100% bamboo fiber.

In some arrangements, the airflow arrangement is such that the airflow is substantially perpendicular to the atomization surface of the ultrasound transducer as it passes into the sonication chamber. configured to change the direction of air flow along the path.

In some arrangements, the liquid chamber includes a liquid having a kinematic viscosity between 1.05 Pa*s and 1.412 Pa*s and a liquid density between 1.1 g/ml and 1.3 g/ml.

In some arrangements, the liquid chamber contains a liquid that includes a molar ratio of levulinic acid to nicotine of about 2:1.

In some arrangements, the driver device comprises: an AC driver configured to generate an AC drive signal at a predetermined frequency to drive a respective ultrasonic transducer in each mist generator. A real power monitoring arrangement configured to monitor real power used by an ultrasonic transducer when the ultrasonic transducer is driven by an alternating current drive signal, the active power monitoring arrangement comprising: an active power monitoring arrangement configured to provide a monitoring signal indicative of active power; A processor configured to control the AC driver and receive monitoring signals from the active power monitoring arrangement. Memory that stores instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
A. Controlling the AC driver to output an AC drive signal to the ultrasonic transducer at a predetermined sweep frequency B. C. Calculate the active power being used by the ultrasound transducer based on the monitoring signal. Control the AC driver to modulate the AC drive signal to maximize the active power used by the ultrasound transducer D. E. Storing in memory a record of the maximum active power used by the ultrasound transducer and the sweep frequency of the AC drive signal. Repeat steps AD a predetermined number of times, with each iteration increasing the sweep frequency such that after a predetermined number of iterations, the sweep frequency increases from the sweep start frequency to the sweep end frequency.F. G. Determine from the records stored in memory the optimal frequency of the AC drive signal, which is the sweep frequency of the AC drive signal at which maximum active power is used by the ultrasound transducer. The AC driver is controlled to output an AC drive signal to the ultrasonic transducer at an optimal frequency to drive the ultrasonic transducer and atomize the liquid.

In some arrangements, the active power monitoring arrangement includes a current sensing arrangement for sensing a drive current of an alternating current drive signal that drives the ultrasound transducer, and the active power monitoring arrangement includes a monitoring signal indicative of the sensed drive current. is designed to provide.

In some arrangements, the memory, when executed by the processor, instructs the processor to repeat steps A through D in which the sweep frequency increases from a sweep start frequency of 2900 kHz to a sweep end frequency of 2960 kHz. ing.

In some arrangements, the memory, when executed by the processor, instructs the processor to repeat steps A through D in which the sweep frequency increases from a sweep start frequency of 2900 kHz to a sweep end frequency of 3100 kHz. ing.

In some arrangements, the AC driver modulates the AC drive signal with pulse width modulation to maximize the active power used by the ultrasound transducer.

According to some arrangements, a hookah is provided that includes: a water chamber; an elongated stem having a first end attached to the water chamber; from a second end of the stem; a mist channel extending through the stem to the first end; A hookah device according to any of claims 1 to 19 as defined below, characterized in that the hookah attachment arrangement of the hookah device is attached to the stem of the hookah at the second end of the stem. .

In order to understand the invention more easily, embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings:
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the components of an ultrasonic mist inhaler. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the inhaler liquid reservoir structure. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the components of an inhaler liquid reservoir structure. FIG. 4A is an isometric view of the air flow member of the inhaler liquid reservoir structure according to FIGS. 2 and 3; FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the blowing member shown in FIG. 4A. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a piezoelectric transducer modeled as an RLC circuit. FIG. 6 is a graph of frequency versus logarithmic impedance for an RLC circuit. FIG. 7 is a frequency log impedance graph showing the inductive and capacitive regions of operation of a piezoelectric transducer. FIG. 8 is a flow diagram showing the operation of the frequency controller. FIG. 9 is a perspective perspective view of the mist generating device of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a perspective perspective view of the mist generator of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the mist generator of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 is a perspective perspective view of a transducer holder of the present disclosure. FIG. 13 is a perspective perspective view of a transducer holder of the present disclosure. FIG. 14 is a perspective perspective view of a capillary element of the present disclosure. FIG. 15 is a perspective perspective view of a capillary element of the present disclosure. FIG. 16 is a perspective perspective view of a transducer holder of the present disclosure. FIG. 17 is a perspective perspective view of a transducer holder of the present disclosure. FIG. 18 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of a housing of the present disclosure. FIG. 19 is a perspective perspective view of an absorbent element of the present disclosure. FIG. 20 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of a housing of the present disclosure. FIG. 21 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of a housing of the present disclosure. FIG. 22 is a perspective perspective view of an absorbent element of the present disclosure. FIG. 23 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of the housing of the present disclosure. FIG. 24 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of a housing of the present disclosure. FIG. 25 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of a housing of the present disclosure. FIG. 26 is a schematic perspective view of a circuit board of the present disclosure. FIG. 27 is a schematic perspective view of a circuit board of the present disclosure. FIG. 28 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the mist generating device of the present disclosure. FIG. 29 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the mist generating device of the present disclosure. FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view showing the mist generator of the present disclosure. FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view showing the mist generator of the present disclosure. FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view showing the mist generating device of the present disclosure. FIG. 33 is a schematic perspective view of a hookah device of the present disclosure. FIG. 34 is a perspective perspective view of the hookah tobacco device attached to the hookah body and water bowl of the hookah tobacco device of the present disclosure. FIG. 35 is a perspective exploded perspective view of the hookah device of the present disclosure. FIG. 36 is a perspective perspective view showing the components of the hookah device of the present disclosure. FIG. 37 is a perspective perspective view showing the components of the hookah device of the present disclosure. FIG. 38 is a perspective perspective view showing the components of the driver device of the present disclosure. FIG. 39 is a perspective perspective view showing the components of the driver device of the present disclosure. FIG. 40 is a perspective perspective view showing the components of the hookah tobacco device and four mist generating devices of the present disclosure. FIG. 41 is a perspective perspective view showing the components of the hookah device of the present disclosure. FIG. 42 is a perspective cross-sectional view showing the components of the hookah device of the present disclosure. FIG. 43 is a perspective perspective view of the hookah body of the hookah tobacco device of the present disclosure and the hookah device attached to the water bowl.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. Note that, in accordance with standard practice in the industry, the various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or decreased for clarity of discussion.

The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing various features of the provided subject matter. Specific examples of components, concentrations, uses, and arrangements are described below to simplify the disclosure. Of course, these are just examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, attachment of a first feature and a second feature in the following description may include embodiments in which the first feature and the second feature are attached in direct contact; Embodiments may include embodiments in which additional features may be placed between the first feature and the second feature such that the two features may not be in direct contact. Additionally, this disclosure may repeat reference numbers and/or letters in various instances. This repetition is for simplicity and clarity, and as such does not imply a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.

The following disclosure describes representative arrangements or examples. Each arrangement or example may be considered an embodiment, and in this disclosure, references to "arrangement" or "example" may be changed to "embodiment."

Some arrangements of hookah devices incorporate ultrasonic aerosolization technology. Some arrangements of hookah devices are configured to replace traditional hookah heads (coal-fired or electronically heated). Some configurations of hookah devices replace the traditional hookah head that houses tobacco and charcoal (or electronic heating elements) with an existing stem or metal body and water chamber/bowl in a separable manner. It is attached.

In other arrangements, the hookah device includes a stem/body and a water chamber/bowl as a complete hookah device.

The bowls come in a variety of shapes, with either traditional or futuristic decorations, and can be chosen according to personal preference. The design and development of several configurations of ultrasonic aerosolized hookah devices was carried out with tradition in mind to create an interchangeable head that would fit into any existing hookah.

The following disclosure describes the components and functionality of an ultrasonic mist generator. The present disclosure next describes several configurations of hookah devices that incorporate multiple ultrasonic mist generators.

Conventional electronic vaporizing inhalers tend to rely on inducing high temperatures in metal parts that are configured to heat the liquid within the inhaler, thus vaporizing the liquid that can be inhaled. The liquid typically contains nicotine and flavoring blended in a solution of propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG), which are vaporized via heating elements at high temperatures. The problem with traditional inhalers is that the metal can burn, which can then be inhaled along with the burned liquid. Additionally, some people do not like the burnt smell and taste of heated liquids.

1 to 4 are diagrams showing an ultrasonic inhaler constituting an ultrasonic treatment chamber. It is noted that the expression "mist" used in the following disclosure means that the liquid is not heated as is usually done in conventional inhalers known from the prior art. In fact, conventional inhalers use heating elements to heat a liquid above its boiling temperature to generate vapor, which is different from a mist.

When a liquid is sonicated at high intensity, the sound waves propagating in the liquid medium produce alternating high pressure (compression) and low pressure (dilution) cycles at different speeds depending on the frequency. In a low-pressure cycle, high-intensity ultrasound waves create tiny vacuum bubbles or voids in the liquid. This phenomenon is called cavitation. When these bubbles reach a volume that cannot absorb energy, they collapse violently under high-pressure cycles. At this time, extremely high pressure is generated locally. Cavitation generates broken capillary waves that break the surface tension of a liquid and quickly release tiny droplets into the air in the form of a mist.

The cavitation phenomenon will be explained in more detail below.

When a liquid is atomized by ultrasonic vibration, fine water bubbles are generated in the liquid.

This bubble generation is a cavity formation process caused by negative pressure due to strong ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic vibration means.

During positive pressure cycles, the cavity size becomes relatively small and negligible, and high-intensity ultrasound leads to rapid growth of the cavity.

Ultrasound, like other sound waves, consists of cycles of compression and expansion. Upon contact with a liquid, the compression cycle applies positive pressure to the liquid, forcing the molecules together. During the expansion cycle, negative pressure is applied and molecules are pulled apart from each other.

Strong ultrasound waves create areas of positive and negative pressure. Cavities may form and grow when there is negative pressure. When the cavity reaches a critical size, it collapses.

The amount of negative pressure required depends on the type and purity of the liquid. For highly pure liquids, the tensile strength is so high that commercially available ultrasonic generators cannot generate enough negative pressure to form a cavity. For example, pure water requires a negative pressure of 1,000 atmospheres or more, but even the most powerful ultrasonic generator can only generate a negative pressure of about 50 atmospheres. The tensile strength of liquids is reduced by gases trapped in the interstices of liquid particles. This effect is similar to the strength loss caused by cracks in solid materials. When a negative pressure cycle is applied to a gas-filled gap by sound waves, the pressure drop causes the gas in the gap to expand, releasing small air bubbles into the solution.

However, the bubbles that are irradiated with ultrasound continue to absorb energy through alternating cycles of compression and expansion. As a result, the bubbles grow and contract repeatedly, maintaining a dynamic balance between the voids inside the bubbles and the liquid outside. Additionally, the size of bubbles may change due to ultrasound waves. Further, the average size of the bubbles may become large.

The growth of the cavity depends on the intensity of the sound. High-intensity ultrasound can rapidly expand the cavity during negative pressure cycles so that the cavity does not have a chance to contract during positive pressure cycles. In this way, the cavity can grow rapidly in one sound wave period.

For low-intensity ultrasound, the cavity size oscillates in phase with the expansion and compression cycles. The surface of the cavity created by low-intensity ultrasound is slightly larger during the expansion cycle than during the compression cycle. Since the amount of gas entering and exiting the cavity depends on the surface area, the diffusion into the cavity will be slightly greater during the expansion cycle than during the compression cycle. That is, for each period of sound, the cavity expands a little more than it contracts. As the process is repeated over and over again, the cavity slowly grows larger.

It has been found that the grown cavity eventually reaches a critical size at which it most efficiently absorbs ultrasound energy. This critical size depends on the ultrasound frequency. If the cavity grows too quickly due to high-intensity ultrasound, it can no longer efficiently absorb energy from the ultrasound. Without this energy input, the cavity can no longer sustain itself. The liquid rushes in and the cavity collapses due to a nonlinear response.

The energy released by the implosion breaks the liquid into tiny particles that are dispersed into the air as mist.

The equation describing the above nonlinear response phenomenon can be described by a "Rayleigh-Preset" equation. This equation can be derived from the "Navier-Stokes" equation used in fluid mechanics.

Our approach is based on the ``Rayleigh plate'', in which the bubble volume V is the dynamic parameter and the physics describing the dissipation is the same as that used in the more classical form, where the radius is the dynamic parameter. was to rewrite the 'set' equation.

This equation is derived as follows:

In an ultrasonic atomizing inhaler, the liquid has a kinematic viscosity between 1.05 Pascal seconds and 1.412 Pascal seconds.

By solving the above equation with appropriate parameters for viscosity, density, and desired target bubble volume for liquid spray into air, we can calculate the range of liquid viscosity from 2.8 MHz to 3. It has been found that a frequency range of .2 MHz produces a bubble volume of about 0.25 microns to 0.5 microns.

The process of ultrasonic cavitation has a significant impact on the nicotine concentration in the generated mist.

Since no heating element is used, there is no burning of the heating element, and the effects of sidestream smoke can be reduced.

In some arrangements, the liquid includes 57-70% (w/w) vegetable glycerin and 30-43% (w/w) propylene glycol, where the propylene glycol contains nicotine and optionally flavoring. include.

In an ultrasonic mist inhaler, a capillary element may extend between the sonication chamber and the liquid chamber.

In the ultrasonic mist inhaler, the capillary element is a material that is at least partially bamboo fiber.

The capillary element allows not only high absorption capacity and high absorption rate, but also high liquid retention.

The inherent properties of the proposed material used for the capillary tube were found to have a significant impact on the efficient functioning of the ultrasonic mist inhaler.

Furthermore, as an inherent characteristic of this material, it has good moisture absorption while maintaining good moisture permeability. This allows the aspirated liquid to penetrate into the capillary tube efficiently, and the high water absorbency allows it to retain a large amount of liquid, making the ultrasonic mist inhaler more effective than other products on the market. Now it can be used for a long time.

Another big advantage of using bamboo fiber is that it has antibacterial, antifungal, and deodorizing properties due to the naturally occurring antibacterial biological agent ``kun'' that is naturally present in bamboo fiber, making it suitable for medical applications. That is what we are doing.

This unique property of bamboo fibers has been verified through numerical analysis regarding the benefits of bamboo fibers in ultrasonic treatment.

The formula below has been tested on bamboo fiber materials for use as capillary elements and other materials such as cotton, paper, or other fiber strands, and bamboo fibers are much more suitable for use in sonication. Proven to have excellent properties:

In FIG. 1, a disposable ultrasonic mist inhaler 100 is depicted. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the ultrasonic mist inhaler 100 has a cylindrical body whose length is relatively long compared to its diameter. In terms of shape and appearance, the ultrasonic mist inhaler 100 is designed to mimic the appearance of a typical cigarette. For example, the inhaler may feature a first portion 101 that primarily mimics the tobacco stick portion of a cigarette and a second portion 102 that primarily mimics a filter. In a disposable arrangement, the first part and the second part are regions of a single, but separable device. The names 1st part 101 and 2nd part 102 are used to conveniently distinguish the components mainly included in each part.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the ultrasonic mist inhaler consists of a mouthpiece 1, a liquid reservoir structure 2, and a casing 3. The first part 101 constitutes the casing 3, and the second part 102 constitutes the mouthpiece 1 and the reservoir structure 2.

The first portion 101 contains power supply energy.

Power storage device 30 supplies power to ultrasonic mist inhaler 100 . The power storage device 30 can be, but is not limited to, a battery such as a lithium ion battery, an alkaline battery, a zinc-carbon battery, a nickel-metal hydride battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, a supercapacitor, or a combination thereof. do not have. In a disposable arrangement, the electrical storage device 30 is not rechargeable, whereas in a reusable arrangement, the electrical storage device 30 would be selected to be rechargeable. In a disposable arrangement, the electrical storage device 30 is primarily selected to provide a constant voltage over the life of the inhaler 100. Otherwise, the performance of the inhaler will deteriorate over time. Preferred electrical storage devices that can provide a constant voltage output over the life of the device include lithium ion batteries and lithium polymer batteries.

Electricity storage device 30 has a first end 30a that generally corresponds to a positive terminal and a second end 30b that generally corresponds to a negative terminal. The negative terminal extends to the first end 30a.

Since the power storage device 30 is located in the first part 101 and the liquid reservoir structure 2 is located in the second part 102, a joint is necessary to provide electrical communication between these components. . Electrical communication is established using at least electrodes or probes that are compressed together when the first part 101 is tightened to the second part 102.

In this device, the power storage device 30 is rechargeable in order to be reusable. A charging port 32 is provided in the casing 3.

Integrated circuit 4 has a proximal end 4a and a distal end 4b. The positive terminal of the first end 30a of the electricity storage device 30 is in electrical communication with the positive lead of the flexible integrated circuit 4. The negative terminal of the second end 30b of the electrical storage device 30 is in electrical communication with the negative lead of the integrated circuit 4. The distal end 4b of the integrated circuit 4 is configured to include a microprocessor. The microprocessor processes data from the sensor, controls the lights, directs the flow of current to the ultrasonic vibrations 5 in the second portion 102, and terminates the flow of current after a preprogrammed time. It is configured.

The sensor detects when the ultrasonic mist inhaler 100 is in use (when the user inhales the inhaler) and activates the microprocessor. Sensors can be selected to detect changes in pressure, airflow, or vibration. In one arrangement, the sensor is a pressure sensor. In digital devices, the sensor takes continuous readings, and as a result, the digital sensor must draw current continuously, but the amount will be small and the impact on overall battery life will be negligible.

In some arrangements, integrated circuit 4 constitutes an H-bridge that can be formed by four MOSFETs to convert direct current to alternating current at high frequencies.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, an illustration of a liquid reservoir structure 2 in one arrangement is shown. The liquid reservoir structure 2 consists of a liquid chamber 21 adapted to receive the liquid to be atomized, and a sonication chamber 22 in fluid communication with the liquid chamber 21 .

In the arrangement shown, the liquid reservoir structure 2 comprises an inlet channel 20 providing an air passage from the sonication chamber 22 towards the environment.

As an example of the arrangement of sensor positions, the sensor may be arranged in the ultrasonic processing chamber 22.

The suction channel 20 has a conical portion 20a and an inner container 20b.

As depicted in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the suction channel 20 further includes an airflow member 27 for delivering airflow from the environment to the sonication chamber 22.

The airflow member 27 has an airflow bridge 27a and an airflow duct 27b made in one piece, the airflow bridge 27a having two airway openings 27a' forming part of the suction channel 20, and the airflow duct 27b forming an airflow bridge 27b. 27a into the sonication chamber 22 to provide air flow from the surroundings to the sonication chamber.

The airflow bridge 27a cooperates with the conical element 20a at the second diameter 20a2.

Airflow bridge 27a has two opposing peripheral openings 27a'' that deliver airflow to airflow duct 27b.

The cooperation of the airflow bridge 27a and the frustoconical element 20a is arranged such that two opposing peripheral openings 27a'' cooperate with complementary openings 20a'' of the frustoconical element 20a.

The base 1 and the conical part 20a are arranged with an interval in the radial direction, and an air flow chamber 28 is arranged therebetween.

As depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mouthpiece 1 has two opposing peripheral openings 1''.

The peripheral openings 27a'', 20a'', 1'' of the airflow bridge 27a, the frustoconical element 20a and the mouthpiece 1 provide maximum airflow directly into the sonication chamber 22.

The conical element 20a includes an internal passage aligned in a similar direction to the suction channel 20, the first diameter 20a1 being smaller than that of the second diameter 20a2, the internal passage decreasing in diameter across the conical element 20a. It has an internal passageway to allow it.

The conical element 20a is arranged in alignment with the ultrasonic vibration means 5 and the capillary element 7, with a first diameter 20a1 communicating with the internal duct 11 of the mouthpiece 1 and a second diameter 20a2 communicating with the internal container 20b. are doing.

The inner container 20b has an inner wall that partitions the ultrasonic processing chamber 22 and the liquid chamber 21.

The liquid reservoir structure 2 has an outer container 20c that defines an outer wall of the liquid chamber 21.

Inner container 20b and outer container 20c are the inner wall and outer wall of liquid chamber 21, respectively.

The liquid reservoir structure 2 is arranged between the cap 1 and the casing 3 and is removable from the cap 1 and the casing 3.

The liquid reservoir structure 2 and the mouthpiece 1 or the casing 3 may include complementary arrangements for engaging each other; further such complementary arrangements may include: bayonet-type arrangements; threaded engagement-type arrangements; magnetic arrangements. ; or a friction-fit arrangement, with the liquid reservoir structure 2 comprising a part of the arrangement and the mouthpiece 1 or casing 3 comprising a complementary part of the arrangement.

In a reusable arrangement, the components are substantially the same. The difference between a reusable arrangement and a disposable arrangement is the accommodation made for replacing the liquid reservoir structure 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid chamber 21 has a top wall 23 and a bottom wall 25 that close an inner container 20b and an outer container 20c of the liquid chamber 21. As shown in FIG.

The capillary element 7 is arranged between the first part 20b1 and the second part 20b2 of the inner container 20b.

The capillary element 7 has a flat shape extending from the sonication chamber to the liquid chamber.

As depicted in FIG. 2 or 3, the capillary element 7 consists of a U-shaped central part 7a and an L-shaped peripheral part 7b.

The L-shaped portion 7b extends along the bottom wall 25 into the liquid chamber 21 on the inner container 20b.

The U-shaped portion 7a is housed within the ultrasonic processing chamber 21. The U-shaped portion 7a is provided along the bottom wall 25 on the inner container 20b.

In the ultrasonic atomization inhaler, the U-shaped portion 7a has an inner portion 7a1 and an outer portion 7a2, the inner portion 7a1 is in surface contact with the atomization surface 50 of the ultrasonic vibration means 5, and the outer portion 7a2 is not in surface contact with the ultrasonic vibration means 5.

The bottom wall 25 of the liquid chamber 21 is a bottom plate 25 that closes off the liquid chamber 21 and the ultrasonic processing chamber 22 . Since the bottom plate 25 is sealed, leakage of liquid from the ultrasonic processing chamber 22 to the casing 3 is prevented.

The bottom plate 25 has an upper surface 25a having a recess 25b into which the elastic member 8 is inserted. The ultrasonic vibration means 5 is supported by an elastic member 8. The elastic member 8 is formed of an annular plate-shaped rubber having an inner hole 8' in which a groove for holding the ultrasonic vibration means 5 is designed.

The upper wall 23 of the liquid chamber 21 is a cap 23 that closes the liquid chamber 23.

Top wall 23 has an upper surface 23 representing the maximum level of liquid that liquid chamber 21 can contain and a lower surface 25 representing the minimum level of liquid within liquid chamber 21 .

Since the top wall 23 is sealed, leakage of liquid from the liquid chamber 21 to the cap 1 is prevented.

The top wall 23 and the bottom wall 25 are fixed to the liquid reservoir structure 2 by fixing means such as screws, adhesive, friction, or the like.

As depicted in Figure 3, the elastic member is in line contact with the ultrasonic vibration means 5 and prevents contact between the ultrasonic vibration means 5 and the wall of the inhaler, thereby reducing the vibration of the liquid reservoir structure. Suppression is more effectively prevented. Therefore, the fine particles of the liquid atomized by the atomization member can be atomized further.

As depicted in FIG. 3, the inner container 20b has an opening 20b' between the first part 20b1 and the second part 20b2, through which the capillary element 7 extends from the sonication chamber 21. There is. Capillary element 7 absorbs liquid from liquid chamber 21 via opening 20b'. Capillary element 7 is a wick. The capillary element 7 transports the liquid to the sonication chamber 22 by capillary action. In some arrangements, capillary element 7 is made of bamboo fibers. In some arrangements, capillary element 7 may be between 0.27 mm and 0.32 mm thick and have a density between 38 g/m ² and 48 g/m ² .

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the ultrasonic vibration means 5 are arranged directly below the capillary element 7.

The ultrasonic vibration means 5 may be an ultrasonic transducer. In arrangement, the ultrasonic vibration means 5 may be a piezoelectric transducer and may be designed in the form of a circular plate. The material of the piezoelectric transducer may be ceramic.

Moreover, various transducer materials can be used for the ultrasonic vibration means 5.

The end of the airflow duct 27b1 faces the ultrasonic vibration means 5. The ultrasonic vibration means 5 is in electrical communication with the electrical contactors 101a, 101b. It should be noted that the distal end 4b of the integrated circuit 4 has an inner electrode and an outer electrode. The inner electrode contacts a first electrical contact 101a, which is a spring contact probe, and the outer electrode contacts a second electrical contact 101b, which is a side pin. Through the integrated circuit 4, the first electrical contact 101a electrically communicates with the positive terminal of the power storage device 30 via the microprocessor, and the second electrical contact 101b electrically communicates with the negative terminal of the power storage device 30. are doing.

Electrical contacts 101a, 101b cross the bottom plate 25. The bottom plate 25 is adapted to be received inside the peripheral wall 26 of the liquid reservoir structure 2 . Bottom plate 25 rests on complementary ridges, thereby forming liquid chamber 21 and sonication chamber 22.

The inner container 20b consists of a circular inner slot 20d to which a mechanical spring is applied.

By pressing the central part 7a1 against the ultrasonic vibration means 5, the mechanical spring 9 ensures a contact surface between them.

Reservoir structure 2 and base plate 25 can be made using a variety of thermoplastic materials.

When the user inhales the ultrasonic mist inhaler 100, airflow is drawn through the peripheral opening 1'', through the airflow chamber 28, through the peripheral opening 27a'' of the airflow bridge 27a and through the frustoconical element 20a. , flows down into the sonication chamber 22 via the airflow duct 27b and directly onto the capillary element 7. At the same time, liquid is drawn from the reservoir chamber 21 through the plurality of openings 20b' into the capillary element 7 by capillary action. The capillary element 7 brings the liquid into contact with the ultrasonic vibration means 5 of the inhaler 100. In addition, the pressure sensor activates the integrated circuit 4 by the user's suction, and the integrated circuit 4 conducts a current to the ultrasonic vibration means 5. Thus, when the user inhales with the mouthpiece 1 of the inhaler 100, two actions occur simultaneously. First, the sensor activates the integrated circuit 4, which triggers the ultrasonic vibration means 5 to start vibrating. Second, the suction reduces the pressure outside the reservoir chamber 21 such that a flow of liquid through the opening 20b' is initiated, which saturates the capillary element 7. The capillary element 7 conveys the liquid to the ultrasonic vibration means 5, which causes bubbles to be formed in the capillary channel and the liquid to become a mist. Then, the user sucks the misted liquid.

In some arrangements, integrated circuit 4 includes a frequency controller configured to control the frequency at which ultrasonic vibration means 5 operates. The frequency controller includes a processor and a memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform at least one function of the frequency controller.

As mentioned above, in some configurations, the ultrasonic mist inhaler 100 may be configured to absorb 1.05 Pa.s to 1.412 Pa.s of liquid to produce a bubble volume of approximately 0.25 to 0.5 microns. In order to vaporize a viscous liquid, the ultrasonic vibration means 5 is driven with a signal having a frequency of 2.8 MHz to 3.2 MHz. However, for liquids with different viscosities or other applications, it is possible that the ultrasonic vibration means 5 are driven at different frequencies.

For each different application of the mist generator, there is an optimum frequency or frequency range for driving the ultrasonic vibration means 5 to optimize the mist generation. In an arrangement where the ultrasonic vibration means 5 are piezoelectric transducers, the optimum frequency or frequency range will depend on at least the following four parameters:

1. Transducer Manufacturing Process In some arrangements, the ultrasonic vibration means 5 consists of piezoelectric ceramic. Piezoelectric ceramics are manufactured by mixing compounds to create a ceramic fabric, but this mixing process may not be consistent throughout manufacturing. This non-uniformity can cause variations in the resonant frequency of the cured piezoelectric ceramic.

If the resonant frequency of the piezoelectric ceramic does not correspond to the required operating frequency of the device, no mist will be produced during operation of the device. In the case of nicotine mist inhalers, even a slight shift in the resonant frequency of the piezoelectric ceramic can affect mist production, meaning that the device is unable to provide the user with adequate nicotine levels.

2. Load on the Transducer During operation, when the load on the piezoelectric transducer changes, the vibration displacement of the entire piezoelectric transducer is suppressed. To optimally displace the piezoelectric transducer's vibrations, the drive frequency must be adjusted so that the circuit can provide sufficient power for maximum displacement.

Types of loads that affect oscillator efficiency include the amount of liquid on the transducer (humidity of the wicking material), the spring force applied to the wicking material to maintain permanent contact with the transducer, etc. be able to. It may also include electrical connection means.

3. Temperature The ultrasonic vibrations of the piezoelectric transducer are partially damped by incorporating it into the device. This could be done by placing the transducer in a silicone/rubber ring and using a spring to apply pressure to the wicking material above the transducer. This damping of vibrations increases the local temperature above and around the transducer.

An increase in temperature affects the vibrations due to changes in the molecular behavior of the transducer. The increase in temperature gives more energy to the ceramic's molecules and temporarily affects its crystal structure. This effect reverses as the temperature decreases, but modulation of the applied frequency is necessary to maintain optimal oscillation. This frequency modulation could not be achieved with conventional fixed frequency devices.

Furthermore, since the viscosity of the vaporized solution (e-liquid) decreases due to the temperature increase, it may be necessary to change the driving frequency in order to induce cavitation and maintain continuous mist generation. For conventional fixed frequency devices, reducing the viscosity of the liquid without changing the drive frequency reduces or completely stops mist production, rendering the device inoperable.

4. Distance to power supply The oscillation frequency of an electronic circuit may vary depending on the length of the wiring between the transducer and the oscillator-driver. The frequency of an electronic circuit is inversely proportional to the distance between the transducer and the rest of the circuit.

Although the distance parameter is primarily fixed to the device, it can change during the device manufacturing process and reduce the overall efficiency of the device. Therefore, it is desirable to change the driving frequency of the device to compensate for the variations and optimize the efficiency of the device.

A piezoelectric transducer can be modeled as an RLC circuit in an electronic circuit, as shown in FIG. The four parameters mentioned above can be modeled as changes in the inductance, capacitance, and resistance of the entire RLC circuit, which can change the resonant frequency range delivered to the transducer. As the frequency of the circuit increases to near the resonance of the transducer, the logarithmic impedance of the entire circuit drops to a minimum, then rises to a maximum before settling in the middle range.

FIG. 6 is a general graph illustrating the change in overall impedance with increasing frequency in an RLC circuit. FIG. 7 shows how the piezoelectric transducer acts as a capacitor in the first capacitive region at frequencies below the first predetermined frequency f _s and in the second capacitive region at frequencies above the second predetermined frequency f _p FIG. The piezoelectric transducer acts as an inductor in the inductive region at frequencies between the first and second predetermined frequencies _fs , _fp . In order to maintain optimal oscillation of the transducer and thus obtain maximum efficiency, it is necessary to maintain the current flowing through the transducer at a frequency within the inductive region.

The frequency controller of some arrangements of the device is configured to maintain the oscillation frequency of the piezoelectric transducer (ultrasonic vibration means 5) within the induction region in order to maximize the efficiency of the device.

The frequency controller is configured to perform a sweep operation that drives the transducer at a frequency that tracks progressively over a predetermined sweep frequency range. When the frequency controller performs a sweep, the frequency controller monitors the analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) value of an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the transducer. In some arrangements, the ADC value is a parameter of the ADC that is proportional to the voltage across the transducer. In other arrangements, the ADC value is a parameter of the ADC that is proportional to the current flowing through the transducer.

As described in more detail below, frequency controllers in some arrangements determine the active power being used by the ultrasound transducer by monitoring the current flowing through the transducer.

During the sweep operation, the frequency controller searches for a guiding region of frequency for the transducer. Once the frequency controller identifies the induction region, the frequency controller records the ADC value and adjusts the driving frequency of the transducer to the frequencies within the induction region (i.e., the first and second (between predetermined frequencies f _s and f _p ). When the drive frequency is locked within the inductive region, the electromechanical coupling coefficient of the transducer is maximized, thereby maximizing the efficiency of the device.

In some arrangements, the frequency controller is configured to perform a sweeping operation to locate the induction region each time oscillation is initiated or restarted. In the arrangement, the frequency controller is configured to lock the drive frequency at a new frequency within the induction region each time oscillation is started, thereby compensating for changes in parameters that affect the operating efficiency of the device. .

In some arrangements, the frequency controller ensures optimal mist production and maximizes the efficiency of drug delivery to the user. In some arrangements, the frequency controller optimizes the device to improve efficiency and maximize therapy delivery to the user.

In other arrangements, the frequency controller optimizes the device and improves the efficiency of any other device that uses ultrasound. In some arrangements, the frequency controller is configured for use with ultrasound technology for therapeutic applications to enhance enhanced drug release from ultrasound-responsive drug delivery systems. Having a precise and optimal frequency during operation ensures that microbubbles, nanobubbles, nanodroplets, liposomes, emulsions, micelles, or any other delivery system is highly effective.

In some arrangements, the frequency controller is configured to operate in a recursive mode to ensure optimal mist production and optimal delivery of compounds as described above. When the frequency controller operates in recursive mode, the frequency controller performs periodic frequency sweeps during device operation and monitors the ADC value until the ADC value is above a predetermined threshold indicating optimal oscillation of the transducer. Determine whether it exists or not.

In some arrangements, the frequency controller performs a sweep operation while the device is in the process of aerosolizing the liquid in case the frequency controller can identify a possible better frequency for the transducer. If the frequency controller identifies a better frequency, the frequency controller locks the drive frequency at the newly identified better frequency to maintain optimal operation of the device.

In some arrangements, the frequency controller performs a frequency sweep for a predetermined duration periodically during operation of the device. For a device arranged as described above, the predetermined duration of the sweeps and the time periods between sweeps are selected to optimize the functionality of the device. When implemented in an ultrasonic mist inhaler, this ensures optimal delivery to the user throughout his or her inhalation.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of the operation of the frequency controller for several arrangements.

The following disclosure discloses further arrangements of mist generators comprising many of the same elements as the arrangements described above. Elements of the arrangement described above may be replaced with any of the elements of the arrangement described in the remainder of this disclosure.

The mist generating device described below is used with or for use with the hookah device 202 described below. In other arrangements, the hookah device 202 is configured to include a plurality of other mist generating devices in place of the mist generating device 201 described herein.

To ensure sufficient aerosol generation, the mist generator 201 in some arrangements consists of an ultrasonic/piezoelectric transducer with a diameter of exactly or substantially 16 mm. The transducer is manufactured to specific capacitance and impedance values to control the frequency and power required to produce the desired amount of aerosol.

If a disk-shaped ultrasonic transducer with a diameter of 16 mm is placed horizontally, the mist generator becomes large. To reduce size, the ultrasonic transducer in this arrangement is held vertically within the sonication chamber (the plane of the ultrasonic transducer is generally parallel to the flow of the aerosol mist and/or the mist generator (approximately parallel to the longitudinal length of). Stated another way, the ultrasonic transducer is generally perpendicular to the base of the mist generator.

Referring now to Figures 9-11 of the accompanying drawings, the mist generator 201 is comprised of a mist generator housing 204 that is elongate and is formed from two housing parts 205, 206 that are optionally attached to each other. Mist generator housing 204 is comprised of an air inlet port 207 and a mist outlet port 208.

In this arrangement, the mist generator housing 204 is injection molded plastic, specifically polypropylene typically used in medical applications. In this arrangement, the mist generator housing 204 is a heterophasic copolymer. More specifically, it is a BF970MO heterophase copolymer with an optimal combination of very high stiffness and high impact strength. Mist generator housing parts molded from this material exhibit good antistatic performance.

A heterophasic copolymer such as polypropylene is particularly suitable for the mist generator housing 204 because this material does not cause aerosol condensation as it flows from the sonication chamber 219 through the mist exit port 208. This plastic material can also be easily recycled directly using industrial crushing and cleaning processes.

In FIG. 10, the mist outlet port 208 is closed by a closure element 209. However, it will be appreciated that during use of the mist inhaler 200, the closure element 209 is removed from the mist outlet port 208, as shown in FIG.

Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13, the mist generator 200 includes a transducer holder 210 held within the mist generator housing 204. As shown in FIGS. In this arrangement, the transducer holder 210 is comprised of a cylindrical or generally cylindrical main body 211 and upper and lower circular openings 212 and 213. Transducer holder 210 is provided with an internal channel 214 for receiving the end of ultrasound transducer 215, as shown in FIG.

Transducer holder 210 incorporates a cutout 216 through which electrode 217 extends from ultrasonic transducer 215 so that electrode 217 can be electrically connected to an AC driver of hookah device 202, as described in more detail below. , an electrode 217 extends from the ultrasound transducer 215.

Referring again to FIG. 11, the mist generator 201 includes a liquid chamber 218 provided within the mist generator housing 204. Liquid chamber 218 is for containing the liquid to be atomized. In some arrangements, liquid is contained in liquid chamber 218. In other arrangements, the liquid chamber 218 is initially empty and then the liquid chamber is filled with liquid.

A liquid (also referred to herein as e-liquid) composition suitable for use in some configurations of ultrasonic mist generator 201 is comprised of a nicotine salt consisting of nicotine levulinate:
The relative amount of vegetable glycerin in the composition is: 55 to 80% (w/w), or 60 to 80% (w/w), or 65 to 75% (w/w), or 70% (w/w). w), and/or the relative amount of propylene glycol in the composition is: 5-30% (w/w), or 10-30% (w/w), or 15-25% (w/w), or 20% (w/w), and/or the relative amount of water in the composition is: 5-15% (w/w), or 7-12% (w/w), or 10% (w/w) , and/or the amount of nicotine and/or nicotine salt in the composition is: 0.1 to 80 mg/ml, or 0.1 to 50 mg/ml, or 1 to 25 mg/ml, or 10 to 20 mg/ml, or 17mg/ml.

In some arrangements, the mist generator 201 contains an electronic liquid having a kinematic viscosity between 1.05 Pascals and 1.412 Pascals.

In some arrangements, liquid chamber 218 contains a liquid that includes nicotine levulinate in a 1:1 molar ratio.

In some arrangements, liquid chamber 218 includes an e-liquid that includes nicotine, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, water, and flavor. In some examples, the percentage concentration of each component in the e-liquid is shown in Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, or Table 4 below.

In a non-limiting example, the nicotine in the solution is all or partially in the form of nicotine levulinate.

Levulinic acid nicotine salt is formed by combining nicotine and levulinic acid in solution. As a result, levulinic acid nicotine salt consisting of a levulinic acid anion and a nicotine cation is formed.

The % concentration of nicotine in the e-liquids shown in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4 corresponds to approximately 17 mg/ml.

In some arrangements, liquid chamber 218 includes a liquid having a kinematic viscosity between 1.05 Pascal seconds and 1.412 Pascal seconds and a liquid density between 1.1 g/ml and 1.3 g/ml. .

In some arrangements, the liquid in liquid chamber 218 consists of a flavoring (eg, a fruit flavor) that the user experiences when the user inhales the mist produced by the hookah device.

By using an e-liquid with the correct parameters of viscosity, density, and having the desired target bubble volume of the liquid spray in the air, the liquid viscosity ranges from 1.05 Pa·s to 1.412 Pa·s and approximately 1 A frequency of 2.8 MHz to 3.2 MHz for a density of .1 to 1.3 g/mL (density range taken from Hertz) means that 90% of the droplets are less than 1 micron and 50% of them are less than 0.5 micron. It has been shown to produce a droplet volume of .

The mist generator 201 is configured to include an ultrasonic processing chamber 219 provided within the mist generator housing 204.

Returning to FIGS. 12 and 13, the transducer holder 210 is configured to include a partition 220 that provides a barrier between the liquid chamber 218 and the sonication chamber 219. The barrier provided by partition portion 220 minimizes the risk of sonication chamber 219 flooding with liquid from liquid chamber 218 or oversaturating the capillary element on ultrasound transducer 215, either of which Overloading the transducer 215 and reducing its efficiency. Additionally, flooding the sonication chamber 219 or oversaturating the capillary elements may also cause the user to experience an unpleasant experience of inhaling liquid during inhalation. To reduce this risk, the partition portion 220 of the transducer holder 210 sits as a wall between the sonication chamber 219 and the liquid chamber 218.

The partition 220 constitutes a capillary opening 221 that is the only means by which liquid can flow from the liquid chamber 218 to the sonication chamber 219 via the capillary element. In this arrangement, the capillary opening 221 is an elongated slot with a width of 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm. The dimensions of the capillary opening 221 are such that the edges of the capillary opening 221 provide a biasing force acting on the capillary element extending through the capillary opening 221 to add control of liquid flow to the sonication chamber 219. be.

In this arrangement, transducer holder 210 is liquid silicone rubber (LSR). In this arrangement, the liquid silicone rubber has a hardness of 60 Shore A. The LSR material ensures that the ultrasound transducer 215 vibrates without the transducer holder 210 damping the vibrations. In this arrangement, the vibrational displacement of the ultrasound transducer 215 is between 2 and 5 nanometers, and any damping effect may reduce the efficiency of the ultrasound transducer 215. Therefore, the material and hardness of this LSR are selected for optimal performance with minimal compromise.

14 and 15, the mist generating device 201 includes a capillary tube or capillary element 222 for transferring liquid (containing drugs or other substances) from the liquid chamber 218 to the sonication chamber 219. There is. Capillary element 222 is planar or generally planar having a first portion 223 and a second portion 224 . In this arrangement, first portion 223 has a rectangular or generally rectangular shape and second portion 224 has a partially circular shape.

In this arrangement, the capillary element 222 is composed of a third part 225 and a fourth part 226, each having the same shape as the first and second parts 223, 224. The capillary element 222 in this arrangement is centered around the fold line 227 such that the first and second portions 223, 224 and the third and fourth portions 225, 226 are superimposed on each other, as shown in FIG. Folded.

In this arrangement, the capillary element has a thickness of approximately 0.28 mm. When the capillary element 222 is folded to have two layers, as shown in Figure 15, the total thickness of the capillary element is approximately 0.56 mm. This double layer also ensures that there is always sufficient liquid on the ultrasound transducer 215 for optimal aerosol production.

In this arrangement, when the capillary element 222 is folded, the lower ends of the first and third portions 223, 225 are located in the liquid in the liquid chamber 218 to maximize the rate at which the capillary element 222 absorbs liquid. A portion of capillary element 222 defines an enlarged lower end 228 that increases the surface area.

In this arrangement, capillary element 222 is 100% bamboo fiber. In other arrangements, the capillary element is at least 75% bamboo fiber. The advantages of using bamboo fibers as capillary elements have been mentioned above.

16 and 17, the capillary element 222 is attached to the transducer holder such that the transducer holder 210 retains a second portion 224 of the capillary element 222 overlapping a portion of the atomizing surface of the ultrasound transducer 215. 210. In this arrangement, the circular second portion 224 fits within the inner recess 214 of the transducer holder 210.

A first portion 223 of capillary element 222 extends through capillary opening 221 of transducer holder 210 .

18-20, the second portion 206 of the mist generator housing 204 consists of a generally circular wall 229 that receives the transducer holder 222 and forms part of the wall of the sonication chamber 219.

Contact openings 230 and 231 are provided in the side walls of second portion 206 for receiving electrical contacts 232 and 233 that form electrical connections with the electrodes of ultrasound transducer 215.

In this arrangement, an absorbent tip or element 234 is provided adjacent the mist outlet port 208 to absorb liquid at the mist outlet port 208. In this arrangement, the absorbent element 234 is of bamboo fiber.

21-23, a first portion 205 of the mist generator housing 204 is of similar shape to the second portion 206 and forms a further portion of the wall of the sonication chamber 219 and includes a transducer holder. It further includes a generally circular wall 235 that retains 210 .

In this arrangement, an absorbent element 236 is further provided adjacent to the mist outlet port 208 for absorbing liquid at the mist outlet port 208.

In this arrangement, the first portion 205 of the mist generator housing 204 defines a spring support arrangement 237 that supports the lower end of the retainer spring 238, as shown in FIG.

The upper end of retainer spring 238 contacts second portion 224 of capillary element 222 such that retainer spring 238 provides a biasing force that biases capillary element 222 against the atomizing surface of ultrasound transducer 215 .

Referring to FIG. 25, before the two parts 205, 206 of the mist generator housing 204 are attached to each other, the transducer holder 210 is in place and held by the second part 206 of the mist generator housing 204. It is shown that there is.

Referring to FIGS. 26 to 29, in this arrangement, mist generator 201 is configured to include identification array 239. As shown in FIGS. The identification arrangement 239 consists of a printed circuit board 240 with electrical contacts 241 on one side, an integrated circuit 242 and further optional components 243 on the other side.

Integrated circuit 242 has a memory that stores an identifier unique to mist generator 201 . Electrical contacts 241 provide an electronic interface for communicating with integrated circuit 242.

A printed circuit board 240 is mounted within a recess 244 in one side of the mist generator housing 204 in this arrangement. Integrated circuit 242 and any other electronic components 243 are seated within further recess 245 such that printed circuit board 240 is generally flush with the sides of mist generator housing 204 .

In this arrangement, integrated circuit 242 is a one-time programmable (OTP) device that provides anti-counterfeit functionality that allows only genuine mist generators from the manufacturer to be used with the device. This anti-counterfeiting feature is implemented in the mist generator 201 as a specific custom integrated circuit (IC) that is bonded to the mist generator 201 (with the printed circuit board 240). The OTP as an IC contains truly unique information that allows full traceability of the mist generator 201 (and its contents) over its lifetime, as well as accurate monitoring of consumption by the user. The OTP IC allows the mist generator 201 to function to generate mist only when authorized.

The OTP characteristically defines the authorized status of a particular mist generating device 201. In fact, in order to prevent carbonyl emissions and keep the aerosol at a safe level, experiments have shown that after approximately 1000 seconds of aerosolization, the mist generator 201 considers the liquid in the liquid chamber 218 to be empty. has been done. As such, a non-genuine or empty mist generator 201 cannot be operated after this predetermined usage time.

The OTP as a feature may be part of a complete chain of cooperation between the digital sale point, the mobile companion application, and the mist generator 201. It is recommended that only genuine mist generators 201 manufactured by trusted parties and sold at digital sale points be used with the hookah generator 202. The OTP IC is read by the hookah device 202 which recognizes the mist generator 201.
In some arrangements, the OTP IC, like the mist generator 201, is disposable. Whenever the mist generator 201 is considered empty, it will not be activated when inserted into the hookah device 202. Similarly, a counterfeit mist generator 201 will not function in the hookah device 202.

30 to 32 are diagrams showing how air flows inside the mist generator 201 during operation.

A liquid drug (such as nicotine) is turned into a mist (aerosolized) by ultrasonication. However, this mist will settle onto the ultrasound transducer 215 unless sufficient ambient air is available to displace the rising aerosol. In the sonication chamber 219, a mist (aerosol) is generated and withdrawn through the mist exit port 208, thus requiring continuous delivery of air. To meet this requirement, air channels are provided. In this arrangement, the airflow channels have an average cross-sectional area of 11.5 mm ² , which is calculated and designed into the ultrasound irradiation chamber 219 based on the negative pressure from an average user. This also controls the mist-to-air ratio of the inhaled aerosol and controls the amount of drug delivered to the user.

Based on design requirements, the air flow path is routed starting at the bottom of the sonication chamber 219. The opening in the bottom of the aerosol chamber is aligned with and closely adjacent the opening to the airflow bridge within the device. The air flow path runs vertically upward along the reservoir and continues to the center of the sonication chamber (concentric with the ultrasound transducer 215). Now turn inward 90 degrees. The flow path then continues approximately 1.5 mm from the ultrasound transducer 215. This path maximizes the ambient air delivered directly in the direction of the atomization surface of the ultrasound transducer 215. Air flows through the channels toward the transducer and exits through the mist exit port 208, collecting the generated mist.

Referring now to FIGS. 33 and 34 of the accompanying drawings, some arrangements of hookah devices 202 are configured to be removably attached to an existing hookah 246. The hookah device 202 is attached to the stem 247 in place of a traditional hookah head that would otherwise house tobacco and charcoal (or an electronic heating element).

Hookah 246 is comprised of a water chamber and an elongated stem 247 having a first end attached to the water chamber. Stem 247 defines a mist channel that extends from the second end of stem 247, through stem 247, to the first end, and into the water chamber.

In this arrangement, the hookah device 202 is removably attached to the second end of the stem 247 of the hookah 246. However, in other arrangements, the hookah device 202 is not designed to be removable and is instead fixed to or integrally formed with the stem 247 of the hookah 246.

35-43 of the accompanying drawings, the hookah device 202 is comprised of a housing 248 incorporating a base 249 and a cover 250 that are attached or removably attached to each other. In this arrangement, housing 248 is cylindrical and generally disc-shaped.

In this arrangement, the cover 250 includes a plurality of air inlets 251 to allow air to be drawn into the hookah device 202. The base 249 is provided with a hookah outlet 252 for allowing air and mist to flow out from the hookah device 202 to the hookah 246. The diameter of the hookah outlet port 252 is sufficient to allow the user to quickly draw air through the hookah device 202 and into the hookah 246 to create bubbles of mist that travel through the water within the hookah 246. .

In this arrangement, the hookah outlet port 252 is a circular opening that receives the end of the stem 247 of the hookah 246. The hookah tobacco device 202 is supported by the stem 247 of the hookah tobacco 246 with a generally highly airtight seal formed between the hookah device 202 and the stem 247.

In this arrangement, the hookah device 202 is a self-contained device with the electronics containing the e-liquid and the mist generator contained within the housing 248.

In this arrangement, the hookah device 202 is composed of an upper support plate 253, a middle support plate 254 and a lower support plate 255 which are stacked on top of each other. The support plates 253 to 255 support the plurality of mist generators 201 within the hookah device 202. Each mist generator is a mist generator 201 as described in this disclosure. In this arrangement, the mist generator 201 is removably attached to the hookah device 202 so that the mist generator 201 can be replaced when empty (i.e., when the e-liquid is partially or completely depleted). There is.

In this arrangement, the hookah device 202 consists of four mist generators 201 controlled by the controller of the hookah device 202. In other arrangements, the hookah device 202 is comprised of a plurality of mist generating devices 201, for example at least two mist generating devices 201.

The hookah device 202 includes a first contact terminal 259 that establishes an electrical connection between the controller of the hookah device 202 and the electrical contacts 232 and 233 of each mist generator 201 . The hookah device 202 comprises a second contact terminal 260 that establishes an electrical connection between the controller of the hookah device 202 and the electrical contacts 241 on the OTP PCB of each mist generator 201.

In this arrangement, the hookah device 202 consists of an upper printed circuit board (PCB) 256 disposed above the upper support plate 253 and an intermediate PCB 257 disposed between the intermediate support plate 254 and the lower support plate 255. configured. A lower PCB 258 is arranged below the lower support plate 255. The PCBs 256 to 258 are equipped with electronic components that constitute the driver device of the hookah device 202. The PCBs 256-258 are electrically coupled together such that the electronic components on each PCB 256-258 can communicate with each other.

In this arrangement, there are three PCBs 256-258, while other arrangements consist of only one PCB or multiple PCBs that perform the same function of the driver device of the hookah device 202.

In this arrangement, the hookah device 202 consists of a plurality of magnets 261 that allow the support plates 253-255 to be removably attached to each other. When the hookah device 202 is assembled with the support plates 253 to 255 and the PCBs 256 to 258 stacked on top of each other and the mist generator 201 held between the support plates 253 to 255, the cover 250 is placed on the base 249. Cover 250 is then removably attached to base 249 using a plurality of screws 262.

The upper support plate 253 constitutes a manifold 263 arranged at the center of one side of the upper support plate 253. In this arrangement, manifold 263 includes four openings 264 (only one of which is visible in FIG. 40) each receiving an outlet port 208 of a respective mist generating device 201. In this arrangement, the hookah device 202 consists of four mist generating devices 201 removably coupled to the manifold 90° opposite each other. In other arrangements, the manifold 263 is comprised of a different number of openings 264 to correspond to the number of mist generating devices 201 used with the hookah device 202.

Manifold 263 is comprised of manifold pipes 265 in fluid communication with openings 264 such that the mist generated by mist generator 201 can combine and flow down manifold 263 and out of manifold pipes 265. When hookah device 202 is assembled, manifold pipes 265 extend through openings 266 in intermediate support plate 254 and openings 267 in intermediate PCB 257. Manifold pipe 265 in turn connects to an outlet pipe 268 that extends through lower support plate 255 to provide a fluid flow path through the lower support plate to hookah outlet port 252 of hookah device 202 .

Outlet pipe 268 extends downwardly from the underside of lower support plate 255 and through an opening 269 in lower PCB 258 . Outlet pipe 268 then extends through an opening 270 provided in base 249 of hookah device 202. In this arrangement, outlet pipe 268 and hookah outlet port 252 are hookah attachment arrangement 271 configured to attach or attach hookah device 202 to hookah 246 . In this arrangement, the hookah device 202 is attached to the hookah tobacco 246 by inserting a portion of the hookah stem 247 into the hookah outlet port 252.

The hookah outlet port 252 is a mist outlet port of the mist generating device 201 through which the mist generated by the mist generating device 201 flows out of the hookah device 202 and enters the hookah 246, as shown in FIGS. 42 and 43. From 208 , a fluid flow path 272 is provided for exiting the hookah device 202 . Air bubbles are generated in the water of the hookah 246 due to the mixture of air and mist. When inhaled, the air bubbles escape from the water surface along with the mist that rises above the water surface of the hookah water bowl and travel down the pipe to the user.

In this arrangement, the top PCB 256 carries a pressure sensor that senses the pressure of the air in the vicinity of the mist outlet port 208 of the mist generator 201. Thereby, the pressure sensor detects negative pressure near the mist outlet port 208 when the user draws on the hookah and draws air through the mist generator 201 along the fluid flow path 272. The pressure sensor provides a signal to a controller of the hookah device, as described below, such that the controller activates at least one of the mist generators 201 to generate mist as the user draws into the hookah. It is for the purpose of

In this arrangement, lower PCB 258 carries power control components 273 that control other electronic components of hookah device 202 and distribute power. In some arrangements, power control component 273 receives power from an external power source, such as a mains power adapter that is removably attached to hookah device 202. In this arrangement, the hookah head 202 is configured to be powered by an external power adapter with a DC voltage in the range of 20V to 40V.

In other arrangements, the hookah device 202 comprises a battery that is incorporated within the hookah device 202 and connected to a power control component 273. In some arrangements, the battery is a rechargeable lipo battery. In some arrangements, the battery is configured to output a DC voltage of 20V to 40V. In some arrangements, the battery has a high discharge rate. A high discharge rate is necessary due to the voltage amplification required by the ultrasonic transducer of the mist generator 201. Due to the requirement to have a high discharge rate, some configurations of LiPo batteries are specifically designed for continuous current draw. In some arrangements, a charging port is provided on the hookah device 202 to allow the battery to be charged by an external power source.

Intermediate PCB 257 incorporates processor 274 and memory 275 of a controller or computing device for hookah apparatus 202 . In this arrangement, processor 274 and memory 275 are components of a driver device within hookah device 202. In this arrangement, the functionality of the driver device is implemented in executable instructions stored in memory 275 that, when executed by processor 274, cause processor 274 to control the driver device to perform at least one function. The driver device is electrically connected to each of the mist generating devices 201. In this arrangement, the driver device of the hookah device 202 is coupled for communication with each mist generating device 201 by a data bus, such as an I ² C data bus.

In this arrangement, each mist generating device 201 is identified by a unique identifier that is used in controlling the mist generating device 201 via the data bus.

In some arrangements, the unique identifier is stored in the OTP IC of the mist generator 201.

In some arrangements, the driver device independently controls each respective mist generating device. In some arrangements, control functions are implemented with executable instructions stored in memory 275. The independent control configuration allows the driver device to activate or deactivate each mist generator 201 independently from other mist generators 201. Therefore, the driver device can control one or more mist generating devices 201 to generate mist simultaneously or alternately according to predetermined requirements.

In some arrangements, the driver device controls the mist generators 201 to be activated and/or deactivated in sequential order. In some arrangements, the sequence of operation of the mist generator 201 may affect the operation of the hookah device 202 by ensuring that the mist is generated quickly enough to bubble through the water within the water chamber of the hookah. Optimize. Some configurations of the hookah device 202 thereby allow mist bubbles to be drawn at high speed through the water within the water chamber as the user pulls on the hookah mouthpiece. As a result, water-soluble compounds (eg, vegetable glycerin, fragrance, etc.) can travel through the water in the mist bubbles for inhalation by the user.

In some arrangements, the driver device controls the mist generating devices 201 to activate one after the other in sequence for a predetermined length of time. In some arrangements, the driver device rotates and activates the mist generators 201 such that the mist generators 201 are activated one after another in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction and/or one at a time. 201.

In some arrangements, the driver device controls the mist generators 201 to operate in pairs. In some arrangements, the driver device controls two mist generating devices 201 to be activated simultaneously; either two mist generating devices 201 adjacent to each other or two mist generating devices 201 facing each other.

In some arrangements, the driver device is configured such that it is not activated if the mist generator 201 is not properly loaded with e-liquid in its capillary tube 222 or if the liquid chamber 218 is empty or nearly empty of e-liquid. It is configured. This provides protection for the hookah device 202 by ensuring that the hookah device 202 maintains proper operation.

The electronic equipment of the driver device of the hookah device 202 (distributed on the PCBs 256 to 258) is divided as described below. Although the following description refers to the control of one mist generator 201, it will be understood that the driver device of the hooker device 202 controls each mist generator 201 similarly and independently.

To obtain the most efficient aerosolization with particle sizes below 1 um, the driver device provides contact pads that receive an ultrasonic transducer 215 (piezoceramic disc (PZT)) with a high adaptation frequency (approximately 3 MHz).

This part must not only provide high frequencies, but also always provide optimized cavitation while protecting the ultrasound transducer 215 from failure.

The mechanical deformation of the PZT is coupled to the alternating current voltage amplitude applied to it, and a maximum deformation must always be delivered to the PZT to ensure optimal functioning and delivery of the system during each ultrasound irradiation. be.

However, to prevent PZT failure, it is necessary to accurately control the active power transferred to the PZT.

Processor 274 and memory 275 are configured to instantaneously control the modulation of active power applied to the PZT without compromising the mechanical vibration amplitude of the PZT.

By performing PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) on the AC voltage applied to the PZT, the mechanical amplitude of vibration can be kept constant.

In fact, as with voltage modulation, with effective duty cycle modulation the applied effective voltage will be the same, but the effective power delivered to the PZT will be degraded.In fact, it can be expressed as:

here

When considering the first harmonic, Irms is a function of the amplitude of the actual voltage applied to the transducer, and pulse width modulation changes the duration of the voltage delivered to the transducer, thus controlling Irms.

The specific design of the PMIC employs a state-of-the-art design and enables ultra-precise control of the frequency range and steps applied to the PZT, including a complete set of feedback loops and monitoring paths used by the controller.

In this arrangement, the driver device consists of a DC/DC boost converter and a transformer to deliver the necessary power to the PZT contact pads.

In this arrangement, the driver device is configured with an AC driver for converting the voltage from the battery into an AC drive signal of a predetermined frequency to drive the ultrasound transducer.

The driver device constitutes a real power monitoring arrangement for monitoring the real power used by the ultrasonic transducer (described above) when the ultrasonic transducer is driven by an alternating current drive signal. The active power monitoring arrangement provides a monitoring signal indicative of the active power used by the ultrasound transducer.

A processor 274 within the driver device controls the AC driver and receives the monitoring signal drive from the active power monitoring arrangement.

The memory 275 of the driver device stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
A. controlling an AC driver to output an AC drive signal to the ultrasonic transducer at a predetermined sweep frequency;
B. calculating the active power being used by the ultrasound transducer based on the monitoring signal;
C. controlling the AC driver to modulate the AC drive signal to maximize the active power used by the ultrasound transducer;
D. storing in memory a record of the maximum active power used by the ultrasound transducer and the sweep frequency of the AC drive signal;
E. repeating steps AD a predetermined number of times, with each iteration increasing the sweep frequency such that after the predetermined number of iterations, the sweep frequency increases from the sweep start frequency to the sweep end frequency;
F. Determine from the records stored in memory the optimal frequency of the AC drive signal, which is the sweep frequency of the AC drive signal at which maximum active power is used by the ultrasound transducer.
G. The AC driver is controlled to output an AC drive signal to the ultrasonic transducer at an optimal frequency to drive the ultrasonic transducer and atomize the liquid.

In some arrangements, the active power monitoring arrangement includes a current sensing arrangement for sensing a drive current of an alternating current drive signal that drives the ultrasound transducer, and the active power monitoring arrangement includes a monitoring signal indicative of the sensed drive current. I will provide a.

In some arrangements, the current sensing arrangement includes an analog-to-digital transducer that converts the sensed drive current into a digital signal for processing by a processor.

In some arrangements, the memory, when executed by the processor, instructs the processor to repeat steps A-D above in which the sweep frequency increases from a sweep start frequency of 2900 kHz to a sweep end frequency of 2960 kHz. I remember.

In some arrangements, the memory, when executed by the processor, instructs the processor to repeat steps A-D above in which the sweep frequency increases from a sweep start frequency of 2900 kHz to a sweep end frequency of 3100 kHz. I remember.

In some arrangements, the memory, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to: in step G, output an AC drive signal to the ultrasound transducer at a frequency shifted by a predetermined shift amount from the optimal frequency; Stores instructions to control.

In some arrangements, the predetermined shift amount is between 1 and 10% of the optimal frequency.

The pressure sensor used in this device serves two purposes. The first purpose is to prevent unnecessary and accidental starting of the sonic engine (activation of the ultrasonic transducer). This feature is implemented in the device's processing arrangement, but is optimized for low power consumption and incorporates environmental parameters such as temperature and ambient pressure in order to accurately detect and classify what is called a true inhalation. Constant measurement is performed using internal correction and reference settings.

The second purpose of the pressure sensor is to be able to accurately monitor the user's inhalation time for accurate inhalation measurement, as well as to determine the strength of the user's inhalation. Overall, the pressure profile can be completely mapped out for each inhalation and the end of inhalation can be predicted for aerosolization optimization.

In some arrangements, hookah device 202 is configured with a Bluetooth ^™ Low Energy (BLE) microcontroller. This allows for extremely precise inhalation times, optimized aerosolization, monitoring of numerous parameters to ensure safe misting, prevention of the use of non-genuine e-liquids and aerosol chambers, use of devices against the risk of overheating and over-misting. It has now become possible to achieve both protection for people at the same time.

The use of a BLE microcontroller enables over-the-air updates to continuously provide users with improved software based on anonymized data collection and trained AI for PZT modeling.

The hookah device 202 is an accurate, reliable, and safe aerosolization solution for everyday customer use, and therefore needs to provide controlled and reliable aerosolization.

This is performed by an internal method that can be divided into several sections as follows.

Sonication To provide the most optimal aerosolization, the ultrasonic transducer (PZT) or each mist generator 201 needs to vibrate in the most efficient manner.

Frequency Due to the electromechanical properties of piezoelectric ceramics, the component is most efficient at its resonant frequency. However, if PZT continues to resonate for a long time, parts will inevitably break and the aerosol chamber will become unusable.

Furthermore, important points when using piezoelectric materials include variations during manufacturing and variations due to temperature and life.

To make the PZT resonate at 3 MHz to produce sub-1 um droplets, adaptations are required to locate and target a specific PZT "sweet spot" within all aerosol chambers used in the device for each inhalation. A method is needed.

Sweeps Because of the need to identify the "sweet spot" for each inhalation, and because of overuse, PZT's temperature is varied using an in-house double sweep method.

The first sweep is used when the device has not been used in a particular aerosol chamber for a time that is considered sufficient for all heat dissipation to occur and for the PZT to cool to the "default temperature." This procedure is also called a cold start. During this procedure, the PZT requires a boost to generate the necessary aerosol. This is achieved by taking into account extensive research and experimentation and passing only a small subset of frequencies between 2900kHz and 2960kHz that cover the resonance point.

Each frequency within this range causes the sonic engine to fire and the current passing through the PZT to be actively monitored and stored by the microcontroller via an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to accurately determine the power used by the PZT. is converted into an electric current so that it can be subtracted.

This provides a cold profile of the PZT with respect to frequency, and the frequency used during inhalation is the one that uses the most current, ie the one with the lowest impedance.

A second sweep is performed during a subsequent inhalation, covering the entire frequency range between 2900 kHz and 3100 kHz by modifying the PZT profile with respect to temperature and deformation. This hot profile is used to determine the shifts to apply.

Shift Since aerosolization must be optimal, no shift is used during cold inhalation and the PZT will oscillate at a resonant frequency. This cannot happen unless repeated in a short period of time, otherwise the PZT will inevitably fail.

However, shifting is used during most inhalations as a way to target low impedance frequencies, achieving suboptimal operation of the PZT while protecting against failure.

Since the hot and cold profiles are stored during inhalation, the microcontroller can select the appropriate shift frequency according to the measurement of the current flowing through the PZT during the sweep, ensuring safe mechanical operation.

The selection of the direction of shift is important because the piezoelectric component behaves differently outside and inside the double resonance/antiresonance frequency. Since PZT is inductive and not capacitive, the shift selected should always be in this range defined by the resonant and anti-resonant frequencies.

Finally, the shift percentage is kept below 10% so that it is close to the lowest impedance but well away from resonance.

Adjustments Due to the essential nature of PZT, each inhalation will be different. In addition to the piezo element, numerous parameters influence the outcome of the inhalation, such as the amount of e-liquid remaining in the aerosol chamber, the wicking condition of the gauze, and the battery level of the device.

For this reason, the current used by the PZT in the aerosol chamber is constantly monitored, and the microcontroller constantly adjusts parameters such as frequency and duty cycle to provide the most stable power within a predefined range to the aerosol chamber. and is based on the most optimal and safe aerosolization research and experimental results.

Battery Monitoring In some arrangements, a battery is integrated within the hookah device 202. In these arrangements, the hookah device 202 is powered by a DC lipo battery that provides the necessary voltage for the hookah device 202. Due to the requirement to have a high discharge rate, some configurations of LiPo batteries are specifically designed for continuous current draw.

Because the battery voltage drops and fluctuates significantly when the ultrasound generator is activated, the microcontroller constantly monitors the power used by the PZT in the aerosol chamber to ensure proper and safe aerosol generation.

Additionally, since control is the key to aerosolization, this device first ensures that the control and information section of the device is always functional and does not stop to the detriment of the ultrasonic processing section.

For this reason, the adjustment method takes into account real-time battery power to a large extent and, if necessary, changes parameters such as duty cycle to maintain the battery at a safe level and, if necessary, changes parameters such as the duty cycle to maintain the battery at a safe level and to detect low battery power before starting the Sonic engine. If this occurs, the control and information section will prevent the engine from starting.

Power Control It is said that control is the key to aerosolization, and the method used in this device is a real-time, multidimensional function that constantly takes into account the profile of the PZT, the current inside the PZT, and the battery level of the device. .

All of this can only be achieved through the use of a microcontroller that can monitor and control every element of the device to achieve optimal inhalation.

Because it relies on interval piezoelectric components, the ultrasound irradiator will not operate when inhalation stops. The safety delay between two inhalations is adapted by the duration of the previous inhalation. This ensures that the gauze is properly suctioned before the next actuation.

This feature allows the device to operate safely and allows for more optimal aerosolization without damaging the PZT element or exposing the user to toxic components.

Connectivity (BLE)
The control/information section of the device is comprised of a wireless communication system using a Bluetooth Low Energy compatible microcontroller. The wireless communication system is configured to communicate with the device's processor and send and receive data between the driver device and a computing device, such as a smartphone.

Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity with companion mobile applications is superior to traditional wireless connectivity solutions such as Wi-Fi, traditional Bluetooth, GSM, and even LTE-M and NB-IOT due to the low power required for this communication. It is possible to keep the device functioning for a long time even if it is not used at all.

Most importantly, this connectivity enables OTP as a function and complete control and safety of inhalation. All data, from the resonant frequency of the inhalation used or created by the user to the negative pressure and duration, is stored and transferred via BLE for further analysis and improvement of the embedded software.

Finally, this connectivity enables embedded firmware updates within the device and over-the-air (OTA), ensuring that the latest version is always quickly deployed. This increases the scalability of the device and ensures that the device is maintained.

Aerosolization of e-cigarettes is achieved by the mechanical action of piezoelectric discs rather than by direct heating of the liquid, so the individual components of e-cigarettes (such as propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavoring ingredients, etc.) remain largely intact. , it does not break down into smaller harmful components such as acrolein, acetaldehyde, and formaldehyde at the high rates found in traditional e-cigarettes.

All of the above applications involving ultrasound technology can benefit from the optimization achieved by a frequency controller that optimizes the frequency of sonication for optimal performance.

It will be appreciated that the disclosure herein is not limited to use for nicotine delivery. The devices disclosed herein are for use with any drug, or other compound (such as CBD), where the drug or compound is provided in a liquid within a liquid chamber of the device for aerosolization by the device. be done.

In some configurations, the hookah device 202 is a healthy alternative to traditional hookah heads that use heat from charcoal or electric elements to burn tobacco. Nevertheless, some configurations of the hookah device 202 still provide the same user experience as a traditional hookah due to the bubbles of mist in the water of the hookah. Therefore, users may wish to use some configurations of ultrasonic hookah devices 202 instead of traditional tobacco-burning hookahs, thereby avoiding the dangers of smoking with hookahs. Highly sexual.

The foregoing has outlined the features of some arrangements or embodiments to enable those skilled in the art to better understand various aspects of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will readily utilize this disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures to accomplish the same purpose and/or achieve the same advantages of the various arrangements or embodiments introduced herein. You should understand that you can use Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and modifications to this document without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. You should be aware that you can.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features or methodological acts, it is understood that the subject matter of the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing at least a portion of the claims.

Various operations of examples or embodiments are provided herein. The order in which some or all of the operations are described should not be construed to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. It will be appreciated that alternative orders would have the benefit of this document. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that not all operations are necessarily present in each embodiment provided herein. It will also be appreciated that in some examples or embodiments, not all operations may be necessary.

Additionally, "exemplary" is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, illustration, etc., and not necessarily as an advantage. As used herein, "or" is intended to mean an inclusive or rather than an exclusive or. Furthermore, as used in this application and the appended claims, "a" and "an" generally refer to "one or more," unless the context indicates otherwise or it is clear from context that the singular is intended. be interpreted as meaning. Further, to the extent that the words "comprising," "having," "having," "having," or variations thereof are used, such terms are intended to be inclusive in the same manner as the term "comprising." There is. Further, unless otherwise specified, "first", "second", etc. are not intended to imply temporal aspects, spatial aspects, order, etc.

Rather, such terms are used only as identifiers, names, etc. of features, elements, items, etc.

For example, the first element and the second element generally correspond to element A and element B, or two different elements or two identical elements or the same element.

Additionally, while this disclosure has been shown and described with respect to one or more embodiments, equivalent changes and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art based on a reading and understanding of this disclosure and the accompanying drawings. Probably. This disclosure includes all such changes and modifications, and is limited only by the scope of the following claims. In particular, with respect to various functions performed by features described above (e.g., elements, resources, etc.), the terminology used to describe such features, unless otherwise indicated, is consistent with the disclosed structure and structure. Although not equivalent, it is intended to correspond to any feature that performs a given function of the described feature (eg, is functionally equivalent). Additionally, although certain features of the present disclosure may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several embodiments, such features may be desirable or advantageous for any given or particular application. may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments to

Examples or embodiments of the subject matter and functional operations described herein may be implemented in digital electronic circuits, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, including the structures disclosed herein and structural equivalents thereof. Can be implemented in combination of one or more.

Some examples or embodiments are implemented using one or more modules of computer program instructions encoded on a computer-readable medium for execution by or controlling the operation of a data processing device. be done. A computer-readable medium can be an article of manufacture, such as a hard drive in a computer or embedded system. The computer-readable medium can be obtained separately and later encoded with one or more modules of computer program instructions, such as by delivery of one or more modules of computer program instructions over a wired or wireless network. . A computer readable medium can be a machine readable storage device, a machine readable storage substrate, a storage device, or a combination of one or more thereof.

The terms "computing apparatus" and "data processing apparatus" encompass all apparatus, devices, and machines for processing data, including, by way of example, a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple processors or computers. In addition to hardware, the device includes code that creates an execution environment for the computer program, such as processor firmware, a protocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, a runtime environment, or a combination of one or more thereof. It is possible to include. Additionally, the device may employ a variety of different computing model infrastructures, such as web services, distributed computing, grid computing infrastructure, etc.
The processes and logic flows described herein may be executed by one or more programmable processors executing one or more computer programs to perform functions by operating on input data and producing output. It is possible.

Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, general and special purpose microprocessors, and any processor or processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from read-only memory, random access memory, or both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer is operable to receive data from and/or transfer data to one or more mass storage devices for storing data, such as magnetic disks, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks. or both. However, a computer does not need to have such a device. Devices suitable for storing computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, media, and memory devices.

In this document, "compose" means "including" and "composing" means "including".

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or in the following claims, or in the accompanying drawings, may be found in the foregoing description, or in the following claims, or in the accompanying drawings, in their specific form or as means for performing the disclosed functions, or for achieving the disclosed results. The present invention is appropriately expressed in terms of a method or a process and can be utilized to realize the invention in its various forms, either separately or in any combination of its features.

Claims (20)

A hookah device for use in a hookah having an elongated stem and a water chamber attached to a first end of the stem, the hookah device comprising:
a plurality of ultrasonic mist generators each having a respective mist exit port;
a driver device electrically connected to each of the mist generators and configured to operate the mist generators;
a hookah attachment arrangement configured to attach the hookah device to a second end of the stem of the hookah ;
Equipped with
The hookah attachment arrangement is such that when at least one of the mist generating devices is activated by the driver device, the mist generated by each of the activated mist generating devices flows along a fluid flow path and is removed from the hookah device. A hookah tobacco device having a hookah outlet port providing said fluid flow path exiting said hookah device from said mist outlet port of said mist generating device to exit said hookah tobacco device. The driver device is electrically connected to each of the mist generators by a data bus, and the driver device is configured to identify and control each of the mist generators using a respective unique identifier for the mist generator. The hookah device according to claim 1, configured to: Each of said mist generating devices comprises an identification arrangement, said identification arrangement:
an integrated circuit having a memory storing a unique identifier for the mist generating device;
an electrical connection providing an electronic interface for communicating with the integrated circuit;
The hookah device according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising: The hookah device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the driver device is configured to control each of the mist generators so as to start them independently from other mist generators. 5. The hookah device of claim 4, wherein the driver device is configured to control the mist generators to operate in a predetermined sequence. Each mist generator:
a manifold pipe in fluid communication with the mist outlet port of the mist generating device, the manifold having a manifold pipe in fluid communication with the mist outlet port, such that mist emitted from the mist outlet port merges within the manifold pipe and exits the hookah device; The hookah device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 7. The hookah device of claim 6, wherein the hookah device includes four mist generators removably coupled to the manifold at 90 degrees relative to each other. A hookah device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein each of the mist generating devices is removably attached to the driver device such that it can be separated from the driver device. Each of the mist generators:
a mist generator housing that is elongate and includes an air inlet port and the mist outlet port;
a liquid chamber provided within the mist generator housing for containing a liquid to be atomized;
an ultrasonic treatment chamber provided within the mist generator housing;
a capillary element extending between the liquid chamber and the ultrasound treatment chamber, a first portion of the capillary element being within the liquid chamber and a second portion of the capillary element being in the ultrasound treatment chamber; a capillary element disposed within the processing chamber;
an ultrasonic transducer having a generally planar atomization surface disposed within the ultrasonic processing chamber, the plane of the atomization surface being substantially parallel to the longitudinal length of the mist generator housing; mounted within the mist generator housing, a portion of the second portion of the capillary element overlapping a portion of the atomizing surface, and the ultrasonic transducer vibrating the atomizing surface. an ultrasonic transducer configured to atomize the liquid carried by the second portion of the capillary element to produce a mist of atomized liquid and air within the sonication chamber; ,
an air flow arrangement providing an air flow path between the air inlet port, the sonication chamber, and the mist outlet port;
The hookah device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising: Each mist generator
a transducer holder retained within the mist generator housing, the transducer holder retaining the ultrasonic transducer and maintaining a second portion of the capillary element superimposed on a portion of the atomization surface; , a transducer holder,
a partition portion providing a barrier between the liquid chamber and the sonication chamber, the partition portion including a capillary opening through which a portion of the first portion of the capillary element extends; The hookah device according to claim 9, further comprising: A hookah device according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the capillary element is 100% bamboo fibre. the air flow path such that the air flow arrangement is such that the air flow is substantially perpendicular to the atomization surface of the ultrasonic transducer as the air flow passes into the ultrasonic processing chamber; A hookah device according to any one of claims 9 to 11, configured to change the direction of the air flow along. 9 - The liquid chamber comprises a liquid having a kinematic viscosity between 1.05 Pa*s and 1.412 Pa*s and a liquid density between 1.1 g/ml and 1.3 g/ml. 13. The hookah tobacco device according to any one of Item 12. A hookah device according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the liquid chamber contains a liquid comprising levulinic acid and nicotine in a molar ratio of about 2:1. The driver device:
an AC driver configured to generate an AC drive signal of a predetermined frequency for driving each ultrasonic vibrator of each mist generator;
an active power monitoring arrangement configured to monitor active power used by the ultrasonic transducer when the ultrasonic transducer is driven by the alternating current drive signal; an active power monitoring arrangement configured to provide a monitoring signal indicative of active power;
a processor configured to control the AC driver and receive the monitoring signal from the active power monitoring arrangement;
a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
A. controlling the AC driver to output an AC drive signal to the ultrasonic transducer at a predetermined sweep frequency;
B. calculating active power being used by the ultrasound transducer based on the monitoring signal;
C. controlling the AC driver to modulate the AC drive signal to maximize active power used by the ultrasound transducer;
D. storing in memory a record of the maximum active power used by the ultrasound transducer and the sweep frequency of the AC drive signal;
E. repeating steps A-D a predetermined number of times, with each iteration increasing said sweep frequency such that after a predetermined number of iterations, said sweep frequency increases from a sweep start frequency to a sweep end frequency;
F. G. determining from a record stored in said memory an optimal frequency of an AC drive signal that is a sweep frequency of the AC drive signal at which maximum active power is used by said ultrasound transducer; controlling the AC driver to output an AC drive signal to the ultrasonic transducer at an optimal frequency, driving the ultrasonic transducer to atomize the liquid;
The hookah device according to any one of claims 9 to 14, comprising: The active power monitoring arrangement is:
a current sensing arrangement configured to sense a drive current of the alternating current drive signal driving the ultrasonic transducer, the active power monitoring arrangement providing a monitoring signal indicative of a sensed drive current; 16. The hookah device of claim 15, comprising a current sensing arrangement configured. A hookah device according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
Steps A to D are repeated while incrementing the sweep frequency from the sweep start frequency of 2900 kHz to the sweep end frequency of 2960 kHz. A hookah device according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
Steps A to D are repeated while incrementing the sweep frequency from the sweep start frequency of 2900 kHz to the sweep end frequency of 3100 kHz. A hookah device according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the AC driver modulates the AC drive signal by pulse width modulation to maximize the active power used by the ultrasonic transducer. It is hookah tobacco,
a water chamber;
an elongated stem having a first end attached to the water chamber, the stem comprising a mist channel extending from a second end of the stem through the stem to the first end; ,
A hookah device according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the hookah attachment arrangement of the hookah device is attached to a stem of the hookah at a second end of the stem. and,
Hookah with a hookah.