NZ792339A - Smoking Device - Google Patents
Smoking DeviceInfo
- Publication number
- NZ792339A NZ792339A NZ792339A NZ79233917A NZ792339A NZ 792339 A NZ792339 A NZ 792339A NZ 792339 A NZ792339 A NZ 792339A NZ 79233917 A NZ79233917 A NZ 79233917A NZ 792339 A NZ792339 A NZ 792339A
- Authority
- NZ
- New Zealand
- Prior art keywords
- plant material
- temperature
- capsule
- applications
- heating
- Prior art date
Links
- 230000000391 smoking Effects 0.000 title claims abstract 22
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract 39
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims abstract 22
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 claims abstract 12
- 239000004480 active ingredient Substances 0.000 claims abstract 8
- 239000002775 capsule Substances 0.000 claims 5
- 229940035295 Ting Drugs 0.000 claims 1
- 239000012080 ambient air Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 238000009834 vaporization Methods 0.000 claims 1
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are described for use with a portion of plant material (32) that includes at least one active ingredient. A vaporizing unit (21) includes a heating element (36) configured to heat the plant material, and a sensor (35) configured to detect an indication of airflow rate through the vaporizing unit. Control circuitry (34) is configured to receive an indication of the airflow rate through the vaporizing unit, and, in response thereto, to determine a smoking profile that is desired by the user. The control circuitry drives the heating element to vaporize the active ingredient of the plant material by heating the plant material according to the determined smoking profile. The control circuitry dynamically updates the smoking profile in response to changes in airflow rate over the course of a smoking session. Other applications are also described. the vaporizing unit. Control circuitry (34) is configured to receive an indication of the airflow rate through the vaporizing unit, and, in response thereto, to determine a smoking profile that is desired by the user. The control circuitry drives the heating element to vaporize the active ingredient of the plant material by heating the plant material according to the determined smoking profile. The control circuitry dynamically updates the smoking profile in response to changes in airflow rate over the course of a smoking session. Other applications are also described.
Description
SMOKING DEVICE
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application claims priority from:
US Provisional Patent Application 62/394,243 to Raichman, filed Sep. 14, 2016,
entitled "Vaporizer for vaporizing an active ingredient;"
US Provisional Patent Application 62/453,544 to an, filed Feb. 02, 2017,
entitled "Vaporizer for vaporizing an active ingredient;"
US Provisional Patent Application 62/500,509 to Raichman, filed May 03, 2017,
entitled "Electronic cigarette for vaporizing an active ingredient;" and
US Provisional Patent Application 62/525,773 to Raichman, filed June 28, 2017,
entitled "Electronic cigarette for vaporizing an active ingredient."
The present application is related to International Application No.
to Raichman (published as WO 16/147188), filed March 17, 2016,
ed "Vaporizer for vaporizing an active ingredient," which claims priority from and is a
continuation-in-part of US Patent ation 14/662,607 to Raichman (published as US
271347), filed March 19, 2015, entitled "Vaporizer for vaporizing an active
ient."
The above-referenced applications are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Some ations of the present invention generally relate to a smoking apparatus.
Specifically, some applications of the t invention relate to smoking devices for the
delivery of an active ingredient to a subject.
BACKGROUND
Mouthfullness is an attribute that smokers refer to that relates to the texture and feel
of tobacco smoke in the mouth. In order to reproduce the taste and feel of tobacco smoke,
electronic cigarettes lly heat tobacco plant material or other quid materials
containing active ingredients (e.g., nicotine). The active ingredients are released due to the
application of heat on the al.
Medical use of cannabis and its constituent cannabinoids, such as
ydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), has a long history. In modern times,
cannabis is used by patients suffering from AIDS, or undergoing chemotherapy treatment,
in order to relieve nausea and vomiting associated with their conditions. is is also
used in a medicinal manner in order to provide pain relief, to treat muscle spasticity, and to
stimulate appetite.
Medicinal cannabis can be administered using a variety of methods, including
vaporizing or smoking dried buds, eating extracts, taking capsules or using oral sprays. The
legality of medical use of cannabis varies internationally. However, even in countries in
which the l use of cannabis is legal, the provision of cannabis to such users is highly
regulated, and it is the case that in almost all Western countries, recreational use of cannabis
is illegal.
The preceding discussion of the background art is intended to facilitate an
understanding of the present invention only. The discussion is not an ledgement or
ion that any of the material referred to is or was part of the common general
knowledge as at the priority date of the application.
SUMMARY OF MENTS
In accordance with some applications of the present invention, a smoking device is
used to vaporize the active ingredient of a material, such as a plant material, by heating the
material. For example, the smoking device may be used to ze tobacco, cannabis,
and/or other plant or chemical substances that contain an active ingredient (such as nicotine,
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and/or cannabidiol (CBD)) that becomes vaporized upon the
substance being . In general, the material containing the active ingredient is described
herein as being a plant material. However, the scope of the present application es
using a non-plant material, such as synthetic materials that contain active ingredients, as an
alternative or in on to the plant material.
Typically, the smoking device includes a vaporizing unit, and a reloading unit. The
reloading unit houses a plurality of capsules, each of the capsules including a given amount
of a plant al that contains an active ingredient. For some applications, the reloading
unit is shaped to define first and second receptacles, each of which is shaped to house the
plurality of capsules in d configurations. While each of the capsules is disposed at a
vaporization location within the vaporizing unit, a heating element causes the active
ingredient of the plant material within the capsule to become at least partially zed by
individually heating the capsule. For some applications, the heating element includes one
or more electrodes that heat the capsule via resistive heating, by driving a t into a
portion of the capsule (e.g., into a metallic mesh of the capsule). Alternatively or
additionally, a current is driven into an internal heating element that is housed within the
vaporizing unit, and the internal heating element heats the capsule via conductive heating.
Typically, a capsule-loading mechanism of the reloading unit dually transfers each of
the capsules from the first receptacle in the reloading device to the zation location in
the vaporizing unit and from the vaporization location to the second acle within the
reloading unit. For some applications, the smoking device includes the vaporizing unit in
the absence of the reloading unit. For example, the vaporizing unit may be configured such
that a user can insert dual capsules into the vaporizing unit, and can then use the
vaporizing unit to vaporize the active ingredient of the plant material.
For some ations, the vaporizing unit of the g device is configured such
that various different types of capsules can be used with the vaporizing unit. For example,
respective types of capsules may contain different quantities of plant material, plant material
containing different amount of active ingredients, and/or different types of plant als.
Alternatively or additionally, respective types of capsules may have respective
teristics, e.g., respective flavors, strengths, richnesses, active ingredients, etc. For
some applications, control circuitry of the vaporizing unit is configured to adjust a heating
e of the capsules to the capsule type that is currently being heated. For some such
applications, the control circuitry ents an automatic capsule classification procedure,
in accordance with which the control circuitry tically classifies the capsule that is
currently being heated as a given type of capsule, and designates a capsule heating profile
accordingly.
Typically, the vaporizing unit is configured to replicate the responses of a traditional
combustible cigarette to the manner in which a smoker smokes the cigarette. For example,
when a traditional combustion cigarette is smoked, the cigarette undergoes an sed
heating and g rate in response to the smoker inhaling more strongly, and the resultant
increased airflow through the cigarette. For some applications, in order to replicate this
effect, the vaporizing unit applies a variable-temperature heating process to the plant
material, for example, in the following manner. Typically, in response to receiving a first
input at the vaporizing unit, the heating process is initiated and the plant material is heated
above ambient temperature. An indication of the w rate through the vaporizing unit
(e.g., the w rate h the capsule is which the plant material is disposed) is then
ed. For example, the w rate may be ed ly by an airflow or pressure
gauge. Alternatively or additionally, an indication of the airflow rate may be measured
indirectly, by detecting an indication of the temperature of the plant material, e.g., by
measuring the temperature of the capsule using a temperature sensor. For some applications,
a temperature sensor is used that is configured to measure the temperature of the capsule
without drawing heat from the e, as described in further detail hereinbelow. By
measuring the temperature of the capsule in this manner, the measured temperature is
typically more accurate than is the temperature sensor were to measure the temperature of
the capsule in manner that draws heat from the capsule, ceteris s. Furthermore, the
temperature sensor typically has a "near zero" se time, such that the control circuitry
is able to e changes in temperature due to changes in airflow, and respond to such
s in the manner described hereinbelow, ively immediately with respect to the
perception of the user. For example, the temperature sensor may be configured to detect
changes in temperature within 0.01 seconds, e.g., within 1 econd, of such changes. For
some applications, by virtue of having such a temperature sensor, the control circuitry is
configured to respond to airflow-induced changes in temperature within 0.01 seconds, e.g.,
within 1 millisecond, of such changes.
Since the plant material is heated above ambient temperature, in the absence of
heating being applied to the capsule, airflow through the capsule would cool the capsule by
inducing forced heat transfer by convection. Thus, the induced heat transfer is indicative of
the w rate through the capsule. Therefore, for some applications, based on the detected
temperature indication, control circuitry of the vaporizing unit drives the heating element to
maintain the temperature of the capsule constant, and measures the electrical power needed
to maintain the temperature of the capsule constant. The electrical power that is needed to
maintain the temperature of the e constant indicates the power required to overcome
heat loss due to airflow through the capsule, and is therefore indicative of airflow through
the capsule. Alternatively, the capsule is not maintained at a constant temperature, and the
control circuitry determines the rate of airflow through the capsule based on a measured
change in the temperature of the capsule. For example, the control circuitry may ue to
heat the e at a fixed power, and measure the changes in ature of the capsule.
Typically, such changes in temperature are indicative of the airflow rate through the capsule.
atively, the control circuitry may stop heating the capsule when the capsule is at a
given temperature, and measure changes in the temperature of the capsule. Typically, such
s in temperature are correlated with the rate of airflow through the capsule.
In se to the measured indication of the w rate, the control circuitry
typically determines a smoking profile that is desired by the user and heats the plant material
according to the determined smoking profile. A target temperature for the capsule is
typically determined as a function of the measured indication of airflow rate. Typically, the
target temperature increases as a function of an increase in airflow rate. Further typically, a
maximal target temperature will be limited to a predefined maximum value in order not to
exceed safety limits, and/or in order not to generate a bad taste due to overheating the plant
material. In response to detecting an indication that the temperature of the capsule has
reached the target temperature, further heating of the capsule is ld. uently, in
response to receiving a further indication of the airflow rate, the control circuitry ines
an updated smoking profile that is desired by the user. Typically, a new target vaporization
ature is defined according to the updated smoking profile. Typically, over the course
of a smoking session, in response to receiving ongoing airflow ements, the l
circuitry dynamically determines smoking es that are desired by the user, and adjusts
the heating of the capsule accordingly. For some applications, the target temperature to
which the plant material is heated is cally updated in order to adjust the vaporization
temperature and vaporization rate ing to the desired smoking profile of the user. For
some applications, the target temperature to which the plant material is heated is dynamically
updated in a continuous manner. Alternatively, the target temperature to which the plant
material is heated is dynamically updated on a puff-by-puff basis, i.e., with each inhalation
of the user, the control circuity calculates a target temperature to which the capsule should
be heated for that inhalation. For some applications, each inhalation of the user is detected
automatically by detecting airflow through the capsule, in accordance with the ques
described herein.
Typically, the control circuitry employs various g profiles in order to simulate
the behavior of a standard combustion cigarette, and in order to accommodate the user's
indicated desired smoking profile, as well as the type of plant material that is used. For
some applications, one or more of the following functionalities are ed by a zing
unit that dynamically adjusts the heating of the plant material in response to a measured
airflow rate indication, as described hereinabove:
1) When smoking a ional tion cigarette, an increase in the user's
inhalation rate increases generated smoke due to intensification of cigarette flame. In
addition, the temperature of the inhaled smoke is typically greater. Therefore, for some
applications, the target temperature to which the capsule is heated is correlated to airflow
rate (which is indicative of user inhalation rate), in order to simulate the burning of a
traditional cigarette as described above. As described hereinabove, lly the capsule is
not heated above a ined maximal temperature limit. Typically, the predefined
maximal temperature limit is set such that the plant material is not heated to a temperature
that is greater than the pyrolysis temperature of the plant material, and/or such that the plant
material is not heated to a temperature that will produce smoke and/or a bad taste. By
dynamically adjusting the target vaporization ature as described hereinabove, the
taste and "mouthfullness" of the generated vapors are adjusted according to user's individual
taste and preferences. For example, users that prefer a long and slow inhalation will benefit
from receiving a nt slow supply of the vaporized active ingredient, due to the
relatively lower vaporization ature that will be generated by the lower airflow rate of
the slow inhalation. On the other end, users that prefer a faster and more intense release of
the active ingredient will enjoy the higher rate of active ingredient vaporization rate that will
result from the higher vaporization temperature to which the plant material is heated, due to
their elevated inhalation airflow rate.
2) cally adjusting the target temperature to which the plant al is heated
as described hereinabove, may provide higher efficiency in the consumption rate of the plant
material. For example, users that prefer taking several relatively short puffs will not suffer
from loss of plant material between the short puffs, since the control circuitry will lower the
target temperature to which the capsule is heated between the puffs.
3) Dynamically adjusting the target temperature to which the capsule is heated as
described hereinabove, may reduce loss of active ient prior to the beginning of user
inhalation. The lack of airflow prior to the user's inhalation will result in the target
temperature to which the capsule is heated being vely low, such as to reduce
vaporization of active ingredient prior to user inhalation.
4) In some cases, a delivery of a constant dose of the active ingredient is desired on
every puff. For a given arrangement of plant material, the mass of the active ingredient that
is vaporized is a function of, at least, the ature of the material and of the airflow rate
through the material. For some applications, an airflow-related g process is used as
bed hereinabove, and the control circuitry responds to the measured airflow indication,
such as to r a constant dose of the active ingredient for each puff of the vaporizing
unit. For e, a function may be used in accordance with which the vaporization
temperature is reduced in response to the w increasing.
) For some applications, the control circuitry additionally accounts for the amount
of active ingredient that has already been vaporized from the portion of the plant material
that is currently being heated (which may, for example, be a portion of the plant material
that is disposed inside a capsule). For example, in some cases, based on the rates of airflow
and temperatures that have already been applied to the capsule that is currently being heated,
the control circuitry may determine an amount of the active ingredient that has already been
vaporized. For some applications, the control try determines the target temperature to
which to heat the capsule, in response to the amount of active ingredient that has already
been vaporized. For some applications, the control try determines the target
temperature to which to heat the capsule, in response to (a) the amount of active ient
that has already been vaporized, as well as (b) the current measured airflow through the
vaporizing unit (e.g., through the plant material that is being heated within the vaporizing
unit). For example, for a given w rate, the control circuitry may heat the capsule to a
greater temperature, the greater the amount of the active ingredient that has already been
vaporized. This may be because, once a given amount of the active ingredient has already
been vaporized from the plant material, the plant material may need to be heated to a r
temperature in order for the remaining active ingredient to be vaporized. For some
applications, in response to ining that a given amount of the active ingredient has
already been released from the plant material, the control circuitry may be ured to
reduce the temperature of the plant material to a sub-vaporization temperature, such as to
withhold additional vaporization of active ingredient.
It is noted that some applications of the present invention are described with
reference to tobacco. However, the scope of the present invention includes using any
material or substance that contains an active ingredient, mutatis is.
In accordance with some applications of the present invention, a vaporizer is used to
vaporize the active ingredient of a material, such as a plant material, by heating the material.
For example, the zer may be used to vaporize the constituent cannabinoids of cannabis
(e.g., tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and/or cannabidiol (CBD)). Alternatively or
additionally, the vaporizer may be used to vaporize tobacco, and/or other plant or chemical
substances that contain an active ingredient that becomes vaporized upon the substance
being heated.
There is therefore ed, in accordance with some ations of the present
invention, tus for use with a portion of plant material that includes at least one active
ingredient, the apparatus ing:
a zing unit comprising:
a heating t configured to heat the plant al;
a sensor configured to detect an indication of airflow rate through the
vaporizing unit that is generated by a user; and
control circuitry configured:
to receive a first indication of the airflow rate through the vaporizing
unit from the sensor;
in response to receiving the first indication of the w rate, to
determine a first smoking profile that is desired by the user; and
to drive the heating element to vaporize the active ingredient of the
plant material by heating the plant material according to the determined
smoking profile; and
uently:
to receive a further indication of the airflow rate through the
vaporizing unit from the sensor; and
in response to receiving the further indication of the airflow
rate, to determine an updated smoking profile that is desired by the
user; and
to drive the heating element to vaporize the active ingredient
of the plant material by heating the plant material according to the
determined updated smoking profile.
In some applications, the control circuitry:
is further configured to measure an amount of heating that the portion of the plant
material has already undergone, and
is configured to drive the heating element to vaporize the active ient of the
plant material by heating the plant material according to the determined smoking profile by
determining a temperature to which to heat the portion of the plant material at least partially
based upon the measured tion of the airflow rate and the amount of heating that the
portion of the plant material has already one.
In some applications, the control try is configured:
in response to receiving an indication of the airflow rate through the vaporizing unit
from the sensor, to determine that the user is not inhaling from the vaporizing unit, and
in response thereto, to drive the heating element to reduce heating of the plant
material, such that a temperature of the plant material decreases below a zation
temperature of the active ingredient.
In some applications, the sensor es a temperature sensor configured to detect
an indication of a temperature of the plant material, and the control circuitry is configured
to calculate a rate of airflow through the vaporizing unit, based upon the tion of the
temperature of the plant material measured by the temperature . In some applications,
the control circuitry is ured to calculate the rate of airflow through the vaporizing unit
by ing an indication of an amount of energy required to maintain the temperature of
the plant material constant. In some applications, the control try is configured to
calculate the rate of airflow through the vaporizing unit by detecting an indication of a
change in the temperature of the plant material that is caused by heat transfer from the plant
material to ambient air that passes through the capsule. In some applications, the control
try is configured to receive an indication of ambient temperature, and to calculate the
rate of airflow through the vaporizing unit, by accounting for a ence between the
temperature of the plant al and the ambient temperature.
In some applications, the temperature sensor is configured to detect a change in the
temperature of the plant al within 0.01 second of the change occurring. In some
applications, the temperature sensor is configured to detect the ature of the plant
material without drawing heat from the plant material. In some applications, the temperature
sensor includes an optical temperature sensor. In some applications, the temperature sensor
includes an infrared temperature sensor. In some applications, the apparatus further includes
a capsule configured to house the portion of plant material, and the temperature sensor is
configured to detect the indication of the temperature of the plant material by detecting a
ature of the capsule. In some applications, the ature sensor is configured to
detect the indication of the temperature of the plant material by detecting electrical resistance
of at least a portion of the capsule.
In some applications, during a smoking session, the control circuitry is configured to
dynamically respond to changes in the user's inhalation by:
ing indications of the airflow rate h the vaporizing unit from the sensor;
in response to receiving the indications of the airflow rate, determining d
smoking profiles that are desired by the user; and
driving the heating element to ze the active ingredient of the plant al by
heating the plant material according to the determined updated smoking es.
In some applications, during the g session, the control circuitry is configured
to dynamically respond to changes in the user's inhalation, on a puff-by-puff basis. In some
applications, in response to receiving that airflow rate through the vaporizing unit has
increased, the control circuitry is configured to drive the g element to allow a
temperature of the plant material to decrease. In some applications, during a smoking
session, the l circuitry is configured to dynamically respond to changes in the user's
inhalation, on a continuous basis. In some ations, during a smoking session, the
control circuitry is configured to dynamically respond to changes in the user's inhalation,
within 0.01 seconds of changes in airflow rate through the vaporizing unit that are ted
by the user's inhalation.
In some applications, in response to receiving an indication from the sensor that
airflow rate through the vaporizing unit has increased, the control try is configured to
drive the heating element to increase a temperature of the plant material. In some
applications, the control circuitry is configured to ld the heating element from heating
the plant material above a given threshold temperature.
In some applications, the control circuitry is ured to determine a classification
of the plant material, and at least partially in response thereto, to determine the first smoking
profile and the updated smoking profile. In some applications, based upon the classification
of the plant material, the control circuitry is configured to determine a manner in which to
vary a temperature to which to drive the heating element to heat the plant material, in
response to changes in the airflow through the vaporizing unit. In some applications, the
plant material is housed inside a capsule, and the control circuitry is configured to determine
the fication of the plant material automatically by measuring a characteristic of the
capsule.
There is further provided, in accordance with some applications of the present
ion, a method for use with a vaporizing unit that is configured to vaporize at least one
active ingredient of a portion of a plant material, the method including:
measuring an tion of airflow rate through the vaporizing unit generated by a
user;
in response to the measured tion of the airflow rate, determining a smoking
profile that is desired by the user;
vaporizing the at least one active ingredient of the plant al by heating the plant
material according to the determined smoking e;
subsequently:
receiving a further indication of airflow rate h the vaporizing unit
generated by the user; and
in se to receiving the further indication of the airflow rate, determining
an updated smoking profile that is desired by the user; and
vaporizing the at least one active ingredient of the plant material by heating
the plant material according to the determined updated g profile.
In some applications, the method further comprising measuring an amount of heating
that the portion of the plant material has already one, and
wherein heating the plant material according to the determined smoking e
ses determining a temperature to which to heat the portion of the plant material at
least lly based upon the measured indication of the airflow rate and the amount of
heating that the portion of the plant material has already undergone.
In some applications, the method further comprising:
in response to receiving the indication of the airflow rate through the vaporizing unit,
determining that the user is not inhaling from the vaporizing unit, and
in response thereto, reducing heating of the plant material, such that a ature
of the plant material decreases below a vaporization temperature of the active ingredient.
In some applications, measuring an tion of airflow rate through the vaporizing
unit generated by the user comprises detecting an indication of a temperature of the plant
material using a temperature sensor, and calculating a rate of airflow through the vaporizing
unit, based upon the indication of the temperature of the plant material measured by the
ature sensor.
In some applications, calculating the rate of airflow through the vaporizing unit
comprises ing an indication of an amount of energy required to maintain the
temperature of the plant al constant.
In some applications, calculating the rate of airflow through the vaporizing unit
comprises detecting an indication of a change in the ature of the plant material that is
caused by heat er from the plant material to ambient air that passes through the capsule.
In some applications, the method further comprising ing an indication of
ambient temperature, wherein determining the rate of airflow through the vaporizing unit
comprises accounting for a difference between the temperature of the plant al and the
ambient temperature.
In some applications, detecting the indication of the temperature of the plant material
using the temperature sensor comprises detecting a change in the temperature of the plant
material within 0.01 second of the change occurring.
In some applications, detecting the indication of the ature of the plant material
using the temperature sensor comprises detecting the temperature of the plant material
without drawing heat from the plant material.
In some applications, detecting the indication of the temperature of the plant material
using the temperature sensor comprises detecting the temperature of the plant material using
an optical temperature sensor.
In some applications, detecting the indication of the temperature of the plant material
using the temperature sensor comprises detecting the temperature of the plant material using
an infrared temperature sensor.
In some ations, the portion of plant material is housed inside a capsule, and
wherein detecting the indication of the temperature of the plant material using the
temperature sensor comprises detecting a temperature of the capsule using the temperature
sensor.
In some applications, detecting the temperature of the capsule comprises detecting
electrical resistance of at least a n of the capsule.
In some applications, the method further comprising, during a smoking n,
dynamically responding to changes in the user's inhalation by:
receiving tions of the airflow rate through the vaporizing unit;
in response to receiving the indications of the airflow rate, determining updated
smoking profiles that are desired by the user; and
driving the heating t to vaporize the active ingredient of the plant material by
g the plant material according to the determined updated smoking es.
In some applications, dynamically responding to changes in the user's inhalation
comprises dynamically responding to changes in the user's inhalation, on a puff-by-puff
basis.
In some applications, dynamically responding to changes in the user's inhalation
comprises, in response to ing an indication that airflow rate through the zing
unit has increased, allowing the temperature of the plant al to se, by reducing
heating of the plant material.
In some applications, dynamically responding to changes in the user's inhalation
comprises dynamically responding to changes in the user's inhalation, on a continuous basis.
In some applications, dynamically responding to changes in the user's inhalation
ses dynamically responding to changes in the user's inhalation, within 0.01 seconds
of changes in airflow rate through the vaporizing unit that are generated by the user's
inhalation.
In some applications, cally responding to changes in the user's inhalation
comprises, in response to receiving an indication that airflow rate through the vaporizing
unit has increased, increasing a temperature of the plant material, by heating the plant
material.
In some applications, dynamically responding to changes in the user's inhalation
ses withholding heating the plant material above a given threshold temperature.
In some applications, the method further comprising determine a classification of the
plant material, wherein determining the first smoking profile and the updated smoking
profile comprises determining the first smoking profile and the updated smoking profile at
least partially in response to the classification.
In some applications, determining the first smoking profile and the updated smoking
profile at least partially in response to the classification comprises, based upon the
classification of the plant material, determining a manner in which to vary a temperature to
which to heat the plant material, in response to changes in the airflow through the vaporizing
unit.
In some ations, the portion of plant material is housed inside a capsule, and
wherein determining the classification of the plant material comprises determining the
classification of the plant material tically, by ing a characteristic of the
capsule.
There is further provided, in accordance with some applications of the t
ion, apparatus including:
a vaporizer comprising:
at least one capsule sing:
a al containing at least one active ingredient; and
covering layers configured to cover the material; and
control try ured to:
vaporize the at least one active ingredient of the al by heating
the capsule;
classify the capsule as a given type of capsule; and
configure the heating of the capsule based upon the classification of
the capsule.
In some ations, the covering layers of the capsule include meshes. In some
applications, the covering layers of the capsule include perforated sheets. In some
applications, the material includes a plant material ed from the group ting of:
cannabis, and tobacco.
In some applications, the control circuitry is configured:
to measure an indication of airflow rate through the vaporizer, and
based upon the classification of the capsule, to determine a manner in which to vary
a temperature to which to heat the material, in response to s in the airflow through
the zer.
In some applications, at least a portion of the capsule is colored, and the control
circuitry is configured to classify the capsule as the given type of capsule by detecting the
color of the portion of the capsule. In some applications, the capsule is at least partially
coated with a coating that includes a material that has a predefined l emissivity, and
the control circuitry is configured to classify the capsule as the given capsule type, by
determining the thermal emissivity of the coating. In some applications, at least a n
of the capsule has a predefined ical resistance, and the control circuitry is configured
to categorize the capsule as the given capsule type, by measuring the electrical resistance of
the portion of the e.
In some applications, the capsule is thermally coupled to at least one phase-change
al and the control circuitry is configured to classify the capsule as the given type of
capsule by detecting a phase-change temperature of the phase-change material. In some
applications, the capsule is lly coupled to a plurality of phase-change materials, and
the control circuitry is configured to classify the capsule as the given type of e by
detecting respective phase-change temperatures of the plurality of phase-change materials.
In some applications, the control try is further configured to detect r the capsule
was previously used by detecting the phase-change material.
There is further provided, in accordance with some applications of the present
invention, a method including:
placing into a vaporizer at least one capsule, the capsule including covering layers,
and material housed within the capsule, the al containing at least one active ingredient;
activating control try configured to:
vaporize the at least one active ingredient of the material by g the
capsule;
classify the capsule as a given type of capsule; and
configure the heating of the capsule based upon the classification of the
capsule.
In some ations, g the capsule into the vaporizer comprises placing the
capsule into the vaporizer, the al comprises a plant material selected from the group
consisting of: cannabis, and tobacco.
In some applications, placing the capsule into the vaporizer ses placing the
capsule into the vaporizer, the covering layers of the capsule comprising meshes.
In some applications, g the capsule into the vaporizer comprises placing the
capsule into the vaporizer, the covering layers of the capsule comprising perforated sheets.
In some applications, placing the capsule into the vaporizer comprises placing the
capsule into the vaporizer, the covering layers of the capsule comprising non-perforated
sheets, the method further comprising perforating the sheets inside the vaporizer.
In some applications, the method r comprising measuring an indication of
airflow rate through the vaporizer,
wherein configuring the heating of the capsule based upon the fication of the
e comprises, based upon the classification of the e, determining a manner in
which to vary a temperature to which to heat the material, in response to changes in the
airflow through the vaporizer.
In some applications, classifying the capsule as the given type of capsule comprises
detecting a color of the portion of the capsule.
In some applications, classifying the e as the given type of capsule comprises
determining a thermal emissivity of a coating of the capsule.
In some applications, classifying the capsule as the given type of capsule comprises
measuring electrical resistance of a portion of the capsule.
In some applications, classifying the capsule as the given type of e comprises
detecting a change temperature of a phase-change material that is thermally coupled
to the capsule.
In some applications, classifying the capsule as the given type of capsule comprises
detecting respective phase-change temperatures of a ity of phase-change materials that
are thermally coupled to the e.
In some applications, the method further comprising detecting whether the capsule
was previously used by detecting the phase-change material.
There is further provided, in accordance with some applications of the present
invention, a vaporizer comprising
at least one capsule including
a material containing at least one active ingredient, and
a first covering layer and a second covering layer configured to cover the al,
the first covering layer and the second ng layer opposing each other and being
configured to direct an airflow into the first ng layer, through at least a portion of the
al, and out of the second covering layer during an operational use of the at least one
capsule, and
an internal heating element within the at least one capsule; and
control circuitry configured to perform a classification of a type of the at least one
capsule and to implement a heating of the at least one e via the al heating
element based on the classification to at least partially vaporize the at least one active
ingredient of the material.
In some applications, the first covering layer and the second covering layer each
include a mesh configured to receive an electric current to further implement the heating.
In some applications, the first covering layer and the second covering layer each
include a perforated sheet configured to e an electric current to further implement the
heating.
In some applications, the material comprises a plant material.
In some applications, the control circuitry is configured to measure an indication of
an airflow rate through the vaporizer, and to adjust the heating of the material based on the
airflow rate.
In some applications, the at least one e has a color associated with the type of
the at least one capsule, and the control circuitry is configured to perform the classification
based on the color.
In some applications, the at least one capsule has a thermal emissivity associated
with the type of the at least one capsule, and the control circuitry is configured to perform
the classification based on the thermal emissivity.
In some applications, the at least one capsule has an ical ance associated
with the type of the at least one capsule, and the control circuitry is configured to perform
the classification based on the ical resistance.
In some applications, the at least one capsule includes at least one phase-change
material associated with the type of the at least one e, and the control circuitry is
configured to perform the classification based on at least one first phase-change temperature
of the at least one phase-change material.
In some ations, the at least one phase-change material es a plurality of
phase-change materials associated with the type of the at least one capsule, and the at least
one first phase-change temperature includes a plurality of phase-change temperatures for the
ity of phase-change materials.
In some applications, the at least one phase-change material is configured to undergo
a loss in quantity or phase-change ty once heated to above the at least one first phasechange
temperature, and the control circuitry is configured to not implement the heating of
the at least one e when the loss in quantity or phase-change property of the at least
one change material is detected.
In some applications, the first covering layer and the second covering layer each
include a rforated sheet configured to be perforated prior to the heating of the at least
one capsule.
In some applications, the vaporizer further comprises a vaporizing unit including the
control circuitry and configured to receive the at least one capsule.
In some applications, the control try is configured to tically perform the
classification upon an insertion of the at least one capsule into the vaporizing unit.
In some applications, the vaporizer further comprises a reloading unit reversibly
coupled to the vaporizing unit, the reloading unit configured to insert the at least one capsule
into the vaporizing unit.
The t invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed
description of embodiments thereof, taken together with the drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further features of the present invention are more fully described in the following
description of several non-limiting embodiments/applications thereof. This description is
included solely for the purposes of exemplifying the present invention. It should not be
understood as a ction on the broad y, disclosure or description of the ion
as set out . The description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of the exterior of a smoking device, in ance
with some applications of the t invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of the exterior of a reloading unit of the smoking
device of Fig. 1, in accordance with some applications of the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a schematic ration of the exterior of a vaporizing unit of the smoking
device of Fig. 1, in accordance with some applications of the present invention;
Fig. 4A is a schematic illustration of the exterior of a capsule that contains an active
ient, in accordance with some applications of the present invention;
Fig. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the capsule of Fig. 4A, in accordance with some
applications of the present ion;
Fig. 4C is a schematic illustration of a capsule that includes perforated sheets, in
accordance with some applications of the present invention;
Figs. 4D and 4E are schematic illustrations of meshes or perforated sheets of a
capsule, in accordance with some applications of the present invention;
Fig. 4F is a schematic illustration of a capsule that is provided to a user with plant
material within the capsule covered by non-perforated sheets, in accordance with some
applications of the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration of the exterior of a zing unit and a capsule
aligned for insertion into the vaporizing unit, in accordance with some applications of the
present invention;
Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the vaporizing unit of Fig. 3, in accordance with
some applications of the t invention;
Fig. 7 is a schematic illustration of a portion of a vaporizing unit of Fig. 3 with a
capsule disposed at a vaporization location within the vaporizing unit, in accordance with
some applications of the present ion;
Figs. 8A, 8B, and 8C are schematic illustrations of respective cut-away views of a
g device that includes a vaporizing unit placed in a reloading unit, at tive stages
of the operation of a capsule-loading mechanism, in accordance with some applications of
the present invention;
Fig. 9A, 9B, and 9C are respective cross-sectional views of a smoking device that
es a vaporizing unit placed in a reloading unit, at respective stages of the ion of
a capsule-loading mechanism, in accordance with some applications of the t
invention;
Fig. 10 is a graph rating a technique for heating a capsule that contains plant
material containing an active ingredient, in accordance with some applications of the present
invention;
Fig. 11 is a graph illustrating heating curves of capsules containing phase-change
materials with different phase-change temperatures, in accordance with some applications
of the present ion;
Fig. 12A is a graph illustrating a technique for heating plant material using a
vaporizer, in accordance with some applications of the present invention;
Fig. 12B is a graph illustrating a technique for heating plant material using a
vaporizer, in accordance with some applications of the present invention;
Fig. 13 is a schematic illustration of a vaporizer that is configured to automatically
extract a given volumetric dose of a plant material from a mass of the plant material that is
disposed in a receptacle of the vaporizer, in accordance with some ations of the present
invention;
Fig. 14 is a schematic illustration g an exploded view of the vaporizer of Fig.
13, in accordance with some applications of the present invention;
Fig. 15 is a schematic illustration showing a three-dimensional view of a rear side of
the vaporizer of Fig. 13, in accordance with some applications of the present invention;
Fig. 16 is a schematic illustration g a cross-sectional view of the vaporizer of
Fig. 13, in accordance with some applications of the present invention;
Figs. 17A, 17B, 17C, 17D, and 17E are schematic illustrations g crosssectional
views of an extraction mechanism of the vaporizer of Fig. 13, at respective stages
of the ion of the extraction mechanism, in accordance with some applications of the
present invention;
Fig. 18 is a schematic illustration of a zer that is configured to automatically
extract a given volumetric dose of a plant material from a mass of the plant material that is
disposed in a receptacle of the vaporizer, in accordance with some applications of the present
invention;
Fig. 19 is a schematic illustration showing an exploded view of the vaporizer of Fig.
18, in accordance with some ations of the present ion;
Fig. 20 is a schematic ration showing a sectional view of the vaporizer of
Fig. 18, in accordance with some applications of the present invention;
Fig. 21 is a schematic illustration of an extraction mechanism of the vaporizer of
shown in Fig. 18, in accordance with some applications of the present invention;
Figs. 22A and 22B are schematic illustrations of front and rear views of the extraction
mechanism of the vaporizer of Fig. 18, during a first stage of the operation of the extraction
mechanism, in accordance with some applications of the present invention;
Figs. 23A and 23B are schematic illustrations of front and rear views of the extraction
ism of the vaporizer of Fig. 18, during a second stage of the operation of the
extraction mechanism, in accordance with some applications of the present invention;
Figs. 24A and 24B are schematic illustrations of front and rear views of the extraction
mechanism of the vaporizer of Fig. 18, during a third stage of the operation of the extraction
mechanism, in accordance with some applications of the present invention;
Figs. 25 and 26 are schematic illustrations of a wiping element of the zer of
Fig. 18, in accordance with some applications of the t invention; and
Figs. 27A and 27B are bar charts showing the mass of active ingredient that is
released from plant material with respective, successive puffs of a vaporizer, in accordance
with some applications of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
nce is now made to Figs. 1-3, which are schematic illustrations of the or
of a smoking device 20, the smoking device ing a reloading unit 22 and a vaporizing
unit 21, in accordance with some applications of the present invention. Typically, smoking
device 20 is used to ze the active ingredient of a material, such as plant material. For
example, smoking device 20 may be used to vaporize the constituent cannabinoids of
is (e.g., tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and/or cannabidiol (CBD)). Alternatively or
additionally, the vaporizer is used to vaporize an active ingredient from tobacco (e.g.,
nicotine), and/or other plant or chemical substances that contain an active ingredient that
s vaporized upon the substance being heated. It is noted that some applications of
the present invention are described with reference to a plant material that contains an active
ient. However, the scope of the present invention includes using any substance that
ns an active ingredient (e.g., a synthetic substance that contains an active ingredient),
mutatis mutandis. Smoking device 20 may alternatively be referred to as a "smoking device"
and/or as an "electronic cigarette," and in the context of the present application, these terms
should be interpreted as being interchangeable with one another. Similarly, in the context
of the present application, the terms "vaporizing unit," "vaporizer," "electronic cigarette,"
and ng piece" should be interpreted as being interchangeable with one another.
For some applications, g device 20 includes a reloading unit 22 and a
vaporizing unit 21. For some applications, the reloading unit houses capsules 29, a capsuleloading
mechanism 56, and a power supply 45, as described in r detail herein below.
For some applications, the vaporizing unit houses a vaporization location 54, an internal
power supply 33 and control circuitry 34. The control try is configured to act as a
control unit, which controls the oning of the vaporizing unit. Typically, the reloading
unit and the vaporizing unit are reversibly couplable to each other. The smoking device is
configured, such that in order to load a capsule into the vaporizing unit, and/or to discard a
used capsule from the vaporizing unit, the user couples the vaporizing unit to the reloading
unit, before activating the capsule-reloading mechanism, as bed in further detail
hereinbelow. Subsequently, in order to smoke from the vaporizing unit, the user may, if
desired, detach the vaporizing unit from the reloading unit. Typically, the vaporizing unit
includes a mouthpiece 25. During a smoking session, the vaporizing unit typically zes
the active ingredient of plant material that is disposed inside a e, by heating the
capsule, while the capsule is disposed at the vaporization location. The user typically inhales
the vaporized active ingredient via the iece.
Typically, smoking device 20 is configured to be portable and, during use, vaporizing
unit 21 is configured to be held in a single hand of a user. The dimensions of the vaporizing
unit are typically as follows:
A height H1 of reloading unit 22 is typically more than 5 cm (e.g., more than
6 cm), and/or less than 15 cm (e.g., less than 12 cm), e.g., between 5 cm and 15 cm,
or n 10 and 12 cm.
A height H2 of vaporizing unit 21, is typically more than 6 cm (e.g., more
than 8.3 cm), and/or less than 12 cm (e.g., less than 10 cm), e.g., between 7 cm and
9 cm, or between 8 and 8.5 cm.
Typically, the total height HT of smoking device 20, including the vaporizing
unit inserted into the reloading unit is less than 20 cm, e.g., less than 11 cm.
A width W of reloading unit 22 is typically more than 4 cm (e.g., more than
6 cm), and/or less than 9 cm (e.g., less than 7), e.g., between 4 cm and 9 cm, or
n 6 cm and 7 cm.
A depth D of reloading unit 22 is typically more than 2 cm (e.g., more than 3
cm), and/or less than 6 cm (e.g., less than 4 cm), e.g., between 2 cm and 6 cm, or
between 3 cm and 4 cm.
For applications in which vaporizing unit 21 has a circular cross-section (as
shown in Fig. 3), a diameter DI of the vaporizing unit is lly more than 5 mm
(e.g., more than 6 mm), and/or less than 35 mm (e.g., less than 20 mm), e.g., between
mm and 35 mm, or between 6 mm and 20 mm. For applications in which the
vaporizing unit has a non-circular cross-section, the cross-sectional area of the
vaporizing unit is lly the lent of a circle having a diameter as described
in the previous sentence.
For some applications, a capsule-loading button 23 is disposed on the outside of
reloading unit 22. The capsule -loading button controls capsule-loading mechanism 56 (Figs.
8A-C). As described in further detail hereinbelow, the capsule-loading ism is
configured to (a) individually transfer unused capsules from a first receptacle 53 (Fig. 9C)
within the body of the reloading unit to a vaporization location 54 (Fig. 6) within the body
of vaporizing unit 21, at which the capsule is heated such as to vaporize the active ingredient,
and (b) to individually transfer used capsules from the vaporization location within the
vaporizing unit to a second receptacle 52 (Fig. 9C) within the body of the reloading unit.
Alternatively or additionally, capsule-loading ism 56 (or any other capsule-loading
mechanism described herein) is controlled by an electric motor (not shown).
Reference is now made to Figs. 4A-B, which are schematic illustrations of respective
views of a capsule 29, the capsule containing material 32, e.g., a plant material, that includes
an active ingredient, in accordance with some applications of the present invention. As
described above, for some applications, the plant material is cannabis, and the active
ient is the constituent cannabinoids of cannabis (e.g., tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
and/or cannabidiol (CBD)). Alternatively or additionally, the plant material includes
tobacco (and the active ingredient includes ne), and/or other plant or chemical
substances that contain an active ingredient that becomes vaporized upon the substance
being heated.
Typically, capsule 29 is generally similar to capsules bed in WO 16/147188,
which is incorporated herein by reference. For some ations, material 32 (which
contains an active ingredient, and which is typically a plant material) is housed between
plant material covering layers, which is typically include upper and lower meshes (e.g.,
metallic meshes) 30. For some applications, each of the meshes has openings of more than
micron (e.g., more than 20 micron), and/or less than 80 micron (e.g., less than 50 ),
e.g., 15-60 micron, or 20-50 micron. Typically, the meshes are coupled to a central portion
31 of the e (e.g., a l disc, as shown), the central portion defining a hole. For
e, the meshes may be coupled to the l portion via an adhesive, such as a high-
temperature-resistant glue, or double-sided adhesive or ultrasonically welded to central
portion or heat pressed onto central portion. Typically, the adhesive is configured such that
the adhesive does not emit fumes, even when the adhesive is subjected to a high temperature,
such as a temperature of greater than 200 degrees Celsius. Typically, the material is housed
between the meshes and within the hole defined by the l portion of the capsule.
Typically, plant material 32 is ground, such that (a) the material is in sufficiently
small pieces that the material fits within the capsule, and a large surface area of the material
is exposed to air flow through the vaporizing unit (b) the pieces of the material are
iently large that they do not pass through the meshes, and (c) the active ingredient
within the material retains its y. For some applications, the material is cryogenically
ground and/or powderized.
For some applications, central portion 31 of capsule 29 is made of a material that has
a high heat ty and/or low heat conductivity so that it reduces heat loss from the capsule
to the surrounding area and reduces heating of the surrounding area during the vaporization
process. For some applications, at least one of the wires of meshes 30 is hollow, and a
phase-change material is disposed inside the hollow wire. Alternatively or additionally, a
phase-change material is d to the capsule is a ent , e.g., by coating the
capsule with the phase-change material. For some ations, the phase-change al
is configured to reduce heat loss from the capsule, by causing the capsule to entially
absorb heat relative to the areas surrounding the capsule. Alternatively or additionally, the
phase-change material is selected such as to maintain the capsule below the pyrolysis
temperature of the plant material, and to y prevent the plant material from being
zed. For example, the phase-change al may undergo a phase-change at a
temperature that is between the vaporization temperature and the pyrolysis temperature of
the plant material, such that the phase-change material absorbs heat as latent heat of fusion
at this temperature. For some applications, a phase-change material is coupled to the capsule
in order to facilitate the automatic identification of the capsule type, by the control circuitry
of the vaporizing unit, as described in further detail hereinbelow.
Reference is now made to Fig. 4C, which is a schematic illustration of capsule 29,
the capsule including perforated sheets 60, in accordance with some ations of the
present invention. For some ations, plant material 32 is housed inside the central
portion of the e between first and second perforated sheets. Typically, for applications
as shown in Fig. 4C, upper and lower perforated sheets are used as covering layers for
covering the plant material, instead of the upper and lower meshes 30 as shown in Fig. 4B,
for example. For some applications, each of the perforated sheets defines one or more
perforations 62 that are configured to guide airflow through the plant material along a given
airflow path, during the vaporization process. For example, Fig. 4C shows airflow arrows
64, which illustrate an airflow path that is generated by perforations 62. lly, the
perforations are configured to guide airflow through the plant material along an airflow path
that increases contact area between the flowing air and the plant al within the capsule).
For some applications, the perforated sheets are configured to be heated in a similar manner
to that described herein with reference to meshes 30, mutatis is. For example, the
perforated sheets may be made of an electrical tive material that is configured to be
heated via resistive heating. In general, techniques that are described herein with reference
to capsule that include meshes 30 as the covering layers for covering the plant al, may
be performed with respect to capsules that include perforated sheets 60 as the covering layers
for covering the plant material, mutatis mutandis.
Reference is now made to Figs. 4D and 4E, which are schematic illustrations of
meshes 30 or perforated sheets 60, in accordance with some applications of the present
invention. For some applications, the perforation pattern of the perforated sheets, or the
pattern of holes in the meshes, is uniform across the surface of each of the perforated sheets,
or each of the meshes, as shown in Fig. 4D, for example. Alternatively, the perforation
pattern of the ated sheets, or the pattern of holes in the meshes, is non-uniform across
the surface of each of the perforated , or each of the meshes, as shown in Fig. 4E, for
example. For some applications, the perforation pattern of the perforated , or the
pattern of holes in the , is varied across the surface of each of the perforated sheets,
or each of the meshes, in order l the resistance and/or the resistivity pattern of the
sheet. For example, use of selective perforation may implemented in order to limit resistive
heating to the t area n the perforated sheet or the mesh and the plant material,
and/or to focus the resistive heating upon that area. atively or additionally, nonuniform
perforation spacing may be used, for example, to control the current density at
different locations across the surface of the perforated sheets, or the meshes. An example
of this is shown in Fig. 4E, which shows slits 65 on mesh 30 or perforated sheet 60, the slit
being configured to prevent electrical current from flowing across the mesh or the sheet at
s at which the plant material is not housed. As described hereinabove, for some
applications, perforations 62 are ed upon sheets 60 such as to guide airflow through
the plant material along a given airflow path, during the vaporization process.
Reference is now made to Fig. 4F, which is a schematic illustration of e 29, in
accordance with some applications of the present invention. For some applications, capsule
29 is configured to be provided to a user with plant material 32 within the capsule covered
by non-perforated sheets 66, the non-perforated sheets acting as the ng layers for
covering the plant al. For example, the es may be provided to the user in this
state, such that the non-perforated sheets preserve the plant material within the capsule,
and/or maintain the potency of the active ingredient within the plant material. Typically,
prior to the plant material being heated inside the vaporizer, sheets 66 are perforated, in order
to allow airflow h the capsule. For some applications, the user perforates the sheets
prior to placing the capsule inside the vaporizer. Alternatively, the vaporizer includes a
perforating mechanism 67 that is configured to perforate sheets 66 prior to the plant material
being heated inside the vaporizer. For example, as shown in Fig. 4F (which shows the
perforating mechanism in the absence of the other component of the vaporizer, for
illustrative purposes), the perforating mechanism may include one or more rollers 68 with
pins 69 ed thereon. For some applications, the perforation mechanism is configured
to perforate sheets 66, such that the perforation pattern that is formed is uniform across the
surface of each of the sheets, for example, as shown in Fig. 4D. Alternatively, the
perforation mechanism is configured to perforate sheets 66, such that the perforation n
that is formed is non-uniform across the surface of each of the sheets, for example, as shown
in Figs. 4C and 4E. For some applications, sheets 66 are configured to be heated in a similar
manner to that bed herein with reference to meshes 30, mutatis mutandis. For
example, the sheets may be made of an electrical conductive material that is configured to
be heated via resistive heating. In general, techniques that are bed herein with
nce to capsules that include meshes 30 as the covering layers for covering the plant
material, may be performed with respect to capsules that include sheets 66 as the covering
layers for covering the plant material, mutatis mutandis.
For some applications, capsule 29 is configured to keep the plant material fully
encapsulated such that there is substantially no emission of active ient prior to the
vaporization of the active ingredient inside the vaporizer. For example, the capsule may be
configured in this manner by the use of rforated sheets 66, as described with reference
to Fig. 4F.
nce is now made to Figs. 5-7, which are schematic illustrations of respective
views of vaporizing unit 21, in accordance with some applications of the present invention.
For some ations, the zing unit receives capsules by the vaporizing unit being
d to reloading unit 22, and capsule-loading mechanism 56 being used to load capsules
into the vaporizing unit. Alternatively or additionally, the vaporizing unit is used in the
absence of the reloading unit, and, for example, a user may insert individual capsules into
the vaporizing unit. For some such applications, after the user has smoked the individual
e, the individual capsule needs to be removed from the vaporizing unit before another
capsule can be inserted. Alternatively, the vaporizing unit is configured such that a used
capsule is automatically pushed out of the vaporization location, by a new capsule beg
inserted into the vaporization location. Further alternatively, the vaporizing unit is
configured to hold a plurality of used capsule, such that the used capsules only need to be
removed from the vaporizing unit periodically, and not after each capsule is smoked.
For some applications, the vaporizing unit of the g device is configured to be
used with a plurality of ent types of capsules. For example, respective types of capsules
may contain different quantities of plant material, plant material containing different amount
of active ingredients, and/or different types of plant materials. Alternatively or additionally,
respective types of capsules may have respective characteristics, e.g., tive flavors,
strengths, sses, active ingredients, etc. For some applications, the reloading unit is
configured such that the user may select which capsule type to place in the reloading unit,
and the reloading unit may then be used to load the zing unit with that type of capsule.
Alternatively, a reloading unit may come preloaded with a given type of capsules. Further
alternatively, as described hereinabove, the vaporizing unit may be configured such that the
user can insert capsules directly into the vaporizing unit. For such appl ications, the user is
able to select which type of capsule he/she wishes to smoke at any given time, and to insert
that type of capsule into the zing unit.
For some ations, control circuitry 34 of the vaporizing unit is configured to
adjust a heating profile of the es to the capsule type that is currently being heated. For
some such applications, the control circuitry implements an automatic capsule classification
procedure in accordance with which the control circuitry automatically classifies the capsule
that is currently being heated as a given type of capsule (i.e., the l circuitry identifies
the capsule type), and designates a capsule heating profile accordingly.
For some applications, color coded capsules are used for identification of different
capsules by the user and/or for automatic classification of the capsule by the control circuitry
of the vaporizing unit, for example, by use of a color sensor. For some ations, the
thermal emissivity of the capsules is used for classification of different capsules by the
l circuitry, for example, by coating one or more of the metallic meshes of each of the
es with coatings having respective thermal vity constants. For some
applications, the identification of the above-mentioned thermal emissivity constant of the
capsule is measured by the vaporizing unit, while the coating of the capsule is at a known
temperature. For example, the control circuitry may measure the thermal emissivity of the
e coating while the capsule is in an unused state, and can therefore be assumed to be
approximately at ambient temperature. For some applications, a standard temperature
sensor is used to measure the temperature of the capsule coating. For some applications, a
ature sensor as described hereinbelow is used to measure the temperature of the
capsule coating.
For some applications, the control try is configured to perform the
classification of the capsule type by phase-change materials having respective phase-change
temperatures being used with each capsule type. Typically, the phase-change material is at
least partially disposed within the capsules and is thermally coupled to one or more of the
metallic meshes of the capsules. Further typically, the phase-change temperature of the
phase-change material is below the vaporization temperature of the active ingredient. During
the g of a capsule, the phase-change material reaches its change ature
and accumulates latent heat, while it is in the process of undergoing the phase change. In
accordance with respective applications, within the temperature range to which the capsule
is heated, the phase-change al may be configured to undergo a phase change from
solid to liquid, from liquid to gas, from gel to gas, and/or from solid to gas. Typically, while
the phase-change material undergoes the phase change, the measured temperature of the
change material, and of the e, remains constant. The constant ature is
typically maintained for a short duration of time, followed by a continued increase in the
temperature of the capsule after the phase change transition of the phase-change material
has been completed. For some applications, the control circuitry is configured to detect the
temperature at which the capsule's temperature remains constant for a given period of time,
during the g of the capsule. Since this temperature is indicative of the phase-change
temperature, the control try is configured to classify the capsule type in response to
detecting this temperature. For e, different types of capsules can be classified by
using phase-change materials with pre-defined phase-change atures. Purely by way
of example, phase-change materials having phase-change temperature levels of
approximately 60 degrees Celsius, approximately 65 degrees Celsius, approximately 70
degrees Celsius, approximately 75 degrees Celsius, and approximately 80 degrees Celsius
can be used to classify five different types of capsules. As described hereinabove, lly,
in response to detecting a given capsule type, a capsule heating profile that is suited to that
capsule type is applied.
For some applications, in cases in which it is d to prohibit the re-use of already
vaporized capsules, the control circuitry is configured to detect a presence of a phase-change
material within the e. For some applications, the phase-change material is configured
to be vaporized, to dissipate, and/or to lose its phase changing properties, in response to the
capsule being used, due to its temperature having been increased above its change
temperature. The control circuitry is configured to interpret the presence of the phasechange
material within the capsule, and/or a characteristic of the phase-change material
within the capsule, as indicating that the capsule was not previously vaporized, and to allow
the capsule to be heated, only in response thereto. For example, in cases in which re-use of
capsules might cause an increased emission of harmful materials or might cause pyrolysis
of the dry, used active ingredient, the control try may be configured as described.
For some applications, a phase-change material is mixed with the plant material
within the capsule. Alternatively or additionally, the phase-change material is shaped as a
thin plate and is ed within the capsule such that the change material
encapsulates the plant material. In this manner, in addition to the l phase-change
properties of the change material described hereinabove, the phase-change al
facilitates the preservation of and/or reduces the degradation of the plant al, prior to
the plant material being heated.
For some applications, tive capsule types are provided with meshes having
respective resistance levels. The control circuitry is configured, by measuring the resistance
of the mesh, to identify the e type that is currently being heated. As described
hereinabove, typically, in response to classifying the capsule as a given capsule type, a
heating profile that is suited to that capsule type is applied. For some applications,
constructing meshes having respective resistances is performed by using materials with
respective resistances, and/or by modifying the ical properties of the meshes, such
as length, width, cross section, and/ or any other property that might influence the resistance.
For some applications, a generally r technique is performed, but the capsules are
identified via the electrical resistance of a different portion of the capsules, for example, the
main body of the capsules, a resistor embedded in the capsule, and/or resistance of a material
within the capsule.
For some applications, capsules types are identified by use of other types of coding.
For example, barcode, unique mechanical features (for example: holes or grooves), es,
electro-optical switches, RFID, or any other applicable coding ism.
For some applications, vaporizing unit 21 includes a grill 26, which is configured to
allow airflow into the body of the vaporizing unit, as described in further detail hereinbelow.
For some applications, a capsule loading and unloading g 27 is configured to allow
the manual and or mechanized loading and unloading of es into and out of the
vaporization location within the vaporizing unit, as described in further detail hereinbelow.
For some applications zing unit 21 defines a groove 28, which is configured
to facilitate insertion of the vaporizing unit into reloading unit 22 in a given alignment. For
example, the groove may be configured to facilitate insertion of the vaporizing unit into the
reloading unit such that capsule loading and unloading opening 27 is correctly aligned such
as to receive capsule from receptacle 53 of the reloading unit, and to deposit capsules into
receptacle 52 of the reloading unit.
For some ations, the inner surface of mouthpiece 25 (and/or other portions of
the zer) includes a lipophobic or hydrophobic g that is configured to prevent
ts of the vaporization of the active ingredient from sticking to the inner e of the
mouthpiece. Alternatively or additionally, a filter is used to filter at least a part of the vapors
that pass through the mouthpiece. For some applications, a filter that is similar to that of a
traditional combustion cigarette is used, for e, in order to provide the user with a look
and feel that is similar to that of a cigarette during the use of the vaporizing unit of the
g device.
Typically, zing unit 21 is inserted into reloading unit 22 for the purpose of
loading a new e into the vaporizing unit (e.g., to the vaporization location of the
vaporizing unit), as described hereinabove. Alternatively or onally, the reloading unit
contains a power supply 45 (Figs. 8A-C and 9A-C), and an al power supply 33 of the
vaporizing unit is configured to become charged by the power supply of the ing unit,
by the zing unit being coupled to reloading unit. For some applications, power supply
45 of the reloading unit, and/or power supply 33 of the vaporizing unit is configured to
receive power from an al power source, such as mains electricity. Typically, the
vaporizing unit is decoupled from the ing unit prior to the user using the vaporizing
unit to vaporize the active ingredient of the plant material, to thereby smoke from the
vaporizing unit. During a smoking session, the vaporizing unit, which typically has a shape
that is generally similar to that of a cigarette, is held by the user, and functions as an
electronic cigarette.
Reference is again made to Fig. 6, which is a tic cross-sectional illustration
of vaporizing unit 21, in ance with some applications of the present invention.
Reference is also made to Fig. 7, which is a schematic illustration of components vaporizing
unit 21, in accordance with some applications of the present invention. Typically,
vaporizing unit 21 includes one or more g elements, which are configured to heat the
plant material within capsule 29 (such as to vaporize the active ient within the plant
material). For some applications, electrodes 36, 37, 38, and 39 are configured to act as
heating elements, by heating the plant material within the capsule, by driving an electrical
current into capsule 29. As described hereinabove, for some applications, capsule 29
includes one or more metallic meshes 30 (Fig. 4A-B). The electrodes heat the material
inside the capsule by heating the one or more meshes via resistive heating, by driving a
current into the one or more meshes. Alternatively or additionally, the electrodes heat an
internal heating element that is housed within the capsule, by driving a current into the
internal heating element. lly, the electric current that is driven is controlled, such
that, for example, the heating of the capsules is not affected by variations in the degree of
contact between the electrodes and the meshes of the capsules.
For some applications, upper mesh of capsule 29 is electrically connected to the
lower mesh, and at least two electrodes are used to drive an electrical current into capsule
29. For example, ing to the view shown in Fig. 7, electrodes 36 and 37 may be used,
and the upper and lower meshes may be ically connected to one another on the far side
of capsule 29. For some applications, the lower mesh and/or the upper mesh is heated by
the mesh being used to te a circuit between a pair of electrodes. For example, the
plant material contained within the capsule may heated by driving a current from first
electrode 36 to second electrode 39 via the lower mesh of capsule 29. Alternatively or
additionally, the plant material contained within the e may be heated by driving a
current from third electrode 37 to fourth electrode 38 via the upper mesh of capsule 29. For
some applications, by heating the plant material in the entioned manner, the plant
material within the capsule is heated more uniformly than if, for example, a monopolar
electrode were to drive a current into a location on the upper or lower mesh. For some
applications, capsule 29 includes an internal heating t (e.g., an internal mesh (not
shown)), as an alternative or in on to the upper and lower meshes. The internal heating
element is configured to be heated in a similar manner to that described with reference to
the upper and lower meshes, and is configured to heat the capsule via conductive heating.
For some applications, springs 40 are coupled to at least some the electrodes, e.g.,
electrodes 37 and 38 as shown in Fig. 7. The spring s are configured to push the odes
towards the capsule 29, in order to improve ical coupling between the electrodes and
the capsule. For some applications, the electrodes include a bladed tip that acts as the
electrical contact to the capsule. Typically, the tips of the electrodes have a ess of
more than 0.05 mm (e.g., more than 0.1 mm), and/or less than 0.4 mm (e.g., less than 0.3
mm), e.g., between 0.05 mm and 0.4 mm, or between 0.1 mm and 0.3 mm.
For some applications, an electrode-movement mechanism (not shown) is configured
to move at least a portion of the odes with respect to a mesh of capsule 29. For
example, an electrode-movement mechanism as described in WO 16/147188 to Raichman,
which is incorporated herein by reference, may be used. For example, the electrodemovement
mechanism may move the electrodes closer to the mesh, and/or may move the
electrodes with respect to the mesh (e.g., by sliding the electrodes across the surface of the
mesh), while the electrodes are in contact with the mesh. In this manner, the odes
typically remove at least a portion of a coating that has developed on the e of the mesh,
and/or penetrate the coating. For some applications, the electrode-movement mechanism is
configured to move the electrodes away from the mesh, for example, in order to facilitate
insertion of a capsule into the zation location or removal of a capsule from the
zation location, in a manner that friction between the capsule and the electrodes is
reduced or eliminated.
Although vaporizing unit 21 has been described as using resistive heating of
electrode(s) 36, 37, 38, and/or 39 to heat capsule 29, for some applications, alternative or
additional heating elements and heating techniques are used to heat the capsule. For
example, a laser emitter may act as a g element by directing a laser beam at the capsule,
in order to heat the capsule. For some ations, a separate heating element that is housed
inside the vaporizing unit is heated in proximity to the vaporization location, in order to
e conduction, convection, and/or ion heating to the capsule.
During use of the vaporizing unit, the user typically inhales via mouthpiece 25. This
causes air to flow through grill 26 (Fig. 5) to the mouthpiece via the capsule, as indicated by
the dashed airflow arrow in Fig. 6. Typically, the capsule is configured to be placed at the
vaporization location within the vaporizing unit, such that planes defined by the upper and
lower meshes are perpendicular to a direction of the air flow through the vaporizer at the
vaporization location. For some applications, a sealing gasket 41 is used to prevent air from
outside the vaporizing unit from flowing into mouthpiece 25 without passing through
capsule 29.
lly, a power supply 33 (e.g., a battery) and l try 34 are housed
inside the body of zing unit 21. Typically, the power supply and/or the control
circuitry are coupled to the body of the vaporizing unit by a coupling t, such as an
adhesive, a screw, a clip, and/or a pin. For some applications, the control circuitry is
configured to drive a current into the capsule via electrodes 36, 37, 38, and/or 39, using
power supplied by the power supply.
Typically, the control circuitry comprises electronic components, such as resistors,
transistors, capacitors, inductors and diodes. For some applications, the control circuitry
includes a computer sor, which typically acts as a special purpose zationcontrolling
computer processor. Typically, the operations described herein that are
med by such a computer processor transform the physical state of a , which is
a real physical article, to have a different magnetic polarity, electrical charge, or the like
depending on the technology of the memory that is used.
For some applications, vaporizing unit 21 includes a ature sensor 35 that is
configured to measure an indication of the temperature of the material that is being ,
e.g., by measuring the temperature of the capsule that is being heated. For example, the
temperature sensor may be an l temperature sensor, such as an infrared temperature
sensor, that is configured to measure the temperature of the capsule without contacting the
capsule. Figs. 6-7 shows sensor 35 aligned to receive beams of l light from capsule
29, the e having been heated. Sensor 35 is configured to measure the temperature of
capsule 29, based upon the received light. In this manner, the optical temperature sensor
es the temperature of the capsule, without ing the temperature of the capsule by
drawing heat from the capsule. For some applications, the temperature sensor is covered
with a lipophobic or hydrophobic coating that protects the temperature sensor from products
of the vaporization being ted upon the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor
typically has a "near zero" response time, such that the control circuitry is able to measure
s in temperature due to changes in airflow, and respond to such changes in the manner
described hereinbelow, effectively immediately with respect to the perception of the user.
For example, the temperature sensor may be configured to detect s in temperature
within 0.01 seconds, e.g., within 1 millisecond, of such changes. For some applications, by
virtue of having such a temperature sensor, the control circuitry is configured to respond to
airflow-induced s in temperature within 0.01 seconds, e.g., within 1 millisecond, of
such changes.
For some applications, vaporizing unit 21 includes a fan 48 (Fig. 6) that is configured
to vent out vapors during the heating process, by ventilating a space between temperature
sensor 35 and the capsule. lly, during heating of the plant material, vapors are
emitted. In some cases, in the absence of fan 48, the vapors may mask the capsule and/or
the plant material from temperature sensor 35. In turn, this may cause errors in the
temperature that is measured by the temperature sensor (and particularly if sensor 35 is an
infrared temperature sensor). For example, the sensor may measure the ature of the
plant material as being lower than it actually is, which could lead to the plant material being
overheated, causing damage, pyrolysis, and/or or ignition of the plant material. Therefore,
for some applications, fan 48 vents vapors from the vaporizing unit during at least a portion
of the heating process, by driving air into and/or out of the vaporizing unit. Alternatively or
additionally, unwanted vapor accumulation within the device is d by designing
internal passages of the device with dimensions that are such to allow air flow between the
temperature sensor and the plant material that is sufficient to prevent vapor accumulation.
For some applications, a different temperature sensor is used. For example, the
control try may detect the temperature of the capsule by detecting changes in the
resistance of components of the capsule (e.g., mesh 30 of the capsule) using electrodes 36,
37, 38, and/or 39.
For some applications, smoking device 20 includes a port (not shown) via which the
g device is connected to an external source of power and/or data input. For example,
power supply 45 of ing unit 22 may be configured to be recharged by connecting the
smoking device to an external power supply (e.g., mains electricity) via the abovementioned
port. Alternatively or additionally, control circuitry 34 may receive data, e.g.,
programming ctions, via above mentioned port.
For some applications, a user may input ctions into the control circuitry that
control the amount of heat that is applied for a given rate of airflow through the capsule. For
example, the user may input the instructions via a user interface 10 (such as a touchscreen
display, or buttons), shown in Fig. 3, that is d to the control circuitry. atively
or onally, the user may input the instructions via a computer, a tablet device, a phone,
and/or a different telecommunications device that communicates with the control circuitry
via a wired or a wireless communications protocol. For example, the user may indicate a
type of smoking that he/she desires (e.g., intense, slow-burn, etc.), and the control circuitry
may control the amount of heat that is applied for a given rate of airflow through the capsule,
in response thereto. For some applications, the l circuitry is configured to
automatically determine a d smoking profile, based upon the rate of airflow through
the vaporizing unit (e.g., h the capsule), as described in further detail hereinbelow.
By controlling the amount of heat that is applied for a given rate of airflow through the
capsule, the amount of the active ingredient that is vaporized per unit airflow rate through
the vaporizer may be controlled. For some applications, vaporizing unit 21 includes an
airflow sensor, (not shown). For some applications, the control circuitry is ured to
automatically determine the rate of airflow through the vaporizer, by detecting the
temperature of the e, as described in further detail hereinbelow.
For some applications (not , vaporizing unit 21 is shaped to define a
supplementary airflow channel, which provides airflow out of mouthpiece 25, but not via
the capsule that is being vaporized (not shown). In this manner, in response to a large
inhalation by the user, the vaporizer is able to provide air to the user, without increasing the
dosage of the active ingredient that is provided to the user.
For some applications, l circuitry 34 of the vaporizing unit or control circuitry
of the reloading unit (not shown) includes one or more indicators for generating alerts to the
user. For example, the control try may illuminate an indicator light, may cause the
vaporizing unit to e, and/or may emit an audio signal (e.g., a beep). Alternatively, the
vaporizing unit may include user interface 10, which may include a y (e.g., an LED or
LCD display), and the control try may generate an alert on the display. For some
applications, the control circuitry is configured to generate an alert to the user in se to
sensing that, during inhalation from the vaporizer by the user, the temperature of the plant
material is less than a given threshold temperature. Alternatively or additionally, the control
circuitry is configured to generate an indication to the user in response to sensing that the
temperature of the plant material is r than a given threshold temperature (e.g., a
temperature of more than between 300 degrees Celsius and 350 degrees Celsius), which may
cause the material to become pyrolyzed or ignite. For some applications, the threshold is
measured with respect to an expected target temperature. For example, an alert may be
generated in response to sensing a temperature that is 50 degrees s less than an
expected target temperature. Further atively or additionally, the control circuitry is
configured to generate an indication to the user that a capsule is faulty, is incorrectly placed,
and/or is missing, in se to measuring a temperature that is less than a given threshold,
during the heating process.
Reference is now made to Figs. 8A-C, which are schematic illustrations of smoking
device 20, showing vaporizing unit 21 placed in a n of reloading unit 22, at respective
stages of the operation of e-loading mechanism 56, in ance with some
applications of the present invention. Reference is also made to Figs. 9A-C, which are
schematic cross-sectional views of smoking device 20, showing vaporizing unit 21 placed
in a portion of reloading unit 22, at respective stages of the operation of capsule-loading
mechanism 56, in accordance with some applications of the present invention.
Typically, reloading unit 22 of smoking device 20 includes first and second
acles 53 and 52 (shown in Fig. 9C), which are configured to house capsules 29.
Unused capsules are typically housed in a stacked configuration (i.e., such that when the
smoking device is in an upright orientation, the capsules are arranged one above the other)
inside first receptacle 53, and used capsules are housed in a stacked configuration inside
second acle 52. Typically, a spring 46 and a pushing element 47 are coupled to a
bottom of first receptacle 53. The spring and pushing element are configured to maintain
the stacked configuration of the capsules inside the first receptacle by pushing the capsules
toward the top of the first receptacle within the reloading unit. For some applications, by
storing the capsules in stacked configurations, dimensions of the width and depth of g
device 20 may be such that the smoking device can be comfortably held by a user (e.g.,
within a single hand of the user) or carried in the user's pocket.
For some applications, capsules 29 have circular cross-sections, and receptacles 52
and 53 define cylindrical tubes that house the capsules. Alternatively, capsules 29 may have
a ent shape, and receptacles 52 and 53 may define hollow spaces that are shaped so as
to conform with the shapes of the capsules. For example, as shown in Fig. 4A, the capsules
may have a racetrack-shaped cross section.
lly, the capsule-loading mechanism 56 is ured to (a) individually
transfer unused capsules from first receptacle 53 inside ing unit 22 to vaporization
location 54 (Fig. 6) inside vaporizing unit 21, at which location the capsule is heated such
as to ze the active ingredient of the plant material, and (b) to individually transfer used
capsules from the vaporization location to second receptacle 52 located inside reloading unit
22.
For some applications, vaporizing unit 21 is configured to become coupled to
ing unit 22, such that the top of receptacle 53 and the top of acle 52 inside
reloading unit 22, and vaporization location 54 (Fig. 6) inside vaporizing unit 21, are linearly
aligned with each other (for example, across the width of the smoking device, as shown in
Figs. 9A-C). For some such ations, capsule-loading mechanism 56 is a linear capsuleloading
mechanism, configured to move each of the capsules by moving linearly. The
capsule-loading mechanism is configured to push unused capsules from receptacle 53 to
vaporization location 54 (Fig. 6) at which location the capsule is heated, and from the
vaporization location to second receptacle 52 inside reloading unit 22.
As described above, for some applications, receptacle 53 of reloading unit 22
houses pushing element 47 and spring 46, which is coupled to the pushing element. For
some applications, an upper capsule stopper 50 is used in the upper part of receptacle 53.
The upper capsule stopper 50 is ured to limit the upmost position of the upper capsule
of the stack within acle 53, such that the upper capsule is prevented from blocking or
disturbing the nt of capsule-loading mechanism 56.
For some ations, a capsule-loading button 23 is used in order to linearly move
capsule-loading mechanism 56. Alternatively or additionally, capsule-loading mechanism
56 is configured to be moved by an ical motor (not shown) that is controlled by control
circuitry inside reloading unit 22.
Reference is now made to Figs. 8A and 9A, which schematically illustrate capsuleloading
mechanism 56 in its initial rest stage, in accordance with some applications of the
present invention. At this stage, springs 42 apply force to a capsule-engagement plate 44 of
capsule-loading mechanism 56, causing plate 44 to be located at the beginning of its linear
travel path (at the right-most position, as shown in Figs. 8A and 9A). At this position, the
capsule-engagement plate is ured to engage the upper-most capsule of the stack of
capsules in receptacle 53, ready for the beginning of a new capsule loading cycle.
Reference is now made to Figs. 8B and 9B, which schematically illustrate capsuleloading
mechanism 56 in a second stage of its ion, during the g of an unused
capsule from the top of receptacle 53 inside reloading unit 22, into the vaporization location
54 (Fig. 6) inside vaporizing unit 21. For some applications, in order to reload a new unused
capsule into the vaporizing unit 21, button 23 is pressed downwards by the user. For some
such applications, button 23 is coupled to a pinion circular gear 43, and the button is
configured such that, when button 23 is d by the user, its linear rds motion
turns the pinion circular gear 43. For some such applications, a rack linear gear 49 is
disposed on capsule-engagement plate 44, and is configured to engage pinion circular gear
43, such that circular movement of pinion circular gear 43 is transformed into a linear motion
of capsule-engagement plate 44 from its initial position towards the vaporization location
54 (Fig. 6) inside vaporizing unit 21. The mentioned movement of capsuleengagement
plate 44 pushes the upper-most unused capsule within receptacle 53 into the
vaporization location 54 (Fig. 6) inside vaporizing unit 21. In some cases, a used capsule
51 from a us vaporization is positioned in the vaporization location prior to the
reloading of a new unused capsule. Typically, the capsule-loading mechanism is configured
such that insertion of the unused capsule into the vaporization location by the capsule-
loading mechanism, pushes used capsule 51 out of the vaporization location toward
receptacle 52.
For some applications, as shown, pinion circular gear 43 includes a combination of
two circular gears with different radii, such as to create a transformation ratio that reduces
the downwards distance through which button 23 must be moved, in order to move capsuleengagement
plate 44 from its initial position to its end position, relative to if a single circular
gear were to be used.
Reference is now made to Figs. 8C and 9C, which schematically illustrate capsuleloading
mechanism 56 in a final stage of its operation. At this stage, as shown, button 23 is
typically fully pressed, capsule-engagement plate 44 has fully placed a new, unused capsule
into vaporization location 54 (Fig. 6), ready for g. Previously used capsule 51 is fully
emitted out of vaporizing unit 21 into receptacle 52 and springs 42 are fully compressed.
For some applications, as button 23 is released, springs 42 push capsule-engagement plate
44 back to its initial rest point (as shown in Figs. 8A and 9A). Button 23, which is coupled
to capsule-engagement plate 44 by the abovementioned rack and pinion gears, is typically
tically pushed back its initial position by the rack and pinion gears, ready for a new
capsule loading cycle.
For some applications, reloading unit 22 includes an indicator 58 (Fig. 1) that
indicates to the user how many unused capsules are housed within the ing unit 22.
For some applications, rather than the reloading unit being ured to be refilled, some
of the components of smoking device 20 are able and are transferrable to an unused
reloading unit. For example, a single vaporizing unit 21 could be used with a plurality of
ing units, each of which is configured for single use. For some applications (e.g.,
applications in which the device is used with cannabis that is administered for medicinal
es), the size of the capsules and/or the amount of plant material in each capsule that
is to be provided to a given user may be determined by a healthcare sional. In addition,
as described hereinabove, the smoking device is typically programmable, such that, for
example, only a certain dosage of the active ingredient may be released per use, per puff, or
within a given time period. In this manner, if the plant al that is used inside the
smoking device is a regulated substance (e.g., cannabis), control over the use of the
substance may be maintained. For some applications, the smoking device, the ing
unit, the vaporizing unit, and/or the capsules include identifying marks or tags (e.g., an RFID
or a barcode), such as to facilitate regulation and control of the use of the smoking device
and the capsule.
For some applications, reloading unit 22 does not include receptacle 52, and
previously used capsules are ejected from the vaporization on out of the vaporizing
unit without being stored inside the reloading unit. For some applications, button 23 and
circular gear 43 are not used and an electrical motor is coupled to capsule-engagement plate
44, such as to generate the linear movement for capsule loading. For some applications, a
ent type of capsule-loading mechanism is used, mutatis mutandis. For example, a
capsule-loading ism may be used that is generally similar to any one of the capsule-
transfer mechanisms as described in WO 16/147188 to an, which is incorporated
herein by reference.
Reference is now made to Fig. 10, which is a graph with respective curves illustrating
respective techniques for heating plant material using a vaporizer, such as vaporizing unit
21, in accordance with some applications of the present invention. The x-axis of the graph
indicates normalized airflow rate (measured as a percentage), and the y-axis indicates the
ature red in degrees Celsius) to which a capsule that contains a plant material
is heated at a given airflow rate. Typically, the airflow rate percentage is measured with
reference to a l w rate that a typical user would generate by ng from the
vaporizer. By way of example, the airflow rate may be measured as a percentage of an
airflow rate of between 0.8 and 1.2 liters per minute.
As described hereinabove, for some applications, vaporizing unit 21 is used to
vaporize active ients within tobacco. Tobacco typically has a vaporization
temperature of 150 to 230 degrees Celsius, and begins to become pyrolyzed at 250 degrees
Celsius. Therefore, it is typically desirable to heat the o to a temperature of between
150 degrees Celsius and 230 degrees Celsius. Further lly, it is desirable not to heat
the tobacco to a temperature that is greater than 230 degrees Celsius, in order to prevent
pyrolysis of the o. Typically, when the vaporizer is used with materials other than
tobacco, similar considerations are able, gh the desired temperature to which
the material should be heated will vary depending on the characteristics of the material that
is being used with the vaporizing unit.
Mouthfullness is an attribute that smokers refer to that relates to the texture and feel
of tobacco smoke in the mouth. While smoking a combustible cigarette, the combustion
speed, and therefore the amount and density of the generated smoke are directly related to
airflow rate through the cigarette. By controlling of inhalation rate, cigarette smokers can
adjust the mouthfullness according to their personal taste and preferences.
For some applications, the feeling of mouthfullness is at least partially replicated
when using a vaporizer (for example, vaporizing unit 21) by g the plant material within
the capsule as a function of airflow rate through the vaporizer (for example, air flow through
capsule 29 shown in Fig. 6), which is indicative of the inhalation rate of the user. Typically,
this enables the user to have control over at least some of the properties of the generated
active ingredient vapors.
For some materials (for example, tobacco and cannabis), increasing the temperature
of the capsule causes an increase in the vaporization rate of the active ingredient, with more
vapors being emitted as temperature is set higher. For some als, increase of
vaporization temperature influences the taste of the ted vapors. Some materials (for
example, various types of tobacco), when heated to the lower end of their vaporization
temperature range, emit light tasted vapors, and when heated to higher atures within
their vaporization temperature range, generate vapors having a different taste, e.g., more
heavy, rich, woody, or smoked.
For some applications, the plant material is initially heated to a temperature point at
the lower end of the vaporization ature range of the plant material. The ature
is then increased within the vaporization temperature range ing to a function of the
detected inhalation air flow through the vaporizer (e.g., through the capsule of the
vaporizer), with the maximum temperature to which the capsule is heated typically being
limited, in order not to exceed plant material's pyrolysis temperature. For some ations,
the plant al is heated to a lower temperature when lower airflow rate is ed and
to a higher temperature when a high airflow rate is detected. For example, the temperature
to which the capsule is heated may be increased in direct proportion to increases in the
normalized airflow through the vaporizer, as denoted by the solid curve in Fig. 10. Also,
as shown by the solid curve of Fig. 10, for some applications, when the capsule is heated to
a pre-defined maximal temperature (of imately 230 degrees Celsius, as shown in Fig.
10), onal heating is withheld, e.g., to avoid reaching the pyrolysis temperature of the
plant material.
For some applications, the capsule containing the plant material is initially heated to
a temperature point below the lower end of the vaporization temperature range of the plant
material. When little to no air flows through the capsule, the sub-vaporization temperature
of the plant material will prevent the vaporization of the active ingredient. Upon detection
of an increase in airflow rate, the control circuitry rapidly increases the temperature of the
plant al to a point within the vaporization temperature range of the plant material. On
ion of an onal increase in tion air flow, the capsule temperature is adjusted
according to the ed airflow rate.
For some applications, in response to ing a first input at the vaporizer (e.g., in
response to the user pressing an ON switch on the vaporizer), the control circuitry of the
vaporizer initiates a pre-heating step. Typically, the pre-heating step is a rapid g step
(e.g., a heating step in which the capsule that contains the plant material is heated at a rate
of more than 50 degrees Celsius per second, or more than 100 degrees Celsius per second).
Further typically, the control circuitry of the vaporizer is configured to terminate the first
heating step, by withholding causing further temperature increase of the capsule, in response
to detecting that the temperature of the capsule (which is indicative of the temperature of the
plant material) has reached a pre-defined first temperature. lly, the first temperature
is more than 80 percent and less than 120 percent of the low end of the plant material
vaporization range, e.g., more than 90 percent and less than 110 percent, or more than 85
percent and less than 95 percent, or more than 105 percent and less than 115 percent of the
low end of the used active ient vaporization temperature range. For example, when
the vaporizer is used to vaporize o, the l circuitry of the vaporizer may be
configured to withhold causing further temperature increase of the capsule, in response to
detecting that the temperature of the capsule has reached a termined temperature that
is less than 170 degrees Celsius (e.g., less than 150 degrees Celsius), e.g., a temperature that
is between 120 and 130 degrees Celsius, or between 130 and 140 degrees s. For some
applications, in se to the detection of airflow through the plant material, the plant
material's temperature is increased at a rate of between 0.5 to 10 degrees Celsius per percent
of airflow rate increase, e.g., a temperature increase of 0.5 to 2 degrees Celsius, 2 to 8
degrees Celsius, or 5 to 10 s Celsius per percent of airflow rate increase.
For some ations, to enable the performing of airflow rate d heating of the
plant material, the vaporizer (for example vaporizing unit 21) is configured to enable fast
heating of the plant material in order to rapidly adjust the temperature of the plant material
to changes in the airflow rate during the inhalation, for example, to enable a temperature
increase of more than 20 degrees Celsius per second (e.g., more than 50 or more than 100
degrees Celsius per second). For some applications, the target ature to which the
plant material is heated is dynamically updated in order to adjust the vaporization
temperature and vaporization rate according to the desired smoking profile of the user. For
some applications, the target temperature to which the plant al is heated is dynamically
updated in a continuous manner. For some applications, the capsule is heated to a target a
temperature that is derived as a continuous function of the detected airflow rate. For
example, the uous function may be a polynomial function, a monotonically sing
function, a monotonically decreasing function. Alternatively, the target temperature to
which the plant material is heated is dynamically updated on a puff-by-puff basis, i.e., with
each inhalation of the user, the control ty ates a target temperature to which the
capsule should be heated for that inhalation. For some applications, the control circuity
detects that the user is starting to inhale from the vaporizing unit by receiving an input via a
user interface located on the reloading unit or the vaporizing unit. Alternatively or
additionally, the control circuity detects that the user is starting to inhale from the vaporizing
unit by detecting the temperature of the capsule, and/or by detecting an indication of an
amount of energy required to maintain the temperature of the capsule constant.
For some applications, the control circuitry of the vaporizer calculates the airflow
rate through the capsule by measuring the ical power needed to maintain the capsule
that houses the plant al at a desired ature. In order to enable the use of this
que for airflow measurement, the plant material is typically initially heated to a
temperature that is above the ambient air temperature, for example to 50 degrees Celsius or
more (as shown by the dashed curve in Fig. 10), or to120 degrees Celsius or more (as shown
by the solid curve in Fig. 10). Typically, once the e has been heated above the
ambient temperature and ambient air is then made to flow through the capsule by the user
ng, the ical power needed to maintain the capsule at a given ature is related
to airflow rate and the temperature gradient between the capsule and the flowing ambient
air. Therefore, the control circuity is configured to determine the w rate based upon
the current temperature of the capsule, and the electrical power needed to maintain the
capsule at the temperature. For example, the control circuitry may measure the electrical
power needed to maintain the capsule at the temperature by detecting variations in the duty
cycle that is used to heat the capsule. For some applications, the temperature of the capsule
is not held constant, and the control circuitry determines the airflow rate through the capsule
at least partially based upon measured changes in temperature of the capsule resulting from
changes in airflow rate through the e. For example, the control circuitry may continue
to heat the capsule at a fixed power, and measure the changes in temperature of the capsule.
Typically, such changes in temperature are indicative of the airflow rate through the e.
Alternatively, the control circuitry may stop g the capsule when the capsule is at a
given temperature, and measure changes in the temperature of the capsule. Typically, such
changes in temperature are correlated with the rate of airflow through the capsule, since the
measured change in temperature is indicative of induced heat transfer from the heated
e to the ambient air, by tion, which, in turn, is indicative of the rate of airflow
through the capsule. For some applications, the control circuitry is configured to e
ambient temperature and/or humidity in order to calculate w rate in accordance with
the technique described herein. Typically, in order to calculate the airflow rate, the control
circuitry accounts for the difference between the temperature of the e (and therefore
the plant material), and the ambient temperature.
For some applications, ons are used to ine the target temperature to
which the capsule is heated, based upon the detected airflow rate indication, according to
the material in use, the desired user experience or any other nt factor. For some
applications, in addition to airflow rate ement, inputs are received by the control
circuitry from additional sources, in order to determine the target temperature to which to
heat the capsule. For example, as described hereinabove, the l try may be
configured to classify a capsule as a given capsule type, and to control the heating of the
e based upon a heating profile that is specifically suited to that capsule type. For
example, different types of capsules may have different airflow-rate-to-target-capsuletemperature
profiles applied to them. For example, one type of capsule may follow a profile
as indicated by the solid curve of Fig. 10, another e type may follow a profile as
indicated by the dashed curve of Fig. 10, and yet another capsule type may follow a profile
as indicated by the dotted curve of Fig. 10. For some applications, a user inputs a desired
heating profile, for example, using user interface 10 (shown in Fig. 3).
For some applications, by performing the heating of the capsule in the airflow related
process described hereinabove, one or more of the following results are ed:
1) When smoking a traditional combustion cigarette, an increase in the user's
inhalation rate ses generated smoke due to intensification of cigarette flame. In
addition, the temperature of the inhaled smoke is typically greater. Therefore, for some
applications, the target temperature to which the capsule is heated is correlated to airflow
rate (which is indicative of user inhalation rate), in order to simulate the burning of a
traditional cigarette as described above. As described hereinabove, typically the capsule is
not heated above a predefined maximal temperature limit (which is typically less than 90
t of the pylorization temperature of the plant material). Typically, the predefined
maximal temperature limit is set such that the plant material is not heated to a temperature
that is greater than the sis ature of the plant material, and/or such that the plant
material is not heated to a ature that will produce smoke and/or a bad taste. By
dynamically adjusting the target vaporization temperature as described hereinabove, the
taste and "mouthfullness" of the generated vapors are adjusted according to user's individual
taste and preferences. For e, users that prefer a long and slow inhalation will t
from receiving a constant slow supply of the vaporized active ient, due to the
relatively lower vaporization temperature that will be generated by the lower airflow rate of
the slow inhalation. On the other end, users that prefer a faster and more intense release of
the active ingredient will enjoy the higher rate of active ingredient vaporization rate that will
result from the higher vaporization temperature to which the plant material is , due to
their elevated inhalation airflow rate.
2) Dynamically adjusting the target temperature to which the plant material is heated
as described hereinabove, may provide higher efficiency in the consumption rate of the plant
material. For example, users that prefer taking l relatively short puffs will not suffer
from loss of plant material between the short puffs, since the control circuitry will lower the
target temperature to which the capsule is heated between the puffs.
3) Dynamically adjusting the target temperature to which the capsule is heated as
bed hereinabove, may reduce loss of active ingredient prior to the beginning of user
inhalation. The lack of airflow prior to the user's inhalation will result in the target
temperature to which the capsule is heated being relatively low, such as to reduce
vaporization of active ingredient prior to user inhalation.
4) In some cases, a delivery of a constant dose of the active ingredient is desired on
every puff. For a given arrangement of plant material, the mass of the active ingredient that
is zed is a function of, at least, the temperature of the material and of the airflow rate
h the material. For some applications, an airflow-related heating process is used as
described hereinabove, and the control circuitry responds to the measured airflow indication,
such as to deliver a constant dose of the active ingredient for each puff of the vaporizing
unit. For example, a function may be used in accordance with which the vaporization
temperature is reduced in response to the airflow increasing.
) For some applications, the control circuitry onally accounts for the amount
of active ingredient that has already been vaporized from the portion of the plant material
that is currently being heated (which may, for example, be a portion of the plant al
that is disposed inside a capsule). For example, in some cases, based on the rates of airflow
and temperatures that have y been applied to the capsule that is currently being heated,
the control circuitry may determine an amount of the active ingredient that has already been
vaporized. For some applications, the control try ines the target temperature to
which to heat the capsule, in response to the amount of active ingredient that has already
been vaporized. For some applications, the control try determines the target
temperature to which to heat the capsule, in se to (a) the amount of active ingredient
that has already been vaporized, as well as (b) the current measured airflow through the
vaporizing unit (e.g., through the plant al that is being heated within the vaporizing
unit). For example, for a given airflow rate, the control circuitry may heat the e to a
greater temperature, the r the amount of the active ingredient that has already been
vaporized. This may be because, once a given amount of the active ingredient has already
been vaporized from the plant material, the plant material may need to be heated to a greater
temperature in order for the remaining active ingredient to be vaporized. For some
applications, in response to determining that a given amount of the active ingredient has
already been released from the plant material, the control circuitry may be configured to
reduce the temperature of the plant material to a sub-vaporization temperature, such as to
withhold additional vaporization of active ient.
For some applications, in response to the detected rate of air flow through the
vaporizer, the control try calculates the dosage of the active substance that has been
provided to the user. For some applications (e.g., when the zer is used with cannabis
for nal es), a healthcare professional inputs instructions into the control
circuitry that control the amount of airflow through the vaporizer that is permitted during
each use of the vaporizer, and/or the amount of airflow h the vaporizer that is
permitted within a given time period (e.g., per hour, or per day, or per puff). Alternatively
or additionally, the control circuitry may control the heating rate per unit airflow rate, as
described hereinabove. For example, in order to deliver a nt dose of active ingredient
to the user, the control circuitry may be configured to decrease the temperature to which the
capsule is heated, in response to detecting an increase in the airflow, as indicated by the
dotted curve in Fig. 10. For some applications, the se in temperature is configured to
keep a constant active ingredient vaporization rate. For some applications , the control
circuitry combines the aforementioned temperature control functionality with setting a time
limit for the heating that is d in response to each puff of the vaporizer. In this manner,
a constant dose is delivered to the user on each puff, regardless of the airflow rate of the
puff.
For some applications, in response to detecting that no inhalation has ed over
a given time period (e.g., a time period of between 0.5 seconds and 3 seconds), the
temperature of the capsule is reduced to below the vaporization temperature of the plant
material. For example, during use of the vaporizer, the user may stop ng for a given
time period, due to coughing, and/or due to irritation caused by the active ingredient. By
reducing the temperature to below the vaporization temperature, wastage of the plant
ingredient during this period is reduced.
Referring again to Fig. 10, for some applications a heating profile is applied as
indicated by the solid curve. For e , n approximately 0 w rate percentage
units and 70 airflow rate tage units the control circuitry causes the temperature of the
e to be modified along a temperature range of 120 to 230 degrees Celsius. This is
performed by detecting the current inhalation airflow rate and adjusting the temperature
according to the curve. From approximately 70 airflow rate percentage units to 100 airflow
rate tage units, the capsule maintains a maximal temperature of 230 degrees Celsius.
More generally between 0 airflow and a given airflow rate, the control circuitry may control
the temperature of the e in proportion to the airflow rate, up to a maximum
temperature. For some applications, the maximal temperature is between 200 degrees
Celsius and 230 degrees Celsius. Beyond the given airflow rate, the control circuitry
typically maintains the capsule at the maximum temperature even if the w rate
For some applications, a heating profile is applied as indicated by dashed curve in
Fig. 10. For example , between 0 w rate percentage units and a first given airflow rate
(e.g., 20 airflow rate percentage units, as shown in Fig. 10) the control circuitry may increase
the temperature of the capsule in response to the increases in airflow rate, at a first rate.
Between the first given airflow rate and a second given airflow rate (e.g., 70 airflow rate
percentage units, as shown in Fig. 10), the control circuitry may increase the temperature of
the capsule in response to the increases in airflow rate, at a second rate. For some
applications, the second rate is lower than the first rate, i.e., at the second rate, the
temperature increase in response to a given rise in airflow rate is less than the temperature
increase that is d in response to the same airflow rate rise, at the first rate. For some
applications, beyond the second given airflow rate, the capsule is maintained at a given
maximum temperature (e.g., a temperature of 230 degrees Celsius), even if the airflow rate
increases.
As described hereinabove, for some applications, a heating profile is applied as
indicated by dotted curve in Fig. 10. For such applications, in response to an se in the
airflow rate, the ature to which the capsule is heated by the control circuitry is
reduced.
Reference is now made to Fig. 11, which is a graph illustrating the heating curves of
capsules that include change materials, in accordance with some applications of the
present invention. As described hereinabove, for some applications, in order to enable the
identification of the capsule type, use is made of the vaporizing unit's built-in temperature
sensor, in combination with change materials that are configured to have respective
phase-change temperatures being included within respective capsule types.
The solid curve in Fig. 11 represents the heating curve of a capsule that includes or
is lly coupled to a phase-change material with a change temperature of 85
degrees Celsius. As shown , when applying heat at a constant predefined power to the
capsule, the temperature of the capsule rises in proportion with the heating power that is
d. When reaching the change material's phase-change temperature of 85
degrees s (at 150 milliseconds), a large amount of energy in the form of latent heat is
accumulated by the phase-change material at a relatively constant temperature, resulting in
a detectable pause in the temperature increase of the capsule. For some applications, by
detecting the temperature level at which the temporary pause in the temperature increase
occurs, the control circuitry classifies the capsule as being a given type of e and adjusts
the heating profile and/or other relevant functions accordingly. At a certain point in time,
when the change material has undergone its phase change, the temperature of the
capsule continues to rise due to the applied heat energy, as seen on the solid curve of Fig.
11 after 200 milliseconds.
The dotted curve in Fig. 11 represents the heating curve of a capsule that includes or
is lly coupled to a phase-change al with a phase-change transition temperature
of 105 s Celsius. The heating curve of the capsule is lly similar to that
bed with reference to the solid curve, but the temperature level at which the temporary
pause in the temperature increase occurs is at a higher ature of 105 degrees Celsius.
The dashed curve in Fig. 11 represents the heating curve of a capsule that includes
or is thermally coupled to a combination of a plurality of different phase-change materials,
in accordance with some applications of the present ion. For some applications, the
phase-change materials are mixed with each other, or are thermally coupled to each other
without being mixed. The dashed curve of Fig. 11 shows an example in which three phasechange
materials are used, the materials having phase-change transition temperatures of 65,
85 and 105 degrees Celsius. The heating curve of the capsule is generally similar to that
described with reference to the solid curve, but due to the use of phase-change materials
with three different phase-change transition temperatures, the heating curve will include
three pauses in the temperature increase, each one due to its respective change
material reaching its phase changing temperature. By detecting the presence of a pause in
temperature increase at pre-defined temperatures, information regarding the type of capsule
is coded into the capsule and read by the control circuitry without necessarily requiring the
use of a dedicated sensor within vaporizing unit 21, in addition to temperature sensor 35.
In this manner, the use of a combination of phase-change materials, each with a different
phase changing transition temperature, facilitates a coding method, which is used by the
control circuitry for identification of the heated substance.
For some applications, the capsules are used with a phase-change temperature of the
phase-change material is higher than 50 s Celsius and/or lower than 150 s
Celsius, e.g., 50 to 150 s Celsius, or 80 to 120 degrees s. For some applications,
the phase-change material is thermally coupled to the plant material. For example, the
phase-change material may be mixed with the plant material. For some applications, sheets
of the change material partially or fully cover the plant material.
Reference is now made to Fig. 12A, which is a graph illustrating respective
techniques for heating plant material using a vaporizer, such as vaporizing unit 21, in
accordance with some applications of the present invention. The x-axis of the graph
indicates time (measured in arbitrary time , and the y-axis indicates the temperature
red in degrees s) of a capsule that contains a plant material (and therefore
indicates the temperature of the plant material within the capsule), as described .
As described hereinabove, for some applications, a vaporizer (such as vaporizing
unit 21) is used to ze active ingredients within cannabis. Cannabis lly has a
vaporization temperature of 180 degrees Celsius, and begins to become pyrolyzed at 220
degrees Celsius. Therefore, it is typically desirable to heat the cannabis to a temperature of
between 190 degrees Celsius and 210 degrees Celsius. The upper and lower boundaries of
the desired temperature range to which to heat cannabis are denoted on the graph of Fig.
12A, by the two solid horizontal lines at 190 degrees Celsius and 210 degrees Celsius.
r typically, it is desirable not to heat the cannabis to a temperature that is greater than
the described temperature, in order to prevent pyrolysis of the cannabis. Typically, when
the vaporizer is used with plant als other than cannabis (e.g., o), similar
considerations are able, although the desired temperature to which the plant material
should be heated will vary depending on the characteristics of the plant material that is being
used with the vaporizer.
One possible way of heating the plant material to the desired temperature is via
gradual heating, as denoted by the dashed diagonal line, which shows the plant material
being heated to the desired ature over a period of more than 8 time units. Another
le way to heat the plant material is via rapid heating, as denoted by the dotted curve
in Fig. 12A. Typically, if the plant material is heated rapidly, then initially there is an
overshoot in the temperature to which the plant material is heated. For example, this may
be because there is a time lag between when the plant material reaches the d
temperature and when the control circuitry detects that the desired temperature has been
reached and withholds causing further temperature increase of the plant material in response
to the detected temperature. This is indicated in Fig. 12A, which shows that the dotted curve
initially rises above 220 degrees Celsius, before plateauing within the desired temperature
range. Due to the overshooting, some of the plant material may become pyrolyzed.
In accordance with some applications of the present invention, a age heating
process is applied to plant material within a vaporizer, e.g., as ted by the solid curve
shown in Fig. 12A. Typically, in response to receiving a first input at the v aporizer (e.g., in
response to the user pressing an ON switch on the vaporizer), the control circuitry of the
zer initiates a first heating step. Typically, the first heating step is a rapid heating step
(e.g., a heating step in which the capsule that contains the plant material is heated at a rate
of more than 50 degrees Celsius per second, or more than 100 degrees Celsius per second).
Further typically, the control circuitry of the vaporizer is ured to terminate the first
heating step, by withholding causing further temperature increase of the capsule, in response
to detecting that the temperature of the e (which is tive of the temperature of the
plant material) has d a first temperature. Typically, the first temperature is less than
95 percent, e.g., less than 90 percent, or less than 80 percent, of the vaporization temperature
of the plant al. For example, when the vaporizer is used to vaporize cannabis, the
control circuitry of the vaporizer may be configured to withhold causing further temperature
increase of the capsule, in response to detecting that the temperature of the capsule has
reached a first temperature that is less than 170 degrees s (e.g., less than 160 degrees
Celsius), e.g., a temperature that is n 140 and 170 degrees Celsius, or between 150
and 160 degrees Celsius.
By configuring the control circuitry to ate the first, rapid heating stage as
described above, even if there is overshoot, and the temperature of the capsule rises above
the temperature at which the first heating stage was programmed to be ated, the
temperature of the capsule will typically still not rise above the pyrolysis temperature of the
plant material. For example, as shown in Fig. 12A, the control circuitry has been configured
to ld causing further temperature increase of the capsule in response to detecting that
the ature of the capsule has reached approximately 160 degrees Celsius. Initially (at
imately 1 time unit), there is an overshoot, and the ature of the capsule reaches
approximately 180 degrees Celsius. However, the temperature of the capsule then reaches
a plateau of approximately 160 degrees Celsius, at about 2 time units. For some applications,
the control circuitry of the vaporizer tes an output to the user to indicate that the first
stage of the heating has terminated. For example, the control circuitry may illuminate an
indicator light, may cause the vaporizer to vibrate, and/or may emit an audio signal (e.g., a
beep).
Subsequently, in response to a second input to the vaporizer, the control circuitry of
the vaporizer tes a second heating step (shown, on the solid curve in Fig. 12A, to begin
at approximately 4 time units). Typically, between the end of the first stage of the g
process, and the initiation of the second stage of the heating process, the control circuitry
maintains the temperature of the capsule at the first temperature. For some applications, the
second stage of the heating is ted automatically in response to tion of air from
the vaporizer by a user. Alternatively, the second stage of the heating process may be
initiated in response to a ent input by the user (e.g., the user pressing the ON button a
second time). Further alternatively, the second stage of the heating process may be initiated
automatically after the first stage of heating is te, and an indication (such as an
indicator light, a vibration, and/or an audio signal (e.g., a beep)) may be generated to indicate
to the user to start tion when the target temperature for the second heating stage has
been reached.
During the second heating step, the l circuitry typically heats the capsule at a
slower rate than during the first stage of the heating process. For example, during the second
stage of the heating process, the meshes of the capsules of the vaporizer may be heated at a
rate of less than 50 degrees Celsius per second, e.g., less than 40 degrees Celsius per second.
As shown in Fig. 12A, during the second stage of the heating process (from 4 time units to
6 time units) the capsule is heated from approximately 160 degrees Celsius to 200 degrees
Celsius.
In the second stage of the heating process, the control circuitry is configured to
ld causing further temperature increase of the capsule in response to detecting that
the temperature of the capsule is between the zation temperature of the plant material
and the pyrolysis temperature of the plant material. For example, when the vaporizer is used
to vaporize cannabis, the control circuitry of the vaporizer is configured to withhold causing
further temperature increase of the capsule, in response to detecting that the temperature of
the capsule has reached a second temperature that is more than 180 degrees s (e.g.,
more than 190 degrees Celsius), and/or less than 220 degrees Celsius (e.g., less than 210
degrees Celsius), e.g., a temperature that is between 180 and 220 degrees Celsius, or n
190 and 210 degrees Celsius.
For some applications, by performing the heating in the two-stage process described
hereinabove, one or more of the following results are achieved:
1) By terminating the first (rapid) stage of the heating in response to the temperature
of the capsule reaching less than 95 percent of the vaporization temperature, even if the
heating overshoots, the plant material is not pyrolyzed, since the plant material is not heated
to a ature that is greater than the pyrolysis temperature.
2) Since the second stage of the heating is performed slowly, there is ible
overshooting in the second stage of the heating process, and therefore the plant material does
not get pyrolyzed in the second stage of the heating process.
3) Since, during the first stage of the heating, the plant material has already been
heated to a temperature that is relatively close the vaporization temperature, even though the
second stage of the heating is slow, the time that is required to heat the plant al to the
vaporization temperature, from the initiation of the second heating stage, is relatively short
(e.g., less than two seconds).
4) Due to low heat conduction of the plant material, if the plant material is heated
y, this can give rise to non-uniform heating of the plant material. This can cause
portions of the plant material that are near to the heating element(s) (e.g., the electrode(s))
to be pyrolyzed, and/or ns of the plant material that are further from the g
element(s) not to be vaporized. By withholding further heating of the plant al after
the first ature has been reached, and until the second input is received, heat is able to
dissipate through the plant material (during the interim period between the first and second
heating ) before any portion of the plant material has been heated to the vaporization
temperature. Furthermore, since the temperature increase during the second stage is
relatively small, the temperature se is able to ate through the plant material
relatively quickly. Thus, relatively uniform heating of the plant material is achieved, such
that most of the active ingredient within the plant material is vaporized, while there is
substantially no pyrolysis of the plant material.
For some ations, inhalation from the vaporizer by the user is automatically
detected by the control circuitry. After the first stage of the heating, there is typically a large
difference n the ambient temperature and the temperature of the capsule that contains
the plant material. As described hereinabove, between the end of the first stage of the
heating process, and the tion of the second stage of the heating process, the control
circuitry maintains the temperature of the capsule at the first temperature. Since there is a
large difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the e, the
energy that is required to in the capsule (and the plant material therein) at a constant
temperature is greater when the user is inhaling from the vaporizer than when the user is not
inhaling. Therefore, for some applications, the control try detects that the user is
inhaling from the vaporizer by detecting an indication of an amount of energy that is required
to maintain the temperature of the capsule (and the plant material therein) constant. For
example, the control circuitry may detect variations in the duty cycle that is used to heat the
capsule (and the plant material therein). Alternatively or additionally, the control try
may tically detect that the user is inhaling from the vaporizer by directly detecting
the temperature of the capsule. Since, after the first stage of the g, there is a large
difference between the t temperature and the temperature of the capsule, airflow
through the capsule may cause a measurable change in the temperature of the capsule. As
described hereinabove, for some ations, the second stage of the heating process is
initiated automatically in response to detecting inhalation from the vaporizer by the user.
For some applications, in response to detecting that no inhalation has occurred over
a given time period (e.g., a time period of between 0.5 seconds and 3 seconds), the
temperature of the capsule is reduced to below the vaporization ature of the plant
material. For e, during use of the vaporizer, the user may stop inhaling for a given
time period, due to coughing, and/or due to irritation caused by the plant material. By
reducing the temperature to below the vaporization temperature, wastage of the active
ingredient during this period is d, such that the user is able to receive the prescribed
dosage of the active ingredient.
As indicated by the solid curve in Fig. 12A, between approximately 8 time units and
time units the control circuitry causes the temperature of the capsule to be lowered to
below the vaporization temperature. This may be performed in response to detecting that
no tion has occurred over a given time period (as described above), and/or in
response to a user input (e.g., in response to the user pressing a button). From approximately
10 time units to 13 time units, the capsule is heated back to the vaporization temperature.
This may be performed in se to detecting that inhalation has resumed and/or in
response to a user input (e.g., in response to the user pressing a button). Between
approximately 15 time units and 17 time units the control circuitry again causes the
temperature of the capsule to be lowered to below the vaporization temperature. This may
be performed in response to detecting that no inhalation has occurred over a given time
period, and/or in response to a user input (e.g., in response to the user pressing a button).
Reference is now made to Fig. 12B, which is a graph illustrating a technique for
heating plant material using a vaporizer, in accordance with some applications of the present
ion. For some applications, a three-stage (or three-step) heating process is applied to
plant material within a vaporizer. The second two stages of the heating s are generally
r to those described with reference to the solid curve shown in Fig. 12A. (With respect
to Fig. 12B, these stages are referred to, respectively, as the second and third heating stages.)
For some ations, an additional, initial stage of heating is applied, in order to remove
humidity from the plant material, as shown in Fig. 12B. For example, when the vaporizer
is being used with cannabis, the vaporizer may apply the following three heating stages to
the cannabis:
1) Heating to a first temperature that is typically more than 90 degrees Celsius (e.g.,
more than 100 s Celsius) and/or less than 120 degrees Celsius (e.g., less than 110
degrees Celsius, e.g., between 90 degrees Celsius and 120 degrees Celsius (or between 100
and 110 degrees Celsius). For some applications, the plant material is maintained at
approximately the first temperature (e.g., the first temperature plus/minus 5 degrees Celsius)
for a given time period, for example, in order to remove humidity from the plant material.
In Fig. 12B, the first g stage is shown as being initiated at approximately 28 seconds.
Initially, the ature oots, but then is shown to plateau at between approximately
95 degrees Celsius and 105 degrees Celsius. For some applications, the plant material is
maintained at approximately the first temperature for a time period of more than 5 seconds,
e.g., n 5 and 60 seconds (e.g., approximately 25 seconds, as shown in Fig. 12B).
Typically, the first heating step is a rapid heating step (e.g., a g step in which the
e that contains the plant material is heated at a rate of more than 50 degrees s
per second, or more than 100 degrees Celsius per second). Further typically, the l
circuitry of the vaporizer is configured to withhold causing further temperature se of
the capsule, in response to detecting that the temperature of the capsule (which is indicative
of the ature of the plant material) has reached the first temperature.
2) Heating to a second temperature that is typically more than 140 degrees Celsius
(e.g., more than 150 degrees Celsius), and/or less than 170 degrees Celsius (e.g., less than
160 degrees Celsius), e.g., between 140 and 170 s s (or between 150 and 160
degrees Celsius). This corresponds to the first heating stage shown by the solid curve in Fig.
12A. In Fig. 12B, this stage is shown as being initiated at imately 63 seconds.
lly, the temperature overshoots, but then is shown to plateau at between approximately
145 degrees Celsius and 155 degrees Celsius. For some ations, the plant material is
maintained at approximately the second temperature (e.g., the second temperature
plus/minus 5 degrees Celsius) for a given time period. For example, the plant material may
be maintained at the second temperature for a time period of more than 5 s, e.g.,
between 5 seconds and 7 minutes.
For some applications, the plant material is maintained at approximately the second
temperature for a time period that is sufficient to cause decarboxylation of the cannabis, i.e.,
to convert Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid (THCA) that is present in the cannabis to
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and/or to convert Cannabidiolic Acid (CBDa) to Cannabidiol
(CBD). For some applications, maintaining the plant material at the second ature
causes the decarboxylation of the cannabis in accordance with an article by Dussy et al.,
entitled "Isolation of Delta9-THCA-A from hemp and ical aspects concerning the
determination of Delta9-THC in cannabis products (Forensic Sci Int. 2005 Apr 20;149(1):3-
10), which is incorporated herein by reference, and/or an e by Veress et al., entitled
"Determination of cannabinoid acids by high-performance liquid chromatography of their
neutral derivatives formed by thermal decarboxylation: I. Study of the decarboxylation
process in open reactors" (Journal of Chromatography A 520:339-347, November 1990),
which is incorporated herein by reference. For example, Fig. 12B shows the plant material
being maintained at approximately the second temperature for approximately 25 seconds.
Typically, the second g step is a rapid heating step (e.g., a heating step in which
the capsule that ns the plant material is heated at a rate of more than 50 degrees Celsius
per second, or more than 100 degrees Celsius per second). Further typically, the control
circuitry of the zer is configured to ld g further temperature increase of
the capsule, in response to detecting that the temperature of the capsule (which is indicative
of the temperature of the plant material) has reached the second temperature.
3) Heating to a third ature that is more than 180 degrees Celsius (e.g., more
than 190 degrees Celsius), and/or less than 220 degrees Celsius (e.g., less than 210 degrees
Celsius), e.g., a temperature that is between 180 and 220 degrees Celsius, or between 190
and 210 degrees Celsius. As shown in Fig. 12B, the third stage of heating is initiated at
approximately 90 seconds and ues until approximately 155 seconds.
As bed hereinabove, for some applications, the third stage of the heating
(which corresponds to the second g stage shown by the solid curve in Fig. 12A) is
initiated automatically in response to inhalation of air from the vaporizer by a user.
Alternatively, the third stage of the heating process may be initiated in response to a different
input by the user (e.g., the user pressing the ON button a second time). Further alternatively,
the third stage of the heating process may be initiated tically after the second stage
of heating is complete, and an indication (such as an indicator light, a vibration, and/or an
audio signal (e.g., a beep)) may be generated to indicate to the user to start inhalation when
the target temperature for the third heating stage has been reached. During the third g
stage, the control circuitry typically heats the e at a slower rate than during the first
and second stages of the heating process. For example, during the third stage of the heating
process, the meshes of the capsules of the vaporizer may be heated at a rate of less than 50
degrees Celsius per second, e.g., less than 40 degrees Celsius per second. In the third stage
of the heating process, the control circuitry is ured to withhold causing r
temperature se of the capsule in response to detecting that the temperature of the
capsule is between the vaporization ature of the plant material and the pyrolysis
temperature of the plant material. For example, when the vaporizer is used to vaporize
cannabis, the control circuitry of the vaporizer is configured to withhold causing further
ature increase of the capsule, in response to detecting that the temperature of the
capsule has reached a third ature that is more than 180 degrees Celsius (e.g., more
than 190 degrees Celsius), and/or less than 220 degrees Celsius (e.g., less than 210 degrees
Celsius), e.g., a temperature that is n 180 and 220 degrees Celsius, or between 190
and 210 degrees Celsius.
It is noted that, although the three-stage heating process has been described primarily
with respect to using is as the plant material, the scope of the present invention
includes applying a three-stage heating process to other plant materials (e.g., tobacco),
mutatis mutandis. The temperatures and time periods that are used in the three -stage heating
process when applied to plant als other than cannabis will vary, in accordance with
the characteristic vaporization temperatures, pylorization atures, and other chemical
characteristics of the plant materials.
Reference is now made to Figs. 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17A-17E, which are tic
illustrations of a vaporizer 260 that is configured to automatically extract a given volumetric
dose of a plant material (which, as bed hereinabove, ns an active ingredient)
from a mass 212 of the plant material that is disposed in the vaporizer (e.g., in a receptacle
224 of the vaporizer), in accordance with some applications of the present invention. Fig.
13 shows a three-dimensional view of a front side the vaporizer. Fig. 14 shows a three-
dimensional exploded view of the front side of the vaporizer. Fig. 15 shows a threedimensional
view of a rear side the vaporizer, a mouthpiece 198 of the vaporizer having
been removed. Fig. 16 shows a cross-sectional view of the vaporizer. Figs. 17A-E show
cross-sectional views of an extraction mechanism 225 of the vaporizer, at respective stages
of the operation of the extraction ism.
Typically, vaporizer 260 includes a mouthpiece 198, control circuitry 204, a battery
211, a user interface (e.g. activation button 262, and/or indication LED 264) and a cover
266, 203. Typically, the mass of plant material contains a plurality of volumetric doses of
the plant al disposed in a single body, and is not separated into volumetric doses (e.g.,
by volumetric doses being disposed inside respective, individual capsules, as described
hereinabove). For example, as shown in Fig. 18, which shows a sectional view of
receptacle 224, a cigarette 212 containing the plant material may be placed inside the
receptacle.
Vaporizer 260 typically es an tion mechanism 225. In response to a user
activating the extraction mechanism, the extraction mechanism is configured to extract a
given volumetric dose of the plant material from the mass of plant material. For example,
as shown in Figs. 16 and 17A-E, the extraction mechanism may include a button 199 that is
coupled to (or integrally formed with) a pushing surface 270, a blade tip 272 being disposed
at a bottom edge of the pushing e. For example, a blade 220 may be coupled to the
underside of an element that defines the pushing surface. When the button is pushed by the
user (or the extraction mechanism is activated in a different manner), this causes the
extraction mechanism to advance the pushing surface in a single direction (toward the left
of the page, as shown in Fig. 16), such that during advancement of the g surface, the
blade tip cuts off a given volumetric dose of the material from the mass of material and the
pushing surface pushes the volumetric dose to a surface 217 (which is typically a mesh),
which acts as a vaporization location, as described hereinabove.
As stated hereinabove, Figs. 17A-E show cross-sectional views of an extraction
mechanism 225 of the vaporizer, at respective stages of the operation of the tion
mechanism. For some applications, pushing of button 199 advances hinged wedge 214. As
shown in the transition from Fig. 17A to Fig. 17C, the advancement of the hinged wedge
causes a hinged mechanism 215 to rotate about its hinge 222, which, in turn, pushes and lifts
an upper surface 216 (which is typically a mesh). Typically, upper surface 216 and lower
surface 217 are both ured to act as heating surfaces, which are configured to apply
heat to a volumetric dose of the plant material, as bed hereinbelow. The lifting of the
upper surface causes upper surface 216 and lower surface 217 to move apart from one
another, thereby creating (or increasing) a gap between the upper and lower surface. The
opening of the gap enables pushing surface 270 to advance a volumetric dose to above the
lower surface, such that the volumetric dose is disposed between the upper and lower
surfaces. Typically, advancement of a volumetric dose into the gap between the upper and
lower surfaces causes a used volumetric dose of the plant al to be pushed out from
above the lower surface and into a waste receptacle 206.
ing now to Fig. 17D, for some applications, r pushing of button 199,
causes wedge 214 to snap off hinged mechanism 215. Subsequently, button 199 is released
by user and retracted (typically, tically by return spring 213), which in turn retracts
pushing surface 270 to its starting position, as shown in Fig. 17E. Retraction of the pushing
surface causes spring 209 to push hinged mechanism 215 toward its ng position. In
turn, this causes the upper and lower surfaces to clamp the volumetric dose n the
surfaces by ng the upper and lower es to move toward one another.
Referring again to Fig. 16, retraction of the pushing surface to its starting position,
allows a spring 210 to push the next volumetric dose of the plant material into position to be
cut by blade tip 272. For some applications, spring 210 pushes a pushing element (not
shown) against the underside of cigarette 212, which contains the plant al. As
described hereinabove, typically, the next time that the vaporizer is used, a used volumetric
dose is removed from surface 217, by the next volumetric dose pushing the used volumetric
dose off the surface, and into waste receptacle 206.
A heating element is configured to ze the at least one active ingredient of the
volumetric dose of the plant material by heating the upper and lower surfaces while the
volumetric dose is disposed between the surfaces. Typically, surface s 216 and 217 are
meshes, which are heated using control try which drives a current into the meshes, as
described hereinabove. (It is noted that control circuitry 204 such as that shown in Fig. 14 is
typically housed inside the housing of vaporizer 260.) For some applications, other
techniques for heating the plant material (e.g., as described hereinabove) are used. For some
applications, a sensor is used to monitor the temperature of the plant material. For example,
an optical temperature sensor 208 (shown in Fig. 16), e.g., an infrared temperature sensor as
described hereinabove, may be used. For some applications, a two-step process and/or a
three-step process is used for heating the plant material, as described above. For some
applications, the temperature to which the plant material is heated is dynamically ed
in response to a measured tion of the airflow rate through the plant material that is
currently being heated, in accordance with the techniques described hereinabove. For some
applications, the airflow rate may be detected by detecting the temperature of mesh 216
and/or mesh 217, in ance with the techniques described hereinabove, mutatis
mutandis.
While the active ingredient is being zed, a user typically inhales air via a
mouthpiece 198. Air enters the zer 260 through an opening 219 (Fig. 15) and passes
through the plant material as illustrated schematically by the dotted arrow in Fig. 16. Vapor
from the vaporized plant material is introduced into the air flow.
For some applications, button 199 is additionally configured to cause the vaporizer
to operate by being pushed. For example, button 199 may be ured to push against an
operating switch (not shown), by being pushed, which may cause the l circuitry to
heat the meshes using techniques as described herein.
Reference is now made to Figs. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22A-B, 23A-B, 24A-B, 25, and 26,
which are schematic illustrations of a vaporizer 226 that is configured to automatically
extract a given volumetric dose of plant material (which, as described hereinabove, contains
an active ient) from a mass of the plant material that is disposed in the vaporizer (e.g.,
in a receptacle 232 of the zer), in ance with some applications of the present
invention. Fig. 18 shows a three-dimensional front view of the vaporizer. Fig. 19 shows an
exploded three-dimensional front view of the vaporizer. Fig. 20 shows a cross-sectional
view of the vaporizer. Fig. 21 shows a three-dimensional view of an extraction mechanism
239 of the vaporizer. Figs. 22A and 22B show front and rear views of the extraction
mechanism of the vaporizer, during a first stage of the ion of the extraction
mechanism. Figs. 23A and 23B show front and rear views of the extraction mechanism of
the vaporizer, during a second stage of the operation of the extraction mechanism. Figs.
24A and 24B show front and rear views of the extraction mechanism of the vaporizer, during
a third stage of the operation of the zer. Figs. 25 and 26 are tic illustrations of
a wiping t 251 of the extraction mechanism.
Typically, vaporizer 226 includes a mouthpiece 235, control circuitry 229, a battery
(not shown), a user interface (e.g. activation button 227, and/or indication LED 228), a body
233 and a cover 234. Typically, the mass of plant material contains a plurality of volumetric
doses of the plant material disposed in a single body, and is not separated into volumetric
doses (e.g., by volumetric doses being disposed inside respective, individual capsules, as
described hereinabove). For example, as shown in Fig 20, which shows a sectional
view of receptacle 232, a cigarette 236 containing the plant al may be placed inside
the receptacle.
Vaporizer 226 typically includes an extraction mechanism 239, a three-dimensional
view of which is shown in Fig. 21. In response to a user activating the extraction mechanism
(e.g., by pushing button 227), the extraction mechanism is configured to extract a given
tric dose of the plant al from the mass of plant material. For some applications,
the tion mechanism is configured to extract the given volumetric dose of the plant
material from the mass of plant material in an automated manner, in response to a user input
(e.g., in response to the user pushing button 227). For example, as shown in Fig. 21, the
extraction ism may e a motor 237 and a grinding element 238. For some
applications, the grinding element is a gear driven feed screw, which is driven, by the motor,
to advance while rotating. The feed screw is typically configured to work in a similar
manner to an Archimedes screw or a transfer screw, whereby due to the geometry of the
screw, as the screw advances over a mass of plant material that is pressed on to the screw,
the screw grinds off plant material from the mass of plant material. In response to the
extraction mechanism being ted by the user, motor 237 is activated, causing the feed
screw to turn and to grind off a volumetric dose from the mass of plant material 82 and to
push the volumetric dose towards e 240, which is configured to act as a vaporization
location, as described hereinabove.
Extraction mechanism 239 is typically configured to advance the grinding element
along an advancement axis, in order for the grinding element to grind the plant material.
Referring to Fig. 21, for some applications, a material advancement mechanism is
configured to advance the mass of material (e.g., cigarette 236) toward the advancement axis
of the ng element, and the extraction mechanism is configured to synchronize the
advancements of the grinding element and the mass of material with one another. For
example, motor 237 may be configured, via a transmission belt to turn threaded rod 245, in
synchronization with advancing and rotating grinding element 238. Turning the threaded
rod lifts platform 246, thereby applying a force to spring 243, tte holder 244 and
cigarette 236. The application of force to cigarette 236 advances the tte toward the
axis of ement of the grinding element with a predetermined force, thereby enabling
the grinding element to grind off a volumetric dose from the mass of material.
For some applications, the vaporizer es a lower heating surface 240 (e.g., a
mesh), and an upper g surface 241 (e.g., a mesh), e.g., as shown in Fig. 20. For some
applications, the extraction mechanism is configured to move the upper and lower heating
surfaces apart from one another, thereby creating (or increasing) a gap between the upper
and lower surfaces. The opening of the gap enables grinding element 238 to advance a
volumetric dose onto the lower e, such that the volumetric dose is disposed between
the upper and lower surfaces.
With reference to Figs. 22A-B, 23A-B, and 24A-B, for some applications the
extraction mechanism creates (or increases) the gap between the upper and lower surfaces
in the following manner. Activation of motor 237 turns bevel gear 248, which in turn
advances a pushrod 249, which is attached, off center, to bevel gear 248. Upper surface 241
(Fig. 20) is defined by the underside of an element 253 that is . As shown in Figs.
22A-B, in an l stage of the operation of the extraction mechanism, the upper surface is
disposed closely above lower surface 240 (Fig. 20). As shown in Figs. 23A-B, in a second
stage of the operation of the extraction mechanism, hinged t 253, which s the
upper surface, is pushed up by a ball g or wheel 254 being pushed between a first ramp
255 (which is coupled to hinged element 253), and a second ramp 256, which is coupled to
the lower e. This creates (or increases) a gap between the upper and lower surfaces.
As shown in Figs. 24A-B, in a third stage of the operation of the extraction mechanism,
bevel gear 248 retracts pushrod 249 and ball g or wheel 254, which causes hinged
element 253 to rotate, such as to cause the upper and lower surfaces to clamp the volumetric
dose between the surfaces by the upper and lower surfaces moving to move toward each
other. For some applications, a spring (not shown) is configured to cause the hinged element
to rotate in the above-described .
Referring now to Fig. 25 and Fig. 26, for some applications, tion mechanism
239 of vaporizer 226 includes a wiping element 251 configured to wipe a used volumetric
dose of plant material (i.e., a dose that has already been heated such as to vaporize the active
ingredient) that is disposed on surface 240 and to place it in a waste acle 231 (shown
in Fig. 22). As described hereinabove, for some applications, activation of motor 237 turns
bevel gear 248, which in turn advances pushrod 249. For some applications, the pushrod is
connected to wiping element 251, and the advancement of the pushrod causes the wiping
element to advance over surface 240, such as to wipe the surface in the above-described
manner. For some ations, the wiping element is disposed on an axle 258, which passes
through wheel or ball bearing or wheel 254, as shown in Fig. 26. The axle is guided by a
rail 257 (shown in Fig. 24B), which is disposed above the rear side of surface 240. The rail
guides the axle, and thereby guides the wiping element, along the path illustrated by the
dashed arrows in Fig. 25. In a first stage o f the motion of the wiping element, as the wiping
element is ed over surface 240, the axle is guided along the lower part of rail 257.
Prior to the return of the wiping element, after completion of the wiping action and when a
new volumetric dose of the plant material is disposed on surface 240, axle 258 is guided into
the upper part of rail 257, by ramp 256 g wheel or ball bearing or wheel 254 upward.
This causes the axle to move in the return direction along the upper part of rail 257. In turn,
this causes the wiping element to follow the upper part of the path marked by dashed arrow
250 (Fig. 25). T he return of the wiping element along the upper part of path marked by
dashed arrow 250, enables the wiping element to be ed to its starting position by being
moved above the newly inserted volumetric dose (which was pushed on to the surface 240
by grinding element 238) without disturbing, or pushing back toward the grinding t,
the newly inserted tric dose.
As described hereinabove, typically, a heating element is configured to vaporize the
at least one active ingredient of the volumetric dose of the plant material by heating surface
240 and surface 241. The surfaces are lly meshes, which are heated using control
circuitry 229, which drives an electrical current into the meshes, as described hereinabove.
(It is noted that control circuitry 229 and a battery charging connector 230 such as that shown
in Fig. 19 is typically housed inside the housing of vaporizer 226.) For some applications,
other techniques for heating the plant material (e.g., as described hereinabove) are used. For
some applications, a sensor is used to monitor the temperature of the plant material. For
example, an optical temperature sensor 267 (shown in Fig. 20), e.g., an infrared temperature
sensor as described above, may be used. For some applications, a two-step process
and/or a three-step s is used for heating the plant material, as described hereinabove.
For some applications, the temperature to which the plant material is heated is dynamically
ed in response to a measured indication of the w rate through the plant al
that is tly being heated, in accordance with the techniques described hereinabove. For
some applications, the airflow rate is ed by detecting the temperature of mesh 240
and/or mesh 241, in accordance with the techniques described hereinabove, mutatis
mutandis.
While the active ingredient is being vaporized, a user typically inhales air via a
mouthpiece 235. Air enters the vaporizer 226 through an opening (not shown) and passes
through the plant material as illustrated by dotted arrow on Fig. 20. Vapor from the zed
plant material is introduced into the air flow.
It is noted that the applications described with reference to Figs. 13-26, in accordance
with which a volumetric dose of the plant al is extracted from a mass of the plant
material, may be combined with any of the applications described hereinabove with
reference to any one of the other figures, mutatis is. For example, optical
ature sensing (e.g., infrared temperature sensing), a ventilation fan (such as fan 76),
a two-step heating process, and/or a three-step heating process as described hereinabove,
may be used with the vaporizers shown in Figs. 13-26. In addition, for some ations,
the temperature to which the plant material is heated is dynamically modified in response to
a measured indication of the airflow rate through the plant material that is currently being
heated, in accordance with the techniques described hereinabove. For some applications,
the airflow rate is detected by detecting the temperature of heated meshes, in ance
with the techniques described hereinabove, mutatis mutandis.
For some applications, the vaporizers described herein include one or more of the
following elements:
For some applications, the mass of plant material is cut or partially cut to predefined
volumetric doses, in order to facilitate the extraction of volumetric doses from the mass of
material. For example, the mass of material may be in the form of a cigarette, and the rolling
paper of the cigarette may be perforated at predefined intervals. The predefined intervals at
which the rolling paper of the cigarette is perforated may be configured to correspond to the
height of a portion of the extraction mechanism that is configured to extract the volumetric
dose, e.g. the height of surface 270 (shown in Fig. 16).
For some applications, an air pump is configured to drive air through the plant
material at a pre-determined rate and/or volume, during the heating process,
For some applications, a high thermal mass inert material (e.g. glass, metal beads or
other) is placed inside the plant al (e.g., a mass of plant material, such as a cigarette),
in order to facilitate heating of the plant material.
For some applications, the vaporizer includes a thermistor.
For some applications, the meshes described herein (e.g., meshes of heating surfaces,
and or meshes of capsules) are d to other components using ultrasonic welding or heat
pressing of the mesh to the other components. For some applications, electrical tors
are coupled to meshes that are used as g surfaces, using ultrasonic welding or heat
pressing. For some application s, this facilitates electrical coupling between the electrical
tors and the .
Reference is now made to Figs. 27A and 27B, which are bar charts showing the mass
of active ingredient that is ed from plant material with respective, sive puffs of
vaporizer, in accordance with some applications of the present invention. The y-axis of the
bar charts measures the mass of active ingredient that is ed from the plant al as
a percentage of a given arbitrary mass. The bar charts show the mass of active ingredient
that is released from plant material during each of the puffs, assuming that the total airflow
through the e during each of the puffs is the same as each other.
Fig. 27A shows an example of the mass of active ingredient that is released from
plant material during each of the puffs, if the capsule is heated to the same temperature
during each of the puffs. As shown, during successive puffs, the mass of active ingredient
that is released from plant material during sive puffs decreases, because with each
successive puff, more of the active ingredient has already been ed from the plant
material, such that there is less of the active ingredient available to be released.
As described hereinabove, for some applications, the control circuitry accounts for
the amount of active ingredient that has already been vaporized from the portion of the plant
material that is currently being heated (which may, for example, be a portion of the plant
material that is disposed inside a capsule). For example, in some cases, based on the rates
of airflow and temperatures that have already been applied to the capsule that is currently
being heated, the control circuitry may determine an amount of the active ingredient that has
already been vaporized. For some applications, the control circuitry determines the target
temperature to which to heat the capsule, in response to the amount of active ingredient that
has already been vaporized. For example, for a given airflow rate, the control circuitry may
heat the capsule to a greater temperature, the greater the amount of the active ingredient that
has already been zed.
Fig. 27B shows an example of the mass of active ingredient that is released from
plant material during successive puffs, in ance with such applications. As shown, the
mass of active ingredient that is released from plant material during sive puffs remains
constant, e the control circuitry increases the temperature to which the plant material
is heated, such as to account for the fact that, with each successive puff, more of the active
ingredient has already been ed from the plant material. In this manner, when the user
is smoking a given portion of plant material (e.g., a given capsule), the experience is more
similar to that of smoking a combustible cigarette, in that, when smoking a combustible
cigarette, for any given inhalation w rate, there is no (or negligible) change in the
th, flavor, and/or ullness of the smoke n the beginning of the cigarette
and the end of the cigarette. Similarly, by the control circuitry of the vaporizer accounting
for the fact that, with each successive puff, more of the active ingredient has already been
released from the plant material, it is the case that, for any given inhalation airflow rate,
there is no (or negligible) change in the th, flavor, and/or mouthfullness of the vapors
that are generated by the vaporizer between the beginning of the use of the portion of plant
material (e.g., the capsule), and the end of use of the portion of plant al.
In general, the scope of the present application includes combing the tus and
methods described herein with apparatus and methods described in WO 16/147188 to
Raichman, and/or US 2016/0271347 to Raichman, both of which applications are
incorporated herein by reference.
There is provided, in accordance with some applications of the present invention, the
ing inventive concepts:
Inventive concept 1. Apparatus for use with a zer that is configured vaporize an
active ingredient from a material that contains the active ingredient, the apparatus
comprising:
a e configured to be heated by the vaporizer, the capsule comprising:
a portion of the material that contains the active ingredient; and
perforated sheets disposed around the portion of the material, the ated
sheets defining perforations therethrough that are such as to guide airflow through
the capsule along a predefined airflow path.
Inventive concept 2. Apparatus for use with a material that contains an active ient,
the apparatus comprising:
a capsule comprising:
a portion of the material that contains the active ingredient; and
sheets disposed around the n of the material; and
a vaporizer configured to receive the capsule, and to vaporize the active ingredient
by heating the portion of the material within the capsule, the vaporizer sing:
a perforating mechanism that is configured to perforate the sheets prior to the
plant al being heated inside the vaporizer.
Inventive concept 3. Apparatus for use with a plurality of capsules containing a material
that contains an active ingredient, the apparatus comprising:
a smoking device comprising:
a vaporizing unit sing a heating element configured, while each of the
capsules is disposed at a vaporization location within the vaporizing unit, to cause
the active ingredient of the material within the capsule to become at least lly
zed by individually heating the capsule; and
a reloading unit that:
is reversibly couplable to the vaporizing unit,
is shaped to define at least a first receptacle that is shaped to house the
plurality of capsules in a stacked configuration, and
ses a capsule-loading mechanism configured, when the
reloading unit is in a coupled state with respect to the vaporizing unit, to
individually er each of the capsules from the first receptacle within the
reloading unit to the vaporization location within the vaporizing unit.
Inventive concept 4. The apparatus according to inventive concept 3, wherein the
reloading unit comprises a plurality of reloading units, each of the reloading units being
configured for a single use, and wherein the vaporizing unit is configured to be reversibly
couplable to each the plurality of reloading units.
Inventive concept 5. The apparatus according to inventive concept 3, wherein the capsuleloading
ism is configured, by transferring a capsule from the first receptacle within
the reloading unit to the zation location within the vaporizing unit, to eject a used
e from the vaporization location within the vaporizing unit to e the g
device.
Inventive concept 6. The apparatus according to inventive concept 3, wherein the
reloading unit comprises at least one power supply, and wherein the vaporizing unit
comprises at least one power supply, and the power supply of the ing unit is configured
to charge the power supply of the vaporizing unit.
Inventive t 7. The apparatus according to any one of inventive concepts 3-6,
wherein the reloading unit is shaped to define a second receptacle that is shaped to house
the plurality of capsules in stacked configurations, and wherein the capsule-loading
mechanism is configured, when the reloading unit is in a coupled state with respect to the
vaporizing unit, to individually transfer each of the capsules from the vaporization location
within the vaporizing unit to the second receptacle within the ing unit.
Inventive concept 8. The apparatus according to inventive concept 7, wherein, when the
reloading unit is in a d state with respect to the zing unit, the first and second
receptacles and the vaporization location are configured to be linearly aligned with each
other, and wherein the capsule-reloading mechanism comprises a linear capsule-loading
mechanism, configured to move each of the capsules by moving linearly.
Inventive concept 9. A method comprising:
coupling a vaporizing unit and a reloading unit of a smoking device to each other,
the zing unit including a vaporization location, and
the ing unit being shaped to define at least a first receptacle that is
shaped to house, in a stacked configuration, a plurality of capsules, each of the
capsules including a material that contains an active ingredient;
using a capsule-loading mechanism, individually transferring a first one of the
capsules from the first receptacle within the reloading unit to the vaporization location
within the vaporizing unit; and
when the first capsule is disposed at the vaporization location within the vaporizing
unit, causing the active ingredient within the material within the first capsule to become at
least partially vaporized by individually g the capsule.
ive concept 10. The method ing to inventive concept 9, wherein transferring
the first one of the capsules from the first receptacle within the reloading unit to the
vaporization location within the vaporizing unit comprises ng a used capsule from the
vaporization location within the vaporizing unit to outside the smoking device.
Inventive concept 11. The method according to inventive concept 9, wherein the ing
unit includes at least one power supply, and the zing unit includes at least one power
supply, the method further comprising, while the vaporizing unit is in a coupled state with
t to the loading unit, using the power supply of the reloading unit to charge the power
supply of the vaporizing unit.
Inventive concept 12. The method according to any one of ive concepts 9-11, wherein
the reloading unit is shaped to define a second receptacle that is shaped to house the plurality
of capsules in stacked configurations, the method further comprising using the capsule-
loading mechanism individually transferring the first capsule from vaporization location
within the vaporizing unit to the second receptacle within the reloading unit.
Inventive concept 13. The method according to inventive concept 12, wherein coupling the
vaporizing unit and the reloading unit of to each other comprises coupling the vaporizing
unit and the reloading unit of to each other, such that the first and second receptacles and
the vaporization location are ly aligned with each other, and wherein dually
transferring the first one of the capsules from the first acle within the reloading unit to
the vaporization location within the vaporizing unit comprises moving the capsule-loading
mechanism ly.
Inventive concept 14. Apparatus for use with a plant material that es at least one
active ingredient, the apparatus comprising:
a vaporizing unit comprising:
a heating element configured to ze the at least one active ingredient of
a portion of the plant material that is disposed at a vaporization location within the
vaporizing unit, by heating the portion of the plant material;
a sensor configured to detect an indication of airflow rate through the
vaporizing unit that is generated by a user; and
control try configured:
to receive the indication of the airflow rate through the vaporizing unit
from the sensor,
to measure an amount of heating that the portion of the plant material
has already undergone,
at least partially based upon the measured indication of the airflow
rate and the amount of g that the portion of the plant material has
already undergone, to determine a ature to which to heat the portion
of the plant material; and
to drive the heating element to heat the portion of the plant material
to the determined temperature.
Inventive concept 15. A method for use with a vaporizing unit that is configured to vaporize
at least one active ingredient of a plant material, the method comprising:
vaporizing at least one active ingredient of at least a portion of a plant material
disposed in the electronic cigarette by heating the portion of the plant material;
ing an tion of airflow rate through the vaporizing unit generated by a
user;
measuring an amount of heating that the portion of the plant material has already
at least lly based upon the measured indication of the airflow rate and the
amount of heating that the portion of the plant material has already undergone, determining
a ature to which to heat the portion of the plant material; and
heating the portion of the plant al to the determined temperature.
Inventive concept 16. A method for use with a vaporizer that vaporizes at least one active
ingredient of a material, the method comprising:
detecting an indication of a temperature of the material; and
sequentially:
heating the material, in a first heating step;
in response to detecting an indication that the temperature of the material is
at a first temperature, lding causing further temperature increase of the
material, and maintaining the temperature of the material at approximately the first
temperature for more than 5 seconds;
r g the material in a second heating step;
in response to detecting an indication that the temperature of the material is
at a second temperature that greater than the first temperature and that is less than 95
percent of a vaporization temperature of the active ient, withholding causing
further temperature increase of the material, and maintaining the temperature of the
al at approximately the second ature for more than 5 seconds; and
heating the material to the vaporization temperature of the active ingredient,
in a third heating step.
Inventive concept 17. Apparatus for use with a material that contains an active ingredient,
the tus comprising:
a vaporizer comprising:
a heating element configured to vaporize the at least one active ingredient of
a material by heating the material;
a temperature sensor configured to detect an indication of a temperature of
the material; and
control circuitry configured, sequentially, to:
drive the heating element to heat the material, in a first heating step;
in response to ing an indication from the temperature sensor that
the temperature of the material is at a first temperature, withhold the heating
element from causing further temperature increase of the material, and
ining the temperature of the material at imately the first
ature for more than 5 seconds;
drive the heating element to further heat the material in a second
heating step;
in response to receiving an tion from the temperature sensor that
the temperature of the material is at a second temperature that greater than
the first temperature and that is less than 95 percent of a vaporization
temperature of the active ingredient, withhold the heating element from
causing further temperature increase of the material, and maintaining the
temperature of the al at approximately the second temperature for more
than 5 seconds; and
drive the heating element to heat the material to the vaporization
temperature of the active ingredient, in a third heating step.
Inventive concept 18. A method comprising:
providing a vaporizer that is configured to hold a material that contains at least one
active ient;
activating a g element within the vaporizer to cause the active ingredient within
the material to become at least partially vaporized by the g element heating the
material;
detecting an indication of a temperature of the material, using a temperature sensor;
ventilating a space between the material and the temperature sensor, using a fan.
Inventive concept 19. Apparatus for use with a material that contains an active ingredient,
the apparatus comprising:
a vaporizer sing:
a heating element configured to vaporize the at least one active ingredient of
a material by heating the material;
a temperature sensor configured to detect an tion of a temperature of
the material; and
a fan ured to ventilate a space between the material and the temperature
sensor.
Inventive concept 20. Apparatus comprising:
a vaporizer configured to odate a mass of material that contains an active
ingredient, the vaporizer comprising:
upper and lower heating surfaces;
an extraction mechanism ured:
in response to being activated, to move the upper and lower heating
surfaces apart from one another, to extract a given volumetric dose of the
material from the mass of material, and to place the volumetric dose between
the upper and lower surfaces; and
subsequently, to cause the upper and lower surfaces to clamp the
volumetric dose between the surfaces by allowing the upper and lower
surfaces to move toward each other; and
a heating element configured to vaporize the at least one active ingredient of
the volumetric dose of the material by heating the upper and lower surfaces while
the volumetric dose is clamped between the upper and lower es.
Inventive concept 21. A method comprising:
ing a zer configured to accommodate a mass of material that contains
an active ingredient, the vaporizer including upper and lower heating surfaces, a heating
element, and an extraction mechanism;
activating the extraction mechanism to:
move the upper and lower heating surfaces apart from one another, to extract
a given volumetric dose of the material from the mass of al, and to place the
volumetric dose between the upper and lower surfaces; and
subsequently, to cause the upper and lower surfaces to clamp the volumetric
dose between the surfaces by allowing the upper and lower surfaces to move toward
each other; and
while the volumetric dose is clamped between the upper and lower surfaces, to
activate the heating element to vaporize the at least one active ingredient of the tric
dose of the material by heating the upper and lower es.
Inventive concept 22. Apparatus comprising:
a vaporizer ured to accommodate a mass of material that contains an active
ingredient, the vaporizer comprising:
a surface;
an extraction mechanism comprising a grinding element, the extraction
mechanism being configured, in response to being activated, to drive the ng
element to grind off a given volumetric dose of the material from the mass of material
and place the volumetric dose upon the surface; and
a heating element configured to ze the at least one active ingredient of
the volumetric dose of the material by heating the surface while the volumetric dose
is disposed upon the surface.
Inventive t 23. The apparatus according to ive concept 22, wherein:
the extraction mechanism is configured to drive the grinding t by advancing
the grinding element along an advancement axis,
the apparatus further comprises a material advancement mechanism that is
configured to advance the mass of material toward the advancement axis of the grinding
element, and
the extraction mechanism is configured to synchronize the advancements of the
ng element and the mass of material with one another.
Inventive concept 24. A method sing:
providing a vaporizer configured to accommodate a mass of material that contains
an active ingredient, the zer including a surface, a heating element, and an extraction
mechanism that includes a ng element;
activating the tion mechanism to drive the grinding element to grind off a given
volumetric dose of the material from the mass of material and place the volumetric dose
upon the surface; and
while the volumetric dose is disposed upon the surface, activating the heating
element to vaporize the at least one active ingredient of the volumetric dose of the material
by heating the surface.
Inventive concept 25. The method according to inventive concept 24, wherein activating the
tion mechanism to drive the grinding element to grind off a given volumetric dose of
the al from the mass of material comprises:
advancing the ng element along an advancement axis;
activating a material advancement mechanism to advance the mass of material
toward the advancement axis of the grinding element; and
synchronizing the advancements of the grinding element and the mass of material
with one another.
Inventive concept 26. Apparatus sing:
a vaporizer configured to accommodate a mass of material that contains an active
ingredient, the vaporizer comprising:
a surface;
an extraction mechanism comprising a pushing surface and a blade tip
disposed at a bottom edge of the pushing e, the extraction mechanism being
configured, in response to being activated, to advance the pushing surface in a single
direction, such that during advancement of the pushing surface, the blade tip cuts off
a given volumetric dose of the material from the mass of material and the pushing
e pushes the volumetric dose onto the surface; and
a g element configured to vaporize the at least one active ingredient of
the volumetric dose of the material by heating the surface while the volumetric dose
is disposed upon the surface.
Inventive concept 27. A method comprising:
providing a vaporizer configured to accommodate a mass of material that contains
an active ingredient, the vaporizer including a surface, a heating element, and an extraction
ism that includes a pushing surface and a blade tip disposed at a bottom edge of the
g surface;
ting the extraction mechanism to e the g e in a single
direction, such that during advancement of the pushing surface, the blade tip cuts off a given
volumetric dose of the material from the mass of material and the pushing surface pushes
the volumetric dose onto the surface; and
while the volumetric dose is disposed upon the surface, activating the heating
element to vaporize the at least one active ingredient of the volumetric dose of the material
by g the surface.
Inventive concept 28. Apparatus comprising:
a zer configured to accommodate a mass of material that contains an active
ingredient, the vaporizer comprising:
a surface;
a wiping element; and
an extraction mechanism configured, in response to being activated, to extract
an unused volumetric dose of the material from the mass of material and place the
unused tric dose upon the surface;
a heating element configured to vaporize the at least one active ingredient of
the unused volumetric dose of the al by heating the surface while the unused
volumetric dose is disposed upon the surface,
the extraction mechanism being further configured, in se to being
activated, to drive the wiping element to wipe from the surface a used volumetric
dose of the al that has already been heated.
Inventive concept 29. A method sing:
providing a vaporizer configured to accommodate a mass of material that contains
an active ingredient, the vaporizer including a surface, a heating element, a wiping element,
and an extraction mechanism;
activating the extraction mechanism:
to extract an unused volumetric dose of the material from the mass of material
and place the unused volumetric dose upon the surface, and
to thereby drive the wiping t to wipe from the surface a volumetric
dose of the material that has already been used; and
while the unused volumetric dose is disposed upon the surface, activating the heating
element to vaporize the at least one active ingredient of the unused volumetric dose of the
material by heating the surface.
It will be appreciated by s skilled in the art that the t ion is not
limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather, the scope
of the present invention includes both combinations and binations of the various
features described hereinabove, as well as variations and modifications thereof that are not
in the prior art, which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing
description.
Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to the skilled addressee are
considered to fall within the scope of the present invention.
The present invention is not to be d in scope by any of the ic
embodiments described herein. These embodiments are intended for the purpose of
exemplification only. Functionally equivalent products, formulations and methods are
clearly within the scope of the invention as described herein. It will be understood by those
skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed
as arily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated,
unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be tood that
additional or alternative steps may be employed.
Reference to onal descriptions and spatially relative terms), such as “inner,”
“outer,” “beneath”, “below”, ”, “above”, “upper” and the like, are to be taken in
context of the embodiments depicted in the figures, and are not to be taken as limiting the
invention to the l interpretation of the term but rather as would be understood by the
skilled addressee.
Although the terms first, , third, etc. may be used herein to describe various
elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions,
layers and/or ns should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used
to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer
or n. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do
not imply a ce or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element,
component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element,
component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example
embodiments.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example
ments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms
“a”, “an” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context
clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprise”, “comprises,” “comprising,” ding,”
and “having,” or variations thereof are inclusive and therefore specify the ce of stated
features, integers, steps, ions, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the
presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,
components, and/or groups thereof.
Claims (23)
1. Apparatus for use with a portion of plant material that includes at least one active ingredient, the tus comprising: a vaporizing unit comprising: a heating t configured to heat the plant material; a sensor configured to detect an indication of airflow rate through the vaporizing unit that is generated by a user; and l circuitry configured: to receive a first indication of the airflow rate through the vaporizing unit from the sensor; in response to receiving the first indication of the airflow rate, to determine a first smoking profile that is desired by the user; and to drive the heating element to vaporize the active ingredient of the plant material by heating the plant material according to the determined smoking profile; subsequently: to e a further indication of the airflow rate through the zing unit from the sensor; and in response to receiving the further indication of the airflow rate, to determine an updated smoking profile that is desired by the user; and to drive the heating element to vaporize the active ingredient of the plant material by g the plant material according to the determined updated smoking profile.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control try: is further configured to measure an amount of heating that the portion of the plant material has y undergone, and is configured to drive the heating element to vaporize the active ingredient of the plant material by heating the plant material ing to the determined smoking profile by determining a temperature to which to heat the n of the plant material at least partially based upon the ed indication of the airflow rate and the amount of heating that the portion of the plant material has already undergone.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, the control circuitry is configured: in response to receiving an tion of the airflow rate through the vaporizing unit from the sensor, to determine that the user is not inhaling from the vaporizing unit, and in se thereto, to drive the heating element to reduce heating of the plant material, such that a temperature of the plant material decreases below a vaporization temperature of the active ingredient.
4. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sensor comprises a temperature sensor configured to detect an indication of a temperature of the plant material, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to calculate a rate of airflow through the zing unit, based upon the indication of the temperature of the plant material measured by the temperature sensor.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control circuitry is configured to ate the rate of airflow through the vaporizing unit by detecting an indication of an amount of energy ed to maintain the temperature of the plant material constant.
6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control circuitry is configured to calculate the rate of airflow through the vaporizing unit by detecting an indication of a change in the temperature of the plant material that is caused by heat transfer from the plant material to ambient air that passes h the e.
7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control try is configured to receive an indication of ambient temperature, and to ate the rate of airflow through the vaporizing unit, by ting for a difference between the temperature of the plant material and the ambient ature.
8. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to detect a change in the temperature of the plant material within 0.01 second of the change occurring.
9. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to detect the temperature of the plant material without drawing heat from the plant material.
10. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the temperature sensor comprises an l temperature sensor.
11. The tus according to claim 4, wherein the temperature sensor comprises an ed temperature sensor.
12. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a capsule configured to house the portion of plant al, wherein the temperature sensor is ured to detect the indication of the ature of the plant material by detecting a temperature of the capsule.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to detect the indication of the temperature of the plant material by detecting electrical resistance of at least a portion of the capsule.
14. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, during a smoking session, the control circuitry is configured to dynamically respond to changes in the user's inhalation by: receiving indications of the airflow rate through the vaporizing unit from the sensor; in response to receiving the indications of the airflow rate, determining updated smoking profiles that are desired by the user; and driving the heating element to vaporize the active ient of the plant material by heating the plant material according to the ined updated smoking profiles.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein, during the smoking session, the control circuitry is configured to cally respond to s in the user's tion, on a puff-bypuff basis.
16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein, in response to receiving that airflow rate through the vaporizing unit has increased, the control circuitry is configured to drive the heating element to allow a temperature of the plant material to decrease.
17. The apparatus according to claim 14, n, during a smoking session, the control circuitry is configured to dynamically respond to changes in the user's inhalation, on a continuous basis.
18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein, during a smoking session, the control circuitry is configured to dynamically respond to changes in the user's inhalation, within 0.01 seconds of changes in airflow rate h the vaporizing unit that are generated by the user's inhalation.
19. The tus according to claim 14, wherein, in response to receiving an indication from the sensor that airflow rate through the vaporizing unit has increased, the control circuitry is ured to drive the heating element to increase a temperature of the plant material.
20. The apparatus ing to claim 19, wherein the l circuitry is configured to withhold the heating element from heating the plant material above a given threshold temperature.
21. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine a classification of the plant material, and at least partially in response thereto, to determine the first smoking profile and the updated smoking profile.
22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein based upon the classification of the plant material, the control circuitry is configured to determine a manner in which to vary a temperature to which to drive the heating t to heat the plant material, in response to changes in the airflow h the vaporizing unit.
23. The apparatus ing to claim 21, wherein the plant al is housed inside a capsule, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine the classification of the plant material automatically by measuring a characteristic of the capsule. 9V EV .GE .GE m...“m“”Vbmnnmm\MW1 wuIIIIIIIIzIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIu
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US62/394,243 | 2016-09-14 | ||
US62/453,544 | 2017-02-02 | ||
US62/500,509 | 2017-05-03 | ||
US62/525,773 | 2017-06-28 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
NZ792339A true NZ792339A (en) | 2022-09-30 |
Family
ID=
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