RU2804880C2 - Cartridge for evaporation device (variants) and evaporation device - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD tobacco industry.

SUBSTANCE: systems simulating the process of smoking. The cartridge for the evaporation device contains a sprayer, including an absorbent element configured to draw the volatile substance from the reservoir. The heating element is configured to vaporize the volatilized substance to obtain the volatilized substance. The channel from the inlet to the outlet passes through the cartridge. The channel has an airflow path and a steam path intersecting at the first connection between the inlet and outlet. The air flow path is configured to receive air to allow air to pass through. The sprayer is in communication with the steam path to allow vaporized material to flow into the steam path. The vapor path is configured to direct the vaporized material to the first connection, allowing the vaporized material to mix with air to form an aerosol downstream of the sprayer. The airflow path includes a first airflow path section and a second airflow path section. The first portion of the airflow path is in communication with the sprayer. The first and second portions of the airflow path intersect at a second connection upstream of the first connection. The second connection diverts the first portion of the air into the first section of the air flow path and through the sprayer. The second connection additionally removes the second part of the air towards the first connection.

EFFECT: cartridge and evaporator for simulating smoking process. Providing the possibility of primary condensation of the evaporated substance outside the sprayer and increasing the efficiency of control over the resulting particle size.

15 cl, 10 dwg

Description

Cross references to related applications

[0001] This application claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/755,889, filed November 5, 2018, entitled "Cartridges For Vaporizer Devices", the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, to the extent permitted.

Field of technology to which the invention relates

[0002] The subject matter of the invention described herein relates to vaporizer devices including vaporizer cartridges.

State of the art

[0003] Evaporative devices, which may also be referred to as vaporizers, electronic vaporizers, or electroevaporative devices, can be used to deliver an aerosol (e.g., a vapor-phase and/or condensed-phase substance suspended in a stationary or moving body of air or some other gaseous carrier ), containing one or more active ingredients, through inhalation of the aerosol by the user of the vaporization device. For example, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) include a class of vaporizer devices that are battery-powered and that can be used to simulate the sensation of smoking but without burning tobacco or other substances. Vaporizer devices are becoming increasingly popular for both prescriptive medical use, drug delivery, and the consumption of tobacco, nicotine, and other herbal substances. Evaporative devices may be portable, self-contained, and/or user-friendly.

[0004] When using a vaporizer device, the user inhales an aerosol, colloquially referred to as “vapor,” which may be generated by a heating element that vaporizes (e.g., causes a liquid or solid to at least partially enter a gaseous phase) the vaporized substance , which may be a liquid, solution, solid, paste, wax, and/or any other form compatible for use with the particular vaporizer device. The vaporizable substance used with the vaporizer device may be provided in a cartridge, for example, a detachable portion of the vaporizer device that contains the vaporizable substance, which includes an outlet (eg, a mouthpiece) for inhalation of the aerosol by the user.

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

[0006] A vaporizer device typically uses an atomizer that heats the vaporized substance and delivers an inhalable aerosol instead of smoke. The atomizer is placed in line with the primary air flow through the evaporation device so that the heated vaporized substance can condense in the atomizer to form an aerosol. Essentially, the heating, evaporation and condensation of the vaporized substance all occurs in the atomizer. This may prevent the condensation of the evaporated vaporized substance from being controlled independently from the condensation of the air stream. In fact, condensation conditions will largely depend on the user's breathing profile. Additionally, the primary air flow may cool the atomizer as it passes along the atomizer, thereby reducing the efficiency of the vaporizer device to vaporize the desired amount of vaporizable substance, such as when a user takes a puff on the vaporizer device. As such, improved vaporizer devices and/or vaporizer cartridges that improve or overcome these problems would be desirable.

The essence of the invention

[0007] Aspects of the current subject matter relate to vaporizer devices and cartridges for use in a vaporizer device.

[0008] In some variations, one or more of the following features may optionally be included in any possible combination.

[0009] In one exemplary embodiment, a cartridge for a vaporizer device is provided and includes an atomizer and a channel extending through the cartridge from an inlet to an outlet. The atomizer includes an absorbent element that is configured to substantially draw vaporizable substance from the reservoir and into the atomizer, and a heating element that is configured to substantially vaporize the vaporizable substance to produce a vaporized substance. The passage has an air flow path and a vapor path that intersect at a first connection between the inlet and the outlet, the air flow path being configured to receive and substantially allow air to flow therethrough. The atomizer is in communication with the vapor path such that the vaporized substance flows into the vapor path, and the vapor path is configured to direct the vaporized substance into the first connection so that the vaporized substance mixes with air to substantially form an aerosol downstream of the atomizer .

[0010] In some embodiments, the first connection is a T-junction. In some embodiments, an aerosol may be substantially formed at the first connection.

[0011] The air flow path can have many configurations. For example, in some embodiments, the airflow path may include a first airflow path portion and a second airflow path portion, wherein the first airflow path portion may be in communication with the atomizer. The first airflow path portion and the second airflow path portion may intersect at a second connection, which may be upstream of the first connection, wherein the second connection substantially discharges the first portion of the air into the first airflow path portion and through the atomizer, and the second connection may further discharge a second portion of the air towards the first connection. The second connection may be a T-connection. The first portion of air may be configured to substantially transport vaporized material away from the atomizer and into the first connection. The first portion of air may have a first volume, and the second portion of air may have a second volume that is greater than the first volume.

[0012] In some embodiments, a portion of the airflow path that is downstream of the first connection may be configured to substantially allow aerosol to pass through and out of the duct.

[0013] In another exemplary embodiment, a cartridge for a vaporizer device is provided and includes an air flow path and an atomizer. The air flow path defines an air flow path that passes through the cartridge, wherein the air flow path is configured to receive and substantially allow air to flow into and through the air flow path. The atomizer includes an absorbent element that is configured to substantially draw vaporizable substance from the reservoir and into the atomizer, a heating element that is configured to substantially vaporize vaporizable substance to produce vaporized substance, and a steam chamber that is located in communication with the absorbent element and the air flow channel. The vapor chamber is configured to substantially allow at least a portion of the vaporized material to pass through it and into the air flow path such that a portion of the vaporized material is mixed with air to form an aerosol outside the atomizer.

[0014] The steam chamber can have many configurations. For example, in some embodiments, at least a portion of the vapor chamber may be associated with an air flow path, wherein the portion of the vapor chamber may be formed from a permeable material that may be configured to allow vaporized material to substantially pass through it and into the path of the air flow. In other embodiments, the steam chamber may include at least one vent that extends between the steam chamber and the air flow path, wherein the at least one vent may be configured to substantially direct evaporated substance from the steam chamber and into the air flow path. In such embodiments, the velocity of air flowing adjacent the at least one vent may substantially create a pressure differential across the at least one vent and between the steam chamber and the air flow path.

[0015] The absorbent element can have a variety of configurations. For example, in some embodiments, the absorbent element may extend from a first surface to an opposing second surface, wherein the first surface and the second surface may each extend substantially parallel to the air flow path. The heating element may direct heat through a side surface of the absorbent element extending between the first and second surfaces. The side surface may be inserted between the absorbent body body and the steam chamber.

[0016] In another exemplary embodiment, a vaporizer device is provided and includes a vaporizer body and a cartridge that is selectively attached to and removable from the vaporizer body. The cartridge includes an atomizer and a channel extending through the cartridge from an inlet to an outlet. The atomizer may include an absorbent element that is configured to substantially draw vaporizable substance from the reservoir and into the atomizer, and a heating element that is configured to substantially vaporize the vaporizable substance to produce vaporized substance. The passage has an air flow path and a vapor path that intersect at a first connection between the inlet and outlet, wherein the air flow path can be configured to receive and substantially allow air to pass through it. The atomizer is in communication with the vapor path such that the vaporized substance flows into the vapor path, and the vapor path is configured to direct the vaporized substance into the first connection so that the vaporized substance mixes with air to substantially form an aerosol downstream of the atomizer .

[0017] In some embodiments, the vaporizer body may include a power source.

[0018] The air flow path can have a variety of configurations. For example, in some embodiments, the airflow path may include a first airflow path portion and a second airflow path portion, wherein the first airflow path portion may be in communication with the atomizer. The first airflow path portion and the second airflow path portion may intersect at a second connection that is located upstream of the first connection, wherein the second connection may substantially discharge the first portion of the air into the first airflow path portion and through the atomizer, and the second connection may further discharge a second portion of the air towards the first connection.

[0019] Details of one or more variations of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and in the description below. Other features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the description and drawings and from the claims. The claims that appear after this disclosure are intended to define the scope of the protected subject matter.

Brief description of drawings

[0020] The accompanying drawings, which are included in and form a part of this specification, show specific aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein and, together with the description, help to explain certain principles associated with the disclosed implementations. On the drawings:

[0021] FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an evaporation device;

[0022] FIG. 1B is a top view of an embodiment of the vaporizer device showing the vaporizer cartridge separated from the main body of the vaporizer device;

[0023] FIG. 1C is a top view of the evaporation device of FIG. 1B showing a vaporizer cartridge attached to a main body of the vaporizer device;

[0024] FIG. 1D is a perspective view of the evaporation device of FIG. 1C;

[0025] FIG. 1E is a perspective view of the vaporizer cartridge of FIG. 1B;

[0026] FIG. 1F is another perspective view of the vaporizer cartridge of FIG. 1E;

[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram of another embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge;

[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates a diagram of another embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge;

[0029] FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram of another embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge; And

[0030] FIG. 5 illustrates a diagram of another embodiment of a vaporizer cartridge.

[0031] Where appropriate, like reference numbers designate like structures, features, or elements.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0032] Implementations of the current subject matter include methods, devices, articles of manufacture, and systems related to vaporizing one or more substances for inhalation by a user. Exemplary implementations include evaporative devices and systems including evaporative devices. The term "vaporizer device," when used in the following description and claims, refers to any of a stand-alone device, a device that includes two or more separable parts (for example, a vaporizer body that includes a battery and other hardware, and a cartridge that includes a vaporizable substance), and/or the like. "Evaporation system" as used herein may include one or more components, such as an evaporation device. Examples of vaporizer devices consistent with implementations of the current subject matter include electronic vaporizers, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), and/or the like. In general, such vaporizer devices are pocket-sized devices that heat (eg, by convection, current, radiation, and/or some combination thereof) the vaporized substance to provide an inhalable dose of the substance.

[0033] The vaporizable substance used in conjunction with the vaporizer device may be provided in a cartridge (e.g., the portion of the vaporizer device that contains the vaporizable substance in a reservoir or other container), which may be refillable when empty, or disposable so that new a cartridge containing an additional vaporizer of the same or a different type may be used). The vaporizer device may be a cartridge-based vaporizer device, a cartridge-less vaporizer device, or a reusable vaporizer device adapted for use with or without a cartridge. For example, the vaporizer device may include a heating chamber (e.g., a heat chamber or other area in which a substance is heated by a heating element) configured to receive vaporizable substance directly within the heating chamber, and/or a reservoir or the like. to contain the evaporated substance.

[0034] In some implementations, the vaporizer device may be configured for use with a liquid vaporizable substance (e.g., a solution of a carrier in which the active and/or inactive ingredient(s) are suspended or held in solution, or a liquid form of the vaporizable substance itself) . The liquid vaporizable substance can be adjusted to completely vaporize. Alternatively, at least a portion of the liquid vaporized material may remain after all of the respirable material has been vaporized.

[0035] Referring to the block diagram in FIG. 1A, vaporizer device 100 may include a power source 112 (e.g., a battery, which may be a rechargeable battery), and a controller 104 (e.g., a processor, circuitry, etc. configured to perform logic) to control the delivery of heat to the atomizer 141 to cause the vaporized substance 102 to be converted from a condensed form (such as a liquid, solution, suspension, a portion of at least partially unprocessed plant matter, etc.) into a gaseous phase. The controller 104 may be part of one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs) consistent with some implementations of the current subject matter.

[0036] After vaporizer 102 is converted to the gaseous phase, at least some of the vaporizer 102 in the gaseous phase may condense into particulate form in at least partial local equilibrium with the gaseous phase as part of an aerosol, which may form some the portion or all of the inhalable dose delivered by the vaporizer device 100 during a user puff or draw on the vaporizer device 100. It should be understood that the interaction between the gaseous and condensed phases in the aerosol generated by the vaporizer device 100 can be complex and dynamic due to such factors such as ambient temperature, relative humidity, chemical composition, flow conditions in air flow paths (both within the evaporative device and in the respiratory tract of a person or other mammal), and/or mixing of the vaporized substance 102 in the gaseous phase or aerosol phase with other air flows that may influence one or more physical parameters of the aerosol. In some vaporizer devices, and in particular for vaporizer devices configured to deliver volatile vaporizers, the inhaled dose may exist predominantly in the gaseous phase (eg, condensed phase particle formation may be very limited).

[0037] The atomizer 141 in the vaporizer device 100 may be configured to vaporize the vaporizable substance 102. The vaporizable substance 102 may be liquid. Examples of vaporizable substance 102 include pure liquids, suspensions, solutions, mixtures and/or the like. The atomizer 141 may include an absorbent element (ie, a wick) configured to transfer a volume of vaporized substance 102 to a portion of the atomizer 141 that includes a heating element (not shown in FIG. 1A).

[0038] For example, the absorbent element may be configured to draw vaporizable substance 102 from a reservoir 140 configured to contain vaporizable substance 102, so that vaporizable substance 102 can be vaporized by heat supplied from the heating element. The wicking element may also optionally allow air to enter the reservoir 140 and replace the volume of vaporizer 102 removed. In some implementations of the current subject matter, capillary action may draw the vaporizer 102 into the wick for vaporization via the heating element, and air may be returned to the reservoir 140 through the wick to at least partially equalize the pressure in the reservoir 140. Other methods of allowing air to return back to the reservoir 140 to equalize the pressure are also within the scope of the current subject matter.

[0039] When used herein, the terms “wick” or “absorbent element” include any material adapted to cause movement of a fluid through capillary pressure.

[0040] The heating element may include one or more of a conductive heater, a radiant heater, and/or a convection heater. One type of heating element is a resistive heating element, which may include a material (such as a metal or alloy, such as a nickel-chromium alloy, or a non-metallic resistor) configured to dissipate electrical power in the form of heat when electric current is passed through one or more resistive heating element segments. In some implementations of the current subject matter, the atomizer 141 may include a heating element that includes a resistive coil or other heating element wrapped around, positioned within, embedded in a 3D mold, pressed into thermal contact with, or otherwise configured to deliver heat to the absorbent member to cause the vaporizable substance 102 to be drawn from the reservoir 140 by the absorbent member to be vaporized for subsequent inhalation by the user in a gaseous and/or condensed (eg, aerosol particles or droplets) phase. Other absorbent elements, heating elements, and/or atomizer assembly configurations are also possible.

[0041] The heating element may be activated in association with a user's puff (i.e., drawing, inhaling, etc.) on the mouthpiece 130 of the vaporizer device 100 to cause air to flow from the air inlet, along the air flow path, which passes through the atomizer 141 (ie, the absorbent element and the heating element). Optionally, air may flow from the air inlet through one or more condensation areas or chambers, to the air outlet in the mouthpiece 130. The incoming air moving along the air flow path moves over or through the atomizer 141, where the vaporized substance 102 is in gaseous form is carried into the air. The heating element may be activated through a controller 104, which may optionally be part of the vaporizer body 110 as discussed herein, causing current to flow from the power supply 112 through circuitry including a resistive heating element, which is optionally part of the vaporizer cartridge 120. as discussed in this document. As noted herein, entrained vaporizer 102 in gaseous form may condense as it passes through the remainder of the airflow path such that an inhaled dose of vaporizer 102 in aerosol form can be delivered from an air outlet (e.g., mouthpiece 130). for inhalation by the user.

[0042] Activation of the heating element may be caused by automatic puff detection based on one or more signals generated by one or more sensors 113. Sensor 113 and signals generated by sensor 113 may include one or more of the following: a pressure sensor or sensors, located to detect pressure along the air flow path relative to ambient pressure (or optionally to measure changes in absolute pressure), a motion sensor or sensors (e.g., an accelerometer) of the vaporizer device 100, a flow sensor or sensors of the vaporizer device 100, a capacitive lip sensor of the vaporizer device 100, detecting user interaction with vaporizer device 100 through one or more input devices 116 (e.g., buttons or other tactile control devices of vaporizer device 100), receiving signals from a computing device in communication with vaporizer device 100, and/or through other approaches to determine that tightening is happening or is about to happen.

[0043] As discussed herein, vaporizer device 100, consistent with implementations of the current subject matter, may be configured to communicate (such as, for example, wirelessly or via a wired connection) with a computing device (or optionally two or more devices) in communication with the evaporative device 100. To do this, the controller 104 may include communication hardware 105. The controller 104 may also include a memory 108. The communications hardware 105 may include firmware and/or may be controlled by software to implement one or more cryptographic protocols for communications.

[0044] The computing device may be a component of a vaporizer system that also includes vaporizer device 100, and may include its own communications hardware that can establish a wireless communication channel with communication hardware 105 of vaporizer device 100. For example, the computing device the device used as part of the evaporative system may include a general purpose computing device (such as a smartphone, tablet, personal computer, some other wearable device such as a smart watch, or the like) that runs software to create user interface for allowing a user to interact with the vaporizer device 100. In other implementations of the current subject matter, such a device used as part of the vaporizer system may be a specialized piece of hardware, such as a remote control or other wireless or wired device having one or more physical or software (i.e., configured on a screen or other display device and selected through user interaction with a touch-sensitive screen or some other input device such as a mouse, pointer, trackball, cursor buttons, or the like) interface controls. The evaporative device 100 may also include one or more output devices 117 or devices for providing information to the user. For example, output devices 117 may include one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to provide feedback to a user based on the status and/or operating mode of vaporizer device 100.

[0045] In an example in which a computing device provides signals related to activating a resistive heating element, or in other examples for connecting the computing device to vaporizer device 100 to implement various controls or other functions, the computing device executes one or more sets of computer instructions, to provide the user interface and underlying data processing. In one example, the computing device's detection of user interaction with one or more user interface elements may cause the computing device to signal the vaporizer device 100 to activate the heating element to reach an operating temperature to create an inhalable dose of vapor/aerosol. Other functions of the vaporizer device 100 may be controlled through user interaction with a user interface on a computing device in communication with the vaporizer device 100.

[0046] The temperature of the resistive heating element of the electronic vaporizer device 100 may depend on a variety of factors, including the amount of electrical power delivered to the resistive heating element and/or the duty cycle at which electrical power is applied, conductive heat transfer to other parts of the electronic vaporizer device 100, and /or to the environment, latent heat losses due to evaporation of vaporized substance 102 from the absorbent element and/or atomizer 141 as a whole, and convection heat losses due to air flow (i.e., air moving through the heating element or atomizer 141 as a whole, when the user takes a puff on the vaporizer device 100). As noted herein, in order to reliably activate the heating element or heat the heating element to a desired temperature, vaporizer device 100 may, in some implementations of the current subject matter, use signals from sensor 113 (e.g., a pressure sensor) to determine when the user inhales. Sensor 113 may be placed in the airflow path and/or may be connected (for example, through a passage or other path) to the airflow path comprising an inlet for air to enter the vaporizer device 100 and an outlet through which the user inhales the resulting airflow. resulting in vapor and/or aerosol such that sensor 113 senses changes (eg, pressure changes) simultaneously with air passing through evaporator device 100 from the air inlet to the air outlet. In some implementations of the current subject matter, the heating element may be activated in association with a user's puff, for example, through automatic puff detection, or through sensor 113 detecting a change (such as a change in pressure) in the air flow path.

[0047] Sensor 113 may be located on or coupled to (ie, electrically or electronically connected, either physically or via a wireless connection) to controller 104 (eg, a printed circuit board assembly or other type of circuit board). To perform measurements accurately and maintain the durability of the evaporator device 100, it may be useful to provide a seal 127 that is resilient enough to separate the air flow path from other parts of the evaporator device 100. The seal 127, which may be a gasket, may be configured to at least , partially surround the sensor 113 so that the connections of the sensor 113 to the internal circuitry of the evaporator device 100 are separated from the portion of the sensor 113 exposed to the air flow path. In an example of a cartridge-based vaporizer device, seal 127 may also separate portions of one or more electrical connections between vaporizer housing 110 and vaporizer cartridge 120. Such seal arrangements 127 in evaporator device 100 may be useful in mitigating potentially damaging effects on evaporator components resulting from interactions with environmental factors such as vapor or liquid water, other fluids such as evaporator material 102, etc. .d., and/or reduce the loss of air from the designed air flow path in the evaporator device 100. Unwanted air, liquid or other fluid passing through and/or contacting the circuits of the evaporator device 100 may cause various undesirable effects, such as changed pressure readings, and/or may result in the formation of undesirable matter, such as moisture, excess vaporizer 102, etc., in parts of the vaporizer device 100, where they may result in a poor pressure signal, degradation of the sensor 113 or other components and/or shorter life of the vaporizer device 100. Leaks in the seal 127 may also result in the user inhaling air that has passed through parts of the vaporizer device 100 containing, or constructed from, materials that may be undesirable for inhalation.

[0048] In some implementations, the vaporizer body 110 includes a controller 104, a power source 112 (such as a battery), one or more sensors 113, charging contacts (such as contacts for charging the power supply 112), a seal 127, and a cartridge holder 118 , configured to receive the evaporator cartridge 120 for connection to the evaporator body 110 through one or more of a plurality of connection structures. In some examples, the vaporizer cartridge 120 includes a reservoir 140 for containing the vaporizable substance 102 and the mouthpiece 130 has an aerosol outlet for delivering an inhaled dose to the user. The vaporizer cartridge 120 may include an atomizer 141 having a wicking element and a heating element. Alternatively, one or both of the absorbent element and the heating element may be part of the evaporator body 110. In an implementation in which any part of the atomizer 141 (i.e., heating element and/or wicking element) is part of the main vaporizer body 110, the vaporizer device 100 may be configured to supply vaporizable substance 102 from a reservoir 140 in the vaporizer cartridge 120 to the part (wells) of the atomizer 141 included in the main part 110 of the evaporator.

[0049] In an embodiment of the vaporizer device 100 in which the power source 112 is part of the vaporizer body 110 and the heating element is housed in the vaporizer cartridge 120 and configured to be coupled to the vaporizer body 110, the vaporizer device 100 may include electrical components connections (eg, circuit termination means) to complete a circuit that includes a controller 104 (eg, a printed circuit board, microcontroller, or the like), a power supply 112, and a heating element (eg, a heating element in atomizer 141). These parts may include one or more contacts (referred to herein as cartridge contacts 124a and 124b) on the bottom surface of the vaporizer cartridge 120 and at least two contacts (referred to herein as holder contacts 125a and 125b) located adjacent base of the cartridge holder 118 of the vaporizer device 100 such that the cartridge contacts 124a and 124b and the holder contacts 125a and 125b make electrical connections when the vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted into and connected to the cartridge holder 118. The circuit completed by these electrical connections may provide the ability to supply electrical current to the heating element and may further be used for additional functions such as measuring the resistance of the heating element for use in determining and/or controlling the temperature of the heating element based on the thermal coefficient of resistivity of the heating element. element.

[0050] In some implementations of the current subject matter, cartridge contacts 124a and 124b and holder contacts 125a and 125b may be configured to be electrically connected in one or another of at least two orientations. In other words, one or more circuits required to operate the vaporizer device 100 may be completed by inserting the vaporizer cartridge 120 into the cartridge holder 118 in a first rotational orientation (about the axis along which the vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted into the cartridge holder 118 of the vaporizer body 110) , so that the cartridge contact 124a is electrically connected to the holder contact 125a, and the cartridge contact 124b is electrically connected to the holder contact 125b. In addition, one or more circuits required to operate the vaporizer device 100 may be completed by inserting the vaporizer cartridge 120 into the cartridge holder 118 in a second rotation orientation such that cartridge contact 124a is electrically coupled to holder contact 125b and cartridge contact 124b is electrically coupled to contact 125a of the holder.

[0051] For example, the vaporizer cartridge 120, or at least the insertion end 122 of the vaporizer cartridge 120, may be symmetrical when rotating 180° about the axis along which the vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted into the cartridge holder 118. In such a configuration, the circuitry of the vaporizer device 100 can maintain identical operation no matter what symmetrical orientation of the vaporizer cartridge 120 occurs.

[0052] In one example of an attachment structure for attaching a vaporizer cartridge 120 to a vaporizer body 110, the vaporizer body 110 includes one or more fasteners (e.g., pits, projections, etc.) projecting inwardly from an interior surface of the cartridge holder 118 , an additional material (such as metal, plastic, etc.) formed to include a portion projecting into the interior of the cartridge holder 118, and/or the like. One or more outer surfaces of the vaporizer cartridge 120 may include corresponding recesses (not shown in FIG. 1A) that may fit and/or otherwise snap over such latches or projections when the vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted into the cartridge holder 118 of the main body 110 evaporator. When the vaporizer cartridge 120 and the vaporizer body 110 are connected (e.g., by inserting the vaporizer cartridge 120 into the vaporizer holder 118 of the vaporizer body 110), the latches or protrusions of the vaporizer body 110 may be mounted within and/or otherwise held within the recesses of the vaporizer cartridge 120 to hold the vaporizer cartridge 120 in place when assembled. Such an assembly may provide sufficient support to hold the vaporizer cartridge 120 in place to ensure good contact between the cartridge contacts 124a and 124b and the holder contacts 125a and 125b, while allowing the vaporizer cartridge 120 to be removed from the vaporizer body 110 when the user pulls with reasonable force on the vaporizer cartridge 120 to disengage the vaporizer cartridge 120 from the cartridge holder 118 .

[0053] In some implementations, the vaporizer cartridge 120, or at least the insertion end 122 of the vaporizer cartridge 120 configured for insertion into the cartridge holder 118, may have a non-circular cross-section transverse to the axis along which the vaporizer cartridge 120 is inserted into the cartridge holder 118 . For example, the non-circular cross-section may be approximately rectangular, approximately elliptical (i.e., approximately oval in shape), non-rectangular but with two sets of parallel or approximately parallel opposite sides (i.e., having a parallelogram-like shape), or other shapes having rotational symmetry of at least second order. In this context, an approximate shape indicates that the basic similarity to the described shape is obvious, but that the sides of the shape in question need not be entirely linear and the vertices need not be entirely sharp. The rounding of both or one of the edges or vertices of a cross-sectional shape is contemplated in the description of any non-circular cross-section referred to herein.

[0054] The cartridge contacts 124a and 124b and the holder contacts 125a and 125b may take various forms. For example, one or both sets of contacts may include conductive pins, printed contacts, contact posts, receiving holes for pins or contact posts, or the like. Some types of contacts may include springs or other features that provide better physical and electrical contact between contacts on the vaporizer cartridge 120 and the vaporizer body 110 . The electrical contacts may not necessarily be gold plated and/or may include other materials.

[0055] FIG. 1B-1D illustrate an embodiment of the vaporizer main body 110 having a cartridge holder 118 into which the vaporizer cartridge 120 can be removably inserted. Fig. 1B and 1C show top views of the vaporizer device 100, illustrating the vaporizer cartridge 120 positioned for insertion and inserted, respectively, into the vaporizer main body 110. Fig. 1D illustrates a reservoir 140 of a vaporizer cartridge 120 formed in whole or in part from a translucent material such that a level of vaporizer 102 is visible from a window 132 (eg, translucent material) on the vaporizer cartridge 120. The vaporizer cartridge 120 may be configured such that the window 132 remains visible when inserted into the vaporizer cartridge holder 118 of the vaporizer body 110. For example, in one exemplary configuration, window 132 may be located between the lower edge of the mouthpiece 130 and the upper edge of the vaporizer body 110 when the vaporizer cartridge 120 is coupled to the cartridge holder 118.

[0056] FIG. 1E illustrates an exemplary air flow path 134 created during a user's puff on vaporizer device 100. Air flow path 134 may direct air into a vaporization chamber 150 (see FIG. 1F) contained within the wick body, where the air combines with a respirable aerosol for delivery to the user via a mouthpiece 130, which may also be part of a vaporizer cartridge 120. For example, when a user takes a puff on the vaporizer device 100 of the device 100, air may flow between the outer surface of the vaporizer cartridge 120 (e.g., window 132 shown in FIG. 1D) and the inner surface of the cartridge holder 118 on the vaporizer body 110. Air may then be drawn into the insertion end 122 of the vaporizer cartridge 120, through the vapor chamber 150 that includes or contains a heating element and wick, and out through the outlet 136 of the mouthpiece 130 to deliver an inhalable aerosol to the user.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 1E, this configuration causes air to flow around the insertion end 122 of the vaporizer cartridge 120 into the cartridge holder 118 and then flow back in the opposite direction after passing around the insertion end 122 (e.g., the end opposite the end including the mouthpiece 130) of the vaporizer cartridge 120 when it enters the main body of the cartridge toward the vaporization chamber 150. The air flow path 134 then moves through the interior of the vaporizer cartridge 120, for example, through one or more tubes or internal channels (such as cannula 128 shown in FIG. 1F) and through one or more outlets (such as outlet 136) formed in the mouthpiece 130. The mouthpiece 130 may be a separable component of the vaporizer cartridge 120 or may be integrally formed with other component(s) of the vaporizer cartridge 120 (e.g., formed as an integral structure with the reservoir 140 and/or etc.).

[0058] FIG. 1F shows additional features that may be included in the vaporizer cartridge 120 consistent with implementations of the current subject matter. For example, vaporizer cartridge 120 may include a plurality of cartridge contacts (such as cartridge contacts 124a, 124b) disposed at the insertion end 122. Each of the cartridge contacts 124a, 124b may optionally be part of a single piece of metal that forms a conductive structure (such as conductive structure 126) connected to one of the two ends of the resistive heating element. The conductive structure may optionally form opposite sides of the heating chamber and may also act as thermal shields and/or heat sinks to reduce heat transfer to the outer walls of the evaporator cartridge 120. Fig. 1F also shows a cannula 128 in the vaporizer cartridge 120 that defines a portion of the air flow path 134 between the heating chamber formed between the conductive structure 126 and the mouthpiece 130.

[0059] As mentioned above, existing vaporizer devices may include an atomizer that is generally configured to heat the vaporizable substance to produce vaporized substance. The evaporated substance is then combined with the primary air stream through the evaporation device, which flows through the nebulizer to consequently form a respirable aerosol. As a result, the evaporated substance heats up, evaporates and condenses in the atomizer. This may prevent the condensation of vaporized material from being controlled independently of the primary airflow that moves through the device. Additionally, this design configuration forces the primary air flow to be a source of cold air for the purpose of condensing the evaporated substance. Essentially, when the cold primary air flow passes through the atomizer, the atomizer cools, thereby resulting in heat loss. Under such circumstances, the effectiveness of the vaporizer device in vaporizing the desired amount of vaporized substance, such as when a user takes a puff on the vaporizer device, may be reduced. Various features and devices are described below that improve or overcome these problems.

[0060] The vaporizer cartridges described herein allow the primary condensation of vaporized material to occur outside the atomizer. That is, the atomizer cartridges are configured to retard the nucleation of vaporized material that would typically occur in the atomizer so as to gain greater control over the resulting particle size. Additionally, by inducing nucleation downstream of the atomizer, more rapid cooling of the vaporized material can be achieved, thereby creating an aerosol with smaller and possibly more uniform particle sizes. When used herein, the term "nucleation" refers to the initial formation of a new thermodynamic phase or new structure (eg, through self-assembly and/or self-organization). For example, vaporizer nucleation may refer to primary vaporizer condensation, in which at least a portion of the gaseous phase vaporizer condenses to form aerosol particles.

[0061] Vaporizer cartridges generally include a channel-like configuration in which the vaporizer stream generated by the atomizer combines downstream with the primary air stream through the cartridge in a connection (eg, a T-junction). In this connection, the vaporized substance is essentially cooled by the primary air flow and thereby condenses to form a respirable aerosol.

[0062] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary vaporizer cartridge 200 that can be selectively attached to and removed from a vaporizer body, such as the vaporizer body 110 shown in FIG. 1A-1D. More specifically, the atomizer cartridge 200 includes an atomizer 202 and a passage 204 that is configured to extend through the atomizer cartridge 200 from an inlet port 206 to an outlet port 208. The passage 204 includes an air flow path 210 and a vapor path 212 that intersect at the first connection 214 between the inlet 206 and the outlet 208. The air flow path 210 is configured to receive and substantially allow air, illustrated by the broken line arrow 213, to pass therethrough, for example, when a user takes a puff on the mouthpiece 205, connected to the evaporator cartridge 200. For the sake of simplicity, certain components of the vaporizer cartridge 200 are not illustrated.

[0063] While the atomizer 202 can have a variety of configurations, the atomizer 202 as shown in FIG. 2 includes an absorbent element 216 and a heating element 218. The absorbent element 216 may be configured to substantially draw vaporizable material (not shown) from the reservoir 220 and into the atomizer 202. The heating element 218 may be configured to, essentially evaporate the vaporized substance to obtain the vaporized substance, illustrated by the broken line arrow 219. Exemplary embodiments of suitable absorbent and heating elements are discussed above.

[0064] As shown, nebulizer 202 is in communication with steam path 212 such that vaporized material 219 can flow into steam path 212. The vapor path 212 is configured to direct the vaporized substance 219 to the first connection 214 so that the vaporized substance 219 can be mixed with air 213 to result in the formation of an aerosol, illustrated by the broken line arrow 222, downstream of the atomizer 202.

[0065] The pair path 212 can take a variety of shapes and sizes. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, vapor path 212 extends from atomizer 202 and intersects with air flow path 210 at first connection 214. As such, during use, vaporized material 219 moves along vapor path 212 and combines with air 213 at first connection 214, and, as a result, , the vaporized substance 219 is substantially condensed into an aerosol 222, which is then inhaled by the user through the outlet 208 and thus the mouthpiece 205. While the first connection 214 can have a variety of configurations, the first connection 214, as shown in FIG. 2 is a T-junction in which the vapor path 212 intersects the airflow path 210 orthogonally (eg, at an angle of approximately 90°). Other configurations, including other types of three-way connections between steam path 212 and air flow path 210, are also discussed herein.

[0066] In some embodiments, the vaporizer cartridge 200 includes two or more cartridge contacts, such as, for example, a first cartridge contact 224a and a second cartridge contact 224b. Two or more cartridge contacts may be configured to connect, for example, to holder contacts 125a and 125b to form one or more electrical connections to the vaporizer body 110. The circuit completed by these electrical connections may provide electrical current to the heating element 218 in the atomizer 202. The circuit may also serve additional functions, such as, for example, measuring the resistance of the heating element 218 for use in determining and/or controlling the temperature of the heating element 218 at based on the thermal coefficient of resistivity of the heating element 218.

[0067] In some embodiments, the airflow path may include two or more regions that may be configured to divert portions of the air from the airflow path to other areas of the vaporizer cartridge. For example, one or more portions of the exhaust air may be used to assist in carrying vaporized material to the first connection.

[0068] FIG. 3 illustrates another exemplary vaporizer cartridge 300 that may be selectively attached to and removed from a vaporizer body, such as the vaporizer body 110 shown in FIG. 1A-1D). Apart from the differences described below, the vaporizer cartridge 300 may be similar to the vaporizer cartridge 200 (FIG. 2), and therefore similar features are not described in detail herein.

[0069] As shown, at the second connection 328, which is upstream of the first connection 314, the air flow path 310 diverges into a first air flow path portion 310a and a second air flow path portion 310b. While the first and second airflow path portions 310a, 310b may have a variety of configurations, in this illustrated embodiment, at least portions of the first and second airflow path portions 310a, 310b extend in orthogonal directions to each other from the second connection 328. During use, after the air 313 reaches the second connection 328, the air 313 is discharged into a first air portion illustrated by the broken line arrow 313a and a second air portion illustrated by the broken line arrow 313b. The first portion of air 313a enters and moves along the first air flow path portion 310a, and the second portion of air 313b moves along the second air flow path portion 310b to the first connection 314.

[0070] The first air flow path portion 310a is in communication with the atomizer 302. As such, during use, the first portion of the air 313a flows through the atomizer 302. While the amount of air 313 that can move along the first air flow path portion 310a and then through the atomizer 302, may vary, any delivered portion of air 313, such as the first portion of air 313a, is configured to substantially transfer vaporized material 319 from the atomizer 302 along the vapor path 312 and into the first connection 314. For example, the first portion the air 313a may have a first volume, and the second portion of air 313b may have a second volume that is larger than the first volume. As such, the second connection 328 may be configured to substantially prevent a majority of the air 313 from being diverted into the first airflow path portion 310a. Thus, while some of the air 313 may pass through the atomizer 302, most of the condensation of the vaporized material 319 occurs at the first connection 314 to form an aerosol 322.

[0071] FIG. 4 illustrates another exemplary vaporizer cartridge 400 that can be selectively attached to and removed from a vaporizer body, such as the vaporizer body 110 shown in FIG. 1A-1D. More specifically, the vaporizer cartridge 400 includes an atomizer 402 and an air flow path 404 that defines an air flow path 410 that is configured to pass through the cartridge 400. The air flow path 410 is configured to receive and substantially allow air , illustrated by a broken line arrow 413, to pass over it, for example, when a user takes a puff on the mouthpiece 405 connected to the vaporizer cartridge 400. For the sake of simplicity, certain components of the vaporizer cartridge 400 are not illustrated.

[0072] While the atomizer 402 can have a variety of configurations, the atomizer 402 as shown in FIG. 4 includes an absorbent element 416 and a heating element 418. The absorbent element 416 may be configured to substantially draw vaporizable material (not shown) from the reservoir 420 and into the atomizer 402. The absorbent element 416 may extend from the first surface 416a to opposite the second surface 416b. The first and second surfaces 416a, 416b may each extend substantially parallel to the airflow path 410, as shown in FIG. 4. The heating element 418 may be configured to vaporize a vaporizable substance to produce a vaporized substance. For example, the heating element 418 may direct heat, illustrated by the broken line arrow 421, through the side surface 416c of the absorbent element 416 so as to vaporize at least a portion of the vaporizable substance in the absorbent element 416 (e.g., at least the vaporizable substance on side surface 416c of the absorbent element 416). As shown, the side surface 416c is inserted between the main body of the absorbent element 416 and the steam chamber 430. Exemplary embodiments of suitable absorbent and heating elements are discussed above.

[0073] Sprayer 402, as shown in FIG. 4 includes a steam chamber 430 that is in communication with the absorbent member 416 and the air flow passage 404. While the steam chamber 430 can have a variety of configurations, the steam chamber 430 as shown in FIG. 4 is defined by three walls 430a, 430b, 430c and is substantially rectangular in shape. In other embodiments, the steam chamber 430 may have any other suitable shape.

[0074] The vapor chamber 430 may be configured to substantially allow at least a portion of the vaporized material to pass through it and into the air flow path 404 such that a portion of the vaporized material is mixed with the air 413 moving along the path 410 air flow to form an aerosol outside of the atomizer 402. For example, wall 430a, which, as shown in FIG. 4, adjacent to the side wall 416c of the absorbent element 416, may be formed from a permeable material. Alternatively, or in addition, wall 430a may include one or more through holes that are configured to allow vaporized material to substantially pass therethrough and into vapor chamber 430.

[0075] The steam chamber 430 may be located at a variety of locations within the atomizer 402. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, at least a portion of the steam chamber 430 is defined by an air flow passage 404. This portion of the vapor chamber 430 may be formed of a permeable material that is configured to allow vaporized material to substantially pass through it and into the air flow path 410. Alternatively, or in addition, this portion of the vapor chamber 430 may include at least one or more through holes that are configured to allow vaporized material to substantially pass therethrough and into the air flow path 410.

[0076] In some embodiments, the vaporizer cartridge 400 includes two or more cartridge contacts, such as, for example, a first cartridge contact 424a and a second cartridge contact 424b. Two or more cartridge contacts may be configured to connect, for example, to holder contacts 125a and 125b to form one or more electrical connections to the vaporizer body 110. The circuit completed by these electrical connections may provide electrical current to the heating element 418 in the atomizer 402. The circuit may also serve additional functions, such as, for example, measuring the resistance of the heating element 418 for use in determining and/or controlling the temperature of the heating element based on thermal coefficient of resistivity of the heating element.

[0077] FIG. 5 illustrates another exemplary vaporizer cartridge 500 that can be selectively attached to and removed from a vaporizer body, such as the vaporizer body 110 shown in FIG. 1A-1D). Apart from the differences described below, the vaporizer cartridge 500 may be similar to the vaporizer cartridge 400 (FIG. 4), and therefore similar features are not described in detail herein.

[0078] In some embodiments, steam chamber 530 includes one or more vents extending between steam chamber 530 and air flow path 504. In the example shown in FIG. 5, steam chamber 530 includes a vent 532 configured to substantially direct vaporized material out of steam chamber 530 and into air flow path 510. The vent hole 532 may be of any size that is configured to substantially allow vaporized material in the vapor chamber 530 to pass into the air flow path 510. In some embodiments, the velocity of air flowing adjacent to vent 532 may substantially create a pressure differential across vent 532 and between steam chamber 530 and air flow path 504. For example, the velocity of air flowing adjacent to vent 532 may create a region of negative pressure in which the pressure in a first region of airflow path 510 on one side of vent 532 is lower than the pressure in a second region of steam chamber 530 on the opposite side of vent 532. This the pressure difference may draw vaporized material from the vapor chamber 530 through the vent 532 and into the air flow path 510.

Terminology

[0079] For purposes of describing and defining these teachings, it is noted that, unless otherwise noted, the term “substantially” is used herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be inherent in any quantitative comparison, value, measurement or other representation. The terms “substantially” are also used herein to represent the extent to which a quantitative presentation may vary from an established standard without resulting in a change in the essential function of the subject matter.

[0080] When a feature or element is referred to herein as being "in" another feature or element, it may be directly contained in the other feature or element, or intermediate features and/or elements may also be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being "directly contained" in another feature or element, no intermediate features or elements are present. It should also be understood that when a feature or element is referred to as being "connected" or "attached" to another feature or element, it may be directly connected, attached or coupled to the other feature or element, or intermediate features or elements may be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as “directly connected” or “directly attached” to another feature or element, no intermediate features or elements are present.

[0081] Although described or shown with respect to one embodiment, the features and elements described or shown in this manner may apply to other embodiments. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that references to a structure or feature that is located “next to” another feature may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature.

[0082] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and implementations only and is not intended to be limiting. For example, as used herein, singular forms are intended to include plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0083] In the above descriptions and in the claims, phrases such as “at least one of” or “one or more of” may appear followed by a conjunctive list of elements or features. The term "and/or" may also appear in a list of two or more elements or features. Unless otherwise implicitly or explicitly inconsistent with the context in which it is used, such phrase is not intended to mean any of the enumerated elements or features alone or any of the enumerated elements or features in combination with any of the other enumerated elements or features. For example, the phrases "at least one of A and B"; "one or more of A and B"; and "A and/or B" are intended to mean "A only, B only, or A and B together." A similar interpretation also applies to lists containing three or more elements. For example, the phrases "at least one of A, B and C"; "one or more of A, B and C"; and "A, B and/or C" are intended to mean "A only, B only, C only, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A and B and C together." The use of the term "based on" above and in the claims is intended to mean "at least in part based on" so that an unstated feature or element is also acceptable.

[0084] Spatially relative terms such as “front”, “back”, “under”, “below”, “bottom”, “above”, “top”, etc. may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or relationship of a feature in relation to another element(s) or feature(s), as illustrated in the drawings. It should be understood that spatially relative terms are intended to cover various orientations of the device being used or operated, in addition to the orientation illustrated in the drawings. For example, if the device in the drawings is inverted, elements described as "under" or "below" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term "under" can cover both above and below orientations. The device may be oriented in other ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptors used herein are interpreted accordingly. Likewise, the terms “up”, “down”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, etc. are used in this document for explanatory purposes only, unless expressly stated otherwise.

[0085] Although the terms “first” and “second” may be used herein to describe various features/elements (including steps), these features/elements should not be limited by these terms unless the context indicates otherwise. These terms can be used to distinguish one characteristic/element from another characteristic/element. Thus, the first feature/element explained below may be referred to as the second feature/element, and likewise, the second feature/element explained below may be referred to as the first feature/element, without departing from the ideas provided herein.

[0086] When used herein in the detailed description and claims, including when used in examples, and unless otherwise expressly indicated, all numbers may be read as if preceded by the word "about" or "approximately" even if the term is not shown explicitly. The phrase "about" or "approximately" may be used when describing an absolute value and/or position to indicate that the value and/or position described is within a reasonable expected range of values and/or positions. For example, a numeric value may have a value that is +/-0.1% of a set value (or range of values), +/-1% of a set value (or range of values), +/-2% of a set value (or value range), +/-5% of the set value (or range of values), +/-10% of the set value (or range of values), etc. Any numerical values given herein should also be understood to include about or approximately that value unless the context otherwise indicates. For example, if the value "10" is disclosed, then "about 10" is also disclosed. Any range of numerical values set forth herein is intended to be inclusive of all subranges included therein. It should also be understood that when a value that is “less than or equal to” a value is disclosed, a “greater than or equal to a value” and possible ranges between the values are also disclosed, as those skilled in the art would appreciate. For example, if the value "X" is disclosed, "less than or equal to X" is also disclosed, as is "greater than or equal to X" (eg, where X is a numeric value). It should also be understood that in this application, data is provided in a number of different formats, and that this data represents end points and starting points and ranges for any combination of data points. For example, if a particular data point "10" and a particular data point "15" are disclosed, it should be understood that greater than, greater than or equal to, less than, less than or equal to, and equal to 10 and 15 are considered disclosed, as are between 10 and 15. It should also be understand that each unit between two specific units is also disclosed. For example, if 10 and 15 are revealed, then 11, 12, 13 and 14 are also revealed.

[0087] Although various exemplary embodiments are described above, any of a number of changes may be made to the various embodiments without departing from the teachings herein. For example, the order in which the various described method steps are performed may often vary in alternative embodiments, and in other alternative embodiments, one or more method steps may be skipped altogether. Optional features of various embodiments of the device and system may be included in some embodiments and not in others. Accordingly, the foregoing description is provided primarily for exemplary purposes and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0088] One or more aspects or features of the subject matter described herein may be implemented in a digital electronic circuit, integrated circuit, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field programmable gate array (FPGA), computer hardware, firmware , software and/or a combination of the above. These various aspects or features may include implementation in one or more computer programs that can be executed and/or interpreted for a programmable system including at least one programmable processor, which may be special purpose or general purpose, coupled with the ability to receive data and instructions from and transmit data and instructions to the data storage system, the at least one input device and the at least one output device. A programmable system or computing system may include clients and servers. The client and server are typically remote from each other and typically communicate through a communications network. The relationship between the client and the server is carried out on the basis of computer programs running on the corresponding computers and having a client-server relationship with each other.

[0089] These computer programs, which may also be referred to as "programs", "software", "applications", "applications", "components" or "code", include machine instructions for a programmable processor and may be implemented in high-level procedural language, object-oriented programming language, functional programming language, logic programming language and/or assembly/machine language. As used herein, the term "machine-readable medium" means any computer program product, hardware and/or device, such as, for example, magnetic disks, optical disks, memory and programmable logic devices (PLDs) used to provide machine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor including a computer-readable medium that receives the machine instructions as a computer-readable signal. The expression "machine-readable signal" refers to any signal used to provide machine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor. A computer-readable medium may non-volatilely store such machine instructions, for example, similar to a non-volatile semiconductor memory or magnetic hard disk, or any equivalent storage medium. A computer-readable medium may alternatively or additionally volatile store such machine instructions, for example, similar to a processor cache or other random access memory associated with one or more physical processor cores.

[0090] The examples and illustrations included herein show, by way of illustration and not limitation, specific embodiments in which the subject matter of the invention may be practiced. As mentioned above, other embodiments may be used and learned from such that structural and logical substitutions and changes can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred to herein separately or collectively by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without the intention of intentionally limiting the scope of this application to any one invention or inventive concept if more than one is actually disclosed. Thus, while specific embodiments are illustrated and described herein, any arrangement calculated to achieve an identical purpose can be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of the various embodiments. Combinations of the above-described embodiments and other embodiments not specifically described herein should become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the foregoing description. The use of the term "based on" above and in the claims is intended to mean "at least in part based on" so that an unstated feature or element is also acceptable.

[0091] The subject matter described herein may be implemented in systems, equipment, methods and/or products depending on the desired configuration. The implementations set forth in the above description do not represent all implementations in accordance with the subject matter described herein. Instead, they are simply some examples in accordance with aspects related to the described subject matter. Although several variations are detailed above, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, additional features and/or variations may be provided in addition to the features and/or variations set forth herein. For example, the implementations described above may be directed to various combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed features and/or combinations and subcombinations of several additional features disclosed above. In addition, the logical sequences of operations illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or described herein do not necessarily require the particular order shown or sequential order in order to achieve the desired results. Other implementations may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (31)

1. A cartridge for an evaporation device, containing: an atomizer that includes an absorbent element that is configured to draw a vaporized substance from the reservoir into the atomizer, and a heating element that is configured to vaporize the vaporized substance to obtain a vaporized substance; And a passage extending through the cartridge from an inlet to an outlet, the passage having an air flow path and a vapor path that intersect at a first connection between the inlet and the outlet, the air flow path being configured to receive air while allowing air to flow therethrough ; wherein the atomizer is in communication with the vapor path to allow vaporized substance to flow into the vapor path, wherein the vapor path is configured to direct the vaporized substance to the first connection to allow the vaporized substance to mix with air to form an aerosol downstream of the atomizer, wherein the air flow path includes a first air flow path portion and a second air flow path portion, wherein the first air flow path portion is in communication with the atomizer, wherein the first portion of the air flow path and the second portion of the air flow path intersect at a second connection that is located upstream of the first connection, wherein the second connection diverts the first portion of the air into the first portion of the air flow path and through the atomizer, wherein the second connection additionally removes the second part of the air towards the first connection. 2. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the second connection is a T-shaped connection. 3. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first part of the air is configured to transfer the evaporated substance from the atomizer to the first connection. 4. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first part of the air has a first volume, and the second part of the air has a second volume, which is greater than the first volume. 5. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the portion of the air flow path that is downstream of the first connection is configured to allow the aerosol to pass through it and out of the channel. 6. Cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol is formed in the first connection. 7. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first connection is a T-shaped connection. 8. A cartridge for an evaporation device, containing: an air flow path that defines an air flow path that passes through the cartridge, the air flow path being configured to receive air to allow air to flow into and through the air flow path; And an atomizer that includes an absorbent element that is configured to draw vaporizable substance from the reservoir into the atomizer, a heating element that is configured to vaporize the vaporized substance to produce vaporized substance, and a steam chamber that is in communication with the absorbent element and a channel for air flow; wherein the vapor chamber is configured to allow at least a portion of the evaporated substance to pass through it into the air flow channel, allowing a portion of the evaporated substance to mix with air to form an aerosol outside the atomizer, wherein the absorbent element extends from the first surface to an opposing second surface, with each of the first surface and the second surface extending substantially parallel to the air flow path. 9. The cartridge of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the vapor chamber is defined by an air flow path, wherein the portion of the vapor chamber is made of a permeable material that is configured to allow vaporized material to pass through it into the air flow path. 10. The cartridge of claim 8, wherein the heating element directs heat through a side surface of the absorbent element extending between the first and second surfaces. 11. The cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the side surface is located between the main part of the absorbent element and the steam chamber. 12. The cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the steam chamber includes at least one vent hole that extends between the steam chamber and the air flow channel, wherein said at least one vent hole is configured to direct vaporized substance from the steam chamber chambers into the air flow path. 13. The cartridge of claim 12, wherein the velocity of air flowing adjacent to said at least one vent hole creates a pressure differential across said at least one vent hole and between the steam chamber and the air flow path. 14. Evaporation device containing: main part of the evaporator; And a cartridge that is selectively attached to and removable from the vaporizer body, the cartridge including: an atomizer that includes an absorbent element that is configured to draw vaporizable substance from the reservoir into the atomizer, and a heating element that is configured to vaporize the vaporizable substance to obtain a vaporized substance, and a channel extending through the cartridge from an inlet to an outlet, the channel having an air flow path and a vapor path that intersect at a first connection between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the air flow path is configured to receive air while allowing air to pass through it ; wherein the atomizer is in communication with the vapor path to allow vaporized substance to flow into the vapor path, wherein the vapor path is configured to direct the vaporized substance to the first connection to allow the vaporized substance to mix with air to form an aerosol downstream of the atomizer, wherein the air flow path includes a first air flow path portion and a second air flow path portion, wherein the first air flow path portion is in communication with the atomizer, wherein the first portion of the air flow path and the second portion of the air flow path intersect at a second connection that is located upstream of the first connection, wherein the second connection diverts the first portion of the air into the first portion of the air flow path and through the atomizer, wherein the second connection additionally removes the second part of the air towards the first connection. 15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the main part of the evaporator includes a power source.