WO2020172204A1 - Appareil et procédé pour étalonner un photocapteur sur un dispositif d'inhalation à l'aide de films - Google Patents

Appareil et procédé pour étalonner un photocapteur sur un dispositif d'inhalation à l'aide de films Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2020172204A1
WO2020172204A1 PCT/US2020/018715 US2020018715W WO2020172204A1 WO 2020172204 A1 WO2020172204 A1 WO 2020172204A1 US 2020018715 W US2020018715 W US 2020018715W WO 2020172204 A1 WO2020172204 A1 WO 2020172204A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
vapor
photosensor
information
film
simulation
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2020/018715
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Daniel Freeman
Original Assignee
Indose Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Indose Inc filed Critical Indose Inc
Publication of WO2020172204A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020172204A1/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/17—Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated
    • G01N21/25—Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands
    • G01N21/27—Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands using photo-electric detection ; circuits for computing concentration
    • G01N21/274—Calibration, base line adjustment, drift correction
    • G01N21/278—Constitution of standards
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
    • A61M11/00—Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes
    • A61M11/04—Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes operated by the vapour pressure of the liquid to be sprayed or atomised
    • A61M11/041—Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes operated by the vapour pressure of the liquid to be sprayed or atomised using heaters
    • A61M11/042—Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes operated by the vapour pressure of the liquid to be sprayed or atomised using heaters electrical
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
    • A61M15/00—Inhalators
    • A61M15/06—Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/80—Testing
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
    • A61M15/00—Inhalators
    • A61M15/0065—Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices
    • A61M15/0068—Indicating or counting the number of dispensed doses or of remaining doses
    • A61M15/008—Electronic counters
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
    • A61M16/00—Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes
    • A61M16/0003—Accessories therefor, e.g. sensors, vibrators, negative pressure
    • A61M2016/0027—Accessories therefor, e.g. sensors, vibrators, negative pressure pressure meter
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
    • A61M2205/00—General characteristics of the apparatus
    • A61M2205/33—Controlling, regulating or measuring
    • A61M2205/3306—Optical measuring means
    • A61M2205/3313—Optical measuring means used specific wavelengths
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
    • A61M2205/00—General characteristics of the apparatus
    • A61M2205/50—General characteristics of the apparatus with microprocessors or computers
    • A61M2205/502—User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
    • A61M2205/00—General characteristics of the apparatus
    • A61M2205/70—General characteristics of the apparatus with testing or calibration facilities
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
    • A61M2209/00—Ancillary equipment
    • A61M2209/02—Equipment for testing the apparatus

Definitions

  • Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus and a method to calibrate a photosensor, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method to calibrate a photosensor included in an inhalation device by using vapor simulation films.
  • Inhalation devices are devices that ignite a substance, such as tobacco or marijuana, for user consumption.
  • a substance such as tobacco or marijuana
  • Many different types of inhalation devices such as e- cigarettes, vaporizers, etc., are currently available on the market.
  • These inhalation devices may have many different types of technical features, such as different types of batteries, different types of cartridges or pods that contain the substance to be smoked, etc.
  • users may want to consume a specific and precise amount of a substance when using an inhalation device.
  • the user may desire to limit the amount of consumed substance for medical reasons or for financial reasons.
  • a user may need to consume a precisely measured fraction (dose) of a substance during a single sitting.
  • a user of medical marijuana may need to consume a certain predetermined amount, such as a certain number of milligrams, of active ingredient(s) of medical marijuana during a single sitting.
  • vapor sensing technologies There are different types of vapor sensing technologies that can be used to measure the amount of vapor inhaled by the user, and thereby ensure that the user is inhaling the correct dosage.
  • the vapor sensing technology should be properly calibrated to ensure that the dosage measurements output to the user are accurate.
  • the process of calibrating vapor sensing technologies is very labor intensive and inefficient.
  • Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus and method, which enable a user to easily and efficiently calibrate a photosensor, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method which enable a user to easily and efficiently calibrate a photosensor included in an inhalation device by using films that simulate different characteristics of vapor.
  • a calibration system to be used in an inhalation device, the calibration system including: an emitter configured to emit electromagnetic radiation as a beam; a photosensor configured to receive the emitted beam; a calibrator including a vapor simulation film configured to be inserted between the emitter and the photosensor, the vapor simulation film including film information that simulates a physical characteristic of vapor; and a processor configured to correlate the film information with beam information obtained by detecting the beam as the beam is transmitted through the vapor simulation film, to store the correlated information as calibration information, and to calibrate the photosensor using the stored calibration information.
  • the physical characteristic of vapor may be vapor density.
  • the calibrator may include a plurality of vapor simulation films, each of the vapor simulation films including different film information that simulates different vapor densities of the vapor.
  • the calibration system may further include: a reservoir to contain a smokable substance containing an active ingredient; and an indicator configured to indicate that a predetermined quantity of the active ingredient has been inhaled by a user of the inhalation device, and the processor may be further configured to use the calibration information to determine whether the predetermined quantity of the active ingredient has been inhaled, and to control the indicator based on the determination.
  • a calibrator configured to calibrate a photosensor included in an inhalation device including an emitter configured to emit electromagnetic radiation as a beam and the photosensor configured to receive the emitted beam, the calibrator including: a vapor simulation film configured to be inserted between the emitter and the photosensor, the vapor simulation film including film information that simulates a physical characteristic of vapor.
  • the physical characteristic of vapor may be vapor density.
  • the calibrator may include a plurality of vapor simulation films, each of the vapor simulation films including different film information that simulates different vapor densities of the vapor.
  • a method of calibrating a photosensor included in an inhalation device including: inserting a calibrator including a vapor simulation film between an emitter included in the inhalation device and the photosensor, the vapor simulation film including film information that simulates a physical characteristic of vapor, the emitter being configured to emit electromagnetic radiation as a beam, and the photosensor configured to receive the emitted beam; emitting, via the emitter, the beam; receiving, via the photosensor, the emitted beam; and correlating the film information with beam information obtained by the receiving of the beam as the beam is transmitted through the vapor simulation film, and storing the correlated information as calibration information.
  • FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an inhalation device having a photosensor, according to an exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a calibrator that uses actual vapor and an analytical quantification system to calibrate a photosensor
  • FIG. 3A is a plurality of vapor simulation films constituting a calibrator for a photosensor, according to an exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a calibration system that uses the calibrator shown in FIG. 3A, according to an exemplary embodiment.
  • FIG. 4 is a method of generating calibration information for a photosensor, according to an exemplary embodiment.
  • the term “inhalation device” and similar terms may refer to many different types of inhalation devices that are used to smoke substances, such as e-cigarettes, vapes, vaporizers, vape pens, vaporizing machines, hookah pens, e-pipes, etc.
  • the inhalation device may include one or more electronic components, e.g., batteries, that are used to facilitate the smoking of a substance.
  • the term“substance” and similar terms when used in the context of a substance that is smoked or smokable, may refer to many different types of substances, such as tobaccos, oils, liquids, medical drugs, and plant herbs, and is not limited to any particular substance or group of substances.
  • FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an inhalation device having a photosensor, according to an exemplary embodiment.
  • the inhalation device 100 includes a battery 102, a heating element 104, a wick 106, a reservoir 108 containing a substance 110, a pressure sensor 112, a processor 114, a memory 116, a timer 118, an emitter 120 (e.g., an electronic device configured to emit visible light, infrared (IR), ultraviolet (UV), etc.), a photosensor 122 (e.g., a photodiode), an indicator 124, a quantity meter 126, an inlet 128, an outlet 130, and a body 132.
  • IR infrared
  • UV ultraviolet
  • the battery 102 provides electrical power to various components in the inhalation device 100, including the heating element 104, the pressure sensor 112, the processor 114, the memory 116, the timer 118, the emitter 120, the photosensor 122, and the indicator 124.
  • the battery 102 may be many different types (e.g., rechargeable batteries, etc.) as would be appreciated by an artisan having ordinary skill in the art.
  • the heating element 104 is an element designed to heat up the wick 106 and thereby vaporize the substance 110.
  • the heating element 104 may be made of many different types of materials, such as metal, ceramics, glass, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the heating element 104 may be designed in many different shapes, such as a coil, a rod, etc. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the heating element 104 is exemplarily shown in a curved shape, but is not limited thereto.
  • the reservoir 108 is a housing that contains the substance 110.
  • the reservoir 108 may be detachably attachable to the body 132 of the inhalation device 100 and may be implemented in many different configurations known to those skilled in the art, e.g., pods, cartridges, etc. Alternatively, the reservoir 108 simply may be an opening or cavity designed to receive the substance 110.
  • the substance 110 may be many different types of smokable substances, such as tobaccos, oils, liquids, medical drugs, or plant herbs.
  • the pressure sensor 112 is a sensor that is designed to sense the air pressure in the vicinity of the outlet 130.
  • the pressure sensor 112 is a device that can convert a detected pressure value into an electrical signal.
  • the pressure sensor 112 may be implemented using many different types of pressure sensing technologies, such as micro air flow sensors, differential pressure sensors, strain gauges, fiber optics, mechanical deflection, semiconductor piezoresistive, microelectricalmechanical systems (MEMS), vibrating elements, variable capacitance, etc.
  • MEMS microelectricalmechanical systems
  • the air pressure in the area around the outlet 130 decreases when the user inhales, thereby causing the vapor in the inhalation device 100 to flow towards the area of low air pressure (the area around the outlet 130) , and into the user's lungs.
  • a greater change in air pressure generally results in a greater quantity of vaporized substance being consumed by the user.
  • the pressure sensor 112 is implemented as a differential pressure sensor, the pressure sensor 112 detects this change in air pressure, converts the detected values to an electrical signal, and transmits the electrical signal to the processor 114.
  • the processor can use these signals for various purposes including initiating and terminating operation of the heating element, calculation of an airflow value, and optional control of heating element intensity.
  • the pressure sensor 112 is designed to be used in a small portable device (i.e. , the inhalation device 100), the pressure sensor 112 may be designed as a relatively small and highly sensitive micro air pressure sensor that is capable of detecting tiny changes in air pressure (e.g., a fraction of a pascal), although is not limited thereto.
  • the processor 114 is a hardware component (e.g., a circuit) configured to control the operations of the other electrical components in the inhalation device 100. To achieve this, the processor 114 transmits and receives electrical signals to and from the other electrical components.
  • a hardware component e.g., a circuit
  • the memory 116 stores many different types of information and programs used to facilitate the process of a user inhaling the correct dosage of the substance 110.
  • the memory 116 stores data and programs used to calibrate certain components in the inhalation device 100, such as the emitter 120 and photosensor 122, the pressure sensor 112, etc.
  • the memory 116 may further store information used to smoke the substance 110, such as information related to an amount of the substance 110 stored in the reservoir 108, a consumption amount, timer information, etc.
  • the memory 116 may store many other types of information, such as battery information, customized user information, etc.
  • the timer 118 provides metering information to the user.
  • the processor 114 controls the timer 118 such that when a user inhales using the inhalation device 100, the processor 114 will start the timer 118 simultaneously with the heating element 104 to begin vaporizing the substance 110. After the timer 118 has reached a particular value, a particular amount of the substance 110 will have been vaporized, and the timer 118 will shut off or send a signal to the indicator 124 to alert the user.
  • the emitter 120 may be configured to emit electromagnetic radiation as a beam.
  • the emitter 120 may emit a wide range of visible light wavelengths or non-visible electromagnetic radiation (e.g., infrared (IR), ultraviolet (UV), etc).
  • the emitter 120 may be, for example, an LED, although is not limited thereto.
  • the emitter 120 emits the visible light towards the photosensor 122 (e.g., a photodiode), and based on the received light, the photosensor 120 can detect the concentration of vapor in the air and transmit an electrical signal to the processor 114 indicating the detected concentration. This feature is useful to assist a user in determining an amount of vaporized substance being consumed.
  • the emitter 120 and photosensor 122 may be implemented in many different configurations, may be spaced apart from each other in many different arrangements, and may use many different types of signals (e.g., visible light, ultraviolet, infrared, etc.).
  • the photosensor 122 is an electronic device that is configured to detect many different types of electromagnetic radiation, such as visible light, IR, UV, etc., and may, for example, be implemented as a photodiode.
  • a photodiode is a device that converts light into an electrical signal and may be many different types, e.g., a PN photodiode, a PIN photodiode, an avalanche photodiode, etc.
  • the photodiode outputs an electrical signal based on the intensity of the received light, where the electrical signal changes as the intensity of the received light changes.
  • the photosensor 122 can detect a vapor concentration based on the intensity of detected light.
  • the photosensor 122 is exemplarily described herein as being implemented as a photodiode, the photosensor 122 is not limited thereto, and may instead be implemented as any other device capable of detecting a received signal.
  • the photosensor 122 may be implemented as a photo-voltaic light sensor, photo-emissive light sensor, photo-resistor, photo conductor, passive infrared sensor (PIR sensor), ultraviolet (UV) light sensor, or some other type of sensing device.
  • PIR sensor passive infrared sensor
  • UV light sensor ultraviolet
  • the photosensor 122 is exemplarily described as being configured to receive and process visible light, exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto, and the emitter 120 and photosensor 122 may be configured to emit and receive many different types of radiation, e.g., visible light, infra red, ultraviolet, etc.
  • the emitter 120 and the photosensor 122 are exemplarily illustrated as being disposed directly across from each other in FIGS. 1 , 2, and 3B, exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto, and the emitter 120 and the photosensor 122 may be arranged in many different positions relative to each other.
  • the photosensor 122 may be arranged on the same substrate as the emitter 120, may be arranged at a predetermined angle relative to a light emission direction of the emitter 120, or may be arranged in another configuration altogether.
  • the indicator light 124 transmits a light or other feedback to the user to indicate that a certain event has occurred.
  • the indicator light 124 may light up when the processor 114 determines that a certain quantity of substance 110 has been consumed.
  • the indicator light 124 is not limited to transmitting a light beam, and may instead generate many other types of indications, e.g., audio, visual, haptic feedback, etc.
  • the quantity meter 126 is indicia that indicates a quantity of the substance 110 that been consumed.
  • the quantity meter 126 may include a series of hash marks oriented along an axis where the hash marks function as indicia of units of the substance 110 being consumed.
  • the hash marks may be evenly spaced apart from each other to indicate a cumulative increase in a quantity of the substance 110 being consumed.
  • each of the hash marks can represent 1 milligram (mg) of the active ingredient in substance 110.
  • the hash marks may also be unevenly spaced apart to account for resin buildup which increases the concentration of an active ingredient (e.g., TFIC) during smoking.
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a calibrator 200 that uses actual vapor and an analytical quantification system to calibrate a photosensor.
  • the calibrator 200 includes a vapor capturing device 208 which captures actual vapor and an analytical quantification system 210 which analyzes the captured vapor.
  • the substance 110 is ignited by heat 202 and thereby vaporized into vapor 204, which is drawn out through the opening 130 and captured by the vapor capturing device 208.
  • the vapor 204 can be pulled into the vapor capturing device 208 using many different types of air suction devices (e.g., fans, etc.), and the vapor capturing device 208 shown in FIG. 2 is a simplified illustration for ease of explanation.
  • air suction devices e.g., fans, etc.
  • the emitter 120 emits a light beam 206 that passes through the vapor 204 and is received by the photosensor 122.
  • the light beam 206 (also referred to as a "beam") can be visible light or other types of electromagnetic radiation (e.g., IR or UV).
  • the photosensor 122 measures the intensity of the light beam 206 and stores the measured intensity in the memory 114.
  • the vapor 204 that has been captured in the vapor capturing device 208 is placed into the analytical quantification system 210 which analyzes the vapor 204 to determine characteristics of the vapor 204 (e.g., density of particles, concentration of active ingredient, etc.).
  • the analytical quantification system 210 can calibrate the photosensor 122 of the inhalation device 100.
  • the emitter 120 when the vapor 204 is passing through the opening 130, the emitter 120 emits a light beam 206 and the photosensor 122 detects the light beam 206 and determines that the light beam 206 has an intensity ⁇ ”.
  • the same vapor 204 which is captured by the vapor capturing device 208, is analyzed by the analytical quantification system 210 and determined to have an active ingredient concentration of “x”. Based on this information, the intensity ⁇ ” can be correlated with the determined active ingredient concentration“x”, and the correlation can be stored in the memory 116.
  • This calibration process can then be repeated for different scenarios, e.g., different vapor concentrations, different types of substances, etc., and the correlations can each be stored in the memory 116 of the inhalation device 100 to form a complete set of calibration information.
  • the photosensor 122 can be calibrated for a wide range of different types of vapor and a wide range of different types of substances, and this calibration information can be stored in the memory 116 to be used by the processor 114 to measure consumption amounts during actual smoking sessions.
  • the processor 114 can lookup the active ingredient concentration“x” corresponding to the detected intensity ⁇ ”, and based on this information, can determine a quantity of the active ingredient being consumed by the user.
  • the calibrator 200 shown in FIG. 2 and described above suffers from several technical problems.
  • the calibrator 200 requires actual vapor to be used, and to create the actual vapor, the substance 110 must be ignited, which is a waste of the substance 110 and a burden on the heating elements.
  • the calibrator 200 requires a user to repeatedly ignite the substance 110, capture the vapor, and analyze the captured vapor using the analytical quantification system 210 for many different scenarios, which is labor intensive and inefficient.
  • the calibrator 200 requires using several pieces of complex hardware, including the vapor capturing device 208 and the analytical quantification system 210.
  • the photodiode sensor calibrator 200 is wasteful, inefficient, and expensive.
  • a plurality of films (also referred to as “vapor simulation films”) is provided which simulate certain characteristics of the vapor 204 and thereby function as and constitute a calibrator.
  • FIG. 3A illustrates a plurality of vapor simulation films 300 constituting a calibrator for a photosensor, according to an exemplary embodiment.
  • the plurality of vapor simulation films 300 include a first vapor simulation film 300-1 , a second vapor simulation film, 300-2, up to an nth vapor simulation film 300-n, where n can be any positive integer.
  • each of the vapor simulation films 300 are configured to simulate certain physical characteristics of a known vapor.
  • the vapor simulation films 300 may be configured to simulate a density of particles of a known vapor, the density corresponding to an active ingredient concentration.
  • each of the vapor simulation films 300 can be designed to simulate a different density (e.g., vapor simulation film 300-1 simulates a density“x” corresponding to an active ingredient concentration“y”, vapor simulation film 300-2 simulates a density“2x” corresponding to an active ingredient concentration“2y”, etc.).
  • the vapor simulation films 300 are not limited to simulating densities of vapor, and may instead simulate many other physicals characteristics of vapors as well, such as particle size, volume, mass, light scattering properties, etc.
  • the vapor simulation films 300 may simulate physical vapor characteristics of the same type of substance (e.g., marijuana), or may simulate physical vapor characteristics of different types of substances (e.g., tobacco and marijuana). Additionally, the vapor simulation films 300 may be combined to simulate physical vapor characteristics of different combinations of vapors. [0045]
  • the vapor simulation films 300 may be formed of many different types of materials and are not limited to any particular type of material. For example, the vapor simulation films 300 may be formed of many different types of plastic, glass, acrylic, paper, wood, plant-based materials (e.g., leaves, grasses), animal-based materials (e.g., leather), or combinations thereof.
  • the vapor simulation films 300 may be configured as a solid material throughout, or may be configured as a solid material having liquid and/or gas components.
  • the vapor simulation films 300 may be formed as solid plastic films, or alternatively, may be formed as hollow plastic films having a liquid and/or gas (such as the actual vapor to be tested) contained therein.
  • the vapor simulation films 300 may be configured to be used alone or in combination with each other, and accordingly, may be designed to physically interlock with each other in various ways.
  • FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a calibration system that uses the calibrator shown in FIG. 3A, according to an exemplary embodiment.
  • FIG. 3B exemplarily illustrates the film 300-1 being inserted into the opening 130, to simulate the physical characteristics of a vapor corresponding to the film 300-1.
  • the term“ calibration system” may refer to a combination of the calibrator 300 shown in FIG. 3A (i.e. , the vapor simulation films 300), along with various electronic components of the inhalation device 100, such as the emitter 120 and/or the photosensor 122, etc.
  • a user initiates a calibration mode on the inhalation device 100.
  • the user can initiate the calibration mode in many different ways, such as by pressing a button on the inhalation device 100 (e.g., the indicator 124 may also function as a button) or otherwise controlling the processor 114 using an input unit to initiate the calibration mode.
  • the user inserts vapor simulation film 300-1 into the opening 130.
  • the vapor simulation film 300-1 can be inserted into the opening 130 in several different ways, e.g., by hand, by a machine, etc.
  • the vapor simulation film 300-1 simulates physical characteristics of a known vapor.
  • the vapor simulation film 300-1 simulates the density“d” of a known vapor having an active ingredient concentration“x” by having a pattern of dots or other types of material formed thereon or therein that simulate the desired vapor when light passes through the vapor simulation film 300-1.
  • This information regarding the density “d” and the corresponding active ingredient concentration “x” may also be referred to as“film information” and is stored in the memory 1 16 either before the calibration process or during the calibration process.
  • the emitter 120 emits a light beam 206 that passes through the vapor simulation film 300-1 and is received by the photosensor 122.
  • the photosensor 122 converts the detected light beam into an electrical signal having information related to the detected light beam (also referred to as“light beam information”), such as, for example, the intensity of the detected light beam, and transmits the electrical signal to the processor 114, which correlates the light beam information with the film information and stores the correlated information in the memory 116.
  • the correlated information defines a relationship between vapor density , active ingredient concentration, and detected light intensity.
  • the photosensor 122 can determine, based on the detected intensity“I” and the stored correlation information, the active ingredient concentration being consumed by the user is“x” during a given time period.
  • the subsequent vapor simulation films 300-2 through 300-n may be designed to simulate a gradually increasing vapor density which has a positive correlation with the active ingredient concentration (because increased vapor density corresponds to increased active ingredient) and an inverse correlation with the detected light intensity (because increased vapor density causes a decrease in light intensity).
  • the first vapor simulation film 300-1 may simulate a vapor density“di” corresponding to an active ingredient concentration“xi”
  • the second vapor simulation film 300-2 may simulate a vapor density W corresponding to an active ingredient concentration“X2” which is greater than“xi”
  • the nth film may simulate a vapor density“d n ” corresponding to an active ingredient concentration“x n ” which is greater than “X2”.
  • the photosensor 122 may detect that the film 300-1 has a detected light intensity“h”
  • the film 300-2 has a detected light intensity "I2", which is less than "h”
  • the film 300-n has a detected light intensity "l n ", which is less than "I2”.
  • the mathematical relationship between the active ingredient concentration x and detected light intensity I may be many different types of relationships, such as inverse linear, inverse non-linear, etc., and may be calculated based on many different types of mathematical criteria.
  • the processor 114 correlates the film information of the vapor simulation films with the corresponding detected light intensities, and stores this correlated information in the memory 116.
  • the collective set of correlation information may also be referred to as“calibration information” or something similar, and may cover a wide range of vapor densities and substances.
  • the photosensor 122 can be calibrated so that, in actual smoking sessions, the photosensor 122 can accurately determine the active ingredient concentration being consumed by the user based on the detected light intensity and the calibration information stored in the memory 116.
  • FIG. 4 is a method of generating calibration information for a photodiode sensor, according to an exemplary embodiment.
  • the description of the method 400 shown in FIG. 4 exemplarily refers to hardware components described above with respect to FIGS. 1 -3B, these references are only for the sake of explanation, and are not intended to limit the method of FIG. 4. Instead, the method 400 shown in FIG. 4 may be used with many different types of apparatuses that are modified from those shown in FIGS. 1 -3B.
  • a user initiates a calibration mode of the inhalation device 100.
  • the user presses a button on the inhalation device 100 itself, or controls the processor 114 to enter the calibration mode by using an external hardware device, such as a computer connected to the inhalation device 100 via a wired or wireless connection.
  • the user inserts the film M into the inhalation device 100 and stores film information corresponding to the film M. To insert the film M, the user may manually insert the film M into the opening 130 of the inhalation device 100 or use a machine to insert the film M.
  • the film M simulates physical characteristics of a vapor, such as a vapor density and a corresponding active ingredient concentration x.
  • the information regarding the simulated physical characteristics of film M may also be referred to as“film information”.
  • the film information can be stored in the memory 116 using many different techniques. For example, the film information can be stored in the memory 116 in advance, can be automatically detected and downloaded by the inhalation device 100 when the film M is inserted (e.g., using RFID devices or other types of passive or active memory devices), can be manually stored by the user using an externally connected computer, etc.
  • the emitter 120 emits a light beam 206 through the film M and the photosensor 122 receives the light beam 206, converts the detected light beam 206 into an electrical signal including information related to the detected light beam (also referred to as“light beam information”), such as, for example, the intensity of the detected light beam, and outputs the electrical signal to the processor 114.
  • the photosensor 122 receives the light beam 206, converts the detected light beam 206 into an electrical signal including information related to the detected light beam (also referred to as“light beam information”), such as, for example, the intensity of the detected light beam, and outputs the electrical signal to the processor 114.
  • the processor 114 correlates the light beam information received from the photosensor 122 with the film information stored in the memory 116 and stores the correlated information in the memory 116.
  • the apparatus and method according to exemplary embodiments achieve several significant advantages over the related art.
  • Third, by using the plurality of vapor simulation films 300 it is not necessary to use complex calibration hardware such as the vapor capturing device 208 and the analytical quantification system 210, thereby saving money and reducing complexity.
  • the plurality of vapor simulation films 300 can be designed to precise user specifications, and thereby achieve a highly accurate calibration.
  • the calibration information obtained by using the vapor simulation films 300 may be used in combination with other types of information to precisely monitor a quantity of substance being consumed.
  • the dose of an active ingredient consumed by a user is affected by a combination of different variables, including the vapor density, the length of time of inhalation, the pressure of the air flow, and other factors.
  • additional hardware components of the inhalation device 100 may be utilized in combination with the photodiode calibration apparatus.
  • the timer 118 may be used to measure the length of time of inhalation
  • the pressure sensor 112 may be used to measure the air flow during inhalation, etc.

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système d'étalonnage à utiliser dans un dispositif d'inhalation (100) comprenant : un émetteur (120) configuré pour émettre un rayonnement électromagnétique sous la forme d'un faisceau (206) ; un photocapteur (122) configuré pour recevoir le faisceau émis ; un calibreur comprenant un film de simulation de vapeur (300-1) configuré pour être inséré entre l'émetteur et le photocapteur, le film de simulation de vapeur comprenant des informations de film qui simulent une caractéristique physique de la vapeur ; et un processeur configuré pour corréler les informations de film avec des informations de faisceau obtenues par détection du faisceau lorsque celui-ci est transmis à travers le film de simulation de vapeur, pour stocker les informations corrélées en tant qu'informations d'étalonnage, et pour étalonner le photocapteur à l'aide des informations d'étalonnage stockées.
PCT/US2020/018715 2019-02-22 2020-02-19 Appareil et procédé pour étalonner un photocapteur sur un dispositif d'inhalation à l'aide de films WO2020172204A1 (fr)

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US62/809,241 2019-02-22

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Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2524779A (en) * 2014-04-02 2015-10-07 Cigtronica Ltd Inhalation device
US20170138843A1 (en) * 2015-11-18 2017-05-18 Robert Bosch Gmbh Method for calibrating an optical fluid sensor
US20180333547A1 (en) * 2015-12-07 2018-11-22 Daniel Freeman Inhalation device with consumption metering including one or more airflow sensors
WO2019014373A1 (fr) * 2017-07-11 2019-01-17 Arizona Board Of Regents On Behalf Of Arizona State University Détection et surveillance de distribution de dose pour cires, solides ou huiles visqueuses vaporisés, et cannabinoïdes

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2524779A (en) * 2014-04-02 2015-10-07 Cigtronica Ltd Inhalation device
US20170138843A1 (en) * 2015-11-18 2017-05-18 Robert Bosch Gmbh Method for calibrating an optical fluid sensor
US20180333547A1 (en) * 2015-12-07 2018-11-22 Daniel Freeman Inhalation device with consumption metering including one or more airflow sensors
WO2019014373A1 (fr) * 2017-07-11 2019-01-17 Arizona Board Of Regents On Behalf Of Arizona State University Détection et surveillance de distribution de dose pour cires, solides ou huiles visqueuses vaporisés, et cannabinoïdes

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