Electronic vaping device having pressure sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10736356-B2
Application number	US-201615191778-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2016
Priority date	Jun 25, 2015
Publication date	Aug 11, 2020
Grant date	Aug 11, 2020

Abstract

At least one example embodiment discloses a section of an electronic-vaping device including a pressure sensor configured to measure a current ambient pressure, the pressure sensor further configured to output the current ambient pressure measurement in accordance with a read request frequency, and a controller configured to determine a mode of operation of the electronic-vaping device, control the read request frequency based on the determined mode of operation, and detect a threshold pressure change based on the current ambient pressure and a baseline pressure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A controller of an electronic vaping (e-vaping) device, comprising:
control circuitry configured to cause the e-vaping device to,
generate a control signal for controlling detection of whether a cartridge section is connected to a power supply section,
receive a detection signal based on the control signal,
detect attachment events based on the detection signal, the attachment events indicating whether the cartridge section is attached to or detached from the power supply section, and
enter a sleep mode if a first time period elapses after one of the detected attachment events; and
a cartridge detector to cause the controller to,
receive an input voltage from an anode of a connecting portion of the power supply section, the connecting portion detachably connecting the power supply section to the cartridge section,
divide the input voltage to generate an output voltage, and
generate the detection signal based on the output voltage,
the cartridge detector including,
a first terminal configured to receive the input voltage from the connecting portion of the power supply section,
a voltage divider configured to divide the input voltage to generate the output voltage, and
a second terminal configured to output the detection signal based on the output voltage, wherein the voltage divider includes,
a first resistive element connected to the first terminal;
a second resistive element connected to a common voltage; and
a first switching element connected between the first resistive element and the second resistive element, the first switching element being configured to receive a control signal to control a frequency at which the voltage divider generates the detection signal.

2. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge detector further comprises:
a second switching element configured to operate according to the output voltage to generate the detection signal.

3. The controller of claim 2 , wherein
the first switching element and the second switching element are transistors,
the control circuitry is configured to apply the control signal to a gate of the first switching element, and
the voltage divider is configured to apply the output voltage to a gate of the second switching element.

Assignees

• Altria Client Services Llc

Inventors

• Jordan Geoffrey Brandon
• Diana Phillip
• Sundberg Sean
• Bennett David
• Tucker Christopher S
• Smith Barry S
• Cadieux Edmond J
• Burton Douglas A
• Butler Paul
• Keen Jarrett
• Cobler Patrick J
• Cao Kai

Classifications

• H02J7/47

  Arrangements for checking compatibility or authentication between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source · CPC title

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• G01R31/66

  Testing of connections, e.g. of plugs or non-disconnectable joints (testing for incorrect line connections G01R31/55) · CPC title

• G01L19/0092

  Pressure sensor associated with other sensors, e.g. for measuring acceleration or temperature (G01L9/025, G01L9/045, G01L9/065, G01L9/085, G01L9/105, G01L9/125, G01L19/02, G01L19/04 take precedence; measuring two or more variable G01D21/02; temperature sensors with pressure compensation G01K1/26) · CPC title

• A24F40/60

  Devices with integrated user interfaces · CPC title