Electronic vaping device having pressure sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12419358-B2
Application number	US-202318457727-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 29, 2023
Priority date	Jun 25, 2015
Publication date	Sep 23, 2025
Grant date	Sep 23, 2025

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,
receive a detection signal based on a control signal, the control signal for controlling detection of whether a cartridge section is being connected to and being disconnected from a power supply section, and
detect attachment events based on the detection signal, the attachment events indicating whether the cartridge section is being attached to or being detached from the power supply section,
wherein the control circuitry includes a cartridge detection circuit including a first resistor having a first end connected to an input terminal and a second end connected to a metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) switch which has a gate connected to a control terminal, a second resistor having a first end connected to a ground terminal and a second end connected to the MOSFET switch and to a base of a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) switch, and wherein the base of the BJT switch is connected to a capacitive structure which is connected to the ground terminal.

2. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to place the e-vaping device in a sleep mode, the sleep mode being a mode in which the control circuitry disables a pressure sensor of the e-vaping device.

3. The controller of claim 2 , wherein the sleep mode is the mode in which the control circuitry reduces a frequency of read requests for the pressure sensor while continuing to check for attachment events.

4. The controller of claim 2 , wherein the sleep mode is the mode in which the control circuitry terminates a read request for the pressure sensor.

5. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to cause the e-vaping device to count a number of the detected attachment events corresponding to the cartridge section being attached to the power supply and being detached from the power supply.

6. The controller of claim 5 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to cause the e-vaping device to select an operation mode from among a plurality of operation modes based on the counted number of the detected attachment events, and operate the e-vaping device according to the selected operation mode.

7. The controller of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of operation modes include a plurality of modes based on profiles associated with different operating preferences.

8. The controller of claim 5 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to cause the device to,
store the detected attachment events during a second time period, and
count the number of the detected attachment events occurring during the second time period.

9. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to cause the e-vaping device to store the detected attachment events in a storage medium for subsequent data collection.

10. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge detection circuit is configured 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.

11. The controller of claim 10 , wherein the cartridge detection circuit includes,
the input 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 detection terminal configured to output the detection signal based on the output voltage.

12. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to control a pressure sensor included in the e-vaping device, wherein the pressure sensor does not compare a differential between an ambient pressure and a non-ambient pressure.

13. The controller of claim 12 , wherein the pressure sensor is configured to detect a threshold pressure change based on a current ambient pressure and a baseline pressure.

14. The controller of claim 13 , wherein the baseline pressure is a rolling average of previous measurements of ambient pressure.

15. The controller of claim 14 , wherein the baseline pressure is determined based on a guard band.

16. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control a microelectromechanical (MEMS) pressure sensor, the MEMS pressure sensor configured to be upstream from a power supply of e-vaping device.

17. The controller of claim 16 , wherein the MEMS sensor is configured to be connected to a cathode of a power supply of the e-vaping device by a wire that extends a length of the power supply.

18. The controller of claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to control at least one light emitting diode, the at least one light emitting diode on a same end of the e-vaping device as a MEMS-based pressure sensor.

19. The controller of claim 16 , wherein the MEMS pressure sensor and the cartridge detection circuit are on a same printed circuit board.

20. An electronic vaping (e-vaping) device comprising:
the controller of claim 1 ; and
a microelectromechanical (MEMS) pressure sensor, wherein
the cartridge detection circuit and the pressure sensor are on a same printed circuit board of the e-vaping device.

21. The controller of claim 1 , wherein a drain of the MOSFET is directly connected to the base of the BJT.

22. The controller of claim 1 , wherein a resistance of the first resistor is the same as a resistance of the second resistor.

23. The controller of claim 1 , wherein a resistance of the first resistor is 10 kilo-ohms.

Assignees

• Altria Client Services Llc

Inventors

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

• H05B1/0244

  Heating of fluids (H05B1/0247 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title

• G01N7/00

  Analysing materials by measuring the pressure or volume of a gas or vapour · CPC title