Electronic cigarette and method and apparatus for controlling the same

Abstract

An electronic cigarette apparatus that includes a first housing, a power converter situated inside the housing, a power source situated inside the housing for providing power at least indirectly to the power converter, a timer at least indirectly electrically connected to the power source, and one or more sensing components configured to provide a feedback signal to the power converter to allow for regulation of the magnitude of a power converter output voltage, wherein upon receipt of an enabling signal, the power converter output voltage is output across a heating element situated in the first housing or a second housing, and wherein the output voltage is constant.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic cigarette apparatus comprising:
 a voltage regulator situated inside a housing;   a power converter situated inside the housing, wherein the power converter is configured to deliver a current to, and cause establishment of a voltage across, a heating element such that a first power is provided to the heating element;   a power source situated inside the housing for providing second power to the power converter and the voltage regulator;   a timer electrically connected to the voltage regulator;   a switch electrically connected to the power source, wherein upon receipt of an enabling signal from at least one of the switch and the timer, the power converter is configured to output the first power by way of a power converter output; and   one or more sensing components configured to provide a feedback signal to the power converter to regulate one of the current or the voltage.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage from the first power is regulated to be at a constant or substantially constant magnitude for at least one time period generated by the timer. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the current from the first power is regulated to be at a constant or substantially constant magnitude for at least one time period generated by the timer. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more sensing components includes a resistor-based voltage divider circuit. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the power converter is additionally configured to provide multi-stage activation that includes providing a first voltage for a first time period and a second voltage having a different magnitude, for a second time period. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein switching from the first voltage to the second voltage during multi-stage activation is governed by the timer. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein a magnitude of the first voltage is larger than the second voltage. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further including a feedback control component activated by the timer to change the voltage applied to the heating element from the first voltage to the second voltage at the expiration of the first time period. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the feedback control component is a transistor that connects a resistor to a common ground point during activation of the transistor. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is electrically interconnected with a heating element and a reservoir for housing a liquid solution. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage established across the heating element exceeds an output voltage of the power source. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the voltage established across the heating element that exceeds the output voltage of the power source is provided at least in part by an inductor connected to the power converter. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the power source includes two AAA size or AA size 1.2 volt rechargeable batteries connected in series to provide substantially 2.4 volts. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the voltage established across the heating element exceeds 2.4 volts. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the voltage established across the heating element exceeds 2.4 volts, and wherein the constant voltage provided to the heating element that exceeds 2.4 volts is provided at least in part by an inductor connected to the power converter. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the power source includes two AAA size or AA size 1.5 volt disposable batteries connected in series providing 3.0 volts. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the voltage established across the heating element exceeds 3.0 volts. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the voltage established across the heating element exceeds 3.0 volts, and wherein the additional constant voltage provided to the heating element to exceed 3.0 volts is provided at least in part by an inductor connected to the power converter. 
     
     
         19 . An electronic cigarette apparatus comprising:
 a reservoir for receiving a solution therein;   a heating element in communication with at least some of the solution in the reservoir;   a power converter for providing first power to the heating element, wherein to provide the first power the power converter outputs one of a substantially constant current or a substantially constant voltage at a node associated with the power converter;   a power source for providing second power at least indirectly to the power converter; and   one or more sensing components configured to provide a feedback signal to the power converter to allow the power converter to regulate the substantially constant current or the substantially constant voltage;   wherein upon receiving an operating signal, the power converter outputs the first power to the heating element to vaporize at least a portion of the solution.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further including a timer electrically connected to a voltage regulator connected to the power source, wherein the timer provides the operating signal to the power converter. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the one of the substantially constant current or the substantially constant voltage is provided and exceeds a magnitude of an output voltage of the power source bored at least in part upon operation of an inductor connected to the power converter. 
     
     
         22 . A method of controlling an electronic cigarette apparatus comprising:
 actuating a switch to apply a first voltage established by a power source across one or both of a voltage regulator and a power converter;   applying a further voltage from the voltage regulator to a timer;   enabling a counter in the timer;   transmitting an ON signal from the timer to the power converter while the counter is enabled; and   transmitting a substantially constant current from the power converter to a heating element in response to the transmitting of the ON signal from the timer.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further including providing a nicotine-based solution in contact with the heating element, and vaporizing the solution during the transmitting of the substantially constant current to the heating element. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further including maintaining the magnitude of the constant current notwithstanding decreasing voltage at the power source. 
     
     
         25 . A method of controlling an electronic cigarette apparatus comprising:
 activating a switch to transmit first power from a power source to one or both of a voltage regulator and a power converter;   receiving second power from the voltage regulator at a timer;   enabling a timer counter for a first time period;   during the first time period, transmitting an ON signal from the timer to the power converter;   transmitting third power from the power converter to a heating element in response to receiving the ON signal from the timer, wherein the third power includes one of a constant voltage or a constant voltage;   sensing at least one of a current or voltage at a sensor component at least indirectly associated with the heating element; and   regulating the sensed at least one of current or voltage that is outputted from the power converter to the heating element using feedback from the sensing component.   
     
     
         26 . A method of controlling an electronic cigarette apparatus comprising:
 transmitting a first power from a power source at least indirectly to a voltage regulator and a power converter;   receiving a second power from the voltage regulator at a timer;   in response to receiving the second power at the timer, starting a counter on the timer to measure a first time period;   during the first time period, transmitting a first ON signal from the timer to the power converter;   transmitting a first constant voltage from the power converter to a heating element in response to receiving the first ON signal from the timer;   upon expiration of the first time period, ceasing the transmission of the first ON signal and transmitting a second ON signal from the timer to the power converter;   transmitting a second constant voltage from the power converter to the heating element in response to receiving the second voltage ON signal from the timer, wherein the second constant voltage has a lower magnitude than the first constant voltage; and   ceasing transmission of the second constant voltage.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the power source is one or more batteries. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the magnitude of the first constant voltage received by the heating element exceeds the magnitude of the total voltage rating of the one or more batteries when connected in a series configuration. 
     
     
         29 . An electronic cigarette apparatus comprising:
 a first housing;   a power converter situated inside the housing;   a power source situated inside the housing for providing power at least indirectly to the power converter;   a timer at least indirectly electrically connected to the power source; and   one or more sensing components configured to provide a feedback signal to the power converter to allow for regulation of the magnitude of a power converter output voltage,   wherein upon receipt of an enabling signal, the power converter output voltage is output across a heating element situated in the first housing or a second housing, and wherein the output voltage is constant.   
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the power converter sequentially provides a first magnitude of constant voltage to the heating element for a first time period, followed by a second magnitude of constant voltage for a second time period. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the first magnitude of constant voltage is at least 25% higher than the second magnitude of constant voltage. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the timer provides an enabling signal to the power converter to lower the first magnitude of constant voltage to the second magnitude of constant voltage, and wherein the second magnitude of constant voltage is greater than zero. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , further including a feedback control component activated by the timer to change the first magnitude of constant voltage to the second magnitude of constant voltage at the expiration of the first time period. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the feedback control component is a transistor that connects a resistor to a common ground point during activation of the transistor. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the constant voltage provided to the heating element can exceed an output voltage of the power source.