Apparatus and method for communication and negotiation of charge rate between electronic smoking device and charger

Abstract

Aspects of the instant disclosure relate to electronic cigarettes; more particularly, to electronic cigarettes and chargers. In various embodiments, the e-cigarette includes a power supply portion comprising a power supply, an atomizer/liquid reservoir portion comprising a liquid reservoir and an atomizer, the atomizer operable when connected to the power supply to atomize liquid stored in the liquid reservoir, and control electronics, where the control electronics are configured to execute a set of computer readable instructions to place the electronic smoking device in an operation mode, a communication mode, and a charge mode. Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a charger for an electronic smoking device. Aspects of the disclosure are further directed to a system comprising an electronic smoking device and a charger. Aspects of the disclosure are further directed to a method for charging an electronic smoking device.

1 . An electronic smoking device comprising:
 a power supply portion comprising a power supply,   an atomizer/liquid reservoir portion comprising a liquid reservoir and an atomizer, the atomizer operable when connected to the power supply to atomize liquid stored in the liquid reservoir, and   control electronics, wherein the control electronics are configured to execute a set of computer-readable instructions to place the electronic smoking device in an operation mode, a communication mode, and a charge mode.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 1 , wherein the control electronics are further configured to execute a set of computer-readable instructions to place the electronic smoking device in a low power sleep mode and a light sleep mode. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 1 , wherein the control electronics comprise a plurality of connectors, wherein the plurality of connectors are inside the electronic smoking device and accessible through a corresponding plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of connectors further comprises three connectors that are configured to be electrically connected to a charger. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 2 , wherein the control electronics executes the communication mode after the electronic smoking device is electrically coupled to a charger and the communication mode is configured to determine a charge parameter of the electronic smoking device. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic smoking device of  claim 2 , wherein the charge parameter comprises at least one of a voltage and a current. 
     
     
         7 . A charger for an electronic smoking device comprising:
 a first connection, wherein the first connection further comprises a plurality of connecting pins for electrically connecting to the electronic smoking device,   a second connection, wherein the second connection is configured for electrically connecting to a computing device,   charger control electronics, wherein the charger control electronics comprises a memory, wherein the memory further comprises a set of computer-readable instructions to place the charger in an idle mode, a communication mode and a charge mode.   
     
     
         8 . The charger of  claim 7 , wherein the charger control electronics are further configured to execute a set of computer-readable instructions to place the charger in a disconnect mode. 
     
     
         9 . The charger of  claim 7 , wherein the control electronics further comprise a plurality of connecting pins, wherein a portion of the plurality of connecting pins extend above a surface of the charger. 
     
     
         10 . The charger of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of connecting pins further comprises three connecting pins that are configured to be electrically connected to the corresponding connectors on the electronic smoking device. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 an electronic smoking device comprising
 a battery, 
 an eCig memory storing a first set of computer-readable instructions, and 
 control electronics configured to execute the first set of computer-readable instructions to place the electronic smoking device in a first plurality of modes; and 
   a charger comprising
 a charger memory storing a second set of computer-readable instructions, and 
 a charger processor configured to execute the second set of computer-readable instructions to place the charger in a second plurality of modes; 
   wherein each of the first plurality of modes has at least one complementary mode in the second plurality of modes, and wherein the control electronics and the charger processor are configured to communicate and to negotiate a charge rate for charging the battery when the electronic smoking device is electrically connected to the charger.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first plurality of modes comprises an operation mode, a low power sleep mode, a light sleep mode, a communication mode, and a charge mode: and wherein the second plurality of modes comprises an idle mode, a disconnect mode, a communication mode, and a charge mode. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the communication mode is initiated after the electronic smoking device is electrically connected to a charger, and wherein the communication mode is configured to determine a charge parameter of the electronic smoking device. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising an external processor, wherein the external processor is external to the electronic smoking device and to the charger, and the external processor is configured to communicate with the control electronics when the electronic smoking device is electrically connected to the charger. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first eCig mode of the electronic smoking device is selected from the group consisting of a low power sleep mode, a communication mode, an operation mode, and a light sleep mode, and wherein the second eCig mode is a charge mode. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first charger mode of the charger is selected from a group consisting of an idle mode, a disconnect mode, and a communication mode, and wherein the second charger mode is a charge mode. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first eCig mode comprises an eCig sub-mode selected from the group consisting of a diagnostic mode, a stealth mode, an update mode, a full sleep mode, a travel sleep mode, and a deep sleep mode. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first charger mode comprises a charger sub-mode selected from the group consisting of a diagnostic mode, and an update mode.