Module for powering an electronic smoking device portion

Abstract

The invention relates to a module (40, 140, 240) for powering an electronic smoking device portion (10, 12, 14, 100). The module (40, 140, 240) comprises a first coupling element (41) adapted to connect to the electronic smoking device portion (10, 12, 14, 100), a second coupling element (42) adapted to connect to a portable electronic device (50), and a power supply element (60) adapted for powering the electronic smoking device portion (10, 12, 14, 0). The power supply element (60) comprises an energy storage (60). The module (40, 140, 240) is adapted to supply energy, received from the portable electronic device (50) via the second coupling element (42), to the energy storage (60).

1 . A module for powering an electronic smoking device portion, the module comprising:
 a first coupling element adapted to connect to the electronic smoking device portion,   a second coupling element adapted to connect to a portable electronic device,   a power supply element adapted for powering the electronic smoking device portion, wherein the power supply element comprises an energy storage wherein the module is adapted to supply energy, received from the portable electronic device via the second coupling element, to the energy storage.   
     
     
         2 . The module according to  claim 1 , wherein the energy storage comprises a storage battery adapted to power the electronic smoking device portion via the first coupling element. 
     
     
         3 . The module according to  claim 1 , wherein the energy storage has a capacity between 1 and 5000 milliampere-hours (mAh). 
     
     
         4 . The module according to  claim 1 , wherein the module comprises a controller unit configured to communicate with the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         5 . The module according to  claim 4 , wherein the controller unit is configured to transmit a control signal to the electronic smoking device portion via the first coupling element upon reception of an input signal from the portable electronic device via the second coupling element. 
     
     
         6 . The module according to  claim 4 , wherein the module comprises an activation button operable to generate an activation signal, wherein the controller unit is configured to transmit a power control signal to the electronic smoking device portion upon generation of the activation signal. 
     
     
         7 . The module according to  claim 1 , wherein the power supply element is adapted to transfer electrical power to the electronic smoking device portion via the first coupling element with an electrical current between 0.1 and 5 Amperes. 
     
     
         8 . The module according to  claim 1 , wherein the first coupling element is a female electrical connector, and wherein the female electrical connector is a coaxial connector. 
     
     
         9 . The module according to  claim 1 , wherein the second coupling element is a male electrical connector according to the Micro-USB standard. 
     
     
         10 . The module according to  claim 1 , wherein the module is configured to transmit an identification signal to the portable electronic device upon attachment of the portable electronic device to the second coupling element. 
     
     
         11 . A system for powering an electronic smoking device portion, the system comprising:
 a portable electronic device,   the electronic smoking device portion,   the module according to  claim 1 ,   wherein the portable electronic device is coupled to the module, wherein the electronic smoking device portion is coupled to the module, and   wherein the portable electronic device is configured to supply energy to the module.   
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the portable electronic device is configured to control the electronic smoking device portion via the module. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the portable electronic device comprises a human-machine interface, and wherein the portable electronic device is configured to transmit an input signal to the module upon detection of a user input at the human-machine interface. 
     
     
         14 . A method for powering an electronic smoking device portion by using the module according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
 coupling the portable electronic device to the second coupling element,   supplying energy, from the portable electronic device, to the module via the second coupling element,   coupling the electronic smoking device portion to the first coupling element,   supplying power, from the power supply element to the electronic smoking device portion via the first coupling element.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises:
 communicating with the electronic smoking device portion, via the module, by using a human-machine interface of the portable electronic device.   
     
     
         16 . The module according to  claim 3 , wherein the energy storage has a capacity between 10 and 2500 mAh. 
     
     
         17 . The module according to  claim 16 , wherein the energy storage has a capacity between 30 and 500 mAh. 
     
     
         18 . The module according to  claim 17 , wherein the energy storage has a capacity of approximately 400 mAh. 
     
     
         19 . The module according to  claim 7 , wherein the electrical current is between 0.5 and 4 Amperes. 
     
     
         20 . The module according to  claim 19 , wherein the electrical current is between 1 and 3 Amperes.