Power Optimization Electronic Cigarette Device

Abstract

A power optimization electronic cigarette device is configured to be reusable for a limited number of refills through use of an easily accessible liquid refilling structure, before ultimately becoming disposable. The electronic cigarette device takes advantage of multiple heating wires that can be selectively operated to vaporize the liquid solution. The selective use of one heating wire, from two or more heating wires serves to extend the life span thereof. A sensor detects the air flow generated from inhaling through the electronic cigarette and triggers the heating wires to generate heat while the electronic cigarette is in use. In another power optimization function, the electronic cigarette device comprises a circuit board that detects available power in a battery, and an illumination member that variably illuminates to indicate remaining battery power. The electronic cigarette also provides a USB charging port for recharging the battery.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic cigarette device comprising
 a mouthpiece at a proximal end of the device, the mouthpiece defining a mouthpiece air passageway and an outlet opening, the mouthpiece air passageway and outlet opening adapted and configured to allow an inhalable stream of air and an airborne substance to pass through the mouthpiece via the mouthpiece air passageway and into a user's mouth via the outlet opening when a user inhales on the mouthpiece through the outlet opening;   a housing, the housing defining a housing air passageway extending therethrough, the housing air passageway being in fluid communication with the mouthpiece air passageway;   an electrical system, the electrical system comprising a battery, a heating wire, and at least one illumination member;   the heating wire being adapted and configured to produce heat when an electric current flows through the heating wire;   the electrical system being adapted and configured to detect a charge level of he battery, and, when the device is in use, to:
 transmit electric current from the battery to the heating wire to cause the heating wire to produce heat to heat a substance that is in fluid communication with the housing air passageway, so as to render airborne at least a portion of the substance, so as to produce said inhalable stream in the housing air passageway; 
 when the detected charge level is no less than a first threshold charge level, transmit current from the battery to the at least one illumination member so as to cause the at least one illumination member to emit a first color of light; 
 when the detected charge level is less than the first threshold charge level and no less than a second threshold charge level, transmit current from the battery to the at least one illumination member so as to cause the at least one illumination member to emit a second color of light different from the first color of light. 
   
     
     
         2 . The electronic cigarette device of  claim 1 , further comprising a liquid container, the liquid container defining a fluid chamber adapted and configured to contain an e-liquid, the liquid container defining at least one inlet hole in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and the housing air passageway to permit e-liquid in the fluid chamber to pass from the fluid chamber to the housing air passageway, the heating wire being adapted and configured to atomize or vaporize at least a portion of the e-liquid in the housing air passageway when the electric current transmitted to the heating wire by the electrical system flows through the heating wire. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic cigarette device of  claim 2 , wherein the housing comprises a proximal housing member connected to a distal housing member, the liquid container comprising at least a portion of the proximal housing member. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic cigarette device of  claim 3 , wherein the illumination member is housed within a cavity defined by the distal housing member, at least a portion of the proximal housing member being transparent to allow light from the illumination member to be visibly transmitted through the transparent portion when the illumination member emits the first color of light and when the illumination member emits the second color of light, so that a person of ordinary unaided vision can discern that the second color of light transmitted through the transparent portion is a different color of light from the first color of light transmitted through the transparent portion. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic cigarette device of  claim 3 , wherein the proximal housing member is permanently connected to the distal housing member, the distal housing member permanently housing the battery. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic cigarette device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical system further comprises a circuit board, the circuit board being permanently electrically wired to at least one terminal of the battery, and the circuit board being permanently electrically wired to the heating wire. 
     
     
         7 . An electronic cigarette device comprising
 a mouthpiece at a proximal end of the device, the mouthpiece defining a mouthpiece air passageway and an outlet opening, the mouthpiece air passageway and outlet opening adapted and configured to allow an inhalable stream of air and an airborne substance to pass through the mouthpiece via the mouthpiece air passageway and into a user's oral cavity via the outlet opening when a user inhales on the mouthpiece through the outlet opening;   a housing, the housing defining a housing air passageway extending therethrough, the housing air passageway being in fluid communication with the mouthpiece air passageway;   a battery;   a first heating wire, the first heating wire being adapted and configured to produce heat when electric current flows through the first heating wire, to heat a substance that is in fluid communication with the housing air passageway, so that at least a portion of the substance so heated becomes airborne to produce said inhalable stream in the housing air passageway;   a second heating wire, the second heating wire being adapted and configured to produce heat when electric current flows through the second heating wire, to heat a substance that is in fluid communication with the housing air passageway, so that at least a portion of the substance so heated becomes airborne to produce said inhalable stream in the housing air passageway;   a switch, the switch having a first switch position and a second switch position, the switch being adapted and configured to, when in the first switch position, complete a first circuit to transmit current from the battery through the first heating wire, and when in the second switch position, complete a second circuit to transmit current from the battery through the second heating wire;   a manual switch actuator, the manual switch actuator being mounted to the housing so as to be manually movable by a user to and from a first switch actuator position and a second switch actuator position, the manual switch actuator being operatively connected to the switch so as to cause the switch to move to the first switch position when the manual switch actuator moves to the first switch actuator position and to cause the switch to move to the second switch position when the manual switch actuator moves to the second switch actuator position.   
     
     
         8 . The electronic cigarette device of claim further comprising a liquid container, the liquid container defining a fluid chamber adapted and configured to contain an e-liquid, the liquid container defining at least one inlet hole in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and the housing air passageway to permit e-liquid in the fluid chamber to pass from the fluid chamber to the housing air passageway, each of the first heating wire and the second heating wire being adapted and configured to atomize or vaporize at least a portion of the e-liquid in the housing air passageway when the electric current transmitted to the heating wire by the electrical system flows through the respective one of the first heating wire and the second heating wire. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic cigarette device of  claim 8 , wherein the housing comprises a proximal housing member connected to a distal housing member, the liquid container comprising at least a portion of the proximal housing member. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic cigarette device of  claim 9 , wherein the proximal housing member is permanently connected to the distal housing member, the distal housing member permanently housing the battery. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic cigarette device of  claim 7 , further comprising a circuit board, the circuit board being permanently electrically wired to at least one terminal of the battery, and the circuit board being permanently electrically wired to the first heating wire and to the second heating wire, 
     
     
         12 . An electronic cigarette device comprising
 a mouthpiece at a proximal end of the device, the mouthpiece defining a mouthpiece air passageway and an outlet opening, the mouthpiece air passageway and outlet opening adapted and configured to allow an inhalable stream of air and an airborne substance to pass through the mouthpiece via the mouthpiece air passageway and into a user's oral cavity via the outlet opening when a user inhales on the mouthpiece through the outlet opening;   a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the housing comprising a proximal housing member connected to a distal housing member, the proximal housing member extending from the proximal end of the housing to the distal housing member, and the distal housing member extending from the proximal housing member to the distal end of the housing, the housing defining a housing air passageway extending therethrough, the housing air passageway being in fluid communication with the mouthpiece air passageway;   a liquid container, the liquid container defining a fluid chamber adapted and configured to contain an e-liquid, the liquid container defining at least one inlet hole in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and the housing air passageway to permit e-liquid in the fluid chamber to pass from the fluid chamber to the housing air passageway, the liquid container comprising at least a portion of the proximal housing member;   a heating wire, the heating wire being adapted and configured to produce heat when electric current flows through the heating wire;   a rechargeable battery adapted and configured to supply current to the heating wire to heat a substance that is in fluid communication with the housing air passageway, so that at least a portion of the substance so heated becomes airborne to produce said inhalable stream in the housing air passageway;   a battery charging port disposed within and exposed to the exterior of the housing, the battery charging port being adapted and configured to receive a charging plug, the battery charging port being electrically connected to the battery to transmit a charging current from the charging plug to the battery to recharge the battery.   
     
     
         13 . The electronic cigarette device of  claim 12 , wherein the proximal housing member is permanently connected to the distal housing member, the distal housing member permanently housing the battery. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic cigarette device of  claim 12 , further comprising a circuit board, the circuit board being permanently electrically wired to at least one terminal of the battery, and the circuit board being permanently electrically wired to the heating wire.