Method for operating device using multi-stage heating

Abstract

The method includes first heating at least one plant material within a first target temperature range for one or more first durations of time, the at least one plant material including at least one constituent compound, and second heating the at least one plant material within a second target temperature range for one or more second durations of time, the second heating causing at least a partial vaporization of the at least one constituent compound, the second target temperature range being greater than the first target temperature range.

1 . A method for operating a device using multi-stage heating, comprising:
 first heating at least one plant material within a first target temperature range for one or more first durations of time, the at least one plant material including at least one constituent compound; and   second heating the at least one plant material within a second target temperature range for one or more second durations of time, the second heating causing at least a partial vaporization of the at least one constituent compound, the second target temperature range being greater than the first target temperature range.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first heating causes a decarboxylation of the at least one plant material. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first heating includes
 initially heating the at least one plant material at a lower part of the first target temperature range for at least one first time period, and   subsequently heating the at least one plant material at an upper part of the first target temperature range for at least one second time period, a decarboxylation of the at least one constituent compound occurring only during the subsequent heating.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the initial heating heats the at least one plant material to reduce a humidity of the at least one plant material. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the initial heating heats the at least one plant material at the lower part of the first target temperature range that is between 90° C. and 120° C. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the subsequent heating heats the at least one plant material at the upper part of the first target temperature range that is between 140° C. and 170° C. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second target temperature range is between a vaporization temperature of the at least one constituent compound and a pyrolysis temperature of the at least one plant material. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second heating heats the at least one plant material for a series of second durations of time, each one of the series of second durations of time being at a successively higher target temperature that is within the second target temperature range. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second heating heats the at least one plant material for a single second duration of time such that a temperature of the at least one plant material continually escalates through at least a portion of the second target temperature range during the single second duration of time. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second heating heats the at least one plant material for a series of second durations of time, each one of the series of second durations of time including heating within a band of temperatures that has a progressively higher maximum target temperature that is inside the second target temperature range. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second heating heats the at least one plant material such that each one of the series of second durations of time includes continually escalating a temperature of the at least one plant material within a particular one of the band of temperatures. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second heating heats the at least one plant material within the second target temperature range that is between 180° C. and 220° C. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first heating causes a decarboxylation of the at least one plant material. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first target temperature range is below a vaporization temperature of the at least one constituent compound, and the second target temperature range is between the vaporization temperature of the at least one constituent compound and a pyrolysis temperature of the at least one plant material. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first target temperature range is between 90° C. and 170° C., and the second target temperature range is between 180° C. and 220° C. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second heating heats the at least one plant material in response to at least one of a detection of an airflow in the device, a detection of a selectable action on the device, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second heating includes automatically initiating the second heating following a completion of the first heating. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting classification information for the at least one plant material;   determining a multi-stage heating profile based on the classification information; and   determining characteristics of the first heating, the second heating, or combinations thereof, using the multi-stage heating profile.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first heating heats the at least one plant material to a first overshoot temperature prior to the at least one plant material settling on a first target temperature within the first target temperature range, the first overshoot temperature being greater than the first target temperature, and   the second heating heats the at least one plant material to a second overshoot temperature prior to the at least one plant material settling on a second target temperature within the second target temperature range, the second overshoot temperature being greater than the second target temperature.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first heating has a heating rate of 50° C. per second or more, and the second heating has a heating rate of less than 50° C. per second. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second target temperature range includes a maximal temperature limit that is less than a pyrolysis temperature of the at least one plant material.