Electronic inhalation device including a transmitter controllable by a receiver
An electronic inhalation device comprising a mouthpiece and a control unit, in which the control unit includes a power cell and a computer. The computer comprises a computer processor, a memory and an input-output means. The device also includes a transmitter connected to the computer and the computer is configured in use to collect and store use data relating to a user's use of the device in the computer memory and transmit the use data to a receiver. The transmitter is configured to allow feedback to be received from the receiver so as to allow control of the transmitter by the receiver.
1 . An electronic inhalation device comprising:
a control unit, the control unit comprising a power cell and a computer, wherein the computer comprises a computer processor, a memory and an input-output means; and
a transmitter connected to the computer,
wherein the computer is configured in use to collect and store use data relating to a use of the electronic inhalation device by a user in the memory and transmit the use data to a receiver, wherein the transmitter is configured to allow feedback to be received from the receiver so as to allow control of the transmitter by the receiver.
2 . The electronic inhalation device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic inhalation device is an electronic cigarette or a heat-not-burn (HNB) device.
3 . The electronic inhalation device of claim 1 , wherein the computer is a microcontroller.
4 . The electronic inhalation device of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is at least one of:
configured to transmit the use data by wireless means; or
an audio signalling means configured to transmit the use data by sound.
5 . The electronic inhalation device of claim 1 , wherein the use data comprises an inhalation count, and wherein the inhalation count is a count of a number of inhalations the user has taken on the electronic inhalation device.
6 . The electronic inhalation device of claim 5 , wherein at least one of:
the inhalation count is stored in 1 byte or 2 bytes of data memory;
the use data comprises an average inhalation time, wherein the average inhalation time is the mean average of the inhalations counted in the inhalation count; or
the use data comprises a session count, where the session count is a count of the number of inhalation sessions.
7 . The electronic inhalation device of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the average inhalation time or the session count is stored in 1 byte or 2 bytes of data memory.
8 . The electronic inhalation device of claim 7 , wherein an inhalation session ends when the electronic inhalation device is inactive for a predetermined inactivity time following inhalation on the electronic inhalation device.
9 . The electronic inhalation device of claim 1 , wherein the use data is at least one of:
stored in 8 bytes or less of data memory;
optimized for transmission by sound;
further comprises header data at a start of the use data to indicate the start of the use data;
further comprises footer data at an end of the use data to indicate the end of the use data; or
further comprises configuration data towards the start of the use data to indicate how the use data is configured for transmission.
10 . The electronic inhalation device of claim 9 , wherein the configuration data indicates at least one of:
a frequency range of the data transmission;
a duration of the data transmission; or
an intensity of the data transmission.
11 . The electronic inhalation device of claim 1 , wherein the use data comprises details of individual inhalation events.
12 . The electronic inhalation device of claim 11 , wherein the details of individual inhalation events include at least one of:
a date and a time of each inhalation; or
a duration of each inhalation.
13 . The electronic inhalation device of claim 1 , wherein the computer is configured to transmit a first transmission version of the use data and a second transmission version of the use data successively.
14 . The electronic inhalation device of claim 13 , wherein at least one of:
the first transmission version is substantially the same as the second transmission version;
the first transmission version and the second transmission version each has a different frequency range;
the first transmission version and the second transmission version each has a different duration; or
the first transmission version and the second transmission version each has a different signal intensity.
15 . The electronic inhalation device of claim 1 , wherein the computer is configured in use to transmit at least one of:
three or more transmission versions of the use data successively;
the use data repeatedly;
the use data at a frequency substantially above the frequency range of typical background noise; or
the use data at a frequency substantially above the human hearing frequency range.
16 . The electronic inhalation device of claim 1 , wherein the computer is configured to do at least one of:
clear the use data from the memory after transmission; or
clear the use data from the memory when controlled to do so by the user.
17 . The electronic inhalation device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic inhalation device further comprises a pressure sensor connected to the computer.
18 . The electronic inhalation device of claim 17 , wherein the computer is configured in use to transmit the use data when the pressure sensor detects operation of the electronic inhalation device outside of normal use.
19 . The electronic inhalation device of claim 17 , wherein the computer further comprises a menu mode configured whereby the pressure sensor is used to activate the menu mode and select a menu option that starts transmission of the use data.
20 . The electronic inhalation device of claim 19 , wherein the computer is configured to clear the use data from the memory when at least one of:
the user selects a clear memory menu option; or
the menu mode is exited.
21 . The electronic inhalation device of claim 19 , wherein the computer is configured in use to notify the user by sound when at least one of:
the electronic inhalation device has entered the menu mode;
prior to the transmission of the use data;
the transmission of the use data is underway;
the transmission of the use data is complete;
the transmission of the use data has been successfully received;
the transmission of the use data has not been successfully received; or
the use data has been cleared from the computer memory.
22 . The electronic inhalation device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic inhalation device further comprises a microphone connected to the computer.
23 . The electronic inhalation device of claim 22 , wherein the computer is configured to do at least one of:
determine background noise using the microphone and transmit the use data so as to substantially avoid the background noise;
start transmission when a start signal is received by the microphone;
end transmission when an end signal is received by the microphone; or
retransmit the use data when a fail signal is received by the microphone.
24 . The electronic inhalation device of claim 1 , wherein the computer is configured to clear the use data from the memory when at least one of:
a clear signal is received by the transmitter; or
if a signal is received from the receiver that the receiver has successfully received transmission of the use data.
25 . The electronic inhalation device of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is a speaker.