Electronic cigarette liquid detection and measurement systems
An electronic cigarette or similar vaporization devices include a liquid which is vaporized or atomized in an atomizer. An e-liquid detection system can verify that the e-liquid is acceptable for use in the device. The e-liquid detection system may detect one or more indicators, and/or physical or chemical properties of the e-liquid. The e-liquid detection system may also measure the e-liquid level in the device.
1. A vaporization device comprising:
a tubular housing;
a liquid storage element, an e-liquid detection system, and an atomizer in the housing, with the e-liquid detection system including a light source positioned to emit light of a first wavelength into an e-liquid in the liquid storage element and a light detector positioned to detect light of a second wavelength emitted by the e-liquid; and
a controller in the housing electrically connected to the e-liquid detection system and to the atomizer, with the controller allowing activation of the atomizer based on the light detector detecting light of the second wavelength.
2. The vaporization device of claim 1 with the light detector positioned to detect light reflected off of a surface of the liquid storage element.
3. The vaporization device of claim 1 with the light detector positioned to detect light passing through the liquid storage element.
4. The vaporization device of claim 1 wherein the light of the second wavelength is a fluorescent light emitted by a product indicator when exposed to the light of the first wavelength.
5. The vaporization device of claim 1 wherein:
the light source is positioned in proximity to a first end of the liquid storage element; and the vaporization device further comprises a prism positioned at a second end of the liquid storage element.
6. The vaporization device of claim 5 wherein:
the light source is positioned in proximity to a first end of the liquid storage element; and an inner surface of the second end of the liquid storage element reflects light from the light source.
7. The vaporization device of claim 1 wherein the light source is positioned on an inner surface of the liquid storage element.
8. The vaporization device of claim 1 wherein the light detector comprises one or more photodetectors that can detect the light of the second wavelength.
9. The vaporization device of claim 8 further including a filter provided with the one or more photodetectors, the filter passing only the light of the second wavelength.
10. The vaporization device of claim 1 with the e-liquid including a fluorophore as a product indicator.
11. The vaporization device of claim 1 with the e-liquid containing a product indicator selected from the group consisting of Alexa Fluor dyes, BODIPY dyes, cyanine dyes, cypate, fluorescein, indocyanine green (ICG), Oregon green dyes, rhodamine, rhodol, TAMRA (5-(and-6)-carboxytetramethylrhodamine), Texas red, and xanthene derivatives.
12. The vaporization device of claim 9 wherein:
the e-liquid contains quinine; the first wavelength is about 560 nm; and the second wavelength is about 460 nm.
13. The vaporization device of claim 1 wherein the e-liquid comprises quinine.
14. The vaporization device of claim 13 wherein the e-liquid further comprises propylene glycol (PG), glycerin (G), and/or polyethylene glycol 400.
15. A vaporization device comprising:
a housing;
a liquid storage element, an e-liquid detection system, and an atomizer in the housing, with the e-liquid detection system including a light source positioned to emit light of a first wavelength into an e-liquid in the liquid storage element and a light detector positioned to detect light of a second wavelength emitted by the e-liquid, the light detector comprising one or more photodetectors that can detect the light of the second wavelength; and
a controller in the housing electrically connected to the e-liquid detection system and to the atomizer, with the controller allowing activation of the atomizer based on the light detector detecting light of the second wavelength.