IP Library Granted Patent US 11,167,099
Granted Patent B2
US 11,167,099 · App. 16/703,459 · Granted Nov 9, 2021

System and method for a vaporizer

Inventor: Michael Freelander (Springfield, MO)
Assignee: FREELANDER INNOVATIONS USA, LLC
A61M15/06A24F40/30A24F40/40A24F40/50A24F40/60A61M11/042A61M15/008A61M15/0023A61M15/0051A24F40/20A61M2016/0021A61M2205/3306A61M2205/3334A61M2205/3368A61M2205/3553A61M2205/3569A61M2205/3584A61M2205/3592A61M2205/368A61M2205/3653A61M2205/505A61M2205/52A61M2205/8206A61M2209/06
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,167,099
App. No.
16/703,459
Granted
Nov 9, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for controlling a vaporizer device may include determining a first temperature, vaporizing an inhalable substance at the first temperature, raising the first temperature by a temperature quantity, wherein a second temperature is a sum of the temperature quantity and the first temperature; and vaporizing the inhalable substance at the second temperature, wherein the temperature quantity is less than 3° C.

Claims (53)

1. A method for controlling a vaporizer device comprising:

activating, by a processor, a heating unit to vaporize an inhalable substance disposed on a portion of a substrate, wherein the substrate is coupled to a conveyor belt;

determining, by the processor, whether at least some of the inhalable substance disposed on the portion of the substrate remains unvaporized; and

releasing a locking mechanism to allow movement of the conveyor belt when the processor determines that the inhalable substance disposed on the portion of the substrate has been vaporized.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising resetting, by the processor, the indexed value after reengaging the locking mechanism.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the processor activates the heating unit in response to a user activating a button on the vaporizer device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the processor activates the heating unit in response to an airflow sensor detecting airflow through airflow tubing above a threshold.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing, by the processor, a number of activations of the heating unit; and

storing, by the processor, a length of time that the heating unit was activated.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether the at least some of the inhalable substance disposed on the portion of the substrate remains unvaporized comprises:

determining, by the processor, a number of doses associated with the portion of the inhalable substance;

increasing, by the processor, an indexed value by one after activating the heating unit; and

determining, by the processor, whether the indexed value is less than the number of doses associated with the portion of the inhalable substance.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the processor releases the locking mechanism to allow movement of the conveyor belt when the indexed value is not less than the number of doses associated with the portion of the inhalable substance.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the locking mechanism restricts movement of the conveyor belt until the indexed value is not less than the number of doses associated with the portion of the inhalable substance.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether the at least some of the inhalable substance disposed on the portion of the substrate remains unvaporized comprises receiving, by the processor, a signal from a sensor indicating that the at least some of the inhalable substance disposed on the portion of the substrate remains unvaporized.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the sensor is an optical sensor, a heat sensor, or an infrared sensor.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the inhalable substance is disposed on the portion of the substrate in the form of a cartridge.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the cartridge is disposed adjacent to the heating unit, and wherein the processor reactivates the locking mechanism when the conveyor belt moves a second cartridge to a position that is adjacent to the heating unit.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the inhalable substance is disposed on the substrate as a continuous strip of the inhalable substance.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the portion of the substrate is disposed adjacent to the heating unit, and wherein the processor reactivates the locking mechanism when the conveyor belt moves the portion of the substrate to a position that is not adjacent to the heating unit.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising activating, by the processor, a motor to move the conveyor belt to a position where a second portion of the substrate is positioned adjacent to the heating unit.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the motor moves the conveyor belt a fixed distance based on a size of a cartridge or a size of the heating unit.

17. A vaporizer device comprising:

a heating unit;

a substrate having an inhalable substance disposed thereon;

a conveyor belt configured to receive the substrate and move the substrate relative to the heating unit;

a locking mechanism configured to restrict movement of the conveyor belt;

a processor configured to (a) activate the heating unit to vaporize the inhalable substance disposed on a portion of the substrate, (b) determine whether at least some of the inhalable substance disposed on the portion of the substrate remains unvaporized, and (c) release the locking mechanism to allow movement of the conveyor belt when the processor determines that the inhalable substance disposed on the portion of the substrate has been vaporized.

18. The vaporizer device of claim 17 wherein the processor is further configured to reset the indexed value after reengaging the locking mechanism.

19. The vaporizer device of claim 17 further comprising:

an activation button, wherein the processor is further configured to activate the heating unit in response to a user activating the activation button.

20. The vaporizer device of claim 17 further comprising:

an airflow sensor, wherein the processor is further configured to activate the heating unit in response to the airflow sensor detecting airflow through airflow tubing above a threshold.

21. The vaporizer device of claim 17 wherein the processor is further configured to store a number of activations of the heating unit a length of time that the heating unit was activated.

22. The vaporizer device of claim 17 further comprising a motor configured to move the conveyor belt relative to the heating unit, wherein the processor is further configured to activate the motor to move the conveyor belt to a position where a second portion of the substrate is positioned adjacent to the heating unit.

23. The vaporizer device of claim 22 wherein the motor moves the conveyor belt a fixed distance based on a size of a cartridge or a size of the heating unit.

24. The vaporizer device of claim 17 wherein the processor is further configured determine a number of doses associated with the portion of an inhalable substance, increase an indexed value by one after activating the heating unit, and determine whether the indexed value is less than the number of doses associated with the portion of the inhalable substance.

25. The vaporizer device of claim 24 wherein the processor is further configured to release the locking mechanism to allow movement of the conveyor belt when the indexed value is not less than the number of doses associated with the portion of the inhalable substance.

26. The vaporizer device of claim 24 wherein the locking mechanism restricts movement of the conveyor belt until the indexed value is not less than the number of doses associated with the portion of the inhalable substance.

27. The vaporizer device of claim 17 wherein the processor is further configured to receive a signal from a sensor indicating that the at least some of the inhalable substance disposed on the portion of the substrate remains unvaporized.

28. The vaporizer device of claim 27 wherein the sensor is an optical sensor, a heat sensor, or an infrared sensor.

29. The vaporizer device of claim 17 wherein the inhalable substance is disposed on the portion of the substrate in the form of a cartridge.

30. The vaporizer device of claim 29 wherein the cartridge is disposed adjacent to the heating unit, and wherein the processor is further configured to reactivate the locking mechanism when the conveyor belt moves a second cartridge to a position that is adjacent to the heating unit.

31. The vaporizer device of claim 17 wherein the inhalable substance is disposed on the substrate as a continuous strip of the inhalable substance.

32. The vaporizer device of claim 31 wherein the portion of the substrate is disposed adjacent to the heating unit, and wherein the processor is further configured to reactivate the locking mechanism when the conveyor belt moves the portion of the substrate to a position that is not adjacent to the heating unit.

33. A vaporizer device comprising:

a heating unit;

a substrate having an inhalable substance disposed thereon;

a conveyor belt configured to receive the substrate and move the substrate relative to the heating unit;

a locking mechanism configured to restrict movement of the conveyor belt;

a processor configured to (a) activate the heating unit to vaporize the inhalable substance disposed on a portion of the substrate, (b) determine whether at least some of the inhalable substance disposed on the portion of the substrate remains unvaporized, (c) release the locking mechanism to allow movement of the conveyor belt when the processor determines that the inhalable substance disposed on the portion of the substrate has been vaporized, and (d) command a motor to move the conveyor belt a distance corresponding to a side of the portion of the substrate.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2020
From: FREELANDER, MICHAEL
To: FREELANDER INNOVATIONS USA, LLC
Reel/Frame 052001/0826 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15438094 · Feb 21, 2017
Provisional Application 62300506 · Feb 26, 2016
Related Publication 20200170303A1 · Jun 4, 2020