IP Library Granted Patent US 11,980,234
Granted Patent B2
US 11,980,234 · App. 17/104,860 · Granted May 14, 2024

Vaporizer device with responsive inhalation detection

Inventors: Alexander Fishwick (Monte Sereno, CA); Amanda Adams (San Francisco, CA); Eric Amorde (Oakland, CA); Matthew Czapar (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Pax Labs, Inc.
A24F40/51A24F40/42A24F40/53A24F40/57A24F40/65G05B19/4155G05B2219/37399
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,980,234
App. No.
17/104,860
Granted
May 14, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Aspects of the current subject matter are directed to transitioning a vaporizer device between different modes of operation including an active mode, a standby mode, and a deep standby mode. The vaporizer device may include a pressure sensor to measure a first pressure in an air flow path, and an ambient pressure sensor to measure a second pressure corresponding to an atmospheric pressure. The transition between different modes of operation may change the sampling frequency and/or resolution of the pressure sensor and/or the ambient pressure sensor such that sampling occurs at a higher frequency and/or resolution when the vaporizer device is in an active mode. Additionally, a comparison of the pressure in the air flow path with the ambient pressure after a heating element is activated may serve as a verification by the vaporizer device that a user is drawing on the vaporizer device.

Claims (40)

1. A method, comprising:

measuring, by a pressure sensor, a first pressure in an air flow path of a vaporizer device;

measuring, by an ambient pressure sensor, a second pressure corresponding to an atmospheric pressure;

determining, while the vaporizer device is in an active mode, that the first pressure is a first threshold quantity less than the second pressure, wherein the pressure sensor and/or the ambient pressure sensor operate at a first sampling frequency in the active mode; and

in response to determining that the first pressure is the first threshold quantity less than the second pressure, operating the pressure sensor and/or the ambient pressure sensor at a second sampling frequency;

wherein the first sampling frequency is less than the second sampling frequency.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, while the vaporizer device is in the active mode, that the first pressure is a second threshold quantity less than the second pressure for a threshold quantity of samples taken by the pressure sensor and/or the ambient pressure sensor; and

in response to determining that the first pressure is the second threshold quantity less than the second pressure for the threshold quantity of samples, activating a heater in a cartridge of the vaporizer device to cause a vaporization of a vaporizable material contained in the cartridge;

wherein the second threshold quantity is greater than the first threshold quantity.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first pressure being the second threshold quantity less than the second pressure for the threshold quantity of samples indicates that air is being drawn into the vaporizer device along the air flow path.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining if the first pressure is the second threshold quantity less than the second pressure for a second threshold quantity of samples taken by the pressure sensor and/or by the ambient pressure sensor.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

in response to determining that the first pressure is not the second threshold quantity less than the second pressure for the second threshold quantity of samples, deactivating the heater.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the second threshold quantity of samples is less than the threshold quantity of samples.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first pressure not being the second threshold quantity less than the second pressure for the second threshold quantity of samples indicates that air is not being drawn into the vaporizer device along the air flow path.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vaporizer device is in the active mode when a cartridge is coupled with the vaporizer device.

9. A vaporizer device, comprising:

a pressure sensor configured to measure a first pressure in an air flow path in the vaporizer device;

an ambient pressure sensor configured to measure a second pressure corresponding to an atmospheric pressure;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the vaporizer device to at least:

determine, while the vaporizer device is in an active mode, that the first pressure is a first threshold quantity less than the second pressure, wherein the pressure sensor and/or the ambient pressure sensor operate at a first sampling frequency in the active mode; and

in response to the determination that the first pressure is the first threshold quantity less than the second pressure, operate the pressure sensor and/or the ambient pressure sensor at a second sampling frequency;

wherein the first sampling frequency is less than the second sampling frequency.

10. The vaporizer device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause the vaporizer device to at least:

determine, while the vaporizer device is in the active mode, that the first pressure is a second threshold quantity less than the second pressure for a threshold quantity of samples taken by the pressure sensor and/or the ambient pressure sensor; and

in response to the determination that the first pressure is the second threshold quantity less than the second pressure for the threshold quantity of samples, activate a heater in a cartridge of the vaporizer device to cause a vaporization of a vaporizable material contained in the cartridge;

wherein the second threshold quantity is greater than the first threshold quantity.

11. The vaporizer device of claim 10 , wherein the first pressure being the second threshold quantity less than the second pressure for the threshold quantity of samples indicates air being drawn into the vaporizer device along the air flow path.

12. The vaporizer device of claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause the vaporizer device to at least:

determine if the first pressure is the second threshold quantity less than the second pressure for a second threshold quantity of samples taken by the pressure sensor and/or by the ambient pressure sensor.

13. The vaporizer device of claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause the vaporizer device to at least:

in response to the determination that the first pressure is not the second threshold quantity less than the second pressure for the second threshold quantity of samples, deactivate the heater.

14. The vaporizer device of claim 12 , wherein the second threshold quantity of samples is less than the threshold quantity of samples.

15. The vaporizer device of claim 12 , wherein the first pressure not being the second threshold quantity less than the second pressure for the second threshold quantity of samples indicates that air is not being drawn into the vaporizer device along the air flow path.

16. The vaporizer device of claim 9 , further comprising:

a cartridge receptacle configured to couple a cartridge with the vaporizer device, the cartridge receptacle being a part of a vaporizer body of the vaporizer device;

wherein the vaporizer device is in the active mode when the cartridge is coupled with the vaporizer device.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 17, 2024
From: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
To: JUUL LABS, INC.; VMR PRODUCTS LLC; ENVENIO INC.
Reel/Frame 069185/0228 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2024
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: PAX LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 066993/0441 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2023
From: JUUL LABS, INC.; VMR PRODUCTS LLC; ENVENIO INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 064252/0225 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE ASSIGNEE ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 062114 FRAME: 0196. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 23, 2022
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: JLI NATIONAL SETTLEMENT TRUST
Reel/Frame 062214/0142 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2022
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: JLI NATIONAL SETTLEMENT TRUST
Reel/Frame 062114/0195 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 2, 2022
From: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 061588/0189 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2022
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 061578/0865 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 28, 2022
From: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 060446/0261 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2021
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 057681/0094 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 18, 2021
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 056281/0893 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2020
From: ADAMS, AMANDA; AMORDE, ERIC; CZAPAR, MATTHEW; FISHWICK, ALEXANDER
To: PAX LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 054609/0905 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2020
From: PAX LABS, INC.
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 054609/0959 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62940782 · Nov 26, 2019
Related Publication 20210153562A1 · May 27, 2021