Vaporizer Devices
Vaporizer devices are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, a vaporizer device can include a vaporizer body including a first airflow path extending at least partially therethrough, and a sensor assembly residing at least partially within the vaporizer body. The sensor assembly includes a flexible sensor that is in communication with the first airflow path. The flexible sensor is configured to reversibly deflect from an initial state to a first state in response to a first user-activated force representing air being drawn through the first airflow path, and configured to reversibly deflect from the initial state to a second state in response to a second user-activated force representing an acceleration of the vaporizer body. Sensor assemblies for a vaporizer device are also provided.
1 .- 39 . (canceled)
40 . A vaporizer device, comprising:
a vaporizer body including a first airflow path extending at least partially therethrough; and
a sensor assembly residing at least partially within the vaporizer body, the sensor assembly including:
a flexible sensor extending along a length of the first airflow path, the flexible sensor being configured to vibrate from an initial state to a first state in response to a first user-activated force representing air being drawn through the first airflow path, and the flexible sensor being configured to vibrate from the initial state to a second state in response to a second user-activated force representing an acceleration of the vaporizer body.
41 . The vaporizer device of claim 40 , wherein the acceleration occurs in response to a user tapping the vaporizer body.
42 . The vaporizer device of claim 40 , wherein the sensor assembly comprises a beam, wherein the beam is configured to vibrate along at least a portion of a length of the beam.
43 . The vaporizer device of claim 40 , further comprising a printed circuit board assembly coupled to the flexible sensor.
44 . The vaporizer device of claim 40 , wherein the sensor assembly resides completely within the first airflow path.
45 . The vaporizer device of claim 40 , wherein the flexible sensor is configured to vibrate at a first rate while the first user-activated force is being applied.
46 . The vaporizer device of claim 45 , wherein the flexible sensor is configured to vibrate at a second rate while the second-user activated force is being applied.
47 . The vaporizer device of claim 40 , wherein the flexible sensor vibrates at a first frequency while the flexible sensor is in the first state, and wherein the flexible sensor vibrates at a second frequency that is different than the first frequency while the flexible sensor is in the second state.
48 . The vaporizer device of claim 40 , wherein the flexible sensor in the initial state is straight.
49 . The vaporizer device of claim 40 , wherein the flexible sensor in the first state is curved.
50 . The vaporizer device of claim 40 , wherein the flexible sensor in the second state is curved.
51 . The vaporizer device of claim 40 , wherein the flexible sensor comprises a bluff feature disposed at a first of the flexible sensor, wherein the bluff feature is configured to create vortex shedding.
52 . The vaporizer device of claim 51 , wherein the bluff feature is spherical.
53 . The vaporizer device of claim 51 , wherein the bluff feature is rectangular.
54 . The vaporizer device of claim 40 , further comprising a controller configured to:
receive a vibration signal in response to vibration of the flexible sensor;
maintain a first user-activated force threshold and a second user-activated force threshold;
compare the vibration signal to the first and second user-activated force thresholds;
output a first signal when the vibration signal is less than the first user-activated force threshold; and
output a second signal when the vibration signal is greater than the second user-activated force threshold.
55 . The vaporizer device of claim 54 , wherein the vibration of the flexible sensor is from the initial state to the first state or from the initial state to the second state.
56 . The vaporizer device of claim 54 , further comprising examine a transient behavior of the vibration signal and determine if the first user-activated force or the second user-activated force occurred.
57 . The vaporizer device of claim 54 , further comprising processing the vibration signal using a bandpass filter.
58 . The vaporizer device of claim 54 , further comprising processing the vibration signal using low pass filtering, high pass filtering, or both.
59 . The vaporizer device of claim 54 , further comprising a heating element, wherein the output of the first signal is operable to cause an activation of the heating element to vaporize at least a portion of vaporizable material within a reservoir of the vaporizer device.