Abstract: A electronic cigarette vaporizer that includes a mechanical valve that is (i) pushed up from its seat to enable automatic filling of the vaporizer with e-liquid from a fluid transfer mechanism and (ii) returns to seal against its seat at other times when the vaporizer is being vaped or inhaled from (e.g. when filling is complete).

Abstract: An e-liquid cartridge designed to provide e-liquid for an electronic cigarette vaporizer system, the cartridge including a chip that stores and outputs (i) a unique identity for the cartridge and/or (ii) data defining the e-liquid stored in the cartridge, and the cartridge being adapted to be inserted into or form an integral part of the electronic vaporizer system. The data stored and output by the chip defines one or more of: flavor, nicotine strength, manufacturing batch number, date of manufacture, date of filling, tax data, quantity of e-liquid stored in the cartridge.

Abstract: An electronic cigarette vaporizer includes a heating element and a microcontroller; the microcontroller monitors or measures external or ambient temperature and uses that as a control input. The control input automatically controls the power delivered to the heating element to ensure that the heating element operates at its optimal temperature. Where ambient temperatures are monitored or measured as very cold, then the power to the heating element is automatically increased to compensate.

Abstract: A helmet configured to provide audio features for the user thereof and a method for the same. The helmet comprises a first communication interface for communications with an audio source. A first audio output is generated based on signal received via the first communication interface. A second communication interface for direct two-way wireless communications with at least one other user on an unlicensed frequency band is also provided, and a second audio output is generated based on signal received via the second communication interface. At least one audio output device is provided for audio output based on signals from the first and second communication interfaces. A user interface enables the user to control the audio features of the helmet. The helmet further comprises control apparatus configured to control the audio features based on user input via the user interface and to provide automated response to at least one predefined event.

Abstract: An electronic cigarette vaporizer that includes an IMU (inertial measurement unit). The IMU enables the vaporizer to detect when it is being lifted up and out of a case in which it has been stored so that it can change state. The change of state can be to turn on and to start heating an atomizing element. Data from the IMU may also enable the vaporizer to tell if it is not being used and so can power down.

Abstract: An electronic cigarette vaporizer that includes a heating element, a power source and an electronics module that manages the delivery of power, current or voltage to the heating element; the electronics module controls or delivers pulses of power, current or voltage to the heating element, such as PWM (pulse width modulation) with a high frequency 1-10 KHz switching frequency. The duty cycle of the PWM can be approximately 90% when heating; and 1-10% duty during a preheat; and 0% when the vaporizer is idle.

Abstract: An electronic cigarette vaporiser system including a vaporiser (1) and a single piezo-electric pump (6) that both withdraws e-liquid from a cartridge or chamber (3) and also pumps controlled amounts of e-liquid for atomizing in the vaporizer (1).

Abstract: Multiple digital cameras view a large scene, such as a part of a city. Some of the cameras view different parts of that scene, and video feeds from the cameras are processed at a computer to generate a photo-realistic synthetic 3D model of the scene. This enables the scene to be viewed from any viewing angle, including angles that the original, real cameras do not occupy—i.e. as though viewed from a ‘virtual camera’ that can be positioned in any arbitrary position. The 3D model combines both static elements that do not alter in real-time, and also dynamic elements that do alter in real-time or near real-time.

Abstract: A electronic cigarette vaporiser that includes a mechanical valve that is (i) pushed up from its seat to enable automatic filling of the vaporiser with e-liquid from a fluid transfer mechanism and (ii) returns to seal against its seat at other times when the vaporiser is being vaped or inhaled from (e.g. when filling is complete).

Abstract: An electronic cigarette vaporiser system including a vaporiser and a single piezo-electric pump that both withdraws liquid from a cartridge and also pumps controlled amounts of liquid into a reservoir in the vaporizer. The piezo-pump can be in a case that enables the vapouriser to be stored, and the cartridge is attached to or inserted into the case. The case both re-fills the vapouriser with liquid and re-charges a battery in the vapouriser.

Abstract: An electronic cigarette vaporiser that includes a heating element, a power source and an electronics module that manages the delivery of power, current or voltage to the heating element; the electronics module controls or delivers pulses of power, current or voltage to the heating element, such as PWM (pulse width modulation) with a high frequency 1-10 KHz switching frequency. The duty cycle of the PWM can be approximately 90% when heating; and 1-10% duty during a preheat; and 0% when the vaporiser is idle.

Abstract: An e-liquid cartridge designed to provide e-liquid for an electronic cigarette vaporiser system, the cartridge including a chip that stores and outputs (i) a unique identity for the cartridge and/or (ii) data defining the e-liquid stored in the cartridge, and the cartridge being adapted to be inserted into or form an integral part of the electronic vaporiser system. The data stored and output by the chip defines one or more of: flavor, nicotine strength, manufacturing batch number, date of manufacture, date of filling, tax data, quantity of e-liquid stored in the cartridge.

Abstract: An electronic cigarette vaporiser includes a heating element and a microcontroller; the microcontroller monitors or measures the airflow speed or pressure drop over an air-pressure sensor or other sensor and uses that as an input to control the power delivered to the heating element. The microcontroller can compensate for a very strong inhalation by applying more power during that inhalation as compared to a very light inhalation to ensure that the heating element is kept at its optimal heating temperature.

Abstract: An electronic cigarette vaporiser includes a heating element for heating an e-liquid and a microcontroller; the microcontroller determines the type and/or characteristics of the e-liquid being used and uses that as an input to automatically control the power delivered to the heating element to heat the e-liquid in a manner suitable for that specific type of e-liquid, or e-liquid with those characteristics. The e-liquid can be supplied from a cartridge and that cartridge then includes a record of the type of e-liquid stored in the cartridge and/or its characteristics and the microcontroller reads that record or is provided data from that record. A variable for the type of e-liquid and/or its characteristics is the water content of the e-liquid.

Abstract: An electronic cigarette vaporiser that includes an IMU (inertial measurement unit). The IMU enables the vaporiser to detect when it is being lifted up and out of a case in which it has been stored so that it can change state. The change of state can be to turn on and to start heating an atomising element. Data from the IMU may also enable the vaporiser to tell if it is not being used and so can power down.

Abstract: An electronic cigarette vaporiser system including a piezo-electric pump that pumps e-liquid into an electronic vaporizer in which a sensor detects whether air or e-liquid is present in the liquid feed line into the piezo-electric pump and adjusts an operating parameter of the pump accordingly. The operating parameter that is adjusted can be the frequency of the actuators in the piezo-pump; it can be 300 Hz for air and 15 Hz for e-liquid. The frequency can also be adjusted in dependence on the viscosity or temperature of the e-liquid.

Abstract: An electronic cigarette vaporiser includes a heating element and a microcontroller; the microcontroller monitors or measures electrical characteristics of the heating element and uses that to automatically identify the type of heating element and as a control input. The microcontroller automatically applies different heating parameter controls to the heating element, including optimal and maximum operating temperature, depending on the type of heating element that is identified.

Abstract: An electronic cigarette vaporiser system that includes a touch sensor and is programmed to detect specific multiple different kinds of touch inputs and to control the vaporiser accordingly, and the touch sensor is included on a vaporiser and/or a case for the vaporiser. The touch inputs include one or more of the following: activate or de-activate the vaporiser; turn on or off lights on the vaporiser; dim the lights on the vaporiser; alter the colours of the lights on the vaporiser; alter the power delivered to the heating element.

Abstract: An electronic cigarette vaporiser that includes a heating element and further includes or co-operates with an electronics module that (i) detects characteristics of the resistance of the heating element and (ii) uses an inference of temperature derived from that resistance as a control input. The temperature of the heating element may be inferred from data stored in the electronics module that has been empirically obtained for a specific heating element design. The electronics module controls the power delivered to the heating element to ensure that it is no higher than approximately 130° C., plus an error tolerance.

Abstract: An electronic cigarette vaporiser includes a heating element, an air pressure sensor and a microcontroller; the microcontroller stores, processes or determines the extent of each inhalation using signals from the air pressure sensor. The microcontroller can calculate the approximate e-liquid consumption from the extent of each inhalation or provide data that enables an external processor to calculate approximate e-liquid consumption. The extent of an inhalation is a function of one or more of: duration; peak flow rate; average flow rate.