Abstract: Various embodiments of a vaporization device are described that include one or more features, such as for generating a combined inhalable aerosol. In some embodiments, the vaporization device can include one or more heaters that are configured to heat one or more vaporizable materials. Various embodiments of heating elements and heating systems for use in vaporization devices are also described.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 4, 2022
Date of Patent:
February 25, 2025
Assignee:
JUUL Labs, Inc.
Inventors:
William W. Alston, Adam Bowen, Jacob R. Davis, Ian Garcia-Doty, Bradley J. Ingebrethsen, Joshua A. Kurzman, James Monsees, Andrew J. Pappas, Paul R. Vieira, Timothy J. Watson, Joseph S. Wilinski, Jr.
Abstract: A vaporizer device includes a housing including an air inlet, a heating element within the housing and a heat exchanger. The heating element includes a nonlinear positive temperature coefficient of resistance material. The heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the heating element and arranged to receive airflow from the air inlet. The heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat between the heating element and the airflow to produce a heated airflow. The heated airflow exiting the heat exchanger is configured to vaporize a vaporizable material. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 9, 2021
Date of Patent:
February 25, 2025
Assignee:
JUUL Labs, Inc.
Inventors:
William W. Alston, Adam Bowen, Ian Garcia-Doty, Joshua A. Kurzman, James Monsees, Paul R. Vieira
Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for providing risk evaluation and mitigation strategies for use with modified risk products or other tobacco products, and in particular, associated with nicotine and tobacco products.
Abstract: A vaporization device includes a cartridge for a vaporizer device. For example, the vaporizer cartridge and/or features thereof may improve management of leaks of vaporizable material from the vaporizer cartridge, control of airflow within and/or near the vaporizer cartridge, heating of vaporizable material in the vaporizer cartridge, management of condensate in the vaporizer cartridge, and/or other assembly features of the vaporizer cartridge. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 17, 2019
Date of Patent:
February 18, 2025
Assignee:
JUUL Labs, Inc.
Inventors:
Ariel Atkins, Christopher L. Belisle, Steven Christensen, Alexander M. Hoopai, Eric Joseph Johnson, Jason King, Esteban Leon Duque, Matthew Rios, Christopher James Rosser, Andrew J. Stratton, Alim Thawer, James P. Westley
Abstract: The vaporizer device includes a reservoir configured to contain a vaporizable material. The vaporizer device further includes a heating element configured to vaporize the vaporizable material. The vaporizer device further includes a thermal flow sensor configured to measure a mass flow rate of the vaporizable material across the surface of the thermal flow sensor. The thermal flow sensor is positioned along an airflow path between the heating element and an outlet of the vaporizer device. The thermal flow sensor includes a self-cleaning element configured to remove a liquid accumulated on the surface of the thermal flow sensor by at least evaporating the liquid. The self-cleaning element is activated in response to detecting an event that activates a cleaning cycle of the thermal flow sensor.
Abstract: 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.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 15, 2021
Date of Patent:
February 4, 2025
Assignee:
JUUL Labs, Inc.
Inventors:
Oliver J. Batley, Joshua A. de Gromoboy Dabrowicki, Alex M. Gee, Zhenqiang Lin, Christopher James Rosser, James P. Westley
Abstract: A vaporizer cartridge is described that is configured for coupling to a vaporizer device body and containing a vaporizable material. Various embodiments of the vaporizer cartridge are described that include one or more features for maximizing a reservoir volume within the vaporizer cartridge for the containing of vaporizable material thereby increasing the output of vaporized vaporizable material from a compact cartridge configuration. Additionally, associated methods of manufacturing are described.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 23, 2019
Date of Patent:
February 4, 2025
Assignee:
JUUL Labs, Inc.
Inventors:
Christopher L. Belisle, Steven Christensen, Eric Joseph Johnson, Jason King, James Monsees, Matthew Rios, Bryan White
Abstract: A system for aerosolization of compartmentalized materials is provided. In some implementations, the system performs operations comprising vaporizing, by a heater, at least a portion of a first material to form a first vapor, wherein the first material is stored in a reservoir coupled to the heater. The operations can further comprise providing, through a draw channel comprising the heater, the first vapor to a second material within the draw channel, wherein the second material comprises one or more of nicotine and an acid, wherein the second material is positioned between the resistive heater and an exit point of the draw channel. The operations can also include forming, based on the first vapor passing through and/or around the second material, an inhalable vapor. Related systems, methods, apparatuses, and articles of manufacture are also described.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 21, 2017
Date of Patent:
January 21, 2025
Assignee:
JUUL Labs, Inc.
Inventors:
Ariel Atkins, Adam Bowen, Alexander Gould, Chenyue Xing
Abstract: Vaporizer devices and methods for detecting inhalation through a vaporizer using a heating element are provided. A resistive heater of a vaporizer may function as both a heater and as an anemometer to detect inhalation. Alternatively or additionally, a separate resistive heater may be included in an air path through the vaporizer to detect a user inhaling through the vaporizer. A heating control mechanism utilizes the already existing heating element in an anemometric correlation to when the vaporizer is idle and when it is being used (where being used implies the user is taking a puff/inhalation on the vaporizer). Using this information, a controller of the vaporizer accordingly controls heating to the vaporizer as required.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 28, 2020
Date of Patent:
January 14, 2025
Assignee:
JUUL Labs, Inc.
Inventors:
Ariel Atkins, Adam Bowen, Alexander J. Gould
Abstract: An electronic cigarette with an atomizer cartridge and a battery assembly. The atomizer cartridge has an atomizer coupled to a first and second terminal of a cartridge interface. A passive electrical circuit is coupled between the first terminal and a sensing terminal. The battery assembly has an interface with a first, second, and sensing contact. The interface engages the cartridge interface to provide electrical continuity between the terminals and contacts. The battery assembly has an atomizer drive circuit connected between the first and second contact, and a controller that activates the atomizer drive circuit in response to negative pressure at a draw sensor. A sensing circuit coupled to the sensing contact outputs a parameter signal indicative of the electrical parameters of the passive electrical circuit. The controller activates an RGB LED to produce discrete colors of light corresponding to discrete values of the parameter signal.