Electronic vaping device

Abstract

An electronic vaping device may be designed to enhance or facilitate its use. For example, the electronic vaping device may: allow a capability of the electronic vaping device to provide vapor to be altered (e.g., disabled, reduced, enabled, or increased) in some situations (e.g., to prevent unauthorized vaping by a child, teenager or other individual); be able to communicate with an external communication device (e.g., a smartphone, a computer, etc.) to convey a notification of potential unauthorized use of the electronic vaping device (e.g., by a child, teenager or other unauthorized user); implement a physical deterrent to its unauthorized use; be able to visually convey information (e.g., advertisements, notifications, etc.); and/or be able to capture images and/or sounds (e.g., record pictures and/or video, speech, music, etc.).

1 . An electronic vaping device comprising:
 an outlet;   a vapor producer configured to produce vapor drawable by a user through the outlet using the user's mouth; and   a controller configured to cause a capability of the electronic vaping device to provide vapor through the outlet to be altered in response to a condition being met.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic vaping device of  claim 1 , wherein the condition comprises receipt of an external command to alter the capability of the electronic vaping device to provide vapor. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic vaping device of  claim 2 , comprising a user interface for allowing the user to interact with the electronic vaping device, wherein the external command is received via the user interface. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic vaping device of  claim 2 , comprising a communication interface for communicating with a communication device external to the electronic vaping device over a communication link, wherein the external command is received via the communication interface. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic vaping device of  claim 4 , wherein the communication device is a mobile communication device and the communication interface is configured to pair the electronic vaping device with the mobile communication device over the communication link. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic vaping device of  claim 4 , wherein the electronic vaping device has an address and the external command is received at the address of the electronic vaping device. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic vaping device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller being configured to cause the capability of the electronic vaping device to provide vapor to be altered comprises the controller being configured to cause the capability of the electronic vaping device to provide vapor to be disabled. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic vaping device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller being configured to cause the capability of the electronic vaping device to provide vapor to be altered comprises the controller being configured to cause the capability of the electronic vaping device to provide vapor to be enabled. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic vaping device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller being configured to cause the capability of the electronic vaping device to provide vapor to be altered comprises the controller being configured to cause a composition of vapor provided by the electronic vaping device to be altered. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic vaping device of  claim 1 , wherein the condition relates to an identity of the user. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic vaping device of  claim 1 , wherein the condition relates to a location of the electronic vaping device. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic vaping device of  claim 1 , wherein the condition relates to time. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic vaping device of  claim 1 , wherein the condition relates to a manner in which the user draws on the outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic vaping device of  claim 1 , wherein the condition relates to a refilling of a depletable resource of the electronic vaping device. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic vaping device of  claim 1 , comprising a fluid-drawing detector configured to issue a signal for providing vapor through the outlet when the user draws on the outlet, wherein the controller being configured to cause the capability of the electronic vaping device to provide vapor to be altered comprises the controller being configured to disable the fluid-drawing detector. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic vaping device of  claim 1 , comprising a fluid-drawing detector configured to issue a signal for providing vapor through the outlet when the user draws on the outlet, wherein the controller being configured to cause the capability of the electronic vaping device to provide vapor to be altered comprises the controller being configured to ignore the signal from the fluid-drawing detector. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic vaping device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller being configured to cause the capability of the electronic vaping device to provide vapor to be altered comprises the controller being configured to cut off power to at least part of the vapor producer. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic vaping device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller being configured to cause the capability of the electronic vaping device to provide vapor to be altered comprises the controller being configured to prevent flow of vapor through the outlet. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for controlling an electronic vaping device, the electronic vaping device comprising an outlet and a vapor producer configured to produce vapor drawable by a user through the outlet using the user's mouth, the apparatus comprising:
 a memory portion; and   a processing portion configured to:
 determine that a condition is met; and 
 cause a capability of the electronic vaping device to provide vapor through the outlet to be altered in response to the condition being met. 
   
     
     
         20 . A method for controlling an electronic vaping device, the electronic vaping device comprising an outlet and a vapor producer configured to produce vapor drawable by a user through the outlet using the user's mouth, the method comprising:
 determining that a condition is met; and   causing a capability of the electronic vaping device to provide vapor through the outlet to be altered in response to the condition being met.