Method, system and device for inductively charging batteries in electronic cigarettes

Abstract

A system, a method, and a device for inductive charging of batteries in electronic articles, and more particularly for the inductive charging of batteries in electronic cigarettes. In one embodiment, a charging system for an electronic cigarette can comprise a pack comprising a pack battery electrically coupled to a charging coil. The pack can be configured to hold an electronic cigarette battery and the charging coil can be configured to charge the electronic cigarette battery.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A charging system for an electronic cigarette, the system comprising:
 a pack comprising a pack battery electrically coupled to a charging coil;   wherein the pack is configured to hold an electronic cigarette battery and wherein the charging coil is configured to charge the electronic cigarette battery.   
     
     
         2 . The charging system of  claim 1 , wherein the charging coil is sized and configured to allow the electronic cigarette battery to fit within a space at the center of the coil. 
     
     
         3 . The charging system of  claim 2 , wherein the space at the center of the charging coil is configured to surround the electronic cigarette battery. 
     
     
         4 . The charging system of  claim 1 , wherein the pack is configured to hold a plurality of electronic cigarette batteries. 
     
     
         5 . The charging system of  claim 4 , wherein the charging coil is a first charging coil and wherein the pack further comprises a second charging coil. 
     
     
         6 . The charging system of  claim 5 , wherein the electronic cigarette battery is a first electronic cigarette battery and wherein the second charging coil is configured to charge a second electronic cigarette battery. 
     
     
         7 . The charging system of  claim 1 , wherein the pack is configured to communicate with the electronic cigarette battery. 
     
     
         8 . The charging system of  claim 7 , wherein the pack is configured to communicate wirelessly with the electronic cigarette battery. 
     
     
         9 . An electronic cigarette, comprising:
 a body, a power supply unit disposed within said body, a sensor electrically connected to the power supply unit, and a charging coil electrically connected to the power supply unit,   wherein the charging coil is configured to interact with an external inductive charging coil to charge the power supply unit.   
     
     
         10 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 9 , further comprising a weight disposed within the body. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 10 , wherein the weight is configured to align the charging coil with the external inductive charging coil. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 9 , wherein the charging coil is a first charging coil and wherein the electronic cigarette further comprises a second charging coil disposed within the body. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 12 , wherein the first charging coil comprises a first central axis and wherein the second charging coil comprises a second central axis and wherein the first central axis and the second central axis are offset from each other. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 9 , wherein the electronic cigarette further comprises a plurality of charging coils disposed within the body. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of charging coils comprises a central axis and wherein a central axis of each of the plurality of charging coils is offset from a central axis of the other of the plurality of charging coils. 
     
     
         16 . An electronic charging system, comprising:
 an electronic cigarette comprising a body, a power supply unit disposed within said body, a sensor electrically connected to the power supply unit, and a charging coil electrically connected to the power supply unit, wherein the charging coil is configured to interact with an external inductive charging coil to charge the power supply unit; and   a charging mat comprising a mat coil, wherein the charging mat is configured to inductively charge the electronic cigarette.   
     
     
         17 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 16 , wherein the electronic cigarette further comprises a weight disposed within the body. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 17 , wherein the weight is configured to align the charging coil with the mat coil. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 16 , wherein the charging coil is a first charging coil and wherein the electronic cigarette further comprises a second charging coil disposed within the body. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 19 , wherein the first charging coil comprises a first central axis and wherein the second charging coil comprises a second central axis and wherein the first central axis and the second central axis are offset from each other.