Vaporizer apparatuses and vaporizing methods

Abstract

Devices and methods for controlling a vaporizer are disclosed. In response to a user input via a UI element a controller may select a first voltage value that at least partially characterizes a low-frequency, periodic application of pulsed power from a power source. A controller may control, at least partly based on the first voltage value, a voltage of the low-frequency, periodic application of pulsed power from the power source.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling a personal vaporizer that includes at least a controller, a UI element, and a power source, the method comprising:
 in response to a user input via the UI element, selecting, by the controller and from a plurality of voltage values, a first voltage value that at least partially characterizes a low-frequency, periodic application of pulsed power from the power source; and   controlling, by the controller and at least partly based on the first voltage value, a voltage of the low-frequency, periodic application of pulsed power from the power source.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the controller, a user-generated heater activation signal, and the controlling step comprising applying, by the controller, at least the pulsed power from the power source in response to the user-generated heater activation signal. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , with the selecting step comprising selecting, by the controller and from the plurality of voltage values, the first voltage value in response to the user input via a draw sensor of the personal vaporizer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , with the selecting step comprising selecting, by the controller and from the plurality of voltage values, the first voltage value in response to a user moving a UI element of the personal vaporizer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , with the controlling step comprising changing, by the controller and during the applying step, an aspect of the low-frequency, periodic application of pulsed power from the power source in response to an output signal of a draw sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the changing step comprises changing, by the controller and during the applying step, at least one of a duty cycle value, a second voltage value, or a frequency value that controls the low-frequency, periodic application of pulsed power from the power source in response to the output signal of the draw sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the changing step comprises increasing, by the controller and during the applying step, at least one of a duty cycle value, a second voltage value, or a frequency value that controls the low-frequency, periodic application of pulsed power from the power source in response to detecting a threshold value of the output signal of the draw sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the changing step comprises decreasing, by the controller and during the applying step, at least one of a duty cycle value, a second voltage value, or a frequency value that controls the low-frequency, periodic application of pulsed power from the power source in response to detecting a threshold value of the output signal of the draw sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , with the controlling step comprising controlling, by the controller, the low frequency application of pulsed power from the power source at least partly based on the first voltage value and in response to a draw sensor signal received by the controller. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , with the controlling step comprising controlling, by the controller, a low frequency application of pulsed power from the power source at least partly based on the first voltage value and in response to an activation button signal received by the controller. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , with the applying step comprising toggling, by the controller, a power source connection according to a low-frequency duty cycle. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , with the selecting step comprising selecting, by the controller and in response to the user input via the UI element, the first voltage value from one of a plurality of user-selected low-frequency duty cycle voltage values and a plurality of user-selected low-frequency voltage values. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , with the controlling step comprising generating a pulsed power signal at a rate ranging from 0.5 Hz to 120 Hz. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , with the controlling step comprising generating a pulsed power signal at a rate of around 120 Hz or lower. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , with the selecting step comprising in response to the user input via the UI element, toggling, by the controller, between at least two voltage values for operating the personal vaporizer in differing low-frequency pulsed modes. 
     
     
         16 . A method for controlling a personal vaporizer, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a controller, a user-generated signal for selecting a first value, the first value at least partially characterizing a pulsed signal for operating a heater of the personal vaporizer; and   controlling, by the controller, a low-frequency application of pulsed power from a power source at least partly based on the first value.   
     
     
         17 . A method for controlling a personal vaporizer, the method comprising:
 driving, by a controller, a first driving signal for operating a heater,   receiving, by the controller, a draw sensor signal for selecting a first value, the first value at least partially characterizing a toggle rate; and   changing, by the controller and in response to the receiving step, a first toggle rate of the first driving signal at least based on the first value, with the first toggle rate changing in proportion to the first value.