Water pipe

Abstract

There is disclosed an electronic water pipe comprising a heating chamber configured to heat a consumable product in use. The heating chamber has an air inlet to allow air to be drawn over the consumable product. A controller is configured to control heating of the consumable product in the heating chamber according to a predetermined heating profile over a time period of use, wherein the predetermined heating profile varies over time. The heating profile may be in the form of a sequence of heating phases. A sensor on the water pipe detects a discrete active usage event initiated by a user of the device, such as an inhalation event, and the controller is configured to alter heating of the heating chamber in response to detection of said active usage event. The sensor may be a bubble sensor, such as an accelerometer.

1 . An electronic water pipe comprising:
 a heating chamber configured to heat a consumable product in use, the heating chamber comprising an air inlet to allow air to be drawn over the consumable product;   a controller configured to control heating of the consumable product in the heating chamber so as to maintain the consumable product at an elevated temperature according to a predetermined heating profile over a time period of use; and   a sensor configured to detect a discrete active usage event initiated by a user of the device, wherein the controller is configured to alter heating of the heating chamber in response to detection of said active usage event during the time period.   
     
     
         2 . The water pipe according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating profile comprises a plurality of predetermined stages arranged in sequence over the time period. 
     
     
         3 . The water pipe according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating profile comprises two or more of: an initial warmup stage, a normal consumption stage; and a controlled decline stage comprising a latter or final stage of the predetermined heating profile. 
     
     
         4 . The water pipe according to  claim 3 , wherein the warmup stage is controlled to achieve an initial temperature or power peak for the heating chamber that is greater than the normal consumption stage and/or controlled decline stage. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The water pipe according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one stage is a constant temperature stage. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The water pipe according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined heating profile comprises a power profile, said power profile comprising a target/threshold power setting for each stage and the controller controls an electrical parameter for operation of the heating chamber to accord with the target/threshold power setting. 
     
     
         9 . The water pipe according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined heating profile comprises both an ideal temperature and an associated power setting. 
     
     
         10 . The water pipe according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined heating profile comprise a default or background heating profile for ongoing temperature regulation of the consumable product by the controller over the time period of use, the controller monitoring the adherence to said heating profile according to the output of a further sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The water pipe according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller alters the heating of the heating chamber away from the heating profile in response to detection of said active usage event. 
     
     
         12 . The water pipe according to  claim 1 , wherein the active usage event causes cooling of the heating chamber and the controller alters the heating of the heating chamber to counteract said cooling. 
     
     
         13 . The water pipe according to  claim 1 , wherein the discrete usage event comprises an event causing: a negative pressure inside the water pipe; a flow of air through the water pipe; and/or a user input indicative of, or pre-empting, any such event. 
     
     
         14 . The water pipe according to  claim 1 , wherein the time period of use comprises greater than 5 minutes or 30 minutes. 
     
     
         15 . The water pipe according to  claim 1 , wherein the water pipe comprises a coolant reservoir and the sensor is comprises an accelerometer configured to detect the passage of gas into the reservoir. 
     
     
         16 . The water pipe according to  claim 15 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect vibrations caused by the active usage event. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The water pipe according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a filter configured to filter out sensor readings beyond one or more predetermined frequency threshold. 
     
     
         19 . The water pipe according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a log or model of a predetermined active usage event and the controller is configured to compare the sensor readings with said log or model to determine whether the sensor readings fall within one or more predetermined threshold of the log or model. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The water pipe according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor detects a waveform of the sensed parameter. 
     
     
         22 . The water pipe according to  claim 1 , wherein the discrete active usage event is an inhalation event having a duration of less than 1 minute or 30 seconds, wherein the controller is arranged to temporarily boost heating of the heating chamber upon detection of an increasing flow rate indicative of the onset of a discrete active usagesaid inhalation event. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The water pipe according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is arranged to receive a user input to alter the predetermined heating profile, such as a temperature, power or duration of the profile. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A water pipe system comprising the water pipe of  claim 1  and a capsule containing the consumable product, wherein the capsule is receivable in the heating chamber and is heated with the consumable product therein in use wherein the capsule comprises an indicator bearing data to be made available to the controller to enable implementation of the predetermined heating profile. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled)