# US 12,178,256 B2 · Multiple dispersion generator e-vaping device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,256 B2 - Document ID: US12178256B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/445,775 - Filed: 2019-06-19 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-11 - Assignees: Altria Client Services LLC - Applicants: Altria Client Services LLC - Inventors: Ali A. Rostami; Gerd Kobal; Yezdi Pithawalla; David Kane; Christopher S. Tucker; Peter Lipowicz; Jason Flora; Georgios Karles; Munmaya K. Mishra; Catherine Barnes; Richard Arena - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178256B2 ## CPC - A24F 40/50: Control or monitoring - A24F 40/30: Devices using two or more structurally separated inhalable precursors, e.g. using two liquid precursors in two cartridges - A24F 40/40: Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts - A61M 11/042: {electrical} - A61M 15/0003: {with means for dispensing more than one drug} - H04L 65/1069: Session establishment or de-establishment - A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors - A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated - F17C 9/02: with change of state, e.g. vaporisation - A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25) ## Abstract A base for an e-vaping device is configured to couple with multiple cartridges configured to generate separate, respective dispersions. The cartridges may include one or more atomizer assemblies or vaporizer assemblies. The base may include multiple connectors electrically coupled to the power supply. The connectors may be configured to couple multiple dispersion generators to a power supply of the base. The base may include control circuitry configured to independently control dispersion generation by dispersion generators coupled to the base. The control circuitry may independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges based on cartridge information accessed through at least one of the first and second connectors. The control circuitry may control dispersion generation by controlling power supplied to the dispersion generators. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A base, comprising: a power supply configured to supply electrical power; first and second connectors configured to independently and removably electrically couple separate, respective first and second cartridges to the power supply; and control circuitry configured to independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges, the independently controlling including establishing a first communication link with a first storage device in the first cartridge via the first connector and establishing a second communication link with a second storage device in the second cartridge via the second connector, accessing cartridge information associated with the first cartridge from the first storage device via the first communication link and accessing cartridge information associated with the second cartridge from the second storage device via the second communication link, and independently controlling electrical power supplied to the first cartridge based on both accessed cartridge information associated with the first cartridge and the accessed cartridge information associated with the second cartridge. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The base of claim 1, wherein cartridge information associated with a cartridge of the first cartridge, the second cartridge, or the first cartridge and the second cartridge includes, information uniquely identifying one or more elements of a dispersion generator included in the cartridge, information indicating a dispersion generator “type” of the dispersion generator included in the cartridge, information associated with a formulation held in the cartridge, a particular activation sequence associated with the dispersion generator included in the cartridge, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The base of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges based on independent control of electrical power supplied from the power supply to the first cartridge via the first connector and to the second cartridge via the second connector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The base of claim 3, wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control the electrical power supplied to the first and second connectors, such that electrical power is supplied to the first and second cartridges at different times. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The base of claim 3, wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control the electrical power supplied to the first and second connectors, such that electrical power is supplied to the first and second cartridges in an alternating pattern in response to successive vaping command signals. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The base of claim 1, wherein the first connector is configured to couple with a connector of the first cartridge and is configured to be restricted from coupling with a connector of the second cartridge, and the second connector is configured to couple with the connector of the second cartridge and is configured to be restricted from coupling with the connector of the first cartridge. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The base of claim 1, further comprising: a cover configured to establish a removable enclosure of the first and second connectors. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The base of claim 1, further comprising: a cartridge holder defining a first slot and a second slot; the first connector in the first slot; the second connector in the second slot; the first cartridge configured to be removably coupled to the first slot; and the second cartridge configured to be removably coupled to the first slot. ### Claim 9 An e-vaping device, comprising: a power supply configured to supply electrical power; first and second cartridges independently and removably electrically coupled to the power supply; and control circuitry configured to independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges, the independently controlling including establishing a first communication link with a first storage device in the first cartridge via a first connector and establishing a second communication link with a second storage device in the second cartridge via a second connector, accessing cartridge information associated with the first cartridge from the first storage device via the first communication link and accessing cartridge information associated with the second cartridge from the second storage device via the second communication link, and independently controlling electrical power supplied to the first cartridge based on both the accessed cartridge information associated with the first cartridge and the accessed cartridge information associated with the second cartridge. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The e-vaping device of claim 9, wherein cartridge information associated with a cartridge of the first cartridge, the second cartridge, or the first cartridge and the second cartridge includes information uniquely identifying one or more elements of a dispersion generator included in the cartridge, information indicating a dispersion generator “type” of the dispersion generator included in the cartridge, information associated with a formulation held in the cartridge, a particular activation sequence associated with the dispersion generator included in the cartridge, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The e-vaping device of claim 9, wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges based on independent control of electrical power supplied from the power supply to the first cartridge via the first connector and to the second cartridge via the second connector. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The e-vaping device of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control the electrical power supplied to the first and second connectors, such that electrical power is supplied to the first and second cartridges at different times. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The e-vaping device of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control the electrical power supplied to the first and second connectors, such that electrical power is supplied to the first and second cartridges in an alternating pattern in response to successive vaping command signals. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The e-vaping device of claim 9, wherein the power supply includes a rechargeable battery. ### Claim 15 A method, comprising: independently controlling dispersion generation by first and second cartridges electrically coupled to a power supply of a base via first and second connectors, the independently controlling including, establishing a first communication link with a first storage device in the first cartridge via the first connector and establishing a second communication link with a second storage device in the second cartridge via the second connector; accessing cartridge information associated with the first cartridge from the first storage device via the first communication link and accessing cartridge information associated with the second cartridge from the second storage device via the second communication link; and independently controlling electrical power supplied to the first cartridge based on both the accessed cartridge information associated with the first cartridge and the accessed cartridge information associated with the second cartridge. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein cartridge information associated with a cartridge of the first cartridge, the second cartridge, or the first cartridge and the second cartridge includes information uniquely identifying one or more elements of a dispersion generator included in the cartridge, information indicating a dispersion generator “type” of the dispersion generator included in the cartridge, information associated with a formulation held in the cartridge, a particular activation sequence associated with the dispersion generator included in the cartridge, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: independently controlling electrical power supplied to the first and second connectors, such that electrical power is supplied to the first and second cartridges in an alternating pattern in response to successive vaping command signals.