# US 2018/0020727 A1 · Apparatus and method for communication and negotiation of charge rate between electronic smoking device and charger > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0020727 A1 - Document ID: US20180020727A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/219,195 - Filed: 2016-07-25 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-25 - Assignees: Fontem Holdings 1 B.V. - Applicants: Fontem Holdings 1 B.V. - Inventors: Adam Hoffman; James R. Conrey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180020727A1 ## CPC - A61M 15/06: Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes - A24F 40/50: Control or monitoring - A24F 40/90: Arrangements or methods specially adapted for charging batteries thereof - A61M 11/042: {electrical} - G06F 1/3296: by lowering the supply or operating voltage - H02J 7/00: Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries - H02J 7/70: characterised by the mechanical construction - H05B 1/0297: {Heating of fluids for non specified applications} - H05B 3/03: Electrodes - A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors - A61M 2016/0021: {with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor} - A61M 2016/0039: {in the inspiratory circuit} - A61M 2205/35: Communication - 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)} - A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract Aspects of the instant disclosure relate to electronic cigarettes; more particularly, to electronic cigarettes and chargers. In various embodiments, the e-cigarette includes a power supply portion comprising a power supply, an atomizer/liquid reservoir portion comprising a liquid reservoir and an atomizer, the atomizer operable when connected to the power supply to atomize liquid stored in the liquid reservoir, and control electronics, where the control electronics are configured to execute a set of computer readable instructions to place the electronic smoking device in an operation mode, a communication mode, and a charge mode. Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a charger for an electronic smoking device. Aspects of the disclosure are further directed to a system comprising an electronic smoking device and a charger. Aspects of the disclosure are further directed to a method for charging an electronic smoking device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic smoking device comprising: a power supply portion comprising a power supply, an atomizer/liquid reservoir portion comprising a liquid reservoir and an atomizer, the atomizer operable when connected to the power supply to atomize liquid stored in the liquid reservoir, and control electronics, wherein the control electronics are configured to execute a set of computer-readable instructions to place the electronic smoking device in an operation mode, a communication mode, a charge mode, light sleep mode, and a low power sleep mode, wherein the light sleep mode uses less power than the operation mode and the low power sleep mode uses less power than the light sleep mode. ### Claim 2 (canceled) ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic smoking device of claim 1, wherein the control electronics comprise a plurality of connectors, wherein the plurality of connectors are inside the electronic smoking device and accessible through a corresponding plurality of apertures. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electronic smoking device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of connectors further comprises three connectors that are configured to be electrically connected to a charger. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The electronic smoking device of claim 2, wherein the control electronics executes the communication mode after the electronic smoking device is electrically coupled to a charger and the communication mode is configured to determine a charge parameter of the electronic smoking device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electronic smoking device of claim 5, wherein the charge parameter comprises at least one of a voltage and a current. ### Claim 7 A charger for an electronic smoking device comprising: a first connection, wherein the first connection further comprises a plurality of connecting pins for electrically connecting to the electronic smoking device, a second connection, wherein the second connection is configured for electrically connecting to a computing device, charger control electronics, wherein the charger control electronics comprises a memory, wherein the memory further comprises a set of computer-readable instructions to place the charger in an idle mode, a communication mode and a charge mode. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The charger of claim 7, wherein the charger control electronics are further configured to execute a set of computer-readable instructions to place the charger in a disconnect mode. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The charger of claim 7, wherein the control electronics further comprise a plurality of connecting pins, wherein a portion of the plurality of connecting pins extend above a surface of the charger. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The charger of claim 9, wherein the plurality of connecting pins further comprises three connecting pins that are configured to be electrically connected to the corresponding connectors on the electronic smoking device. ### Claim 11 A system comprising: an electronic smoking device comprising a battery, an eCig memory storing a first set of computer-readable instructions, and control electronics configured to execute the first set of computer-readable instructions to place the electronic smoking device in a first plurality of modes; and a charger comprising a charger memory storing a second set of computer-readable instructions, and a charger processor configured to execute the second set of computer-readable instructions to place the charger in a second plurality of modes; wherein the first plurality of modes comprises an operation mode, a low power sleep mode, and a light sleep mode, where the light sleep mode uses less power than an operation mode and the low power sleep mode uses less power than the light sleep mode, and wherein each of the first plurality of modes has at least one complementary mode in the second plurality of modes, and wherein the control electronics and the charger processor are configured to communicate and to negotiate a charge rate for charging the battery when the electronic smoking device is electrically connected to the charger. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the first plurality of modes further comprises a communication mode, and a charge mode, and wherein the second plurality of modes comprises an idle mode, a disconnect mode, a communication mode, and a charge mode. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the communication mode is initiated after the electronic smoking device is electrically connected to a charger, and wherein the communication mode is configured to determine a charge parameter of the electronic smoking device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising an external processor, wherein the external processor is external to the electronic smoking device and to the charger, and the external processor is configured to communicate with the control electronics when the electronic smoking device is electrically connected to the charger. ### Claim 15 A method for charging an electronic smoking device comprising: connecting the electronic smoking device to a charger, wherein control electronics of the electronic smoking device are in a first eCig mode and wherein a charger processor of the charger is in a first charger mode, switching the control electronics from the first eCig mode to a second eCig mode, switching the charger processor from the first charger mode to a second charger mode, negotiating, between the control electronics and the charger processor, while the electronic smoking device is in the second eCig mode, and while a charge rate for charging a battery of the electronic smoking device, the charger is in the second charger mode, and charging the battery at the negotiated charge rate, wherein the first eCig mode of the electronic smoking device is selected from the group consisting of a low power sleep mode, a communication mode, an operation mode, and a light sleep mode, and wherein the second eCig mode is a charge mode. ### Claim 16 (canceled) ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the first charger mode of the charger is selected from a group consisting of an idle mode, a disconnect mode, and a communication mode, and wherein the second charger mode is a charge mode. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the first eCig mode comprises an eCig sub-mode selected from the group consisting of a diagnostic mode, a stealth mode, an update mode, a full sleep mode, a travel sleep mode, and a deep sleep mode. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the first charger mode comprises a charger sub-mode selected from the group consisting of a diagnostic mode, and an update mode. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the control electronics check for usage of the electronic smoking device less frequently during the light sleep mode compared to the operation mode. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the control electronics check for usage of the electronic smoking device less frequently during the low power sleep mode compared to the light sleep mode. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic smoking device, when in the light sleep mode or the low power sleep mode, can be turned off for times ranging between 125 to 4000 ms. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the light sleep mode uses less power than an operation mode and the low power sleep mode uses less power than the light sleep mode.