WO2020172204A1

WO2020172204A1 - Apparatus and method to calibrate photosensor on inhalation device using films

Info

Publication number: WO2020172204A1
Application number: PCT/US2020/018715
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel Freeman
Original assignee: Indose Inc
Priority date: 2019-02-22
Filing date: 2020-02-19
Publication date: 2020-08-27

Abstract

A calibration system to be used in an inhalation device (100) includes: an emitter (120) configured to emit electromagnetic radiation as a beam (206); a photosensor (122) configured to receive the emitted beam; a calibrator including a vapor simulation film (300-1) configured to be inserted between the emitter and the photosensor, the vapor simulation film including film information that simulates a physical characteristic of vapor; and a processor configured to correlate the film information with beam information obtained by detecting the beam as the beam is transmitted through the vapor simulation film, to store the correlated information as calibration information, and to calibrate the photosensor using the stored calibration information.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD TO CALIBRATE PHOTOSENSOR ON INHALATION

DEVICE USING FILMS

BACKGROUND

1. Field

[0001 ] Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus and a method to calibrate a photosensor, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method to calibrate a photosensor included in an inhalation device by using vapor simulation films.

2. Description of the Related Art

[0002] Recently, there have been significant developments in inhalation device technology. Inhalation devices are devices that ignite a substance, such as tobacco or marijuana, for user consumption. Many different types of inhalation devices, such as e- cigarettes, vaporizers, etc., are currently available on the market. These inhalation devices may have many different types of technical features, such as different types of batteries, different types of cartridges or pods that contain the substance to be smoked, etc.

[0003] For various reasons, users may want to consume a specific and precise amount of a substance when using an inhalation device. For example, the user may desire to limit the amount of consumed substance for medical reasons or for financial reasons. Importantly for medical usage in particular, a user may need to consume a precisely measured fraction (dose) of a substance during a single sitting. For example, a user of medical marijuana may need to consume a certain predetermined amount, such as a certain number of milligrams, of active ingredient(s) of medical marijuana during a single sitting.

[0004] There are multiple factors that affect the amount of a substance that is inhaled. These factors include the drug concentration of the vaporized substance, the amount of vapor inhaled, the duration of inhalation, variations between inhalation devices, and variation and inconsistency in the functionality of the device. Specifically, with respect to the amount of vapor inhaled, when a user smokes a substance stored in an inhalation device, the user first ignites the substance and then inhales, through an opening (e.g., outlet) of the inhalation device, the vapor generated from the ignited substance.

[0005] There are different types of vapor sensing technologies that can be used to measure the amount of vapor inhaled by the user, and thereby ensure that the user is inhaling the correct dosage. The vapor sensing technology should be properly calibrated to ensure that the dosage measurements output to the user are accurate. However, conventionally, the process of calibrating vapor sensing technologies is very labor intensive and inefficient.

[0006] Thus, there is a significant need for a vapor sensing technology that can be efficiently and accurately calibrated, to ensure that a user receives the correct dosage of vaporized substance.

SUMMARY

[0007] Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus and method, which enable a user to easily and efficiently calibrate a photosensor, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method which enable a user to easily and efficiently calibrate a photosensor included in an inhalation device by using films that simulate different characteristics of vapor.

[0008] Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented exemplary embodiments.

[0009] According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a calibration system to be used in an inhalation device, the calibration system including: an emitter configured to emit electromagnetic radiation as a beam; a photosensor configured to receive the emitted beam; a calibrator including a vapor simulation film configured to be inserted between the emitter and the photosensor, the vapor simulation film including film information that simulates a physical characteristic of vapor; and a processor configured to correlate the film information with beam information obtained by detecting the beam as the beam is transmitted through the vapor simulation film, to store the correlated information as calibration information, and to calibrate the photosensor using the stored calibration information.

[0010] The physical characteristic of vapor may be vapor density.

[0011 ] The calibrator may include a plurality of vapor simulation films, each of the vapor simulation films including different film information that simulates different vapor densities of the vapor.

[0012] The calibration system may further include: a reservoir to contain a smokable substance containing an active ingredient; and an indicator configured to indicate that a predetermined quantity of the active ingredient has been inhaled by a user of the inhalation device, and the processor may be further configured to use the calibration information to determine whether the predetermined quantity of the active ingredient has been inhaled, and to control the indicator based on the determination.

[0013] According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, there is provided a calibrator configured to calibrate a photosensor included in an inhalation device including an emitter configured to emit electromagnetic radiation as a beam and the photosensor configured to receive the emitted beam, the calibrator including: a vapor simulation film configured to be inserted between the emitter and the photosensor, the vapor simulation film including film information that simulates a physical characteristic of vapor.

[0014] The physical characteristic of vapor may be vapor density.

[0015] The calibrator may include a plurality of vapor simulation films, each of the vapor simulation films including different film information that simulates different vapor densities of the vapor.

[0016] According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method of calibrating a photosensor included in an inhalation device, the method including: inserting a calibrator including a vapor simulation film between an emitter included in the inhalation device and the photosensor, the vapor simulation film including film information that simulates a physical characteristic of vapor, the emitter being configured to emit electromagnetic radiation as a beam, and the photosensor configured to receive the emitted beam; emitting, via the emitter, the beam; receiving, via the photosensor, the emitted beam; and correlating the film information with beam information obtained by the receiving of the beam as the beam is transmitted through the vapor simulation film, and storing the correlated information as calibration information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an inhalation device having a photosensor, according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a calibrator that uses actual vapor and an analytical quantification system to calibrate a photosensor;

[0020] FIG. 3A is a plurality of vapor simulation films constituting a calibrator for a photosensor, according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0021 ] FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a calibration system that uses the calibrator shown in FIG. 3A, according to an exemplary embodiment; and

[0022] FIG. 4 is a method of generating calibration information for a photosensor, according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Hereinafter, photosensor calibrators and photosensor calibration methods according to exemplary embodiments will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] According to exemplary embodiments, the term “inhalation device” and similar terms may refer to many different types of inhalation devices that are used to smoke substances, such as e-cigarettes, vapes, vaporizers, vape pens, vaporizing machines, hookah pens, e-pipes, etc. The inhalation device may include one or more electronic components, e.g., batteries, that are used to facilitate the smoking of a substance.

[0025] According to exemplary embodiments, the term“substance” and similar terms, when used in the context of a substance that is smoked or smokable, may refer to many different types of substances, such as tobaccos, oils, liquids, medical drugs, and plant herbs, and is not limited to any particular substance or group of substances.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an inhalation device having a photosensor, according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1 , the inhalation device 100 includes a battery 102, a heating element 104, a wick 106, a reservoir 108 containing a substance 110, a pressure sensor 112, a processor 114, a memory 116, a timer 118, an emitter 120 (e.g., an electronic device configured to emit visible light, infrared (IR), ultraviolet (UV), etc.), a photosensor 122 (e.g., a photodiode), an indicator 124, a quantity meter 126, an inlet 128, an outlet 130, and a body 132.

[0027] The battery 102 provides electrical power to various components in the inhalation device 100, including the heating element 104, the pressure sensor 112, the processor 114, the memory 116, the timer 118, the emitter 120, the photosensor 122, and the indicator 124. The battery 102 may be many different types (e.g., rechargeable batteries, etc.) as would be appreciated by an artisan having ordinary skill in the art.

[0028] The heating element 104 is an element designed to heat up the wick 106 and thereby vaporize the substance 110. The heating element 104 may be made of many different types of materials, such as metal, ceramics, glass, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the heating element 104 may be designed in many different shapes, such as a coil, a rod, etc. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the heating element 104 is exemplarily shown in a curved shape, but is not limited thereto.

[0029] The reservoir 108 is a housing that contains the substance 110. The reservoir 108 may be detachably attachable to the body 132 of the inhalation device 100 and may be implemented in many different configurations known to those skilled in the art, e.g., pods, cartridges, etc. Alternatively, the reservoir 108 simply may be an opening or cavity designed to receive the substance 110.

[0030] The substance 110 may be many different types of smokable substances, such as tobaccos, oils, liquids, medical drugs, or plant herbs.

[0031 ] The pressure sensor 112 is a sensor that is designed to sense the air pressure in the vicinity of the outlet 130. The pressure sensor 112 is a device that can convert a detected pressure value into an electrical signal. The pressure sensor 112 may be implemented using many different types of pressure sensing technologies, such as micro air flow sensors, differential pressure sensors, strain gauges, fiber optics, mechanical deflection, semiconductor piezoresistive, microelectricalmechanical systems (MEMS), vibrating elements, variable capacitance, etc. When a user ignites the substance 110 and inhales through the outlet 130, air from outside is drawn into the inlet 128, moved through the body 132 of the inhalation device 100 and mixed with the vaporized substance, and pulled through the outlet 130 into the user’s lungs. During this process, the air pressure in the area around the outlet 130 decreases when the user inhales, thereby causing the vapor in the inhalation device 100 to flow towards the area of low air pressure (the area around the outlet 130) , and into the user's lungs. A greater change in air pressure generally results in a greater quantity of vaporized substance being consumed by the user. When the pressure sensor 112 is implemented as a differential pressure sensor, the pressure sensor 112 detects this change in air pressure, converts the detected values to an electrical signal, and transmits the electrical signal to the processor 114. The processor can use these signals for various purposes including initiating and terminating operation of the heating element, calculation of an airflow value, and optional control of heating element intensity. Since the pressure sensor 112 is designed to be used in a small portable device (i.e. , the inhalation device 100), the pressure sensor 112 may be designed as a relatively small and highly sensitive micro air pressure sensor that is capable of detecting tiny changes in air pressure (e.g., a fraction of a pascal), although is not limited thereto.

[0032] The processor 114 is a hardware component (e.g., a circuit) configured to control the operations of the other electrical components in the inhalation device 100. To achieve this, the processor 114 transmits and receives electrical signals to and from the other electrical components.

[0033] The memory 116 stores many different types of information and programs used to facilitate the process of a user inhaling the correct dosage of the substance 110. For example, the memory 116 stores data and programs used to calibrate certain components in the inhalation device 100, such as the emitter 120 and photosensor 122, the pressure sensor 112, etc. The memory 116 may further store information used to smoke the substance 110, such as information related to an amount of the substance 110 stored in the reservoir 108, a consumption amount, timer information, etc. Furthermore, the memory 116 may store many other types of information, such as battery information, customized user information, etc. [0034] The timer 118 provides metering information to the user. More specifically, the processor 114 controls the timer 118 such that when a user inhales using the inhalation device 100, the processor 114 will start the timer 118 simultaneously with the heating element 104 to begin vaporizing the substance 110. After the timer 118 has reached a particular value, a particular amount of the substance 110 will have been vaporized, and the timer 118 will shut off or send a signal to the indicator 124 to alert the user.

[0035] The emitter 120 may be configured to emit electromagnetic radiation as a beam. For example, the emitter 120 may emit a wide range of visible light wavelengths or non-visible electromagnetic radiation (e.g., infrared (IR), ultraviolet (UV), etc). The emitter 120 may be, for example, an LED, although is not limited thereto. When implemented as an LED, the emitter 120 emits the visible light towards the photosensor 122 (e.g., a photodiode), and based on the received light, the photosensor 120 can detect the concentration of vapor in the air and transmit an electrical signal to the processor 114 indicating the detected concentration. This feature is useful to assist a user in determining an amount of vaporized substance being consumed. The emitter 120 and photosensor 122 may be implemented in many different configurations, may be spaced apart from each other in many different arrangements, and may use many different types of signals (e.g., visible light, ultraviolet, infrared, etc.).

[0036] The photosensor 122 is an electronic device that is configured to detect many different types of electromagnetic radiation, such as visible light, IR, UV, etc., and may, for example, be implemented as a photodiode. A photodiode is a device that converts light into an electrical signal and may be many different types, e.g., a PN photodiode, a PIN photodiode, an avalanche photodiode, etc. The photodiode outputs an electrical signal based on the intensity of the received light, where the electrical signal changes as the intensity of the received light changes. As the density of vapor from the substance 110 increases, the vapor blocks an increasing amount of light from being received by the photosensor 122, thus affecting the intensity of the received light signal. In this way, the photosensor 122 can detect a vapor concentration based on the intensity of detected light.

[0037] It is further noted that, although the photosensor 122 is exemplarily described herein as being implemented as a photodiode, the photosensor 122 is not limited thereto, and may instead be implemented as any other device capable of detecting a received signal. For example, the photosensor 122 may be implemented as a photo-voltaic light sensor, photo-emissive light sensor, photo-resistor, photo conductor, passive infrared sensor (PIR sensor), ultraviolet (UV) light sensor, or some other type of sensing device. Additionally, although the photosensor 122 is exemplarily described as being configured to receive and process visible light, exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto, and the emitter 120 and photosensor 122 may be configured to emit and receive many different types of radiation, e.g., visible light, infra red, ultraviolet, etc. Moreover, although the emitter 120 and the photosensor 122 are exemplarily illustrated as being disposed directly across from each other in FIGS. 1 , 2, and 3B, exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto, and the emitter 120 and the photosensor 122 may be arranged in many different positions relative to each other. For example, the photosensor 122 may be arranged on the same substrate as the emitter 120, may be arranged at a predetermined angle relative to a light emission direction of the emitter 120, or may be arranged in another configuration altogether.

[0038] The indicator light 124 transmits a light or other feedback to the user to indicate that a certain event has occurred. For example, the indicator light 124 may light up when the processor 114 determines that a certain quantity of substance 110 has been consumed. The indicator light 124 is not limited to transmitting a light beam, and may instead generate many other types of indications, e.g., audio, visual, haptic feedback, etc.

[0039] The quantity meter 126 is indicia that indicates a quantity of the substance 110 that been consumed. For example, the quantity meter 126 may include a series of hash marks oriented along an axis where the hash marks function as indicia of units of the substance 110 being consumed. According to exemplary embodiments, the hash marks may be evenly spaced apart from each other to indicate a cumulative increase in a quantity of the substance 110 being consumed. For example, each of the hash marks can represent 1 milligram (mg) of the active ingredient in substance 110. The hash marks may also be unevenly spaced apart to account for resin buildup which increases the concentration of an active ingredient (e.g., TFIC) during smoking.

[0040] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a calibrator 200 that uses actual vapor and an analytical quantification system to calibrate a photosensor. As shown in FIG. 2, the calibrator 200 includes a vapor capturing device 208 which captures actual vapor and an analytical quantification system 210 which analyzes the captured vapor. In order to calibrate the photosensor 122 of the inhalation device 100, the substance 110 is ignited by heat 202 and thereby vaporized into vapor 204, which is drawn out through the opening 130 and captured by the vapor capturing device 208. It is noted that the vapor 204 can be pulled into the vapor capturing device 208 using many different types of air suction devices (e.g., fans, etc.), and the vapor capturing device 208 shown in FIG. 2 is a simplified illustration for ease of explanation.

[0041 ] As the vapor 204 is being drawn out into the vapor capturing device 208, the emitter 120 emits a light beam 206 that passes through the vapor 204 and is received by the photosensor 122. The light beam 206 (also referred to as a "beam") can be visible light or other types of electromagnetic radiation (e.g., IR or UV). The photosensor 122 measures the intensity of the light beam 206 and stores the measured intensity in the memory 114. Then, the vapor 204 that has been captured in the vapor capturing device 208 is placed into the analytical quantification system 210 which analyzes the vapor 204 to determine characteristics of the vapor 204 (e.g., density of particles, concentration of active ingredient, etc.). By correlating the intensity of the light beam 206 with the analysis results output by the analytical quantification system 210, the analytical quantification system 210 can calibrate the photosensor 122 of the inhalation device 100.

[0042] For example, when the vapor 204 is passing through the opening 130, the emitter 120 emits a light beam 206 and the photosensor 122 detects the light beam 206 and determines that the light beam 206 has an intensity Ί”. The same vapor 204, which is captured by the vapor capturing device 208, is analyzed by the analytical quantification system 210 and determined to have an active ingredient concentration of “x”. Based on this information, the intensity Ί” can be correlated with the determined active ingredient concentration“x”, and the correlation can be stored in the memory 116. This calibration process can then be repeated for different scenarios, e.g., different vapor concentrations, different types of substances, etc., and the correlations can each be stored in the memory 116 of the inhalation device 100 to form a complete set of calibration information. In this way, the photosensor 122 can be calibrated for a wide range of different types of vapor and a wide range of different types of substances, and this calibration information can be stored in the memory 116 to be used by the processor 114 to measure consumption amounts during actual smoking sessions. For example, after the complete set of calibration information is stored in the memory 116, when a user ignites the substance 110 and begins inhaling the vapor 204 through the opening 130, if the photosensor 122 detects a light beam having the intensity Ί”, the processor 114 can lookup the active ingredient concentration“x” corresponding to the detected intensity Ί”, and based on this information, can determine a quantity of the active ingredient being consumed by the user.

[0043] However, the calibrator 200 shown in FIG. 2 and described above suffers from several technical problems. First, the calibrator 200 requires actual vapor to be used, and to create the actual vapor, the substance 110 must be ignited, which is a waste of the substance 110 and a burden on the heating elements. Second, the calibrator 200 requires a user to repeatedly ignite the substance 110, capture the vapor, and analyze the captured vapor using the analytical quantification system 210 for many different scenarios, which is labor intensive and inefficient. Third, the calibrator 200 requires using several pieces of complex hardware, including the vapor capturing device 208 and the analytical quantification system 210. Thus, the photodiode sensor calibrator 200 is wasteful, inefficient, and expensive. [0044] To solve these and other problems, according to exemplary embodiments, a plurality of films (also referred to as “vapor simulation films”) is provided which simulate certain characteristics of the vapor 204 and thereby function as and constitute a calibrator. FIG. 3A illustrates a plurality of vapor simulation films 300 constituting a calibrator for a photosensor, according to an exemplary embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3A, the plurality of vapor simulation films 300 include a first vapor simulation film 300-1 , a second vapor simulation film, 300-2, up to an nth vapor simulation film 300-n, where n can be any positive integer. According to an exemplary embodiment, each of the vapor simulation films 300 are configured to simulate certain physical characteristics of a known vapor. For example, the vapor simulation films 300 may be configured to simulate a density of particles of a known vapor, the density corresponding to an active ingredient concentration. In this case, each of the vapor simulation films 300 can be designed to simulate a different density (e.g., vapor simulation film 300-1 simulates a density“x” corresponding to an active ingredient concentration“y”, vapor simulation film 300-2 simulates a density“2x” corresponding to an active ingredient concentration“2y”, etc.). Of course, the vapor simulation films 300 are not limited to simulating densities of vapor, and may instead simulate many other physicals characteristics of vapors as well, such as particle size, volume, mass, light scattering properties, etc. Additionally, the vapor simulation films 300 may simulate physical vapor characteristics of the same type of substance (e.g., marijuana), or may simulate physical vapor characteristics of different types of substances (e.g., tobacco and marijuana). Additionally, the vapor simulation films 300 may be combined to simulate physical vapor characteristics of different combinations of vapors. [0045] The vapor simulation films 300 may be formed of many different types of materials and are not limited to any particular type of material. For example, the vapor simulation films 300 may be formed of many different types of plastic, glass, acrylic, paper, wood, plant-based materials (e.g., leaves, grasses), animal-based materials (e.g., leather), or combinations thereof. Additionally, the vapor simulation films 300 may be configured as a solid material throughout, or may be configured as a solid material having liquid and/or gas components. For example, the vapor simulation films 300 may be formed as solid plastic films, or alternatively, may be formed as hollow plastic films having a liquid and/or gas (such as the actual vapor to be tested) contained therein. Additionally, the vapor simulation films 300 may be configured to be used alone or in combination with each other, and accordingly, may be designed to physically interlock with each other in various ways.

[0046] FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a calibration system that uses the calibrator shown in FIG. 3A, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 3B exemplarily illustrates the film 300-1 being inserted into the opening 130, to simulate the physical characteristics of a vapor corresponding to the film 300-1. Also, according to an exemplary embodiment, the term“ calibration system” may refer to a combination of the calibrator 300 shown in FIG. 3A (i.e. , the vapor simulation films 300), along with various electronic components of the inhalation device 100, such as the emitter 120 and/or the photosensor 122, etc.

[0047] In order to calibrate the inhalation device 100, first, a user initiates a calibration mode on the inhalation device 100. The user can initiate the calibration mode in many different ways, such as by pressing a button on the inhalation device 100 (e.g., the indicator 124 may also function as a button) or otherwise controlling the processor 114 using an input unit to initiate the calibration mode. Then, the user inserts vapor simulation film 300-1 into the opening 130. The vapor simulation film 300-1 can be inserted into the opening 130 in several different ways, e.g., by hand, by a machine, etc. The vapor simulation film 300-1 simulates physical characteristics of a known vapor. For example, the vapor simulation film 300-1 simulates the density“d” of a known vapor having an active ingredient concentration“x” by having a pattern of dots or other types of material formed thereon or therein that simulate the desired vapor when light passes through the vapor simulation film 300-1. This information regarding the density “d” and the corresponding active ingredient concentration “x” may also be referred to as“film information” and is stored in the memory 1 16 either before the calibration process or during the calibration process.

[0048] After the vapor simulation film 300-1 is inserted into the opening 130, the emitter 120 emits a light beam 206 that passes through the vapor simulation film 300-1 and is received by the photosensor 122. The photosensor 122 converts the detected light beam into an electrical signal having information related to the detected light beam (also referred to as“light beam information”), such as, for example, the intensity of the detected light beam, and transmits the electrical signal to the processor 114, which correlates the light beam information with the film information and stores the correlated information in the memory 116. The correlated information defines a relationship between vapor density , active ingredient concentration, and detected light intensity. As a result, when a user subsequently vaporizes the actual substance 110 and inhales a vapor 204, the photosensor 122 can determine, based on the detected intensity“I” and the stored correlation information, the active ingredient concentration being consumed by the user is“x” during a given time period.

[0049] Next, this process is repeated for subsequent vapor simulation films 300-2 through 300-n to generate correlation information for each of the subsequent vapor simulation films 300-2 to 300-n. For example, the subsequent vapor simulation films 300-2 through 300-n may be designed to simulate a gradually increasing vapor density which has a positive correlation with the active ingredient concentration (because increased vapor density corresponds to increased active ingredient) and an inverse correlation with the detected light intensity (because increased vapor density causes a decrease in light intensity). For example, the first vapor simulation film 300-1 may simulate a vapor density“di” corresponding to an active ingredient concentration“xi”, the second vapor simulation film 300-2 may simulate a vapor density W corresponding to an active ingredient concentration“X2” which is greater than“xi”, and the nth film may simulate a vapor density“d_n” corresponding to an active ingredient concentration“x_n” which is greater than “X2”. In this example, as the different films are being tested, the photosensor 122 may detect that the film 300-1 has a detected light intensity“h”, the film 300-2 has a detected light intensity "I2", which is less than "h”, and the film 300-n has a detected light intensity "l_n", which is less than "I2”. In this regard, it is noted that the mathematical relationship between the active ingredient concentration x and detected light intensity I may be many different types of relationships, such as inverse linear, inverse non-linear, etc., and may be calculated based on many different types of mathematical criteria. The processor 114 correlates the film information of the vapor simulation films with the corresponding detected light intensities, and stores this correlated information in the memory 116. The collective set of correlation information may also be referred to as“calibration information” or something similar, and may cover a wide range of vapor densities and substances. In this way, the photosensor 122 can be calibrated so that, in actual smoking sessions, the photosensor 122 can accurately determine the active ingredient concentration being consumed by the user based on the detected light intensity and the calibration information stored in the memory 116.

[0050] FIG. 4 is a method of generating calibration information for a photodiode sensor, according to an exemplary embodiment. Although the description of the method 400 shown in FIG. 4 exemplarily refers to hardware components described above with respect to FIGS. 1 -3B, these references are only for the sake of explanation, and are not intended to limit the method of FIG. 4. Instead, the method 400 shown in FIG. 4 may be used with many different types of apparatuses that are modified from those shown in FIGS. 1 -3B.

[0051 ] In operation 402, a user initiates a calibration mode of the inhalation device 100. For example, the user presses a button on the inhalation device 100 itself, or controls the processor 114 to enter the calibration mode by using an external hardware device, such as a computer connected to the inhalation device 100 via a wired or wireless connection.

[0052] In operation 404, the film number M is initially set to M = 1 , where M is a number of a vapor simulation film to be currently tested, among a total N of vapor simulation films to be tested. For example, if the user desires to test a total of three vapor simulation films (N = 3), the first vapor simulation film to be tested is M = 1 , the second vapor simulation film is M = 2, and the third vapor simulation film is M = N = 3. [0053] In operation 406, the user inserts the film M into the inhalation device 100 and stores film information corresponding to the film M. To insert the film M, the user may manually insert the film M into the opening 130 of the inhalation device 100 or use a machine to insert the film M. The film M simulates physical characteristics of a vapor, such as a vapor density and a corresponding active ingredient concentration x. The information regarding the simulated physical characteristics of film M may also be referred to as“film information”. The film information can be stored in the memory 116 using many different techniques. For example, the film information can be stored in the memory 116 in advance, can be automatically detected and downloaded by the inhalation device 100 when the film M is inserted (e.g., using RFID devices or other types of passive or active memory devices), can be manually stored by the user using an externally connected computer, etc.

[0054] In operation 408, the emitter 120 emits a light beam 206 through the film M and the photosensor 122 receives the light beam 206, converts the detected light beam 206 into an electrical signal including information related to the detected light beam (also referred to as“light beam information”), such as, for example, the intensity of the detected light beam, and outputs the electrical signal to the processor 114.

[0055] In operation 410, the processor 114 correlates the light beam information received from the photosensor 122 with the film information stored in the memory 116 and stores the correlated information in the memory 116.

[0056] In operation 412, the processor 114 checks to see whether M = N, where N is a total number of the vapor simulation films to be tested during the calibration process. If M ¹ N (“NO” in operation 412), then in operation 414, M is incremented by 1 to reach the next vapor simulation film, and operations 406, 408, and 410 are repeated for the next vapor simulation film corresponding to the new M number. For example, if N = 3, then a total of 3 vapor simulation films should be tested to complete the calibration process.

[0057] If M = N (“YES” in operation 412), then in operation 416, the process ends because the memory 116 has stored therein correlation information for each of the N vapor simulation films, which collectively form a complete set of calibration information. This calibration information can then be used whenever a user smokes an actual substance, to indicate an active ingredient concentration (or other characteristics) of the substance based on the detected light beam.

[0058] As explained above, the apparatus and method according to exemplary embodiments achieve several significant advantages over the related art. First, by using the plurality of vapor simulation films 300, information regarding physical characteristics of vapor can be stored in the inhalation device 100 without requiring actual substance to be vaporized. Second, by using the plurality of vapor simulation films 300, many different types and combinations of simulated vapor characteristics can be tested, and calibration information can be generated for all of the combinations in a quick and efficient manner. Third, by using the plurality of vapor simulation films 300, it is not necessary to use complex calibration hardware such as the vapor capturing device 208 and the analytical quantification system 210, thereby saving money and reducing complexity. Fourth, the plurality of vapor simulation films 300 can be designed to precise user specifications, and thereby achieve a highly accurate calibration. [0059] It is further noted that the calibration information obtained by using the vapor simulation films 300 may be used in combination with other types of information to precisely monitor a quantity of substance being consumed. The dose of an active ingredient consumed by a user is affected by a combination of different variables, including the vapor density, the length of time of inhalation, the pressure of the air flow, and other factors. To account for these other factors, additional hardware components of the inhalation device 100 may be utilized in combination with the photodiode calibration apparatus. For example, the timer 118 may be used to measure the length of time of inhalation, the pressure sensor 112 may be used to measure the air flow during inhalation, etc. By combining information obtained by using the vapor simulation films 300 with information obtaing by using these additional sensors, additional benefits can be obtained.

[0060] It should be understood that the exemplary embodiments described herein should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each exemplary embodiment should typically be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other exemplary embodiments.

[0061 ] While one or more exemplary embodiments have been described with reference to the figures, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope as defined by the following claims.

Claims

What is Claimed is:

1. A calibration system to be used in an inhalation device, the calibration system comprising:

an emitter configured to emit electromagnetic radiation as a beam;

a photosensor configured to receive the emitted beam;

a calibrator comprising a vapor simulation film configured to be inserted between the emitter and the photosensor, the vapor simulation film comprising film information that simulates a physical characteristic of vapor; and

a processor configured to correlate the film information with beam information obtained by detecting the beam as the beam is transmitted through the vapor simulation film, to store the correlated information as calibration information, and to calibrate the photosensor using the stored calibration information.

2. The calibration system according to claim 1 , wherein the physical characteristic of vapor comprises vapor density.

3. The calibration system according to claim 2, wherein the calibrator comprises a plurality of vapor simulation films, each of the vapor simulation films comprising different film information that simulates different vapor densities of the vapor.

4. The calibration system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a reservoir to contain a smokable substance containing an active ingredient; and an indicator configured to indicate that a predetermined quantity of the active ingredient has been inhaled by a user of the inhalation device, wherein the processor is further configured to use the calibration information to determine whether the predetermined quantity of the active ingredient has been inhaled, and to control the indicator based on the determination.

5. A calibrator configured to calibrate a photosensor included in an inhalation device comprising an emitter configured to emit electromagnetic radiation as a beam and the photosensor configured to receive the emitted beam, the calibrator comprising: a vapor simulation film configured to be inserted between the emitter and the photosensor, the vapor simulation film comprising film information that simulates a physical characteristic of vapor.

6. The calibrator according to claim 5, wherein the physical characteristic of vapor comprises vapor density.

7. The calibrator according to claim 6, wherein the calibrator comprises a plurality of vapor simulation films, each of the vapor simulation films comprising different film information that simulates different vapor densities of the vapor.

8. A method of calibrating a photosensor included in an inhalation device, the method comprising:

inserting a calibrator comprising a vapor simulation film between an emitter included in the inhalation device and the photosensor, the vapor simulation film comprising film information that simulates a physical characteristic of vapor, the emitter being configured to emit electromagnetic radiation as a beam, and the photosensor configured to receive the emitted beam;

emitting, via the emitter, the beam;

receiving, via the photosensor, the emitted beam; and

correlating the film information with beam information obtained by the receiving of the beam as the beam is transmitted through the vapor simulation film, and storing the correlated information as calibration information.