Has anyone thought of this? I almost think I should patent it but I will never get to produce it so here you go, I officially release the following idea into the public domain:
In a manner similar to electric toothbrush chargers and the new SplashPower charging system for gadgets, I propose the creation of a device resembling an ashtray, complete with the Smoke Grooves (tm) from a normal ashtray that allow you to store your e-cigarette without it rolling off the table or having to balance it between the function keys and the number row of a keyboard like most of us.
The groove wherein the electronic cigarette is rested actually contains a small induction coil capable of transmitting the correct current electromagnetically to an induction coil inside the electronic cigarette, charging the lithium ion battery within while the e-cigarette rests thereon. The ashtray itself is powered either by a battery, by USB if possible, or from a transformer connected to the mains.
Issues:
Lithium Ion batteries don't like to be charged like this, that is to say, all the time, on and off. (possibly? I may be mixing it up with NiMH - can a battery expert if there is one here weigh in?)
Potential solution:
The e-cigarette somehow signals to the ashtray (I don't know much about the work of Faraday but there ought to be a weigh of using this system in a two way manner - or else using some simple RF mechanism) that it is more than half charged, and as such, does not require current for the time being. Thus, the battery is charged when the e-cigarette needs it and not all the time.
Coil takes up space in cigarette
Depending on the size of the coil required, of course.
Potential solution:
The coil need not be that big, and the battery requirement is lower because of the availability of current from the ashtray.
Not necessary due to USB passthrough batteries
Self-explanatory
Potential solution:
This ties you down less, quite literally, and you can still walk away with the e-cigarette in hand.
Issues with charging multiple batteries
All the unscrewing could get tedious and it destroys the ashtray resemblance
Potential solution:
Multiple Smoke Grooves for multiple batteries, of course, but also, the necessity for multiple batteries is reduced when operating near the ashtray.
Additional features proposed
LEDs on the ashtray itself or audible feedback indicating the completion of charging or battery status.
Some sort of convenient way of storing cartridges (and in fantasy world, refilling them...)
Indications based on the storage by the ashtray of information around how much you are using the cigarette. (and in fantasy world, the cigarette uploads this information to the ashtray via RF/bluetooth/infrared)
Feel free to add to this. I am terribly sorry if someone already invented this, I just haven't found it.
In a manner similar to electric toothbrush chargers and the new SplashPower charging system for gadgets, I propose the creation of a device resembling an ashtray, complete with the Smoke Grooves (tm) from a normal ashtray that allow you to store your e-cigarette without it rolling off the table or having to balance it between the function keys and the number row of a keyboard like most of us.
The groove wherein the electronic cigarette is rested actually contains a small induction coil capable of transmitting the correct current electromagnetically to an induction coil inside the electronic cigarette, charging the lithium ion battery within while the e-cigarette rests thereon. The ashtray itself is powered either by a battery, by USB if possible, or from a transformer connected to the mains.
Issues:
Lithium Ion batteries don't like to be charged like this, that is to say, all the time, on and off. (possibly? I may be mixing it up with NiMH - can a battery expert if there is one here weigh in?)
Potential solution:
The e-cigarette somehow signals to the ashtray (I don't know much about the work of Faraday but there ought to be a weigh of using this system in a two way manner - or else using some simple RF mechanism) that it is more than half charged, and as such, does not require current for the time being. Thus, the battery is charged when the e-cigarette needs it and not all the time.
Coil takes up space in cigarette
Depending on the size of the coil required, of course.
Potential solution:
The coil need not be that big, and the battery requirement is lower because of the availability of current from the ashtray.
Not necessary due to USB passthrough batteries
Self-explanatory
Potential solution:
This ties you down less, quite literally, and you can still walk away with the e-cigarette in hand.
Issues with charging multiple batteries
All the unscrewing could get tedious and it destroys the ashtray resemblance
Potential solution:
Multiple Smoke Grooves for multiple batteries, of course, but also, the necessity for multiple batteries is reduced when operating near the ashtray.
Additional features proposed
LEDs on the ashtray itself or audible feedback indicating the completion of charging or battery status.
Some sort of convenient way of storing cartridges (and in fantasy world, refilling them...)
Indications based on the storage by the ashtray of information around how much you are using the cigarette. (and in fantasy world, the cigarette uploads this information to the ashtray via RF/bluetooth/infrared)
Feel free to add to this. I am terribly sorry if someone already invented this, I just haven't found it.
