The future of the Ultracig

[Ralph Hilton]

I was thinking today about the possible enhancements for a ecig.
I think the future lies with a microcontroller such as an Atmel ATmega48PA.
It could regulate the voltage to the atomizer with a pulse width modulator as is used in a lot of LED flashlights. The atomizer could have a thermostat so that it heats rapidly to an exact temperature regulated by the chip - users could have a remote control that sets the temperature etc. to individual taste.
There could be a battery level indicator with maybe 5 smd LEDs to show charge left.
A battery temperature alarm seems a good idea given the fickle nature of Li - ion batteries.
The mouthpiece would contain a sensor that activates the atomizer when the users lips were close to it - this can be done with a charge transfer proximity sensor.
Its time for the western world to take over the development of the ecig. Most of what is currently produced from China is rather amateurish.
If there is anyone around here with a few hundred thousand to put into R&D, initial production and marketing then I'd be interested in running the R&D division. The ecig is going to grow exponentially in use - it is inevitable.
If they are enhanced so that using them is easier than lighting tobacco sticks, they are totally free of carcinogens, they provide better satisfaction than cigarettes without creating health risks for those in the vicinity then I don't see any future for tobacco sticks.

 

[mnealtx]

Nice idea, Ralph!

 

[tdstrike]

the western world gets involved with it and it'll cost 2000 bucks for one kit.

 

[mnealtx]

good point, strike

 

[warp1900]

I was thinking today about the possible enhancements for a ecig.
I think the future lies with a microcontroller such as an Atmel ATmega48PA.
It could regulate the voltage to the atomizer with a pulse width modulator as is used in a lot of LED flashlights. The atomizer could have a thermostat so that it heats rapidly to an exact temperature regulated by the chip - users could have a remote control that sets the temperature etc. to individual taste.
There could be a battery level indicator with maybe 5 smd LEDs to show charge left.
A battery temperature alarm seems a good idea given the fickle nature of Li - ion batteries.
The mouthpiece would contain a sensor that activates the atomizer when the users lips were close to it - this can be done with a charge transfer proximity sensor.
Its time for the western world to take over the development of the ecig. Most of what is currently produced from China is rather amateurish.
If there is anyone around here with a few hundred thousand to put into R&D, initial production and marketing then I'd be interested in running the R&D division. The ecig is going to grow exponentially in use - it is inevitable.
If they are enhanced so that using them is easier than lighting tobacco sticks, they are totally free of carcinogens, they provide better satisfaction than cigarettes without creating health risks for those in the vicinity then I don't see any future for tobacco sticks.

Amateurish?

How about condescending for you Ralph?



---

 

[Ralph Hilton]

Call it condescending if you wish - its what I see - the Chinese sell what makes money. They are not interested, from my observation, in creating a product that is excellent. They are interested in producing a product that gets them money.-
What I am thinking is that the development of a good product that meets the needs of people in the western world needs to be done in the western world. Then we send the Chinese details of what we want produced and they produce it.

 

[warp1900]

Call it condescending if you wish - its what I see - the Chinese sell what makes money. They are not interested, from my observation, in creating a product that is excellent. They are interested in producing a product that gets them money.-
What I am thinking is that the development of a good product that meets the needs of people in the western world needs to be done in the western world. Then we send the Chinese details of what we want produced and they produce it.

WOW

Gotta love it!

You are actually serious.

So, according to you, businesses around the world are not interested only in making money but making great quality products...

I want to see you naming just 5 that do that.

This only shows your "pampered and protected" understanding of the world you live in.

Chinese manufacturers do exactly the same thing with a big difference... labor is beyond cheap to western standards.

The western world is the one that demands cheaper and cheaper, not the Chinese, and that is why today EVERYTHING (with very few exceptions), is manufactured in China.

The ones that came up with the idea, concept and original design of what you, me and all others here use everyday, were the Chinese and trust me, they may be many things, but never "amateurish", they did R&D for years before being able to accomplish what you hold in your hands today.
It may not be perfect, (what is anyway?), but it works and already has saved many lives.

How come you, or better said...the western world didn't come up with it first?

So, the needs of the western world are different from the Chinese?
Please tell me how and why?

I am going to love every line you type I'm sure.



---

 

[Lazarus]

Amateurish?

How about condescending for you Ralph?



---

..not really condesending warp, in my view it is visioning, elitist visioning without knoweledge or care of the world around one. A sort of cultural naivety perhaps.

Much more dangerous, especially if they have power and money.

 

[warp1900]

..not really condesending warp, in my view it is visioning, elitist visioning without knoweledge or care of the world around one. A sort of cultural naivety perhaps.

Much more dangerous, especially for those with power and money.

Agreed Lazarus.


--

 

[ProtoType]

It's great that you'd like to enhance electronic devices and amp it up--but I never seen anyone bash the ones that created it in the first place. That's doesn't fit business ethics or good practice. I'm a big believer in paying respects whether monetary or acknowledgement. And usually, every business out there pays money what is called, "royalty checks" to the original inventors of various things that went modified by other followers.

 

[stevo_tdo]

It comes down to this. If china wouldn't of made it you would have nothing to improve on. If there was never a gas guzzling model - T you wouldn't have that fancy car to drive around. On and on and on and on Wright brothers

 

[Ralph Hilton]

Warp - do you have anything positive to contribute to the thread?

 

[kender]

Ralph, look up posts from kinabaloo.
He has talked about all of those ideas, but not for the same e-cig.
I liked his idea of temp control. He used op-amps to read the resistance of the coil in the atomizer as it heats up.

 

[kinabaloo]

Ralph - By 'western world' i guess you are inferring 'civilised world' and that's why it is derogatory; Warp and the others are quite right. In truth the Chinese were that long ago(Chinese Culture - Chinese Inventions)!

I hope it's simply that the words didn't over as intended,

 

[kinabaloo]

Ralph, look up posts from kinabaloo.
He has talked about all of those ideas, but not for the same e-cig.
I liked his idea of temp control. He used op-amps to read the resistance of the coil in the atomizer as it heats up.

This is also not new, and I could do the test myself if I had a little more time: to see whether a proportion of the nicotine is burnt up in the atty, and is one part of the atomiser deposits. This would help to explain the 'missing ncotine (far lower than expected blood nicotine levels). Heating in an analog is very slow in comparison - the smouldering heat slowly approaching in contrast to a very sudden burst of heat in the e-cig.

Nicotine is somewhat unstable so this is a possibility. It would be good to know one way or the other if this does happen. If it does, although in general one needs a fast heat up (and then potentially power saving temperature control), slowing the heat up might be beneficial*, as would capping the temperature.

Some new thinking, even new design paradigms could then be considered. If nicotine release really could be upped 5x or more that would mean that juices could be far less concentrated and so present far less hazard in terms of spills, leakage etc.

* I am thinking 500ms ish, so would barely change the user experience. This might not work well at all though because juice on/in the coil is topped up by droplets pulled from the metal mesh during activation.

 

[Ralph Hilton]

Kinabaloo - I didn't mean to infer that the western world was more civilized. I don't think I've met a Chinese person who was even impolite to me quite in contrast to what I have experienced from westerners as adequately portrayed here.
The situation is that I see amateurish products coming from China. That is quite possibly the fault of the westerners wanting things cheap. So the Chinese who provide these things are those who employ cheap labor and produce cheap inferior products to satisfy the needs of westerners. There are unethical people in all the nations.
Such manufacturers need to be given precise instructions on what to make and told that if their product doesn't match what is needed then they won't sell it.
My experience with ecigs so far is that 2 I've looked at are rather amateurish in construction. Why would we need such things as the straw mod if they were professionally produced well tested products?
The western world has its own culture and needs which are quite different to those in China. There is also a problem with language.
Ecig development needs to be done by people with fluent English and good communication with users.
If the Chinese manufacturers came onto this forum, communicated with users and improved the product based on feedback then I wouldn't really see any problem. I just haven't seen that happen. So I see the way forward as having the R&D done by people in good communication with users in the western world and directions on exactly what is required being sent to the Chinese who can bulk produce it at lower cost.

 

[Robert]

uh....didn't they improve the 510 by adding a manual button? Not sure why I'd need a sensor to tell when it's touching my lips?

I see what your both saying- fact is I'm glad they invented it and I'm sure more could be done. I wasn't sure of paying 50$ at first- I thought it was a fad or just bs at first.

What would it cost to make one in Austria?

Even if you could get a loan for R&D you'd go back to China to get them made...........

I'll buy a Chineese Car if they were available and cheaper and at least had safety glass........I heard they were about to start selling them in Australia.

 

[Lazarus]

Someone needs to remind Ralph that the Chinese invented the e-cig. So the amatuers are anyone else who tries to take it a step further. The proverbial ball is in your (western) court Ralph.

The atomizer is the technology that we are all interested in, but little if anything has come to pass (not discounting Carlos' effort) in your/our court.

Your machinations seem ignorant when all of the research done by Chinese companies come to light, while the "Western World" seemingly sits on its hands.

Only now can we even comprehend what the Chinese have given us.

I think there is a gift horse here....

 

[kinabaloo]

Kinabaloo - I didn't mean to infer that the western world was more civilized. I don't think I've met a Chinese person who was even impolite to me quite in contrast to what I have experienced from westerners as adequately portrayed here.
The situation is that I see amateurish products coming from China. That is quite possibly the fault of the westerners wanting things cheap. So the Chinese who provide these things are those who employ cheap labor and produce cheap inferior products to satisfy the needs of westerners. There are unethical people in all the nations.
Such manufacturers need to be given precise instructions on what to make and told that if their product doesn't match what is needed then they won't sell it.
My experience with ecigs so far is that 2 I've looked at are rather amateurish in construction. Why would we need such things as the straw mod if they were professionally produced well tested products?
The western world has its own culture and needs which are quite different to those in China. There is also a problem with language.
Ecig development needs to be done by people with fluent English and good communication with users.
If the Chinese manufacturers came onto this forum, communicated with users and improved the product based on feedback then I wouldn't really see any problem. I just haven't seen that happen. So I see the way forward as having the R&D done by people in good communication with users in the western world and directions on exactly what is required being sent to the Chinese who can bulk produce it at lower cost.

I don't agree. And I suggest you take an atomiser apart and reassemble it.

You mention the straw mod. E-cigs are only 5 years on from invention point. Take any technology and wonder why it took decades to make the improvements ...

The Chinese sent astronauts into space a year or two back and fill the universities around the world.

I think you are way off with your remarks; it's like being back in the time Dr Livingstone. I'm still wondering if this is a wind-up ...

 

[Nuck]

There was nothing in the OP's post that was really inflammatory. He had some good ideas for improving the current state of ecigs. It is an extremely common model for Western companies to design a product and have it produced in China. There is definitely room for improvement in ecigs as they really are quite basic at the moment. I think it's inevitable that large Western corporations will do exactly that in the future.