First, this isn't the best mod ever. Sorry for the lie, aren't you crushed? Name is a work in progress. 
I'd like to make it that way though, and for that I need your input. Not sure if the WIP tag is used on the forum, but it is on some others that I'm on (software mostly) so I figured I'd tag it that way here too.
My question is this. If you could describe the "perfect" ecig, what would it do? Think intelligence (temperature detection, auto variable voltage, bad atty detection, flood detection of the atty, use of 510, 801, 901 attys, etc.) Should I work off of the assumption I need two attys (increases components needed by about 30% in price) or just use one? What type of feed system should I use?
Here's what I've got so far. Builds on my (minimal) arduino experience, so that's likely what it will be built off of. Keep in mind I'm playing around at this point so this is all just conjecture unless there's interest beyond my own.
Components:
Std arduino board (not sure which one yet, depends on requirements)
1 tactile switch
1 toggle switch
3 temperature sensors (LM35)
1 digital pot (variable voltage resistor) (AD5204)
2 voltage comparators (LM339 maybe?)
Forget the reality of actually building this for a minute. There's a phrase in QA, "you are done designing not when there are no more features to add, but no more to take away". That holds true here, but I'm in the adding phase, and then I'll work on what's not achievable.
Essentially, the temperature sensors are placed where I can detect the temperature of the atty, temperature of the batteries, and temperature of the vapor. I maintain a minimum temperature of the atty (toggling from an on and off state from the toggle switch) when on, so heating up to atomize is quicker (I understand this is going to reduce life of the atty more than likely). Vapor temperature is detected as the vapor is exiting the assembly, in order to modify overall temperature if needed (if vapor is getting to hot, reduce max heat of the atty) Tactile switch is used to increase heat of the atty very much like a manual, except it's not simply an on/off. Going through the main board, it adjusts the digital pot's resistance to increase power to the atty. Digital pot setting, voltage into the pot (detected by a comparator) power out of the atty (detected by a comparator), used as variables to detect resistance of the atty (in order not to blow out an LR atty super quick, and to adjust the digital pot accordingly for a HR atty). General idea is that voltage goes up when you hit the switch, down when you release. BUT, voltage never drops off while the unit is on, just decreases to the level where there's no vaporization. Voltage only increases to the point where vaporization is occurring, however decreases if the temp gets to high where it would burn out an atty, or another component.
So general idea for those of you that didn't want to read the above is it detects the temp and power going into the atty, and adjusts power if you hit the switch to it vaporizes the juice. Vaporization happens faster not only because the atty is already heated, but the liquid is heated a bit by the atty maintaining a temp where it's kept viscus, and near the point of vaporization. a blown atty is detected as resistance increases substantially when it's blown. Constant temperature despite disparate environmental and battery conditions is maintained via software, when switch is depressed or released (High temp and low temp respectively). Security measures can be put in place to turn the unit off if it hasn't been activated in X seconds, etc. as I'm dealing with software at that point. Increased battery temperature can indicate a failing battery, thus a warning can be triggered, and charging halted (requires an extra component or two).
Where can I go from here? For example, I could make an addon (serious expense here) that syncs via bluetooth with a mobile phone, and taken mg of nic fluid, can give estimates on nic intake per hour/day/week, etc. Would be about $60-90 in parts for that by my estimate, probably not worth it. However, throwing in vacuum sensor to make an auto trigger rather than a manual, but one WAY more intelligent than the mechanical/electrical trigger system currently existant in a mod wouldn't be difficult. Use the existing temp sensors to create a cleaning cycle for the atty, wouldn't be to difficult (think self cleaning oven). This one would mostly be a software change, which brings up another point. Wouldn't be to difficult to allow firmware updates via USB given some software to do so (not a lot of development there), which would allow for downloadable updates that would give things like a self cleaning atty cycle.
I could throw in an LCD screen to give feedback, or a couple LEDs to give more minimal feedback. Dunno if this would be helpful, or what info people would care about. Could make batts replacable with various kinds and voltages, would take some creative molding of the batt compartment, but considering I'm limiting/modifying voltage prior to entering the atty, and detecting voltage coming out of the battery anyway...
So, Thoughts? Flames? Feedback? Constructive or destructive criticism?
I'd like to make it that way though, and for that I need your input. Not sure if the WIP tag is used on the forum, but it is on some others that I'm on (software mostly) so I figured I'd tag it that way here too.
My question is this. If you could describe the "perfect" ecig, what would it do? Think intelligence (temperature detection, auto variable voltage, bad atty detection, flood detection of the atty, use of 510, 801, 901 attys, etc.) Should I work off of the assumption I need two attys (increases components needed by about 30% in price) or just use one? What type of feed system should I use?
Here's what I've got so far. Builds on my (minimal) arduino experience, so that's likely what it will be built off of. Keep in mind I'm playing around at this point so this is all just conjecture unless there's interest beyond my own.
Components:
Std arduino board (not sure which one yet, depends on requirements)
1 tactile switch
1 toggle switch
3 temperature sensors (LM35)
1 digital pot (variable voltage resistor) (AD5204)
2 voltage comparators (LM339 maybe?)
Forget the reality of actually building this for a minute. There's a phrase in QA, "you are done designing not when there are no more features to add, but no more to take away". That holds true here, but I'm in the adding phase, and then I'll work on what's not achievable.
Essentially, the temperature sensors are placed where I can detect the temperature of the atty, temperature of the batteries, and temperature of the vapor. I maintain a minimum temperature of the atty (toggling from an on and off state from the toggle switch) when on, so heating up to atomize is quicker (I understand this is going to reduce life of the atty more than likely). Vapor temperature is detected as the vapor is exiting the assembly, in order to modify overall temperature if needed (if vapor is getting to hot, reduce max heat of the atty) Tactile switch is used to increase heat of the atty very much like a manual, except it's not simply an on/off. Going through the main board, it adjusts the digital pot's resistance to increase power to the atty. Digital pot setting, voltage into the pot (detected by a comparator) power out of the atty (detected by a comparator), used as variables to detect resistance of the atty (in order not to blow out an LR atty super quick, and to adjust the digital pot accordingly for a HR atty). General idea is that voltage goes up when you hit the switch, down when you release. BUT, voltage never drops off while the unit is on, just decreases to the level where there's no vaporization. Voltage only increases to the point where vaporization is occurring, however decreases if the temp gets to high where it would burn out an atty, or another component.
So general idea for those of you that didn't want to read the above is it detects the temp and power going into the atty, and adjusts power if you hit the switch to it vaporizes the juice. Vaporization happens faster not only because the atty is already heated, but the liquid is heated a bit by the atty maintaining a temp where it's kept viscus, and near the point of vaporization. a blown atty is detected as resistance increases substantially when it's blown. Constant temperature despite disparate environmental and battery conditions is maintained via software, when switch is depressed or released (High temp and low temp respectively). Security measures can be put in place to turn the unit off if it hasn't been activated in X seconds, etc. as I'm dealing with software at that point. Increased battery temperature can indicate a failing battery, thus a warning can be triggered, and charging halted (requires an extra component or two).
Where can I go from here? For example, I could make an addon (serious expense here) that syncs via bluetooth with a mobile phone, and taken mg of nic fluid, can give estimates on nic intake per hour/day/week, etc. Would be about $60-90 in parts for that by my estimate, probably not worth it. However, throwing in vacuum sensor to make an auto trigger rather than a manual, but one WAY more intelligent than the mechanical/electrical trigger system currently existant in a mod wouldn't be difficult. Use the existing temp sensors to create a cleaning cycle for the atty, wouldn't be to difficult (think self cleaning oven). This one would mostly be a software change, which brings up another point. Wouldn't be to difficult to allow firmware updates via USB given some software to do so (not a lot of development there), which would allow for downloadable updates that would give things like a self cleaning atty cycle.
I could throw in an LCD screen to give feedback, or a couple LEDs to give more minimal feedback. Dunno if this would be helpful, or what info people would care about. Could make batts replacable with various kinds and voltages, would take some creative molding of the batt compartment, but considering I'm limiting/modifying voltage prior to entering the atty, and detecting voltage coming out of the battery anyway...
So, Thoughts? Flames? Feedback? Constructive or destructive criticism?
