Evolv
- See also: Craftsman (tools)
Evolv LLC is manufacturer of electronic cigarettes and electronic boards for e-cigarettes, based in Ohio, US.
History and product development
Evolv released the first "variable wattage" (variable power) e-cigarette on the market in 2010.[1] The Darwin, was able to output up to 12.7 W.[2] After the Darwin had paved the way, variable wattage soon displaced variable voltage as the default mode of control for advanced personal vaporizers. Retired in 2012,[3] the Darwin was the first and the last complete e-cigarette produced by Evolv.
It was followed by the DNA 12 (12 W), DNA 20D (20 W), and DNA 30D (30 W) modder's boards.[4] The DNA series are circuit boards used by other mod manufacturers to drive their e-cigarettes and control the output. The D in the model name indicates "display". Headless (with no display) DNA 20 and DNA 30 boards can be implemented by using a potentiometer to control the power, instead of using two input push buttons and a display. However, the headless models were never popular, and the concept was abandoned after the DNA 30.
The Evolv Kick (up to 10 W) and Kick II (up to 15 W) are small, cylindrical, headless control boards that the end user can drop into their tube mechanical mod, where it lays on top of the battery and effectively turns the mechanical mod into a regulated mod.[5] The Kick concept has been cloned by numerous other manufacturers.
The first temperature limiting ("temperature control") e-cigarette control board, the DNA 40 (40 W), was released by Evolv in 2014. Evolv received a patent on temperature control for the DNA40 board.[4] In version 5 of the board a resistance lock was introduced.[6] Manufacturers including Hcigar and Vapor Shark have devices that use the DNA40 board.[6] There is also a 25 W version.[7] Unlike the previous boards, these models feature reverse battery protection and true step down functionality.[4] The main feature, however, is temperature coefficient of resistivity of nickel wire to approximate the temperature of the atomizer coil, thereby limiting the temperature to a range where harmful chemicals like acrolein and formaldehyde are not being produced in appreciable amounts. Competitors were quick to release their own temperature limiting devices after the DNA 40 had hit the market.[4]
The DNA series has been criticized for not being USB firmware upgradable, a feature present in many competitors. The first batches of the DNA 40 board had display problems.[8] This negatively affected the sales and reputation of Evolv and other manufacturers down the line, and limited their market shares of the temperature control technology they had spearheaded. For some users, 40 W is not enough, thus Evolv has also received some criticism for making underpowered boards.
In 2015 Evolv released a 200W, temperature limiting board, called the DNA 200.[9] It is firmware upgradable.[9] This board has an on-board micro USB plug for charging the batteries and upgrading the firmware. It has a 3S balance connector, as well as the primary battery input of previous boards.
See also
References
- ↑
- B2 US patent 8820330 B2, John Bellinger & Brandon Ward, "Electronic vaporizer that simulates smoking with power control", published 2014-09-02, issued 2012-10-25, assigned to Evolv, Llc
- ↑ Darwin - ecigarette-mods.com
- ↑ Variable Wattage Patent Goes to Evolv LLC - hitcounterland.com
- 1 2 3 4 Spinfuel Staff (6 April 2015). "Is Temperature Control Vaping The Future?". Spinfuel Magazine. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ↑ Review: Evolv Kick 2 - vapesquad.com
- 1 2 Spinfuel Staff (3 August 2015). "HCigar VT40 Evolv DNA40 Mod". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ↑ Temperature-controlled e-cigs: The next giant leap in harm reduction of nicotine use? - gizmag.com
- ↑ "DNA 40 s creen lockup return procedure" (PDF). http://www.evolvapor.com. Retrieved 24 September 2015. External link in
|website=(help) - 1 2 Agent Vape (12 August 2015). "Volcano Ecigs announces new Lavabox DNA200". Racing Net Source, LLC. Retrieved 24 September 2015.