RU2816312C2 - Power control for aerosol delivery device - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: aerosol delivery devices.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to aerosol delivery devices, such as smoking articles producing aerosol. An aerosol delivery device includes a power source, an aerosol generating component, a sensor configured to obtain atmospheric air pressure measurement values in the air flow path through at least one casing, and a switch connected to the power source and the aerosol generating component and located between them. The aerosol delivery device also includes a processing circuit that determines the difference between the atmospheric air pressure measurements and the reference atmospheric air pressure. Only when the difference equals at least the threshold value, the processing circuit outputs a signal to cause switchable cut-offs of the output voltage supplied from the power supply to the aerosol generating component to adjust the power supplied to the aerosol generating component to obtain a target power value that changes in accordance with the specified ratio between the specified difference and the target power value.

EFFECT: when the difference between the atmospheric air pressure measurements and the reference atmospheric air pressure equals at least the threshold value, the processing circuit outputs a signal to cause switchable cut-offs of the output voltage supplied from the power supply to the aerosol generating component to adjust the power supplied to the aerosol generating component to obtain a target power value that changes in accordance with the specified ratio between the specified difference and the target power value.

22 cl, 14 dwg

Description

[0001] This application claims the priority and benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 16/669,031, entitled “Power Control for an Aerosol Delivery Device,” filed October 30, 2019, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/911,727, entitled “Power Control.” for an aerosol delivery device," filed October 7, 2019, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/769,296 entitled "Control System for Monitoring Functions in an Evaporative System," filed November 19, 2018, all of which are incorporated herein by links.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to aerosol delivery devices, such as smoking articles, that produce an aerosol. Smoking articles may be configured to heat or otherwise dispense an aerosol precursor or otherwise generate an aerosol from an aerosol precursor, which may include materials that may be made or derived from tobacco, or otherwise include tobacco, wherein said precursor is capable of forming an inhalable substance for human consumption.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

[0003] Over the years, many smoking products have been proposed as an improvement or alternative to smoking products based on combustion of tobacco. Some typical alternatives include devices that burn solid or liquid fuel to transfer heat to the tobacco, or that use a chemical reaction to provide such a heat source. Additional exemplary alternatives use electrical energy to heat tobacco and/or other aerosol generating substrate materials, such as those described in US Pat. No. 9,078,473 to Worm et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0004] The rationale for improvements or alternatives to smoking articles has generally been to provide the experience associated with smoking cigarettes, cigars or pipes, but without delivering significant amounts of incomplete combustion and pyrolysis products. To this end, a variety of smoking products, flavor generators and medicinal inhalers have been proposed that use electrical energy to vaporize or heat volatile material or attempt to provide the sensation of smoking cigarettes, cigars or pipes without substantially burning the tobacco. See, for example, the various alternative smoking articles, aerosol delivery devices, and heat generating sources disclosed in the prior art as described in US Pat. No. 7,726,320 to Robinson et al. and US Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0255702 to Griffith Jr. et al. and No. 2014/0096781 by Sears et al., which are incorporated herein by reference. Also see, for example, the various types of smoking articles, aerosol delivery devices, and electrically powered heat generating sources referenced by trademark and commercial information in US Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0220232 to Bless et al. , which is incorporated herein by reference. Additional types of smoking articles, aerosol delivery devices, and electrically powered heat generating sources are referenced by trademark and commercial reference in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0245659 by DePiano et al., which is also incorporated herein document by reference. Other representative cigarettes or smoking articles that have been described and, in some cases, made commercially available include those described in US Pat. No. 4,735,217 to Gerth et al.; US Pat. Nos. 4,922,901, 4,947,874, and 4,947,875 by Brooks et al.; US Patent No. 5,060,671 by Counts et al.; US Patent No. 5,249,586 by Morgan et al.; US Patent No. 5,388,594 by Counts et al.; US Patent No. 5,666,977 by Higgins et al.; US Patent No. 6,053,176 by Adams et al.; US Patent No. 6,164,287 by White; US Patent No. 6,196,218 by Voges; US Patent No. 6,810,883 by Felter et al.; US Patent No. 6,854,461 by Nichols; US Patent No. 7,832,410 by Hon. US Patent No. 7,513,253 by Kobayashi; US Patent No. 7,726,320 by Robinson et al.; US Patent No. 7,896,006 by Hamano; US Patent No. 6,772,756 by Shayan; US Patent Publication No. 2009/0095311 by Hon; US Patent Publications No. 2006/0196518, 2009/0126745 and 2009/0188490 by Hon; in US Patent Publication No. 2009/0272379 by Thorens et al.; in US Patent Publications No. 2009/0260641 and 2009/0260642 by Monsees et al.; in US Patent Publications No. 2008/0149118 and 2010/0024834 by Oglesby et al.; US Patent Publication No. 2010/0307518 to Wang and WO 2010/091593 to Hon, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0005] Representative products that are similar in many attributes to traditional types of cigarettes, cigars or smoking pipes are commercially available as ACCORD® manufactured by Philip Morris Incorporated; ALPHA™, JOYE 510™ and M4™ manufactured by InnoVapor LLC; CIRRUS™ and FLING™, manufactured by White Cloud Cigarettes; BLU™, manufactured by Fontem Ventures B.V.; COHITA™, COLIBRI™, ELITE CLASSIC™, MAGNUM™, PHANTOM™ and SENSE™ manufactured by EPUFFER® International Inc.; DUOPRO™, STORM™ and VAPORKING® manufactured by Electronic Cigarettes, Inc.; EGAR™, manufactured by Egar Australia; eGo-C™ and eGo-T™ manufactured by Joyetech; ELUSION™, manufactured by Elusion UK Ltd; EONSMOKE®, manufactured by Eonsmoke LLC; FIN™TM, manufactured by FIN Branding Group, LLC; SMOKE® manufactured by Green Smoke Inc. USA; GREENARETTE™, manufactured by Greenarette LLC; HALLIGAN™, HENDU™, JET™, MAXXQ™, PINK™ and PITBULL™ manufactured by SMOKE STICK®; HEATBAR™ manufactured by Philip Morris International, Inc.; HYDRO IMPERIAL™ and LXE™, manufactured by Crown7; LOGIC™ and THE CUBAN™, manufactured by LOGIC Technology; LUCI®, manufactured by Luciano Smokes Inc.; METRO®, manufactured by Nicotek, LLC; NJOY® and ONEJOY™ manufactured by Sottera, Inc.; NO. 7™ manufactured by SS Choice LLC; PREMIUM ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE™ manufactured by PremiumEstore LLC; RAPP E-MYSTICK™ manufactured by Ruyan America, Inc.; RED DRAGON™, manufactured by Red Dragon Products, LLC; RUYAN®, manufactured by Ruyan Group (Holdings) Ltd.; SF® manufactured by Smoker Friendly International, LLC; GREEN SMART SMOKER®, manufactured by The Smart Smoking Electronic Cigarette Company Ltd.; SMOKE ASSIST®, manufactured by Coastline Products LLC; SMOKING EVERYWHERE®, manufactured by Smoking Everywhere, Inc.; V2CIGS™ manufactured by VMR Products LLC; VAPOR NINE™, manufactured by VaporNine LLC; VAPOR4LIFE®, manufactured by Vapor 4 Life, Inc.; VEPPO™, manufactured by E-CigaretteDirect, LLC; VUSE®, manufactured by R. J. Reynolds Vapor Company; MISTIC MENTHOL products manufactured by Mistic Ecigs; the VYPE products manufactured by CN Creative Ltd; IQOS™ manufactured by Philip Morris International; GLO™, manufactured by British American Tobacco; MARK TEN products manufactured by Nu Mark LLC; and the JUUL product manufactured by Juul Labs, Inc. Other electrical aerosol delivery devices, and in particular devices that have been characterized as so-called electronic cigarettes, have been marketed under the trade names COOLER VISIONS™; DIRECT E-CIG™; DRAGONFLY™; EMIST™; EVERSMAKE™; GAMUCCI®; HYBRID FLAME™; KNIGHT STICKS™; ROYAL BLUES™; SMOKETIP® and SOUTH BEACH SMOKE™.

[0006] However, it is preferred to provide aerosol delivery devices with advanced electronics, such as those that can improve the usability of the devices.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention relates to aerosol delivery devices configured to produce an aerosol and which, in some embodiments, may be referred to as electronic cigarettes, heated but non-combustion cigarettes (or devices), or non-heated and non-combustion devices. The present invention includes, without limitation, the following example implementations.

[0008] Some embodiments provide an aerosol delivery device comprising: at least one housing and, within said at least one housing, a power source configured to provide an output voltage; an aerosol generating component configured to receive power for generating an aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition; a sensor configured to obtain measurement values of atmospheric air pressure along an air flow path through said at least one casing; a switch connected to and located between the power supply and the aerosol generating component; and processing circuitry coupled to the sensor and the switch and configured to at least: determine a difference between atmospheric air pressure measurements from the sensor and a reference atmospheric air pressure and, only when the difference is at least a threshold value, output a signal so as to cause the output voltage switch to be switchably connected to and disconnected from the aerosol generation component to supply power to the aerosol generation component during the aerosol generation time period, wherein the output voltage switch can be switched connected and disconnected to control the power supplied to the aerosol generation component, with obtaining a target power value that changes in accordance with a predetermined relationship between the specified difference and the target power value.

[0009] In some embodiments of the aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment or any combination of any preceding embodiments, outside of the aerosol generation time period in which there is no signal and the output voltage is disconnected from the aerosol generation component, the sensor is configured to obtain atmospheric measurement values ambient air pressure to which said sensor is exposed, wherein the processing circuit is configured to set a reference atmospheric air pressure based on the ambient air pressure measurement values.

[0010] In some embodiments of the aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment or any combination of any preceding embodiments, executing the processing circuit with the ability to set a reference atmospheric air pressure includes executing the processing circuit with the ability to also determine the average value of the ambient air pressure measurements and setting the reference atmospheric air pressure as the average value.

[0011] In some embodiments of the aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment or any combination of any preceding embodiments, the threshold difference is set to reflect the minimum deviation from the reference atmospheric air pressure caused by the puff action when using the aerosol delivery device by the user.

[0012] In some embodiments of the aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment or any combination of any preceding embodiments, executing a processing circuit capable of determining a difference and outputting a signal includes executing a processing circuit capable of: determining a difference between the most recent of the measurement values and reference atmospheric air pressure and whether the difference is at least a threshold difference; determining a rate of change of atmospheric air pressure from at least some of the atmospheric air pressure measurements and whether the difference is caused by the action of the puff based on the rate of change; and outputting a signal only when the difference is at least a threshold value and is caused by the action of the puff.

[0013] In some embodiments of the aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment or any combination of any preceding embodiments, executing the signal-outputting processing circuitry includes executing the signal-outputting processing circuitry to power the aerosol-generating component during an aerosol-generating time period. , which coincides with the tightening time.

[0014] In some embodiments of the aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment or any combination of any preceding embodiments, a given relationship is described by a step function, a linear function, a nonlinear function, or a combination thereof.

[0015] In some embodiments of the aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment or any combination of any preceding embodiments, a given relationship is described by a combination of a step function and a linear function.

[0016] In some embodiments of the aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment or any combination of any preceding embodiments, the aerosol precursor composition is a liquid, solid, or semi-solid.

[0017] In some embodiments of the aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment or any combination of any preceding embodiments, executing the processing circuitry to output a signal includes executing the processing circuitry to output a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal, wherein operating the PWM signal cycle is adjustable to thereby adjust the power supplied to the aerosol generation component.

[0018] In some embodiments of the aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment or any combination of any preceding embodiments at a periodic rate during the aerosol generation time period, the processing circuitry is also configured to: determine a sampling window of measurement values of the instantaneous actual power delivered to the component aerosol generation, each measurement value of the measurement value sampling window being determined as the product of the voltage across the aerosol generation component and the current passing through it; calculating a running average of power supplied to the aerosol generating component based on a sampling window of instantaneous actual power measurements; comparing the moving average power with the target power value and outputting a signal so as to cause the switch to respectively turn off and turn on the output voltage in each case in which the moving average power is respectively higher or lower than the target power value.

[0019] In some embodiments, a control housing for an aerosol delivery device is provided, comprising: a power supply configured to provide an output voltage; an aerosol generating component or terminals configured to connect the aerosol generating component to the control housing, wherein the aerosol generating component is configured to receive power to generate an aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition; a sensor configured to obtain measurement values of atmospheric air pressure along an air flow path through the at least one casing; a switch connected to and located between the power supply and the aerosol generating component; and processing circuitry coupled to the sensor and the switch and configured to at least: determine a difference between atmospheric air pressure measurements from the sensor and a reference atmospheric air pressure and, only when the difference is at least a threshold value, output a signal so as to cause the output voltage switch to be switchably connected to and disconnected from the aerosol generation component to supply power to the aerosol generation component during the aerosol generation time period, wherein the output voltage switch can be switched connected and disconnected to control the power supplied to the aerosol generation component, with obtaining a target power value that changes in accordance with a predetermined relationship between the specified difference and the target power value.

[0020] In some embodiments of the control housing of any preceding embodiment or any combination of any preceding embodiments, outside of the aerosol generation time period in which there is no signal and the output voltage is disconnected from the aerosol generation component, the sensor is configured to obtain atmospheric pressure measurement values ambient air to which said sensor is exposed, wherein the processing circuit is configured to set a reference atmospheric air pressure based on the ambient air pressure measurement values.

[0021] In some embodiments of the control housing of any preceding embodiment or any combination of any preceding embodiments, executing a processing circuit with the ability to set a reference atmospheric air pressure includes executing a processing circuit with the ability to also determine the average value of the ambient air pressure measurements and the installation reference atmospheric air pressure as an average value.

[0022] In some embodiments of the control housing of any of the preceding embodiments or any combination of any of the preceding embodiments, the threshold difference is set to reflect the minimum deviation from the reference atmospheric air pressure caused by the action of the puff when using the aerosol delivery device by the user.

[0023] In some example control housing implementations of any prior implementation example or any combination of any prior implementation examples, executing a processing circuit with the ability to determine the difference and output a signal includes executing the processing circuit with the ability to: determine the difference between the most recent of the measurement values and the reference atmospheric air pressure and whether the difference is at least a threshold difference; determining a rate of change of atmospheric air pressure from at least some of the atmospheric air pressure measurements and whether the difference is caused by the action of the puff based on the rate of change; and outputting a signal only when the difference is at least a threshold value and is caused by the action of the puff.

[0024] In some embodiments of the control housing of any preceding embodiment or any combination of any preceding embodiments, executing a signal-outputting processing circuit includes executing a signal-outputting processing circuit for powering the aerosol generating component during an aerosol generating time period, which coincides with the tightening time.

[0025] In some control housing implementations of any prior implementation or any combination of any prior implementations, a given relationship is described by a step function, a linear function, a nonlinear function, or a combination thereof.

[0026] In some control body implementations of any prior implementation or any combination of any prior implementations, a given relationship is described by a combination of a step function and a linear function.

[0027] In some embodiments of the control body of any preceding embodiment or any combination of any preceding embodiments, the aerosol precursor composition is a liquid, solid, or semi-solid.

[0028] In some control housing implementations of any prior implementation example or any combination of any prior implementation examples, executing a signal output processing circuit includes executing a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal output processing circuit, wherein the duty cycle the PWM signal is adjustable to thereby adjust the power supplied to the aerosol generation component.

[0029] In some control housing implementations of any prior implementation or any combination of any prior implementations at a periodic rate over a period of heating time, the processing circuit is also configured to: determine a sampling window of measurement values of the instantaneous actual power supplied to the aerosol generating component , wherein each measurement value of the measurement value sampling window is determined as the product of the voltage across the aerosol generation component and the current passing through it; calculating a running average of power supplied to the aerosol generation component based on a sampling window of instantaneous actual power measurements; comparing the moving average power with the target power value and outputting a signal so as to cause the switch to respectively turn off and turn on the output voltage in each case in which the moving average power is respectively higher or lower than the target power value.

[0030] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described below. The disclosure of the present invention includes any combination of two, three, four or more features or elements disclosed herein, whether such features or elements are intentionally combined or otherwise set forth in the particular embodiment described herein. This invention is intended to be read as a whole, such that any individual features or elements of the invention in any of its aspects and exemplary embodiments are to be considered combinable unless the context of the invention clearly dictates otherwise.

[0031] Thus, it should be understood that this disclosure is provided only for the purpose of summarizing certain exemplary implementations so as to provide a basic understanding of certain aspects of the invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments described above are exemplary only and should not be construed as in any way limiting the scope or spirit of the invention. Other example implementations, aspects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example, the principles of some of the described example implementations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Having therefore described aspects of the present invention in the general terms set forth above, reference is made below to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, in which:

[0033] in FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aerosol delivery device including a cartridge and a control body that are connected to each other according to an example embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] in FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the aerosol delivery device of FIG. 1, in which the cartridge and the control body are disconnected from each other according to an example implementation;

[0035] in FIG. 3 and 4 are perspective views of an aerosol delivery device including a control body and an aerosol source member that are respectively connected to and disconnected from each other, according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] in FIG. 5 and 6 respectively show a front view and a sectional view of the aerosol delivery device of FIG. 3 and 4 according to an example implementation;

[0037] in FIG. 7 and 8 are respectively a side view and a partial sectional view of an aerosol delivery device including a cartridge connected to a control body according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] in FIG. 9 shows an electrical diagram of an aerosol delivery device according to example implementations of the present invention;

[0039] in FIG. 10 shows an electrical diagram of the components of the aerosol delivery device, FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a power control method for an aerosol delivery device according to embodiments of the present invention;

[0040] in FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a power control method for an aerosol delivery device according to embodiments of the present invention;

[0041] in FIG. 12A and 12B show functional relationships for preheating an aerosol delivery device according to embodiments of the present invention;

[0042] in FIG. 13 is a flowchart of yet another power control method for an aerosol delivery device according to embodiments of the present invention; And

[0043] in FIG. 14A, 14B, 14C, 14D, 14E and 14F show power control functional relationships for an aerosol delivery device according to embodiments of the present invention, according to embodiments of the present invention.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0044] The present invention is described in more detail below with reference to examples of its implementations. These exemplary implementations are described in such a way that this disclosure is exhaustive and complete and fully conveys the scope of the invention to one skilled in the art. In fact, the present invention can be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments given herein; rather, these embodiments are provided to ensure that the present invention complies with applicable legal requirements. In this specification and in the accompanying claims, grammatical construction indicating that an element is in the singular also implies the plural unless the context of the invention clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, while reference may be made herein to quantities, values, geometric relationships or the like, unless otherwise indicated, any one or more, if not all of them, may be absolute or approximate to account for acceptable variations that may occur, for example, due to technical tolerances or the like.

[0045] As described below, the present invention relates to aerosol delivery devices. Aerosol delivery devices may be configured to generate an aerosol (respirable substance) from an aerosol precursor composition (sometimes referred to as a respirable agent). The aerosol precursor composition may comprise one or more of the following: solid tobacco material, semi-solid tobacco material, or a liquid aerosol precursor composition. In some embodiments, aerosol delivery devices may be configured to heat and produce an aerosol from a fluid aerosol precursor composition (eg, a liquid aerosol precursor composition). Such aerosol delivery device may be so-called electronic cigarettes. In other embodiments, aerosol delivery devices may include devices that are heated but not combustible. In other embodiments, the aerosol delivery devices may comprise heat-free and non-combustion devices.

[0046] A liquid aerosol precursor composition, also referred to as a vapor precursor composition or “e-liquid,” is particularly useful for electronic cigarettes and heat-free, non-combustion devices. The liquid aerosol precursor composition may contain various components, including, by way of example, a polyhydric alcohol (eg, glycerin, propylene glycol, or a mixture thereof), nicotine, tobacco, tobacco extract, and/or flavorings. In some examples, the aerosol precursor composition contains glycerin and nicotine.

[0047] Certain liquid aerosol precursor compositions that may be used in combination with various embodiments may include one or more acids, such as levulinic acid, succinic acid, lactic acid, pyruvic acid, benzoic acid, fumaric acid, combinations thereof, and things like that. Incorporation of an acid(s) into liquid aerosol precursor compositions comprising nicotine may provide a protonated liquid aerosol precursor composition comprising nicotine in salt form. Representative types of liquid aerosol precursor components and compositions are known and characterized in US Patent No. 7,726,320 to Robinson et al., US Patent No. 9,254,002 to Chong et al., and US Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0008457 to Zheng et al. .; No. 2015/0020823 to Lipowicz et al. and No. 2015/0020830 to Koller, as well as PCT patent application WO 2014/182736 to Bowen et al. and US Patent No. 8,881,737 to Collett et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Other aerosol precursors that may be used include aerosol precursors that are included in any of the number of representative products listed above. Also preferred are so-called "smoke juices" for electronic cigarettes, which are available from Johnson Creek Enterprises LLC. Still further examples of aerosol precursor compositions are marketed under the trademarks BLACK NOTE, COSMIC FOG, THE MILKMAN E-LIQUID, FIVE PAWNS, THE VAPOR CHEF, VAPE WILD, BOOSTED, THE STEAM FACTORY, MECH SAUCE, CASEY JONES MAINLINE RESERVE, MITTEN VAPORS, D.R. CRIMMY'S V-LIQUID, SMILEY E LIQUID, BEANTOWN VAPOR, CUTTWOOD, CYCLOPS VAPOR, SICBOY, GOOD LIFE VAPOR, TELEOS, PINUP VAPORS, SPACE JAM, MT. BAKER VAPOR and JIMMY THE JUICE MAN. Effervescent material embodiments may be used with the aerosol precursor as described, by way of example, in US Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0055494 to Hunt et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. In addition, the use of effervescent materials is described, for example, in US Pat. No. 4,639,368 to Niazi et al., No. 5,178,878 to Wehling et al., No. 5,223,264 to Wehling et al., No. 6,974,590 to Pather et al., no. 7,381,667 by Bergquist et al., No. 8,424,541 by Crawford et al., No. 8,627,828 by Strickland et al., and No. 9,307,787 by Sun et al., and US Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0018539 by Brinkley et al. and PCT Patent Application Publication No. WO 97/06786 by Johnson et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0048] The aerosol precursor composition may additionally or alternatively include other active ingredients including, but not limited to, herbal ingredients (e.g., lavender, peppermint, chamomile, basil, rosemary, thyme, eucalyptus, ginger, cannabis, ginseng, maca, and herbal infusion), stimulants (e.g. caffeine and guarana), amino acids (e.g. taurine, theanine, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan) and/or pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and medicinal ingredients (e.g. vitamins such as B6, B12 and C, and cannabinoids such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The specific percentages and choice of ingredients will vary depending on the desired taste, texture and other characteristics. Examples of active ingredients may include any ingredient known to affect one or more biological functions in the body, such as ingredients that provide pharmacological activity or other direct effects in the diagnosis, treatment, suppression, therapy or prevention of disease or that affect the structure or any function of the body in humans or other animals (for example, have a stimulating effect on the central nervous system, has a stimulating effect, antipyretic or analgesic effect or other beneficial effect on the body).

[0049] Representative types of substrates, reservoirs or other components for supporting an aerosol precursor are described in US Patent No. 8,528,569 to Newton, US Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0261487 to Chapman et al., US Patent Application Publication No. 2015 /0059780 by Davis et al., and US Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0216232 by Bless et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Also, various absorbent materials, as well as the design and operation of these absorbent materials in certain types of electronic cigarettes, are disclosed in US Pat. No. 8,910,640 to Sears et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0050] In other embodiments, aerosol delivery devices may comprise heated but non-combustion devices configured to heat a solid aerosol precursor composition (e.g., an extruded tobacco rod) or a semi-solid aerosol precursor composition (e.g., a glycerin-bearing tobacco paste). The aerosol precursor composition may contain tobacco pellets, tobacco pieces, tobacco strips, reconstituted tobacco material or combinations thereof and/or a mixture of finely ground tobacco, tobacco extract, spray-dried extract or other form of tobacco mixed with optional inorganic materials (such as calcium carbonate), optional flavoring agents and aerosol forming materials to form a substantially solid or moldable (eg, extruded) support. Representative types and compositions of solid and semi-solid aerosol precursor compositions are disclosed in US Patent No. 8,424,538 to Thomas et al., US Patent No. 8,464,726 to Sebastian et al., US Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0083150 to Conner et al. ., US Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0157052 to Ademe et al., and US Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0000188 to Nordskog et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Additional representative types of solid and semi-solid aerosol precursor compositions and assemblies include those found in NEOSTIKS™ consumables as the aerosol source for the British American Tobacco Company's GLO™ product and in HEETS™ consumables as the aerosol source for the IQOS™ product , manufactured by Philip Morris International, Inc.

[0051] In various embodiments, the inhalable substance may specifically be a tobacco component or a tobacco-derived material (i.e., a material that is naturally present in tobacco and that may be directly isolated from tobacco or produced synthetically ). For example, the aerosol precursor composition may contain tobacco extract or fractions thereof combined with an inert support. The aerosol precursor composition may also contain unburned tobacco or a composition containing unburned tobacco that, when heated to a temperature below its combustion temperature, releases an inhalable substance. In some embodiments, the aerosol precursor composition may contain tobacco condensates or fractions thereof (ie, condensed components of smoke produced by combustion of tobacco, releasing flavorings and possibly nicotine).

[0052] The tobacco materials used in the present invention may vary and may contain, for example, fire-cured tobacco, burley tobacco, Eastern or Maryland tobacco, dark tobacco, dark fire-cured tobacco and shag, as well as other rare or specialty tobaccos. or mixtures thereof. Tobacco materials may also include so-called "mixed" forms and processed forms, such as processed tobacco stems (e.g., cut rolled or cut puffed stems), expanded tobacco (e.g., puffed tobacco such as dry ice expanded tobacco, DIET), preferably in the form of cut filler), reconstituted tobaccos (for example, reconstituted tobaccos produced using paper or cast sheet manufacturing processes). Various representative types of tobacco, processed types of tobacco and types of tobacco mixtures are shown in US Patent No. 4,836,224 by Lawson et al.; in US Patent No. 4,924,888 by Perfetti et al.; in US patent No. 5,056,537 by Brown et al.; in US patent No. 5,159,942 by Brinkley et al.; in US Patent No. 5,220,930 by Gentry; in US patent No. 5,360,023 by Blakley et al.; in US patent No. 6,701,936 by Shafer et al.; in US patent No. 7,011,096 by Li et al.; in US patent No. 7,017,585 by Li et al.; and US Patent No. 7,025,066 to Lawson et al.; in US Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0255965 by Perfetti et al.; in PCT patent application publication WO 02/37990 by Bereman and Bombick et al., Fund. Appl. Toxicol., 39, pp. 11-17, which are incorporated herein by reference. Additional examples of tobacco compositions that can be used in a smoking device, including those in accordance with the present invention, are disclosed in US Pat. No. 7,726,320 to Robinson et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0053] In addition, the aerosol precursor composition may comprise an inert support having the respirable substance or precursor thereof embedded or otherwise applied thereto. For example, a liquid containing a respirable substance may be applied to, absorbed by, or adsorbed into an inert support such that, when heated, the respirable substance is released in a form that can be recovered from the article of the invention by application of a positive or negative pressure. In some aspects, the aerosol precursor composition may comprise a mixture of flavored and aromatic tobaccos in the form of cut filler. In another aspect, the aerosol precursor composition may contain reconstituted tobacco material such as described in US Pat. No. 4,807,809 to Pryor et al., US Pat. No. 4,889,143 to Pryor et al., and US Pat. No. 5,025,814 to Raker, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. For additional information regarding a suitable aerosol precursor composition, see US Patent Application No. 15/916,834 to Sur et al., filed March 9, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0054] Regardless of the type of aerosol precursor composition, aerosol delivery devices may include an aerosol generating component configured to generate an aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition. For example, in the case of an electronic cigarette or a heat-but-not-burn device, the aerosol generating component may be or include a heating element. For a non-heating, non-combustion device, in some examples the aerosol generating component may be or include a vibrating piezoelectric or piezomagnetic mesh.

[0055] One example of a suitable heating element is an induction heater. Such heaters often contain an induction transmitter and an induction receiver. The induction transmitter may include a coil configured to produce an oscillating magnetic field (eg, a magnetic field that varies periodically over time) when an alternating current is passed through it. The induction receiver may be at least partially located or housed within the induction transmitter and may include a conductive material (eg, ferromagnetic material or aluminum coated material). By directing alternating current through an induction transmitter, eddy currents can be generated in the induction receiver by induction. Eddy currents flowing through the resistance of the material forming the induction receiver can heat it using Joule heat (i.e., the Joule effect). The induction receiver, which may form the atomizer, can be heated wirelessly to form an aerosol of the aerosol precursor composition located in the vicinity of the induction receiver. Various embodiments of an induction heater aerosol delivery device are described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0127722 by Davis et al., US Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0202266 by Sur et al., and US Patent Application No. 15/352,153 by Sur et al. filed Nov. 15, 2016, U.S. Patent Application No. 15/799,365 by Sebastian et al. filed Oct. 31, 2017, and U.S. Patent Application No. 15/836,086 filed by by Sur, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0056] In other embodiments, including those described more specifically herein, the heating element is a conduction type heater, such as in the case of a resistive electric heater. These heaters may be configured to generate heat when electrical current is passed through them. In various embodiments, the conduction type heater can be made in various forms, such as foil, foam, discs, coils, fibers, wires, films, threads, strips, tapes or cylinders. Such heaters often contain metallic material and are configured to generate heat as a result of electrical resistance associated with the passage of electric current through them. Such resistive heaters may be positioned adjacent to the aerosol precursor composition to heat it to produce an aerosol. A variety of conductive substrates that can be used with the present invention are described in the above publication of US patent application No. 2013/0255702 by Griffith et al.

[0057] It should be understood that the embodiments described herein can be applied accordingly to devices that utilize aerosol generating components (eg, atomizers) other than heating elements, such as in the case of a non-heating, non-combustion device. For example, in embodiments including a vibrating piezoelectric or piezomagnetic grid, the power to drive the grid may be controlled by processing circuitry configured to selectively actuate the grid to vibrate and cause components of the aerosol precursor composition to be ejected through the grid. . In other words, the processing circuit may be configured to control power from a power source to selectively drive the vibrating piezoelectric/piezomagnetic grid.

[0058] In some embodiments, aerosol delivery devices may comprise a control housing and cartridge in the case of so-called electronic cigarettes or heat-free, non-combustion devices, or a control housing and an aerosol source element in the case of so-called heat-but-not-burn devices. In the case of both e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn devices, the control body may be reusable, while the aerosol source cartridge/element may be limited-use and/or disposable. Various mechanisms may connect the aerosol source cartridge/element and the control body, such as threaded engagement, press-fit engagement, interference fit, sliding fit, magnetic engagement, and the like.

[0059] The control housing and cartridge/aerosol source element may comprise respective separate housings or outer housings, which may be formed from any number of different materials. The casing may be formed from any suitable structurally sound material. In some examples, the housing may be formed from a metal or alloy, such as stainless steel, aluminum, or the like. Other suitable materials include various types of plastics (eg, polycarbonate), metal-coated plastics, ceramics, and the like.

[0060] The aerosol source cartridge/element may contain an aerosol precursor composition. To generate an aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition, an aerosol generating component (e.g., a heating element, piezoelectric/piezomagnetic grid) may be located in contact with or adjacent to the aerosol precursor composition, for example, across the width of the control housing and cartridge, or in the control housing in which an element in the form of an aerosol source may be located. The control housing may include a power source that may be rechargeable or replaceable and thus the control housing may be reused with a plurality of aerosol source cartridges/elements.

[0061] The control housing may also include means for activating the aerosol delivery device, such as a button, touch surface, or the like to manually control the device. Additionally or alternatively, the control housing may include a flow sensor to detect when a user draws on the aerosol source cartridge/element to thereby activate the aerosol delivery device.

[0062] In various embodiments, the aerosol delivery device according to the disclosure of the present invention can take various general shapes, including, without limitation, a general shape that can be defined as a substantially rod-shaped or substantially tubular shape or a substantially cylindrical shape. In the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings and described with reference thereto, the aerosol delivery device has a substantially circular cross-section, however, other cross-sectional shapes (e.g., oval, square, rectangle, triangle, etc.) are also covered by the present disclosure inventions. Such language, which describes the physical form of the product, can also be applied to its individual components, including the control housing and the cartridge/aerosol source element. In other embodiments, the control housing may take another portable shape, such as a small box shape.

[0063] In more specific embodiments, the control housing and aerosol source cartridge/element may be disposable or reusable. For example, the control housing may have a power source such as a replaceable or rechargeable battery, a solid-state battery, a thin-film solid-state battery, a rechargeable supercapacitor, a lithium-ion or lithium-ion hybrid capacitor, or the like. One example of a power source is the TKI-1550 lithium-ion battery, manufactured by the German company Tadiran Batteries GmbH. In another embodiment, a suitable power source may be a N50-AAA CADNICA nickel-cadmium cell manufactured by Sanyo Electric Company, Ltd., Japan. In other embodiments, multiple such batteries, for example each providing 1.2 volts, may be connected in series. In some embodiments, the power supply is configured to provide an output voltage. The power source may provide power to an aerosol generating component that is configured to generate an aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition.

[0064] In such a case, in some examples the power supply may be coupled to and thus integrated with any type of recharging technology. Examples of suitable chargers include chargers that simply apply continuous or pulsed direct current (DC) to the power source, fast chargers that add control circuitry, three-stage chargers, induction-powered chargers, smart chargers, powered chargers motion, pulse chargers, solar chargers, USB-based chargers and the like. In some examples, the charger includes a power adapter and any suitable charging circuit. In other examples, the charger includes a power adapter and the control housing is equipped with charging circuitry. In these other examples, the charger may sometimes be referred to simply as the power adapter.

[0065] The control housing may contain any number of different terminals, electrical connectors, and the like for connection to a suitable charger and, in some examples, for connection to other external devices for communication. More specific suitable examples include direct current (DC) connectors such as barrel connectors, cigarette lighter connectors, and USB connectors, including connectors designated USB 1.x (e.g., Type A, Type B), USB 2.0, and its updates and additions ( e.g. Mini A, Mini B, Mini AB, Micro A, Micro B, Micro AB) and USB 3.x (e.g. Type A, Type B, Micro B, Micro AB, Type C), specially designed connectors such as Apple Lightning connector, and the like. The control housing can be connected directly to the charger or other external device, or both can be connected via a suitable cable, which also has suitable connectors. In examples in which both are connected by a cable, the control housing and the charger or other external device may have the same or a different type of connector, with the cable having the same type of connector or both types of connectors.

[0066] In examples involving inductively powered charging, the aerosol delivery device may be equipped with inductive wireless charging technology and include an induction receiver for connection to a wireless charger, charging pad, and the like, which includes an induction transmitter and uses inductive wireless charging (including, for example, wireless charging in accordance with the Qi wireless charging standard developed by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC)). Or the power supply can be charged by a wireless charger via radio frequency (RF) waves. Examples of inductive wireless charging systems are described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0112196 by Sur et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Also in some embodiments, in the case of an electronic cigarette, the cartridge may be a disposable cartridge, as described in US Pat. No. 8,910,639 to Chang et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0067] One or more connectors may be used to connect the power source to the charging technology, and some may include a charging case, cradle, charging base, case, or the like. More specifically, for example, the control housing may be configured to interact with a stand that includes a USB connector for connection to a power supply. More specifically, for example, the control housing may be configured to be housed in and interact with a case that includes a USB connector for connection to a power supply. In these and similar examples, the USB connector may be connected directly to the power source, or the USB connector may be connected to the power source through a suitable power adapter.

[0068] Examples of power supplies are described in US Patent No. 9,484,155 to Peckerar et al. and US Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0112191 to Sur et al., filed October 21, 2015, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference . Other examples of suitable power supplies are described in US Patent Application Publications No. 2014/0283855 to Hawes et al., No. 2014/0014125 to Fernando et al., No. 2013/0243410 to Nichols et al., No. 2010/0313901 to by Fernando et al. and US Patent No. 9,439,454 by Fernando et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference. With respect to the flow sensor, specific electrical current control components and other electrical current control components, including various microcontrollers, sensors and switches for aerosol delivery devices, are described in US Pat. No. 4,735,217 to Gerth et al.; in US patents No. 4,922,901, No. 4,947,874 and No. 4,947,875 by Brooks et al.; in US patent No. 5,372,148 by McCafferty et al.; in US Patent No. 6,040,560 to Fleischhauer et al.; in US Patent No. 7,040,314 to Nguyen et al.; U.S. Patent No. 8,205,622 to Pan, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 8,881,737 to Collet et al., U.S. Patent No. 9,423,152 to Ampolini et al., U.S. Patent No. 9,439,454 to Fernando et al., and Patent Application Publication US No. 2015/0257445 by Henry et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0069] An input device may be included in the aerosol delivery device (and may replace or complement a flow sensor). The input device may be configured to allow a user to control functions of the device and/or to provide information to the user. Any component or combination of components can be used as input to control a device function. Suitable input devices include push buttons, touch switches, or other touch sensitive surfaces. For example, one or more push buttons may be used, as described in US Publication No. 2015/0245658 by Worm et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. Likewise, a touch screen may be used as described in US Patent Application No. 14/643,626, filed March 10, 2015 to Sears et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0070] As a further example, components configured to recognize gestures based on specified movements of the aerosol delivery device may be used as an input device. See US Publication No. 2016/0158782 by Henry et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. As another example, a capacitive sensor may be implemented on an aerosol delivery device to allow a user to provide input by, for example, touching the surface of the device on which the capacitive sensor is implemented. In another example, a sensor configured to detect motion associated with the device (eg, accelerometer, gyroscope, photoelectric proximity sensor, etc.) may be implemented on the aerosol delivery device to allow user input. Examples of suitable sensors are described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0132528 to Sur et al. and US Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0158782 to Henry et al., both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0071] As noted above, the aerosol delivery device may comprise various electronic equipment, such as at least one control component. A suitable control component may comprise a plurality of electronic components and, in some examples, may be formed from a printed circuit board such as a printed circuit board (PCB). In some examples, the electronic components include processing circuitry configured to perform data processing, application execution, or other processing, monitoring, or control services according to one or more example implementations. The processing circuitry may include a processor implemented in various forms, such as at least one processor core, microprocessor, coprocessor, controller, microcontroller, or various other computing or processing devices including one or more integrated circuits, such as, for example, an ASIC (Application Application Integrated Circuit), FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), some combinations thereof, and the like. In some examples, the processing circuitry may include memory coupled to or incorporated into the processor, which may store data, instructions for a computer program executable by the processor, some combination thereof, or the like.

[0072] In some examples, the control component may include one or more external input/output devices that may be coupled to or integrated into the processing circuitry. More specifically, the control component may include a communications interface for providing wireless connectivity to one or more networks, computing devices, or other devices on a suitable basis. Examples of suitable communication interfaces are disclosed in US Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0261020 to Marion et al., the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Another example of a suitable communication interface is the CC3200 single-chip wireless microcontroller unit from Texas Instruments. And examples of suitable methods in which an aerosol delivery device can be configured to communicate wirelessly are disclosed in US Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0007651 to Ampolini et al., and US Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0219933 to Henry , Jr. and others, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0073] Other additional components may be used in the aerosol delivery device of the present invention. One example of a suitable component is an indicator, such as light-emitting diodes, quantum dot light-emitting diodes or the like, which can glow when the aerosol delivery device is used. Examples of suitable light-emitting diode components, as well as their design and use, are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,154,192 to Sprinkel et al., U.S. Patent No. 8,499,766 to Newton, U.S. Patent No. 8,539,959 to Scatterday, and U.S. Patent No. 9,451,791 to by Sears et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0074] Other operating indications are also covered by the disclosure of the present invention. For example, visual performance indicators also include changes in light color or intensity to show smoking progression. Tactile (haptic) performance indicators, such as vibration motors, and audible (audio) performance indicators, such as speakers, are likewise covered by the present disclosure. Moreover, combinations of such performance indicators are also suitable for use in a single smoking article. According to another aspect, the aerosol delivery device may include one or more indicators or features, such as, for example, a display, configured to provide information relevant to the operation of the smoking article, such as, for example, the amount of power remaining in the power source, process progress smoking, an indication corresponding to the activation of an aerosol generating component, and/or the like.

[0075] Other components are also discussed. For example, US Pat. No. 5,154,192 to Sprinkel et al. discloses indicators for smoking articles; US Patent No. 5,261,424 by Sprinkel Jr. discloses piezoelectric sensors that may be provided on the mouth end of the device to detect the user's lip activity associated with taking a puff and subsequently triggering heating; US Patent No. 5,372,148 to McCafferty et al. discloses a tightening sensor for controlling the flow of energy in a thermal load array in response to the tightening resistance of a mouthpiece; US Pat. No. 5,967,148 to Harris et al. discloses receptacles in a smoking device that include an identifier that detects a discontinuity in the infrared transmittance value of an inserted component and a controller that executes a detection program when the component is inserted into the receptacle; US Patent No. 6,040,560 to Fleischhauer et al. describes a specific executable power cycle with multiple differential phases; US Pat. No. 5,934,289 to Watkins et al discloses photonic-optocoupler components; U.S. Patent No. 5,954,979 to Counts et al. discloses means for varying draw resistance through a smoking device; US Patent No. 6,803,545 to Blake et al discloses certain battery configurations for use in smoking devices; US Pat. No. 7,293,565 to Griffen et al. discloses various charging systems for use with smoking devices; U.S. Patent No. 8,402,976 to Fernando et al. discloses computer communications for smoking devices designed to facilitate charging and allow automated control of the device; U.S. Patent No. 8,689,804 to Fernando et al. discloses identification systems for smoking devices; and PCT patent application publication WO 2010/003480 by Flick discloses a fluid flow detection system indicating the presence of a puff in an aerosol generation system; and the contents of all of the above inventions are incorporated into this application by reference.

[0076] Further examples of components associated with electronic aerosol delivery products and disclosing materials and components that may be used in the present article are described in US Pat. No. 4,735,217 to Gerth et al.; No. 5,249,586 by Morgan et al.; No. 5,666,977 by Higgins et al.; No. 6,053,176 by Adams et al.; No. 6,164,287 by White; No. 6,196,218 by Voges; No. 6,810,883 by Felter et al.; No. 6,854,461 by Nickols; No. 7,832,410 by Hon; No. 7,513,253 by Kobayashi; No. 7,896,006 by Hamano; No. 6,772,756 by Shayan; No. 8,156,944 and No. 8,375,957 by Hon; No. 8,794,231 by Thorens et al.; No. 8,851,083 by Oglesby et al.; Nos. 8,915,254 and 8,925,555 by Monsees et al.; No. 9,220,302 by DePiano et al.; publications of US patent applications No. 2006/0196518 and No. 2009/0188490 by Hon; publication of US patent application No. 2010/0024834 by Oglesby et al.; US Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0307518 by Wang; publication of patent application PCT WO 2010/091593 by Hon and publication of patent application PCT WO 2013/089551 by Foo, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Additionally, US Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0099877 to Worm et al discloses capsules that can be included in aerosol delivery devices and configurations for key fob aerosol delivery devices and is incorporated herein by reference. The various materials disclosed in the foregoing documents may be included in the present devices in various embodiments, and all of the foregoing disclosures are incorporated herein by reference.

[0077] Other features, controls, or components that may be contained in aerosol delivery devices according to the disclosure of the present invention are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,967,148 to Harris et al., in U.S. Patent No. 5,934,289 to Watkins et al., in Pat. U.S. No. 5,954,979 by Counts et al., in U.S. Patent No. 6,040,560 by Fleischhauer et al., in U.S. Patent No. 8,365,742 by Hon, in U.S. Patent No. 8,402,976 by Fernando et al., in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0016550 to Katase, in US Patent No. 8,689,804 to Fernando et al., in US Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0192623 to Tucker et al., in US Patent No. 9,427,022 to Leven et al., in publication US Patent Application No. 2013/0180553 to Kim et al., US Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0000638 to Sebastian et al., US Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0261495 to Novak et al., and in US Patent No. 9,220,302 to DePiano et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0078] In FIG. 1 and 2 show embodiments of an aerosol delivery device comprising a control body and a cartridge in the case of an electronic cigarette. In this regard, FIG. 1 and 2 show an aerosol delivery device 100 according to an example implementation of the disclosure of the present invention. As indicated, the aerosol delivery device may include a control housing 102 and a cartridge 104. The control housing and cartridge may be aligned for permanent or detachable operation. In this regard, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aerosol delivery device in a coupled configuration, and FIG. 2 is a partial cut-away side view of the aerosol delivery device in a disconnected configuration. In some embodiments, the aerosol delivery device may be, for example, substantially rod-shaped, substantially tubular in shape, or substantially cylindrical in shape when the control body and cartridge are in an assembled configuration.

[0079] The control housing 102 and the cartridge 104 may be configured to interact with each other using a variety of connections, such as a press fit (or interference fit), a threaded connection, a magnetic connection, and the like. Thus, the control housing may include a first interacting element (eg, a mating element) that is configured to interact with a second interacting element (eg, a connector) on the cartridge. The first interacting element and the second interacting element may be reversible. As an example, both the first interacting element and the second interacting element may have external threads, and the other may have internal threads. As a further example, both the first interacting element and the second interacting element may be a magnet, and the other may be a metal or a matching magnet. In specific embodiments, the interacting elements may be formed directly from existing components of the control housing and cartridge. For example, the control housing casing may define a cavity at its end that is configured to accommodate at least a portion of the cartridge (eg, a storage container or other shell-forming element of the cartridge). In particular, the storage capacity of the cartridge may be at least partially located in the cavity of the control housing, while the mouthpiece of the cartridge is located outside the cavity of the control housing. The cartridge may be retained in the cavity defined by the control housing casing, for example, through an interference fit (for example, through the use of clamps and/or other elements that create interference interaction between the outer surface of the cartridge and the inner surface of the wall defining the cavity of the control housing), through magnetic interaction (for example, through the use of magnets and/or magnetic metals located within the cavity of the control housing and placed on the cartridge) or other suitable methods.

[0080] As seen in the sectional view shown in FIG. 2, each of the control body 102 and the cartridge 104 contains a plurality of respective components. The components shown in FIG. 2 are representative of the components that may be present in the control housing and cartridge and are not intended to limit the scope of the components covered by the disclosure of the present invention. As shown in the drawing, for example, the control housing may be formed by a housing 206 (sometimes referred to as a control housing shell), which may include a control component 208 (e.g., processing circuitry and the like), a flow sensor 210, a power supply 212 (e.g., battery, supercapacitor) and indicator 214 (eg, light-emitting diode, quantum dot light-emitting diode), and such components may be aligned in various ways. The power source may be rechargeable, and the control component may include a switch and processing circuit coupled to the flow sensor and switch. The processing circuit may be configured to determine the difference between the atmospheric air pressure measurements from the flow sensor and the reference atmospheric air pressure. In some embodiments, the flow sensor is an absolute pressure sensor.

[0081] The cartridge 104 may be formed by a housing 216 (sometimes referred to as a cartridge shell) enclosing a reservoir 218 configured to hold the aerosol precursor composition and containing a heating element 220 (an aerosol generating component). In various configurations, this structure may be called a container; and accordingly, the terms “cartridge,” “container,” and the like may be used interchangeably to refer to a shell or other housing enclosing a reservoir for the aerosol precursor composition and, in some embodiments, containing a heating element or other aerosol generating component.

[0082] As shown in the drawing, in some examples, reservoir 218 may be in fluid communication with a liquid transfer element 222 configured to absorb or otherwise transfer an aerosol precursor composition stored in the reservoir casing to a heating element 220. In some examples the valve may be located between the reservoir and the heating element and configured to control the amount of the aerosol precursor composition passed through or delivered from the reservoir to the heating element.

[0083] Various examples of materials configured to generate heat when electric current is passed through may be used to form the heating element 220. The heating element in these examples may be a resistive heating element such as a coil wire, a microheater and the like. Examples of materials from which the heating element can be made include fechral (FeCrAl), nichrome, nickel, stainless steel, indium tin oxide, tungsten, molybdenum disilicide (MoSi2), molybdenum silicide (MoSi), aluminum alloyed molybdenum disilicide (Mo( Si,Al) ₂ ), titanium, platinum, silver, palladium, silver-palladium alloys, graphite and graphite-based materials (such as foams and carbon-based filaments), conductive inks, boron silicon, and ceramics (such as ceramics with positive or negative temperature coefficient). The heating element may be a resistive heating element or a heating element configured to generate heat by induction. The heating element may be coated with a thermally conductive ceramic such as aluminum nitride, silicon carbide, beryllium oxide, alumina, silicon nitride, or composites thereof. Examples of embodiments of heating elements used in aerosol delivery devices according to the disclosure of the present invention are further described below, and may be included in devices such as those described herein.

[0084] An opening 224 may be provided in the housing 216 (e.g., at the tip of the mouthpiece) to allow the generated aerosol to exit the cartridge 104.

[0085] The cartridge 104 may also include one or more electronic components 226, which may include an integrated circuit, a memory component (eg, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory), a sensor, or the like. The electronic components may be configured to communicate with the control component 208 and/or an external device through wired or wireless means. Electronic components may be located anywhere in the cartridge or base 228 thereof.

[0086] Although the control component 208 and the flow sensor 210 are shown separately, it should be understood that various electronic components, including the control component and the flow sensor, may be combined on a circuit board (e.g., a printed circuit board) that supports and electrically connects the electronic components . In addition, the circuit board may be positioned horizontally relative to the illustration of FIG. 1, in which the mounting plate may be longitudinally parallel to the central axis of the control housing. In some examples, the air flow sensor may include its own circuit board or other main component to which it can be attached. In some examples, a flexible circuit board may be used. The flexible circuit board can be made in a variety of shapes, including substantially tubular shapes. In some examples, the flexible circuit board may be combined with a heater substrate, layered thereon, or may form part or all of the heater substrate.

[0087] The control housing 102 and the cartridge 104 may include components configured to facilitate fluid interaction with each other. As shown in FIG. 2, the control housing may include an interface member 230 having a cavity 232 therein. The cartridge base 228 may be configured to engage with a connector and may include a projection 234 configured to be recessed into the cavity. Such interaction may facilitate a stable connection between the control housing and the cartridge, as well as establishing an electrical connection between the power supply 212 and the control component 208 in the control housing and the heating element 220 in the cartridge. Also, the housing 206 may include an air intake 236, which may be a recess in the housing in which it is connected to the interface element, which allows air from the environment around the interface element to pass into the housing, where it then passes through the interface element cavity 232 into the cartridge through a protrusion 234.

[0088] A mating element and base suitable for use in accordance with the disclosure of the present invention are described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0261495 to Novak et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. For example, interface element 230, as shown in FIG. 2 may define an outer periphery 238 configured to mate with an inner periphery 240 of the base 228. In one example, the inner periphery of the base may have a radius substantially equal to or slightly greater than the radius of the outer periphery of the mate. Also, the mating element may define one or more projections 242 on the outer periphery configured to interact with one or more recesses 244 formed on the inner periphery of the base. However, various other exemplary designs, shapes, and components may be used to connect the base to the connector. In some examples, the connection between the cartridge base 104 and the control housing interface 102 may be substantially permanent, while in other examples the connection between them may be removable so that, for example, the control housing can be reused with one or more additional cartridges , which can be disposable and/or reusable.

[0089] Reservoir 218 shown in FIG. 2 may be a container or fibrous reservoir as described herein. For example, in this example, the reservoir may contain one or more layers of nonwoven fiber substantially formed in the shape of a tube surrounding the interior of the housing 216. The aerosol precursor composition may be contained in the container. Liquid components can be retained by a reservoir, for example by sorption. The reservoir may be in fluid communication with the fluid transfer element 222. In this example, the liquid transfer element may transfer the aerosol precursor composition stored in the reservoir through capillary action or through a micropump to the heating element 220, which in this example is a metal wire coil. Typically, the heating element is located in the heating device with a liquid transfer element.

[0090] In some examples, a microfluidic chip may be embedded in the reservoir 218, and the amount and/or mass of the aerosol precursor composition delivered from the reservoir may be controlled by a micropump, such as based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technologies. Other example implementations of reservoirs and transfer elements used in aerosol delivery devices according to the disclosure of the present invention are further described herein, and such reservoirs and/or transfer elements may be included in devices such as those described herein. In particular, specific combinations of heating elements and transfer elements, as further described herein, may be included in devices such as those described herein.

[0091] In use, when a user puffs through the aerosol delivery device 100, the air flow is detected by the flow sensor 210 and the heating element 220 is activated to vaporize the components of the aerosol precursor composition. Drawing through the mouth end of the aerosol delivery device causes ambient air to enter air intake 236 and pass through cavity 232 in mating member 230 and a central opening in protrusion 234 of base 228. At cartridge 104, the drawn air is mixed with generated steam to form an aerosol. The aerosol is removed by sucking, drawing, or otherwise puffing from the heating element and exits an opening 224 in the mouth end of the aerosol delivery device.

[0092] For further details regarding embodiments of an aerosol delivery device comprising a control body and a cartridge in the case of an electronic cigarette, see the above US Patent Application No. 15/836,086 by Sur and US Patent Application No. 15/916,834 by Sur et al. ., and US Patent Application No. 15/916,696 to Sur, filed March 9, 2018, which are also incorporated herein by reference.

[0093] In FIG. 3-6 show embodiments of an aerosol delivery device containing a control housing and an element in the form of an aerosol source in the case of a device with heating but without combustion. More specifically, in FIG. 3 shows an aerosol delivery device 300 according to an example implementation of the disclosure of the present invention. The aerosol delivery device may include a control housing 302 and an aerosol source element 304. In various embodiments, the aerosol source element and the control housing may be aligned for permanent or detachable operation. In this regard, FIG. 3 shows the aerosol delivery device in a coupled configuration, and FIG. 4 shows the aerosol delivery device in a disconnected configuration.

[0094] As shown in FIG. 4, in various embodiments of the present invention, the aerosol source element 304 may include a heated end 406 that is insertable into the control housing 302 and a mouthpiece end 408 upon which the user draws to create an aerosol. In various embodiments, at least a portion of the heated end may comprise an aerosol precursor composition 410.

[0095] In various embodiments, the aerosol source element 304, or a portion thereof, may be wrapped in an outer wrapping material 412, which may be formed from any material suitable to provide additional structure and/or support to the aerosol source element. In various embodiments, the outer wrap material may comprise a material that resists heat transfer, which may include paper or other fibrous material such as cellulose material. The outer wrap material may also include at least one filler material embedded in or dispersed within the fibrous material. In various embodiments, the filler material may be in the form of water-insoluble particles. Additionally, the filler material may include inorganic components. In various embodiments, the outer wrapper material may be formed from a plurality of layers, such as an underlying layer, a bulk layer, and an overlying layer, such as a typical wrapping paper in a cigarette. Such materials may include, for example, lightweight recycled fibers such as flax, hemp, sisal, rice stalks and/or esparto. The outer wrap may also include a material commonly used in a conventional cigarette filter element, such as cellulose acetate. In addition, the excess length of the outer wrap material at the mouthpiece end 408 of the aerosol source element may simply serve to separate the aerosol precursor composition 410 from the consumer's mouth or to provide space for housing filter material, as described below, or to affect the puff taken by the user. product, or the characteristics of the flow of vapor or aerosol exiting the device during a puff. Further discussion regarding outer wrap material configurations that can be used with the present invention can be found in the above-cited U.S. Patent No. 9,078,473 to Worm et al.

[0096] In various embodiments, other components may exist between the aerosol precursor composition 410 and the mouth end 408 of the aerosol source element 304, where the mouth end may include a filter 414, which may, for example, be made of cellulose acetate or polypropylene material. The filter may additionally or alternatively comprise strands of tobacco-containing material, as described in US Pat. No. 5,025,814 to Raker et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In various embodiments, the filter may increase the structural integrity of the mouth end of the aerosol source element and/or provide filtration capacity, if desired, and/or provide draw resistance. In some embodiments, one or any combination of the following may be located between the aerosol precursor composition and the mouthpiece end of the neck: an air gap; phase change materials for air cooling; aroma release agent; ion exchange fibers capable of selective chemical adsorption; airgel particles as a filter medium and other suitable materials.

[0097 Various embodiments of the present invention utilize one or more conduction-type heating elements to heat the aerosol precursor composition 410 of the aerosol source element 304. In various embodiments, the heating element can be made in various forms, such as foil, foam, mesh, hollow sphere, hemisphere, disks, spirals, fibers, wires, films, threads, strips, tapes or cylinders. Such heating elements often contain metallic material and are configured to generate heat as a result of electrical resistance associated with the passage of electric current through them. Such resistive heating elements may be positioned in direct contact with or adjacent to the aerosol source element and, in particular, the aerosol precursor composition of the aerosol source element. The heating element may be located in the control housing and/or element in the form of an aerosol source. In various embodiments, the aerosol precursor composition may contain components (ie, thermally conductive constituents) that are embedded in or part of the support portion, wherein the support portion may serve as or assist in the operation of a heating assembly. Some examples of various heating elements or elements are described in US Pat. No. 9,078,473 to Worm et al.

[0098] Some non-limiting examples of various heating element configurations include configurations in which the heating element is located proximate to the aerosol source element 304. For example, in some examples, at least a portion of the heating element may surround at least a portion of the element as an aerosol source. In other examples, one or more heating elements may be located adjacent the exterior of the aerosol source element when inserted into the control housing 302. In other examples, at least a portion of the heating element may penetrate at least a portion of the aerosol source element (such such as one or more pins and/or needles that penetrate the aerosol source element) when the aerosol source element is inserted into the control housing. In some cases, the aerosol precursor composition may include a structure in contact with the aerosol precursor composition or a plurality of beads or particles embedded therein or otherwise forming a part thereof that can serve as a heating element or facilitate its operation.

[0099] In FIG. 5 is a front view of an aerosol delivery device 300 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the aerosol delivery device of FIG. 5. In particular, the control housing 302 of the illustrated embodiment may include a housing 516 that includes an opening 518 formed at its interacting end, a flow sensor 520 (e.g., a puff sensor or a pressure switch), a control component 522 (e.g., a processing circuit, etc.) etc.), a power source 524 (eg, a battery, a supercapacitor), and an end cap that contains an indicator 526 (eg, an LED). The power source may be rechargeable, and the control housing may include a switch and processing circuit coupled to the flow sensor and switch. The processing circuit may be configured to determine the difference between the atmospheric air pressure measurements from the flow sensor and the reference atmospheric air pressure.

[0100] In one embodiment, indicator 526 may include one or more light-emitting diodes, quantum dot light-emitting diodes, or the like. The indicator may be communicatively coupled to control component 522 and may illuminate, for example, when a user puffs through aerosol source element 304 in connection with control housing 302, as detected by flow sensor 520.

[0101] The control housing 302 of the illustrated embodiment includes one or more heating assemblies 528 (individually or collectively referred to as a heating assembly) configured to heat the aerosol precursor composition 410 of the aerosol source element 304. Although the heating assembly of various embodiments of the disclosure of the present invention can take many forms, in the specific embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and 6, the heating assembly includes an outer cylinder 530 and a heating element 532 (aerosol generating component), which in this embodiment includes a plurality of heater pins that extend from the receiving base 534 (in various configurations, the heating assembly, or more specifically, the heater pins may be called a heater). In the illustrated embodiment, the outer cylinder includes a double-walled stainless steel vacuum tube to support the heat generated by the heater pins in the outer cylinder, and more specifically, to support the heat generated by the heater pins in the aerosol precursor composition. In various embodiments, the heater pins may be made of one or more conductive materials, including, but not limited to, copper, aluminum, platinum, gold, silver, iron, steel, brass, bronze, graphite, or any combination thereof.

[0102] As shown in the drawing, the heating assembly 528 may extend proximate the interacting end of the housing 516 and may be configured to substantially surround a portion of the heating end 406 of the aerosol source element 304 that includes an aerosol precursor composition 410. Thus, the heating assembly may form an overall tubular configuration. As shown in FIG. 5 and 6, a heating element 532 (e.g., a plurality of heater pins) is surrounded by an outer cylinder 530 to form a receiving chamber 536. Thus, in various embodiments, the outer cylinder may comprise a non-conductive insulating material and/or structure including, but not limited to, an insulating polymer (such as plastic or cellulose), glass, rubber, ceramic, porcelain, double wall vacuum construction, or any combination thereof.

[0103] In some embodiments, one or more parts or components of the heating assembly 528 may be combined with, packaged with, and/or integrally formed with the aerosol precursor composition 410. For example, in some embodiments, the aerosol precursor composition may be formed from a material as described above and may contain one or more conductive materials mixed therewith. In some of these embodiments, the contacts may be coupled directly to the aerosol precursor composition such that the aerosol source element is inserted into the receiving chamber of the control housing, the contacts making an electrical connection to the electrical power source. Alternatively, the contacts may be integral with the electrical source and may extend into the receiving chamber such that when the aerosol source element is inserted into the receiving chamber of the control housing, the contacts make an electrical connection to the aerosol precursor composition. Due to the presence of conductive material in the aerosol precursor composition, the application of power from an electrical source to the aerosol precursor composition allows electrical current to flow and thereby release heat from the conductive material. Thus, in some embodiments, the heating element may be described as integral with the aerosol precursor composition. By way of non-limiting example, graphite or other suitable conductive material may be mixed with, embedded in, or otherwise present directly on or within the aerosol precursor composition material to form a heating element integral with said means.

[0104] As discussed above, in the illustrated embodiment, the outer cylinder 530 may also help facilitate proper positioning of the aerosol source element 304 when the aerosol source element is inserted into the housing 516. In various embodiments, the outer cylinder of the heating assembly 528 may cooperate with the inner surface of the casing ensuring alignment of the heating unit relative to the casing. Thus, as a result of the tight connection between the heating assembly, the longitudinal axis of the heating assembly can extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the casing. Specifically, a support cylinder may extend from the housing opening 518 to a receiving base 534 to form a receiving chamber 536.

[0105] The size and shape of the heated end 406 of the aerosol source element 304 allows for insertion into the control housing 302. In various embodiments, the control housing receiving chamber 536 may be characterized as being formed by a wall with an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining an inner volume receiving chamber. For example, in the illustrated embodiments, the outer cylinder 530 defines an internal surface defining the internal volume of the receiving chamber. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner diameter of the outer cylinder may be slightly larger than or approximately equal to the outer diameter of the corresponding aerosol source element (for example, to create a sliding fit) such that the outer cylinder is configured to guide the aerosol source element towards proper position (eg lateral position) relative to the control housing. Thus, the largest outer diameter size (or other size depending on the particular cross-sectional shape of the embodiments) of the aerosol source element 304 may be smaller than the inner diameter (or other size) on the inner surface of the wall of the open end of the receiving chamber in the control housing. In some embodiments, the difference in the respective diameters may be small enough such that the aerosol source element fits tightly into the receiving chamber and frictional forces prevent the aerosol source element from moving without applying force. Alternatively, the difference may be sufficient to allow the aerosol source element to slide into or out of the receiving chamber without the need for excessive force.

[0106] In the illustrated embodiment, the control housing 302 is configured such that when the aerosol source element 304 is inserted into the control housing, the heating element 532 (e.g., heater pins) is located at the approximate radial center of at least a portion of the aerosol precursor composition 410 heated end 406 of the element in the form of an aerosol source. Thus, when used in conjunction with a solid or semi-solid aerosol precursor composition, the heater pins may be in direct contact with the aerosol precursor composition. In other embodiments, for example, when used in conjunction with an extruded aerosol precursor composition that forms a tubular structure, the heater pins may be located within a cavity defined by the inner surface of the extruded tubular structure and will not contact the inner surface of the extruded tubular structure.

[0107] During use, the consumer initiates heating of the heating assembly 528 and, in particular, the heating element 532, which is located adjacent to the aerosol precursor composition 410 (or a particular layer thereof). Heating the aerosol precursor composition releases a respirable substance within the element 304 as an aerosol source to form a respirable substance. When a consumer inhales at the mouthpiece end 408 of the aerosol source element, air is drawn into the aerosol source element through an air inlet 538, such as openings or passages in the control housing 302. The combination of air drawn in and inhalable material released is inhaled by the consumer as it exits drawn materials from the mouth end of the element in the form of an aerosol source. In some embodiments, to initiate heating, the consumer may manually operate a button or similar component that causes the heating element of the heating assembly to receive electrical energy from a battery or other energy source. Electrical energy can be supplied for a specified period of time or it can be controlled manually.

[0108] In some embodiments, the flow of electrical energy does not substantially continue between puffs on the device 300 (although the flow of energy may continue to maintain a baseline temperature higher than the ambient temperature - for example, a temperature that promotes rapid heating to the active heating temperature) . However, in the illustrated embodiment, heating is initiated by the user's tightening action through the use of one or more sensors, such as flow sensor 520. As soon as the puff is stopped, the heating will stop or decrease. When the user has taken a sufficient number of puffs to release a sufficient amount of inhalable substance (eg, an amount sufficient to equate to a typical smoking experience), the aerosol source element 304 can be removed from the control housing 302 and discarded. In some embodiments, additional sensing elements may be used, such as capacitive sensing elements and other sensors, as described in US Patent Application No. 15/707,461 to Phillips et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0109] In various embodiments, the aerosol source element 304 may be formed from any material suitable for forming and maintaining a suitable shape, such as a tubular shape, and for holding the aerosol precursor composition 410 therein. In some embodiments, the aerosol source element may be formed by a single wall, or in other embodiments by multiple walls, and may be formed from a material (natural or synthetic) that is resistant to high temperatures to maintain its structural integrity - e.g. collapse - at least at a temperature that is the heating temperature provided by the electrical heating element, as further described herein. Although in some embodiments a high temperature resistant polymer may be used, in other embodiments the aerosol source element may be formed from paper that is substantially straw shaped. As further described herein, the aerosol source element may have one or more layers associated therewith that serve to substantially prevent the movement of vapor between them. In one embodiment, an aluminum foil layer may be applied as a layer to one surface of an aerosol source element. Ceramic materials can also be used. In additional embodiments, an insulating material may be used to avoid unnecessary heat transfer from the aerosol precursor composition. Additional examples of the types of components and materials that may be used to provide the functions described above, or used as alternatives to the materials and components described above, may be of the types set forth in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/00186757 by Crooks and etc.; No. 2010/00186757 by Crooks et al.; and No. 2011/0041861 by Sebastian et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0110] In the illustrated embodiment, the control housing 302 includes a control component 522 that controls various functions of the aerosol delivery device 300, including powering the electrical heating element 532. For example, the control component may include processing circuitry (which may be connected to additional components, as further described herein), which is connected by electrically conductive wires (not shown) to power supply 524. In various embodiments, the processing circuitry may control when and how the heating assembly 528, and in particular the heater pins, receive electrical energy to heat the aerosol precursor composition 410 to cause release of respirable material for inhalation by the consumer. In some embodiments, such control may be activated by flow sensor 520, as described in more detail above.

[0111] As seen in FIG. 5 and 6, the heating assembly 528 of the illustrated embodiment includes an outer cylinder 530 and a heating element 532 (e.g., a plurality of heater pins) that extend from the receiving base 534. In some embodiments, such as those in which the aerosol precursor composition 410 contains tubular structure, the heater pins may be configured to extend into a cavity formed by the inner surface of the aerosol precursor composition. In some embodiments, such as the illustrated embodiment, in which the aerosol precursor composition contains a solid or semi-solid material, a plurality of heater pins are configured to penetrate the aerosol precursor composition contained in the heated end 406 of the aerosol source element 304 when the element is in form of an aerosol source is inserted into the control housing 302. In such embodiments, one or more components of the heating assembly, including the heater pins and/or the receiving base, may be made of a non-stick or burn-resistant material, such as specific aluminum, copper, stainless steel, carbon steel and ceramic materials. In other embodiments, one or more components of the heating assembly, including the heater pins and/or the receiving base, may be made of a non-stick coating, including, for example, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coatings such as ^Teflon® , or other coatings such as resistant non-stick enamel coating or ceramic coating such as Greblon ^® or Thermolon™, or ceramic coating such as Greblon ^® or Thermolon™

[0112] Additionally, although the illustrated embodiment has a plurality of heater pins 532 that are substantially evenly distributed around the receiving base 534, it should be noted that other embodiments may use any number of heater pins, including just one, with any another suitable spatial configuration. Additionally, the length of the heater pins may vary in different embodiments. For example, in some embodiments, the heater pins may include small projections, while in other embodiments, the heater pins may extend over any portion of the length of the receiving chamber 536, including up to about 25%, up to about 50%, up to about 75%, and about up to the full length of the receiving chamber. In still other embodiments, the heating assembly 528 may take other configurations. Examples of other heater configurations that may be contemplated for use in the present invention as discussed above can be found in US Pat. No. 5,060,671 to Counts et al.; No. 5,093,894 by Deevi et al.; No. 5,224,498 by Deevi et al.; No. 5,228,460 by Sprinkel Jr. and etc.; No. 5,322,075 by Deevi et al.; No. 5,353,813 by Deevi et al.; No. 5,468,936 by Deevi et al.; No. 5,498,850 by Das; No. 5,659,656 by Das; No. 5,498,855 by Deevi et al.; No. 5,530,225 by Hajaligol; No. 5,665,262 by Hajaligol; No. 5,573,692 by Das et al.; and No. 5,591,368 by Fleischhauer et al., which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0113] In various embodiments, the control housing 302 may include an air intake 538 (e.g., one or more openings or passages) therein to allow air from the environment to enter the interior of the receiving chamber 536. Thus, in some embodiments, the receiving base 534 may also contain an air intake. Thus, in some embodiments, when a consumer puffs on the mouth end of the aerosol source element 304, air may be drawn through the air intake of the control housing and receiving base into the receiving chamber, pass into the aerosol source element, and be drawn through the aerosol precursor composition 410 element in the form of a source of aerosol for inhalation by the consumer. In some embodiments, the drawn air carries respirable material through the optional filter 414 and out of the opening at the mouthpiece end 408 of the element as an aerosol source. With the heating element 532 located within the aerosol precursor composition, the heater pins can be activated to heat the aerosol precursor composition and can cause the release of a respirable substance through the aerosol source element.

[0114] As described above with reference in particular to FIG. 5 and 6, various embodiments of the present invention utilize a conduction-type heater to heat the aerosol precursor composition 410. As also noted above, various other embodiments utilize an induction heater to heat the aerosol precursor composition. In some of these embodiments, the heating assembly 528 may be configured as an induction heater that includes a transformer with an induction transmitter and an induction receiver. In embodiments in which the heating assembly is configured as an induction heater, the outer cylinder 530 may be configured as an induction transmitter and the heating element 532 (e.g., a plurality of heater pins) that extends from the receiving base 534 may be configured as an induction heater. receiver In various embodiments, the induction transmitter and/or induction receiver may be located in the control housing 302 and/or the aerosol source element 304.

[0115] In various embodiments, the outer cylinder 530 and the induction receiver and induction transmitter heating element 532 may be made of one or more conductive materials, and in additional embodiments, the induction receiver may be made of a ferromagnetic material, including without restrictions, cobalt, iron, nickel and their combinations. In one embodiment, the foil material is made of a conductive material and the heater pins are made of a ferromagnetic material. In various embodiments, the receiving base may be made of a non-conductive and/or insulating material.

[0116] The outer induction transmitter cylinder 530 may comprise a foil laminate that surrounds the carrier cylinder. In some embodiments, the foil material may include an electrical track printed thereon, such as, for example, one or more electrical tracks that may, in some embodiments, form a helical coil structure when the foil material is positioned around the heating element 532 in in the form of an induction receiver. Each of the foil material and the carrier cylinder may form a tubular configuration. The support cylinder may be configured to support the foil material such that the foil material does not come into contact with, and thus short circuit with, the heater pins. Thus, the carrier cylinder may contain a non-conductive material that may be substantially transparent to the oscillatory magnetic field generated by the foil material. In various embodiments, the foil material may be embedded in or otherwise connected to the carrier cylinder. In the embodiment shown, the foil material interacts with the outer surface of the support cylinder; however, in other embodiments, the foil material may be located on the outer surface of the support cylinder or be completely embedded in the support cylinder.

[0117] The foil material of the outer cylinder 530 may be configured to produce an oscillating magnetic field (eg, a magnetic field that varies periodically with time) when an alternating current is directed through it. The heater pins of heating element 532 may be at least partially located or housed in the outer cylinder and may comprise conductive material. By directing alternating current through the foil material, eddy currents can be created in the heater pins by induction. Eddy currents flowing through the resistance of the material forming the heater pins can heat it using Joule heat (i.e., the Joule effect). The heater pins may be heated wirelessly to generate an aerosol of aerosol precursor composition 410 located in the vicinity of the heater pins.

[0118] Other embodiments of the aerosol delivery device, control housing, and aerosol source element are described in the above US Patent Application No. 15/916,834 to Sur et al., US Patent Application No. 15/916,696 to Sur, and US Patent Application No. 15/836,086 by Sur.

[0119] In FIG. 7 and 8 show embodiments of an aerosol delivery device, including a control housing and a cartridge in the case of a device without heating and without combustion. In this regard, FIG. 7 is a side view of an aerosol delivery device 700 including a control housing 702 and a cartridge 704 in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. In particular, in FIG. 7 shows the control body and the cartridge, which are connected to each other. The control housing and cartridge can be aligned to allow operation and disconnection.

[0120] In FIG. 8 shows in more detail an aerosol delivery device 700 in accordance with some example implementations. As seen in the partial sectional view, the aerosol delivery device may include a control housing 702 and a cartridge 704, each of which contains a plurality of associated components. The components shown in FIG. 8 are representative of components that may be present in the control housing and cartridge and are not intended to limit the scope of the components covered by the disclosure of the present invention. As shown in the drawing, for example, the control housing may be formed by a control housing housing or shell 806, which may include a control component 808 (e.g., processing circuitry and the like), an input device 810, a power supply 812, and an indicator 814 (e.g., light-emitting diode, quantum dot light-emitting diode), and such components can be aligned in various ways. As used herein, a specific example of a suitable control component includes the PIC16(L)F1713/6 microcontrollers from Microchip Technology Inc., which are described in Microchip Technology, Inc., AN2265, Vibrating Mesh Nebulizer Reference Design (2016), which is incorporated by reference.

[0121] The cartridge 704 may be formed by a housing, sometimes referred to as a cartridge shell 816, which encloses a reservoir 818 configured to contain the aerosol precursor composition and containing a nozzle 820 having a piezoelectric/piezomagnetic mesh (aerosol generating component). Similar to the above, in various configurations this structure may be referred to as a container.

[0122] Reservoir 818 shown in FIG. 8 may be a container or fibrous reservoir as described herein. The reservoir may be in fluid communication with the nozzle 820 to transfer the aerosol precursor composition stored in the reservoir casing to the nozzle. An opening 822 may be provided in the cartridge shell 816 (e.g., at the tip of the mouthpiece) to allow the generated aerosol to exit the cartridge 704.

[0123] In some examples, a transfer element may be located between the reservoir 818 and the nozzle 820 and configured to control the amount of the aerosol precursor composition passed through or delivered from the reservoir to the nozzle. In some examples, a microfluidic chip may be incorporated into the cartridge 704, and the amount and/or weight of the aerosol precursor composition delivered from the reservoir may be controlled by one or more microfluidic components. One example of a microfluidic component is a micropump 824, for example, based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technologies. Examples of suitable micropumps include micropump model MP2205 and others from thinXXS Microtechnology AG, micropump models mp5 and mp6 and others from Bartels Mikrotechnik GmbH, and piezoelectric micropumps from Takasago Fluidic Systems.

[0124] As also shown in the drawing, in some examples, a microfilter 826 may be located between the micropump 824 and the nozzle 820 to filter the aerosol precursor composition delivered to the nozzle. Like a micropump, a microfilter is a microfluidic component. Examples of suitable microfilters include flow-through microfilters manufactured using lab-on-a-chip (LOC) technology.

[0125] In use, when input device 810 detects user input to activate the aerosol delivery device, the piezoelectric/piezomagnetic grid is activated to vibrate and thereby draw the aerosol precursor composition through the grid. This produces droplets of the aerosol precursor composition, which combine with air to form an aerosol. The aerosol is removed by sucking, drawing, or otherwise puffing from the mesh and exiting an opening 822 in the mouth end of the aerosol delivery device.

[0126] The aerosol delivery device 700 may also include an input device 810, such as a switch, sensor, or sensing element for controlling the supply of electrical power to the piezoelectric/piezomagnetic grid of the nozzle 820 when aerosol production is required (for example, during an in-use puff). Thus, for example, a method or method is provided for turning off the power supplied to the mesh when the aerosol delivery device is not operated for puffing during operation, and for turning on the power to drive or start generating and dispensing aerosol from the nozzle during puffing. Additional characteristic types of sensing and detection mechanisms, their structure and configuration, their components and general methods of their operation are described above and in US Patent No. 5,261,424 to Sprinkel, Jr., in US Patent No. 5,372,148 to McCafferty et al., and in publication PCT Patent Application No. WO 2010/003480 by Flick, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0127] For further information regarding the above and other embodiments of an aerosol delivery device in the case of a non-heating, non-combustion device, see US Patent Application No. 15/651,548 by Sur, filed July 17, 2017, which is incorporated herein via link.

[0128] As described above, the aerosol delivery device of the exemplary embodiments may include various electronic components in the context of either an electronic cigarette, a heated but non-combustion device, or a non-heated and non-combustion device, or even in the case of a device that includes itself the functionality of one or more of an electronic cigarette, a device that heats but does not burn, or a device that does not heat and does not burn. In FIG. 9 shows a circuit diagram of an aerosol delivery device 900, which may be any one or more of the aerosol delivery devices 100, 300, 700 or include the functionality of any one or more of these devices, according to various embodiments of the present invention.

[0129] As shown in FIG. 9, the aerosol delivery device 900 includes a control housing 902 with a power source 904 and a control component 906, which may correspond to or include the functionality of one of the following: a control housing 102, 302, 702, a power source 212, 524, 812, and a control component 208, 522, 808. The aerosol delivery device also includes an aerosol generating component 914, which may correspond to or incorporate the functionality of a heating element 220, 532 or a piezoelectric/piezomagnetic mesh nozzle 820. The control housing 902 may include an aerosol generating component 914 or leads 916 configured to couple the aerosol generating component to the control housing.

[0130] In some embodiments, the control housing 902 includes a sensor 908 configured to obtain atmospheric air pressure measurements along an airflow path through the housing 918. The sensor 908 may correspond to or include the functionality of a flow sensor 210, 520, or an input device 810 and housing 918 may match or incorporate functionality of housing 206, 516, 806. In these embodiments, control component 906 includes a switch 910 coupled to and between power source 904 and aerosol generating component 914. The control component also includes processing circuit 912 coupled to the sensor and switch. In some additional examples, the control housing may include a second sensor configured to obtain measurement values of atmospheric air pressure along an air flow path through the housing, the second sensor acting as a further indication of atmospheric air pressure.

[0131] In other embodiments, sensor 908 may be another type of pressure sensor. In one embodiment, the sensor may be a pressure sensor including a moving membrane, a printed circuit board (PCB), and an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The ASIC may include an analog output signal that indicates whether there is airflow. The pressure sensor can also detect the amount of air flow. For example, the sensor may include a capacitive sensor that is configured to be coupled to or within the processing circuit 912 to sense an amount of air flow. The air flow can cause the membrane to move, and the capacitance sensor can detect the change in capacitance and provide a signal to a processing circuit that measures the capacitance from the signal. The measured capacitance can be proportional to the airflow such that the sensor output can correspond to the amount of airflow.

[0132] In other embodiments, sensor 908 may be an airflow sensor using thermocouples. In one example, this type of sensor may include two thermocouples and an aerosol generation component 914. The detected air flow may cause temperature difference. Processing circuitry 912 may control the aerosol generation component and may read an analog temperature difference from thermocouples and output an indication (eg, a digital number) corresponding to the detected air flow. In a second example, the sensor may use thermocouples to measure airflow using the principle of thermal transfer. In this second example, the sensor may include a heat flow sensor chip using thermocouples to measure temperature instead of resistors. In another example, a sensor using thermocouples may measure air flow using a calorimetric principle. In this example, the sensor may use thermal converters as temperature sensors instead of thermistors. The solid thermal insulation layer can be covered with various ceramic films to protect thermal converters. In a further example, the sensor may include two thermocouple clusters (eg, 20 thermocouples) positioned symmetrically upstream and downstream of the aerosol generation component. In this additional example, upstream thermocouples may be cooled by the air flow, and downstream thermocouples may be heated by heat transfer from the aerosol generating component in the direction of flow. Thus, the sensor output may be the differential voltage of upstream and downstream thermocouples. One example of an airflow sensor using thermocouples is described in US Patent No. 9,635,886 to Tu, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0133] The heat flow sensor chip described in the previous paragraph may be integrated into processing circuit 912 in some examples. The heat flow sensor crystal can output an analog voltage proportional to the user's puff. The operational amplifier and analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in the processing circuit can convert the analog form to a digital form, such as a discrete number representing the detected air flow or user puff. To integrate a heat flow sensor chip into a processing circuit, in one example, sensor 908 may be a microphone-based pressure sensor. The signal wire of the microphone-based pressure sensor is connected to the processing circuit. The ADC in the processing circuitry may convert the analog signal from the microphone-based pressure sensor into a digital signal (eg, such as a discrete number representing detected airflow or a user's puff).

[0134] In other embodiments, sensor 908 may be a waterproof pressure sensor. In one example, the sensor may be a microphone-based pressure sensor similar to the example described above. The sensor's waterproof rating can be IPX7 such that the sensor can withstand immersion in water up to 1 meter deep for up to 30 minutes.

[0135] In another embodiment, sensor 908 may be a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) pressure sensor configured to be connected to a processing circuit. In one example, the sensor may use the auto-zero function to establish auto-zero by loading the current ambient pressure as a reference zero. In this example, the barometric pressure can be filtered using the auto-zero feature. In another example, the sensor output may be interrupted after reaching a pressure threshold. One example of a suitable sensor based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technologies is described in US Patent Publication No. 2016/0128389 to Lamb et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. Examples of other suitable pressure sensors are described in US Patent Publication No. 2018/0140009 by Sur et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0136] In some embodiments, processing circuit 912 is configured to determine the difference between atmospheric air pressure measurements from sensor 908 and a reference atmospheric air pressure. In these embodiments, only when the difference is at least a threshold value is the processing circuit configured to output a signal (as indicated by arrow 920) to cause switch 910 to switch the output voltage from power source 904 to aerosol generation component 914 and disconnect it from it. for supplying power to the aerosol generating component during the aerosol generating time period. In some embodiments, an output voltage switch can be switched on and off to control the power supplied to the aerosol generating component to produce a target power value (eg, a target power value) that varies in accordance with a predetermined relationship between the difference and the target power value. In these example implementations, a given relationship is described by a step function, a linear function, a nonlinear function, or a combination thereof.

[0137] In some embodiments, processing circuit 912 is configured to output a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal. The duty cycle of the PWM signal is adjustable to thereby regulate the power supplied to the aerosol generation component.

[0138] In some embodiments, the threshold difference is set to reflect the minimum deviation from the reference atmospheric air pressure caused by the puff action when using the aerosol delivery device 900 by the user. In these embodiments, the processing circuit 912 is configured to output a signal to power the aerosol generation component 914 during an aerosol generation time period that coincides with the puff duration.

[0139] Outside the aerosol generation time period, in some embodiments, there is no signal output from the processing circuit 912 and the output voltage from the power supply 904 supplied to the aerosol generation component 914 is disconnected. In these embodiments, the sensor 908 is configured to obtain measurement values of the atmospheric pressure of the air to which the sensor is exposed. The processing circuit is configured to set the reference atmospheric air pressure based on the ambient air pressure measurement value.

[0140] Outside of the aerosol generation time to establish a reference atmospheric air pressure, in some embodiments, sensor 908 may periodically measure the atmospheric pressure of the air to which the sensor is exposed. Processing circuitry 912 of some such embodiments may periodically set a reference air pressure based on the ambient air pressure measurement value. In another example, the processing circuitry may be configured to periodically send a signal to the sensor to periodically read an ambient air pressure measurement value produced by the sensor.

[0141] In some embodiments, processing circuit 912 may be configured to set a reference atmospheric air pressure when triggered by some event. For example, the event may be the insertion of a cartridge into the control housing 902. In another example, the event may be movement of the aerosol delivery device 900, and such movement may be detected by an accelerometer, gyroscope, and/or other sensor configured to detect and/or quantify the movement aerosol delivery devices. Movement of the aerosol delivery device may indicate impending use of the aerosol delivery device. In these embodiments, when an event is detected, the processing circuitry may set a reference atmospheric air pressure. When no event is detected, sensor 908 may be in current mode at the operating point to save power. In yet another example, if the cartridge is not inserted into the control housing, the processing circuitry may not output a signal to cause the output voltage switch 910 to be switched on and off to supply power to the aerosol generating component 914.

[0142] In some embodiments, processing circuit 912 may be configured to detect the situational context of aerosol delivery device 900 based on a detected reference atmospheric air pressure and/or based on a change in sequence of two or more defined reference atmospheric air pressures and activation of a mode protocol control appropriate to the detected situational context. The processing circuitry of some such embodiments may be configured to determine that the aerosol delivery device is located on the aircraft and activate the mode control protocol on the "Airplane".

[0143] As an example, in some embodiments, the detected reference atmospheric air pressure may be compared to a threshold atmospheric air pressure indicating that the aerosol delivery device is at flight altitude (e.g., 28,000 feet (8534.4 m) or higher) . If the detected reference air pressure is below a threshold indicating flight altitude, the processing circuitry may determine that the aerosol delivery device is on the aircraft and activate the Airplane mode control protocol. As another example, the processing circuitry of some embodiments may compare a sequence of two or more specific reference air pressures taken over a period of time and determine, based on one or more amounts of change between the sequences of reference air pressures or a rate of change within the sequence of reference barometric pressures air that the aerosol delivery device is located on the aircraft (for example, based on the observed drop in reference atmospheric air pressures as the aerosol delivery device increases in altitude during takeoff of the aircraft) and activate the mode control protocol in the "Airplane".

[0144] The Airplane mode control protocol may, for example, include processing circuitry that performs one or more of the following operations to prevent aerosol generation component 914 from activating when the aerosol delivery device is on the aircraft in flight: (1) do not output a signal to cause the output voltage switch 910 to be switched on and off to supply power to the aerosol generating component even if the detected difference between the detected air pressure and the reference atmospheric air pressure is above a puff indicative threshold at the aerosol delivery device; (2) put sensor 908 into sleep mode, in which it does not measure air pressure for puff detection purposes.

[0145] The processing circuitry may, for example, be configured to disable the Airplane mode control protocol in response to a subsequent measured reference air pressure that is below a threshold indicating that the aerosol delivery device is at flight altitude, and/or based on the magnitude of the change between a sequence of reference atmospheric air pressures or the rate of change in a sequence of reference atmospheric air pressures signaling an increase in pressure indicating that the aircraft has landed (e.g., based on the observed magnitude or rate of increase of the reference atmospheric air pressures). It should be understood that additional or alternative contexts may be detected and other appropriate context-dependent control protocols may be activated based on the measured reference atmospheric air pressure and/or the observed change in reference atmospheric air pressures in various embodiments. For example, in some embodiments, the processing circuitry may be configured to detect that the aerosol delivery device is in a submerged environment, such as a submarine, based on a change in reference atmospheric air pressure after the submarine is submerged. water.

[0146] The aerosol generating component 914 can be controlled in a variety of different ways, including by power supplied to the aerosol generating component during the aerosol generating time period. In some embodiments, at a periodic rate over a period of aerosol generation time, processing circuit 912 is configured to determine a sampling window of measurement values of the instantaneous actual power supplied to the aerosol generation component. Each measurement value of the measurement value sampling window can be defined as the product of the voltage across the aerosol generation component and the current passing through it. The processing circuitry of such embodiments may also be configured to calculate a running average of the power supplied to the aerosol generation component based on the sampling window of the instantaneous actual power measurements. In such embodiments, the processing circuitry may also be configured to compare the running average power to a target power value and output a signal so as to cause the switch to respectively turn off and on the output voltage in each case in which the running average power is respectively above or below the target value. power.

[0147] In one example, the processing circuit 912 may determine the actual voltage (V) and current (I) passing through the aerosol generation component 914. The processing circuit can read specific voltage and current values from the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) inputs of the processing circuit and determine the instantaneous "actual" power (I*V) sent to the aerosol generation component. In some cases, such an "instantaneous" power measurement can be added to a sampling window or a sliding window of values (i.e., other instantaneous power measurements), and the running average power of the sampling window can then be calculated, for example, according to the equation, P _avg = P _samples + P _avg ^-1 / Window Size. In some aspects, for example, the window size may range from about 20 to about 256 sample dimensions.

[0148] In some examples, processing circuit 912 may then compare the calculated running average power to a target power value. The target power value may be a selected target power value associated with the power supply 904 (e.g., the power level or output current from the power supply controlled by the processing circuit 912, or other control component associated therewith and located in electrical communication between the power supply and the component 914 aerosol production).

[0149] In some examples (1), if P _avg (the actual power detected at the aerosol generating component 914) is below a selected target power value (average power), switch 910 is turned on to allow current to flow from the power source 904 to the aerosol generating component ; (2) if P _avg is higher than the selected target power value, the switch is turned off to prevent current from flowing from the power supply to the aerosol generation component; and (3) steps 1 and 2 are repeated until the aerosol generation time period expires or ceases. More specifically, during the aerosol generation time period, determining and calculating the actual power at the aerosol generation component, comparing the actual power with the preselected target power value, and ON/OFF decisions for the switch for adjusting the preselected target power value can be performed substantially continuously by the processing circuit 912 at a periodic rate, for example, about 20 to 50 times per second, to provide a more stable and accurate average power directed to and supplied to the aerosol generating component. Various examples of switch control based on the actual power detected at the aerosol generation component ( _Pavg ) are described in US Pat. No. 9,423,152 to Ampolini et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0150] In FIG. 10 is an electrical diagram of components of an aerosol delivery device including a power supply 904, a sensor 908, a switch 910, a processing circuit 1000, and an aerosol generating component 1006 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The processing circuit 1000 and the aerosol generating component 1006 may correspond to the processing circuit 912 and the aerosol generating component 914, respectively. As shown in the drawing, in some embodiments, the control sensor is configured to obtain atmospheric air pressure measurements along an airflow path through housing 918. In these embodiments, protection circuitry 1010 may be coupled to the power supply to provide overcurrent protection to the power supply. . The sensor may be connected to the processing circuit 1000 via a digital serial communication line, for example, using inter-integrated circuit (I2C) protocols. In one example, the data provided by the sensor may be absolute atmospheric air pressure. In another example, the sensor may include detection circuitry that may disconnect the processing circuitry from a low power state when there is a significant change in atmospheric air pressure, or the processing circuitry continuously polls the sensor for air pressure information on a periodic basis. One example of a suitable sensor is the BMP388 pressure sensor from Bosch Sensortec GmbH.

[0151] In some embodiments, processing circuitry 1000 may determine the difference between barometric air pressure measurements from sensor 908 and a reference barometric air pressure. Only when the difference is at least a threshold value, the processing circuit can output a signal to cause the output voltage switch 910 to be switched on and off to the aerosol generation component 1006 to supply power to the aerosol generation component during the aerosol generation time period. The switch may be a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) switch. In one example, the signal may be a PWM signal, as indicated by arrow 1008. The duty cycle of the PWM signal may be adjusted to thereby control the power supplied to the aerosol generation component.

[0152] In some embodiments, a reference barometric air pressure may be set to prevent false puff detection in cases where the device 900 may be exposed to changes in barometric air pressure, such as lowering a vehicle window while driving, closing a door inside a sealed room, changing altitudes or any other means that may cause the atmospheric air pressure in the device to change. Changes in altitude may include elevator rides, airplane flights, stairs, escalators, and moving over varied terrain. Various methods that can be used to account for such changes include: using a separate meter line to set the atmospheric air pressure; use of a secondary sensor that reads atmospheric air pressure; and/or sampling the sensor 908 between puffs to determine a reference point.

[0153] In some examples, an algorithm that may use a scroll buffer of measurement values from sensor 908 to account for changes in atmospheric air pressure. In some of these examples, processing circuitry 912 may use a measurement value rollover buffer to determine the average value of the measurements and set the reference atmospheric air pressure to the average value. In this regard, the average measurement value represents the atmospheric air pressure, which is representative of the atmospheric air pressure measured from the sensor. In some examples, the mean may be the arithmetic mean of the sample measurements. In other examples, the average value may be a geometric mean, a harmonic mean, an average, a modal value, or an average of a range of measurement values.

[0154] In some examples, processing circuitry 1000 may determine the difference between the most recent measurement value from sensor 908 and a reference atmospheric air pressure and whether the difference is at least a threshold difference. The processing circuitry may also determine the rate of change of atmospheric air pressure from at least some of the atmospheric air pressure measurements and whether the difference is caused by the action of the puff based on the rate of change. The processing circuitry may then output a signal to cause the output voltage switch 910 to be switched on and off from the aerosol generating component 1006 only when the difference is at least a threshold value and is caused by puff action. This can not only be used to prevent false puff detection, but can also allow the user to test the device under normal operating conditions when atmospheric air pressure changes.

[0155] In some embodiments, the processing circuit 1000 may include two ADC components 1002 and 1004. In these embodiments, the ADC component 1002 may measure the current flowing through the aerosol generation component (AVA) 914, and the ADC component 1004 may measure the voltage of the aerosol generation component. Based on the measurement values, the processing circuit may determine the power supplied by the power supply 904 to the aerosol generating component and may output a signal to control the switch 910 to adjust the power supplied to the aerosol generating component as described above.

[0156] In FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of a power control method 1100 for an aerosol delivery device 900 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, as shown in block 1102, processing circuit 912 may set a reference atmospheric air pressure. In one example, during idle operation without puffing, the processing circuitry may periodically read measured atmospheric air pressure from sensor 908 to establish a reference atmospheric air pressure. This process may be performed periodically to ensure that the reference atmospheric air pressure is updated due to changes in atmospheric air pressure. For example, atmospheric air pressure may change when the altitude of the aerosol delivery device changes. At block 1104, processing circuit 912 may determine whether a power control activation event has occurred. In one example, each new pressure reading is compared to a reference atmospheric air pressure to determine whether an activation event has occurred. In some embodiments, prevention of unwanted activation or false alarms can be achieved using time and pressure discrimination. For example, small or transient changes in pressure may occur due to events such as the closing of a car door, or when an aerosol delivery device is moved up or down in an elevator. Events may need to meet certain time and pressure thresholds to determine whether power control for the aerosol delivery device will be activated or whether new pressure readings will be used to update the atmospheric air pressure reference to reflect changing atmospheric conditions. If an activation event is detected at block 1104, method 1100 may proceed from block 1104 to block 1106. Alternatively, method 1100 may proceed from block 1104 to block 1102 to update the reference atmospheric air pressure.

[0157] At block 1106, processing circuit 912 may perform system checks. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry may perform system checks to determine whether power should be applied to the aerosol generation component 914. For example, system checks may include, but are not limited to: testing the stored energy release of the aerosol generating component, the health status of the battery, and the resistance of the aerosol generating component. In one example, if system checks detect an error, processing circuitry 912 may enter an error state. In this example, method 1100 may move from block 1106 to block 1116.

[0158] If system checks do not detect errors, method 1100 may proceed from block 1106 to block 1108. In some embodiments in which the aerosol generation component 914 matches or includes the functionality of the heating element 220, 532, at block 1108 the aerosol generation component may be preheated to predetermine the level by providing constant power for a fixed period of time from the power source 904 to the aerosol generating component. It should be understood that preheating the aerosol generating component can also be accomplished by heating for a predetermined time at a variable power level based on the temperature of the aerosol generating component at the start of the puff. For example, preheating will involve reaching a set temperature, but the power level and/or preheating time will be reduced if the aerosol generating component was already at a high temperature, such as in the case of a puff that occurred within a short interval of the previous puff. Method 1100 may proceed from block 1108 to block 1110. In one example, at block 1110, if processing circuitry 912 detects an excessive temperature increase in the aerosol generation component during preheating, such as an end of life (EOL) detection, the circuitry processing may enter an error state. In this example, method 1100 may move from block 1110 to block 1116. Alternatively, if end-of-life is not detected, method 1100 may move from block 1110 to block 1112.

[0159] In other examples, preheating includes transmitting a variable power level to aerosol generating component 914 when a puff is detected. A variable power level can be a signal pulse of a fractional magnitude both in duration and in signal power. Processing circuit 912 may calculate the initial temperature of the aerosol generating component, and using this initial temperature, the processing circuit may calculate the amount of energy required to effectively bring the aerosol generating component to a predetermined temperature to quickly begin generating aerosol. When the aerosol generating component is at the initial temperature, preheating can be considered as a state in which the power level is maximum and for a maximum preheating time. When the aerosol generating component reaches a predetermined temperature, preheating can be considered as a state in which the power level is at a level to produce the desired amount of aerosol and within a minimum preheating time.

[0160] In some embodiments, a given relationship between preheat energy (shown, for example, in Joules) and the temperature of the aerosol generation component may be described by a linear function. In one example, as shown in FIG. 12A, at point A, the preheat energy is at a maximum and the temperature of the aerosol generation component is at a minimum. From point A to point B, the preheat energy can vary linearly with the temperature of the aerosol generating component. At point B, the temperature of the aerosol generation component reaches the temperature at which aerosol generation begins, preheating can stop. From point B to point C, the temperature of the aerosol generating component may continue to increase due to control of the aerosol generating component to continue generating aerosol as part of the operation of the aerosol delivery device 900 outside of preheating. At point C, the temperature of the aerosol generating component reaches its maximum.

[0161] In some embodiments, a given relationship may be described by a nonlinear function. In one example, as shown in FIG. 12B, points A, B and C are substantially the same as the example of FIG. 12A. However, in FIG. 12B, the preheat energy may vary non-linearly with the temperature of the aerosol generating component from point A to point B.

[0162] The temperature of the aerosol generating component 914 (eg, heating element 220, 532) may be measured, determined, or calculated in any number of different ways. In various examples, temperature may be measured, detected, or calculated using a resistance temperature detector (RTD), thermistor, thermocouple, infrared (IR) temperature sensor, and the like. Additionally or alternatively, processing circuit 912 may estimate the temperature based on the temperature of the aerosol generating component after a previous puff, and the known rate at which heat is removed from the aerosol generating component by natural convection.

[0163] In some examples in which the aerosol delivery device 900 includes a resistive temperature sensor for measuring temperature, the resistive temperature sensor may be separate from or incorporated into the aerosol generation component. A resistive temperature sensor has a variable resistance proportional to the temperature of the aerosol generating component and a temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) that does not change with temperature. In these examples, processing circuitry 912 may calculate resistance, for example, based on measurements of the voltage and current passing through the aerosol generation component (R=V/I), and calculate the temperature of the aerosol generation component from the resistance and TCR. For further information on examples of suitable resistance temperature determinations, see US Patent Publication No. 2018/0132526 to Davis et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. Additional information on examples of suitable infrared-based temperature sensing can be found in US Patent Application No. 16/593,454 to Sur, filed October 4, 2019, which is also incorporated herein by reference.

[0164] With reference to FIG. 11, in some embodiments, at block 1112, processing circuitry 912 may compare current atmospheric air pressure measured by sensor 908 with reference atmospheric air pressure and accordingly adjust the power supplied to aerosol generation component 914, as described above. Method 1100 may proceed from block 1112 to block 1114. In one example, at block 1114, the sensor reading may return to the reference atmospheric air pressure if the maximum puff length has been reached or the puff action has ended. In another example, at block 1114, processing circuit 912 may detect that the energy release limit of aerosol generation component 914 has been exceeded.

[0165] In this example, processing circuit 912 may enter an error state, and method 1100 may proceed from block 1114 to block 1116. On the other hand, if the maximum puff length is not reached, the puff action is not completed, or a power release error is not detected, the method 1100 may move from block 1114 to block 1112 to continue adjusting the power supplied to the aerosol generation component. In one example, power adjustments may be repeated periodically to provide an appropriate power level for the aerosol generation component. In one example, once an appropriate power level is set for the aerosol generation component, the power level can be maintained while the aerosol delivery device 900 is operating in a normal state.

[0166] In FIG. 13 shows a flow diagram of a power control method 1300 for an aerosol delivery device 900 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, as shown at block 1302, sensor 908 is inactive until the aerosol source cartridge/element is attached to the control housing and is ready for use to save power consumption. Once the aerosol source cartridge/element is detected to be attached, a buffer, such as a first-in-first-out (FIFO) buffer, may be filled with measurement values from the sensor, as shown at block 1304, and the reference atmospheric air pressure (or baseline) can be set equal to the average of the measurements. The sensor sample may then be periodically sampled as shown in block 1306, the rate of change and the difference between the sensor sample and the baseline can be used to determine whether a puff is approaching and as shown in block 1308 (eg, activation has been detected). If no puff occurs, then the sample may be added to the buffer, a new average taken, and the baseline reset, as shown at block 1310. In some examples, the cartridge may include an aerosol generating component 914. Or the control housing may include an aerosol generating component.

[0167] At block 1312, system checks may be performed to determine errors, which may include: insufficient energy in the puff power source 904, overheating, drying out of the aerosol source cartridge/element, and/or too much energy output. As shown at block 1314, various measurements may be made including: measuring the voltage of the aerosol generating component 914, measuring the current of the aerosol generating component, sensing the temperature of the aerosol generating component, calculating the temperature of the aerosol generating component, sampling pressure of the sensor 908 to change the user's puff speed, and /or power regulation depending on the user change received from the sensor.

[0168] Method 1300 may then proceed to block 1316 to determine whether the puff ends, either after the user stops or when the maximum time allowed for the puff has been reached. As shown at block 1318, error handling may be based on the flagged error. In some cases, an error may occur to simply prevent a puff from occurring, in which case the device may resume sampling the 908 sensor.

[0169] As described above, in some embodiments, processing circuit 912 may determine the difference between atmospheric air pressure measurements from sensor 908 and a reference atmospheric air pressure. In these embodiments, the processing circuitry may control the switch 910 and adjust the power supplied to the aerosol generation component 914 to obtain a target power value that varies in accordance with a predetermined relationship between the difference and the target power value. In FIG. 14A, 14B, 14C, 14D, 14E and 14F show various predetermined relationships between the difference and the target power value according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0170] In some embodiments, a given relationship may be described by a linear function. In one example, as shown in FIG. 14A, in region A, the difference between the atmospheric air pressure measurements from sensor 908 and the reference atmospheric air pressure is not significant enough to indicate that puff action is occurring. The power supplied to the aerosol generation component 914 may remain at 0 Watts. At point B, the difference reaches a threshold difference (labeled "Min. Pressure" in FIG. 14A), which may indicate that tightening is occurring. In one example, a constant power may be provided at point B to preheat the aerosol generation components (labeled "Min Power" in FIG. 14A). In another example, constant power may differ from "Min." Power" indicated in FIG. 14A. From point B to point C, the power supplied to the aerosol generation component from the power supply 904 may vary linearly with the change in pressure (the difference between the atmospheric air pressure measurements and the reference atmospheric air pressure). A higher pressure change may result in higher power supplied to the aerosol generation component, up to a point (labeled "High Pressure" in FIG. 14A) where the power supplied is limited to a value (labeled "Max. Power" in FIG. 14A)

[0171] In some embodiments, a given relationship may be described by a nonlinear function. In one example, as shown in FIG. 14B, in region A, the difference between the atmospheric air pressure measurements from sensor 908 and the reference atmospheric air pressure is not significant enough to indicate that puff action is occurring. The power supplied to the aerosol generating component 914 may remain at 0 Watts. At point B, the difference reaches a threshold difference (labeled "Min. Pressure" in FIG. 14B), which may indicate that tightening is occurring. In one example, a constant power may be provided at point B to preheat the aerosol generation components (labeled "Min Power" in FIG. 14B). In another example, constant power may differ from "Min." Power" indicated in FIG. 14A. From point B to point C, the power supplied to the aerosol generating component from the power supply 904 may vary non-linearly with the change in pressure. A higher pressure change may result in higher power supplied to the aerosol generation component, up to a point (labeled "High Pressure" in FIG. 14B) where the power supplied is limited to a value (labeled "Max. Power" in FIG. 14B) .

[0172] In some embodiments, a given relationship may be described by a step function. In one example, as shown in FIG. 14C, in region A, the difference between the atmospheric air pressure measurements from sensor 908 and the reference atmospheric air pressure is not significant enough to indicate a puff action is occurring. The power supplied to the aerosol generation component 914 may remain at 0 Watts. At point B, the difference reaches a threshold difference (labeled "Min. Pressure" in FIG. 14C), which may indicate that tightening is occurring. In one example, a constant power may be provided at point B to preheat the aerosol generation components (labeled "Min Power" in FIG. 14C). In another example, constant power may differ from "Min." Power" indicated in FIG. 14C. From point B to region C, the power supplied to the aerosol generating component from the power supply 904 may vary in power increments with variable pressure changes. A higher pressure change may result in higher power supplied to the aerosol generation component, up to a point (labeled "High Pressure" in FIG. 14C) where the power supplied is limited to a value (labeled "Max Power" in FIG. 14C) . In one example, power increment step sizes and pressure level correlations relating pressure to power output may be determined by the manufacturer of the aerosol delivery device 900 or the processing circuit 912. In another example, a user may determine the size of power increments, for example, by providing user input to a processing circuit.

[0173] In some embodiments, a given relationship may be described by a combination of two or more of the following: a linear function, a nonlinear function, and a step function. In one example, as shown in FIG. 14D, a given relationship can be described by a step-linear function, i.e. a combination of a step function and a linear function. As shown in the drawing, in region A, the difference between the atmospheric air pressure measurements from sensor 908 and the reference atmospheric air pressure is not significant enough to indicate that a puff action is occurring. The power supplied to the aerosol generation component 914 may remain at 0 Watts. At point B, the difference reaches a threshold difference (labeled "Min. Pressure" in FIG. 14D), which may indicate that tightening is occurring. In one example, a constant power may be provided at point B to preheat the aerosol generation components (labeled "Min Power" in FIG. 14D). In another example, constant power may differ from "Min." Power" indicated in FIG. 14A. From point B to point C, the power supplied to the aerosol generating component from the power supply 904 may remain constant until the pressure change reaches a level (labeled "Average Pressure" in FIG. 14D). From point C to point D, the power supplied to the aerosol generating component from the power supply 904 may vary linearly with the change in pressure. A higher pressure change may result in higher power supplied to the aerosol generation component, up to a point (labeled "High Pressure" in FIG. 14D) where the power supplied is limited to a value (labeled "Max Power" in FIG. 14D). .

[0174] In another example, as shown in FIG. 14E, a given relationship can be described by another combination of a step function and a linear function. As shown in the drawing, area A, point B and point C are essentially the same as the example of FIG. 14D. From point C to point D, the power supplied to the aerosol generating component from the power supply 904 may vary linearly with the change in pressure. Then, from point D to point E, the power supplied to the aerosol generating component from the power supply 904 may remain constant at a power level higher than from point B to point C. From point E to point F, the power supplied to the aerosol generating component may again vary linearly with pressure to a point (labeled "High Pressure" in FIG. 14E) where the power delivered is limited to a value (labeled "Max. Power" in FIG. 14E).

[0175] In another example, as shown in FIG. 14F, a given relationship can be described by a combination of a step function and a nonlinear function. The difference between the example of FIG. 14F compared to FIG. 14E is that in FIG. 14F, the power supplied to the aerosol generation component may vary non-linearly with pressure changes for the portions from point C to point D and from point E to point F.

[0176] In FIG. 14A-14F show only some embodiments of the given relationship. In other embodiments, a given relationship may be described by various linear functions, various nonlinear functions, various step functions, or various combinations thereof.

[0177] The foregoing description of use of the product(s) may be applied to the various example implementations described herein through minor modifications that may be apparent to one skilled in the art in light of additional disclosure provided herein. The above description of use, however, is not intended to limit the use of the specified article, but is provided to satisfy all necessary requirements of the disclosure of the present invention. Any of the elements shown in the product(s) as shown in FIG. 1-12, or otherwise described above, may be included in an aerosol delivery device according to the disclosure of the present invention.

[0178] Many modifications and other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which the present invention relates using the disclosures set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Thus, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are used herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims (51)

1. An aerosol delivery device containing: at least one casing and within said at least one casing a power supply configured to provide an output voltage; an aerosol generating component configured to receive power for generating an aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition; a sensor configured to obtain measurement values of atmospheric air pressure along an air flow path through said at least one casing; a switch connected to and located between the power supply and the aerosol generating component; And a processing circuit coupled to the sensor and switch and configured to at least: determining the difference between the atmospheric air pressure measurements from the sensor and the reference atmospheric air pressure and, only when the difference is at least a threshold value, signal output to cause the output voltage switch to be switchably connected to and disconnected from the aerosol generation component to supply power to the aerosol generation component during the aerosol generation time period, wherein the output voltage switch can be switched connected and disconnected to control the power supplied to the aerosol generation component to obtain a target power value that varies in accordance with a predetermined ratio between said difference and the target power value. 2. The aerosol delivery device according to claim 1, wherein outside the aerosol generation time period, in which there is no signal and the output voltage is disconnected from the aerosol generation component, the sensor is configured to obtain measurement values of the atmospheric pressure of the ambient air to which said sensor is exposed, wherein the processing circuit is configured to set the reference atmospheric air pressure based on the measurement values of the ambient air pressure. 3. The aerosol delivery device according to claim 2, wherein performing a processing circuit with the ability to set a reference atmospheric air pressure includes executing a processing circuit also with the ability to determine the average value of ambient air pressure measurements and set the reference atmospheric air pressure as the average value. 4. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the threshold difference is set to reflect the minimum deviation from the reference atmospheric air pressure caused by the action of the puff when using the aerosol delivery device by the user. 5. The aerosol delivery device according to claim 4, in which the implementation of a processing circuit with the ability to determine the difference and output a signal includes the implementation of a processing circuit with the ability to: determining a difference between the most recent of the measurement values and a reference atmospheric pressure and whether the difference is at least a threshold difference; determining a rate of change of atmospheric air pressure from at least some of the atmospheric air pressure measurements and whether the difference is caused by the action of the puff based on the rate of change; And outputting a signal only when the difference is at least a threshold value and is caused by the action of the puff. 6. The aerosol delivery device of claim 4, wherein executing the processing circuitry to output a signal includes executing the processing circuitry to output a signal to power the aerosol generating component for an aerosol generating time period that coincides with the puff duration. 7. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined ratio is described by a step function, a linear function, a nonlinear function, or a combination thereof. 8. The aerosol delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined ratio is described by a combination of a step function and a linear function. 9. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the aerosol precursor composition is a liquid, solid or semi-solid. 10. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein executing the processing circuitry to output a signal includes executing the processing circuitry to output a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal, wherein the duty cycle of the PWM signal is adjustable so that in a manner to regulate the power supplied to the aerosol generation component. 11. The aerosol delivery device according to claim 1, in which, at a periodic speed during the period of time of aerosol generation, the processing scheme is configured to: defining a measurement value sampling window of instantaneous actual power supplied to the aerosol generation component, each measurement value of the measurement value sampling window being determined as the product of a voltage across the aerosol generating component and a current passing through it; calculating a running average of power supplied to the aerosol generation component based on a sampling window of instantaneous actual power measurements; comparing the moving average power with the target power value; And signal output so as to cause the switch to respectively turn off and turn on the output voltage in each case in which the running average power is respectively higher or lower than the target power value. 12. A control housing for an aerosol delivery device, containing: a power supply configured to provide an output voltage; an aerosol generating component or terminals configured to connect the aerosol generating component to the control housing, wherein the aerosol generating component is configured to receive power to generate an aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition; a sensor configured to obtain measurement values of atmospheric air pressure along an air flow path through said at least one casing; a switch connected to and located between the power supply and the aerosol generating component; And a processing circuit coupled to the sensor and switch and configured to at least: determining the difference between the atmospheric air pressure measurements from the sensor and the reference atmospheric air pressure and, only when the difference is at least a threshold value, signal output to cause the output voltage switch to be switchably connected to and disconnected from the aerosol generation component to supply power to the aerosol generation component during the aerosol generation time period, wherein the output voltage switch can be switched connected and disconnected to control the power supplied to the aerosol generation component to obtain a target power value that varies in accordance with a predetermined ratio between said difference and the target power value. 13. The control housing according to claim 12, in which, outside of the aerosol generation time period in which there is no signal and the output voltage is disconnected from the aerosol generation component, the sensor is configured to obtain measurement values of the atmospheric pressure of the ambient air to which said sensor is exposed, wherein The processing circuit is configured to set the reference atmospheric air pressure based on the measurement values of the ambient air pressure. 14. The control housing according to claim 13, in which the execution of the processing circuit with the possibility of setting the reference atmospheric air pressure includes the execution of the processing circuit also with the possibility of determining the average value of measurements of the ambient air pressure and setting the reference atmospheric air pressure as the average value. 15. The control housing of claim 12, wherein the threshold difference is set to reflect the minimum deviation from the reference atmospheric air pressure caused by the action of the puff when using the aerosol delivery device by the user. 16. The control housing according to claim 15, in which the implementation of a processing circuit with the ability to determine the difference and output a signal includes the implementation of a processing circuit with the ability to: determining a difference between the most recent of the measurement values and a reference atmospheric pressure and whether the difference is at least a threshold difference; determining a rate of change of atmospheric air pressure from at least some of the atmospheric air pressure measurements and whether the difference is caused by the action of the puff based on the rate of change; And outputting a signal only when the difference is at least a threshold value and is caused by the action of the puff. 17. The control housing of claim 15, wherein executing the signal output processing circuitry includes executing the signal output processing circuitry for powering the aerosol generation component during an aerosol generation time period that coincides with the puff operation time. 18. The control housing according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined ratio is described by a step function, a linear function, a nonlinear function, or a combination thereof. 19. The control body according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined ratio is described by a combination of a step function and a linear function. 20. The control housing according to claim 12, wherein the aerosol precursor composition is a liquid, solid or semi-solid. 21. The control housing according to claim 12, wherein executing the processing circuit to be able to output a signal includes executing the processing circuit to be able to output a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal, wherein the duty cycle of the PWM signal is adjustable so as to adjust the power supplied to the aerosol generating component. 22. The control housing according to claim 12, in which, at a periodic speed during the heating period, the processing circuit is configured to: defining a measurement value sampling window of instantaneous actual power supplied to the aerosol generation component, each measurement value of the measurement value sampling window being determined as the product of a voltage across the aerosol generating component and a current passing through it; calculating a running average of power supplied to the aerosol generation component based on a sampling window of instantaneous actual power measurements; comparing the moving average power with the target power value; And signal output so as to cause the switch to respectively turn off and turn on the output voltage in each case in which the running average power is respectively higher or lower than the target power value.