Voltage regulator for aerosol delivery devices

Abstract

An aerosol delivery device is provided, comprising: a housing configured to retain an aerosol precursor composition; and a sensor configured to generate a measurement of a pressure caused by an airflow through at least a portion of the housing, and convert the measurement of the pressure into a corresponding electrical signal. The aerosol delivery device includes a heating element configured to convert electricity into heat, and thereby evaporate components of the aerosol precursor composition. The aerosol delivery device also includes a control component, the control component including a processor, the processor configured to receive the corresponding electrical signal, and in response, connect a power supply to a load including the heating element, and thereby power the heating element. And the aerosol delivery device includes a voltage regulator, the voltage regulator is coupled to and between the sensor and the power supply, and is configured to step down the voltage from the power supply to the sensor, and thereby power the sensor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices such as electronic cigarettes and heat-not-burn cigarettes. The aerosol delivery device can be configured to heat an aerosol precursor composition to form an inhalable substance for human consumption, and the aerosol precursor composition can be made from or derived from tobacco or otherwise combined with tobacco. Background Art

[0002] Over the years, many smoking articles have been proposed as improvements or alternatives to smoking products based on burning tobacco. Exemplary alternatives include devices in which solid or liquid fuels are burned to transfer heat to the tobacco or in which chemical reactions are used to provide such a heat source. Examples include the smoking articles described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,078,473 to Worm et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] The improvement or replacement of smoking articles generally provides the sensation associated with cigarette, cigar or pipe smoking without delivering a considerable amount of incomplete combustion and pyrolysis products. For this reason, it has been proposed to utilize electric energy to evaporate or heat many smoking products, odor generators and drug inhalers of volatile materials, or to attempt to provide the sensation of cigarette, cigar or pipe smoking without burning tobacco to a significant degree. For example, referring to the various alternative smoking articles, aerosol delivery devices and heat generation sources described in the background technology described in the U.S. Patent No. 7,726,320 of Robinson et al., Griffith, Jr. et al. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0255702, Sears et al. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0096781, the patent is incorporated herein by reference. For example, also referring to various types of smoking articles, aerosol delivery devices and electric heating sources cited by trade names and commercial sources in the U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0216232 of Bless et al., the patent is incorporated herein by reference. Other types of smoking articles, aerosol delivery devices, and electrically powered heat sources cited by brand name and commercial source are listed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0245659 to DePiano et al., which is also incorporated herein by reference.Other representative cigarettes or smoking articles that have been described and in some cases are commercially available include those in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,735,217 to Gerth et al.; 4,922,901, 4,947,874, and 4,947,875 to Brooks et al.; 5,060,671 to Counts et al.; 5,249,586 to Morgan et al.; 5,336,697 to Counts et al.; 6,703,647 to Counts et al.; 6,711,647 to Counts et al.; 6,713,647 to Counts et al.; 6,714,647 to Counts et al.; 6,715,647 to Counts et al.; 6,716,647 to Counts et al.; 6,717,647 to Counts et al. No. 5,388,594; No. 5,666,977 to Higgins et al.; No. 6,053,176 to Adams et al.; No. 6,164,287 to White; No. 6,196,218 to Voges; No. 6,810,883 to Felter et al.; No. 6,854,461 to Nichols; No. 7,832,410 to Hon; Kobayashi, U.S. Patent No. 7,513,253; Robinson et al., U.S. Patent No. 7,726,320; Hamano, U.S. Patent No. 7,896,006; Shayan, U.S. Patent No. 6,772,756; Hon, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009 / 0095311; Hon, U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2006 / 0196518, 2009 / 0126745, and 2009 / 0188 No. 490; U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009 / 0272379 to Thorens et al.; U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2009 / 0260641 and 2009 / 0260642 to Monsees et al.; U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2008 / 0149118 and 2010 / 0024834 to Oglesby et al.; U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010 / 0307518 to Wang; and those described in PCT Patent Application Publication No. WO 2010 / 091593 to Hon, which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0004] Representative products that have many attributes similar to traditional types of cigarettes, cigars or pipes are already on the market: Philip Morris Incorporated's ALPHA by InnoVapor LLC TM 、JOYE 510 TM and M4 TM ; CIRRUS by White Cloud Cigarettes TM and FLING TMFontem Ventures BV TM ; International Co., Ltd. COHITA International Inc TM 、COLIBRI TM ELITECLASSIC TM 、MAGNUM TM PHANTOM TM and SENSE TM ; DUOPRO by Electronic Cigarettes, Inc. TM 、STORM TM AND VAPORKING TM ; EGAR from EgarAustralia TM ; Joyetech's eGo-C TM and eGo-T TM ; ELUSION of Elusion UK Ltd TM ; Eonsmoke LLC FIN Branding Group, LLC TM ; Green Smoke Inc. USA GREENARETTE by Greenarette LLC TM ;SMOKE HALLIGAN TM 、HENDU TM 、JET TM , MAXXQ TM PINK TM and PITBULL TM ; HEATBAR by Philip Morris International, Inc. TM ; HYDRO IMPERIAL from Crown7 TM and LXE TM ; LOGIC Technology's LOGIC TMand THE CUBAN TM ; Luciano Smokes Inc. Nicotek, LLC Sottera, Inc. and ONEJOY TM SS Choice LLC, No.7 TM ; PREMIUM ELECTRONICCIGARETTE by PremiumEstore LLC TM ; RAPP E-MYSTICK by Ruyan America, Inc. TM ; RED DRAGON from Red Dragon Products, LLC TM ; Ruyan Group (Holdings) Ltd. SmokerFriendly International, LLC GREEN SMART by The Smart Smoking Electronic Cigarette Company Ltd. SMOKE by Coastline Products LLC SMOKING EVERYWHERE by Smoking Everywhere, Inc. TM ; V2CIGS from VMR Products LLC TM ; VAPOR NINE of VaporNine LLC TM ; Vapor 4Life, Inc. VEPPO by E-CigaretteDirect, LLC TM; RJ Reynolds Vapor Company MISTIC MENTHOL from Mistic Ecigs; VYPE from CN Creative Ltd.; IQOS from Philip Morris International Inc. TM ; British American Tobacco's GLO TM ; MARK TEN products from Nu Mark LLC; and JUUL products from Juul Labs, Inc. Still other electrically powered aerosol delivery devices and specifically those that have been characterized as so-called e-cigarettes have been marketed under the following trade names: COOLER VISIONS TM 、DIRECT E-CIG TM 、DRAGONFLY TM EMIST TM 、EVERSMOKE TM , HYBRID FLAME TM 、KNIGHT STICKS TM 、ROYAL BLUES TM , and SOUTH BEACHSMOKE TM .

[0005] However, it would be desirable to provide an aerosol delivery device with improved electronics, such as to expand the usability of the device. Summary of the invention

[0006] The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device configured to generate an aerosol, and in some embodiments, the aerosol delivery device may be referred to as an electronic cigarette or a heat-not-burn cigarette. The present disclosure includes, but is not limited to, the following example implementations.

[0007] Example embodiment 1: An aerosol delivery device, comprising: a shell configured to retain an aerosol precursor composition; a sensor configured to generate a measurement result of a pressure caused by an airflow passing through at least a portion of the shell and convert the measurement result of the pressure into a corresponding electrical signal; a first terminal and a second terminal configured to connect a power source to the aerosol delivery device; a heating element configured to convert electricity into heat and thereby evaporate components of the aerosol precursor composition; a control component including a processor, the processor being configured to receive the corresponding electrical signal and, in response, connect the power source to a load including the heating element and thereby power the heating element; and a voltage regulator coupled to the sensor and the first terminal and between the sensor and the first terminal, the voltage regulator being configured to step down a voltage from the power source to the sensor and thereby power the sensor.

[0008] Example embodiment 2: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding example embodiments or any combination of any of the preceding example embodiments, wherein the control component further includes a high-side load switch between the sensor and the load, and the high-side load switch can be controlled by the processor to connect the power supply to the load including the heating element and disconnect the power supply from the load including the heating element.

[0009] Example embodiment 3: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding example embodiments or any combination of any of the preceding example embodiments, wherein the control component further includes at least: a near field communication (NFC) tag, which is coupled to the processor and is configured to enable the aerosol delivery device to establish NFC communication with a computing device equipped with an NFC reader; and a second high-side load switch between the first terminal and the NFC tag, the second high-side load switch being controllable by the processor to connect a power source to the NFC tag and disconnect the power source from the NFC tag, and to limit the input current to the NFC tag, wherein the processor is configured to control the high-side load switch to connect the power source to a load including a heating element only when the power source is disconnected from the NFC tag.

[0010] Example embodiment 4: An aerosol delivery device of any of the foregoing example embodiments or any combination of any of the foregoing implementations, wherein the control component further includes at least: a near field communication (NFC) tag, which is coupled to the processor and is configured to enable the aerosol delivery device to establish NFC communication with a computing device equipped with an NFC reader; and a second high-side load switch between the first terminal and the NFC tag, the second high-side load switch being controllable by the processor to connect power to the NFC tag and disconnect power from the NFC tag, and to limit input current to the NFC tag.

[0011] Example embodiment 5: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding example embodiments or any combination of any of the preceding example embodiments, wherein the NFC tag comprises at least: an antenna; and an integrated circuit (IC) configured to store or generate information, the information comprising at least an authentication mark for enabling authentication of the aerosol delivery device or a component thereof, wherein the antenna is capable of coupling with a corresponding antenna of an NFC reader to enable wireless transmission of information to a computing device, thereby enabling authentication of the aerosol delivery device or a component thereof.

[0012] Example embodiment 6: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding example embodiments or any combination of any of the preceding example embodiments, wherein the IC is configured to access an event counter, which event counter is configured to maintain a count indicating a remaining amount of an aerosol precursor composition, and authentication of the aerosol delivery device is authenticated only when the count is positive.

[0013] Example embodiment 7: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding example embodiments or any combination of any of the preceding example embodiments, wherein the IC is configured to access an event counter, the event counter is configured to maintain a count indicating a remaining amount of an aerosol precursor composition, and the processor is configured to generate or stop generating user-perceptible feedback when the count reaches a threshold level indicating a low remaining amount of the aerosol precursor composition.

[0014] Example embodiment 8: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding example embodiments or any combination of any of the preceding example embodiments, wherein the control component further includes a piezoelectric ceramic vibration device, which is coupled to the processor and can be controlled by the processor so that during operation of the aerosol delivery device, the piezoelectric ceramic vibration device vibrates and thereby provides user-perceptible feedback only when the count is above a threshold level.

[0015] Example embodiment 9: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding example embodiments or any combination of any of the preceding example embodiments, wherein the IC is further configured to cause the antenna to send RF energy to a computing device or a second computing device equipped with a power harvesting circuit system configured to receive radio frequency (RF) energy, and to harvest power from the RF energy to power or charge at least one electronic component of the computing device or the second computing device.

[0016] Example embodiment 10: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding example embodiments or any combination of any of the preceding example embodiments, wherein the computing device is a point of sale (POS) terminal and the NFC tag comprises at least: an antenna; and an integrated circuit (IC) configured to store or generate information including at least payment information, the payment information enabling mobile payment transactions from the aerosol delivery device, wherein the antenna is capable of coupling with a corresponding antenna of an NFC reader to enable wireless transmission of information to the POS terminal, thereby enabling mobile payment transactions from the aerosol delivery device.

[0017] Example embodiment 11: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding example embodiments or any combination of any of the preceding example embodiments, wherein the control component further includes a piezoelectric ceramic vibration device, which is coupled to the processor and can be controlled by the processor so that the piezoelectric ceramic vibration device vibrates during operation of the aerosol delivery device and thereby provides user-perceptible feedback.

[0018] Example embodiment 12: A control body for an aerosol delivery device, the control body comprising: a sensor configured to generate a measurement result of a pressure caused by an airflow passing through at least a portion of the shell, and convert the measurement result of the pressure into a corresponding electrical signal; a first terminal and a second terminal configured to connect a power source to the aerosol delivery device; a heating element or terminal, the heating element or terminal configured to connect a heating element to the control body, the heating element being configured to convert electricity into heat and thereby evaporate components of an aerosol precursor composition; a control component including a processor, the processor being configured to receive the corresponding electrical signal and, in response, connect the power source to a load including the heating element and thereby power the heating element; and a voltage regulator coupled to the sensor and the first terminal and between the sensor and the first terminal, the voltage regulator being configured to step down the voltage from the power source to the sensor and thereby power the sensor.

[0019] Example embodiment 13: The control body of any preceding example embodiment or any combination of any preceding example embodiments, wherein the control component further includes a high-side load switch between the sensor and the load, the high-side load switch being controllable by the processor to connect power to the load including the heating element and disconnect power from the load including the heating element.

[0020] Example embodiment 14: A control body of any preceding example embodiment or any combination of any preceding example embodiments, wherein the control component further comprises at least: a near field communication (NFC) tag, the NFC tag being coupled to the processor and being configured to enable the control body to establish NFC communication with a computing device equipped with an NFC reader; and a second high-side load switch between the first terminal and the NFC tag, the second high-side load switch being controllable by the processor to connect a power source to the NFC tag and disconnect the power source from the NFC tag, and to limit an input current to the NFC tag, wherein the processor is configured to control the high-side load switch to connect the power source to a load comprising a heating element only when the power source is disconnected from the NFC tag.

[0021] Example embodiment 15: A control body of any preceding example embodiment or any combination of any preceding example embodiments, wherein the control component further comprises at least: a near field communication (NFC) tag, the NFC tag being coupled to the processor and being configured to enable the control body to establish NFC communication with a computing device equipped with an NFC reader; and a second high-side load switch between the first terminal and the NFC tag, the second high-side load switch being controllable by the processor to connect a power source to the NFC tag and disconnect the power source from the NFC tag, and to limit an input current to the NFC tag.

[0022] Example Implementation 16: A control entity of any of the preceding example implementations or any combination of any of the preceding example implementations, wherein the NFC tag comprises at least: an antenna; and an integrated circuit (IC) configured to store or generate information, the information comprising at least an authentication mark for achieving authentication of the control entity or a cartridge, the cartridge comprising a heating element coupled to its terminals, wherein the antenna is capable of coupling with a corresponding antenna of an NFC reader to achieve wireless transmission of information to a computing device, thereby achieving authentication of the control entity or a component thereof.

[0023] Example embodiment 17: The control body of any preceding example embodiment or any combination of any preceding example embodiments, wherein the IC is configured to access an event counter, which event counter is configured to maintain a count indicating a remaining amount of the aerosol precursor composition, and authentication of the control body is authenticated only when the count is positive.

[0024] Example embodiment 18: A control body of any preceding example embodiment or any combination of any preceding example embodiments, wherein the IC is configured to access an event counter, the event counter is configured to maintain a count indicating a remaining amount of an aerosol precursor composition, and the processor is configured to generate or stop generating user-perceptible feedback when the count reaches a threshold level indicating a low remaining amount of the aerosol precursor composition.

[0025] Example embodiment 19: A control body of any preceding example embodiment or any combination of any preceding example embodiments, wherein the control component further includes a piezoelectric ceramic vibration device, the piezoelectric ceramic vibration device being coupled to the processor and controllable by the processor so that during operation of the control body, the piezoelectric ceramic vibration device vibrates and thereby provides user-perceptible feedback only when the count is above a threshold level.

[0026] Example embodiment 20: A control body of any preceding example embodiment or any combination of any preceding example embodiments, wherein the IC is further configured to cause the antenna to send RF energy to a computing device or a second computing device equipped with a power harvesting circuit system configured to receive RF energy, and to harvest power from the RF energy to power or charge at least one electronic component of the computing device or the second computing device.

[0027] Example embodiment 21: The control body of any of the preceding example embodiments or any combination of any of the preceding example embodiments, wherein the computing device is a point of sale (POS) terminal and the NFC tag includes at least: an antenna; and an integrated circuit (IC) configured to store or generate information including at least payment information, the payment information enabling mobile payment transactions from an aerosol delivery device, wherein the antenna is capable of coupling with a corresponding antenna of an NFC reader to enable wireless transmission of information to the POS terminal, thereby enabling mobile payment transactions from the aerosol delivery device.

[0028] Example embodiment 22: A control body of any preceding example embodiment or any combination of any preceding example embodiments, wherein the control component further includes a piezoelectric ceramic vibration device, the piezoelectric ceramic vibration device being coupled to the processor and controllable by the processor so that during operation of the control body, the piezoelectric ceramic vibration device vibrates and thereby provides user-perceptible feedback.

[0029] Example embodiment 23: An aerosol delivery device, comprising: a housing configured to retain an aerosol precursor composition; a first terminal and a second terminal configured to connect a power source to the aerosol delivery device; a heating element configured to convert electricity into heat and thereby evaporate components of the aerosol precursor composition; a control component comprising a processor, the processor configured to connect the power source to a load comprising the heating element and thereby power the heating element, and further comprising at least: a near field communication (NFC) tag coupled to the processor and configured to enable the aerosol delivery device to establish NFC communication with a computing device equipped with an NFC reader; and a high-side load switch between the first terminal and the NFC tag, the second high-side load switch being controllable by the processor to connect the power source to the NFC tag and disconnect the power source from the NFC tag, and to limit the input current to the NFC tag.

[0030] Example embodiment 24: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding example embodiments or any combination of any of the preceding example embodiments, wherein the NFC tag comprises at least: an antenna; and an integrated circuit (IC) configured to store or generate information, the information comprising at least an authentication mark for enabling authentication of the aerosol delivery device or a component thereof, wherein the antenna is capable of coupling with a corresponding antenna of an NFC reader to enable wireless transmission of information to a computing device, thereby enabling authentication of the aerosol delivery device or a component thereof.

[0031] Example embodiment 25: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding example embodiments or any combination of any of the preceding example embodiments, wherein the computing device is a point of sale (POS) terminal and the NFC tag comprises at least: an antenna; and an integrated circuit (IC) configured to store or generate information including at least payment information, the payment information enabling a mobile payment transaction from the aerosol delivery device, wherein the antenna is capable of coupling with a corresponding antenna of an NFC reader to enable wireless transmission of information to the POS terminal, thereby enabling a mobile payment transaction from the aerosol delivery device.

[0032] Example embodiment 26: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding example embodiments or any combination of any of the preceding example embodiments, wherein the control component further includes a piezoelectric ceramic vibration device, which is coupled to the processor and can be controlled by the processor to vibrate and thereby provide user-perceptible feedback during operation of the aerosol delivery device.

[0033] By reading the following specific embodiments together with the accompanying drawings briefly described below, these and other features, aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent. The present disclosure includes any combination of two, three, four or more features or elements set forth in the present disclosure, regardless of whether such features or elements are explicitly combined or otherwise referenced in the specific example implementations described herein. The present disclosure is intended to be read as a whole so that any separable feature or element of the present disclosure in its aspect and example implementations should be considered combinable unless the context of the present disclosure clearly states otherwise.

[0034] Therefore, it will be understood that the present disclosure is provided only for the purpose of summarizing some example implementations in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the present disclosure. Therefore, it will be understood that the example implementations described above are merely examples and should not be construed as limiting the scope or spirit of the present disclosure in any way. Other example implementations, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of some of the described example implementations. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Having thus described various aspects of the disclosure in the foregoing summary manner, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in which:

[0036] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an aerosol delivery device including a cartridge and a control body coupled to each other according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0037] Figure 2 According to an example implementation Figure 1 A partial cross-sectional view of an aerosol delivery device, wherein the cartridge and the control body are decoupled from each other;

[0038] Figure 3 and Figure 4 shows a perspective view of an aerosol delivery device including a control body and an aerosol source member according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the control body and the aerosol source member are coupled to and decoupled from each other, respectively;

[0039] Figure 5 and Figure 6 According to exemplary embodiments, Figure 3 and Figure 4 A front view of an aerosol delivery device and a cross-sectional view through the aerosol delivery device;

[0040] Figure 7 is a circuit diagram of an aerosol delivery device according to various example embodiments, which aerosol delivery device may be Figure 1-6aerosol delivery device or incorporated into Figure 1-6 an aerosol delivery device that functions as an aerosol delivery device; and

[0041] Fig. 8A and Figure 8B A system according to various example embodiments of the present disclosure is shown, the system comprising a device equipped with near field communication (NFC) for wirelessly communicating with a computing device. Figure 7 aerosol delivery device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] The present disclosure will now be described more fully below with reference to example implementations of the present disclosure. These example implementations are described so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete, and the scope of the present disclosure will be fully conveyed to those skilled in the art. In fact, the present disclosure can be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the implementations set forth herein; rather, these implementations are provided so that the present disclosure will meet applicable legal requirements. As used in the specification and the appended claims, unless the context clearly specifies otherwise, the singular forms "a / an", "the" and similar terms include multiple indicators. In addition, although reference may be made here to quantitative measurements, values, geometric relationships, etc., unless otherwise specified, any one or more (if not all) of these references may be absolute or approximate to illustrate acceptable changes that may occur, such as changes due to engineering tolerances, etc.

[0043] As described below, example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to aerosol delivery devices. Aerosol delivery devices according to the present disclosure use electrical energy to heat materials (preferably without burning the materials to any significant extent) to form inhalable substances, and the components of such systems are in the form of articles, most preferably being sufficiently compact to be considered as handheld devices. That is, the use of the components of the preferred aerosol delivery devices does not result in the generation of smoke in the sense that aerosols are produced primarily as byproducts of tobacco combustion or pyrolysis, but rather, the use of those preferred systems causes certain components contained therein to volatilize or evaporate to produce steam. In some example implementations, the components of the aerosol delivery devices may be characterized as electronic cigarettes, and those electronic cigarettes most preferably contain tobacco and / or components derived from tobacco, and thus deliver components derived from tobacco in the form of aerosols.

[0044] The aerosol generating component of certain preferred aerosol delivery devices can provide many of the sensations of smoking a cigarette, cigar, or pipe (e.g., the inhalation and exhalation ritual, the type of taste or flavor, the sensory effect, the physical sensation, the ritual of use, the visual cues such as those provided by a visible aerosol, etc.) that are employed by lighting and burning tobacco (and thereby inhaling tobacco smoke) without any substantial degree of combustion of any of its components. For example, a user of an aerosol delivery device according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure can hold and use the component much like a smoker uses a traditional type of smoking article, draw on one end of the component to inhale the aerosol generated by the component, puff or inhale at selected time intervals, and so on.

[0045] Although the system is generally described herein in an embodiment associated with an aerosol delivery device such as a so-called "e-cigarette", "tobacco heating product", etc., it should be understood that the mechanisms, components, features, and methods can be embodied in many different forms and associated with various products. For example, the description provided herein can be combined with traditional smoking products (e.g., cigarettes, cigars, pipes, etc.), heat-not-burn cigarettes, and related packaging of any product disclosed herein. Therefore, it should be understood that the description of the mechanisms, components, features, and methods disclosed herein is discussed only by way of example in terms of implementation methods related to aerosol delivery devices, and can be embodied and used in various other products and methods.

[0046] Aerosol delivery device of the present disclosure can also be characterized as steam generation goods or drug delivery goods.Therefore, such goods or equipment can be adapted to provide one or more materials (for example, flavoring agent and / or active pharmaceutical ingredient) in inhalable form or state.For example, inhalable material can be substantially in vapor form (that is, material in gas phase at a temperature below critical point).Alternately, inhalable material can also be in aerosol form (that is, suspension (suspension) of fine solid particles or droplets in gas).For simplicity, no matter whether visible and no matter whether it is a form that may be regarded as smoke-like, the term "aerosol" as used herein is intended to include steam, gas and aerosol of a form or type suitable for human inhalation.

[0047] In use, the aerosol delivery device of the present disclosure can be subjected to many of the physical actions that an individual would employ when using a traditional type of smoking article (e.g., a cigarette, cigar, or pipe that is employed by lighting and inhaling tobacco. For example, a user of the aerosol delivery device of the present disclosure can hold the article much like a traditional type of smoking article, draw on one end of the article to inhale an aerosol generated by the article, puff smoke at selected time intervals, and the like.

[0048] The aerosol delivery devices of the present disclosure generally include several components disposed within an outer shell (which may be referred to as a body or shell). The overall design of the shell may vary, and the type or configuration of the shell that may define the overall size and shape of the aerosol delivery device may vary. Typically, an elongated body having a shape similar to that of a cigarette or cigar may be formed by a single integral shell, or the elongated shell may be formed by two or more separable bodies. For example, an aerosol delivery device may include an elongated shell that may be substantially tubular in shape, and therefore resemble the shape of a conventional cigarette or cigar. In one example, all components of the aerosol delivery device are contained within a shell. Alternatively, the aerosol delivery device may include two or more joined and separable shells. For example, an aerosol delivery device may have a control body at one end that includes a housing containing one or more reusable components (e.g., a battery such as a rechargeable battery, a solid-state battery (SSB), a thin-film SSB, a rechargeable supercapacitor, and / or a lithium-ion or hybrid lithium-ion supercapacitor, and various electronic devices for controlling the operation of the article), and an outer body or housing at the other end that includes a disposable portion (e.g., a disposable flavored cartridge), and the outer body or housing is removably coupled to the control body. In view of the further disclosure provided herein, more specific types, configurations, and arrangements of components within a single housing type unit or within a multi-piece detachable housing type unit will be apparent. In addition, when considering commercially available electronic aerosol delivery devices, various aerosol delivery device designs and component arrangements may be used. It should be understood that alternative non-tubular housing form factors may also be used, including, for example, having a shape and size that is generally close to a cigarette pack and such as in British American Tobacco's GLO TM and Philip Morris International Inc.’s IQOS TM The form factor used on the device housing.

[0049] As will be discussed in more detail below, the aerosol delivery devices of the present disclosure include some combination of the following components: a power source (i.e., a source of electrical power); at least one control component (e.g., for actuating, controlling, regulating, and stopping the power used to generate heat, such as by controlling the current flowing from the power source to other components of the aerosol delivery device); a heating element (e.g., a resistive heating element or other component and / or an induction coil or other associated component and / or one or more radiant heating elements); and an aerosol precursor composition (e.g., a solid tobacco material, a semi-solid tobacco material, or a liquid aerosol precursor composition) capable of generating an aerosol when sufficient heat is applied; and a mouth end region or tip for allowing suction on the aerosol delivery device to inhale the aerosol (e.g., a defined airflow path through the article so that the generated aerosol can be drawn therefrom when suction is applied).

[0050] The arrangement of parts in the aerosol delivery device of the present disclosure can change.In a specific embodiment, the aerosol precursor composition can be located near one end of the aerosol delivery device, and this end of the aerosol delivery device can be configured to be positioned near the mouth of the user, so that the aerosol delivery to the user is maximized. However, other configurations are not excluded.Usually, the heating element can be positioned sufficiently close to the aerosol precursor composition so that the heat from the heating element can volatilize the aerosol precursor (and one or more spices, medicines, etc. that can be provided for delivery to the user) and form an aerosol to deliver to the user.When the heating element heats the aerosol precursor composition, the aerosol is formed, released or generated in a physical form suitable for the consumer to inhale.It should be noted that the aforementioned terms mean that it is interchangeable, so that the reference to release (release, releasing, releases, or released) includes formation or generation (form or generate, forming or generating, forms or generates, and formed or generated).Specifically, inhalable material is released in the form of vapor or aerosol or its mixture, wherein these terms also can be used interchangeably in this article, unless otherwise indicated.

[0051] As described above, the aerosol delivery device may include a battery, SSB or other power source to provide a current sufficient to provide various functions (such as power supply of the heating element, power supply of the control system, power supply of the indicator, etc.) to the aerosol delivery device. The power supply can adopt various embodiments. Preferably, the power supply is capable of delivering sufficient power to quickly activate the heating element for aerosol formation, and power the aerosol delivery device during the desired duration of use. Preferably, the power supply is designed to be conveniently assembled in the aerosol delivery device so that the aerosol delivery device can be easily operated. In addition, the preferred power supply has a sufficiently light weight so as not to detract from the desired smoking experience.

[0052] In view of the further disclosure provided below, more specific types, configurations, and arrangements of components within the aerosol delivery device of the present disclosure will be apparent. In addition, various aerosol delivery device component selections can be conceived when considering commercially available electronic aerosol delivery devices. Further, arrangements of components within the aerosol delivery device can also be conceived when considering commercially available electronic aerosol delivery devices.

[0053] As described below, the present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device. An aerosol delivery device can be configured to heat an aerosol precursor composition (sometimes referred to as an inhalable substance medium) to produce an aerosol (inhalable substance). An aerosol precursor composition can include one or more of a solid tobacco material, a semisolid tobacco material, and a liquid aerosol precursor composition. In some embodiments, an aerosol delivery device can be configured to heat a fluid aerosol precursor composition (such as a liquid aerosol precursor composition) and produce an aerosol from a fluid aerosol precursor composition (such as a liquid aerosol precursor composition). This aerosol delivery device can include a so-called electronic cigarette.

[0054] The liquid aerosol precursor composition (also referred to as a vapor precursor composition or "e-liquid") may include a variety of components, including, by way of example, a polyol (e.g., glycerol, propylene glycol, or mixtures thereof), nicotine, tobacco, tobacco extracts, and / or flavorings. Some liquid aerosol precursor compositions that may be used in conjunction 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 the like. Including (acid) in a liquid aerosol precursor composition including nicotine can provide a protonated liquid aerosol precursor composition including nicotine in salt form. Representative types of liquid aerosol precursor compositions and formulations are described and characterized in U.S. Pat. No. 7,726,320 to Robinson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 9,254,002 to Chong et al., and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0008457 to Zheng et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0020823 to Lipowicz et al., and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0020830 to Koller, and PCT Patent Application Publication No. WO 2014 / 182736 to Bowen et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 8,881,737 to Collett et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Other aerosol precursors that may be employed include those that have been incorporated into any of the many representative products described above. So-called "smoke juice" for electronic cigarettes that are already available from Johnson Creek Enterprises LLC is also desirable. Still further exemplary aerosol precursor compositions are sold under the following brand names: BLACKNOTE, 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, DR. CRIMMY'S V-LIQUID, SMILEY E LIQUID, BEANTOWN VAPOR, CUTTWOOD, CYCLOPSVAPOR, SICBOY, GOOD LIFE VAPOR, TELEOS, PINUP VAPORS, SPACE JAM, MT. BAKER VAPOR, and JIMMY THE JUICE MAN. Embodiments of foaming materials may be used with aerosol precursors and are described by way of example in US Patent Application Publication No. 2012 / 0055494 to Hunt et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.Further, the use of foaming materials is described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,639,368 to Niazi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,178,878 to Wehling et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,264 to Wehling et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,974,590 to Pather et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,381,667 to Bergquist et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,424,541 to Crawford et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,627,828 to Strickland et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 9,307,787 to Sun et al., as well as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0018539 to Brinkley et al., and PCT Patent Application Publication No. WO 97 / 06786 to Johnson et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0055] Representative types of substrates, reservoirs, or other components for supporting aerosol precursors are described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,528,569 to Newton, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0261487 to Chapman et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0059780 to Davis et al., and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0216232 to Bless et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference. In addition, various wicking materials within certain types of electronic cigarettes and the configuration and operation of those wicking materials are described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,910,640 to Sears et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0056] In other implementations, the aerosol delivery device may include a heat-not-burn device configured to heat a solid aerosol precursor composition (e.g., a tobacco rod) or a semi-solid aerosol precursor composition (e.g., a tobacco paste loaded with glycerin). The aerosol precursor composition may include: tobacco-containing beads, shredded tobacco, tobacco rods, reconstituted tobacco materials, or combinations thereof, and / or a mixture of finely ground tobacco, tobacco extracts, spray-dried tobacco extracts, or other tobacco forms, mixed with optional inorganic materials (such as calcium carbonate), optional flavoring agents, and aerosol-forming materials to form a substantially solid or moldable (e.g., extrudable) substrate. Representative types of solid and semi-solid aerosol precursor compositions and formulations are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,424,538 to Thomas et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,464,726 to Sebastian et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0083150 to Conner et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0157052 to Ademe et al., and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0000188 to Nordskog et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Further representative types of solid and semi-solid aerosol precursor compositions and arrangements are included in GLO for British American Tobacco Company. TM NEOSTIKS products TM Consumable aerosol source components and neutralization for Philip Morris International Inc.'s IQOS TM HEETS OF PRODUCTS TM Those found in the aerosol source component may be consumed.

[0057] In various embodiments, more specifically, the inhalable substance can be a tobacco component or a material derived from tobacco (that is, a material that can be directly separated or synthetically prepared from tobacco that is naturally present in tobacco). For example, an aerosol precursor composition can include a tobacco extract or a portion thereof in combination with an inert substance. The aerosol precursor composition can further include unburned tobacco or a composition comprising unburned tobacco, which releases an inhalable substance when heated to a temperature below its combustion temperature. In some embodiments, an aerosol precursor composition can include tobacco condensate or a portion thereof (that is, a condensation component of the smoke produced by the combustion of tobacco, leaving flavoring agents and possible nicotine).

[0058] Tobacco materials useful in the present disclosure can vary, and can include, for example, flue-cured tobacco, burley tobacco, Oriental tobacco or Maryland tobacco, dark tobacco, dark-fired tobacco, Rustica tobacco, and other rare or special tobaccos, or mixtures thereof. Tobacco materials can also include so-called "mixed" forms and processed forms, such as processed tobacco stems (e.g., cut-rolled or cut-puffed stems), volume expanded tobacco (e.g., puffed tobacco, such as dry ice expanded tobacco (DIET), preferably in the form of cut filler), reconstituted tobacco (e.g., reconstituted tobacco manufactured using papermaking or cast sheet type processes). Various representative tobacco types, processed tobacco types, and tobacco blend types are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,224 to Lawson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,888 to Perfetti et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,537 to Brown et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,942 to Brinkley et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,930 to Gentry et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,023 to Blakley et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,701,936 to Shafer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,011,096 to Li et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 7,017,585 to Li et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,025,066 to Lawson et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004 / 0255965 to Perfetti et al., PCT Patent Application Publication No. WO 2004 / 0255965 to Bereman and Bombick et al. 02 / 37990, Fund.Appl.Toxicol., 39, pp. 11-17 (1997), which are incorporated herein by reference. Further, exemplary tobacco compositions that may be useful in smoking devices (including smoking devices according to the present disclosure) are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,726,320 to Robinson et al., which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0059] Further, the aerosol precursor composition may include an inert substrate with an inhalable substance or its precursor integrated therein or otherwise deposited thereon. For example, a liquid including an inhalable substance may be coated on an inert substrate or adsorbed into an inert substrate so that when heat is applied, the inhalable substance is released in a form that can be drawn from the product of the present invention by applying positive or negative pressure. In some aspects, the aerosol precursor composition may include a mixture of spices and aromatic tobacco in the form of a formula tobacco shred. On the other hand, the aerosol precursor composition may include a reconstituted tobacco material, such as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,807,809 of Pryor et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,889,143 of Pryor et al., and U.S. Patent No. 5,025,814 of Raker et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. For more information on suitable aerosol precursor compositions, see U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 916,834 filed by Sur et al. on March 9, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0060] Regardless of the type of aerosol precursor composition being heated, the aerosol delivery device may include a heating element configured to heat the aerosol precursor composition. In some implementations, the heating element is an induction heater. Such a heater generally includes an induction transmitter and an induction receiver. The induction transmitter may include a coil configured to create an oscillating magnetic field (e.g., a magnetic field that varies periodically over time) when an alternating current is directed through the coil. The induction receiver may be at least partially positioned or received within the induction transmitter and may include a conductive material. By directing an alternating current through the induction transmitter, eddy currents may be generated in the induction receiver via induction. The eddy currents flowing through the resistance of the material defining the induction receiver may heat it by Joule heating (i.e., by the Joule effect). The induction receiver that may define the atomizer may be wirelessly heated to form an aerosol from an aerosol precursor composition positioned close to the induction receiver. Various embodiments of an aerosol delivery device with an induction heater are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0127722 to Davis et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0202266 to Sur et al., U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 352,153 filed by Sur et al. on November 15, 2016, U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 799,365 filed by Sebastian et al. on October 31, 2017, and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 836,086 to Sur et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0061] In other embodiments including those described in more detail herein, the heating element is a conductive heater such as in the case of a resistive heater. These heaters can be configured to generate heat when an electric current is directed through the heater. In various embodiments, the conductive heater can be provided in various forms, such as in the form of a foil, foam, disc, spiral, fiber, wire, film, yarn, strip, band or cylinder. Such heaters often include metallic materials and are configured to generate heat due to the resistance associated with passing an electric current through a resistor. Such resistive heaters can be positioned close to an aerosol precursor composition and heat an aerosol precursor composition to generate an aerosol. A variety of conductive materials that can be used with the present disclosure are described in the U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0255702 of Griffith et al. cited above.

[0062] In some embodiments, in the case of a so-called electronic cigarette, the aerosol delivery device may include a control body and a cartridge, or in the case of a heat-not-burn device, a control body and an aerosol source member. In the case of an electronic cigarette or a heat-not-burn device, the control body may be reusable, and the cartridge / aerosol source member may be configured for a limited number of uses and / or configured as a disposable. The cartridge / aerosol source member may include an aerosol precursor composition. In order to heat the aerosol precursor composition, the heating element may be positioned in contact with the aerosol precursor composition or near the aerosol precursor composition (such as across the control body and the cartridge), or positioned in the control body in which the aerosol source member may be located. The control body may include a power source, which may be rechargeable or replaceable, and whereby the control body may be reused with multiple cartridges / aerosol source members.

[0063] The control body may also include means for activating the aerosol delivery device, such as a button, touch-sensitive surface or the like for manual control of the device. Additionally or alternatively, the control body may include a flow sensor to detect when a user draws on the cartridge / aerosol source member to thereby activate the aerosol delivery device.

[0064] In various embodiments, aerosol delivery devices according to the present disclosure may have a variety of overall shapes, including but not limited to, an overall shape that can be defined as a substantially rod-shaped or substantially tubular shape or a substantially cylindrical shape. In the implementations shown and described with reference to the accompanying drawings, the aerosol delivery device has a substantially circular cross-section; however, the present disclosure also encompasses other cross-sectional shapes (e.g., elliptical, square, triangular, etc.). Such language describing the physical properties of the article also applies to the various components of the article, including the control body and the cartridge / aerosol source member. In other implementations, the control body may take another handheld shape, such as a small box shape.

[0065] In more specific embodiments, one or both of the control body and the cartridge / aerosol source member may be referred to as disposable or reusable. For example, the control body may have a power source such as a replaceable battery or a rechargeable battery, an SSB, a film SSB, a rechargeable supercapacitor, a lithium ion or hybrid lithium ion supercapacitor, etc. An example of a power source is a TKI-1550 rechargeable lithium ion battery produced by Tadiran Batteries GmbH of Germany. In another implementation, a useful power source may be an N50-AAA CADNICA nickel-cadmium battery produced by Sanyo Electric Company, Ltd. of Japan. In other implementations, a plurality of such batteries (e.g., each battery provides 1.2 volts) may be connected in series. In some examples, the power source can then be combined with any type of recharging technology, including: such as connecting to a wall charger, to a car charger (i.e., cigarette lighter socket), and to a computer via a universal serial bus (USB) cable or connector (e.g., USB 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, USB-C), connecting to a photovoltaic cell (sometimes referred to as a solar cell) or a solar panel of solar cells, or a wireless charger such as using inductive wireless charging (including, for example, wireless charging according to the Qi wireless charging standard from the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC)) or a wireless radio frequency (RF) based charger. Examples of inductive wireless charging systems are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0112196 to Sur et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Further, in some example embodiments in the case of an electronic cigarette, the cartridge may include a disposable cartridge as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 8,910,639 to Chang et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0066] Examples of power sources are described in U.S. Patent No. 9,484,155 to Peckerar et al. and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0112191 filed on October 21, 2015 to Sur et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. With respect to flow sensors, representative current regulating components and other current control components including various microcontrollers, sensors and switches for aerosol delivery devices are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,735,217 to Gerth et al., U.S. Patent Nos. 4,922,901, 4,947,874 and 4,947,875 all to Brooks et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,372,148 to McCafferty et al., U.S. Patent No. 6, No. 040,560 to Nguyen et al., U.S. Patent No. 7,040,314 to Nguyen et al., U.S. Patent No. 8,205,622 to Pan, U.S. Patent 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 U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0257445 to Henry et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0067] An input element may be included in an aerosol delivery device (and may replace or supplement a flow sensor). An input may be included to allow a user to control a function of the device and / or to output information to the user. Any component or combination of components may be used as an input for controlling a function of the device. For example, one or more buttons may be used, as described in U.S. Patent No. 2015 / 0245658 to Worm et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. Similarly, a touch screen may be used, as described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 643,626 filed by Sears et al. on March 10, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference. As a further example, a component suitable for gesture recognition based on a specified motion of an aerosol delivery device may be used as an input. See U.S. Publication No. 2016 / 0158782 to Henry et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. As yet a further example, a capacitive sensor may be implemented on an aerosol delivery device to enable a user to provide input, such as by touching the surface of the device on which the capacitive sensor is implemented.

[0068] As indicated above, the aerosol delivery device may include various electronic devices, such as at least one control component. Suitable control components may include several electronic components, and in some examples, may be formed by a printed circuit board (PCB). In some examples, according to one or more example embodiments, the electronic components include a processing circuit system, and the processing circuit system is configured to perform data processing, application execution, or other processing, control or management services. The processing circuit system may include a processor embodied in the following various forms: such as at least one processor core, a microprocessor, a coprocessor, a controller, a microcontroller, or various other computing or processing devices including one or more integrated circuits (such as, for example, an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit), an FPGA (field programmable gate array), some combination thereof, etc.). In some examples, the processing circuit system may include a memory coupled to or integrated with the processor, and the memory may store data, computer program instructions executable by the processor, some combination thereof, and the like.

[0069] In some examples, the control component may include one or more input / output peripherals that may be coupled to or integrated with the processing circuit system. More specifically, the control component may include a communication interface to enable wireless communication with one or more networks, computing devices, or other appropriately enabled devices. An example of a suitable communication interface is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0261020 by Marion et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Another example of a suitable communication interface is the CC3200 single-chip wireless microcontroller unit (MCU) from Texas Instruments. And examples of suitable ways in which aerosol delivery devices can be configured for wireless communication are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0007651 by Ampolini et al. and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0219933 by Henry, Jr. et al., which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0070] Still further components may be used in the aerosol delivery devices of the present disclosure. An example of a suitable component is an indicator such as a light emitting diode (LED), a quantum dot-based LED, or the like, which may be illuminated in conjunction with the use of the aerosol delivery device. Examples of suitable LED components and their configurations and uses are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,192 to Sprinkel et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,499,766 to Newton, U.S. Pat. No. 8,539,959 to Scatterday, and U.S. Pat. No. 9,451,791 to Sears et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0071] The present disclosure also encompasses other operation indexes. For example, the visual indicator of operation also includes the change of light color or intensity, to show the progress of smoking experience. Similarly, the present disclosure encompasses the tactile (tactile) indicator of operation and the sound (audio) indicator of operation. In addition, the combination of such indicators of operation also can be suitable for use in a single smoking article. According to another aspect, the aerosol delivery device may include one or more indicators or marks, such as, for example, a display configured to provide information corresponding to the operation of the smoking article, the information such as, for example, the remaining power in the power supply, the progress of the smoking experience, the indication corresponding to the activation of the heat source and / or the like.

[0072] Still other components are contemplated. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,192 to Sprinkel et al. discloses an indicator for a smoking article; U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,424 to Sprinkel, Jr. discloses a piezoelectric sensor that can be associated with the mouth end of the device to detect user lip activity associated with a draw and then trigger heating of the heating device; U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,148 to McCafferty et al. discloses a puff sensor for controlling energy flow into a heating load array in response to a pressure drop across a mouthpiece; U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,148 to Harris et al. discloses a socket in a smoking device, the socket including an identifier for detecting non-uniformity of infrared transmittance of an inserted component and a controller for executing a detection routine when the component is inserted into the socket; U.S. Pat. No. 6,040,560 to Fleischhauer et al. describes an executable power cycle with a definition of multiple differential phases; Watk et al. U.S. Patent No. 5,934,289 to ins et al. discloses a photonic optoelectronic component; U.S. Patent No. 5,954,979 to Counts et al. discloses a device for changing the resistance to draw through a smoking device; U.S. Patent No. 6,803,545 to Blake et al. discloses a specific battery configuration for use in a smoking device; U.S. Patent 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 a computer interface device for a smoking device to facilitate charging and allow a computer to control the device; U.S. Patent No. 8,689,804 to Fernando et al. discloses an identification system for a smoking device; and PCT Patent Application Publication No. WO2010 / 003480 to Flick discloses a fluid flow sensing system for indicating puffs in an aerosol generating system; all of the foregoing disclosures are incorporated herein by reference.

[0073] Further examples of components related to electronic aerosol delivery articles and disclosed materials or components that can be used in existing articles include U.S. Patent No. 4,735,217 to Gerth et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,249,586 to Morgan et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,666,977 to Higgins et al., U.S. Patent No. 6,053,176 to Adams et al., U.S. Patent No. 6,164,287 to White, U.S. Patent No. 6,196,218 to Voges, U.S. Patent No. 6,810,883 to Felter et al., U.S. Patent No. 6,854,461 to Nichols, U.S. Patent No. 7,832,410 to Hon, U.S. Patent No. 7,513,253 to Kobayashi, U.S. Patent No. 7,896,006 to Hamano, U.S. Patent No. 7,964,277 to Shayan, U.S. Patent No. 7,613,697 to Osaka, U.S. Patent No. 7,614,664 to Osaka ... No. 6,772,756 to Hon, U.S. Patent Nos. 8,156,944 and 8,375,957 to Hon, U.S. Patent No. 8,794,231 to Thorens et al., U.S. Patent No. 8,851,083 to Oglesby et al., U.S. Patent Nos. 8,915,254 and 8,925,555 to Monsees et al., U.S. Patent No. 9,220,302 to DePiano et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2006 / 0196518 and 2009 / 0188490 to Hon, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0024834 to Oglesby et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0307518 to Wang, PCT Patent Application Publication No. WO 2010 / 091593 to Hon, and PCT Patent Application Publication No. WO 2010 / 091593 to Foo. No. 2013 / 089551, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Further, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0099877 to Worm et al. discloses a capsule that may be included in an aerosol delivery device and a fob-shape configuration for an aerosol delivery device, and is incorporated herein by reference. The various materials disclosed by the foregoing documents may be incorporated into the present device in various implementations, and all of the foregoing disclosures are incorporated herein by reference.

[0074] Still other features, controls, or components that may be incorporated into the aerosol delivery devices of the present disclosure are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,148 to Harris et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,289 to Watkins et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,979 to Counts et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,040,560 to Fleischhauer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,365,742 to Hon, U.S. Pat. No. 8,402,976 to Fernando et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005 / 0016550 to Katase, and U.S. Patent No. 2006 / 0016564 to Fernando et al. U.S. Patent No. 8,689,804 to Nando et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0192623 to Tucker et al., U.S. Patent No. 9,427,022 to Leven et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0180553 to Kim et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0000638 to Sebastian et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0261495 to Novak et al., and U.S. Patent No. 9,220,302 to DePiano et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0075] Figure 1 and Figure 2 An embodiment of an aerosol delivery device including a control body and a cartridge in the context of an electronic cigarette is shown. More specifically, Figure 1 and Figure 2 An aerosol delivery device 100 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. As shown, the aerosol delivery device may include a control body 102 and a cartridge 104. The control body and the cartridge may be permanently or removably aligned in a functional relationship. In this regard, Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an aerosol delivery device in a coupled configuration, and Figure 2 A partially cut-away side view of the aerosol delivery device in a structural configuration is shown. In some embodiments, when the control body and cartridge are in an assembled configuration, the aerosol delivery device can be substantially stick-shaped, substantially tubular-shaped, or substantially cylindrical-shaped.

[0076] The control body 102 and the cartridge 104 can be configured to engage with each other through various connections (such as press-fit (or interference fit) connection, threaded connection, magnetic connection, etc.). Therefore, the control body may include a first engaging element (e.g., a coupler), which is adapted to engage a second engaging element (e.g., a connector) on the cartridge. The first engaging element and the second engaging element may be reversible. As an example, either one of the first engaging element and the second engaging element may be a male thread, and the other may be a female thread. As a further example, either one of the first engaging element and the second engaging element may be a magnet, and the other may be a metal or a matching magnet. In a specific embodiment, the engaging element may be directly defined by existing components of the control body and the cartridge. For example, the housing of the control body may define a cavity at one end thereof, which is configured to receive at least a portion of the cartridge (e.g., a storage box of the cartridge or other shell forming elements of the cartridge). Specifically, the storage tank of the cartridge may be at least partially contained in the cavity of the control body, while the mouthpiece of the cartridge remains exposed outside the cavity of the control body. The cartridge can be retained within the cavity formed by the control body housing, such as by an interference fit (e.g., by using a stop and / or other features that create an interference engagement between an outer surface of the cartridge and an inner surface of a wall forming the control body cavity), by magnetic engagement (e.g., by using magnets and / or magnetic metal positioned within the cavity of the control body and positioned on the cartridge), or by other suitable techniques.

[0077] As in Figure 2 As seen in the cross-sectional view shown in , the control body 102 and the cartridge 104 each include several corresponding components. Figure 2 The components shown in are representative of components that may be present in the control body and the cartridge and are not intended to limit the scope of components covered by the present disclosure. As shown, for example, the control body may be formed by a housing 206 (sometimes referred to as a control body housing), and the housing 206 may include electronic components 208, such as a control component 210 (e.g., a processing circuit system, etc.), a flow sensor 212, a power source 214 (e.g., a battery, a supercapacitor), and an indicator 216 (e.g., an LED, a quantum dot-based LED), and such components may be variably aligned. The power source may be rechargeable, and the control body may include a charging circuit system coupled to the power source and configured to controllably charge the power source.

[0078] The cartridge 104 may be formed of a housing 218 (sometimes referred to as a cartridge shell) that encloses a reservoir 220 configured to retain an aerosol precursor composition and includes a heating element 222 (sometimes referred to as a heater). In various configurations, the structure may be referred to as a tank, and accordingly, the terms "cartridge," "tank," and the like may be used interchangeably to refer to a housing or other housing that encloses a reservoir of an aerosol gas composition and includes a heating element.

[0079] As shown, in some examples, the reservoir 220 can be in fluid communication with a liquid delivery element 224 that is adapted to wick or otherwise deliver an aerosol precursor composition stored in the reservoir housing to the heating element 222. In some examples, a valve can be disposed between the reservoir and the heating element and configured to control the amount of the aerosol precursor composition transferred or delivered from the reservoir to the heating element.

[0080] Various examples of materials configured to generate heat when an electric current is applied therethrough can be used to form the heating element 222. The heating element in these examples can be a resistive heating element, such as a coil, a micro heater, and the like. Example materials that can form the heating element include Kanthal (FeCrAl), nichrome, nickel, stainless steel, indium tin oxide, tungsten, molybdenum disilicide (MoSi2), molybdenum silicide (MoSi), molybdenum disilicide doped with aluminum (Mo(Si,Al)2), titanium, platinum, silver, palladium, alloys of silver and palladium, graphite and graphite-based materials (e.g., carbon-based foams and yarns), conductive inks, boron-doped silicon dioxide, and ceramics (e.g., positive or negative temperature coefficient ceramics). The heating element can be a resistive heating element or a heating element configured to generate heat by induction. The heating element can be coated with a thermally conductive ceramic such as aluminum nitride, silicon carbide, beryllium oxide, aluminum oxide, silicon nitride, or a composite thereof. Example embodiments of heating elements useful in aerosol delivery devices according to the present disclosure are described further below, and may be incorporated into devices such as those described herein.

[0081] There may be an opening 226 in the housing 218 (eg, at the mouth end) to allow the formed aerosol to be discharged from the cartridge 104 .

[0082] The cartridge 104 may also include one or more electronic components 228, which may include integrated circuits, memory components (e.g., EEPROM, flash memory), sensors, etc. The electronic components may be adapted to communicate with the control component 210 and / or with external devices by wired or wireless means. The electronic components may be positioned anywhere within the cartridge or the base 230 of the cartridge.

[0083] Although the control component 210 and the flow sensor 212 are shown separately, it is understood that the various electronic components 208 including the control component and the flow sensor can be combined on a PCB that supports and electrically connects these electronic components. Further, the PCB can be arranged relative to the central axis of the control body in a manner that the length is parallel to the central axis of the control body. Figure 1 . In some examples, the air flow sensor may include its own PCB or other base element to which it may be attached. In some examples, a flexible PCB may be used. The flexible PCB may be configured into a variety of shapes, including a substantially tubular shape. In some examples, the flexible PCB may be combined with, laminated to, or form part or all of a heater substrate.

[0084] The control body 102 and the cartridge 104 may include components adapted to facilitate fluid engagement therebetween. Figure 2 As shown in , the control body may include a coupler 232 having a cavity 234 therein. The base 230 of the cartridge may be adapted to engage the coupler and may include a protrusion 236 adapted to fit within the cavity. Such engagement may facilitate a stable connection between the control body and the cartridge, as well as establishing an electrical connection between the power supply 214 and the control component 210 in the control body and the heating element 222 in the cartridge. Further, the housing 206 may include an air inlet 238, which may be a recess in the housing connected to the coupler that allows ambient air around the coupler to pass through and enter the housing, then pass through the cavity 234 of the coupler in the housing and enter the cartridge through the protrusion 236.

[0085] Useful couplers and mounts according to the present disclosure are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0261495 to Novak et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. For example, Figure 2 The coupler 232 shown in the figure can define an outer periphery 240 configured to be paired with the inner periphery 242 of the base 230. In one example, the inner periphery of the base can define a radius that is substantially equal to or slightly larger than the radius of the outer periphery of the coupler. Further, the coupler can define one or more protrusions 244 at the outer periphery, and the protrusions 244 are configured to engage one or more grooves 246 defined at the inner periphery of the base. However, various other examples of structures, shapes and parts can also be used to couple the base to the coupler. In some examples, the connection between the base of the cartridge 104 and the coupler of the control body 102 can be substantially permanent, and in other examples, the connection therebetween can be releasable, so that, for example, the control body can be reused with one or more additional cartridges that can be disposable and / or replaceable.

[0086] Figure 2The reservoir 220 shown can be a container or can be a fiber reservoir, as currently described. For example, in this example, the reservoir can include one or more layers of nonwoven fibers, substantially formed into the shape of a tube surrounding the interior of the housing 218. The aerosol precursor composition can be retained in the reservoir. For example, the liquid component can be retained by the reservoir adsorption. The reservoir can be connected to the liquid delivery element 224 fluid. In this example, the liquid delivery element can be transported to the heating element 222 in the form of a metal coil via capillary action. Therefore, the heating element and the liquid delivery element are in a heating arrangement.

[0087] In some examples, the microfluidic chip can be embedded in the reservoir 220, and the amount and / or mass of the aerosol precursor composition delivered from the reservoir can be controlled by a micropump (such as a micropump based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology). Other example embodiments of reservoirs and conveying elements useful in aerosol delivery devices according to the present disclosure are further described herein, and such reservoirs and / or conveying elements can be incorporated into devices such as those described herein. In particular, specific combinations of heating members and conveying elements as further described herein can be incorporated into devices such as those described herein.

[0088] In use, when the user draws on the aerosol delivery device 100, the air flow is detected by the flow sensor 212, and the heating element 222 is activated to vaporize the components of the aerosol precursor composition. Drawing on the mouth end of the aerosol delivery device causes ambient air to enter the air inlet 238 and pass through the cavity 234 in the coupler 232 and the central opening in the protrusion 236 of the base 230. In the cartridge 104, the drawn air combines with the formed vapor to form an aerosol. The aerosol is stirred, sucked or otherwise drawn away from the heating element and drawn out of the opening 226 in the mouth end of the aerosol delivery device.

[0089] In the case of an electronic cigarette, further details regarding embodiments of the aerosol delivery device including a control body and a cartridge are provided in the above-cited U.S. patent application serial number 15 / 836,086 to Sur and U.S. patent application serial number 15 / 916,834 to Sur et al., and U.S. patent application serial number 15 / 916,696 filed by Sur on March 9, 2018, which are also incorporated herein by reference.

[0090] Figures 3 to 6 An embodiment of an aerosol delivery device including a control body and an aerosol source member in the context of a heat-not-burn device is shown. More specifically, Figure 3An aerosol delivery device 300 is shown according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. The aerosol delivery device may include a control body 302 and an aerosol source component 304. In various embodiments, the aerosol source component and the control body may be permanently or removably aligned in a functional relationship. In this regard, Figure 3 An aerosol delivery device is shown in a coupled configuration, and Figure 4 The aerosol delivery device is shown in a decoupled configuration. Various mechanisms may connect the aerosol source member to the control body, creating a threaded engagement, a press fit engagement, an interference fit, a slide fit, a magnetic engagement, and the like.

[0091] like Figure 4 As shown, in various embodiments of the present disclosure, the aerosol source component 304 may include a heating end 406 and a mouth end 408, wherein the heating end 406 is configured to be inserted into the control body 302, and the user draws on the mouth end 408 to generate an aerosol. In various embodiments, at least a portion of the heating end may include an aerosol precursor composition 410.

[0092] In various embodiments, the aerosol source member 304 or a portion thereof may be wrapped in an outer wrapping material 412, which may be formed of any material that can be used to provide additional structure and / or support for the aerosol source member. In various embodiments, the outer wrapping material may include a material that resists heat transfer, which may include paper or other fiber materials, such as cellulose materials. The outer wrapping material may also include at least one filler material embedded or dispersed in the fiber material. In various embodiments, the filler material may have the form of water-insoluble particles. In addition, the filler material may contain inorganic components. In various embodiments, the outer coating may be formed by multiple layers, such as a block layer and a covering layer of the lower layer, such as a typical wrapping paper in a cigarette. Such materials may include, for example, lightweight "rag fibers", such as flax, hemp, sisal, straw and / or esparto. The outer coating may also include materials commonly used in filter elements of conventional cigarettes, such as cellulose acetate. Further, the excess length of the coating at the mouth end 408 of the aerosol source member can serve the following functions: simply to separate the aerosol precursor composition 410 from the consumer's mouth, or to provide space for placing filter materials as described below, or to affect the smoking article or the flow characteristics of the vapor or aerosol leaving the device during puffing. Further discussion of the configuration of the coating material that can be used with the present disclosure can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 9,078,473 to Worm et al., cited above.

[0093] In various embodiments, there may be other components between the aerosol precursor composition 410 and the mouth end 408 of the aerosol source component 304, wherein the mouth end may include a filter 414, for example, the filter 414 may be made of cellulose acetate or polypropylene material. The filter may additionally or alternatively include multiple strands of tobacco-containing materials, such as described in the U.S. Patent No. 5,025,814 of 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 component, and / or provide filtering capacity (if necessary), and / or provide suction resistance. In some embodiments, one or any combination of the following may be positioned between the aerosol precursor composition and the mouth end: air gap; phase change material for cooling air; flavor release medium; ion exchange fibers capable of selective chemical adsorption; aerosol particles as filter media; and other suitable materials.

[0094] Various embodiments of the present disclosure use one or more heat-conducting elements to heat the aerosol precursor composition 410 of the aerosol source member 304. In various embodiments, the heating element can be set in various forms, such as in the form of foil, foam, grid, hollow sphere, hemisphere, disc, spiral, fiber, wire, film, yarn, strip, belt or cylinder. Such heating elements often include metal materials and are configured to generate heat due to the resistance associated with passing current through them. Such resistive heating elements can be positioned to directly contact or approach the aerosol source member (and specifically, the aerosol precursor composition of the aerosol source member 304). The heating element may be located in the control body and / or the aerosol source member. In various embodiments, the aerosol precursor composition may include a component (i.e., a heat-conducting component) embedded in a substrate portion or otherwise as a part of a substrate portion, which can be used as a heating component or promote the function of a heating component. Some examples of various heating components and elements are described in U.S. Patent No. 9,078,473 to Worm et al.

[0095] Some non-limiting examples of various heating element configurations include configurations in which the heating element is placed near the aerosol source component 304. For example, in some examples, at least a portion of the heating element may surround at least a portion of the aerosol source component. In other examples, one or more heating elements may be positioned adjacent to the exterior of the aerosol source component when inserted into the control body 302. In other examples, when the aerosol source component is inserted into the control body, at least a portion of the heating element may penetrate at least a portion of the aerosol source component (such as, for example, one or more prongs and / or protrusions that penetrate the aerosol source component). 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 in the aerosol precursor composition or otherwise as part of the aerosol precursor composition, which may serve as a heating element or facilitate the function of the heating element.

[0096] Figure 5 2 shows a front view of an aerosol delivery device 300 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 6 Shown through Figure 5 sectional view of an aerosol delivery device. In particular, the control body 302 of the depicted embodiment may include: a housing 516 including an opening 518 defined in an engagement end thereof; and electronic components 520, such as a flow sensor 522 (e.g., a puff sensor or a pressure switch), a control component 524 (e.g., a processing circuit system, etc.), a power source 526 (e.g., a battery, SSB, a supercapacitor), and an end cap including an indicator 528 (e.g., an LED). The power source may be rechargeable, and the control body may include a charging circuit system coupled to the power source and configured to controllably charge the power source.

[0097] In one embodiment, the indicator 528 may include one or more LEDs, quantum dot-based LEDs, etc. The indicator may be in communication with the control component 524 and illuminated, for example, when a user draws on the aerosol source member 304, when coupled to the control body 302, as detected by the flow sensor 522.

[0098] The control body 302 of the depicted embodiment includes one or more heating components 530 (individually or collectively referred to as heating components) configured to heat the aerosol precursor composition 410 of the aerosol source component 304. Although the heating components of various embodiments of the present disclosure can take a variety of forms, in Figure 5 and Figure 6In the depicted embodiment, the heating assembly includes an outer barrel 532 and a heating element 534, in which the heating element 534 includes a plurality of heater tines extending from a receiving base 536 (in various configurations, the heating assembly or more specifically the heater tines may be referred to as heaters). In the depicted embodiment, the outer barrel includes a double-walled vacuum tube constructed of stainless steel to retain the heat generated by the heater tines within the outer barrel, and more specifically, to retain the heat generated by the heater tines within the aerosol precursor composition. In various embodiments, the heater tines may be constructed 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.

[0099] As shown, the heating assembly 530 can extend proximate the engagement end of the housing 516 and can be configured to substantially surround a portion of the heating end 406 of the aerosol source component 304 that includes the aerosol precursor composition 410. In this manner, the heating assembly can define a generally tubular configuration. Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the heating element 534 (e.g., a plurality of heater tines) may be surrounded by the outer barrel 532 to create a receiving chamber 538. In this manner, in various embodiments, the outer barrel may include a non-conductive insulating material and / or construction, including but not limited to insulating polymers (e.g., plastic or cellulose), glass, rubber, ceramic, porcelain, double-walled vacuum structures, or any combination thereof.

[0100] In some embodiments, one or more parts or components of the heating assembly 530 can be combined, packaged and / or integrated with the aerosol precursor composition 410 (e.g., embedded in the aerosol precursor composition 410). For example, in some embodiments, the aerosol precursor composition can be formed of materials as described above and can include one or more conductive materials mixed therein. In some of these embodiments, the contacts can be directly connected to the aerosol precursor composition so that when the aerosol source member is inserted into the receiving chamber of the control body, the contacts are electrically connected to the electric energy source. Alternatively, the contacts can be integrated with the electric energy source and can be inserted into the receiving chamber so that when the aerosol source member is inserted into the receiving chamber of the control body, the contacts are electrically connected to the aerosol precursor composition. Because there is a conductive material in the aerosol precursor composition, the application of energy from the electric energy source to the aerosol precursor composition allows current to flow and thus generates heat from the conductive material. Therefore, in some embodiments, the heating element can be described as being integrated with the aerosol precursor composition. As a non-limiting example, graphite or other suitable conductive material may be mixed with, embedded in, or otherwise directly present on or in the material forming the aerosol precursor composition, thereby integrating the heating element with the medium.

[0101] As described above, in the illustrated embodiment, the outer barrel 532 can also be used to facilitate proper positioning of the aerosol source member 304 when the aerosol source member is inserted into the housing 516. In various embodiments, the outer barrel of the heating assembly 530 can engage the inner surface of the housing to provide alignment of the heating assembly relative to the housing. Thus, due to the fixed coupling between the heating assembly, the longitudinal axis of the heating assembly can extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing. Specifically, the support barrel can extend from the opening 518 of the housing to the receiving base 536 to create a receiving chamber 538.

[0102] The heating end 406 of the aerosol source member 304 is sized and shaped for insertion into the control body 302. In various embodiments, the receiving chamber 538 of the control body can be characterized as being defined by a wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining the internal volume of the receiving chamber. For example, in the depicted embodiment, the outer barrel 532 defines an inner surface that defines the internal volume of the receiving chamber. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner diameter of the outer barrel may be slightly larger than or approximately equal to the outer diameter of the corresponding aerosol source member (e.g., to produce a sliding fit), so that the outer barrel is configured to guide the aerosol source member to an appropriate position (e.g., a lateral position) relative to the control body. Therefore, the maximum outer diameter (or other dimension, depending on the specific cross-sectional shape of the embodiment) of the aerosol source member can be sized to be smaller than the inner diameter (or other dimension) at the inner surface of the wall of the open end of the receiving chamber in the control body. In some embodiments, the difference in the corresponding diameters can be small enough so that the aerosol source member fits tightly into the receiving chamber, and friction prevents the aerosol source member from moving without applying force. On the other hand, the difference is large enough to allow the aerosol source member to slide into or out of the receiving chamber without requiring undue force.

[0103] In the illustrated embodiment, the control body 302 is configured so that when the aerosol source member 304 is inserted into the control body, the heating element 534 (e.g., heater tines) is located near the radial center of at least a portion of the aerosol precursor composition 410 at the heating end 406 of the aerosol source member. In this way, when used in conjunction with a solid or semi-solid aerosol precursor composition, the heater tines can be in direct contact with the aerosol precursor composition. In other embodiments, such as when used in conjunction with an extruded aerosol precursor composition defining a tube structure, the heater tines are located inside a cavity defined by the inner surface of the extruded tube structure and will not contact the inner surface of the extruded tube structure.

[0104] During use, the consumer initiates the heating of the heating assembly 530, and specifically, initiates the heating of the heating element 534 adjacent to the aerosol precursor composition 410 (or its specific layer). The heating of the aerosol precursor composition releases the inhalable substance in the aerosol source component 304 to produce the inhalable substance. When the consumer inhales on the mouth end 408 of the aerosol source component, air is sucked into the aerosol source component through an air inlet 540 such as an opening or a hole in the control body 302. When the material sucked leaves the mouth end of the aerosol source component, the combination of the sucked air and the released inhalable substance is inhaled by the consumer. In some embodiments, in order to initiate heating, the consumer can manually actuate a button or similar component, which 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 predetermined length of time or can be manually controlled.

[0105] In some embodiments, the flow of electrical energy is substantially absent between puffs of the device 300 (although energy flow may continue to maintain a baseline temperature above ambient temperature (e.g., a temperature that promotes rapid heating to an active heating temperature)). However, in the depicted embodiment, heating is initiated by the consumer's puffing action using one or more sensors (such as flow sensor 522). Once the puff is interrupted, the heating will stop or decrease. When the consumer has taken a sufficient number of puffs to release a sufficient amount of inhalable material (e.g., an amount sufficient to equal a typical smoking experience), the aerosol source member 304 can be removed from the control body 302 and discarded. In some embodiments, further sensing elements (such as capacitive sensing elements and other sensors) can be used, as discussed in U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 707,461 to Phillips et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0106] In various embodiments, the aerosol source member 304 can be formed of any material suitable for forming and maintaining an appropriate conformation (such as a tubular shape) and suitable for retaining the aerosol precursor composition 410 therein. In some embodiments, the aerosol source member can be formed of a single wall, or in other embodiments, can be formed of multiple walls, and can be formed of a heat-resistant (natural or synthetic) material so as to retain its structural integrity (e.g., not degraded) at least at the temperature of the heating temperature provided by the electric heating element, as further discussed herein. Although in some embodiments, heat-resistant polymers can be used, in other embodiments, the aerosol source member can be formed of paper (such as paper roughly in the shape of a straw). As further discussed herein, the aerosol source member may have one or more layers associated therewith, which act to substantially prevent the movement of steam passing therethrough. In an example embodiment, an aluminum foil layer can be laminated to one surface of the aerosol source member. Ceramic materials can also be used. In further embodiments, insulating materials can be used to avoid unnecessary heat removal from the aerosol precursor composition. Further example types of components and materials that may be used to provide the functionality described above or as alternatives to the materials and components described above may be those described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 00186757 to Crooks et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 00186757 to Crooks et al., and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011 / 0041861 to Sebastian et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0107] In the depicted embodiment, the control body 302 includes a control component 524, which controls various functions of the aerosol delivery device 300, including providing power to the electric heating element 534. For example, the control component may include a processing circuit system (which may be connected to further components, as further described herein) connected to a power source 526 via a conductive line (not shown). In various embodiments, the processing circuit system can control when and how the heating assembly 530, and specifically, the heater tines receive electrical energy to heat the aerosol precursor composition 410, for releasing the inhalable substance for inhalation by the consumer. In some embodiments, such control can be activated by a flow sensor 522, as described in more detail above.

[0108] See Figure 5 and Figure 6, the heating assembly 530 of the depicted embodiment includes an outer barrel 532 and a heating element 534 (e.g., a plurality of heater tines) extending from a receiving base 536. In some embodiments, such as those embodiments in which the aerosol precursor composition 410 includes a tubular structure, the heater tines may be configured to extend into a cavity defined by an inner surface of the aerosol precursor composition. In other embodiments, such as the depicted embodiments in which the aerosol precursor composition includes a solid or semi-solid, when the aerosol source component is inserted into the control body 302, the plurality of heater tines are configured to penetrate into the aerosol precursor composition contained in the heating end 406 of the aerosol source component 304. In such embodiments, one or more components of the heating assembly including the heater tines and / or the receiving base may be constructed of a non-stick or stick-resistant material (e.g., certain aluminum, copper, stainless steel, carbon steel, and ceramic materials). In other embodiments, one or more components of the heating assembly including the heater tines and / or the receiving base may include a non-stick coating, including, for example, a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating (such as ), or other coatings, such as anti-stick enamel coatings, or ceramic coatings (such as or Thermolon TM ).

[0109] Additionally, while in the depicted embodiment there are a plurality of heater tines 534 distributed substantially equidistantly about the receiving base 536, it should be noted that in other embodiments, any number of heater tines, including as few as one, may be used in any other suitable spatial configuration. Furthermore, in various embodiments, the length of the heater tines may vary. For example, in some embodiments, the heater tines may include a small protrusion, while in other embodiments, the heater tines may extend any portion of the length of the receiving chamber 538, including up to about 25%, up to about 50%, up to about 75%, and up to about the entire length of the receiving chamber. In yet other embodiments, the heating assembly 530 may be of other configurations. Examples of other heater configurations that may be adapted for use in the present invention in accordance with the discussion provided above may be found in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,060,671 to Counts et al., 5,093,894 to Deevi et al., 5,224,498 to Deevi et al., 5,224,498 to Sprinkel et al., ...224,49 No. 5,228,460 to Jr. et al., 5,322,075 to Deevi et al., 5,353,813 to Deevi et al., 5,468,936 to Deevi et al., 5,498,850 to Das, 5,659,656 to Das, 5,498,855 to Deevi et al., 5,530,225 to Hajaligol, 5,665,262 to Hajaligol, 5,573,692 to Das et al., and 5,591,368 to Fleischhauer et al., which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0110] In various embodiments, the control body 302 may include an air inlet 540 (e.g., one or more openings or holes) therein to allow ambient air to enter the interior of the receiving chamber 538. In this way, in some embodiments, the receiving base 536 may also include an air inlet. Therefore, in some embodiments, when a consumer draws on the mouth end of the aerosol source component 304, air is drawn into the receiving chamber through the air inlet of the control body and the receiving base, transferred to the aerosol source component, and drawn through the aerosol precursor composition 410 of the aerosol source component for inhalation by the consumer. In some implementations, the drawn air carries the inhalable substance through the optional filter 414 and leaves the opening at the mouth end 408 of the aerosol source component. In the case where the heating element 534 is positioned within the aerosol precursor composition, the heater tines can be activated to heat the aerosol precursor composition and cause the release of the inhalable substance through the aerosol source component.

[0111] As reference Figure 5 and Figure 6 As described in detail above, various embodiments of the present disclosure use a conductive heater to heat the aerosol precursor composition 410. Also as described above, various other embodiments use an induction heater to heat the aerosol precursor composition. In some of these embodiments, the heating assembly 530 may be configured as an induction heater, which includes a transformer having an induction transmitter and an induction receiver. In an embodiment in which the heating assembly is configured as an induction heater, the outer cylinder 532 may be configured as an induction transmitter, and the heating element 534 (e.g., a plurality of heater tines) extending from the receiving base 536 may be configured as an induction receiver. In various embodiments, one or both of the induction transmitter and the induction receiver may be located in the control body 302 and / or the aerosol source member 304.

[0112] In various embodiments, the outer barrel 532 and the heating element 534, which act as an inductive receiver and an inductive transmitter, may be constructed of one or more conductive materials, and in further embodiments, the inductive receiver may be constructed of ferromagnetic materials, including but not limited to cobalt, iron, nickel, and combinations thereof. In one example embodiment, the foil material is constructed of a conductive material, and the heater tines are constructed of a ferromagnetic material. In various embodiments, the receiving base may be constructed of a non-conductive and / or insulating material.

[0113] The outer cylinder 532 as an inductive transmitter may include a laminate having a foil material surrounding a support cylinder. In some embodiments, the foil material may include electrical traces printed thereon, such as, for example, in some embodiments, when the foil material is positioned around the heating element 534 as an inductive receiver, one or more electrical traces may form a spiral coil pattern. The foil material and the support cylinder may each define a tubular structure. The support cylinder may be configured to support the foil material so that the foil material does not move into contact with the heater tines and thus short-circuit with the heater tines. In this way, the support cylinder may include a non-conductive material that is substantially transparent to the oscillating magnetic field generated by the foil material. In various embodiments, the foil material may be embedded in the support cylinder or otherwise coupled to the support cylinder. In the illustrated embodiment, the foil material engages with the outer surface of the support cylinder; however, in other embodiments, the foil material may be positioned at the inner surface of the support cylinder or completely embedded in the support cylinder.

[0114] The foil material of the outer cylinder 532 can be configured to create an oscillating magnetic field (e.g., a magnetic field that changes periodically over time) when an alternating current is directed through the foil material. The heater tines of the heating element 534 can be at least partially located in the outer cylinder or contained in the outer cylinder and include a conductive material. By directing an alternating current through the foil material, eddy currents can be generated in the heater tines via induction. The eddy currents flowing through the resistance of the material defining the heater tines can heat the heater tines by Joule heating (i.e., by the Joule effect). The heater tines can be heated wirelessly to form an aerosol from an aerosol precursor composition positioned near the heater tines.

[0115] Other embodiments of aerosol delivery devices, control bodies, and aerosol source components are described in the above-referenced U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 916,834 to Sur et al., U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 916,696 to Sur, and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 836,086 to Sur.

[0116] As described above, the aerosol delivery devices of example embodiments may include various electronic components in the context of an electronic cigarette or a heat-not-burn device, or even in the case of a device that includes the functionality of both. Figure 7 700 is a circuit diagram of an aerosol delivery device 700 according to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, which may be one or both of the aerosol delivery devices 100, 300 or may include their functions. As shown, the aerosol delivery device includes a control body 702 having an electronic component 704, the electronic component 704 including a control component 706 (with a processor 708), a sensor 710, a power supply 712 and an indicator 714, which may correspond to the corresponding ones of the control body 102, 302, the electronic component 208, 520, the control component 210, 524, the flow sensor 212, 522, the power supply 214, 526 and the indicator 216, 528 or may include their functions. The aerosol delivery device also includes a heating element 716, which may correspond to the heating element 222, 534 or may include its functions. The heating element is configured to convert electricity into heat, and thereby evaporate the components of the aerosol precursor composition.

[0117] The aerosol delivery device 700 may include a first terminal 718a and a second terminal 718b (e.g., a positive terminal and a negative terminal, respectively), the first terminal 718a and the second terminal 718b being configured to connect the power source 710 to the aerosol delivery device. And in some examples, such as those in which the aerosol delivery device 700 is the aerosol delivery device 100 or incorporates the functionality thereof, the aerosol delivery device 700 (or more specifically, its control body 702) may include a terminal 720 configured to connect the heating element 714 to the control body.

[0118] As described in more detail above with reference to flow sensors 212, 522, in some examples, sensor 710 is configured to generate a measurement of the pressure caused by the airflow through at least a portion of the housing (e.g., housing 206, 516) of aerosol delivery device 700. The sensor is configured to convert the measurement of the pressure into a corresponding electrical signal, which may include conversion of an analog signal to a digital signal. The sensor may be a digital sensor, a digital pressure sensor, etc., some suitable examples of which are manufactured by Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

[0119] The processor 708 is configured to receive the corresponding electrical signal from the sensor 710, and in response, connect the power supply 712 to the load 722 including the heating element 716 and thereby power the heating element. The processor can be configured to process the corresponding electrical signal to determine the on / off condition, and can modulate the switching connection of the power supply to the load in proportion to the measurement of the pressure generated by the sensor. In some examples, the control component 706 further includes a high-side load switch (LS) 724 between the sensor and the load, and the high-side load switch (LS) 724 can be controlled by the processor to connect the power supply to the load including the heating element and disconnect the power supply from the load.

[0120] In some examples, control component 706 further includes a piezoelectric ceramic vibration device 726 that is coupled to processor 708 and controllable by processor 708 to vibrate and thereby provide user-perceivable feedback during operation of aerosol delivery device 700. Examples of suitable piezoelectric ceramic vibration devices include the PJFVMA and PKLCS series devices from Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

[0121] As also shown, the aerosol delivery device 700 includes a voltage regulator 728, which is coupled to the sensor 710 and the first terminal 718a and between the sensor 710 and the first terminal 718a. The voltage regulator is configured to step down the voltage from the power supply 712 to the sensor 710, and thus power the sensor. The voltage regulator is particularly useful in an example where the power supply has a typical terminal voltage of 4.1 volts, but the sensor works at a lower voltage of 1.7 volts to 3 volts. A shunt resistor can be used to reduce the voltage from the power supply, but by comparison, the voltage regulator of the example embodiment is more efficient and produces less heat loss. The voltage regulator can be a DC-to-DC regulator / converter, a buck regulator / converter, a switching regulator, a buck switching regulator, etc. More specific suitable examples include ADP2105 and ADP2120 series devices from Analog Devices.

[0122] In some examples, the control component 706 further includes a near field communication (NFC) tag 730 that is coupled to the processor 708 and is configured to enable the aerosol delivery device 700 to establish NFC communication with a computing device equipped with an NFC reader, such as Fig. 8A and Figure 8B As shown and described in more detail below. The control component may also include a second high-side load switch (LS) 732, which is between the first terminal 718a and the NFC tag and can be controlled by the processor to connect the power supply 712 to the NFC tag and disconnect the power supply 712 from the NFC tag, and limit the input current to the NFC tag. The processor can switch between enabling the heating element and the NFC tag. In some examples, the processor can be configured to control the high-side load switch 724 to connect the power supply to the load 722 including the heating element 716 only when the power supply is disconnected from the NFC tag.

[0123] Fig. 8A and Figure 8B A system 800 is shown according to an example implementation of the present disclosure, the system 800 including an aerosol delivery device 700 enabled by an NFC tag 730 to establish NFC communication 802 with a computing device 804. The computing device may also be embodied as any of a number of different devices, such as any of a number of different mobile computers. More specific examples of suitable mobile computers include portable computers (e.g., laptop computers, notebooks, tablet computers), mobile phones (e.g., cell phones, smart phones), wearable computers (e.g., smart watches), and the like. In other examples, the computing device may be embodied in ways other than a mobile computer, such as a desktop computer, a server computer, and the like.

[0124] In some examples, computing device 804 can not only perform NFC communication 802 with aerosol delivery device 700, but also can be connected to wireless local area network (WLAN) 806. Examples of suitable WLAN technologies include those technologies based on IEEE 802.11 standards or specified by IEEE 802.11 standards and listed as Wi-Fi. WLAN includes appropriate networking hardware, some of which can be integrated, and others of which can be separated and interconnected. As shown, for example, WLAN includes wireless access point 808, which is configured to allow wireless devices including computing devices to be connected to WLAN. Also as shown, for example, WLAN can include a gateway device 810 (such as a residential gateway) configured to connect WLAN to an external computer network 812 (such as a wide area network (WAN) like the Internet). In some examples, a wireless access point or gateway device can include an integrated router, and other systems or devices can be connected to the integrated router. A WLAN may also include other integrated or separate and connected networking hardware, such as network switches, hubs, digital subscriber line (DSL) modems, cable modems, and the like.

[0125] In some examples, the system 800 further includes a service platform 814, which can be embodied as a computer system accessible by the WLAN 806 or the external network 812 (as shown). The service platform can include one or more servers, such as can be provided by one or more web servers, cloud computing infrastructure, etc. In some examples, the service platform is embodied as a distributed computing device including multiple computing devices, such as can be used to provide a cloud computing infrastructure. And in these examples, the computing devices forming the service platform can communicate with each other via a network such as an external network.

[0126] In some examples, a service platform 814 can be accessed by the computing device 804 via the WLAN 806 and the external network 812, and is configured to provide one or more services related to the aerosol delivery device 700. For example, the service platform can be operated by a manufacturer of the aerosol delivery device, or a supplier or another entity interested in manufacturing, distributing, or maintaining the aerosol delivery device. The service platform can enable a user to access and use various features, such as those described below that can be executed at the computing device or the service platform.

[0127] The computing device 804 may include or otherwise provide an installed application or other interface through which the service platform 814 may be accessible. The application or other interface may be or may be provided by a thin client and / or other client application, such as a web browser application through which a web page provided by the service platform may be accessible. As another example, the application or other interface may be or may be provided by a dedicated application, such as a mobile application (app) installed on a computing device embodied as a mobile computer.

[0128] As in Figure 1 B, in some examples, the aerosol delivery device 700 includes an NFC tag 730, which is configured to enable the aerosol delivery device to establish NFC communication 802 with a computing device 804 equipped with an NFC reader 816. The NFC tag includes an antenna 818 and an integrated circuit (IC) 820, and the IC 820 is configured to store or generate information related to the aerosol delivery device or the aerosol precursor composition. The antenna can be separated from the semiconductor package including the IC and coupled to the semiconductor package including the IC, or in some examples, the antenna and the IC are packaged together in a common semiconductor package. Examples of suitable NFC tags include ST25TA series and ST25TV series NFC tags from STMicroelectronics and RF430CC330 tags and RF430FRL15x tags from Texas Instruments. Examples of suitable NFC readers for high frequency (HF) include the AS3909, AS3910, AS3911B, AS3914 and AS3915 from ams AG, and examples of suitable NFC readers for ultra high frequency (UHF) include the AS3980, AS3991, AS3992, AS3993 from ams AG. Another example of a suitable NFC reader is the TRF79xx reader from Texas Instruments.

[0129] The antenna 818 of the NFC tag 730 can be coupled with a corresponding antenna 822 of the NFC reader 816 to enable information to be wirelessly transmitted to the computing device 804. As shown, the NFC reader may also include appropriate circuit systems 824, such as a processor, power harvesting circuit systems, and the like. In some examples, the information stored by the IC 820 includes at least an authentication tag that enables authentication of the aerosol delivery device 700 or a component of the aerosol delivery device. The information can be stored or generated in plain text, or the information can be encrypted to limit access. Subsequently, according to an example embodiment, the wireless transmission of the information to the computing device enables authentication of the aerosol delivery device or a component thereof at the computing device or a service platform 814 that communicates with the computing device. In some examples, the computing device includes a display device 826 for displaying various information, such as an indication of whether the aerosol delivery device is authentic.

[0130] In some examples where the information includes at least an authentication tag, the antenna 818 can be coupled to a corresponding antenna 822 of the NFC reader 816 to enable wireless transmission of the information to the computing device 804 to enable authentication of the aerosol delivery device 700 based on the authentication tag. Examples of suitable authentication tags include a unique serial number or other identifier (ID) of the aerosol delivery device, an access key, a digital signature or other code, etc. In another example, the authentication tag may indicate the manufacturer of the aerosol delivery device.

[0131] In these examples, computing device 804 or service platform 814 may be configured to authenticate aerosol delivery device 700. For example, the authentication may involve determining whether the aerosol delivery device, its control body 702 or other components, or an aerosol precursor composition is authentic or counterfeit.

[0132] In some examples, authentication of the aerosol delivery device 700 can involve a challenge-response authentication, in which the aerosol delivery device is prompted to provide a response to a challenge wirelessly transmitted to the aerosol delivery device from the computing device 804. In these and other examples, the aerosol delivery device can be equipped with a suitable authentication device integrated or coupled with the IC 820. Examples of suitable authentication devices include the bq26150 authentication device from Texas Instruments, the ATSHA204 and ATSHA204A authentication devices from Atmel Corporation, and the like.

[0133] In some examples, IC 820 is configured to access an event counter, which is configured to maintain a count indicating the remaining amount of an aerosol precursor composition. The event counter may be integrated with the IC or otherwise on the IC, or the event counter may be external to the IC. In some of these examples, the authentication of the aerosol delivery device 700 is authenticated only when the count is positive. Additionally or alternatively, the processor 708 may be configured to generate or stop the generation of user-perceivable feedback when the count reaches a threshold level indicating a low remaining amount of an aerosol precursor composition. More specifically, for example, only when the count is above a threshold level, during operation of the aerosol delivery device, the piezoelectric ceramic vibration device 726 may be controlled by the processor to vibrate and thereby provide user-perceivable feedback. Further details of the authentication process applicable to example embodiments of the present disclosure are described in U.S. Patent No. 9,854,841 to Ampolini et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. Further details of suitable systems that may be configured to operate as described herein are described in US Pat. No. 9,864,947 to Sur et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0134] In some further examples, the IC 820 is further configured to cause the antenna 818 to transmit RF energy 828 to a computing device 804 or a second computing device 828 equipped with a power harvesting circuitry configured to receive radio frequency (RF) energy, and to harvest power from the RF energy to power or charge at least one electronic component of the computing device or the second computing device. The circuitry can be separate or part of the circuitry 824 of the NFC reader 816, which the second computing device can also be equipped with. For more information on suitable power harvesting, see U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0007969 to Sur, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0135] In yet further examples, the computing device is a POS terminal 830 of a point of sale (POS) system, the POS system being configured to interface with a mobile payment platform 832, such as Samsung Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Fitbit Pay, and the like. In some of these examples, the IC 820 is configured to store or generate information including at least payment information that allows mobile payment transactions from the aerosol delivery device 700. The payment information may specifically be encrypted and thereby be access-restricted outside of the mobile payment platform. The antenna 818 may be coupled to a corresponding antenna 822 of the NFC reader 804 to enable wireless transmission of information to the POS terminal to enable mobile payment transactions from the aerosol delivery device, which may include the POS terminal being interfaced with the mobile payment platform to effect the mobile payment transaction.

[0136] Many modifications and other implementations of the present disclosure will occur to those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs, with the benefit of the teachings presented in the preceding description and the associated drawings. Therefore, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and modifications and other embodiment schemes thereof are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, these terms are used only in a general and descriptive sense and not for restrictive purposes.

Claims

1. An aerosol delivery device comprising: a housing configured to retain a material configured to generate an inhalable substance when heated; a sensor configured to generate a measurement of pressure caused by air flow through at least a portion of the housing and to convert the pressure measurement into a corresponding electrical signal; a first terminal and a second terminal configured to connect a power source to the aerosol delivery device; a heating element configured to convert electricity into heat and thereby evaporate a component of the material; A control component, the control component comprising: a processor configured to receive the corresponding electrical signal and, in response, connect the power source to a load including the heating element to cause the aerosol delivery device to produce the inhalable substance; a high-side load switch between the sensor and the load, the high-side load switch being controllable by the processor to connect the power supply to the load including the heating element and disconnect the power supply from the load including the heating element; a near field communication (NFC) tag coupled to the processor and configured to enable the aerosol delivery device to establish NFC communications with a computing device equipped with an NFC reader; and a second high-side load switch between the first terminal and the NFC tag, the second high-side load switch being controllable by the processor to connect and disconnect the power source to and from the NFC tag and to limit input current to the NFC tag; and a voltage regulator coupled to and between the sensor and the first terminal, the voltage regulator being configured to step down a voltage from the power supply to the sensor and thereby power the sensor, The processor is configured to control the high-side load switch to connect the power source to the load including the heating element only when the power source is disconnected from the NFC tag.

2. The aerosol delivery device according to claim 1, characterized in that The NFC tag at least includes: Antenna; and an integrated circuit (IC) configured to store or generate information including at least an authentication mark enabling authentication of the aerosol delivery device or a component of the aerosol delivery device, Wherein, the antenna is capable of coupling with a corresponding antenna of the NFC reader to enable wireless transmission of the information to the computing device, thereby enabling authentication of the aerosol delivery device or the component of the aerosol delivery device.

3. The aerosol delivery device as described in claim 2 further includes an event counter, wherein the IC is configured to access the event counter, the event counter is configured to maintain a count indicating the remaining amount of the material, and the authentication of the aerosol delivery device is authenticated only when the count is positive.

4. The aerosol delivery device of claim 2, further comprising an event counter, wherein the IC is configured to access the event counter, the event counter is configured to maintain a count indicating a remaining amount of the material, and the processor is configured to generate or stop generating user-perceptible feedback when the count reaches a threshold level indicating a low remaining amount of the material.

5. The aerosol delivery device of claim 4, wherein: The control component further includes a piezoelectric ceramic vibration device, which is coupled to the processor and can be controlled by the processor so that during operation of the aerosol delivery device, the piezoelectric ceramic vibration device vibrates and thereby provides feedback perceptible to the user only when the count is above the threshold level.

6. The aerosol delivery device of claim 2, wherein: The IC is further configured to cause the antenna to transmit radio frequency (RF) energy to the computing device or a second computing device equipped with a power harvesting circuit system configured to receive RF energy, and to harvest power from the RF energy to power or charge at least one electronic component of the computing device or the second computing device.

7. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein: The computing device is a point of sale (POS) terminal, and the NFC tag includes at least: Antenna; and an integrated circuit (IC) configured to store or generate information including at least payment information that enables a mobile payment transaction from the aerosol delivery device, Wherein, the antenna is capable of coupling with a corresponding antenna of the NFC reader to enable wireless transmission of the information to the POS terminal, thereby enabling the mobile payment transaction from the aerosol delivery device.

8. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein: The control component further includes a piezoelectric ceramic vibration device coupled to the processor and controllable by the processor so that during operation of the aerosol delivery device, the piezoelectric ceramic vibration device vibrates and thereby provides user-perceptible feedback.

9. A control body for an aerosol delivery device, the control body comprising a housing and having within the housing: a sensor configured to generate a measurement of pressure caused by air flow through at least a portion of the housing and to convert the pressure measurement into a corresponding electrical signal; a first terminal and a second terminal configured to connect a power source to the aerosol delivery device; an atomizer or terminal configured to connect the atomizer to the control body, the atomizer being configured to convert electricity into heat and thereby generate an inhalable substance from a material when heated; A control component, the control component comprising: a processor configured to receive the corresponding electrical signal and, in response, connect the power supply to a load including the atomizer and thereby power the atomizer; a high-side load switch between the sensor and the load, the high-side load switch being controllable by the processor to connect the power supply to the load including the atomizer and disconnect the power supply from the load including the atomizer; a near field communication (NFC) tag coupled to the processor and configured to enable the aerosol delivery device to establish NFC communications with a computing device equipped with an NFC reader; and a second high-side load switch between the first terminal and the NFC tag, the second high-side load switch being controllable by the processor to connect the power supply to the NFC tag and disconnect the power supply from the NFC tag and to limit input current to the NFC tag; and a voltage regulator coupled to and between the sensor and the first terminal, the voltage regulator being configured to step down a voltage from the power supply to the sensor and thereby power the sensor; The processor is configured to control the high-side load switch to connect the power source to the load including the heating element only when the power source is disconnected from the NFC tag.

10. The control subject according to claim 9, characterized in that: The NFC tag at least includes: Antenna; and an integrated circuit (IC) configured to store or generate information including at least an authentication mark enabling authentication of the control body or the cartridge of the atomizer including a terminal coupled to the cartridge, The antenna can be coupled with a corresponding antenna of the NFC reader to achieve wireless transmission of the information to the computing device, thereby achieving authentication of the control subject or the component of the control subject.

11. The control body as claimed in claim 10, further comprising an event counter, wherein the IC is configured to access the event counter, the event counter is configured to maintain a count indicating the remaining amount of the material, and the authentication of the control body is authenticated only when the count is positive.

12. The control body of claim 10, further comprising an event counter, wherein the IC is configured to access the event counter, the event counter is configured to maintain a count indicating a remaining amount of the material, and the processor is configured to generate or stop generating user-perceptible feedback when the count reaches a threshold level indicating a low remaining amount of the material.

13. The control subject according to claim 12, characterized in that: The control component further includes a piezoelectric ceramic vibration device, which is coupled to the processor and can be controlled by the processor so that during operation of the control body, the piezoelectric ceramic vibration device vibrates and thereby provides feedback perceptible to the user only when the count is above the threshold level.

14. The control subject according to claim 10, characterized in that: The IC is further configured to cause the antenna to transmit radio frequency (RF) energy to the computing device or a second computing device equipped with a power harvesting circuit system configured to receive RF energy, and to harvest power from the RF energy to power or charge at least one electronic component of the computing device or the second computing device.

15. The control subject according to claim 9, characterized in that: The computing device is a point of sale (POS) terminal, and the NFC tag includes at least: Antenna; and an integrated circuit (IC) configured to store or generate information including at least payment information that enables a mobile payment transaction from the aerosol delivery device, Wherein, the antenna is capable of coupling with a corresponding antenna of the NFC reader to enable wireless transmission of the information to the POS terminal, thereby enabling the mobile payment transaction from the aerosol delivery device.

16. The control subject according to claim 9, characterized in that: The control component further includes a piezoelectric ceramic vibration device coupled to the processor and controllable by the processor so that during operation of the control body, the piezoelectric ceramic vibration device vibrates and thereby provides user-perceivable feedback.

17. An aerosol delivery device comprising: a housing configured to retain a material configured to generate an inhalable substance when heated; a first terminal and a second terminal configured to connect a power source to the aerosol delivery device; an atomizer configured to convert electricity into heat and thereby generate an inhalable substance from the material when heated; A control component, the control component comprising a processor, the processor being configured to connect the power supply to a load including the atomizer and thereby power the atomizer, and further comprising at least: a near field communication (NFC) tag coupled to the processor and configured to enable the aerosol delivery device to establish NFC communications with a computing device equipped with an NFC reader; and a high-side load switch between the first terminal and the NFC tag, the high-side load switch being controllable by the processor to connect and disconnect the power source to and from the NFC tag and to limit input current to the NFC tag; The processor is configured to control the high-side load switch to connect the power source to the load including the heating element only when the power source is disconnected from the NFC tag.

18. The aerosol delivery device of claim 17, wherein: The NFC tag at least includes: Antenna; and an integrated circuit (IC) configured to store or generate information including at least an authentication mark enabling authentication of the aerosol delivery device or a component of the aerosol delivery device, Wherein, the antenna is capable of coupling with a corresponding antenna of the NFC reader to enable wireless transmission of the information to the computing device, thereby enabling authentication of the aerosol delivery device or the component of the aerosol delivery device.

19. The aerosol delivery device of claim 17, wherein: The computing device is a point of sale (POS) terminal, and the NFC includes at least: Antenna; and an integrated circuit (IC) configured to store or generate information including at least payment information enabling a mobile payment transaction from the aerosol delivery device, Wherein, the antenna is capable of coupling with a corresponding antenna of the NFC reader to enable wireless transmission of the information to the POS terminal, thereby enabling the mobile payment transaction from the aerosol delivery device.

20. The aerosol delivery device of claim 17, wherein: The control component further includes a piezoelectric ceramic vibration device coupled to the processor and controllable by the processor so that during operation of the aerosol delivery device, the piezoelectric ceramic vibration device vibrates and thereby provides user-perceptible feedback.

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